The reported study aims to assign different perspectives for reflection; to consider how neuromarketing can assist in understanding consumer behavior, intending to investigate the best way to develop products and improve communication through neuroscience. The systematic literature review referred here applies as a scientific method of research and analysis in a specific area of science. Following the PRISMA guidelines (2009), the research was carried out in March and April 2020, in seven electronic databases for the inclusion of quantitative, qualitative, or mixed studies published in Portuguese or English, master's or doctoral theses and research reports that focused in neuromarketing. One hundred and fifty studies were conducted, 20 of which, met the inclusion criteria. 1st filter: title, abstract, keywords and references; 2nd filter: introduction and conclusion of studies; 3rd filter: full reading of the studies (Liberati et al., 2009).


Ecologists have long been interested in how communities change over time. Addressing questions about community dynamics requires ways of representing and comparing the variety of dynamics observed across space. Until now, most analytical frameworks have been based on the comparison of synchronous observations across sites and between repeated surveys. An alternative perspective considers community dynamics as trajectories in a chosen space of community resemblance and utilizes trajectories as objects to be analyzed and compared using their geometry. While methods that take this second perspective exist, for example to test for particular trajectory shapes, there is a need for formal analytical frameworks that fully develop the potential of this approach. By adapting concepts and procedures used for the analysis of spatial trajectories, we present a framework for describing and comparing community trajectories. A key element of our contribution is the means to assess the geometric resemblance between trajectories, which allows users to describe, quantify, and analyze variation in community dynamics. We illustrate the behavior of our framework using simulated data and two spatiotemporal community data sets differing in the community properties of interest (species composition vs. size distribution of individuals). We conclude by evaluating the advantages and limitations of our community trajectory analysis framework, highlighting its broad domain of application and anticipating potential extensions.


We study the stability against thermal phonon fluctuations of the magnetic dual chiral density wave (MDCDW) phase, an inhomogeneous phase arising in cold dense QCD in a magnetic field. Following a recent study that demonstrated the absence of the Landau-Peierls (LP) instability from this phase, we calculate the (threshold) temperature at which the phonon fluctuations wash out the long-range order over a range of magnetic fields and densities relevant to astrophysical applications. Using a high-order Ginzburg-Landau expansion, we find that the threshold temperature is very near the critical temperature for fields of order $10^{18}$ G, and still a sizable fraction of the critical temperature for fields of order $10^{17}$ G. Therefore, at sufficiently large magnetic fields, the long-range order of the MDCDW phase is preserved over most of the parameter space where it is energetically favored; at smaller magnetic fields, the long-range order is still preserved over a considerable region of parameter space relevant to compact stars.


Over the past year there have been few significant breakthroughs in the understanding of the etiologies of viral myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). One interesting trend has been the increasing number of reports of myocarditis associated with parvovirus B19 infection. Whether this is simply a result of improved diagnostics, or reflects an underlying change in the etiology is unclear. However, studies of the underlying mechanisms of these disorders have resulted in several reports linking the acquired and viral forms. Over the past few years the cytoarchitecture has been a focus of study for familial DCM. During the last year, one key molecule, dystrophin, has been shown to be disrupted in patients with end-stage cardiomyopathy, irrespective or etiology, mutated in patients with sporadic forms of disease and identified as a potential susceptibility gene for viral infection of the myocardium. The shared cellular receptor, the Coxsackievirus B-Adenovirus receptor (CAR), for the two most common viral agents associated with acquired myocarditis and DCM, was shown to be up-regulated in patients with DCM, potentially making the expression of this protein a marker of susceptibility to virus infection. However, a study of the CAR gene in patients with DCM or myocarditis did not identify any genetic mutations in these patients. Finally a receptor for viral double stranded RNA (TLR-3) was identified. The role of this receptor in the innate immune response against cardiotropic viruses has yet to be elucidated.


As a result of the data obtained from the Regional Mineral Reconnaissance
of the Northumberland Trough, several areas were defined, largely on
the basis of the total field magnetic data, for further investigation.
Bateson and others (1983) have reported on the first phase of this work.
The present report covers a further four areas. Soil geochemistry of each
was examined in samples obtained from a regular grid together with ground
magnetic measurements. In one area, Brown Moor, a programme of exploratory
drilling (4 holes) was also undertaken.
At Todridge Fell, Wheathill and Brown Moor the surface geochemical
data indicate that faulting in the Whin Sill, is accompanied by mineralisation.
The amount and type of such mineralisation is, however, not
determinable except in the case of Brown Moor where the short drilling
programme indicates alteration of the Whin accompanied by identifiable
mineralisation particularly with respect to Mn, Ba and Pb.
The work undertaken at Wesley resulted in the definition in soils of
a linear zone enriched in Ba with associated higher than background values
of Pb and En. A weak linear magnetic feature does not coincide with the
surface geochemical "highs". The data cannot be used conclusively to
determine the origin of these highs; mineralisation associated with a fault
structure or a stratabound concentration are possible. As with the
occurrences at Todridge and Wheathill, the source of the geochemical
anomalies could only be determined by drilling.
The work in these four areas, together with the &ta obtained at
Newbrough (Bateson and others, 19831, indicates that in areas underlain by
the Whin Sill magnetic methods can be used to identify fault structures
affecting this basic body, with which alteration and mineralisation may be
associated.


Spray drying is an essential unit operation for production of powders from liquid slurry. Important events occurring inside the spray dryer are droplet formation, droplet drying and interactions between droplets and fine particles. The final goal of our project is to predict the dried solid particle size and mass flux distributions under conditions of collision, coalescence and agglomeration of droplets and particles. A coarse-grained simulation tool is developed which will enable the design more efficient spray dryers that can produce higher throughputs. One of the key ingredients of this simulation tool is the modelling of the drying characteristics of droplets containing solids. In this paper, a model is presented for drying of a droplet containing solids using a reaction engineering approach. The model is validated with experimental literature data for the drying of a single droplet of whole milk and skim milk, initially containing 20% solids. We compare the simulated droplet temperature, mass, drying rate and droplet diameter for different temperatures and solid content with experimental results. We compare correlations of Lin and Chen (2002) and Ranz and Marshall (1952) for the determination of the heat and mass transfer coefficients. Moreover, simulations of a single drying drop of whole milk, containing 30% solid, are compared with photographic results from the literature. We present preliminary simulation results of drying of many droplets in a section of a large scale spray dryer.


Anionic polymerization of α-methylene-N-methylpyrrolidone (MMP) was carried out in THF at −78∼0 °C with diphenylmethylpotassium (Ph2CHK) and with diphenylmethyllithium (Ph2CHLi) in the presence of Lewis acidic diethylzinc (Et2Zn). Poly(MMP)s possessing predicted molecular weights based on the molar ratios between monomer and initiators and narrow molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn < 1.1) were obtained in quantitative yields. It was demonstrated that the propagating chain end of poly(MMP) was stable at −30 °C to form the polymers with well-defined chain structures. From the polymerizations at the various temperatures ranging from −50 to −30 °C, the apparent rate constant and the activation energy of the polymerization were estimated as follows: ln k = −6.93 × 103/T + 25.7 and 57 ± 5 kJ mol−1, respectively.


RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1 (RB1CC1; also known as FIP200) plays important roles in several biological pathways such as cell proliferation and autophagy. Evaluation of RB1CC1 expression can provide useful clinical information on various cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. In order to realize the clinical applications, it is necessary to establish a stable supply of antibody and reproducible procedures for the laboratory examinations. In the present study, we have generated mouse monoclonal antibodies for RB1CC1, and four kinds of antibodies (N1-8, N1-216, N3-2, and N3-42) were found to be optimal for clinical applications such as ELISA and immunoblots and work as well as the pre-existing polyclonal antibodies. N1-8 monoclonal antibody provided the best recognition of RB1CC1 in the clinico-pathological examination of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. These monoclonal antibodies will help to generate new opportunities in scientific examinations in biology and clinical medicine.


In this study, the behavior of a composite lattice cylindrical shell is investigated in the buckling deforming. Also, the distribution of shell buckling response and the stress field is studied after making some defects on the ribs.Therefore using ANSYS software, a 3D finite element model of the shell has been created for the analysis. Material properties and geometrical data of the shell are obtained from the some experimental tests. In fact, these parameters have been extracted from the prototypesthat made with filament winding method. The parameters studied in this study include of the kind of ribs defects on buckling response and the geometrical ratios. Composite shells have been tested under axial force and obtained results are compared with the results of FEM. Based on the parametric study, the structural strength-to-weight ratio is increased around %50 by increasing the thickness of the outer shell. It is observed that in each consecutive buckling test, the buckling load is reduced; however the failed sample had reasonably good resistance to the applied load.


The Spot Release Planner (SRP) is an algorithm previously developed by the authors to reduce delay and congestion on the airport surface. The algorithm was developed to provide real time advisories to tower controllers. A Human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulation in April 2010 showed that the SRP reduced the average movement area delay of departure aircraft by 64%. The SRP is a two-stage algorithm that considers runway scheduling in the rst stage, and the rest of the ground movement, such as gate pushback and spot release, in the second stage. This decomposition of airport surface scheduling into two stages provides fast computational times and makes the SRP applicable for real-time decision making. However, the two stages also result in the given scheme being a heuristic for solving the complicated airport surface scheduling problem; no guarantees on quality of the obtained solution have been provided. This paper explores the quality of solutions obtained by the SRP and compares them with the optimal solution for airport surface tra c. Simulations conducted for the East side of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) show that the SRP solutions are within 14s of the optimal solution for a detailed airport surface planner.


Abslrucb-New CMOS differential logic circuits, callsd asynchronous latched CMOS differential logic (ALCDL) circuits, are proposed and analyzed. The ALCDL can implement a complex function in a single gate and achieve high operation speed without dc power dissipation. New CMOS differential latches, which can be used to prevent extra transitions and reduce the power dissipation, are also proposed. A new clocking scheme is designed by locally using the ALCDL circuits and the entire system is synchronized to a single global clock. As compard to the conventional true-single-phase clock system, the loading of the global clock line and transient noise induced by precharge operation can be largely seduced. Simulation results show that the new clocking scheme and logic circuits benefit in high-speed and lowpower performances, especially in low supply voltage.


Abstract The photoconductivity spectrum of a solution of anthracene (AN) in 2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane (TMP) was measured as a function of pressure up to 2 kbar. The threshold energies of photoionization of the solute (AN) and of the solvent (TMP) increase with pressure. The relative quantum yield for charge carrier generation decreased with increasing pressure. The concomitant reduction of the initial separation distance of the geminate charge carrier pairs may be due to an increase of the number of inelastic collisions caused by the increased density of the liquid within the sphere of Coulomb attraction of the positive ion.


Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT, aka. volumetric IMRT) burst upon the scene two years ago as a practical means of deliveringIMRT as the gantry arcs continuously around the patient. The approach leads to shorter treatment times, fewer total MUs and may facilitate reducing normal tissuedoses. The technology has come into ever wider use in clinics as the software for treatment planning has become further refined and supported in multiple treatment planning systems and accelerators. During that period, the literature detailing novel use of volumetric IMRT, clinical implementation and experience with outcome has also grown. As a planning and treatment approach, VMAT is well on its way to becoming standard of care for many anatomic sites. During this period, wider use of hypo‐fractionated dose protocols for carrying out stereotactic radiation therapy/surgery for intra cranial lesions and for extra‐cranial lesions in the lung, liver and spine have come into wider use. The concurrence of this trend with the emergence of the technology has quickly led to use of VMAT for stereotactic radiosurgery(SRS) in some centers. The aim of this lecture is to facilitate understanding the differences and similarities with conventional techniques and the potential implications for radiobiology, patient positioning equipment and QA issues. Effective treatment planning approaches for intra and extra cranial SRS targets will be presented along with normal tissue constraints used. Implications of reduced treatment time enabled by VMAT on radiobiological response of tumors and normal tissues will be discussed. Speakers have been selected to present information on a diverse set of equipment and clinical practices. Learning Objectives: 1. Able to compare and contrast dose distributions for conventional vs. VMAT techniques 2. Understand technical and potential radio‐biological implications of using VMAT for SRS 3. Understand implications of single isocenter treatments of multi‐focal targets.


Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant steroidal hormones that regulate plant growth and development. An Arabidopsis dwarf mutant, shrink1-D (shk1-D), was isolated and the phenotype was shown to be caused by activation of the CYP72C1 gene. CYP72C1 is a member of the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase gene family similar to BAS1/CYP734A1 that regulates BR inactivation. shk1-D has short hypocotyls in both light and dark, and short petioles and siliques. The seeds are also shortened along the longitudinal axis indicating CYP72C1 controls cell elongation. The expression of CPD, TCH4 and BAS1 were altered in CYP72C1 overexpression transgenic lines and endogenous levels of castasterone, 6-deoxocastasterone and 6-deoxotyphasterol were also altered. Unlike BAS1/CYP734A1 the expression of CYP72C1 was not changed by application of exogenous brassinolide. We propose that CYP72C1 controls BR homeostasis by modulating the concentration of BRs.


Generally, a continuous spark is used in piloted-ignition experiments on combustible materials. However, the potential effect of the spark's power in such experiments, has been ignored in previous studies. In this article, experiments are carried out to assess the effect of spark power on the ignition characteristics of fir at different altitudes characterized by atmospheric pressures of 0.77 and 1.0 atm. It is concluded that ignition time becomes shorter with an increase of spark power. With a rise in spark power, the mass flux at ignition and the critical heat flux decline in the ignition process. Ignition time is found to be more sensitive to spark power in lower altitudes.


The performance of chemotherapeutic agents has been largely restrained by the dose-dependent toxic side effects. In this work, cisplatin (CDDP) was endowed with the capability of photoactivated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and self-reporting cell uptake via coordination with a small organic molecule MSN. In the resultant MSN-Pt, the Pt-N coordination could obviously enhance the intermolecular charge transfer (ICT) process that allows the integration of fluorescence imaging, photogenerated ROS, and chemotherapeutic performance. The resultant MSN-Pt can recognize between normal and cancer cells and quickly penetrate the cancer cell membrane, self-reporting the cell uptake. Upon light illumination, mitochondria and nuclei were severely damaged. An in vivo mouse model demonstrated that MSN-Pt completely inhibited the tumor growth, exhibiting a higher efficacy compared with that of CDDP. This work provides a facile strategy to develop chemotherapy (CT) drugs for drug-resistant cancers.


The study that aimed to determine the content of crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF) and in vitro digestibility of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) of corn straw silage added with leucaena and molasses fermented at different times, had been carried out at Nutrition and Feed Laboratory, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, University of Mataram. The corn straw and leucana used in this study were taken from the agricultural area in the Gerung sub-district of West Lombok Regency shortly after harvesting and were cut into pieces with a size of 3-5 cm. This study used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) consisting of 5 level of treatments, namely: T1: corn straw + leucaena 10% and molasses 5% without fermentation, T2: corn straw + leucaena 10% and molasses 5% fermented 7 days, T3: corn straw + leucaena 10% and molasses 5% fermented 14 days, T4: corn straw + leucaena 10% and molasses 5% fermented 21 days, T5: corn straw + leucaena 10% and molasses 10% fermented 28 days. The variables observed in this study were CP, CF, and in vitro digestibility of DM and OM. Data obtained in this study were analyzed using analysis of variance based on a Completely Randomized Design using the SAS statistical program package and the differences were further tested using the Duncan Test. The results showed that fermentation time could significantly decrease (P <0.05) CF content and increase (P <0.05) CP silage content, but there was no significant increase (P> 0.05) of DM and OM digestibility in vitro of silage fermented for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days.


Asimulated conservation breeding program was designed for Black Bedouin goat to maintain genetic diversity rather than improving performance traits under subtropical conditions of Jordan. ZPLAN+ software was used considering a close breeding scheme of nucleus, multiplier and commercial unites. Four simulated scenarios utilized phenotypic and genetic parameters of various selection criteria and three breeding objectives; conservation, milk and meat production. The results showed that a drastic reduction of genetic gain for milk and meat production of ten-year breeding program and for meat production, milk production and conservation as independent breeding programs after fifth year. For integrated program of the three traits the genetic gain and kids' survivability were maintained with reasonable average genetic gain for production traits. Breeding in favor of meat and/or milk production probably lead to a reduction in census size of the goat resulting in loss of genetic diversity. Therefore, setting up a sustainable in-situ conservation breeding program for Black Bedouin goat to maintain genetic diversity is recommended


ABSTRACT A numerical solution of an annular two-phase flow in a square channel is presented. A combined formulation using only one set of conservation equations to treat both fluids is employed. The level-set (LS) method is used to capture the interface between the fluids. To overcome a weakness in the level-set method, the localized mass correction (LMC) scheme of [22] is applied to ensure mass conservation. The finite-volume method is used to solve the governing equations. Results are presented for two fluids of identical and different properties with two different inlet interface shapes. These results are compared with that of the volume-of-fluid (VOF) method and good agreement is achieved.


The modern wireless communication techniques are aiming on increasing bandwidth and the number of carriers for higher data rate. This sets challenging linearity requirements for RF power amplifiers (PAs). Unfortunately, high linearity can only be obtained at the cost of efficiency. In order to improve the performance of the PA, in-depth understanding of nonlinear behaviour is mandatory. This calls for techniques that can give componentwise information of the causes of the distortion. The aim of this thesis is to develop a technique that can provide such information. This thesis proposes a detailed distortion analysis technique that is based on frequency domain fitting of polynomial models. Simulated large-signal spectra are used for fitting as these contain the necessary information about the large-signal bias point and amplitude range. Moreover, in the frequency domain the delays are easy to compensate, and detailed analysis to any fitted tone can be performed. The fitting procedure as such is simple but becomes difficult in multi-dimensional nonlinearities if the controlling voltages correlate strongly. In this thesis the solvability and reliability of the fitting procedure is increased by numerical operations, model-degree reduction and by using different excitations. A simplified Volterra method is used to calculate the distortion contributions by using the fitted model. The overall distortion is analysed by calculating the voltage response of the contributions of each nonlinearity to the terminal nodes of the device by the use of linear transfer functions of the circuit. The componentwise analysis is performed by phasor presentation enabling the cancelling mechanisms to be seen. The proposed technique is implemented on top of harmonic balance simulation in an APLAC circuit simulator in which extensive distortion simulations are performed. The technique relies on the existing device model and thus the fitted model can be only as accurate as the particular simulation model. However, two different RF PAs are analysed that show a good agreement between measurements and simulations. The proposed technique is verified with several test cases including amplitude dependent amplitude and phase distortion, intermodulation distortion sweet spots, bandwidth dependent memory effects and impedance optimization. The main finding of the detailed analysis is that the distortion is a result of several cancelling mechanisms. In general, cubic nonlinearity of transconductance is dominating the in-band distortion but is cancelled by the 2nd-degree nonlinearity that is mixed to the fundamental band from envelope and 2nd harmonic bands that is usually the main cause of memory effects.


We describe a case of sarcoidosis that began as acute pancreatitis. Diagnosis was established by mediastinoscopy. Although involvement of the pancreas is rare and in general asymptomatic, we conclude that sarcoidosis should be included in the long list of factors that can trigger acute pancreatitis.


Trypanosoma brucei live in mammals as bloodstream forms and in the Tsetse midgut as procyclic forms. Differentiation from one form to the other proceeds via a growth-arrested stumpy form with low mRNA content and translation. The parasites have six eIF4Es and five eIF4Gs. EIF4E1 pairs with the mRNA-binding protein 4EIP but not with any EIF4G. EIF4E1 and 4EIP each inhibit expression when tethered to a reporter mRNA. The 4E-binding motif in 4EIP is required for the interaction with EIF4E1 both in vivo and in a 2-hybrid assay, but not for the suppressive activity of 4EIP when tethered. However, the suppressive activity of EIF4E1 when tethered requires 4EIP. Correspondingly, in growing bloodstream forms, 4EIP is preferentially associated with unstable mRNAs. Trypanosomes lacking 4EIP have a marginal growth disadvantage as cultured bloodstream or procyclic forms. Bloodstream forms without 4EIP cannot make differentiation-competent stumpy forms, but the defect can be complemented by a truncated 4EIP that does not interact with EIF4E1. Bloodstream forms lacking EIF4E1 have a growth defect but can differentiate. We suggest that 4EIP and EIF4E1 fine-tune mRNA levels in growing cells, and that 4EIP is required for mRNA suppression during differentiation to the stumpy form.


Optical computing will have to meet the challenge of the tremendous progress actually made in the numerical field. We present prospective ideas towards the implementation of purely optical fast parallel Arithmetic and Logic Units (ALU). We first describe what could be envisionned as an electro-optical ALU system which would use a large adressable holographic memory. The corresponding (hypothetical) performance is shown to be not sufficient. The main idea which is proposed consists in trying to build processing units which can be "optically" connected together, without using any special propagating medium, or any special transducing property. As in instance, we describe an Elementary Optical Processing Unit (E.O.P.U.) based on a two-step diffraction principle. Then, a system is examined, in the aim of realizing a Purely Optical Parralel Processor (P.O.P.). Its principle would be based on a filtering process - FOUT filter - which is extended to the processing of 2 D. binary patterns, with a possible feedback implementation. The configuration of the system is studied in order to conceive the arithmetical and logical operations. It is also shown that such processors can present some associative performance. For the implementation, C.G.H. methods can be used. However, the real implementation of the filter leads to a singular problem which we have not been able to solve in general. In the last two sections, we finally propose simple logical operators based on Snell's law, and optical registers based on the propagation of very short light pulses in simple optical set-ups. The main characteristics of the proposed methods are due to the fundamental advantages of optics: speed, parallelism processing capabilities, connexion possibilities. However, severe limitations have been encountered all along the study, mostly due to the lack of non-linear possibilities. In general, these ideas will have to be tested in practice, regarding the available techniques, and particularly the possible development of integrated optical technologies.


We examine the transient buoyancy-driven flow in a ventilated filling box that is subject to a continuous supply of buoyancy. A rectangular box is considered and the buoyancy input is represented as a turbulent plume, or as multiple non-interacting plumes, rising from the floor. Openings in the base and top of the box link the interior environment with a quiescent exterior environment of constant and uniform density. A theoretical model is developed to predict, as functions of time, the density stratification and the volume flow rate through the openings leading to the steady state. Comparisons are made with the results of small-scale analogue laboratory experiments in which saline solutions and fresh water are used to create density differences. Two characteristic timescales are identified: the filling box time ($T_f$), proportional to the time taken for fluid from a plume to fill a closed box; and the draining box time ($T_d$), proportional to the time taken for a ventilated box to drain of buoyant fluid. The timescale for the flow to reach the steady state depends on these two timescales, which are functions of the box height $H$ and cross-sectional area $S$, the 'effective' opening area $A^*$, and the strength, number and distribution of the buoyancy inputs. The steady-state flow is shown to be characterized by the ratio of these timescales ($\mu\,{=}\,T_d/T_f$) which is equivalent to the dimensionless vent area $A^*/H^2$. A feature of these flows is that for $\mu\,{>}\,\mu_c$ the depth of the buoyant upper layer may exceed, or 'overshoot', the steady layer depth during the initial transient. The value of $\mu_c$ is determined for both line and point-source plumes, and the sensitivity of the developing flow to the distribution of buoyancy input assessed.


Platelet cytoskeletal reorganization is essential for platelet adhesion and thrombus formation in hemostasis and thrombosis. The Rho GTPases RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42 are the main players in cytoskeletal dynamics of platelets responsible for the formation of filopodia and lamellipodia to strongly increase the platelet surface upon activation. They are involved in platelet activation and aggregate formation including platelet secretion, integrin activation and arterial thrombus formation. The activity of Rho GTPases is tightly controlled by different proteins such as GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). GAPs stimulate GTP hydrolysis to terminate Rho signaling. The role and impact of GAPs in platelets is not well-defined and many of the RhoGAPs identified are not known to be present in platelets or to have any function in platelets. The recently identified RhoGAPs Oligophrenin1 (OPHN1) and Nadrin regulate the activity of RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42 and subsequent platelet cytoskeletal reorganization, platelet activation and thrombus formation. In the last years, the analysis of genetically modified mice helped to gain the understanding of Rho GTPases and their regulators in cytoskeletal rearrangements and other Rho mediated cellular processes in platelets.


Purpose: Keratoplasty patients require regular and timely follow-ups. During this COVID-19 pandemic which restricted global travel, we developed a novel real-time, hybrid teleophthalmology approach to comanage international keratoplasty patients between Singapore and Indonesia. Methods: A retrospective consecutive observational study of 72 corneal patients (63 were postkeratoplasty) who attended a virtual corneal clinic (VCC) between June 2020 and April 2021 at JEC Eye Hospitals (JEC) in Jakarta, Indonesia. ZOOM Meeting software (Zoom Video Communication Inc, San Jose, CA) was used to simultaneously connect the Singapore corneal specialist at Eye & Cornea Surgeons (ECS), Singapore, using a real-time approach. Clinical examinations included full panels of video-linked corneal, glaucoma, and retinal imaging and investigations performed before real-time video-linked slit-lamp examination, with immediate clinical decision making between corneal specialists and patients. Results: VCC enabled effective real-time clinical evaluation and collaborative clinical decisions, with full patient interaction, with the aim of maintenance of graft clarity, visual function, and management of comorbidities—a) topical and systemic medications were adjusted in 79.2% of patients; b) further referrals to glaucoma, retinal, and oculoplastic subspecialists were made in 16.6% of cases; c) additional adjunctive surgical procedures were performed at JEC in 6.9% cases; and d) government permission was obtained for 4 patients (5.6%) to fly to Singapore for urgent corneal surgery. Conclusions: The virtual corneal clinic is a novel real-time hybrid teleophthalmology approach which is effective in the comanagement of international keratoplasty patients and represents the advances in ophthalmic telemedicine.


On-line computers offer powerful interactive computing, flexible control of laboratory instruments, and cost economy for a wide range of speech experiments. This paper describes the hardware and software of one such on-line facility which was specially designed for simple self-service operation by speech scientists who are not always computer experts. Examples are given of the use of on-fine facilities for the study of speech analysis, speech synthesis, and speech perception.


The reaction of methyl α-diazoacetoacetate with enamines catalyzed by dirhodium and copper complexes underwent formal 1,3-dipolar addition to give 5-amino-4,5-dihydrofurans in moderate yields. The reaction was suggested to proceed via a nucleophilic addition of enamines to rnetal-carbenes and a subsequent intramolecular cyclization of the resulting zwitterionic intermediates.


The aim of a documentation in electronystagmography, that is to record as complete and definite as possible the information of a nystagmus relative to all its distinctive marks, hitherto has been reached just as little as the attempt, to develop a fine-quantitative investigatory method suitable for standardization for medical practice. The sources of error caused by the equipment and of physiological nature within a recorded nystagmus trace are exposed and illustrated by respective examples. Outgoing from the theory of the rotatory nystagmus based on the rotation test of the human vestibular system the fundamentels are developed for a complete evaluation method of an electronystagmogram including the elimination of artefacts by the authors' own research work in this field. However the pointed out problems of the electronystagmography are not yet answered in the clinical diagnostic of vestibular diseases, the systematic examination of spontaneous nystagmus and provoked nystagmus still represents the most important, most profitable and well-grounded part of the vestibular investigation in the medical practice.


Abstract Polymerized porcine hemoglobin (pPolyHb) exhibits a protective effect on ischemia/reperfusion of organ grafts. A series of experiments were performed to explore the underlying cytoprotective mechanisms of pPolyHb pretreatment on H2O2-induced cell death and apoptosis. The results showed that the pretreatment augmented heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, and at the same time, decreased the phosphorylation of JNK/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and intracellular ROS generation in H2O2-treated HUVECs. Moreover, the inhibition of HO-1 expression by tin porphyrin (SnPP) abolished the protective effects of pPolyHb, which suggested that the cytoprotective effect of pPolyHb involves upregulating HO-1 and subsequently decreasing the phosphorylation of the JNK and p38 MAPK and ROS generation.


Hall physics is often neglected in high energy density plasma jets due to the relatively high electron density of such jets (ne ∼ 1019 cm−3). However, the vacuum region surrounding the jet has much lower densities and is dominated by Hall electric field. This electric field redirects plasma flows towards or away from the axis, depending on the radial current direction. A resulting change in the jet density has been observed experimentally. Furthermore, if an axial field is applied on the jet, the Hall effect is enhanced and ignoring it leads to serious discrepancies between experimental results and numerical simulations. By combining high currents (∼1 MA) and magnetic field helicity (15° angle) in a pulsed power generator such as COBRA, plasma jets can be magnetized with a 10 T axial field. The resulting field enhances the impact of the Hall effect by altering the density profile of current-free plasma jets and the stability of current-carrying plasma jets (e.g., Z-pinches).


Background:Satisfaction is considered a valuable measure of outcome of healthcare processes. Only a few anesthesia-related validated questionnaires are reported. Because their scope is restricted to specific clinical contexts, their use remains limited. The objective of the current study was to develop and validate a self-reported questionnaire, Evaluation du Vécu de l'Anesthésie Générale (EVAN-G), assessing the satisfaction of the perioperative period surrounding general anesthesia. Methods:Development of the EVAN-G questionnaire comprised a phase of item generation and a phase of psychometric validation. The patient sample was generated to be proportionally matched to the population of patients undergoing general anesthesia in France. The structure of the questionnaire was identified studying interitem, item–dimension, and interdimension correlations and factor analyses. Data were concurrently gathered to assess external validity. The discriminant validity was determined by comparison of scores across well known patient groups. Reliability was assessed by computation of Cronbach α coefficients and by test–retest. Results:Eight hundred seventy-four patients were recruited in eight anesthesia departments. The EVAN-G includes 26 items; six specific scores and one global index score are available. Correlations between EVAN-G scores and other concurrent measures supported convergent validity. The EVAN-G correlated poorly with age, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, total anesthesia time, and number of previous anesthesias. Significantly higher satisfaction was reported by patients older than 65 yr, belonging to the laryngeal mask group. Reliability and reproducibility were shown. Conclusion:The EVAN-G adds important information oriented toward patients' perceptions. The authors' approach provides a novel, valid, and reliable tool that may be used in anesthesia practice.


Inadequate functional beta cell mass seems to be the primary cause of type 2 diabetes. Increased oxidative stress and inflammation are the leading causes of betacell death. Preservation of functional beta-cell mass in type 2 diabetes is a critical target for type 2 diabetes management. Numerous studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of dietary components on beta cell management in type 2 diabetes, through multiple mechanisms. These dietary components modulate intercellular cascades that inhibit inflammatory molecule synthesis, the formation of free radicals, and nuclear damage, as well as induce antioxidant enzyme expression. The present review article focuses on dietary components and seeks to summarize their mechanism(s) in the prevention of diabetes initiation and progression through beta-cell management in type 2 diabetes.


Introduction: According to the previous studies, neural pathway of the basolatral amygdala plays an important role in etiology and pathophysiology of depression, anxiety, and aggression. However, the exact role of the basolateral amygdala in anxiety needs to be elucidated. Using social interaction and elevated plus maze tests, the role of AMPA glutamate subreceptors in the basolatral amygdala on aggression and anxiety-like behaviors was investigated. Materials and Methods: After anesthesia, two cannulas were implanted in the basolatral amygdala in Wistar rats. After one week recovery, anxiety levels and different forms of aggression were analyzed by elevated plus maze and social interaction tests. Results: AMPA agonist was administered at 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg doses in the basolateral amygdala. Doses of 0.5 and 1 mg/kg were significantly increased time spent in the open arms and offensive sideway compared to sham group. In addition, activation of AMPA receptor at 1 mg/kg significantly decreased the stay and entrance percentage of open arm and offensive sideway. Conclusion: Our data indicate that AMPA receptors modulate the signaling in the basolateral amygdala and may affect anxiety and aggression.


A damage characterization approach is developed adopting a model-update method. A derivative-free global optimization based on the Particle Swarm method was adopted, combining data computed from a FEM model and experimental signals retrieved from accelerometers in order to estimate degradation of the material ́s properties. The method is able of simultaneously locating, determining the type of damage (changes on the stiffness, mass, damping) and outputting its severity (size and variation in material properties) using a vibrational approach. The procedure is fully automated (using pre/post-processing operations, scripting capabilities, data exchange) and implemented into PRODDIA® Structural Systems Health Management platform. The proposed approach results in a closed loop optimization process driven by an objective function that considers appropriate damage metrics. The damage assessment capability is validated in a sensorised CFRP plate, 1x1 m and 3 mm thick, with two Z-shape stringers. A data acquisition system with low number of sensors (4 accelerometers, 1 temperature sensor) is deployed. Several experimental signals are obtained by simulating damage through the placement of a mass at 25 different locations on the plate. Different damages metrics are also evaluated. The proposed approach is able of characterizing damage in complex composite plates at different locations.


The eastern Venezuelan Ranges result from oblique convergence along the South American-Caribbean plate boundary, whose main surface expression is the El Pilar dextral strike-slip fault. Crustal scale balanced cross-sections have been here completed from available surface and subsurface data across this major transfer zone which links the oceanic subduction of the Lesser Antilles with the continental subduction of the Andes. The present geometries of the sectons show a major discrepancy between the cover and basement lengths, which could be explained by tectonic inheritance from the Tethyan margin. A careful analysis of both the chronostratigraphy and the internal geometry of the foredeep and piggy-back syntectonic deposits are also used to establish the kinematics of each individual structure. Basement involved is postulated for the Pirital Thrust which cuts previously emplaced cover structures like the El Furrial structural unit. Reactivation of ancient thrust faults occurs also at the rear of the Pirital out-of-sequence thrust in the west. As in the Alps or the Pyrenees, a high density intracrustal wedge is required to fit the gravimetric high imaged north of the Serrania; the solutions require a deep crustal root beneath the belt and a north-dipping South American Moho. A consistent geodynamical model, involving themore » north-dipping subduction of at least 70 km of South American continental lithosphere is thus proposed. An important strain partitioning occurs along the El Pilar Fault and underneath the deep crustal indenter (backstop), which decouples the south-verging allochthon of the Serrania from the north-dipping subducted South American lithosphere and from the eastward-migrating metamorphic belt.« less


Parallelizing sequentially written programs is a challenging task. Even experienced developers need to spend considerable time finding parallelism opportunities and then actually writing parallel versions of sequentially written programs. To address this issue, we present AUTOPARLLM, a framework for automatically discovering parallelism and generating the parallel version of the sequentially written program. Our framework consists of two major components: i) a heterogeneous Graph Neural Network (GNN) based parallelism discovery and parallel pattern detection module, and ii) an LLM-based code generator to generate the parallel counterpart of the sequential programs. We use the GNN to learn the flow-aware characteristics of the programs to identify parallel regions in sequential programs and then construct an enhanced prompt using the GNN's results for the LLM-based generator to finally produce the parallel counterparts of the sequential programs. We evaluate AUTOPARLLM on 11 applications of 2 well-known benchmark suites: NAS Parallel Benchmark and Rodinia Benchmark. Our results show that AUTOPARLLM is indeed effective in improving the state-of-the-art LLM-based models for the task of parallel code generation in terms of multiple code generation metrics. AUTOPARLLM also improves the average runtime of the parallel code generated by the state-of-the-art LLMs by as high as 3.4% and 2.9% for the NAS Parallel Benchmark and Rodinia Benchmark respectively. Additionally, to overcome the issue that well-known metrics for translation evaluation have not been optimized to evaluate the quality of the generated parallel code, we propose OMPScore for evaluating the quality of the generated code. We show that OMPScore exhibits a better correlation with human judgment than existing metrics, measured by up to 75% improvement of Spearman correlation.


Abstract This paper examines the notion of intensity in the context of common Article 3 and Additional Protocol II (AP II) to the Geneva Conventions in order to establish whether AP II demands a different intensity threshold from the minimum threshold of intensity contemplated in common Article 3. The paper considers the question of whether the inclusion of the term "sustained" in the phrase "sustained and concerted military operations" intrinsic to the threshold in Article 1(1) of AP II introduces a temporal requirement in addition to mere protracted armed violence. The paper argues that the inclusion of the term "sustained" in Article 1(1) of AP II potentially demands prolonged protracted armed violence. The research aims to contribute to the existing literature on the notion of intensity demanded by the scope of application inherent in AP II through an interrogation of the phrase "sustained" military operations by employing the rules of treaty interpretation and by examining relevant case law and scholarly debate. In this way, the author hopes to contribute towards filling a lacuna with regard to the minimum threshold for intensity in the context of treaty law concerned with the classification of non-international armed conflicts.


This application note discusses Timing Signal Jitter, what it is, how it is specified and how it is measured. Jitter specifications herein are approached from a practical point of view and do not rely on complex math to derive the exact meaning of each specification. Also, detailed technical treatments of timing signal jitter are provided for those interested in pursuing this topic beyond this application note. Timing Signal Jitter is specified in a number of different ways using terminology that maybe specific to an application environment. For example, in digital data path synchronization applications jitter is specified in the time domain as Period or Cycle-to-Cycle jitter. However, in data communications applications jitter is specified in the frequency domain as phase noise or RMS jitter. This document will cover both time and frequency domain specifications, relate the two and explain why different applications uses different specifications.


In several scientific and engineering disciplines, models have been used to understand the behavior of dynamic processes that evolve in space and in time by providing a probabilistic framework to analyzing the available information. The geostatistical tools used to analyze space-time data are based on established statistical methods, where time is considered as an additional dimension. These models have become very useful in fields such as meteorology, hydrology, ecology, geosciences, and environmental sciences, among others. Subsidence generated by the intense extraction of groundwater in a region is a dynamic phenomenon that manifests itself through the sinking of the ground surface, leading to significant settling in buildings and public utilities as well as cracks in roads. Since the regional subsidence of Mexico City is one of the most representative cases of this type in the world, in this work a model with a full grid space-time layout (STF) is used to analyze and predict the evolution of this phenomenon in the city, taking into account a monitoring system composed of 1931 surface benchmarks. Results show that the separable variogram model was the one that best represented the spatial and temporal correlation of the phenomenon in the area of study. In addition, the differences between the registered ground elevation made in 2016 and those estimated by the space-time model for the same year, were less than 1.00 m. This implies that in general accurate ground elevation values and subsidence rates can be obtained from the proposed space-time model during the time period 2010-2030 for the lacustrine zone of Mexico City.


This research provides a case study of the management of preventive maintenance system based-on PMBOK® GUIDE 2004. It presents a proposed model of information systems development in a medium scale industrial factory, that doesn't require information technology staff. The proposed model includes five phases of IT project management. These are 1) initiating process group 2) planning process group 3) executing process group 4) monitoring and controlling process group and 5) closing process group. Results from the testing of the model have shown that seven knowledge areas are required for successful implementation in a medium scale industrial factory. The results from the research showed that the development of a preventive maintenance system using PMBOK® GUIDE 2004 and extreme programming can be completed within budget and meets the users' needs.


This paper deals with a new transmission-only method for getting the dielectric properties of substrates. The proposed method solved for the inherent S21-phase ambiguity problem by setting the starting frequency of operation below a precise limit, ideally around DC-frequency. A microstrip line structure printed on an FR4-like substrate is considered for validation. The proposed method correlate with the real substrate permittivity over several sample lengths considered. The overall relative error is between 1.5% and 6% over a wide frequency band of 0-18 GHz.


Orientation: To remain competitive South African organisations must improve their operational efficiency by lowering manufacturing and service costs, and the key is the performance of its employees.Research purpose: The purpose of the study was twofold: firstly, to establish if there is a relationship between performance management and employee engagement; and secondly to ascertain if performance management can be rebooted through increased employee engagement.Motivation for the study: Organisations that measure and manage performance generally outperform those that do not. Organisations need to understand what drives employee engagement and performance to outperform their competitors.Research approach, design and method: A qualitative approach was employed that included a review of research articles and interviews with employees from various functions across all levels within operations of a fast-moving consumer goods organisation based in Gauteng. A sample size of 20 employees was used.Main findings: The results suggest that a relationship exists between performance management and employee engagement and that an increase in employee engagement would result in improved performance of employees and subsequently the organisation. The study revealed that whilst engagement and communication occur across all levels within the organisation, there is still a significant gap. The messages and expectations are not simple enough to be understood. Employees are not empowered to have a voice which causes them to be demotivated. Supportive management, which is fundamental to the success of performance management, is lacking.Practical/managerial implications: The insight from this study may be used to change the way organisations engage with employees and manage performance to ensure it is a beneficial exercise that adds value to all stakeholders.Contribution/value-add: This study will contribute towards organisations understanding the relationship between performance management and employee engagement and how to leverage this towards improving operational efficiency and organisational effectiveness.


A WORK entitled "Radiology for Medical Students" has been received from the Year Book Publishers, of Chicago.' It is edited by Fred Jenner Hodges, Isadore Lampe and John Floyd Holt, of the University of Michigan. The work is well arranged, and the illustrations are of the highest quality. The book is rather advanced for medical students, especially the section on radiotherapy, but it should be of great value to men proceeding to higher degrees or diplomas in radiology. The introduction gives a brief history of the application of X rays in medicine, and roughly describes modern technical apparatus and the various positions necessary to produce skiagrams. Beneath the illustrations of the head sinuses and mastoids, there is a graphic chart showing the projection of the rays which have produced the various films. This is most helpful, Most of the abnormal conditions met with in the skull are illustrated and short descriptive matter is given opposite or close to the reproductions. In the section on the spine it is pointed out that all the vertebrre develop from three primary centres of ossificatlon---one for the body and a lateral one for each side of the neural arch. Several secondary centres (up to twelve) appear during growth to adult life. The author points out that familiarity with the normal in this region is essential before a study of the abnormal is made. Here again the illustrations are excellent. The extremities are next considered and the small section on osteochondritis is clear and concise. Vitamin deficiencies (rickets and scurvy) are also briefiy described. The chest conditions are described and illustrated, but the text here is rather too condensed. The gastro-intestinal tract is well covered and the gall-bladder is adequately dealt with. The renal tract is treated along conventional lines. The radiotherapeutic section covers in short space' most of the conditions which are likely to be met with in practice. The dangers of radiation are pointed out. Dosages are not given in detail. Altogether this is an admirable work.


Abstract Background and Objectives Despite the easy acceptability and holistic nature of Kriya yoga, there are no studies evaluating the role of Kriya yoga intervention on depression. The objective of the current study was to assess the feasibility and effect of adjunctive Kriya yoga on depression. Methods Patients with major depressive disorder who opted for Kriya yoga were recruited into the intervention group (adjunctive Kriya yoga) and those on psychotropic medication alone were enrolled into the control group. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) measurements were recorded at baseline, end of 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Results HDRS scores of the intervention group (n = 29) were found to be significantly lesser than that of the control group (n = 52) by the end of 2, 4, and 8 weeks. The remission rate was also significantly greater in the intervention group. Conclusion Kriya yoga intervention was found to be feasible, as well as improved the severity of depression.


Palatally impacted maxillary canines are a challenge for any orthodontist. Often the surgeon will perform an incorrect uncovering technique, the orthodontic mechanics to erupt the tooth could be inappropriate, and as a result the periodontal and esthetic outcome could be disastrous. However, in the adolescent patient, the management of palatally impacted maxillary canines can be predictable, stable, and esthetic. However, to accomplish these results, the orthodontist and surgeon must select the appropriate method of surgical uncovering. This article discusses the advantages of preorthodontic uncovering and autonomous eruption of palatally impacted maxillary canines. The surgical technique will be described and illustrated, and consecutively treated cases will be displayed. An evidence-based discussion will feature the benefits of preorthodontic uncovering and autonomous eruption of palatally impacted maxillary canines.


Abstract We report the case of an adolescent who was presented with long-standing exertional symptoms, and was diagnosed with an anomalous right coronary arterial origin arising above the commissural junction between the left and right aortic sinus, with inter-arterial and intramural compression. The precise origin of this lesion outside the aortic sinuses is unusual, and multi-detector computed tomography gave excellent definition and spatial resolution of the anomalous origin and course. It is crucial to have a high index of suspicion of exertional symptoms, as sudden death may be the first manifestation of an anomalous coronary artery.


Background The multi-professional team identified the need to provide a more structured programme of support for carers. Aim To provide a bespoke programme of support and advice to carers of patients from any services provided across the organisation, based on requirements following individual holistic assessment. This would be delivered either in a group setting or individually as appropriate. Methods Carers were identified and the carers programme was explained to them with an invitation to attend for a personal carer's assessment. The programme is co-ordinated by the Day Services Sister. A five-week programme is implemented, with approximately six carers attending one day a week for five consecutive weeks. Carers from patients on the inpatient unit were often unable to complete the programme but were encouraged to attend when possible. Carers accessed therapy services, social worker was available for support and advice, catering staff provided information about nourishing the whole person. Hand massage and anxiety management sessions were provided as is lunch. Care shifts were provided for patients at home by Queenscourt at Home thus enabling the carers to attend. Conclusion Evaluations have exceeded expectations. We expected carers to be disappointed when the programme ended, however, many of them have formed support groups of their own and arranged to meet regularly. Carers feel empowered with more knowledge and skills, and many realise that taking time out for themselves should be seen as a necessity and not a guilty pleasure. Other comments include 'don't feel so alone any more' and 'I feel well cared for myself'. We will continue to run the programme and adapt it as necessary according to evaluations.


Research in automated negotiation has traditionally been focusing on the negotiation protocol and strategy design, but little on the implementation related issues such as how to select the best negotiation strategy, especially for problems involving multi-strategy selection. The lack of such study has hampered the development in applying automated negotiation to real world problems. This research focuses on operationalizing agent's independent decision-making process through the design of a negotiation decision-making model and the software architecture, based on an abstract architecture model that can support both goal-directed reasoning and reactive response. We formally define the automated negotiation agent's abstract architecture model and propose an algorithm for the architecture and the decision-making model. Grounded on the theory of Belief-Desire-Intention, the model can support the agent's multi-strategy negotiation. A prototype of the model is built and applied to an aircraft purchase negotiation process to demonstrate the effectiveness of our model.


Understanding, as opposed to seeing, depends on knowing the background, the context, of whatever is of interest. For this reason the creation of reference resources is foundational. Creating reference resources and making them available requires major investments of resources expertise. The benefits derived, the return on this investment, depends on the use made of them. The digital environment offers new possibilities for creation, publication and access, but the principal effect has been to increase the use of the resources that are easiest to use rather than the most trustworthy. Hence, a design challenge: How can the use of respected reference resources be made comparably easy to use? We will present a "Context Finder" a browser enhancement that reduces radically the effort required to find explanations in reference resources and report on infrastructure connecting the reader's screen, library guides, and reference resources.


Updated crop yield estimates for different soil types are required to meet the needs of farmers, land appraisers, and governmental agencies of most states within the United States. The objective of this study was to update wheat [Triticum aestivum L.] yield estimates for all soil types in the state of Illinois under the average management level used by all Illinois farmers in the 1990s. A crop yield soil properties (CYSP) model was developed from established 1970s wheat estimates and soil properties. Correlation and multiple regression analysis was used to establish the relationships between 16 physical and chemical soil properties and wheat yields. Using step-wise multiple regression, a final CYSP model with six variables (% silt in A and E horizons, % organic matter in A and E horizons, cation exchange capacity, rooting depth, bulk density of the B horizon, and Na content) explained 78% of the variation in 1970s wheat yields of (R2 = 0.78 [34 soils]). A 22-year yield trend was applied to the 1970s predicted and established wheat yields to estimate the 1990s yields under an average level of management used by all Illinois farmers. The 1990s wheat yields (model predicted plus trend) were compared with both established (Circular 1156) plus trend yields and with farmer-reported yields by Illinois Agricultural Statistics (IAS) Staff for 161 soils in nine test counties. Predicted 1990s test county wheat yields showed no statistical differences between the three data sources. The final 1990s wheat yield estimates for all Illinois soil types were the mean of the estimates from: (i) the established 1970s yields plus 22-year yield trend, (ii) the model predicted plus 22-year yield trend, and (iii) the 1990s farmer-reported yields. The proposed approach to updating wheat yields worked well in Illinois and should be useful in surrounding states and/or countries.


The introduction of a jet of fluid into a more or less stationary body fluid at a different temperature can lead to thermal stratification, and these processes are expected to be important in some severe nuclear accidents. Thermal stratification within the secondary containment could affect the ability of the containment to reject decay heat, for example. An ability to predict the behavior of the fluid under these circumstances is thus important. Such flows are complex, and computational fluid dynamics approaches are needed to resolve them, but they do present modeling challenges that go beyond those of more common 'forced' flows. In an effort to develop a computational methodology for CFD analyses of thermal stratification within large enclosures, the Twin Jet Water Facility (TJWF), discussed in previous works, was constructed to provide experimental data against which to assess the performance of various CFD modeling approaches. The TJWF allows for one or two heated jet(s) to enter vertically from below into a cooler pool of water, with either water recirculated, or with the water level allowed to rise. This work focuses on a single slender planar heated jet entering cooler water, and in which stratification is then seen to occur with a raising water level. In this study, CFD analyses using unsteady Reynolds averaged (URANS) turbulence models such as lowRe and SSTare conducted, and the experimental data from the TJWF for the same test cases are compared to the computational results. The modeling deficiencies and potential causes of errors arising from the use of each approach is discussed. The results and conclusions for this work provide guidance for URANS simulations of such circumstances. This work was performed using the CD-adapco's STARCCM+ v9.04 CFD code.


Military Media Machine is an investigation into the media management structure, and the increasingly dynamic communication processes, developed and implemented by the UK military. It explores – rather than explains – the proliferation in military media facilitation within defence, at a time when the British armed forces are concluding their nearly 13-year campaign in Afghanistan. During this extraordinary period of strategic pressure, telling a story of success has become a key factor in the military's understanding of their own communication function. So this thesis suggests. It does so by demonstrating how strategic narratives are constructed to distance the soldier and the military institution from the war itself. It shows how the military shift from a combat to a 'train and advice' role has challenged the ways in which this distinction is upheld and communicated. This has a wider applicability too, as it testifies to the increasing conflation of military goals and political objectives.
Using access to UK and NATO field settings and doctrinal discussions, the study documents a growing presence of media theory at the heart of military doctrine. It demonstrates how the British military have engaged large (and not necessarily efficient) resources to managing the story as part of their Afghanistan exit strategy. This includes new communication initiatives, online engagement procedures, information doctrine and media training facilitation. Thesis findings indicate that the purpose of these initiatives is to influence target audiences through the 'means' of the media. They paint a picture of an organisation that is increasingly engaged in catering to, and producing material for, the media.
Media studies have generally not engaged in military communication research. Similarly, the military have shown little interest in involving external partners in their communication function. The thesis positions itself at the heart of this discussion. It recognises that new frameworks of understanding are needed; frameworks that do not attempt to improve the effectiveness of military messaging but which examine it and consider the practice. Unlike most work carried out in military academies the purpose of the study has not been to develop doctrine. Rather, by taking on an inside-out approach (as opposed to an outside-in approach) the thesis examines a fast-growing aspect of communication research that has so far been poorly documented within media and communications studies.


A 58-year-old woman was evaluated following complaints of pain in both lower extremities and brief involuntary movements in her toes, which had begun 2 years prior. No signs were present beyond a curling, flexion/extension, abduction/adduction movement in the toes of both lower extremities, voluntarily stoppable during neurologic examination. During investigation into etiology, lumbar vertebrae MRI revealed a posterior annular protrusion causing partial compression of the dural sac and neural elements by the L3-4 and L4-5 discs. Semirhythmic repetitious movements were detected on electromyography performed on right extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) muscle with 200 mV and 1 Hz frequency. Patient was put on a gradually increased dose of gabapentin, starting at 1200 mg/day. A brief regression in pain and involuntary movements in feet and toes was observed. GABAergic agents are very effective treatment of painful legs and moving toes syndrome. The present clinically and electrophysiologically diagnosed case was considered worth reporting, as painful legs and moving toes syndrome is a very rare condition.


The quasi-optical description of wave beams is extended to smoothly inhomogeneous anisotropic and/or gyrotropic media. A method of deriving quasi-optical equations for a slow-varied scalar beam amplitude from Maxwellian equations is proposed. Transversal localization of the beam near the central ray allows one to separate and sequentially derive the refractional, focusing (or defocusing) and aberrational terms. The correct relationship between the scalar beam amplitude and the vector electric field is conserved for every order. For simplicity, a cold collisionless magnetized plasma is considered. However, all basic results are valid, with minor amendments, for media with spatial dispersion. The aberration-free parabolic-like equation for a complex beam envelope is considered in detail. Its physical properties are investigated and a general solution is found.


This thesis investigates the representations of adolescent femininity in post-2000 American novels and films produced for tween and teen girl audiences. It uses texts with similar narrative structures to compare the effects of adaptation from book-to-film to the effects of adaptation from screenplay-to-junior novelization. The overall methodological approach is discourse analysis, informed by narrative analysis adapted by Brian McFarlane from the work of Roland Barthes to consider the difference between what is transferred across media and what is adapted. Representations of femininity in the books and movies are explored through the distributional narrative functions, which can be transferred and may be adapted, as well as integrational narrative functions, which generally must be adapted according to medium. Gillian Rose's methods of visual analysis are used to consider the books and movies as objects, accounting for their technological, compositional and social elements. Varying discourses result from adaptation. The book-to-film adaptation strategies of transfer result in similar storytelling in both versions, while re-emphasis and adaptation also alter the discourse considerably. The film-to-book adaptation uses transferring devices and does not fully adapt the movie to a literary medium. All the texts reinscribe certain notions about femininity and offer many stock characters. Both movies imply adulthood as an endpoint of character development, while the book versions offer a consistently adolescent or pre-adolescent point of view. Both movies foreground the act of looking although it is not necessitated by the medium. Table of


We observed neutron emissions from palladium after it absorbed deuterium from heavy water followed by hydrogen from light water. The neutron count, the duration of the release and the time of the release after electrolysis was initiated all fluctuated considerably. Neutron emissions were observed in five out of ten test cases. In all previous experiments reported, only heavy water was used, and light water was absorbed only in accidental contamination. Compared to these deuterium results, the neutron count is orders of magnitude higher, and reproducibility is much improved.


Food allergy training for teachers remains an important, but commonly overlooked, aspect of education as millions of children have been diagnosed with food allergies. Therefore, it is pertinent teachers receive food allergy training that is most beneficial in growing a teacher's understanding for teachers to be best suited in correctly helping food allergic students. Four food allergy training methods: hands-on in-person (actual handling of epinephrine), non-hands in-person, group video, and individual video, and their effects on the self-efficacy of participants is the focus of this study. Teachers were contacted from within the city of Chicago, both public and private, and from a mixture of food allergy training methods and were administered an online survey which asked questions pertaining to their food allergy knowledge, perception, and self-efficacy. Participants were given statements to which they would respond on a five-point Likert scale, scored using a chi-square test. Ultimately, the hypothesis that teachers who engaged in hands-on in-person would showcase higher levels of self-efficacy, due to higher levels of engagement, was not supported. While several statements proved significant after data analysis, there was not enough significance to prove a meaningful relationship between the self-efficacy and training method.


We consider scheduling problems in the master-slave model. In this model, each job has to be processed sequentially in three stages. In the first stage, a preprocessing task runs on a master machine, in the second stage, a slave task runs on a dedicated slave machine, and, in the last stage, a postprocessing task again runs on a master machine, possibly different from the master machine in the first stage. It has been shown that the problem of minimizing the makespan or the sum of completion times is NP-hard in the strong sense even if preemption is allowed. In this paper, we design efficient approximation algorithms to minimize the sum of completion times in various settings. These are the first general results for the minsum problem in the master-slave model. We also show that these algorithms generate schedules with small makespan as well


When using magnetic vector potential (MVP)-based formulations for magnetostatic or eddy-current problems, either gauge conditions specifying the divergence of the MVP or tree gauging by eliminating redundant degrees of freedom of the MVP is usually imposed to ensure uniqueness of solutions. Explicit gauging of the MVP is not always necessary since classical iterative solvers can automatically and implicitly fix the gauge as long as the right-hand side vectors are consistent. Besides iterative solvers, implicit gauging is also observed when using state-of-the-art parallel sparse direct solvers (PSDSs), thanks to the built-in functions of handling null-spaces of either real symmetric positive semi-definite matrix systems or those complex symmetric systems from eddy-current problems. Both static and eddy-current examples are solved by PSDS to demonstrate results of local physical quantities or global quantities such as magnetic energy or joule losses. High-order edge/nodal elements are also considered in our numerical examples and it is observed that PSDS can also easily and correctly handle the delicate discrete null spaces.


The search for new dietary ingredients for total or partial replacement of fish oil has assumed a growing importance and is currently the subject of advanced scientific research. Plants are recognized to be a good source of both peptides and oils for fish aquafeeds. The present paper reviews the effects played on fish growth and physiology by some plant products, highlighting also their possible detrimental effects related to the presence of anti-nutritional factors. Although complete replacement of fish meal in feeds for cultured species is still difficult, the results obtained by the current studies performed on plant products are promising and encourage further research on this issue.


Cloud Computing provides virtual server infrastructures for companies. The intended benefit is that enterprises do not have to buy their own hardware to provide services for their customers. Therefore, end-users usually do not directly access the raw cloud service (Infrastructure as a Service) as of yet, they use derived services instead.
 In this position paper we present a novel way of making cloud-based infrastructure directly useful for end-users by integrating it into peer-to-peer systems. We show one example application which could make use of the cloud without requiring a business relationship between the software vendor and the cloud operator. This software could for example be distributed as open source.


This article aims to analyze network mobility issues and requirements in the context of beyond-3G systems, and explore various approaches to the solutions, including the basic approach being pursued within the IETF NEMO working group. It starts with understanding the network mobility scenarios. Then the principle of mobile IP is revisited to serve as the basis for the subsequent discussion on the basic and advanced requirements and approaches for network mobility support. Finally, the network mobility research activities in the EU project OverDRiVE are reported.


Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is one of the most common medical conditions with reported prevalence estimates as high as 30% in the adult population. Although conservative management with compression therapy may improve the symptoms associated with CVI, healing often demands invasive procedures. Besides established surgical methods like vein stripping or bypassing, endovenous laser therapy (ELT) emerged as a promising novel treatment option during the last 15 years offering multiple advantages such as less pain and faster recovery. Much of the treatment success hereby depends on monitoring of the treatment progression using clinical imaging modalities such as Doppler ultrasound. The latter however do not provide sufficient contrast, spatial resolution and three-dimensional imaging capacity which is necessary for accurate online lesion assessment during treatment. As a consequence, incidence of recanalization, lack of vessel occlusion and collateral damage remains highly variable among patients. In this study, we examined the capacity of volumetric optoacoustic tomography (VOT) for real-time monitoring of ELT using an ex-vivo ox foot model. ELT was performed on subcutaneous veins while optoacoustic signals were acquired and reconstructed in real-time and at a spatial resolution in the order of 200μm. VOT images showed spatio-temporal maps of the lesion progression, characteristics of the vessel wall, and position of the ablation fiber's tip during the pull back. It was also possible to correlate the images with the temperature elevation measured in the area adjacent to the ablation spot. We conclude that VOT is a promising tool for providing online feedback during endovenous laser therapy.


The biggest challenge when it comes to controlling various animal diseases, is that they are spread by a vector. In other words, it isn't the disease that has to be controlled, but the vector - a much more challenging and daunting task! Flies, together with their friends the mosquito and midges, are major culprits in the spreading of many animal diseases.


ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the application time and the capacity of the nomograms to predict the success of Guy's Stone Score (GSS), S.T.O.N.E. Nephrolithometry (STONE) and Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society nephrolithometric nomogram (CROES) of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), evaluating the most efficient one for clinical use. Materials and Methods: We studied 48 patients who underwent PCNL by the same surgeon between 2010 and 2011. We calculated GSS, STONE and CROES based on pre-operative non-contrast computed tomography (CT) images and clinical data. A single observer, blinded to the outcomes, reviewed all images and assigned scores. We compared the application time of each nomogram. We used an analysis of variance for repeated measures and multiple comparisons by the Tukey test. We compared the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the three nomograms two by two to determine the most predictive scoring system. Results: The immediate success rate was 66.7% and complications occurred in 16.7% of cases. The average operative time was 122 minutes. Mean application time was significantly lower for the GSS (27.5 seconds) when compared to 300.6 seconds for STONE and 213.4 seconds for CROES (p<0.001). There was no significant difference among the GSS (AUC=0.653), STONE (AUC=0.563) and CROES (AUC=0.641) in the ability to predict immediate success of PCNL. Conclusions: All three nomograms showed similar ability to predict success of PCNL, however the GSS was the quickest to be applied, what is an important issue for routine clinical use when counseling patients who are candidates to PCNL.


The olfactory system plays an important role in the mobilization of animal behaviour, along with the sense of taste. These functions are mediated by a complex olfactory structure composed of peripheral (olfactory epithelium) and central (olfactory bulb) components. Several neuropeptides are synthesized in the olfactory system and are believed to be involved in olfactive processing. Recently, another bioactive substance, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), has been demonstrated in the olfactory system. ANP is a potent diuretic, natriuretic and vasorelaxant hormone which, originally, was isolated from mammalian atria, but its gene is expressed in many loci. ANP is only one member of the natriuretic peptide (NP) family, which includes two other peptides, BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) and CNP (C-type natriuretic peptide) derived from different genes. All three peptides show many common features. A high concentration of ANP-immunoreactive varicose fibers has been detected in the rat olfactory nerve layer and glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb (OB). An important group of perikarya and thin varicose fibers has been observed in the olfactory tubercle. We have demonstrated the presence of both ANP precursor and ANP gene transcript in the rat olfactory bulb. In addition to synthesizing ANP, the OB contains ANP transducing receptors coupled to guanylyl-cyclase system. The immunoreactive ANP has also been detected in the rat olfactory mucosa (OM), where ANP has been localized in secretory cells of Bowman's gland and in the cells of the epithelial layer. The relatively low concentration of ANP in OM (2.5 ng/mg protein) suggests a local role for ANP, a hypothesis which is strengthened by the presence of ANP high affinity receptors in this tissue. Although the role of ANP in the olfactory system is not yet clear, ANP has been shown to modulate olfactory bulb mitochondrial membrane activity and to be involved in the olfactive function.


Due to heart disease in India almost one person dies every day. A technique should be developed to detect the heart disease to reduce the number of deaths which is handy and at the same time reliable also. In the health care sector, Machine Learning plays an important role in the health care Industry. This paper deals with exploring and investigating different Machine Learning Algorithms. Also, it deals with applying multiple Algorithms on Heart Disease Dataset. In this study, from UCI the Dataset is taken. Six models were trained and tested, which are Logistic Regression, Random Forest Classifier, XGBoost Classifier, Support Vector Machine Classifier, Artificial Neural Network Classifier, K Nearest Neighbors Classifier. The Machine Learning algorithm Random Forest Classifier has proven to be the most accurate and reliable algorithm and hence used in the proposed system.


Now-a-days glass fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRP) are always applicable in variety of engineering applications. It is used in aerospace, automotive and aircraft industries due to their well known properties. Milling of GFRP composite materials is very difficult due to its heterogeneity and the number of troubles like as surface delamination during machining affects uniqueness of the material and the machining parameters. Present paper focuses the experimental details to find out delamination factor on GFRP composite laminates by using Taguchi"s DOE L9 orthogonal array. The main objective of the present work is to optimize the process parameters in the drilling of GFRP composite using Taguchi DOE and to find the significance of each process parameter using ANOVA. As far as the effect of input factors are considered, the factors drilled material and spindle speed both have nearly predominant influence on the delamination factor of drilled holes on GFRP composite by using CNC milling process.


Abstract: The main aim of the vibration energy harvesters is to locally power autonomous devices such as wireless sensors. Generally, power levels are low and the environmental benefit of the technology is to replace batteries rather than saving energy per se. Piezoelectric vibrational energy harvesters are usually inertial mass based devices, where a cantilever beam with a piezoelectric outer layer is excited into resonance by a mechanical vibration source at the root of the cantilever beam. However, the geometry of a piezoelectric cantilever beam will greatly affect its vibration energy harvesting ability. This paper deduces a remarkably precise analytical formula for calculating the fundamental resonant frequency of unimorph V-shaped cantilevers using Rayleigh-Ritz method. This analytical formula, which is convenient for mechanical energy harvester design based on piezoelectric effect, is then validated by ABAQUS simulation. This formula raises a new perspective that, among all the unimorph V-shaped cantilever beams and in comparison with rectangular one (the simplest tapered cantilever), can lead to the highest resonant frequency and maximum sensitivity. Keywords: Mechanical Energy harvester, Piezoelectric, Unimorph V-shaped Cantilever, Resonant frequency, Finite Element


Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) is an emerging 3GPP radio interface technology specifically designed for Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs). It can provide high coverage (20dB improvement compared to GPRS), low device power consumption (a battery life of up to more than 10 years), low delay sensitivity, massive capacity and ultralow device cost. NB-IoT is believed to have great potential for realizing a large number of Internet of Things (IoT) applications, such as smart meter, intelligent parking, precision farming, manufacturing automation, pallet tracking for logistics and intelligent building. The research on different aspects of NB-IoT technology was studied, but most of them were based on the theoretical or simulated analysis, rarely related to the real NB-IoT network. Since 2016, China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile have launched pre-standard NB-IoT technology pilot work, which has been operated in some areas. This paper presents an in-depth performance evaluation of NB-IoT in a real-world indoor environment. This study examined that the current NB-IoT network can support the connected devices and is fit IoT applications' requirements in indoor environment. Meanwhile, it also explored the limits of network based on current NB-IoT, especially in terms of delay and packet delivery sizes.


Atomic depth distribution and growth modes of In and Ga on a Si(111) surface were studied by a method using reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and total reflection angle X-ray spectroscopy (TRAXS). Indium was deposited on a Si(111)-√3×√3-Ga(1 ML) surface at room temperature. After 2 ML and 6 ML of In deposition, the peak positions and the shapes were similar in the glancing angle dependence of GaK emission. By the analysis of these measurements, the growth mode was concluded to be as follows. First, two layers of In grew on the Ga layer in an ordinary growth mode. After the third layer, however, In grew under the third Ga layer, resulting in a layer structure of (In2Ga)Inm (m=1,2,3 ...). On other Ga-covered Si(111) surfaces, In grew in an ordinary growth mode.


A review is given of the present situation of electric giant resonances in nuclei. Starting with the properties of the well-known electric dipole resonances the authors summarise the known experimental facts on resonances with other angular momenta and parities. They mainly discuss the giant quadrupole and giant monopole resonances which are known best. The difficulties connected with the extraction of nuclear structure information from the experimental cross sections are discussed in detail. They also review the theoretical developments in this field and emphasise especially microscopic models and the corresponding results. As far as possible the experimental facts are compared with the theoretical results.


In the context of demographic ageing of the population, it is necessary to focus more systematically on the elderly and the relationship between society and people of this age category. This article presents the topic of intergenerational relationships; it specifically focuses on the relationship between preschool children and the elderly. The aim of the article is to introduce the topic of intergenerational relationships with a focus on the relationships between preschool children and the elderly, analyze the current state of knowledge in the field of intergenerational relationships and specify the possibilities of developing intergenerational relationships between these groups of people. For this purpose, it is necessary to create intergenerational programs, but it is also essential to form positive attitudes in the family.


Far-infrared (40-160 micron) observations of Herbig-Haro objects and their probable exciting stars are presented. The importance of these far-infrared observations is epitomized by the fact that, on average, 70 percent of the bolometric luminosity of a typical candidate star is radiated beyond the longest detected ground-based wavelength, even for those objects observed out to 20 micron from the ground. Extended far-infrared emission characterizes some of these regions. Some Herbig-Haro nebulae are themselves conspicuous 100 micron peaks (e.g., HH 1 and HH 25). A bipolar structure is found at 100 micron in the vicinity of the Cohen-Schwartz star. All the exciting stars must be low-mass objects (approximately less than 3 solar mass). It is argued that they might be approximately 1 solar mass protostars still in their accretion phase.


A 58-year-old woman was admitted with left-sided decreased sensation, ataxia, and left "alien" hand and leg. Brain SPECT and PET showed hypoperfusion and hypometabolism in the right frontoparietal cortices, including the primary sensorimotor cortex, and temporal cortex. MRI demonstrated matching-restricted diffusion and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensity. Corticobasal degeneration was suspected initially. The patient declined rapidly, and the diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) was made based on cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. CJD can present with symptoms similar to other disorders. This case illustrates that CJD can mimic a rare neurodegenerative disorder, cortico-basal degeneration, both clinically and by neuroimaging.


Self-consistent density functional calculations of the hydroxylated ~ 0001 ! corundum surfaces are presented. It is demonstrated that the hydroxylated surfaces are the most stable under most, but not all, conditions. Hydroxylation significantly lowers the surface free energy of a -alumina. The stability of the hydrated surface resolves the discrepancies between the morphology of the a -alumina ~ 0001 ! surface observed under ultra-high vacuum, and at ambient conditions. A method for the calculation of the equilibrium surface stoichiometry is proposed. The proposed approach provides a valuable connection between theoretical calculations and experiments with metal oxides. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. @ DOI: 10.1063/1.1574798 #


Innovative climates are largely affected by the relationships between the individuals involved. This thesis addresses the topic of trying to improve the quality of relationships by giving engineers some tools and principles to understand in order for them to be able to contribute positively to a creative and productive atmosphere. Through the experiences drawn from universities both in India and Bhutan, the student tries to grasp some fundamental ideas about human values that can be shared to other engineers in practical manner. This thesis begins by concentrating the importance of human relationships within an innovative process and within an organization. It has been found that groups and organizations perform better and have better cultures if people are willing to give help unconditionally. Based on this underlying idea of unconditional giving, this thesis introduces a model or principle called 'the box' which is a state of mind that one enters into when one self-betrays and is led to self-deception. In this self-deceived state one has betrayed one's inner feeling to do something for someone (for example not replying to an email, not holding open a door for a colleague etc.) and thus begins to justify this betrayal in one's mind by creating a distorted picture of reality. From this state of mind, one does not contribute positively to one's work or to one's relationships and it becomes clear that this betrayal is a betrayal of the heart. In order to increase the awareness of the heart and help build resilience from entering into 'the box', the thesis provides a method to get in touch with one's heart through biofeedback measurements. Finally, the thesis addresses how we make value judgments, which is ultimately what defines our motives and behaviors in our homes and workplaces. It can be concluded that our value judgments are made by the combination of our heart, mind and will. Thus, by consciously learning more about our hearts, minds and will, how they function together and deepen more on what we find valuable, we can consciously begin the process of self-development. Through the process of self-development we increase our inner power (power over self) which is fundamentally different than external power (power over others). The thesis concludes that in order for us to contribute more positively to our innovative climates we have to increase our inner power. This is only done through the process of self-development where one concentrates on making continuous value judgments in alignment with the value supremacy of the human being. This process is not automatic and needs to be pursued consciously and directly however, as of now, the distribution of this type of knowledge is outside of the curriculum for engineering students. If we dedicate more energy to understanding the process of making value judgments, we can contribute more positively to our innovative climates.


The impact of Buddhist vegetarianism views on the equivalent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE s) is evaluated. The vegetarianism views from three major Buddhist schools in China are first presented, since different views on vegetarianism can dictate the assessment of the equivalent of GHGE reduction. The populations of Chinese Buddhists in these three Buddhist schools are then estimated. A correlation formula is used to evaluate the equivalent GHGE reductions attributed to the vegan and vegetarian populations in the Chinese Buddhists from 2017 to 2027. The reduction results enable us to conclude that Chinese Buddhists with vegan or vegetarian diets account for the equivalent GHGE reduction of 54.560 MtCO2e in 2017 and 60.927 MtCO2e in 2027 with an average annual growth rate of 1.11 %. The reductions of 54.560 and 60.927 MtCO2e equal to 11.66 % and 13.02 % of the total GHGE s from the United Kingdom in 2016, respectively.