In the recent past, the development of lower-limb prostheses has taken a new turn with the emergence of active systems. However, their intrinsic wearable nature induces strict requirements regarding weight and encumbrance. In order to reduce the load — and thus the bulkiness — of their active part, several prototypes leverage the concept of compliant actuation, consisting in including an elastic element in parallel and/or in series with the actuator. In this paper, we explore the usability of polymer compliant ropes placed in parallel with the actuator of an ankle prosthesis. Ropes are intrinsically light and compact, and thus offer several advantages as compared to more traditional coil or leaf springs. Polymer materials were selected for their high energy density and yield strength. We conducted a set of experimental tests with several ropes, pretension levels, and periodic loading profiles. Results show that polymer-based ropes have a high potential for ankle assistance devices, since they can store the required energy in a low volume. However, further research should be conducted to improve their efficiency, since we estimated that only about 50% of the stored energy can be released, with few variations as a function of the rope preconditioning and loading profile.


The effect of humidity, polarity and irradiation on the 1/50μs impulse voltage breakdown and time lag of standard rod gaps has been determined for a range of spacings from 5cm to 30cm and a range of humidities from 1g/m3 to 24g/m3. An anomalous condition is reported for a 5cm unirradiated gap under positive impulses in which the slope of the humidity characteristic is opposite to that normally obtained. It is shown that, although the time lag is independent of humidity, the probability of breakdown in the sigmoid region is not independent of humidity.


Introduction In planning of surgical removal of the spinal cord lesion, preserving sensory and motor functions of a subject is of the utmost importance. Recent studies show promising value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in image guided resection of brain tumours in proximity of white matter tracks, by improving outcomes and reducing postoperative complications [1, 2]. Diffusion tensor imaging in spinal cord remains a challenge at clinically used MR field strengths. Images usually suffer from off-resonance distortions, inadequate inand through-plane resolution, subject's motion and poor SNR. Hence, the fibre tracking is commonly limited to reconstruction of the spinal cord tracts. This information may however, be insufficient in an attempt to avoid critical fibre bundles. In the present study we demonstrate a probabilistic tractography [3] of the human spinal cord extending the tracts towards the spine nerve roots. Methods Spinal cord studies were carried out on a 3T Philips Achieva MR system in 4 healthy control subjects and 2 patients with intramedullary tumor of the cervical spinal cord (ganglioglioma, ependymoma). Diffusion-weighted (DW) images (b = 700 s/mm, 15 DW directions) were acquired in the axial plane using a 16-channel neurovascular coil and a single-shot spin-echo EPI sequence (TR/TE = 11700/79 ms, SENSE factor = 2, NSA = 2, phase-encoding direction in AP). Seventy-five slices with acquisition resolution 1.3 x 1.3 x 2 mm covered the entire cervical spine, starting at the level of the medulla oblongata. To minimize the impact of a subject's motion, DW images were coregistered with respect to the b = 0 s/mm image using non-rigid registration, driven by normalized mutual information cost function [4-6]. Probabilistic diffusion tensor fiber tracking was performed using FSL 3.3 [3, 5]. Here, for the estimation of the fiber connectivity distribution along the spinal cord, regions of interest (ROI) covering the whole cross-section of the spinal cord were placed at the level of C1 and C6 (axial orientation). The spinal nerves (left/right) were tracked by placing a lateral ROI (left/right) along the spinal channel (sagittal orientation) and an ROI either at the level of C1 or C6 (axial orientation). Placing the ROIs at either C1 or C6 ensured more reliable reconstruction of the spinal nerves. Results In the control subjects, probabilistic tractography revealed 81% (71% to 85%) of the cervical spinal nerves bilaterally (Fig. 1A). The majority of the detected spinal nerves appeared to emerge from the posterior root, while we were able to distinguish anterior root only in 18% of the identified nerves (Fig. 1C). The location of the origins of all the tracked roots within the spinal cord column was in very good correlation with known anatomy (Fig. 1B, C), i. e. in the vicinity of the lateral horns and was consistent along the spinal cord. In the tumour cases, the tractography was challenging. Nevertheless, preserved fibres passing through the lesion or pushed aside were successfully reconstructed (Fig. 2A) in the ganglioglioma tumour case. In the ependymoma patient, no fibres passing through the superior and inferior ROIs were found, which was in contradiction to the physiological status of the patient, who did not present any motor deficit. Interestingly, combination of the lateral and superior or inferior ROI resulted in reconstruction of the nerves and fibres along the cervical spine (Fig. 2B), which were apparently displaced by the lesion.


Cylindradines A and B are members of the oroidin-derived pyrrole-imidazole alkaloid (PIA) family. They possess a characteristic pyrrole-3-carbamoyl moiety, which is unusual among PIAs. We achieved a total synthesis of (+)-cylindradine B by applying a Pictet-Spengler-type reaction followed by oxidative cyclization in the presence of hypervalent iodine to construct the pyrrole-3-carbamoyl and cyclic guanidine with N,N'-aminal moieties at C6 and C10.


The value of travel time savings is often the largest benefit from transportation projects and has been studied extensively. Recently, additional attention has been paid to the fact that travelers also benefit from reliable travel times. The value of reliability (VOR) has usually been estimated through stated-preference data or survey-based revealed-preference data. In this research, empirical data were used to estimate VOR. One concern about estimating VOR from empirical data was the lack of a definitive measurement for reliability. Should it be the standard deviation (SD) of travel time, the 95th percentile, or another measure? Data from Katy Freeway in Texas, where travelers chose between tolled but generally more-reliable lanes and free but generally less-reliable lanes, were used in an attempt to find the best measurement of reliability that could lead to the best explanation of travelers' lane choice. Multinomial logit models were used to estimate travelers' lane choice on the basis of trip attributes, including travel time, many measures of travel time reliability, and tolls. Models including only travel time and tolls yielded reasonable results and values of time ($2.78/h, $9.09/h, and $10.52/h for off-peak, shoulder, and peak periods, respectively). However, adding reliability to the models caused many of them to have counterintuitive results, and concluding which measure was the best was impossible. In addition, the results of this research suggested that reliability might not be an influential factor in the lane choice decision on managed lanes, at least when travelers had reasonable knowledge of their potential travel time.


We report the case of  a 24 years old women with anorexia nervosa (BMI= 14.3 Kg/m2 ) and recent infection by virus of mononucleosis. The patient had remittent fever, sore throat, hepatosplenomegaly, laterocervical lymphoadenopathy. Biochemical and serological work-out showed absolute lymphocytosis and antibodies against capsidic and nuclear Epstein-Barr virus antigens. Morover, we have found reduced serum zinc levels. This feature, in the context of anorexia nervosa, contributed to worsen the clinical picture of the concomitant viral infection.


This article analyzes the problem of ethno cultural identity in phenomenon of diaspora. The diaspora in this regard plays an important role, as ethnic group which united by diaspora, it is capable to consolidation of ethnos and preservation of the ethnic identity. More important is the question of the preservation of ethnic identity in the different environment. The article deals with the basic directions for the interpretation of the nature of ethnicity. Analyzing the studies in this area, we came to the conclusion that the key role in the formation of diasporas is a diaspora identity. Under a diaspora identity means a multiple identity, which stems from the structure and dynamism, and also reflect regional characteristics.


Purpose : theoretical and methodological justification for the existing teaching methods tennis of 5-6 years old children. Material : 17 special analysis and scientific and methodological sources. Results : the features of the existing methods of teaching children at an early stage of training. The main theses of the existing methods: 1) the training process is carried out in the form of games; 2 ) the level of general physical preparedness level exceeds special; 3) The first two years of the children do not participate in official competitions; 4) education of children begins with " School Ball ", with a gradual transition to employment with racket and ball; 5 ) training is built on two levels: theoretical - each " part" in the form of pre- formation of a mental model of rational behavior, and practical - the formation of the ability to perform motor actions. Conclusions : it was found that the existing methods of constructing the training process for children 5-6 years do not account for their physiological characteristics, therefore proposed to use computer technology and animation, that will shorten the formation of motor skills of children.


The authors report the results of 102 meniscal sutures (53 lateral meniscus and 49 medial meniscus) done on 85 persons (86 knees) with laxity of the knee (54 acute laxities and 32 chronic laxities). All the sutures were done by posterior arthrotomy, while reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament. Among the operations done on anterior cruciate ligaments, we find 45 reconstructions using MacIntosh procedure, 37 CHO method and 3 reconstructions using Lemaire procedure. 78 per cent of the sutures of the recent injuries were placed in a post-operative plaster cast, on the other hand, none of the chronic injuries was splinted. All the knees (except 1) were followed up within an interval of time of 1 year minimum to 4 years maximum. 3 sutures of fresh medial meniscus tear were reoperated on and one suture of old tear was reoperated. None of the lateral meniscus sutures, old or new was reoperated. 27 "objective" controls were done: 5 by arthrography, 4 by arthroscopy and 18 by magnetic resonance imaging (M.R.I.). Of the 18 controlled sutures by M.R.I., 13 (that is, 76, 5 per cent) presented a high signal as if they had a "wound" or persistent injury, this was found within a context of knees without any symptoms. Therefore the sutures of medial meniscus associated with laxity heal very well. It would be even better if they were in the chronic laxity stage (1 did not succeed out of the 22) than in the acute laxity stage (3 failures out of 27). The sutures of lateral meniscus healed very well in the chronic and in the old laxity stages (total success in both stages). The M.R.I controls for the 18 meniscus sutures presented the problem of the sutured meniscus future.


Rats were per-gastrically dosed by gavage with collagen type II (CII) in solution and were shown, as a result, to be subsequently resistant to the induction of disease by CII administered parenterally in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Disease onset was delayed and the severity was reduced. There was no concomitant reduction in the systemic antibody response to CII. Gavage with CII did not in itself induce systemic anti-CII antibodies and did not cause symptoms of arthritis. The results indicate that materials specifically cross-reactive with autoantigens can be absorbed through the gut and can modify susceptibility to autoimmune disease.


OBJECTIVES
The use of continuous ultrafiltration may be effective in preventing the hepatic decompensation in cirrhotic patients after valvular heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The authors aimed to evaluate the effects of continuous ultrafiltration on the need for blood transfusion, liver function tests, duration of postoperative ventilatory support, and the length of the intensive care unit (ICU) stay in cirrhotic patients undergoing valvular heart surgery.

DESIGN
A prospective, randomized double-blinded placebo study.

SETTING
A single university hospital.

PARTICIPANTS
Sixty cirrhotic patients scheduled for valvular surgery.

INTERVENTIONS
After local ethics committee approval and informed consent, participants were divided into 2 groups. In the conventional ultrafiltration (CUF) group (n = 30), CPB was used with conventional ultrafiltration. In the continuous ultrafiltration group (n = 30), in addition to the same CUF procedure, modified ultrafiltration was used after CPB.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
Perioperative liver function tests, hematocrit, platelet count, the postoperative ventilation time, ICU and hospital length of stay, complications, and mortality were recorded. After CPB, patients receiving continuous ultrafiltration had a shorter time to extubation, postoperative ventilation time and ICU and hospital length of stay (p < 0.01), lower bleeding (p < 0.01), greater rise in hematocrit (11.3% +/- 2.39% v 4.7% +/- 1.22%, p = 0.001) and platelet count (7.0 +/- 3.0 v 0.8 +/- 0.21 10(4)/micromL, p = 0.001), higher albumin levels (p < 0.001), and lower plasma levels of bilirubin, aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (p < 0.02). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the dosage of nitroglycerin or epinephrine, morbidity, or mortality.

CONCLUSIONS
The authors concluded that continuous ultrafiltration reduced postoperative bleeding and blood transfusions, improved liver function, and shortened the hospital stay in cirrhotic patients after valvular heart surgery.


For the production of hydrogen in the hydrolysis of potassium boron hydride of this product, a high performance Ni-B-P catalyst was synthesized. Catalysts in the unknown state of the chemical industry FTIR, EDS, XRD and SEM analyzes of the catalysts were used to determine the characteristics of the catalysts. Also for potassium boron hydrolysis of Ni2P catalyst; The best Ni / P ratio, optimum KOH concentration, KBH4 concentration, catalyst capacity and kinetic parameters were investigated at different temperatures. The hydrogen production rate of the catalyst was determined to be 665 mL / min * g and the best Ni / P ratio was 0.184. In addition, the reaction rate range n was determined to be 0.2 degrees, so the activation energy value in the arhenius equation was 58,528 kJ / mol.


Large neural models have demonstrated human-level performance on language and vision benchmarks, while their performance degrades considerably on adversarial or out-of-distribution samples. This raises the question of whether these models have learned to solve a dataset rather than the underlying task by overfitting to spurious dataset biases. We investigate one recently proposed approach, AFLite, which adversarially filters such dataset biases, as a means to mitigate the prevalent overestimation of machine performance. We provide a theoretical understanding for AFLite, by situating it in the generalized framework for optimum bias reduction. We present extensive supporting evidence that AFLite is broadly applicable for reduction of measurable dataset biases, and that models trained on the filtered datasets yield better generalization to out-of-distribution tasks. Finally, filtering results in a large drop in model performance (e.g., from 92% to 62% for SNLI), while human performance still remains high. Our work thus shows that such filtered datasets can pose new research challenges for robust generalization by serving as upgraded benchmarks.


With the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) global outbreak in December 2019 and its unprecedented impact on society, health, and economy, it has become imperative to detect it earliest and prevent further escalation. At present, there have already been several detection techniques, including rapid antigen or antibody tests, immunoenzymatically serological tests, and molecular qRT-PCR tests, are widely used. Although these are exceptionally reliable diagnostic methods for the diagnosis of COVID- 19 effectively and accurately, all these techniques have some limitations. Therefore, intensive research is going on for the instant, specific and sensitive detection of COVID-19 using a varied approach. There has been a growing interest in spectroscopic techniques to use as a biomedical tool for the early diagnosis and monitoring of COVID-19. In this review article, apart from these conventional methods, we have summarized recently developed spectroscopy techniques to detect COVID-19.


Although hydroxychloroquine is recommended for all the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus without contraindications, one third of lupus patients are not taking this important medication. Overcoming some of non-organ threatening side effects can lead to better drug survival rate and then improvement of overall outcome. Since the approval of hydroxychloroquine in 2015 in Japan, we prescribed it to more than 200 patients of lupus in our institution. It is usually well-tolerated, but it is also true that some developed adverse effects which kept them from continuing it. As we believed that hydroxychloroquine should be continued based on the risk-benefit ratio in case of minor adverse events, such as non-severe drug eruption and gastrointestinal intolerance, we decided two systematic approaches for these problems. For urticaria and erythematous drug rash, we first performed Drug Lymphocyte Stimulation Test (DLST), then offered oral desensitisation if the result is negative. Five patients agreed to undergo oral desensitisation over 5 weeks with crashed hydroxychloroquine tablets in conjunction with once daily levocertirizine 5 mg at night. Desensitisation courses were started on Monday and patients were informed to contact allergologist if skin rash or pruritus emerged. All the five patients successfully went through the graded increment of hydroxychloroquine, and then continued it without the anti-histamine. For diarrhoea, hangeshashinntou was added. Hangeshashinto, i.e. a Pinellia heart- draining decoction; in Chinese: ban xia xie xin tang), is widely administered in Japan to prevent diarrhoea induced by chemotherapy and immunosuppressive agents such as irinotecan and mycophenolate mofetil. The mechanism is reported to the inhibitory effect of glucuronidase-mediated de-conjugation. Two patients who stopped hydroxychloroquine due to diarrhoea became able to resume it with hangechashintou. In conclusion, desensitisation of hydroxychloroquine and co-administration of hangeshashintou resulted in better tolerance of the anti-malarial in Japanese patients without serious side effects.


The isometric tension response of single "skinned' rabbit soleus muscle fibers to MgATP and McITP in the absence of calcium was studied. [MgATP] or [MgITP] was varied in solutions of ionic strength 0.30 and temperature 20 degrees C. Steady-state tension that developed in MgATP or MgITP solutions was a biphasic bell-shaped function of log [MgATP] or log [MgITP] which increased from zero to maximum tension and then declined again to zero. Analysis of the data showed that, under comparable ionic conditions, percent tension vs. log [MgATP] and percent tension vs. log [MgITP] curves are not parallel. Instead, the percent tension vs. log [MgITP] curve is much broader. Additionally, under comparable ionic conditions maximum tension in MgITP solutions was higher than in MgATP solutions. In addition, in MgATP solutions, pH, [K+], and excess ATP were varied. Raising pH from 7 to 8, [K+] from 46 mM to 200 mM, or decreasing excess ATP from 2 to 0.5 mM all increased maximum tension. None of these factors, however, influenced the shape or position of the percent tension vs. log [MgATP] curve.


AIMS
The aims of this study were to examine the in vitro enzyme kinetics and CYP isoform selectivity of perhexiline monohydroxylation using human liver microsomes.

METHODS
Conversion of rac-perhexiline to monohydroxyperhexiline by human liver microsomes was assessed using a high-performance liquid chromatography assay with precolumn derivatization to measure the formation rate of the product. Isoform selective inhibitors were used to define the CYP isoform profile of perhexiline monohydroxylation.

RESULTS
The rate of perhexiline monohydroxylation with microsomes from 20 livers varied 50-fold. The activity in 18 phenotypic perhexiline extensive metabolizer (PEM) livers varied about five-fold. The apparent Km was 3.3 +/- 1.5 micro m, the Vmax was 9.1 +/- 3.1 pmol min-1 mg-1 microsomal protein and the in vitro intrinsic clearance (Vmax/Km) was 2.9 +/- 0.5 micro l min-1 mg-1 microsomal protein in the extensive metabolizer livers. The corresponding values in the poor metabolizer livers were: apparent Km 124 +/- 141 micro m; Vmax 1.4 +/- 0.6 pmol min-1 mg-1 microsomal protein; and intrinsic clearance 0.026 micro l min-1 mg-1 microsomal protein. Quinidine almost completely inhibited perhexiline monohydroxylation activity, but inhibitors selective for other CYP isoforms had little effect.

CONCLUSIONS
Perhexiline monohydroxylation is almost exclusively catalysed by CYP2D6 with activities being about 100-fold lower in CYP2D6 poor metabolizers than in extensive metabolizers. The in vitro data predict the in vivo saturable metabolism and pharmacogenetics of perhexiline.


We have isolated three pyridine base alkaloids namely ricinine (C1), N-demethylricinine (C2) and 4-methoxy pyridine-3-carboxylic acid (C3) from methanolic extract of Riccinus Communis leaves and investigated corrosion inhibition effect on mild steel in 0.5 HCl solution using the weight loss and electrochemical techniques (Galvanostatic polarization and EIS). Polarization resistances calculated from the EIS measurements are in good agreement with those obtained from alternating current (AC) polarization measurements. The mild steel samples were also analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results show that C1 is an excellent inhibitor for mild steel in acid medium. The inhibition was assumed to occur via adsorption of the inhibitor molecule on the metal surface. In the 298- 308 K temperature range, the C1, C2 and C3 adsorption follows Langmuir isotherm model. The protection efficiency increases with increasing the inhibitor concentration in the range of 250-1000 ppm but slightly decreases with increasing temperature.


Purpose: The 4π non-coplanar radiotherapy delivery technique has demonstrated significantly better normal tissue sparing and dose conformality than the clinically used volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). It is unclear whether this is a fundamental limitation of VMAT delivery or the coplanar nature of its typical clinical plans. The non-coplanar basis of 4π is incorporated into VMAT treatment planning to compare its effect on plan quality. Methods: Clinical stereotactic body radiation therapy plans for 9 liver patients treated with 30–60 Gy using coplanar VMAT (cVMAT) were re-planned using non-coplanar VMAT (nVMAT) with 3 arcs and 4 π with 20 intensity-modulated non-coplanar fields. All plans were optimized to deliver 100% of the prescribed dose to 95% of the planning target volume (PTV), and nVMAT and 4π plans were tailored to match the maximum and mean PTV dose from the clinical plan. The conformality index (CI), 50% dose spillage volume (R50), normal liver volume receiving >15 Gy (VL>15), and doses to organs at risk (OARs) were compared for all three treatment plans. Results: Compared to cVMAT, the nVMAT and 4π plans reduced VL>15 by an average of 30.6 cm3 and 96.3 cm3, respectively. The average CI was also reduced from 1.22 (cVMAT) to 1.17 (nVMAT) and 1.14 (4π), indicating higher conformality in the same order. Similarly, R50 was reduced from 3.87 (cVMAT) to 3.58 (nVMAT) and 2.74 (4π). With the exception of the mean right kidney dose, which increased by an average of only 0.6 Gy for nVMAT, the dose differences to OARs were not statistically significant between the two VMAT plans. 4π plans either significantly decreased or maintained OAR doses. Conclusion: While the manual selection of intuitive non-coplanar arcs does show some improvement over coplanar VMAT, the automated beam selection for 4π still results in superior plan quality. This project is supported in part by Varian Medical Systems and NIH R43 CA183390.


A concentration retrieving method using statistics is presented, which is applied in differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) for measuring the concentration of SO2. The method uses the standard deviation of the differential absorption to represents the gas concentration. Principle component analysis (PCA) method is used to process the differential absorption spectrum. In the method, the basis data for the concentration retrieval of SO2 is the combination of the PCA processing result, the correlation coefficient, and the standard deviation of the differential absorption. The method is applied to a continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) with optical path length of 0.3 m. Its measuring range for SO2 concentration is 0-5 800 mg x m(-3). The nonlinear calibration and the temperature compensation for the system were executed. The full scale error of the retrieving concentration is less than 0.7% FS. And the measuring result is -4.54 mg x m(-3) when the concentration of SO2 is zero.


We have been revealing immune system based of spatiotemporal regulation of immune cells in the entire body by using photoconvertible fluorescent protein (FP), Kaede and KikGR mice. Flow cytometric analysis of green and red signals of non-photoconverted and photoconverted Kaede or KikGR expressing cells with multiple fluorochrome-conjugated mAbs have been difficult and unable to increase color panels, because of the fluorescence signal overlap between FPs and fluorochromes. We have newly developed a spectral flow cytometer (FCM) based on a novel measurement principle. Unlike a polychromatic FCM, the spectral FCM with 32 channel linear array PMT detects the fluorescence derived from every fluorescent probe. The data of acquired spectra is analyzed with a unique algorithm. We detected spectral changes of KikGR color from green to red during photoconversion. We separated EGFP and Venus. One of the feature advantages of this instrument is that it can recognize spectral shape of each fluorescent probes and we could separate EGFP and FITC, their peaks of wavelength are almost same and only spectral shape of GFP is slightly broader than FITC. Finally, we successfully separated 11-colors including kikGR-green and -red simultaneously. Taken together, spectral FCM allow us to detection of FPs with multicolor fluorochromes, and thus, the system which uses KikGR mice with spectral FCM is a powerful tool to investigate spatiotemporal regulation of immune cells in the entire body.


The author suggests some probability models for the distribution of number of boys in a family and assesses the suitability of these models using previously published data. "Also, the correlation coefficient between the number of boys and girls in a family for the same data has been determined in the case of each model."


The tunabilities of both the wavelength and the pulse-width of monolithic mode-locked semiconductor lasers are demonstrated. Pulses shorter than 1.6 ps, tunable over 8.8 mu m, have been generated by a temperature-tuned monolithic colliding pulse mode-locked (CPM) quantum-well laser. For a fixed wavelength, the pulse-width is independently controlled from 1.2 ps to longer than 3 ps by external bandpass filters. Near transform-limited time-bandwidth products of 0.34 were maintained throughout the tuning processes.<<ETX>>


Abstract : This study evaluated breast-cancer patients and their "witnesses" (significant others) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to the patient's breast cancer experience. Participants were interviewed by telephone with the PTSD Checklist (PCL), invited to come for a personal interview with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), and then invited for psychophysiologic testing. The estimated incidence of breast cancer-related PTSD during the approximately two years elapsed since tissue diagnosis was 24% (21/87) in patients and 23% (7/31) in witnesses. The estimated point prevalence of breast cancer-related PTSD at the time of interview was 9% (8/87) in patients and 3% (1/31) in witnesses. Physiologic responses were measured in 5 Current, 7 Past, and 25 Never patients, and in 1 Current, 5 Past, and 17 Never witnesses, while they listened to tape-recorded "scripts" portraying their personal experiences with breast cancer. MANOVA yielded an overall group effect of F(8,62)=2.5, p=.O2 for patients and F(4,18)=6.8, p=.OO2 for witnesses. Current PTSD patients showed statistically larger heart rate, skin conductance, and corrugator electromyogram responses than both Past and Never patients. Current/Past PTSD witnesses showed statistically larger skin conductance responses than Never witnesses. We conclude that being diagnosed with breast cancer can cause psychophysiologically reactive PTSD in breast cancer patients and their witnesses.


Abstract Peromycus schmidlyi Bradley et al., 2004, is a Reithrodontomyine (formally Peromyscini) rodent commonly called Schmidly's deermouse. It is endemic to Mexico, known only from Durango, Sinaloa, and Sonora at elevations greater than 2,000 m. It inhabits rocky hillsides in the pine-oak forest regions of the northern and central portions of the Sierra Madre Occidental. P. schmidlyi is a member of the P. boylii species group and is closely related to P. beatae and P. levipes. At this time, it is not considered to be a species deserving special conservation concern.


Hydrodynamic processes largely determine the efficacy of drinking water treatment systems, in particular disinfection systems. A lack of understanding of the hydrodynamics has resulted in suboptimal designs of these systems. The formation of unwanted disinfection-by-products and the energy consumption or use of chemicals is therefore higher than necessary. In drinking water engineering, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is therefore increasingly applied to predict the performance of treatment installations and to optimise these installations. CFD uses advanced numerical models to predict flow, mixing and (bio)-chemical reactions. In this thesis, the hydrodynamics and (bio)-chemistry in ozone and UV systems are studied by means of CFD models combined with experimental techniques. This combination leads to further development of CFD modelling as a tool to evaluate the performance of drinking water treatment installations. If the CFD model is applied properly, accounting for the complex turbulent motions and validated by experiments, this tool leads to a better design of UV reactors, ozone systems and other systems dictated by hydrodynamics. This work resulted in new insights in the applicability of models in ozone and UV installations, and new insights in design aspects of these installations.


Purpose - The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of intellectual capital dimensions including human capital, relational capital, and structural capital on the business performance. Design/Methodology/Approach - In this paper, it is tried to identify the effect of intangible assets within the business environment on the business performance. The statistical population was located in an Iranian industrial town. The data collection tool was Bontis questionnaire, which was applied originally in Malaysia, Canada, and Jordan. Moreover, the data analysis was carried out using Visual PLC software. Findings - The results verified that the used structural equation model is a strong theoretical model for examining the impact of intellectual capital on the organization's business performance. The findings demonstrated that while customer capital can be changed and improved directly by changing the human capital, changing structural capital through human capital is impossible.Furthermore, the results of the analysis confirmed that all aspects of intellectual capital, except human capital and structural capital, have positive and significant relationship to each other. Finally, it was perceived that the structural capital is of a significant relationship to each other. Finally, it was perceived that the structural capital is of a significant positive effect on the business performance. On the other hand, it was comprehended that human capital has a positive and significant relationship with structural capital. Practical Implications - This paper is a very useful source of information for investigators as well as practitioners with regard to intellectual capital in Iranian firms. Originality/Value - This paper is pioneering the analysis of intangible assets in Iranian industrial organizations, and has attempted to determine some of the most relevant intangible assets used by those organizations.


It is evident that in certain cases of clinically diagnosed, subdeltoid bursitis, the roentgen ray has shown shadows in the region of the subdeltoid bursa, which have been proved by operation to be due to a calcareous deposit; but it is in dispute as to just where the deposit occurs,—whether in the bursa, the walls of the bursa, or in the tendons and bodies of the spinatus muscles. In certain other cases, where the roentgen ray has shown shadows similar to the above, they have been observed to disappear under simple treatment, to exist without causing serious inconvenience, and to be present in at least two regions other than the subdeltoid, viz.: over the greater trochanter of the femur and at the knee joint. The shadows may appear very shortly after an injury, and have been observed to disappear almost as quickly. The shadows may be single or multiple, resembling the shadows of calculi, but are sometimes so extensive as to suggest the extravasation of an opaque fluid into the tissues. The operative findings would tend to show that the shadows are due to a calcareous deposit, but it is difficult to believe that a calcareous deposit could be deposited so rapidly and at times reabsorbed so quickly. The whole subject is at present very confused, and all cases should be carefully studied and checked up by roentgen-ray examination, operation when indicated, combined with careful anatomical study, chemical examination, etc.


This research study focuses on the importance to evaluate the types and their quality, beneficial uses of waters in order to ascertain its assess, contaminations and the impacts of pollution. Study was conducted on Physico - microbiological examinations of domestic water used by the Community of College of Agriculture and its environs, Maiduguri. Methods used were that described by Cheesbrough [1], Gwana et al., [2], and AOAC [3]. 200 mls of water sample from 8 water stations (A to H) were each sampled. Results obtained revealed the colour, odour and taste of the water sampled were normal, except station E, which was brownish in colour and perceived fishy smelt and tasted salty, mean pH values ranged from of 6.6 to 8.2, mean temperature (OC) from ranged from 22.1 to 32.1 OC, mean turbidity (TU) from ranged from 1 to 4 TU.  Microscopical examination of the water sampled in each of the stations using parasitological techniques; there was no protozoan cysts, protozoan trophozoites, helminths ovae (eggs) and helminths adult parasites found, except in water station E where larva of Schistosoma species (Bifurcated Cercaria) was seen. For the bacteriological examination, the indicators used were Coliform, Escherichia coli, and Aerobic mesophilic bacteria, values were given in mean coliform unit per mills (CFU / mls) of the water sampled. Stations; A and B, had yielded growth of coliform each with 0, C, F, G and H each had 1, D (5), and E (94). Escherichia coli; station A had 1, and B, C, F, and G had 0 each, 22, 56, and 18 for D, E, and H. Aerobic mesophilic bacteria; station A had 283, B (23), C (103), D (261), E (313), F (51), G (11) and H had 286 CFU / mls. The water stations were found free from health hazards, therefore, fit for consumption and domestic activities, except water from station E. There is a needs to be enlightened the community on safe - drinking water measures in the study area.


Shelter, Health, and Drug Outcome in Women (SHADOW) is a research study with the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco that has been gathering quantitative information through biannual interviews w ith impoverished women in San Francisco. The project seeks to understand how competing needs influence the health and HIV risk behaviors of homeless women in order to inform healthcare delivery and social services. The focus of this paper is to employ data management techniques in SAS to create common variables of interest that may be requested by study investigators. A question of particular importance is whether a participant partakes in serodiscordant sex (i.e. sex with a man of the opposite HIV status). Roughly half of the 301 women in the study are HIV positive, and multiple conditions must be met for a person of either serostatus to be eligible for the outcome. Ensuring the raw data are transformed into accurately created derived variables and easily u nderstood reports is a necessity of which the use of SAS has many advantages. WARNING: This presentation is based on data from a research study regarding HIV risk. It contains language regarding sex that some individuals may find offensive. For this rea son words in brackets denote substitutions for the original names.


Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) is a rare anomaly characterized by atrioventricular and ventriculo-arterial discordance and several other malformations that eventually lead to heart failure. We describe the case of a 53-year-old woman with ccTGA and aortic insufficiency who was a candidate for heart transplantation due to end-stage congestive heart failure. Her condition deteriorated before a suitable donor heart could be found; therefore, we placed a left ventricular assist device in the right (systemic) ventricle. Concomitantly, we removed the aortic (systemic) valve, closed the aortic annulus with a bovine pericardial patch, and repaired the mitral valve. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged from the hospital 2 months postoperatively. She underwent cardiac transplantation approximately 6 months later and continued to do well after 18 months.


Purpose – This paper aims to indicate how practical wisdom in the western Christian tradition may be introduced into management development. Following recent documents of Catholic social thought, three roads to go are indicated especially concerning: management practice, management education, and the managerial reason.Design/methodology/approach – This is an interdisciplinary paper summarizing economic, philosophical, and business literature.Findings – In his recent social encyclical Caritas in veritate Pope Benedict XVI criticizes a dominating approach of economic thinking that neglects practical wisdom in management. The authors indicate three roads of seasoning management practice with practical wisdom: integrating charity in management theory and practice (by spelling out the economic relevance of reciprocity and gratuitousness for economic theory and for managerial decision making), enriching business school experience (by deepening elements of voluntary engagement and interdisciplinary education) an...


Ultrasonically initiated, in situ emulsion polymerization was used to prepare multiwalled carbon nanotube/polyaniline composites (MWNTs/PANI). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the nanotubes were coated with a PANI layer, with the thickness of this coating varying with the content of carbon nanotubes and polymerization conditions. Whereas polyaniline/carbon nanotube composite particles prepared by the conventional stirring method have a highly structured, nodular morphology, ultrasonic initiation leads to long, thin, polymer-wrapped tubes. In the case of ultrasonically initiated in situ emulsion polymerization, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra suggested that site-selective interactions between the quinoid ring of the PANI and the MWNTs facilitate charge-transfer between the two components. In such composites, CNT improved the polymer properties, such as thermal stability, as determined by thermogravimetric analysis and conductivity measured using the four-probe method.


Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has expanded its role in peacekeeping operations around the world. However, budgetary pressures in the late 1980s led to a reduction, beginning in 1987, in the size of the active force that increased its dependency on reserve forces. This article presents an analysis of data on American soldiers in two different units, one reserve and one active duty, to determine the attitudes of soldiers in each unit toward peacekeeping norms of impartiality and the use of force, the role of the military in peacekeeping, and whether such missions are appropriate for their unit. Differences between reserve soldiers' responses from those of the active duty unit are discussed. In general, soldiers in both units accept most peacekeeping norms. Although both units felt that peacekeeping was not appropriate for their unit, soldiers in the reserve unit generally had more constabulary attitudes than those in the active duty unit. These findings suggest that members of the reserve components may be regarded as an appropriate source for peacekeeping personnel in the future.


Neural development is a highly orchestrated process that entails precise control of gene expression. Although microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in fine-tuning gene networks, the roles of individual miRNAs in vertebrate neural development have not been studied in vivo. We investigated the function of the most abundant neuronal miRNA, miR-124, during spinal cord development. Neither inhibition nor overexpression of miR-124 significantly altered the acquisition of neuronal fate, suggesting that miR-124 is unlikely to act as a primary determinant of neuronal differentiation. Two endogenous targets of miR-124, laminin gamma 1 and integrin beta1, were identified, both of which are highly expressed by neural progenitors but repressed upon neuronal differentiation. Thus miR-124 appears to ensure that progenitor genes are post-transcriptionally inhibited in neurons.


Crocus sativus L. or saffron has been shown to have anti-atherogenic effects. However, its effects on key events in atherogenesis such as endothelial activation and monocyte-endothelial cell binding in lipolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated in vitro model have not been extensively studied. Objectives To investigate the effects of saffron and its bioactive derivative crocin on the gene and protein expressions of biomarkers of endothelial activation in LPS stimulated human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs). Methodology HCAECs were incubated with different concentrations of aqueous ethanolic extracts of saffron and crocin together with LPS. Protein and gene expressions of endothelial activation biomarkers were measured using ELISA and qRT-PCR, respectively. Adhesion of monocytes to HCAECs was detected by Rose Bengal staining. Methyl-thiazol-tetrazolium assay was carried out to assess cytotoxicity effects of saffron and crocin. Results Saffron and crocin up to 25.0 and 1.6 μg/ml respectively exhibited >85% cell viability. Saffron treatment reduced sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and E-selectin proteins (concentrations: 3.13, 6.25, 12.5 and 25.0 μg/ml; 3.13, 12.5 and 25.0 μg/ml; 12.5 and 25.0, respectively) and gene expressions (concentration: 12.5 and 25.0μg/ml; 3.13, 6.25 and 25.0 μg/ml; 6.25, 12.5 25.0; respectively). Similarly, treatment with crocin reduced protein expressions of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and E-selectin (concentration: 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 μg/ml; 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 μg/ml; 0.8 and 1.6 μg/ml; respectively] and gene expression (concentration: 0.8 and 1.6 μg/ml; 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 μg/ml; and 1.6 μg/ml, respectively). Monocyte-endothelial cell interactions were reduced following saffron treatment at concentrations 6.3, 12.5 and 25.00 μg/ml. Similarly, crocin also suppressed cellular interactions at concentrations 0.04, 0.08, 1.60 μg/ml. Conclusion Saffron and crocin exhibits potent inhibitory action for endothelial activation and monocyte-endothelial cells interaction suggesting its potential anti-atherogenic properties.


This paper describes Infosys's participation in the "2nd Social Media Mining for Health Applications Shared Task at AMIA, 2017, Task 2". Mining social media messages for health and drug related information has received significant interest in pharmacovigilance research. This task targets at developing automated classification models for identifying tweets containing descriptions of personal intake of medicines. Towards this objective we train a stacked ensemble of shallow convolutional neural network (CNN) models on an annotated dataset provided by the organizers. We use random search for tuning the hyper-parameters of the CNN and submit an ensemble of best models for the prediction task. Our system secured first place among 9 teams, with a micro-averaged F-score of 0.693.


ImmerseBoard is a system for remote collaboration through a digital whiteboard that gives participants a 3D immersive experience, enabled only by an RGBD camera (Microsoft Kinect) mounted on the side of a large touch display. Using 3D processing of the depth images, life-sized rendering, and novel visualizations, ImmerseBoard emulates writing side-by-side on a physical whiteboard, or alternatively on a mirror. User studies involving three tasks show that compared to standard video conferencing with a digital whiteboard, ImmerseBoard provides participants with a quantitatively better ability to estimate their remote partners' eye gaze direction, gesture direction, intention, and level of agreement. Moreover, these quantitative capabilities translate qualitatively into a heightened sense of being together and a more enjoyable experience. ImmerseBoard's form factor is suitable for practical and easy installation in homes and offices.


The U.S. green industry (floriculture and environmental horticulture) is the fastest growing agricultural sector in grower cash receipts, with an average annual growth rate of 9 percent since 1982. Green industry crops totaled $8.7 billion in grower cash receipts, earned 11 percent of the total cash receipts for 'all crops, and ranked sixth in total grower cash receipts in 1991. Average net farm income for green industry fann enterprises grew 10 percent annually during 1987-90. In 1990, at $53,589, it was the highest among all farm production specialties. In 1991, the average net farm income fell sharply to $24,261 due to lower aggregate sales and a higher count of farms specializing in green industry crops. Green industry farms receive little government assistance and are generally under less financial stress than other farm types. These data are from the USDA Farm Costs and Returns Survey and the 1987 Census of Agriculture.


Colloidal natural organic matter (NOM) is an important foulant to low-pressure membranes (LPMs) employed in drinking water treatment. Removal of colloidal NOM by magnetic ion exchange (MIEX), coagulation, and integrated MIEX and coagulation was investigated in this study to determine the relationship between colloidal NOM removal and membrane fouling reduction. The results showed that coagulation did not selectively remove colloidal NOM and the optimal coagulant dose was primarily determined by the concentration of humic substances. Comparatively, MIEX pretreatment preferentially removed humic substances and reduced the coagulant dose needed for colloidal NOM removal as a result of coagulation stoichiometry. A matched-pair analysis showed that integrated MIEX and coagulation pretreatment at much lower coagulant doses was as effective as coagulation in reducing membrane fouling. It is concluded that integrated MIEX and coagulation is potentially a viable pretreatment approach to reduce membrane fouling and in general removal of colloidal NOM in feedwater is an effective approach for membrane fouling control and should be considered in the research, development, and application of novel LPM-based treatment processes.


Polyunsaturated fatty acids seem to exert an extra-caloric positive effect on ruminant reproduction, although the reasons for that are still unclear. Although some studies have detected a positive effect of feeding unsaturated fatty acids on embryo development of superovulated Bos taurus cattle (Thangavelu et al. 2007 Theriogenology 68, 949-957), others have not (Petit et al. 2008 J. Dairy Sci. 91, 1786-1790). Our hypothesis was that, although number and quality of embryos from superovulated heifers would not be affected by diet, supplemental fat would improve embryo cryotolerance. Therefore, this study evaluated superovulatory response and embryo production, as well as cryotolerance of embryos cryopreserved through freezing or vitrification in Nellore heifers supplemented with rumen-protected fat. Forty heifers (24 to 36 mo old) were kept in pasture and randomly divided into 2 experimental groups according to supplemental source [F = concentrate with rumen-protected fat (100 g/d of Megalac-E®) and C = control, without fat supplementation]. Supplements were formulated to be isocaloric and isoproteic. Each female underwent both treatments in a cross-over design with approximately 68 d between replicates. After 50 d of feeding, emergence of the wave was synchronized with the aid of hormones to initiate the superovulation protocol. Recovered embryos were frozen or vitrified, and subsequently in vitro embryo development evaluation was accomplished. Data were analyzed using generalized linear models. There was no difference between F and C groups (P > 0.10) regarding superstimulatory response, number of total embryos/ova, viable embryos, degenerate embryos, or unfertilized oocytes recovered. However, group C had a greater superovulatory response than F (18.0 ± 1.3 v. 15.7 ± 1.2 CL; P = 0.06). Group C embryos presented greater hatching rate, independently of the cryopreservation method, at 48 h (33.1 ± 4.0%; n = 148 v. 17.3 ± 3.3%; n = 137; P = 0.009) and at 72 h (44.3 ± 4.2%; n = 148 v. 30.9 ± 4.0%; n = 137; P = 0.04) of in vitro culture. Under the conditions of the present study, supplementation with protected fat did not affect superstimulatory response and quantity or quality of embryos. However embryos from the F group were less tolerant to cryopreservation. Financial support from FAPESP, EMBRAPA, Arm & Hammer, Integral Produbon, and Pfizer of Brazil.


Technological advances made possible microprocessing of optical and diffractive devices of subwavelength size. Such elements may find use in holography, spectroscopy, interferometry, and optical data processing. The rigorous modeling of these devices calls for solving the basic electromagnetic Maxwell's equations. If one needs to get a far-field solution, commonly used geometrical optics approximations become inadequate, which entails the necessity of developing numerical techniques for solving Maxwell's equations. For a subwavelength characteristic size of diffractive structures, one should use a vector model for analyzing diffraction processes [1]. The vector diffraction problem may be solved analytically for some periodic structures [2]. Hence, the vector diffraction by aperiodic DOEs should be simulated using numerical techniques. These numerical techniques may then be used in working out recommendations how to improve the parameters of fabricated devices or to optimize the process of developing new ones. The majority of numerical diffraction models aimed at analyzing conducting electromagnetic scatters may be divided into differential [3], integral, and variational. With integral methods, the electromagnetic field at a space point is found as a combination of contributions to this point from source fields, taken over space or surface. Popularity of the integral methods is due to their ability to deal with unlimited field problems since the Zommerfeld radiation condition holds unconditionally in the problem statement. Furthermore, the integral methods require that only the surface field of a diffraction element be known, and not the total spatial field, thus minimizing the number of unknowns. A disadvantage of the integral methods is that they lead to fully completed matrixes and, hence, require large bulk of computer memory and great computational efforts. Note that volume integral methods are also able to simulate diffraction by nonhomogeneous DOEs. Variational methods applied to solving limit-volume tasks find the solution to Helmholtz's equation by minimizing the functional relation, as opposed to directly solving differential equations. If the finite element method is stated using the Ritz method, it is represented by a variational approximation. Its statement is simple and apply to an arbitrary homogeneous medium. However, it involves no Zommerfeld radiation condition. It is common practice to use an absorbing boundary condition which is also not free from disadvantages. There is also a hybrid method [1] which implies the application of the finite element method (FEM) to the internal DOE region where nonhomogeneities may occur, and the application of the boundary element method to a DOE-external region, with the radiation conditions to be fulfilled. The methods meet on the interface, thus satisfying the field continuity condition. This approximation represents a faithful boundary condition since values of the normal derivative of reflected field are given exactly. A disadvantage of the method lies in the nondiagonal character of the matrix system, which leads to a completely filled submatrix resulting in a greater memory resources for data storage and great computational efforts


Background Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), an Asteraceae member, yields high quality edible oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids and is resilient to dry conditions. The crop holds tremendous potential for improvement through concerted molecular breeding programs due to the availability of significant genetic and phenotypic diversity. Genomic resources that could facilitate such breeding programs remain largely underdeveloped in the crop. The present study was initiated to develop a large set of novel microsatellite markers for safflower using next generation sequencing. Principal Findings Low throughput genome sequencing of safflower was performed using Illumina paired end technology providing ~3.5X coverage of the genome. Analysis of sequencing data allowed identification of 23,067 regions harboring perfect microsatellite loci. The safflower genome was found to be rich in dinucleotide repeats followed by tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexa-nucleotides. Primer pairs were designed for 5,716 novel microsatellite sequences with repeat length ≥ 20 bases and optimal flanking regions. A subset of 325 microsatellite loci was tested for amplification, of which 294 loci produced robust amplification. The validated primers were used for assessment of 23 safflower accessions belonging to diverse agro-climatic zones of the world leading to identification of 93 polymorphic primers (31.6%). The numbers of observed alleles at each locus ranged from two to four and mean polymorphism information content was found to be 0.3075. The polymorphic primers were tested for cross-species transferability on nine wild relatives of cultivated safflower. All primers except one showed amplification in at least two wild species while 25 primers amplified across all the nine species. The UPGMA dendrogram clustered C. tinctorius accessions and wild species separately into two major groups. The proposed progenitor species of safflower, C. oxyacantha and C. palaestinus were genetically closer to cultivated safflower and formed a distinct cluster. The cluster analysis also distinguished diploid and tetraploid wild species of safflower. Conclusion Next generation sequencing of safflower genome generated a large set of microsatellite markers. The novel markers developed in this study will add to the existing repertoire of markers and can be used for diversity analysis, synteny studies, construction of linkage maps and marker-assisted selection.


Emerged as a promising solution for future wireless communication systems, intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) is capable of reconfiguring the wireless propagation environment by adjusting the phase-shift of a large number of reflecting elements. To quantify the gain achieved by IRSs in the radio frequency (RF) powered Internet of Things (IoT) networks, in this work, we consider an IRS-assisted cellular-based RF-powered IoT network, where the cellular base stations (BSs) broadcast energy signal to IoT devices for energy harvesting (EH) in the charging stage, which is utilized to support the uplink (UL) transmissions in the subsequent UL stage. With tools from stochastic geometry, we first derive the distributions of the average signal power and interference power which are then used to obtain the energy coverage probability, UL coverage probability, overall coverage probability, spatial throughput and power efficiency, respectively. With the proposed analytical framework, we finally evaluate the effect on network performance of key system parameters, such as IRS density, IRS reflecting element number, charging stage ratio, etc. Compared with the conventional RF-powered IoT network, IRS passive beamforming brings the same level of enhancement in both energy coverage and UL coverage, leading to the unchanged optimal charging stage ratio when maximizing spatial throughput.


The paper examined determinants of Electoral integrity in Nigeria with a view to amongst others  identifying the ingredients of credible elections and underlying factors that could drive the integrity of election. It is also aimed at comparing the integrity of election in Nigeria prior to 2011 and beyond. The paper relied on primary and secondary sources of data which include administration of questionnaire on relevant stakeholders, consultation of books, journals and internet surfing. The study revealed that Electoral integrity is a term that cannot be underestimated in transitional and developed democracies. The paper also discovered that transparency, capacity building and independence of the commission are the major variables that could improve the integrity of election in Nigeria. Furthermore, the 2015 election was empirically adjudged to be the freest and most acceptable election in Nigeria, while 2003 and 2007 elections were declared to be the most unacceptable elections in the country. It also revealed that unless some of the identified factors or variables shaping the integrity of electoral process are addressed, the outcome of not paying attention to these factors may result to violence at worst.


LetQnbe the random number of comparisons made by quicksort in sortingndistinct keys when we assume that alln! possible orderings are equally likely. Known results concerning moments forQndo not show how rare it is forQnto make large deviations from its mean. Here we give a good approximation to the probability of such a large deviation and find that this probability is quite small. As well as the basic quicksort, we consider the variant in which the partitioning key is chosen as the median of (2t+1) keys.


Sleep has been implicated as playing an important role in memory consolidation. Considerable indirect evidence suggests a role for sleep in hippocampus-dependent memory in rodents. Hippocampal place cells that were active during maze running were more likely to be activated during subsequent sleep, a phenomenon known as neural replay. In addition to hippocampal neural replay, it has been asserted that the hippocampus and cortex communicate during sleep by means of hippocampal generated high frequency burst patterns, which are temporally correlated with spindles in the medial prefrontal cortex during slow- wave sleep. Despite this evidence not a single study specifically demonstrates improved memory after sleep in rodents, although several studies demonstrate deficits in memory due to sleep deprivation. The most commonly used approach to examine behavioral effects of sleep on memory consolidation has been the sleep deprivation method. Sleep deprivation studies typically find that handling the animals during the sleep phase (i.e. depriving sleep) leads to memory deficits. Although this may be suggestive that sleep is important for memory, there may be other explanations for the impairment, such as stress-related deficits from the constant handling. In Chapter 1, we reexamine the effects of sleep deprivation (i.e. gentle handling) on rodent Pavlovian fear conditioning. We found that the deprivation method itself (i.e., gentle handling) induced deficits independent of sleep suggesting that the sleep deprivation method might be a problematic way to examine the role of sleep in memory consolidation. In Chapter 2, we detailed a naturalistic method to examine whether Pavlovian fear conditioning is enhanced after a sleep phase, as compared with an equivalent passage of an awake phase. We found that sleep selectively enhanced hippocampus-dependent memory in mice. In Chapter 3, we investigated the relationship between pharmacologically induced sleep and Pavlovian fear conditioning. We found that therapeutic doses of zolpidem (0.01-0.5 mg/kg) did not affect memory acquisition or consolidation. Additionally, we found that 8 mg/kg of zolpidem induced deep sleep. Next, we explored the effects of pharmacologically induced deep sleep and memory consolidation. We found that a drug-induced mouse nap, an episode of deep sleep during the awake phase, selectively enhanced contextual memory. Next, we wanted to expand our findings to human memory. In Chapter 4, we utilized a nap paradigm to examine how sleep affected memory compared to caffeine and an awake-placebo control. We found that sleep improved consolidation of verbal memory compared to both caffeine and the control. Lastly, in Chapter 5, we took advantage of the nap paradigm to study how sleep integrates new information with prior experiences. We found that REM sleep, compared to NREM sleep and quiet wake, improved problem solving by assimilating new information with past experience to create a richer network for future use. Both the rodent and human evidence provide strong support for the critical role of sleep in stabilizing and reorganizing new information


This paper identifies a number of related difficulties, some of which are still unsolved. Attention is drawn to failings in the type of pressure-flow model commonly used in the literature. Difficulties also exist when published algorithms are applied to control loops. These are illustrated for simple and cascade control applications and discussed in some detail. Eight general conclusions are: 1. The concept of 2-way flow of information in failure models is important in certain situations, e.g., fluid flow. 2. The accuracy of failure models is generally low. This reflects the fact that much of the effort expended in systematic failure analyses has been heavily oriented towards algorithms. 3. Models used in failure analyses do not have to be comprehensive. Only the credible set of events is needed. 4. No always-satisfactory algorithm has been published for fault-tree synthesis where control loops are encountered. 5. The control loop problem is inextricably interlinked with the general difficulty that fault-tree methodology is primarily oriented to binary systems where the time dimension can be ignored. 6. Fault-tree methodology uses simple models to approximate system failures. If these failures are complex then fault trees might not be suitable. The results of analyses involving complex failures must be treated with great care. 7. When fault-tree methodology is not completely suitable one ought to consider using a different technique altogether. The cause-consequence diagram might be appropriate since it can be used to study failure modes where time is important. 8.


Anomie theorists have been reporting the suppression of shared welfare orientations by the overwhelming dominance of economic values within capitalist societies since before the outset of neoliberalism debate. Obligations concerning common welfare are more and more often subordinated to the overarching aim of realizing economic success goals. This should be especially valid with for social life in contemporary market societies. This empirical investigation examines the extent to which market imperatives and values of the societal community are anchored within the normative orientations of market actors. Special attention is paid to whether the shape of these normative orientations varies with respect to the degree of market inclusion. Empirical analyses, based on the data of a standardized written survey within the German working population carried out in 2002, show that different types of normative orientation can be distinguished among market actors. These types are quite similar to the well-known types of anomic adaptation developed by Robert K. Merton in "Social Structure and Anomie" and are externally valid with respect to the prediction of different forms of economic crime. Further analyses show that the type of normative orientation actors adopt within everyday life depends on the dregree of market inclusion. Confirming anomie theory, it is shown that the individual willingness to subordinate matters of common welfare to the aim of economic success—radical market activism—gets stronger the more actors are included in the market sphere. Finally, the relevance of reported findings for the explanation of violent behavior, especially with view to varieties of corporate violence, is discussed.


Background Lung cancer remains a major global health challenge. Macrophages (Macs) are one important component of tumor microenvironments (TMEs); however, their prognostic relevance to lung cancer is currently unknown due to the complexity of their phenotypes. Methods In the present study, reanalysis and atlas reconstruction of downloaded single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) data were used to systematically compare the component and transcriptional changes in Mac subtypes across different stages of lung cancer. Results We found that with the progression of lung cancer, the proportion of alveolar macrophages (aMacs) gradually decreased, while the proportions of Macs and monocytes (Monos) gradually increased, suggesting a chemotaxis process followed by a Mono-Mac differentiation process. Meanwhile, through ligand-receptor (LR) screening, we identified 9 Mac-specific interactions that were enriched during the progression and metastasis of lung cancer, which could potential promote M2 polarization or the infiltration of M2 Macs. Moreover, we found that the expression of SPP1 in Macs increased with lung cancer progression, and identified 9 genes that were correlated with the expression of SPP1 in Macs, which might also contribute to the immunosuppression process in lung cancer. Conclusions Our results revealed detailed changes in Macs at different stages of lung cancer progression and metastasis and provided potential therapeutic targets that could be used in future lung cancer treatments.


. The article analyzes and proposes solutions for metrological support of weight information systems of road vehicles in motion, including the method of classification of WIM systems by purpose and accuracy classes, metrological requirements for them and control methods for testing and verification, as well as the main metrological risks for Weigh-in-motion systems for road vehicles and requirements for determining and calculating reliability.


For a prime $p$, a restricted arithmetic progression in $\mathbb{F}_p^n$ is a triplet of vectors $x, x+a, x+2a$ in which the common difference $a$ is a non-zero element from $\{0,1,2\}^n$. What is the size of the largest $A\subseteq \mathbb{F}_p^n$ that is free of restricted arithmetic progressions? We show that the density of any such set is at most $\frac{C}{(\log\log\log n)^c}$, where $c,C>0$ depend only on $p$, giving the first reasonable bounds for the density of such sets. Previously, the best known bound was $O(1/\log^{*} n)$, which follows from the density Hales-Jewett theorem.


the judgment, as linguistic expression is rich conceptual from which set out various mental processes in which the subject takes positions critically, this for each context makes evident perspectives assumed in proportion to the process for which will be applied , in this respect, this paper sets out two processes , philosophical judgment as a reflective element that allows the subject to position - taking in relation to a specific idea and judgment of quality, where in order to achieve continuous improvement of the processes analyzed , is performed reflections conducting weigh and evaluate actions to establish improvement plans, which , in the context of quality processes National Accreditation Council ( CNA ), in processes institutional accreditation self-assessment, jointly intervene as a means, in both their interaction is to identify, define and delimit the conditions of the institution and from this analysis generate improvement plans for its consolidation, and as an end in itself, regarding the culmination of a process as evaluative figure for determining the levels of satisfaction and compliance with the indicators of the ANC, then being self-evaluation processes convergence scenario practiced for both trials .


The purpose of this proposal is to ensure that the School of Education remains connected with the formative purpose of feedback, and that it avoids misconstruing the processes and practices of assessment and feedback as being merely a mopping up exercise at the end of a sequence of study. Instead, feedback should be understood and promoted as being a productive teaching interaction. Indeed, for many students, it may be the most important teaching interaction that they experience. The School of Education will therefore continue to keep the question of the purpose of feedback at the forefront of its teaching and assessment discussions, on the understanding that feedback worthy of the name should allow students to become more confident and informed in their thinking, writing and acting. The actions proposed present an opportunity to develop a rationale for feedback which gives a central place to the role of dialogue, reinforcing feedback as an engagement in the ongoing social practice of teaching rather than a reductive judgement and summation of learning.


The present article is dedicated to the problem of creating prediction models' of manufacturing processes and providing the conditions of the models stability. Predicting models are increasingly applied in advanced control systems, intelligent systems of information decision making support systems, play a huge role in any activity concerned with signal processing procedures, involving detecting faults of different technological processes and evaluation of the risk potential of critical information infrastructure plants, as well as can be applied in safety threats monitoring systems. A particular class in the series of predicting models is formed by models based on the knowledge about running processes (for instance, regularities revealed from data gathered as a result of the plant performance). In the paper, a virtual "instant" plant model is considered. It is represented under the multi-scale wavelet expansion of input actions vectors and plant output prediction. The considered model provides the prediction without accounting possible states of the prediction ground. To investigate the virtual "instant" model stability, an approach is developed on the basis of the wavelet analysis. Using the approach, prediction model stability conditions are obtained with the focus on the conditions for the approximating and detailing constituent parts for four types of the interrelationship between the input and output memory depth. The paper presents stability conditions of a predicting model, which are developed based on the multi-scale wavelet transform, as well an example of the predicting model applied in the oil refining process.


The microstructure of additive manufacturing parts has unique characteristics. In this paper, a novel microstructure simulation model is proposed in grain level, called "Invasion Model", to simulate the transient competitive grain growth behaviour in direct energy deposition (DED) process. Different from the phase field method, the invasion model does not focus on the exact dendrite geometry immersed in the liquid phase which will usually lead into high computational cost. The key point of the invasion model is its capability to reflect the transient competitive grain growth behavior under the triensent thermal gradient located at the bottom of the melt pool. An 'invasion factor' is proposed to represent the possibility that one single crystal will invade its adjacent crystals in each time step. This 'invasion factor' is calculated by the relation between crystallographic orientation and a changing thermal gradient under the help of the grain boundary criterions in competitive grain growth. Furthermore, the shape and the cooling condition of the melt pool are vital to the final microstructure. The geometry of the melt pool is extracted from the temperature history data of finite element and CFD simulation. The melt pool geometry is analyzed quantitively from interpolated temperature history data and inputted into the invasion model. A vertical cross section of DED fabricated Ti-6Al-4V in multiple layers was investigated by the invasion model, and the competitive grain growth behavior is simulated between the crystals with random crystallographic orientations.


Abstract Cryptocurrency innovations such as Bitcoin raise the question of the possible transformation of the monetary regime and how it would operate. The blockchain technology underlying Bitcoin is said to be "trustless" because it has been designed to avoid a "trusted third party." Drawing on the institutionalist approach of Aglietta and Orléan emphasizing the importance of trust in money and the monetary system, we show that Bitcoin is characterized by: (1) methodical trust through the existence of an objective proof of payment; (2) hierarchical trust due to the concentration in the mining process; and (3) ethical trust organized around the rejection of banks and the state, although the early ethical commitment is unstable. In other words, trust is now materialized in a form of technical institution, the blockchain. However, Bitcoin cannot be used as everyday money as it would bring about a deflationist and dysfunctional monetary regime, as well as high transaction costs. Some other cryptocurrencies could lead to interesting transformations of the monetary regime if they were to provide new forms of sovereignty, avoid a design based on a fixed monetary supply, or if central banks decided to back them.


Large-scale multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) systems and cloud radio access networks (C-RANs) are considered promising technologies for the fifth generation (5G) of wireless networks. In these technologies, the use of low-resolution analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) is key for energy efficiency and for complying with constrained fronthaul links. Processing signals with few bits implies a significant performance loss and, therefore, techniques that can compensate for quantization distortion are fundamental. In wireless systems, an automatic gain control (AGC) precedes the ADCs to adjust the input signal level in order to reduce the impact of quantization. In this work, we propose the joint optimization of the AGC, which works in the remote radio heads (RRHs), and a low-resolution aware (LRA) linear receive filter based on the minimum mean square error (MMSE), which works in the cloud unit (CU), for large-scale MU-MIMO systems with coarsely quantized signals. We develop linear and successive interference cancellation (SIC) receivers based on the proposed joint AGC and LRA MMSE (AGC-LRA-MMSE) approach. An analysis of the achievable sum rates along with a computational complexity study is also carried out. Simulations show that the proposed AGC-LRA-MMSE design provides substantial gains in bit error rates and achievable information rates over existing techniques.


PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Persistent catabolism is one of the main causes of delayed healing in polytrauma patients. The purpose of this study is to verify the effect of early administration of an anabolic steroid in combination with vitamin D on the process of bone healing in polytrauma patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this prospective study, the patients with a serious trauma were divided into two groups (a control group and a treatment group), with the treatment group being treated with nandrolone decanoate, an anabolic steroid in combination with vitamin D. In all the patients, bone metabolism markers and sex hormone levels (men only) were monitored through lab testing for the period of 70 days and the results of both the groups were subsequently compared. RESULTS The study included a total of 64 patients, 32 in the control group and 32 in the treatment group. The differences between the groups in gender (p = 0.387) as well as in the age of patients (p = 0.436) were statistically non-significant. There was a significant difference in the Injury Severity Score (48 in the treatment group as against 41 in the control group, p = 0.022). Even though this difference was statistically significant, it cannot be considered clinically significant since all the patients met the major trauma criteria. No positive effect of this treatment on bone metabolism parameters was established; on the very contrary, the only statistically significant changes were observed in the control group. To be specific, in levels of one of the bone formation markers, bone alkaline phosphatase on Day 7 after the injury (an increased level in the control group; p = 0.002) and in one of the bone resorption markers (bone acid phosphatase) on Day 70 after the injury (an increased level in the treatment group; p = 0.042). In the treatment group, 70 days after the injury a higher 25(OH)vitamin D level (p < 0.001) was reported and starting from Day 7 in men in the treatment group a significantly lower testosterone level and free testosterone level were observed. The level of androgenic hormones dramatically dropped in both the groups during the first days after the trauma, the dynamics of its normalization was faster in patients in the control group than in the treatment group. DISCUSSION The administration of nandrolone decanoate, an anabolic steroid, in combination with vitamin D did not produce the expected effect, i.e. an improvement in bone healing markers in polytrauma patients. One would expect that in polytrauma patients with a bone fracture or fractures during bone healing higher levels of all the markers of bone resorption as well as bone formation will persist. Similar increases in bone metabolism levels, however, were observed also in patients with injuries in other somatic regions. This indicates the importance of bone tissue involvement in the overall response of the organism to polytrauma. A faster normalization of the levels of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and free testosterone in the control group compared to the treatment group corresponds with the supplemental effect of anabolic steroids and reduced production of these hormones as a feedback to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. CONCLUSIONS In the follow-up period, the positive effect of anabolic steroid and vitamin D administration on bone metabolism in polytrauma patients was not confirmed. Key words: polytrauma, anabolic steroids, vitamin D, bone metabolism.


Splanchnic blood flow was studied over a wide range of portal pressures in five dogs. An inverse linear relationship between flow and pressure was found in the range from 6 to 42 mmHg. The colonic absorption of ammonia, water, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, and chloride was measured in four dogs over a similar range of portal pressures. Absorption of ammonia, water, sodium, and chloride was significantly reduced by increasing portal pressure, and this reduction was abolished when portal pressure was allowed to return to the basal level. It is suggested that splanchnic decompression by portasystemic shunt gives rise to increased mesenteric flow and increased colonic ammonia absorption, which may contribute to portasystemic encephalopathy.


OBJECTIVE
It is important to predict mesiodistal crown diameter of the permanent canines and premolars in the mixed dentition, which helps to determine malocclusion and its further development. But there is still no article about this equation of Chinese used to predict mesiodistal crown diameter of cuspids and premolars. This research is to measure mesiodistal crown diameters, to study relationship between lower incisors and canines and premolars, and to provide the most accurate and easy basis in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment for Chinese people.

METHODS
140 Chinese students (60 male, 80 female) who were from eighteen to twenty-five years old without orthodontic history Chengdu were randomly collected in. All teeth must be free of visible malform, aberration, and fully erupted. Impressions were taken, and measurements were made, parallel to the occlusal plane at the greatest mesiodistal width of each tooth on dental cast with electronic caliper (0.01 mm). Each tooth was measured twice and the average of the two readings was taken as the dimension for that individual tooth. Mesiodistal crown diameters were statistically analyzed with t-test and linear regression, using the SAS (Statistic Analyses System) computer package.

RESULTS
It was found that mesiodistal crown diameters had significantly statistical difference in gender. Hence the mesiodistal crown diameters were assessed and investigated separately for the male and the female. It was also found that the total mesiodistal crown diameter of lower incisors was closely correlated with the total mesiodistal crown diameter of canines and premolars. The correlation coefficients between the independent variable and dependent variables were 0.599 for upper canines and premolars and 0.654 for lower canines and premolars in the males and 0.586 and 0.635, respectively, in the females. The P were found to be less than 0.001 for both arches. The correlation coefficients had significantly statistical difference.

CONCLUSION
The equations predicting overall mesiodistal crown diameters of upper and lower unerupted canines and premolars for male and female Chinese people were established respectively: Maxillary (y = 10.87 + 0.51 x (male)), y = 11.88 + 0.46 x (female), Mandibular (y = 10.36 + 0.50 x (male), y = 10.03 + 0.49 x (female)), y (total mesiodistal crown diameter of canines and premolars), and x (total mesiodistal crown diameter of lower incisors).


: One reason of why the guidance and control systems are imperfect is due to the dynamics of both the tracker and the missile, which appears as an error in the alignment with the LOS and delay in the response of the missile to change its orientation. Other reasons are the bias and disturbances as well as the noise about and within the system such as the thermal noise. This paper deals with the tracking system used in the homing guidance and air defense systems. A realistic model for the tracking system model is developed including the receiver servo dynamics and the possible disturbance and noise that may affect the accuracy of the tracking signals measured by the seeker sensor. Modeling the parameters variability and uncertainty is also examined to determine the robustness margin of the tracking system.


This work explores a social learning problem with agents having nonidentical noise variances and mismatched beliefs. We consider an $N$-agent binary hypothesis test in which each agent sequentially makes a decision based not only on a private observation, but also on preceding agents' decisions. In addition, the agents have their own beliefs instead of the true prior, and have nonidentical noise variances in the private signal. We focus on the Bayes risk of the last agent, where preceding agents are selfish. We first derive the optimal decision rule by recursive belief update and conclude, counterintuitively, that beliefs deviating from the true prior could be optimal in this setting. The effect of nonidentical noise levels in the two-agent case is also considered and analytical properties of the optimal belief curves are given. Next, we consider a predecessor selection problem wherein the subsequent agent of a certain belief chooses a predecessor from a set of candidates with varying beliefs. We characterize the decision region for choosing such a predecessor and argue that a subsequent agent with beliefs varying from the true prior often ends up selecting a suboptimal predecessor, indicating the need for a social planner. Lastly, we discuss an augmented intelligence design problem that uses a model of human behavior from cumulative prospect theory and investigate its near-optimality and suboptimality.


ABSTRACT Background: Numerous evidence-based trauma therapies for children and adolescents have been developed over several decades to minimize the negative outcomes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, PTSD remains a complex construct and is associated with pervasive problems and high comorbidity. To gain more insight, much could be learnt from the similarities in trauma therapies. Objective: The purpose of this study is to derive common elements from evidence-based trauma therapies for children and adolescents. Method: Therapies were selected from a literature search. Five evidence-based trauma therapies were included in this study. A common element list was created through an existing and modified Delphi method, with a diverse group of Dutch trauma therapists. An element was deemed common when it appeared in three or more of the therapies. The final list was presented to international experts on the included trauma therapies. Results: A substantial commonality of techniques and mechanisms was found across the five evidence-based trauma therapies for children and adolescents, showing a strong overlap between therapies. Conclusion: The identified elements create a basis for research and clinical practice, with regard to targeted trauma therapies tailored to each individual child and his or her support system. This promotes therapy modules that are more flexible and accessible for both therapists and clients, in every environment, from specialized psychiatric units to sites with meagre resources. With current integrated knowledge, we can enhance the effectiveness of child psychiatry and refine trauma therapies. HIGHLIGHTS Using a modified Delphi method, a substantial commonality of techniques and mechanisms is found in evidence-based trauma therapies for children and adolescents. Understanding the techniques and mechanisms of trauma therapy could be of help in refining upcoming therapies, and creates a basis for future research. Commonalities promote therapy modules that are more flexible and accessible for both therapists and clients, in environments ranging from specialized psychiatric units to sites with meagre resources. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


The aim of this study was to determine the total phenolic content, total flavonoids content, and antioxidant activity of various extracts of pumpkin Cucurbita maxima skin and pulp. The various solvents used for extraction were acetone, methanol, ethanol and water. The total phenolic content in pulp extracts ranged from 9.72 ± 0.37 to 106.92 ±0.47 mg GAE/g of extract, while in skin extracts ranged from 55.91 ± 5.67 to 336.19 ± 0.89 mg GAE/g of extract. The total flavonoids content varied from 0.13 ± 0.01 to 2.21 ±0.06 mg CE/g of extract in pulp extracts and from 1.17 ± 0.08 to 4.64 ± 0.02 mg CE/g of extract in skin extracts. Antioxidant activity of extracts was expressed as percentage of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), IC50 values (mg/ml), and radicals inhibition. The IC50 values in pulp ranged from 1.55 to 4.01 mg /ml and from 1.12 to 67.64 mg/ml in skin. The highest antioxidant scavenging activity was obtained in water skin extract (lowest IC50 value of 1.12 mg/ml). The Cucurbita maxima skin extracts contains impressively higher total phenolic and total flavonoids contents when compared to pulp extracts. The present study revealed that the skin followed by the pulp of pumpkin Cucurbita maxima could be used as an excellent natural source of antioxidant.


Our information about the fourteenth-century plague in Central Asia, or indeed anywhere east of the Crimea/Caspian, derives from a close analysis of the epigraphical evidence from three East Syriac (Nestorian) cemeteries not far from Issyk-Kul' lake in northern Kyrgyzstan. The absence of palaeogenetic data to confirm it could be partially rectified by both textual and palaeoclimatological data. The ratio of mortality rates between "normal" and plague years in the Issyk-Kul' communities is not unlike that in Europe during the plague years 1348 to 1350. A proper appreciation of the pandemic outbreak requires setting its timing in a climatic context. After two pluvial episodes in the 1310s and 1320s, precipitation levels in Issyk-Kul' during the 1330s underwent a sharp decline, thereby depriving sylvatic rodents of sufficient grass to sustain their high population density. Hence, the plague pathogen and its vectors needed an alternative host to maintain their activity. Anthropogenic factors, including international trade and military campaigns along Central Asian trade routes, may also have contributed to the outbreak and spread of the plague. The Issyk-Kul' mortality crisis ties into wider questions about the origins and initial spread of plague after the "big bang" of the thirteenth century, whereby four new plague branches emerged (possibly in Central Asia).


The laws of visual direction proposed by Wells some 200 years ago and Hering over 100 years ago are restated as three laws with the terminology of these two pioneers. This restatement serves both to honour their work and to strengthen some of the weaknesses in their original treatises. Second, two simple experiments, or tests of the laws, which the readers can readily perform by using their fingers as stimuli, are illustrated. Third, one of the three laws is modified to incorporate recent findings. Fourth, two recent experiments relevant to these new laws are described briefly, and their theoretical and methodological implications are discussed.


The feeling of boredom during a speech is not a new phenomenon, but in a late modern information society this challenge is intensified. This article explores what sort of rhetorical opening strategy which may 'charge' a sermon with an appropriate suspense to help the congregation to remain attentive throughout the sermon. The article analyses a selective, digital sample of video recorded confirmation sermons from Church of Norway confirmation services in 2020. Drawing on theories on suspense, attention, and boredom, the article uses classical rhetorical theory on the different styles of speech to suggest three possible rhetorical opening strategies for a preacher who wants to 'charge' a (confirmation) sermon with a relevant suspense, that of the teacher, the poet, and the prophet.


Spatial seemingly unrelated regression (spatial SUR) models are a useful multiequational econometric specification to simultaneously incorporate spatial effects and correlated error terms across equations. The purpose of the spsur R package is to supply a complete set of functions to test for spatial structures in the residual of a SUR model;to estimate the most popular specifications by applying different methods and test for linear restrictions on the parameters. The package also facilitates the estimation of so-called spatial impacts, conveniently adapted to a SUR framework. The package includes functions to simulate datasets with the features decided by the user, which may be useful in teaching activities or in more general research projects. The article concludes with a real data application showing the potential that spsur has to examine the relation of individual mobility over geographic areas and the incidence of COVID-19 in Spain during the first lockdown. © 2022, American Statistical Association. All rights reserved.


Arguably the dominant paradigm in agent development is the BeliefDesire-Intention (BDI) model [2]. In BDI-based agent programming languages, the behaviour of an agent is specified in terms of beliefs, goals, and plans. Beliefs represent the agent's information about the environment (and itself). Goals represent desired states of the environment the agent is trying to bring about. Plans are the means by which the agent can modify the environment in order to achieve its goals. Plans may include sub-goals, and each sub-goal is in turn achieved by some other plan. The set of plans is pre-defined by the agent developer, and, together with the agent's initial beliefs and goals, form the program of the agent. The execution of a BDI agent consists of a repeated cycle of: updating the agent's beliefs and goals to reflect the current state of the environment, selecting plans to achieve the agent's current (sub)goals based on the agent's current beliefs, and finally executing one or more steps of the agent's currently intended plans. For each top-level goal, the agent selects a plan which forms the root of an intention. If the next step in an intention is a subgoal, a sub-plan is selected to achieve the subgoal and pushed onto the intention, and the steps in the sub-plan are then executed and so on. This process of repeatedly choosing and executing plans is referred to the agent's deliberation cycle. In many BDI agent architectures, the execution of the plans comprising the agent's intentions is interleaved, e.g., when execution of a plan in one intention reaches a subgoal, the agent may switch to executing a plan in a different intention. Interactions between different intentions may result in conflicts, e.g., where the execution of a plan in one intention makes the execution of another plan in the same or another intention impossible or renders a goal unachievable. The task of anticipating and avoiding such conflicts is generally left to the agent developer. However, the run-time plan selection characteristic of BDI agents makes it difficult to anticipate all the ways in which an agent program may be executed, and harder to ensure that conflicts cannot arise. Ideally, the agent itself should be able to reason about possible conflicts between its intentions, and schedule their execution so as to avoid conflicts. In this paper, we present a novel approach to intention scheduling for BDI agents based on Single-Player Monte-Carlo Tree Search (SP-MCTS) that avoids conflicts between intentions. We evaluate the performance of our approach and compare it to a previous approach to intention scheduling based on summary information [4]. Our preliminary experimental results indicate that our approach performs at least as well as approach to scheduling intention using summary information.


In a data streaming model, records or documents are pushed from a data owner, via untrusted third-party servers, to a large number of users with matching interests. The match in interest is calculated from the correlation between each pair of document and user query. For scalability and availability reasons, this calculation is delegated to the servers, which gives rise to the need to protect the privacy of the documents and user queries. In addition, the users need to guard against the eventuality of a server distorting the correlation score of the documents to manipulate which documents are highlighted to certain users. In this paper, we address the aforementioned privacy and verifiability challenges. We introduce the first cryptographic scheme which concurrently safeguards the privacy of the documents and user queries in such a data streaming model, while enabling users to verify the correlation scores obtained. We provide techniques to bound the computation demand in decrypting the correlation scores, and we demonstrate the overall practicality of the scheme through experiments with real data.


The nature of recent international research collaboration is described. Breakdown data obtained on a wide variety of air clearances are comprehensively summarised; the effects of the polarity and shape of the testing impulse, the geometry of the electrodes and the condition of the atmosphere are considered separately. Recent improvements in the physical understanding of the pre-breakdown phenomena are discussed in some detail, and their application to engineering problems, by means of models, is considered. Newly developed methods of field calculation are applied to complex configurations subjected to more than one voltage stress. Statistical methods are used, both in assigning confidence intervals to test data, and in predicting risks of failure.