The paranasal sinuses, which formed in mammals as turbinates and air spaces to perform or aid olfaction, eventually came to participate in the formation and maintenance of the entire cranium and to have concomitant functions as well. Evolving through primates to humans, they were influenced by the retraction of the maxillo-facial cranium and the enlargement of the cerebral cranium and thus reached the state unique to humans. The evolutionary phenomena involved in the formation and functions of the paranasal sinuses include adaptation to olfaction, respiration, and cranial formation. These were the phenomena which caused allometric development. Therefore, the paranasal sinuses did not always perform the same functions as they did when they originated, but, influenced by the evolutionary level of each animal and especially by the evolution to apes and humans, the original functions changed to different ones, mostly as instances of preadaptation, according to the evolutionary stage of each paranasal sinus. As the sense of smell ascribed to the mammalian nose began to regress together with the retraction of the jaw (maxilla and mandible), the orbits started to form in primates, and the ethmoturbinate became full of cavities and formed the lateral walls of the nasal cavity. This occurred because the evolution of primates and higher made olfaction non-essential and respiration foremost. When hominization began and the facial cranium distinctly retracted, the maxillary sinus enlarged because of the enlargement of the molars, the change in the dental arch, and the enlargement of the masticatory muscles, and its air-conditioning function became established. The secondary sinuses of the frontal and sphenoid sinuses, which had expanded in mammals, started to regress in response to the new conditions. Especially when the cranium became spherical in the transition from the homo sap. neanderthalensis stage to the homo sap. sap. stage, the transformation of the cerebral cranium forced an increase in the angle between the forehead and the frontal cranial base and a decrease in the angle of the cranial base at the sella turcica. The frontal and sphenoid sinuses then expanded in adjustment to this transformation.


We take an ordered, anharmonic crystal in the form of slab geometry in three dimensions. Apart from attaching baths of Langevin type to the extreme surfaces, we also attach baths of same type to the intermediate surfaces of the slab to simulate the environment surrounding the system. We assume noise functions to be Gaussian and their widths to be site dependent. We find that the radiated heat from the slab does not receive any correction at the leading order of anharmonic coupling and the Newton's law of cooling holds for an appropriate choice of the widths. We observe that in the steady state limit entire slab becomes an assembly of $N$ different thermally equilibriated layers, where $N$ is the number of sites in the direction of conduction current flow. We find an exponentially falling nature of the temperature profile as its leading behaviour and its non-leading behaviour is governed by the two site dependent functions. Our evaluation suggests that in the thermodynamic limit thermal conductivity remains independent of the environment temperature and is dependent only on the difference of temperature of the extreme surfaces linearly at the leading order of anharmonic coupling. We find that owing to finiteness of conductivity in the thermodynamic limit, Fourier's law holds to leading order in anharmonic coupling.


In this paper, the implementation of a decentralized control system is done on an experimental platform, which is dedicated to the study of fouling in industrial tubes. This plant is modelled as a multivariable system of order 2 × 2, whose the inputs are the voltage and current applied respectively in the plant actuators, and the outputs are flow and pressure measurements obtained by sensors in the main tube. The decentralized PID control system is performed by a supervisory system developed in LabVIEW software to verify the impact of fouling on the current behavior of the experimental platform, and thus enable performing predictive maintenance.


A parallel system relies on both process scheduling and I/O scheduling for efficient use of resources, and a program's performance hinges on the resource on which it is bottlenecked. Existing process schedulers and I/O schedulers are independent. However, when the bottleneck is I/O, there is an opportunity to alleviate it via cooperation between the I/O and process schedulers: the service efficiency of I/O requests can be highly dependent on their issuance order, which in turn is heavily influenced by process scheduling. We propose a data-driven program execution mode in which process scheduling and request issuance are coordinated to facilitate effective I/O scheduling for high disk efficiency. Our implementation, Dual Par, uses process suspension and resumption, as well as pre-execution and prefetching techniques, to provide a pool of pre-sorted requests to the I/O scheduler. This data-driven execution mode is enabled when I/O is detected to be the bottleneck, otherwise the program runs in the normal computation-driven mode. Dual Par is implemented in the MPICH2 MPI-IO library for MPI programs to coordinate I/O service and process execution. Our experiments on a 120-node cluster using the PVFS2 file system show that Dual Par can increase system I/O throughput by 31% on average, compared to existing MPI-IO with or without using collective I/O.


Consider a Markov chain $(\xi_v)_{v \in V} \in [k]^V$ on the infinite $b$-ary tree $T = (V,E)$ with irreducible edge transition matrix $M$, where $b \geq 2$, $k \geq 2$ and $[k] = \{1,...,k\}$. We denote by $L_n$ the level-$n$ vertices of $T$. Assume $M$ has a real second-largest (in absolute value) eigenvalue $\lambda$ with corresponding real eigenvector $\nu \neq 0$. Letting $\sigma_v = \nu_{\xi_v}$, we consider the following root-state estimator, which was introduced by Mossel and Peres (2003) in the context of the "recontruction problem" on trees: \begin{equation*} S_n = (b\lambda)^{-n} \sum_{x\in L_n} \sigma_x. \end{equation*} As noted by Mossel and Peres, when $b\lambda^2 > 1$ (the so-called Kesten-Stigum reconstruction phase) the quantity $S_n$ has uniformly bounded variance. Here, we give bounds on the moment-generating functions of $S_n$ and $S_n^2$ when $b\lambda^2 > 1$. Our results have implications for the inference of evolutionary trees.


BACKGROUND
Calcium-channel blockers (CCBs) are highly effective in suppressing coronary spasm and are widely used as the standard therapy for coronary spastic angina, but it is unclear if CCB treatment completely suppresses the symptoms.

METHODS AND RESULTS
The clinical course of the symptoms caused by coronary spasm was investigated in patients taking CCBs: 90 patients were evaluated and 80 patients were followed. The mean follow-up period was 1,796+/-1,169 days. There were no cardiac deaths, but 3 patients were admitted to the hospital, 1 because of the onset of non-Q wave myocardial infarction and 2 because of repeat anginal attacks. In those 2 patients, medical therapy was discontinued at their discretion. In the follow-up analysis, we found that the incidence of symptoms caused by repeat anginal attacks was 37.0% (27/73) in the first year and was increasing every year.

CONCLUSIONS
CCBs are strongly recommended for improving the prognosis of coronary spasm, but in many cases they do not suppress completely symptoms.


Mendelian randomization was used to evaluate the potential causal association between N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and ischemic stroke based on summary statistics data from large-scale genome-wide association studies. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs198389, rs13107325, and rs11105306 associated with NT-proBNP levels found in large general populations and in patients with acute heart disease were used as instrumental variables. The results of genetic association analysis of each single SNP show that there is no significant association between NT-proBNP levels and ischemic stroke or its subtypes, whereas rs198389 alone has a suggestive association with large-artery atherosclerosis stroke. The MR analysis of three SNPs shows that NT-proBNP levels may reduce the risk of small-vessel occlusion stroke suggestively. This genetic analysis provides insights into the pathophysiology and treatment of ischemic stroke.


Research and development in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) or most generally defined as miniaturized electromechanical elements, have made outstanding progress. MEMS consist of micromechanisms such as microstructures, microactuators, microsensors and their control circuits. There are two types of microactuator used in MEMS which are linear motion and rotary motion. Both types of actuator consist of electromagnetic, electrostatic, thermal, shape-memory alloy and others. Each type of actuator has its own advantages and drawbacks. This report provides a brief comparison of those actuators and overview of the design of two types of rotary motion electrostatic actuator. It focuses on the thrust force produced when different parameters are manipulated for both designs. Both designs are set to have the same size which is 1.4mm in diameter and thickness is 50μm; both designs have the same number of electrode for stator and rotor too which are twelve electrodes and sixteen electrodes respectively. To analyse the thrust force produce, Ansys Maxwell3D is used as a tool to design and analyse the two rotary motion electrostatic actuators. Three simulations have been carried out; first, vary the actuator size; second, vary the actuator thickness; third, vary the number of electrode. With the same rotor size, thickness, gap, and number of electrode, the results show that bottomdrive electrostatic actuator has better performance than side-drive electrostatic actuator through simulation.


Humans can often conduct both linear and nonlinear control tasks after a sufficient number of trials, even if they initially do not have sufficient knowledge about the system's dynamics and the way to control it. Theoretically, it is well known that some nonlinear systems cannot be stabilized asymptotically by any linear controllers and we have reported by an f-MRI experiment that different types of information may be involved in linear and nonlinear control tasks, respectively, from a brain function mapping point of view. In this paper, from a controllability analysis, we still show a possibility that human may use a linear control scheme for such nonlinear control tasks by switching the linear controllers with a virtual constraint. It is suggested that the proposed virtual constraint can play an important role to overcome a limitation of the linear controllers and to mimic human control behavior.


Monitoring is the process by which agents assess their environments. Most AI applications rely on periodic monitoring, but for a large class of problems this is ineecient. The interval reduction monitoring strategy is better. It also appears in humans and artiicial agents when they are given the same set of monitoring problems. We implemented two genetic algorithms to evolve monitoring strategies and a dynamic programming algorithm to nd an optimum strategy. We also developed a simple mathematical model of monitoring. We tested all these strategies in simulations, and we tested human strategies in a \video game." Interval reduction always emerged. Environmental factors such as error and monitoring costs had the same qualitative eeects on the strategies, irrespective of their genesis. Interval reduction appears to be a general monitoring strategy.


We present magnetometry data for a range of Fe thicknesses grown on GaAs and InAs substrates in order to determine the factors governing the evolution of the magnetic moment of epitaxial Fe grown on a zinc-blende semiconductor. Fe films grown at room temperature by molecular beam epitaxy were characterized structurally and magnetically. The estimated roughness amplitudes were 0.3plusmn0.2 nm for the Fe/GaAs interface and 0.6plusmn0.2 nm for Fe/InAs. We observe a greater reduction of the Fe magnetic moment for films grown on InAs as compared to GaAs, as the Fe films reach a bulk-like moment (within 10% deviation) at a thickness of ~5.2 nm and ~2.2 nm, respectively. We conclude that the growth conditions, in particular interface and interdiffusion effects, are the dominant mechanisms influencing the value of the magnetic moment for ultrathin Fe films on GaAs and InAs


The proposed protocol presents a comprehensive approach for large-scale qualitative and quantitative analysis of glycated proteins (GP) in complex biological samples including biological fluids and cell lysates such as plasma and red blood cells. The method, named glycation isotopic labeling (GIL), is based on the differential labeling of proteins with isotopic [(13)C6]-glucose, which supports quantitation of the resulting glycated peptides after enzymatic digestion with endoproteinase Glu-C. The key principle of the GIL approach is the detection of doublet signals for each glycated peptide in MS precursor scanning (glycated peptide with in vivo [(12)C6]- and in vitro [(13)C6]-glucose). The mass shift of the doublet signals is +6, +3 or +2 Da depending on the peptide charge state and the number of glycation sites. The intensity ratio between doublet signals generates quantitative information of glycated proteins that can be related to the glycemic state of the studied samples. Tandem mass spectrometry with high-energy collisional dissociation (HCD-MS2) and data-dependent methods with collision-induced dissociation (CID-MS3 neutral loss scan) are used for qualitative analysis.


Arterial calcification, a regulated process similar to ossification in bone, is common in atherosclerosis. A subpopulation of bovine aortic media cells, have osteoblastic characteristics and form spontaneously mineralized nodules in vitro. To assess whether Benidipine Hydrochloride as a potent calcium-channel blocker modulates arterial calcification, the effect of this drug on bovine vascular aortic smooth muscle cells for formation of calcified nodules and alkaline phosphatase activity in the culture medium was determined. These cells were obtained from bovine thoracic aorta, treated with different concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 nmol/L) of Benidipine Hydrochloride. Twenty-one days of treatment in comparison with control cells resulted in a significant increase in number of calcified nodules visualized by von Kossa staining, as well as by increase in alkaline phosphatase activity, a marker for osteoblastic differentiation and decrease in cell number in a dose dependent manner, compared with control cells. These results indicate that treatment with Benidipine Hydrochloride treatment in long term may contributes to vascular calcification.


This study assesses the feasibility of, and designs a plan for, including recovery of household plastic discards in the statewide multi-material recycling program of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Part I of the study, presented in this issue, discusses the types and amounts of plastic materials found in the waste stream, methods for collecting them, technologies for recycling them, and markets for the recycled products. Part II, appearing in the following issue, concludes that plastics recycling should be pursued and describes an action plan for integrating the plastics component into the Commonwealth's recycling program. Part II also contains technical appendices.


In this letter, we provide the construction of repairable fountain codes (RFCs) for distributed storage systems that are information-theoretically secure against an eavesdropper that has access to the data stored in a subset of the storage nodes and the data downloaded to repair an additional subset of storage nodes. The security is achieved by adding random symbols to the message, which is then encoded by the concatenation of a Gabidulin code and an RFC. We compare the achievable code rates of the proposed codes with those of secure minimum storage regenerating codes and secure locally repairable codes.


A survey is made about some possible structures of electrostatic generators suitable to be used for energy harvesting from mechanical vibrations. The structures considered have a single moving part forming one or two variable capacitors, and electronic components. Most structures can be identified with the classical electrostatic machine known as "doubler of electricity".


ABSTRACT Metaphors are a common way to express creative language, yet the cognitive basis of figurative language production remains poorly understood. Previous studies found that higher creative individuals can better comprehend novel metaphors, potentially due to a more flexible semantic memory network structure conducive to remote conceptual combination. The present study extends this domain to creative metaphor production and examined whether the ability to produce creative metaphors is related to variation in the structure of semantic memory. Participants completed a creative metaphor production task and two verbal fluency tasks. They were divided into two equal groups based on their creative metaphor production score. The semantic networks of these two groups were estimated and analyzed based on their verbal fluency responses using a computational network science approach. Results revealed that the semantic networks of high-metaphor producing individuals were more flexible, clustered, and less rigid than that of the low-metaphor producing individuals. Importantly, these results replicated across both semantic categories. The findings provide the first evidence that a flexible, clustered, and less rigid semantic memory structure relates to people's ability to produce figurative language, extending the growing literature on the role of semantic networks in creativity to the domain of metaphor production.


We explore the valence singlet and triplet ππ* excitations of benzene with complete active pace self-consistent field (CASSCF) theory, complete active space perturbation theory (CASPT2), and multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory (MC-PDFT) for four different choices of active space. We propose a new way to quantify the covalent and ionic character of the electronic states in terms of the components of the total electronic energy. We also explore the effect of scaling the exchange and correlation components of the on-top density functional used in MC-PDFT; we observe that increasing the exchange contribution improves the MC-PDFT excitation energies for benzene.


The COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and spreading around the world, which means a continuous increase in the number of infections and death. SARS-CoV-2 constantly rapidly stored mutation in the Spike gene to adapt with the host cell. The Spike gene encoded spike protein directly interacts with hACE2 on the human cell surface. Herein, using the network centrality and molecular docking approaches, we detected key mutations that positively affect spike protein. Based on network centrality, we demonstrate that the A23403G (D614G) mutation in the Spike gene is the center of a network which means this mutation has a positive effect on the virus. In addition, analyzing the interaction of spike protein with hACE2, we highlighted that the mutation appeared in the RBD region by changing the electrostatic energy of the complex. Remarkably, mutations N440K, L452R, T478K, E484K, Q493R, and Q498R increased binding free energy of Spike-hACE2 complex due to the change of the side chain into a positive charge. The Eta, Delta, and Omicron variants existed in one or more of these mutations resulting in higher binding free energy and binding affinity than the Wuhan variant indicating sounder interaction with hACE2. In general, mutations appearing on the spike protein tended to cause the surface to become positively charged in order to interact easily with the negative surface of the hACE2 receptor.


This study aimed to evaluate the viability to use Uchi-komi (UK) in the evaluation of the judo endurance performance and using lactate threshold the analysis of the blood lactate ([Lac]) and heart rate (HR) determined through a lactate minimum test. The subjects were a group of 6 male, volunteer judokas, from 25.17 ± 5.76 years old, weight 84.50 ± 23.78 kg and height 1.78 ± 0.10 m, competitors of different levels of performance (from regional to international competitions) and match experience of (11 ± 6) years old. Three tests were performed: a) 3000 m dash in track, b) the adapted test of lactate minimum for running and c) for UK, with execution of the blow ippon-seoi-nague. No significant difference was evident for the track tests and UK in relation to blood lactate and heart rate (p > 0.05) (3.87 ± 0.38 vs 4.17 ± 0.54 mmol·L(-1) and 167 ± 2 vs 152 ± 7 b·min(-1), respectively). In conclusion it is stressed that: 1) The specific test for lactate minimum in judo sport is a promising possibility of aerobic capacity evaluation and a instrument of intensity training control; 2) The metabolic profile in Vlm and UKlm is similar, because there are not differences in the [Lac] and in the HR at this intensity; 3) It is possible to estimate the training intensity through the determination of the lactate minimum intensity in running (Vlm) and the Heart Rate associated (HR) from the execution of ippon-seoi- nague (uchi-komi) in judo training; 4) The Vlm for judo athletes is approximately 88% of the V3000. Key pointsThe specific test for lactate minimum in judo sport is a promising possibility of aerobic capacity evaluation;This is a instrument for intensity training control for judo players;The metabolic profile is similar between running and uki-komi (ippon-seoi-nague techniques) at lactate minimum intensity.


Herbal medicines make up an important module of the fashion toward alternative medicine. It is becoming ever more popular in today's world as people seek out for natural remedies. These medicines have been used since the dawn of civilization to maintain health and to treat various diseases. To compete with the growing pharmaceutical market, there is an exigency to develop and scientifically validated more medicinally useful herbal products. This review provides an outline of herbal medicines which is aimed to depict out pharmacovigilance, including standardization of these herbal products.


Abstract  The native lace bug, Leptoypha mutica Say (Hemiptera: Tingidae), has demonstrated potential as an insect biological control agent of invasive Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense Lour). To better evaluate its potential to establish on a new host, developmental biology on Chinese privet was studied at temperatures of 20°C, 24°C, 28°C, and 32°C. The complete duration of development of L. mutica from egg deposition through five instars on this previously unreported host ranged from 24.4 to 57.1 d. Estimated threshold temperatures and calculated thermal unit requirements for egg development were 11.0°C and 211.9 degree-days (DD); for nymphal development, 9.9°C and 326.8 DD; and for complete development, 10.5°C and 527.4 DD. Results of this study indicate that L. mutica will oviposit and can develop successfully on Chinese privet over a range of temperatures suggesting the potential for multiple generations to occur in a single season.


In a network with dynamic spectrum access, secondary users equipped with frequency-agile cognitive radios communicate with one another via spectrum that is not being used by the primary, licensed users of the spectrum. We consider a scenario in which a secondary transmitter can communicate with a secondary receiver via a direct communication link or a relay channel, depending on the state of a primary transmitter. We develop a cooperative communications strategy that exploits the presence of spectrum holes both in time and in space by combining cooperative relaying with joint spatial-temporal spectrum sensing. A strategy based on pure temporal sensing alone uses the direct link when the primary transmitter is off, whereas a scheme based on spatial sensing alone uses the relay channel. Our numerical results show that the proposed scheme significantly reduces the average symbol error probability compared to schemes based on pure temporal or spatial sensing.


Here, we described a diet record for Dwarf caiman, Paleosuchus palpebrosus , which is one of the smallest and most secretive species of crocodilians in the world. Information its their natural history and ecology is still scarce ( Magnusson and Campos, 2010). Throughout its geographic range, P. palpebrosus occupies a wide variety of habitats, such as flooded forests, canals, rivers, lakes and even roadside borrow pits. Because different habitats have different prey availability, the diet of the species is expected to vary regionally (Magnusson, 1985; Campos et al., 2010; Magnusson and Campos, 2010 op.cit.). Based on the known diet for other Amazonian caiman species (Da Silveira and Magnusson, 1999; Magnusson et al., 1987) we could expect P. palpebrosus to have an opportunistic-generalist diet, though, the variety of prey consumed and the feeding behavior is poorly known ( Botero-Arias, 2007 ; Campos et al., 1995 ). We captured a Cuvier´s Dwarf Caiman preying on a Neckband Ground-Snake, Atractus torquatus (Dipsadidae), in lower Purus River, central Amazonia, Brazil. The caiman (male, 50 cm SVL, 95 cm TL, 2.8 kg) was captured 25 March 2013 in a seasonally flooded forest located on the southern bank of the Purus River (4°16'3" S; 61°43'52" W, WGS84, ELE. = 60 m). The caiman had a snake (male, 48 cm TL) in its mouth, which was almost intact and was preserved in 10% formalin and deposited in the herpetological section of the Zoological Collection of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia, Manaus, Brazil (INPA-H 33818). During night surveys in the same region in August 2014, we observed two additional P. palpebrosus holding snakes in their mouths, suggesting that this food type may consumed frequently.


A fast and sensitive protein fluorescent detection method in SDS‐PAGE using the natural product palmatine is described. Palmatine is an alkaloid found in various plants exhibiting a broad spectrum of antibiotic activity in humans. The sensitivity of palmatine staining is similar to those of the SYPRO Red, SYPRO Tangerine, and SYPRO Orange protein gel stains – about 4 ng per protein band. This detection sensitivity is comparable to colloidal CBB staining. Since proteins stained with palmatine do not need destaining, the staining procedure can be easily shortened and completed in about 30 min. Stained proteins can be photographed using a UV transilluminator. The results of the present study suggest that the palmatine staining is sensitive, rapid, low cost, and safe for a broad application to the research of protein.


Clenbuterol and ractopamine, which are β-agonists, have been misused as a growth promoting agent in meat producing animals. Clenbuterol was banned for veterinary drug in Korea because of its problems regarding safety. Due to their adverse effects, such as cardiovascular and central nervous diseases on human health proper control and monitoring should be conducted. The existing analytical method of clenbuterol and ractopamine in the Food code was improved through our present study. The bovine muscle samples were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, extracted with ethyl acetate and defatted by hexane-methanol partitioning. A molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) solid phase extraction cartridge was used for clean-up and LC-MS/MS was operated in positive multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Clenbuterol-d 9 and ractopamine-d3 were used as an internal standard. The renewed method was validated according to the CODEX guideline. The limits of quantitation for clenbuterol and ractopamine were 0.2 and 0.5 µg/kg, respectively. The mean recoveries ranged in 104.2-113.5% for clenbuterol and in 107.6-118.1% for ractopamine. The improved method was able to save both time and expenses.


Background Olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem cells (OM-MSCs) display significant clonogenicactivity and may be easily propagated for Parkinson's disease therapies. Methods of inducing OM-MSCs to differentiate into dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons using olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) is thus an attractive topic of research.Methods We designed a hypoxic-induction protocol to generate DAergic neurons from OM-MSCs using a physiological oxygen (O2) level of 3% and OEC-conditioned medium (HI group). The normal-induction (NI) group was cultured in O2 at ambient air level (21%). The role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in the differentiation of OM-MSCs under hypoxia was investigated by treating cells with an HIF-1α inhibitor before induction (HIR group).Results The proportions of β-tubulin- and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells were significantly increased in the HI group compared with the NI and HIR groups, as shown by immunocytochemistry and western blotting. Furthermore, the level of dopamine was significantly increased in the HI group. A slow outward potassium current was recorded in differentiated cells after 21 days of induction using whole-cell voltage-clamp tests. A hypoxic environment thus promote OM-MSCs to differentiate into DAergic neurons by increasing the expression of HIF-1α and by activation of the downstream target gene TH. This study indicated that OCM under hypoxia condition could significantly upregulate key transcriptional factors involved in the development of DAergic neurons of OM-MSCs, mediated by HIF-1α.Conclusion Hypoxia promotes DAergic neuronal differentiation of OM-MSCs, and HIF-1α may play an important role in hypoxia-inducible pathways during DAergic lineage specification and differentiation in vitro..


Body mass differs widely across the sports spectrum. While some sports are dominated by large athletes, other sports participants benefit from a small size or weight class restrictions. Perhaps the most frequent measurement of body composition has been %fat with less frequent emphasis on the major components of body composition, fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM). FFM is the functional component as it is closely associated with maximal voluntary strength, while FM plays an important role in energy balance. With the ever increasing emphasis on control and manipulation of these components in modern sports, perhaps there should be greater focus on the relationship between FFM and FM. PURPOSE: To determine the relationship of FFM and FM to height and body mass across the wide range of size typically observed in college athletes. METHODS:Two hundred and sixty-seven NCAA D-II male athletes (age = 20.2 ± 1.2 y, height =180.6 ± 7.9 cm, body mass = 87.3 ± 16.9 kg) volunteered to serve as subjects. Body composition was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). This allowed compartmentalization and regional estimates of lean (bone, muscle, etc.) and fat tissue from which FFM and FM are determined. RESULTS: The relationship between height and body mass are curvilinear and moderately correlated (r=0.61). FFM and FM were significantly related to height (r = 0.69 and 0.35, respectively) and body mass (r = 0.92 and 0.91, respectfully), with the relationships being more curvilinear in the latter. FM accounted for 60% of the variance in body mass, while FFM accounted for only 40%. The relationship between FFM and FM was significant (r = 0.62) and curvilinear, showing a greater accumulation of FM at higher body masses. CONCLUSIONS: FFM and FM increase linearly with height, but showed a curvilinear relationship with body mass suggesting that this population of male athletes may be approaching a theoretical limit of FFM accumulation. In contrast, the accumulation of FM follows a linear pattern with height but increases exponentially with body mass. The curvilinear relationship between body weight and height is not typical and appears to be related to a relative increase in body weight with fat accumulation beyond 180 cm height and 110 kg body weight. Depending on the sport, accumulation of FM may become a hindrance to performance.


How did Europe become a superpower while America wasn't paying attention? Here, American journalist T. R. Reid takes an enlightening tour of the United States of Europe' - the borderless collection of countries with more people and wealth than America. With his trademark wit and wisdom he explains the often-bewildering ins and outs of the European Union and the culture its nations have come to share - from the common pastime of America bashing and the kitsch joys of the Eurovision Song Contest to the skyrocketing success of the Euro, trouncing the once-mighty dollar in strength. And he tells many individual stories of this drama, including the astonishing takeover of all-American products by European companies, the English greengrocer who became a Metric Martyr' and of the new breed of twenty and thirty-somethings known as 'Generation E'. Essential for readers on both sides of the Atlantic, The United States of Europe is an insightful and entertaining guide to a New Europe that now makes the world's rules, whether America likes it or not


Contents: An Introduction, Human Nature and Environmentalism German Ecologists and British Aristocrats American Conservationism, A Gentleman's Concern Preparing the Way The Post-War Years Environmentalism Arrives Misanthropic Giving The Aristocratic Nature of Environmentalism Marx on Malthus The Aristocratic Opposition to Progress A Conclusion Bibliography Index.


A combined experimental evaluation of methane production (obtained by anaerobic digestion) and detailed digestate characterization (with physical-chemical, thermo-gravimetric and mineralogical approaches) was conducted on two organic substrates, which are specific to Italy (at regional and national levels). One of the substrates was grape seeds, which have an agricultural origin, whereas the other substrate was vegetable-tanned leather dust, which has an industrial origin. Under the assumed experimental conditions of the performed lab-scale test series, the grape seed substrate exhibited a resulting net methane production of 175.0 NmL g volatile solids (VS)−1; hence, it can be considered as a potential energy source via anaerobic digestion. Conversely, the net methane production obtained from the anaerobic digestion of the vegetable-tanned leather dust substrate was limited to 16.1 NmL gVS−1. A detailed characterization of the obtained digestates showed that there were both nitrogen-containing compounds and complex organic compounds present in the digestate that was obtained from the mixture of leather dust and inoculum. As a general perspective of this experimental study, the application of diversified characterization analyzes could facilitate (1) a better understanding of the main properties of the obtained digestates to evaluate their potential valorization, and (2) a combination of the digestate characteristics with the corresponding methane productions to comprehensively evaluate the bioconversion process.


We revisit whether the academic accounting profession is in decline. We use data gathered from Hasselback directories of accounting faculty from 1974 to 2016 and confirm prior results indicating a decrease in the number of assistant accounting professors from 1992 to 2002. However, accounting faculty counts (including assistant professors) increased from 2002 to 2016. These results suggest that actions to slow and reverse the decline in the academic accounting profession, in combination with broad economic factors, have been largely successful. While future challenges remain, the academic accounting profession is no longer in decline.


A rainbow colormap is often supplied as a default in visualization software. In this kind of colormap, red is mapped to the highest data value, blue to the lowest, and the other data values are interpolated along the full extent of the spectrum. But there is more to color than meets the eye. Color is a perceptual as well as physical phenomenon. What is commonly called color-hue-is only one of three parameters. Another is the brightness of the signal-intensity. The third is the admixture of white -saturation. Change any one parameter enough, and the color looks different. (The hue-intensity-saturation model of color is one of a several explored through the years, and captures some of the basic characteristics of basic color perception.) To make matters worse, the parameters' relationship to what is perceived is nonlinear. At the same intensity, for example, yellow appears brighter than blue. Some of the perceptual principles involved have been implemented in software developed at IBM Corp.'s Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY. The module runs with IBM's visualization package Data Explorer and is called Pravda (for perceptual rule based architecture for visualizing data accurately).


Indicators are an important tool for monitoring population health and service responses to population need. However, not only do they need to be empirically based, but they should measure those areas of most significance to the population group concerned. Their objective is to highlight areas needing attention, rather than to show individual detailed causes. The present paper reports key work in child health indicators and the challenges faced by those seeking to apply them to child safety and injury prevention.


It would not be an exaggeration to say that the People's Republic of China has one of the world's most complex systems of defining urban population. As evidenced by the massive literature generated, China watchers in the West have expended an enormous amount of energy in trying to understand the Chinese system. About a decade ago, in one of the apparently futile quests, the size of the Chinese urban population was declared an insoluble &dquo;enigma&dquo; (Orleans and Burnham, 1984). Today we are, of course, better off: the baffling mysteries surrounding China's urban population size between 1949 and 1982 have since been cleared up through the assiduous work of many scholars (Chan and Xu, 1985; Ma and Cui, 1987). In rapidly changing China, however, recent developments in the definition of what is &dquo;urban&dquo; and urban boundaries since 1983 have, among other things, created many new problems for urbanists in their attempt to understand urbanization and migration in mainland China in the 1980s. As will be explained in detail later, two existing urban population series were in use between 1983 and 1989 (Table 1, cols. 2 and 8), but neither is satisfactory for any analytical purpose. Although almost all


Background and aims. Nano-ionomer (NI) interacts with tooth structures superficially, and there is a concern about the enamel bonding ability of mild self-etch Ketac primer. This study compared the effect of different adhesive procedures (self-etching and etch-and-rinse approach) on long-term marginal microleakage of nano-filled resin-modified glass-ionomer (NI) cervical restorations. Materials and methods. Class V cavities were prepared on 72 maxillary premolars. The teeth were divided into six groups: G1: No treatment (NC); G2: Ketac primer (K primer); G3: Etchant + Ketac primer (E+K primer); G4: Self-etch adhesive (Bond Force); G5: Etchant + Bond Force (E+Bond Force); G6: Etchant + Adper Single Bond (Etch and rinse adhesive). All the cavities were restored with Ketac N100. The samples were stored in water for 6 months and thermocycled for 2000 cycles. Marginal sealing was assessed using dye penetration technique. Data were analyzed with non-parametric tests (α=0.05). Results. All the adhesive pretreatments resulted in a lower marginal leakage than that of NC (P≤0.01), except for E+Bond Force at the dentin margin. There was no significant difference between K primer and Bond Force. Microleakage differed significantly between K primer pretreatment and E+K primer (P=0.003), E+Bond Force (P=0.002) and etch-and-rinse adhesive (P=0.001) at the enamel margin, but it did not differ at the dentin margin. E+ Bond Force group showed insignificantly lower leakage at the enamel margin and significantly higher leakage at the dentin margin (P=0.02). Conclusion. Etch-and-rinse adhesive and selective enamel etching along with self-etch adhesive/Ketac primer might improve marginal sealing of aged nano-ionomer restoration.


Objectives: To investigate predictors of absenteeism and discuss potential implications for policy/program design. Methods: Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) data and self-reported and objective absenteeism (personnel records) were used to develop a structural equation model, controlling for age, sex, and job classification. A Medical Condition Burden Index (MCBI) was created by summing the number of self-reported medical conditions. Results: Higher MCBI and stress were direct predictors of absenteeism. Physical activity was not associated with absenteeism but mediated both stress and MCBI. Conclusions: Because stress impacted both absenteeism and MCBI, organizations may benefit by placing stress management as a priority for wellness program and policy focus. Physical activity was not directly associated with absenteeism but was a mediating variable for stress and MCBI. Measures of stress and physical health may be more meaningful as outcome measures for physical activity programs than absenteeism.


Background and Purpose: Possible specific risk factors for silent infarcts remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether risk factors for silent infarcts differ from those for symptomatic infarcts in stroke patients. Methods: Silent infarcts were defined as asymptomatic infarcts detected on computed tomographic scan in patients free of history of stroke and unrelated to the symptoms and signs of the index stroke. Of 595 consecutive patients with stroke or transient ischemic attacks, 116 (19%) had at least one silent infarct on the first computed tomographic scan performed within 24 hours after onset. They were compared with the 479 remaining patients for cerebrovascular risk factors and for presumed mechanism of stroke by means of the odds ratio method. A discriminant analysis was then performed in the subgroup of 216 patients with ischemic stroke who underwent an exhaustive cardiac and vascular workup. Results: One hundred forty-one silent infarcts (99% confidence interval [CI], 29o to 41%) and 265 symptomatic infarcts (99o CI, 59% to 71%) were subcortical infarcts smaller than 15 mm. Univariate analysis showed that patients with silent infarcts were more likely to be older than 65 years (odds ratio [99o CI], 1.11 to 3.49) and to have left atrial enlargement on echocardiogram (odds ratio [99%o CI], 1.02 to 26.70) and leukoaraiosis (odds ratio [99%o CI], 1.39 to 4.21). Discriminant analysis found only two independent risk factors for silent infarcts: left atrial enlargement (P=.007) and age older than 65 years (P=.03); leukoaraiosis was not found to be an independent risk factor (P=.86). Conclusions: Age and left atrial enlargement are the main risk factors for silent infarcts in patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attacks. (Stroke. 1993;24:1347-1351.)


Background Obesity is a major risk factor for developing coronary artery disease. It is less clear whether obesity accelerates progression of disease among those with established coronary disease. Objective To evaluate the effect of obesity on repeat revascularization for target and nontarget lesions in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES). Methods We studied 4,972 patients between January 2004 and December 2006. Patients were divided into three groups according to body mass index (BMI): normal (BMI 30 kg/m2, n=1, 213). Median follow-up was 26 (IR 20–33) months. Results There was no significant difference in the cumulative incidence of target lesion revascularisation (TLR) among normal-weight, overweight and obese patients (6.8% vs 5.4% vs 6.3%; p=0.186). In contrast, the incidence of nontarget lesion revascularisation (nonTLR) was significantly higher in obese patients compared with normal-weight and overweight populations (8.6% vs 5.9% vs 5.7%; p=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that obesity was independently associated with a higher risk of nonTLR in patients without statins treatment (HR 1.53; 95% CI 1.03 to 2.28; p=0.037), but not in patients with concomitant statins treatment (HR 1.29; 95% CI 0.82 to 2.03; p=0.263). Conclusions Among patients undergoing PCI with DES, obesity was not associated with TLR, but was associated with a higher risk of nonTLR. Statins use may attenuate this adverse effect of obesity on atherosclerotic progression.


Abstract The purpose of the article is to give an overall description of the situation of Hungarian minority households with children in Ukrainian villages. The region is a marginal area both economically and geographically, being in a peripheral position with little attention falling upon it and even less of the development sources. Furthermore, there is a lack of information on welfare benefits, and no direct statistical data are available on the characteristics of the social policy system. As for the total lack of prior statistics on poverty, this essay is meant to be exploratory to show the area's poverty features, focusing on the children. By the use of combined data collection, including quantitative and qualitative techniques, we gained information by questionnaire surveys of about 253 children in 139 households. There were carried out 23 exploratory interviews as well. The core of our analysis is the specific labour market situation, the earning opportunities, and forms of employment that provide for livelihoods for the households with children. Besides the backwardness of the area studied in the research, the strategies and life situations that characterize the Transcarpathian Hungarians are also presented, which are beyond the known European forms of poverty.


This paper analyses the relation between competition and concentration in the banking sector. The empirical answer is given by testing a monopolistic competition model of bank branching behaviour on individual bank data at county level (departements and provinces) in France and Italy. We propose a measure of the degree of competiveness in each local market that is function also of market structure indicators. We then use the econometric model to evaluate the impact of horizontal mergers among incumbent banks on competition and discuss when, depending on the pre-merger structure of the market and geographic distribution of branches, the merger is anti-competitive. The paper has implications for competition policy as it suggests an applied tool to evaluate the potential anti-competitive impact of mergers.


The aim of this thesis is to develop a sensorless control strategy for an oscillating linear permanent magnet synchronious motor. The state-of-the-art sensorless methods are examined and their reliability to linear drives is discussed. Subsequently, an adaptive sliding mode concept is chosen to estimate the position of the mover. In the next step the concept is implemented and simulated in Matlab-Simulink. The results are discussed in detail. Finally the concept is implemented in the rapid-prototyping software X2C and evaluated on the real plant. The results confirm the functionality of the concept for an oscillating operation of the linear motor. The attainable accuracy of the stroke control is verified with different levels of load. The limitations of use of the investigated concept are shown.


This paper investigates the role of religion in developing human beings in the form of a Sufism-based education, one that is based on the pursuit for the perfect human. This investigation aimed to demonstrate that a human being is an insan kamil , a person with seven levels of mental and moral development. Religion and spirituality play a critical role in maintaining mental and physical health according to recent studies. This study claims that natural perfection—which culminates in bodily rebirth, resurrection, and union with God—and the cultivation of one's soul are two forms of perfection pursued by humans. A person's free will determines the sort of existence that develops in the physical process between birth and death, and this is marked by the first stage of life. Sufis refer to people on this path of self-cultivation as insan kamil (flawless people). They are those on the route to God and a return to the real human condition. As a Muslim, you are considered insan kamil if you have understood that your inner essence is that of Allah. Such people are said to be a true human being, a manifestation of the attributes of Allah.


In the liner notes to a recent Smithsonian Folkways recording of Cape Breton fiddle and piano music, folklorist Burt Feintuch describes the scene at a dance held in Mabou, Nova Scotia: It's a hot, muggy July 2003 night in Mabou. I pay my five dollars cover and walk into the Red Shoe Pub ... I step through the door; within moments, my shirt is stuck to my back. Kinnon [Beaton] is playing the fiddle, joined by [daughter] Andrea. Betty's on the electric piano. Feet are pounding the wooden stage and the floor of the pub. Kinnon and Andrea look as if they're possessed. People are shouting, whooping, and even screaming in appreciation. The music is loud. It wails. It's beautiful. (1) The Celtic revival of the mid-1990s exposed new audiences to recordings of singers, instrumentalists, and bands from Canada, the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, France, and other nations. The most famous product of this revival was Michael Flatley's 1995 dance show Riverdance (followed by The Lord of the Dance). The popularity of this stage show helped to inspire interest in acts that retained essential rhythms, melodies, and stylistic performance elements inherent in traditional folk music. It also helped to promote the idea of Pan-Celtic music, infused by elements of dance, storytelling, and daily customs. Lesser-known Celtic artists benefited from this exposure as well, especially those from areas with descendants rich in its heritage, such as Cape Breton Island in eastern Nova Scotia. Cape Breton Island has been especially prolific in the number of master fiddlers and pianists it has produced. Its relative isolation from the more cosmopolitan regions of Halifax, Montreal, and Toronto has ensured a more rural lifestyle for its residents, who have historically worked as miners, fishermen, and farmers. In recent times many artists steeped in the region's Celtic-Canadian heritage have become international stars in the folk and country music industries, including fiddlers Natalie MacMaster (1973-) and Ashley MacIsaac (1975-), vocalist Mary Jane Lamond (1960-), and ensembles the Cottars and the Rankins. Many of its veteran artists, such as Angus Chisholm (1908-1979), Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987), Jerry Holland (1955-), Hugh Allan "Buddy" MacMaster (1924-), William "Bill" H. Lamey (1914-), and Brenda Stubbert (1959-) have been celebrated in releases of field and historic recordings. Much less known outside of Cape Breton are recordings of the younger generation of native artists who increasingly record and promote their music locally (and, via the Internet, globally). This essay will touch upon all of these artists and their recordings and place them within a social, geographical, and musical context. THE MUSICAL ISLAND: GEOGRAPHY AND CULTURE Singer Mary Jane Lamond titled her first album Bho Thir Nan Craobh, which translates from Gaelic as "from the land of the trees." In her introduction she wrote that her ancestors were surprised by the lush green forests of this new world, especially after coming from the "almost treeless Hebridean islands." (2) The name of the island probably derives from Cap Breton, an area near Bayonne, France. (3) In Scottish Gaelic, its name is Eilean Cheap Breatuinn. It was settled originally by the French, whose Acadian musical heritage continues in villages such as Cheticamp on the northwest side of the island. After the forced migration of Acadians southward, Cape Breton was settled by English loyalists and a wave of Scottish immigrants who worked in coal mines, fisheries, and steel and paper mills. Both the music and the Gaelic language of the Celts were and continue to be a part of everyday life. Today tourism is one of Cape Breton's largest industries, and musical performance and recordings play a major role in attracting Canadian and international visitors. There was a time in the 1970s when the future of this traditional music looked bleak. …


The pre-construction phase of public infrastructure projects is characterized by significant uncertainty as crucial decisions are made with limited information. This early stage of project development is influenced by a multitude of factors and input from various stakeholders. While early contractor involvement (ECI) offers potential benefits for both clients and projects, the timing and selection of tasks for involving the contractor are critical to achieving these benefits. This study seeks to identify key pre-construction activities in public infrastructure projects and pinpoint the activities that stand to gain the most from ECI. The research methodology involved conducting semi-structured interviews, organizing seven workshops, and conducting the literature and document studies. Through these efforts, the study identified a total of 20 pre-construction activities, among which 5 activities emerged as the most favorable candidates for ECI, while 5 others were deemed less suitable. The findings underscore a consensus that involving contractor expertise during the Brief Development sub-phase holds significant promise. Notably, activities associated with planning, environmental considerations, and technical aspects related to the scope clarification, were found to be highly amenable to ECI. Activities addressing uncertainty management received particular attention, with clients valuing contractors' practical experience in risk assessment and mitigation. Additionally, contractors' insights into planning, activity dependencies, and their contributions to health, safety, and environmental plans were highly regarded. However, activities, categorized under the more technical sub-phases of Concept Development and Detailed Engineering yielded mixed results, while those falling within the predominantly social and political domain and involving political processes and societal impact, were viewed as less suitable for early contractor involvement. These findings emphasize the need to adopt a systematic and consistent approach to pre-construction activities, highlighting that ECI should not be applied as a one-size-fits-all solution. The interview results somewhat contrast with the literature findings, which indicate that the early conceptual phase is most beneficial as the contractor impact is highest. To some extent, the client, contractor, and consultant still see their benefit and strategy before the good of the project.


This work compared the effectiveness of six different enhancement methods on six different sizes of brass cartridges. One sebaceous fingerprint was deposited onto twenty-five of each size of cartridge to enable a statistical evaluation of the enhancement methods for each cartridge size to be undertaken. The enhancement methods compared were superglue followed by BY40, superglue followed by gun blue followed by BY40, gun blue only, superglue followed by palladium deposition, palladium deposition only, and powder suspension. The six different cartridges used in this study were .22s, .32s, 9mm, .38s, ribbed shotgun, and smooth shotgun. The study found that more potentially identifiable fingerprints were enhanced on the larger cartridge cases. This was due to the surface area on the smaller cartridges, and in particular the .22s provided little ridge detail. Two techniques provided the best results - superglue followed by gun blue followed by BY40, and superglue followed by palladium deposition. This showed that the combination of the cyanoacrylate fuming and the metal oxidation reactions is increasing the yield of potentially identifiable fingerprints compared with the use of the techniques separately. Both techniques were also found to give reproducible results. These two enhancement techniques were also compared statistically and no statistical difference in their effectiveness was found suggesting both techniques are equally as effective at enhancing fingerprints on brass cartridge cases.


Statistical image reconstruction using penalized weighted least-squares (PWLS) criteria can improve image-quality in X-ray computed tomography (CT). However, the huge dynamic range of the statistical weights leads to a highly shift-variant inverse problem making it difficult to precondition and accelerate existing iterative algorithms that attack the statistical model directly. We propose to alleviate the problem by using a variable-splitting scheme that separates the shift-variant and ("nearly") invariant components of the statistical data model and also decouples the regularization term. This leads to an equivalent constrained problem that we tackle using the classical method-of-multipliers framework with alternating minimization. The specific form of our splitting yields an alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm with an inner-step involving a "nearly" shift-invariant linear system that is suitable for FFT-based preconditioning using cone-type filters. The proposed method can efficiently handle a variety of convex regularization criteria including smooth edge-preserving regularizers and non- smooth sparsity-promoting ones based on the ℓ1-norm and total variation. Numerical experiments with synthetic and real in vivo human data illustrate that cone-filter preconditioners accelerate the proposed ADMM resulting in fast convergence of ADMM compared to conventional (nonlinear conjugate gradient, ordered subsets) and state-of-the-art (MFISTA, split-Bregman) algorithms that are applicable for CT.


Traditional synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) image change detection methods based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) face the challenges of speckle noise and deformation sensitivity. To mitigate these issues, we proposed a multiscale capsule network (Ms-CapsNet) to extract the discriminative information between the changed and unchanged pixels. On the one hand, the multiscale capsule module is employed to exploit the spatial relationship of features. Therefore, equivariant properties can be achieved by aggregating the features from different positions. On the other hand, an adaptive fusion convolution (AFC) module is designed for the proposed Ms-CapsNet. The higher semantic features can be captured for the primary capsules. Feature extracted by the AFC module significantly improves the robustness to speckle noise. The effectiveness of the proposed Ms-CapsNet is verified on three real SAR data sets. The comparison experiments with four state-of-the-art methods demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method. Our codes are available at https://github.com/summitgao/SAR_CD_MS_CapsNet.


This article presents the recollections of Rev. Edward Walewander, an employee and director of the Institute of Research on the Polish Diaspora and Polish Ministry at the Catholic University of Lublin in the years 1990-2005, as well as a long-time editor of the journal "Studia Polonijne". The author presents a brief history of the journal and characterises the development of its scientific profile over the years. The text offers a special summary of almost 50 years of publishing activity of the Institute, and now the Research Centre on the Polish Diaspora and the Polish Ministry at the Catholic University of Lublin.


Manganese-bismuth (MnBi) mechanical alloys have been under development for novel permanent magnets without rare-earth elements. The ball-milling of bismuth (III) oxide and manganese powders in this work leads to soft magnetic MnBi alloys with rod-like MnO impurity and highly unbalanced compositions. Interestingly, the introduction of magnesium (Mg) as reducing element during the milling gives rise to unique magnetic properties. The obtained MnBi alloys incorporating plate-like MgO has an enhanced magnetic squareness but minimal coercive field. The magnetic squareness remains high after the heat treatment and washing. The washing in ammonia also brings about a balanced composition between Mn and Bi.


The paper is designed to expatiate the connotation of task-driven learning, and take the practice of MAYA Animation Design learning for example to introduce steps of implementation, basic thoughts and valuation all involved in the task-driven learning.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the prediction of target-organ damage varies according to the reproducibility of 24 h blood pressure.

SETTING
Seventeen hypertension clinics in northeast Italy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Correlations of left ventricular mass index and albumin excretion rate with 24 h and office blood pressures in relation to tertiles of ambulatory blood pressure reproducibility.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
In 716 consecutive, stage I, hypertensives enrolled in the Hypertension and Ambulatory Recording Venetia Study (HARVEST), ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed twice, 3 months apart In all subjects, the albumin excretion rate was measured by radioimmunoassay, and in 567, the left ventricular mass index was assessed by echocardiography.

RESULTS
The subjects were divided into tertiles of ambulatory blood pressure consistency (between-monitoring differences, regardless of the sign). In the tertile of subjects with good reproducibility, correlation coefficients of systolic and diastolic ambulatory blood pressure with left ventricular mass and urinary albumin excretion were significant and higher than those of office blood pressure. In contrast, in the two tertiles with poorer reproducibility, the coefficients were barely or not significant for both pressures. The advantage of ambulatory blood pressure over office blood pressure in predicting target-organ damage was no longer present for systolic blood pressure differences greater than 3.8 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure differences greater than 3.1 mmHg.

CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that ambulatory blood pressure is a better predictor of left ventricular mass and urinary albumin excretion than office blood pressure, but only in subjects with good pressure reproducibility. Therefore, the assessment of hypertensive patients should be based on duplicate blood pressure monitorings. Recordings with 24 h systolic and diastolic blood pressure differences greater than 4 and 3 mmHg, respectively, should be considered with caution.


Untoward effects of antibiotic therapy involve the gastrointestinal tract more frequently than is generally realized. The symptoms are protean. Anorexia, distaste for food, nausea, vomiting, epigastric distress, bloating, crampy abdominal pain, loose or bulky stools, diarrhea, pruritus ani, and perineal irritation are commonplace. These symptoms, which are dose-related, occur with all antibiotics and are more frequent with oral than parenteral therapy. While the mechanisms responsible are obscure, the reactions are often attributed to direct irritative or toxic effects of the drug. However, the greater incidence of these effects in association with broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy suggests that alterations of the bowel flora may be responsible in some cases. Distressing as these symptoms may be, physicians and patients alike have learned to tolerate them while attempting to reduce their frequency or severity by such measures as reducing the dosage, treating the symptoms, or administering the antibiotic with food. However, it should be


The effects of morphine and methadone on the endocrine control of the male rat's sexual function were examined. The results indicate that these narcotics markedly reduce the structural and functional integrity of the secondary sex organs by producing a pronounced reduction in serum testosterone levels. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) were not detectable in narcotic-treated animals, whereas serum levels of the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were unaltered. On the basis of these observations, it seems reasonable to conclude that the narcotics inhibit the secretion of LH, by an action either in the hypothalamus (e.g., suppression of LH-releasing hormone) or directly in the pituitary gland, which leads to a reduction in serum testosterone levels and a subsequent reduction in the wet-tissue weight and secretory activity of the secondary sex organs.


The effect of cold storage (4 - 5°C) with blending different milkings to cold stored milk on some chemical composition, rheological properties and microbiological quality of buffalo's and cow's milk were studied. The results indicated that there are no significant effects on TS, fat and total protein contents of cold stored of buffalo's and cow's milk whereas, the acidity values slightly increased. Cold storage increased the rennet coagulation time (RCT), curd tension and curd syneresis values (p < 0.001). In addition, keeping of buffalo's and cow's milk at 4 - 5°C increased total viable bacterial counts (TVBC) with an concomitant increasing in lactic acid bacteria, psychrophilic bacteria, proteolytic and lipolytic bacteria, colifom bacteria, sporeformers, as well as moulds and yeast counts. To add milk from evening and morning milkings to cold stored buffalo's and cow's milk decreases the acidity and curd syneresis values besides promote an increase in pH, TS, fat, total protein, RCT and the curd tension  values (p < 0.001). Moreover, mixing evening and morning milk with cold stored milk lowered the microbial groups mentioned above. So, cold storage and blending milkings can be used as a strategy to maintain the milk quality for a period until it be consumed without substantial loses in the milk properties.

 Key words: Cold storage of milk, different milkings mixing.


I. INTRODUCTIONAustralia has identified a process called "carbon capture and geosequestration" ("CCS") as a viable way to both address the problem of global warming and continue to use fossil fuels for energy. 1 CCS is the process of first trapping flue gases from large point-source emitters, then capturing the carbon dioxide from those gases, compressing that carbon dioxide, transporting it, and finally, injecting it deep underground for disposal.2 CCS depends upon established science but has not yet been implemented on a significant scale.3 The cost of capturing carbon dioxide remains a serious obstacle to widespread adoption of CCS, but in the minds of many scientists and politicians this obstacle is surmountable when considered against the backdrop of the alternatives.4 Because world energy forecasts predict continued global reliance on fossil fuels for decades to come,5 CCS stands as an important mitigation strategy over the medium term.6Many CCS projects around the world are in development.7 The largest of these projects will be the Gorgon development just off the northwest coast of Australia, expected to be operational in 2010.8 The natural gas fields there contain between 12% and 14% carbon dioxide.9 Normally, a natural gas developer would simply vent that carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Instead, the petroleum companies operating Gorgon will sequester the carbon dioxide into a saline aquifer deep below nearby Barrow Island.11Australian lawmakers have begun to develop state and federal legal frameworks to govern the nascent CCS industry. At the federal level, the Commonwealth issued a set of Guiding Regulatory Principles to give direction to the various states in developing consistent laws for CCS.12 More recently, the Commonwealth suggested that federal CCS legislation will be based on the Offshore Petroleum Act.13 Amending the Offshore Petroleum Act would be in line with developments at the state level in Queensland and South Australia.14 In drafting future laws, legislators face the dilemma of how to regulate a new industry.This Comment considers the application of Part IIIA of Australia's Trade Practices Act ('TPA") to the CCS industry. Part IIIA is Australia's default third-party access law and could be applied to infrastructure in any industry.15 Part IIIA regulates a third-party private company's access to critical infrastructure, and allows for the creation of specific access regimes for industries prone to natural monopolies.16 This Comment argues that Part IIIA creates regulatory uncertainty for CCS investors and will deter investment in the CCS industry. Part IIIA was enacted to support competitive marketplaces.17 For a new industry like CCS, any benefits to competition in the future are highly speculative, while the negative impacts for the investment climate are current and concrete. The uncertainty created by Part IIIA heaps risk on an industry whose future is already plagued with unknowns.This Comment makes two basic assumptions. First, it assumes that Australia will establish a carbon tax or cap-and-trade scheme that attaches a price to emitting carbon dioxide.18 Until emitting carbon dioxide costs money, there cannot be any significant market for services that avoid emissions. Without a market, Part IIIA cannot promote market competition through third-party access.19Australia will likely establish a carbon tax or cap-and-trade scheme. In December of 2007, Kevin Rudd, Australia's new Prime Minister, ratified the Kyoto Protocol, signaling to the world that Australia will redouble its efforts to address climate change.20 The new government announced that by 2050 it will reduce emissions by 60%.21 The centerpiece of that strategy is a nationwide emissions cap-and-trade scheme that Rudd will put in place in 2010.22 Rudd also renewed the government's pledge to pursue clean coal.The net effect of these policies will be to put a price on emitting carbon dioxide and to encourage zero-emission electricity production, for example, burning coal for electricity in combination with CCS. …


The term "tax expenditure" refers to departures from the normal tax structure designed to favor a particular industry, activity, or class of persons. Most budget experts view the tax expenditure budget as a useful tool in managing the size and scope of the federal government, but a growing contingent of conservative critics has raised questions about the concept. The paper examines tax expenditure measurement issues, the debate about their relevance and new measures tentatively explored by the Bush Administration's Budget, the way tax expenditure estimates are used in the U.S., and how they might be made more useful.


Primary care trusts are already chronically short of staff and there is little evidence of workforce planning for the future. Some PCGs, managing sizeable budgets, have no finance staff at all. PCTs will face a shortage of GPs and difficulty retaining nurses. PCTs should make sure they are involved in their local workforce confederation in order to restructure the workforce.


The short-range order structures in some ternary ZrF4-BaF2-based glasses doped with EuF3, AlF3 or NaF are studied by XAFS. The near-neighbour structures around Zr, Ba and Eu are determined and compared with that in binary ZrF4-BaF2 glasses. The structural parameters of near neighbours around Zr and Ba are slightly reduced on addition of NaF or AlF3. Also, it is observed that the intensities of the 'white lines' in the Ln and Lm absorption edges of Eu and Ba in these glasses are different from those in corresponding fluorides. The causes leading to these changes are discussed. Meanwhile the differences between the bonding behaviour of Eu-F and that of Ba-F in the glasses are also discussed.


Maxine Beneba Clarke's story "Big Islan," from her collection Foreign Soil (2014), charts unexpected Australian-Caribbean connections, exploring colonialism, globalisation and "island mentalities." Subverting three colonial institutions (language, map-making, cricket), Clarke reveals ambivalent, decolonising potential in celebrating Caribbean experience. Patois narration focalises Caribbean reality and Nathanial Robinson's beloved home, 1960s Kingston, which he considers centre of "de globality ov it all". However, the West Indies' celebrated "Calypso Summer" cricket tour of Australia makes Nathanial restless and he considers leaving his "small-tiny islan" for the island-continent where Black men are "kings". Clarke ironically exposes the story's historical context: terra nullius and the White Australia Policy. The reader maps apparently disparate but actually deeply connected histories, participating in story-telling's "total expression" (Brathwaite). The coordinates are set by Clarke, who constructs a literary archipelago of islands; a counternarrative to colonial/multiculturalist belonging.


Water sharing has become a serious problem in France. One of the objectives of 1992 and 2000 directives proposed by the European Union was to reduce both the frequency and the extent of water conflicts through the establishment of multilateral negotiations, where different public and private interests can be represented in a structured institutional environment. In France, many negotiations take place at local level between farmers, water suppliers, public services and environmentalists to allocate water resources between users. We suggest that Agent–Based Modelling (ABM) using a multi-agent approach could help negotiations between different players by showing the consequences of water allocation rules and taking in consideration the players' respective attitudes and their ability to change their behaviour.


The Banda Sea is underlain by a small marginal oceanic plate, which is believed to have formed during the early Tertiary. Unlike other marginal seas to the N, the spreading of the Banda platelet was restricted by surrounding continental blocks. Its present complexity is a result of late Miocene–early Pliocene collision and obduction of the Banda Sea island arc system over the leading edge of the Australian–Irian continental plate. Transcurrent faulting on the northern limb of the collision zone may have accentuated curvature of the arc. Subduction and volcanicitv ceased after collision in the Timor and Seram sectors, but are still active at the eastern extremity of the arc.


The foodborne illnesses are attributed to ingestion of contaminated food, mainly due to improper handling and lack of sanitary conditions. Foods that are handled and eaten raw, such as traditional Japanese food, sushi and sashimi are targets of global concern. So it is necessary to analyze them to identify microbiological contamination and thus prevent them. The Wasabi Japonica is traditionally consumed with these foods and may have antimicrobial activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of salmon sushi sold in the city of Toledo - PR and verify the antimicrobial effect of 'wasabi' on pathogenic bacteria. We investigated Salmonella spp., Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, in samples of salmon sushi and determined the antimicrobial effect of wasabi Japonica, by determining the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and the disk diffusion test (antibiogram). It was concluded that all the samples of salmon sushi analyzed were considered satisfactory and safe for human consumption, with good quality and within the hygienic-sanitary parameters established by law. Furthermore, the bacteriostatic action was confirmed in the "wasabi" against the pathogens that are possibly detected in these foods.


Abstract : The proliferation of emerging and disruptive technologies such as additive manufacturing continues unabated. Such trends vastly increase the likelihood of a pernicious non-state actor acquiring weapons of mass destruction in the near future. In addition, these emerging novel threats have proved particularly vexing for the existing U.S. bureaucracies. Absent the major restructuring of the government, significantly higher levels of proactive inter-agency collaboration will be required to successfully respond to these grave challenges. In this project, we first operationalized a concept of collaboration in terms of increases in transparency, resource sharing, and interdependence across inter-agency actors. In other words, actors are deemed to be collaborating when they share information, make assets available to one another, and become jointly invested in (and responsible for) the resulting decisions. Second, we explored if the use of a formal collaborative process and the choice of venue would have significant impacts on the degree of collaboration observed. A preliminary field study conducted at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore confirmed our intuitions regarding increased collaboration, and provided the springboard for additional research, as well as for a number of policy recommendations.


Motivated by many real world applications such as recommendations in online shopping or entertainment, we consider the problem of selecting sequences of items. In this paper we introduce a novel class of utility functions over sequences of items, strictly generalizing the commonly used class of submodular set functions. We encode the sequential dependencies between items by a directed graph underlying the utility function. Classical algorithms fail to achieve any constant factor approximation guarantees on the problem of selecting sequences of bounded length with maximum utility. We propose an efficient algorithm for this problem that comes with strong theoretical guarantees characterized by the structural properties of the underlying graph. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm in synthetic and real world experiments on a movie recommendation dataset.


PIO, a synthetic ligand for PPARγ, is used clinically to treat T2DM. However, little is known about its protective effects on endothelium and the underlying mechanisms. In this study, we sought to investigate the protective effects of PIO on endothelium and its probable mechanisms: 95% confluent wild type (WT) HUVECs and PPARγLow-HUVECs that we first injured with HG (33 mmol·L-1) were first pretreated with 10 μmol·L-1 of GW9662 for 30 min, and then treated the cells with different concentrations of PIO (5, 10, or 20 μmol·L-1) for 24 h. Finally, we measured the levels of NO, ET1, TNFα, and IL6 in the cell culture supernatant. These cells were then used to determine cell viability, caspase3 activity, the levels of IKKα/β mRNA, IKKα/β, and NFκB-p65. Severe dysfunction and activation of IKKα/β-NFκB signaling occurred after we exposed HUVECs to HG. Conversely, treatment with PIO significantly attenuated the dysfunction and the activation of IKKα/β-NFκB signaling induced by HG in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the protective effects of PIO were completely abrogated by GW9662 or down-regulation of PPARγ. Taken together, the results indicate that PIO protects HUVECs against the HG-induced dysfunction through the inhibition of IKKα/β-NFκB signaling mediated by PPARγ.


Marxism has never been a loss to society. Although it has its shortcomings, its successes were widely recorded in the 20th century communist resolutions of different countries including the Bolshevik revolution of 1918 in Russia, which turned Tsarist Russia into a communist state. Research has identified in Marxism, a useful political strength in an aggrieved masses, the unforgivable hatred of victims of capitalism for the system and an unwavering passion in an oppressed class for change, as some of the theoretical underpinnings behind all communist revolutions. This essay discusses Marxism while highlighting some theoretical underpinnings of the Bolshevik revolution of 1918 and other global communist revolutions in the world.Key words: Marxism, Bolshevism, Revolutions, Tsarist Russia, Soviet Russia, Communism.


From the perspective of the 20th century, American medicine during all of Daniel Drake's lifetime was in a state of crisis. 1 Despite its ancient and honorable past and the best efforts of generations of theoreticians and practitioners, medicine lacked both a body of theory that adequately explained health or illness and a set of procedures adequate for the treatment of illness or the maintenance of health. It was thus no "science," but it was also no "profession," for it lacked a set of commonly held assumptions concerning the proper practice of the craft and its proper role in society, and an agreement upon the knowledge that was necessary to practitioners and that thus might form the curriculum of medical education. This did not stop the physicians and surgeons of 150 or 200 years ago from practicing medicine, of course, or from writing systematic treatises on disease, its nature, its


Abstract : Research on the development of a comprehensive system for evaluating the life-saving capability of Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) is reported. The approach contained herein evaluates PFDs on the basis of a probabilistic equation called the Life-Saving Index (LSI), which includes parameters measuring device assessibility, wearability, ease of donning after an accident, effectiveness when held or worn, and reliability. A projected benefit of 48 lives per year is shown, through a minimum cost impact implementation of the Life-Saving Index System. This minimum cost impact approach consists of implementation of the LSI System through an optional 'Type X' approval using the LSI System. Type X devices, which could include inflatable and hybrid PFDs, would be required to have a LSI higher than present Type III devices. PFDs would be submitted for LSI System approval only if the manufacturer chose to, and sold only if the public wanted to buy and utilize the more effective Type X device. Definitions and means of determining the value of each of the parameters of the LSI, for a given PFD, are given along with recommendations for future work and preliminary test procedures for future approval/certification programs. Estimated costs and benefits, based on accident data, laboratory field testing, and field observations are given for the Type X implementation approach as well as alternative implementation plans. Volume 2 is the technical report for this research program, and Volume 3 contains appendices to Volume 2.


The Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) RET proto‐oncogene database, originally published in 2008, is a comprehensive repository of all publicly available RET gene variations associated with MEN2 syndromes. The variant‐specific genotype/phenotype information, age of earliest reported medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) onset, and relevant references with a brief summary of findings are cataloged. The ACMG/AMP 2015 consensus statement on variant classification was modified specifically for MEN2 syndromes and RET variants using ClinGen sequence variant interpretation working group recommendations and ClinGen expert panel manuscripts, as well as manuscripts from the American Thyroid Association Guidelines Task Force on Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma and other MEN2 RET literature. The classifications for the 166 single unique variants in the MEN2 RET database were reanalyzed using the MEN2 RET specifically modified ACMG/AMP classification guidelines (version 1). Applying these guidelines added two new variant classifications to the database (likely benign and likely pathogenic) and resulted in clinically significant classification changes (e.g., from pathogenic to uncertain) in 15.7% (26/166) of the original variants. Of those clinically significant changes, the highest percentage of changes, 46.2% (12/26), were changes from uncertain to benign or likely benign. The modified ACMG/AMP criteria with MEN2 RET specifications will optimize and standardize RET variant classifications.


The aim of this study is to examine the initial literacy skills of primary school pupils' from the ecological perspective and social capital theory. The data were collected from 304 first graders from three public elementary schools in Istanbul (1 in Kadikoy and 2 in Umraniye) during the 2007-2008 academic year. The study was conducted with a survey design. For data collection, following literacy skill scales which were developed by the researcher were used, namely, listening skill, reading skill, dictation and writing skills, comprehension (vocal), comprehension (syllable), comprehension (word), comprehension (sentence), comprehension (text-paragraph), punctuation and spelling and visual reading. A student-family questionnaire was also used to collect background information about students and their families. Notable results of the study are as follows: (a) The higher the mother's education the higher were the literacy skill scale scores of the students. (b) The higher the father's education the higher were the literacy skill scale scores of the students. (c) The higher the economical level, the higher were the literacy skill scale scores of the students. (d) The better the socio-cultural environment of the students' school gets, the higher their literacy skill scale scores get. The results of the study were discussed within the framework of theoretical structure and previous research. Key words: First grade, initial literacy, social capital theory, ecological perspective


Regenerative inward currents help produce slow oscillations through a negative-slope conductance region of their current-voltage relationship that is well approximated by a linear negative conductance. We used dynamic clamp injections of a linear current with this conductance, INL, to explore why some neurons can generate intrinsic slow oscillations whereas others cannot. We addressed this question, in synaptically isolated neurons of the crab Cancer borealis, after blocking action potentials. The pyloric network consists of distinct pacemaker group and follower neurons, all of which express the same complement of ionic currents. When the pyloric dilator (PD) neuron, a member of the pacemaker group, was injected with INL using dynamic clamp, it consistently produced slow oscillations. In contrast, the lateral pyloric (LP) or ventral pyloric (VD) follower neurons, failed to oscillate with INL. To understand these distinct behaviors, we compared outward current levels of PD, LP and VD neurons. We found that LP and VD neurons had significantly larger high-threshold potassium currents (IHTK) than PD, and LP had lower transient potassium current, IA. Reducing IHTK pharmacologically enabled both LP and VD neurons to produce oscillations with INL, whereas modifying IA levels did not affect INL-induced oscillations. Using phase-plane and bifurcation analysis of a simplified model cell, we demonstrate that large levels of IHTK can block INL-induced oscillatory activity, whereas generation of oscillations is almost independent of IA levels. These results demonstrate the importance of a balance between inward pacemaking currents and high-threshold K+current levels in determining slow oscillatory activity.


Aims: In order to evaluate the efficacy of a school urinary screening programme, children with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) type 1 were studied. Methods: A total of 52 patients who had been diagnosed with MPGN type 1 from 1970 to 1997 were studied; 35 were identified after 1974 on screening (group S), and 17 were identified by presenting symptoms (group N), mostly before 1989. Results: Mean blood pressure was 89 mm Hg in group S and 104 mm Hg in group N; urinary protein excretion was 0.9 g/day in group S and 3.0 g/day in group N. Histopathological evidence of chronic changes was found in six group S and 15 group N patients. No patients in group S had renal insufficiency, but five patients in group N required regular haemodialysis. Conclusions: Results suggest that early identification by school urinary screening may enable early management and so improve prognosis of MPGN.


Cloud computing is an elastic computing model whereby users can lease computing and storage resources on demand from a remote infrastructure. Cloud computing is gaining popularity due to its low cost, high reliability and wide availability. However, a serious impediment to its wider deployment is the relative lack of effective data management services. The relatively slow access to persistent data and large variability in cloud storage I/O performance, can significantly degrade the performance of data-intensive applications. This paper addresses the problem of I/O performance fluctuation and proposes an automatic optimization schema for cloud storage called AOSC, which utilizes data chunking, placement, and replication to achieve more stable and predictable performance. Our experimental results based on Amazon Elastic Cloud Computing (EC2) data center show that AOSC can improve the stability and help provide better performance guarantees for cloud computing.


Prenatal, maternal, acid-suppressive drug use was associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma. CONTEXT: The association between acid-suppressive drug exposure during pregnancy and childhood asthma has not been well established. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on this association to provide further justification for the current studies. DATA SOURCES: We searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, EBSCO Information Services, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from inception until June 2017. STUDY SELECTION: Observational studies in which researchers assessed acid-suppressive drug use during pregnancy and the risk of childhood asthma were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Of 556 screened articles, 8 population-based studies were included in the final analyses. RESULTS: When all the studies were pooled, acid-suppressive drug use in pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of asthma in childhood (relative risk [RR] = 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35–1.56; I2 = 0%; P < .00001). The overall risk of asthma in childhood increased among proton pump inhibitor users (RR = 1.34; 95% CI 1.18–1.52; I2 = 46%; P < .00001) and histamine-2 receptor antagonist users (RR = 1.57; 95% CI 1.46–1.69; I2 = 0%; P < .00001). LIMITATIONS: None of the researchers in the studies in this meta-analysis adjusted for the full panel of known confounders in these associations. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence suggests that prenatal, maternal, acid-suppressive drug use is associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma. This information may help clinicians and parents to use caution when deciding whether to take acid-suppressing drugs during pregnancy because of the risk of asthma in offspring.


Daegwallyeong area to be formed along the mountainous terrain more above 800 m of sea level is known as the cold zone to occur frequently wind, rain and fog. This study to evaluate the stability of crop production and agricultural production potential in the Daegwallyeong was calculated for the low temperature frequency of occurrence and potential evapotranspiration changes with announce the release of Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) from 1972 to 2009 up to 38 years. Evapotranspiration calculated FAO and other international standard method authorized under the PENMAN-MONTEITH Method was used, and the low temperature onset and frequency of the Gumbel probability density function was used. As a result, the variation of day evaporation for 38 years were showed to respectively width of variation from maximum to minimum . The frequency of reappearance to first emergence day that lasts more than 5 days with temperature over is 3 April a 50-year frequency, 10 April a 25-year frequency, 20 April a 10-year frequency, 28 April a 5-year frequency, 8 May a 2-year frequency. Psychrotrophic crop to growth temperature more than can be secured to stable production with planting after May 8, prior to planting for normal growth can be seen that the risk of growth.


Abstract Large seeds are assumed to have higher probability of successful recruitment than small seeds. This is because larger seeds give rise to larger seedlings and larger seedlings better withstand environmental hazards like deep shade and drought. Biotic and abiotic limitations to seedling growth and survival, and conversely availability of safe sites for recruitment, vary along environmental gradients and between habitat types. Thus, the value to plant species of possessing large seeds may differ between plant communities. We analyzed the relationship between seed mass and per-seed recruitment success (seedlings established per number of seeds produced) along an environmental gradient from open grassland to closed-canopy forest using data collected by Uuno Perttula in southern Finland in 1934. We found that larger seeds have greater recruitment success relative to smaller seeds in all investigated communities. However, the recruitment success of large seeds relative to small seeds strongly increased from grassland and open forest to closed-canopy forest. Of the measured environmental variables, canopy closure most strongly explained this increase. This indicates a strong direct effect of deep shade on seedling survival in natural plant communities. Additional explanatory power was associated with soil moisture. Litter cover, moss cover, and soil pH did not contribute to explaining the variation in relative recruitment success of larger seeds. Thus, the advantage of large seeds in recruitment success is pronounced in deeply shaded forest but may be insignificant in open vegetation. Nomenclature: Tutin et al., 1964–1980.


This investigation compared the reliability and interchangeable use of three currently available goniometers--a universal goniometer, a fluid goniometer, and an electrogoniometer. Three consecutive readings of the active range of movement of the right elbow joint were taken from each of 23 healthy female volunteers; three experienced observers each used each type of goniometer on two occasions. A balanced experimental design was used to eliminate order effects with respect to subject, tester, or goniometer, and a rigid protocol was employed to reduce error due to diurnal or methodological variations. The results show that there are significant differences between the goniometers used, the testers, and the replications. Significant interaction effects also exist between the goniometers and the occasion, the goniometers and the testers, and the testers and replications. The data suggest that the interchangeable use of different types of goniometer in a clinical setting is inadvisable.


Deuteron spectra from the 12C( tau ,d) reaction leading to excitation energies in 13N of more than 4 MeV above the proton threshold have been measured at angles between 7 degrees and 20 degrees . The spectra exhibit the broad d3/2 single-particle resonance of 12C+p and, interfering with it, the 120 keV wide 3/2+ resonance at Ex=6.885 MeV in 13N. The line-shape of the 5/2+ resonance at Ex=6.364 MeV also displays a pronounced interference pattern. An observed angle dependence of the resonance profile is interpreted as indication for contributions from the nuclear interior.


Aedes albopictus (Skuse) is considered as the secondary vector of dengue viral transmission in Sri Lanka. As it is dominated throughout the semi urban and rural areas, the risk of Dengue is known to be maintained by, them. In the absence of anti-viral medication and with limited availability of a commercial vaccine for public health use, vector control remains an effective means for reducing disease morbidity. Knowledge about genetic mutations associated with insecticide resistance (IR) is a prerequisite for developing rapid resistance diagnosis, and the distribution and frequency of IR conferring mutations are important information for making smart vector control decisions. A phenylalanine (F) to cysteine (C) substitution at position 1,534 within the third domain of the voltage gated sodium channel (NaV) is associated with resistance to type I pyrethroids, permethrin and type II pyrethroids, deltamethrin. The purpose of this study was to identify the pyrethroid resistance status and to detect the mutation and its frequency in A. albopictus in selected areas. Eggs were collected from two dengue high risk areas in Colombo district. Samples were reared to adulthood and their resistance status against above insecticides was determined by standard WHO susceptibility bioassays. Both populations assessed by adult bioassays were susceptible to both insecticides. Thirtyinsects from each susceptible population were then genotyped for the F1534C mutation. All the PCR products were separated on 3.5% agarose gel and visualized by UV trans-illumination. Towards both insecticides the overall susceptibility was 100% (≥98% mortality: Susceptible), in all two areas.There was no mortality among control mosquitoes. Nevertheless heterozygotes of approximately 90 and 110 bp, corresponding to alleles 1534 Phe+ and 1534 Cyskdr respectively were observed in susceptible genotypes from semi urban areas in Colombo. A slow frequencies of the 1534 Cyskdr (0.150–Maharagama permethrin susceptible population and 0.050–Rattanapitiya Deltamethrin susceptible population) were found in ourstudy, there is a selection pressure with PY favoring the homozygous kdr in the studied localities. Therefore we suggest that this mutation has been just emerged or reversed to 1534 Phe+ over generations through time. Keywords: Knock-down resistance, Voltage gated sodium channel, Pyrethroid, Aedesalbopictus, Insecticide resistance


Bio-inspired robotics is a relatively new field of engineering, which aims at mimicking living organisms for various applications. It focuses on building autonomous machines that can be operated in remote, inaccessible or dangerous environments, where the presence of humans or other systems is not possible. The main goal of this work is to develop a reactive control system architecture for an aquatic robot based on the feedback acquired from a Red Green Blue-Depth (RGB-D) camera to navigate and plan the path efficiently. The proposed solution is based on image segmentation and distance estimation using the depth data. This data is then imputed to a small neural network that implements a low-level reflex controller that governs the robot's body curvature in order to alter it's trajectory. The so controlled robot exhibits different behaviors like avoid obstacles in an aquatic environment and detect energy sources. The design of the aquatic robot is introduced based on segments connected with two degrees of freedom joints moved by a tendons actuation system.