INTRODUCTION
Subatmospheric pressure wound therapy (SAWT) is commonly used to manage infected wounds. However, this practice remains controversial because the safety and efficacy of the technique has not been carefully documented.

METHODS
The authors assessed the safety and efficacy of a sealed gauze dressing with wall suction applied (GSUC) compared to vacuum assisted-closure (VAC), both soaked with topical antimicrobials. Subjects included 31 hospitalized patients with acutely infected wounds compared with 56 patients with noninfected wounds.

RESULTS
There were significant reductions in wound surface area and volume in both infected and noninfected groups; there was no significant difference in the rate of change observed in the GSUC vs the VAC arms of the study. In the infected group, the reduction in wound surface area was 4.4% per day for GSUC and 4.8% per day for VAC. Wound volume was 7.8% per day for GSUC, and 9.7% per day for VAC (P < 0.001 for all). Evidence of wound infection in all patients, regardless of treatment group, resolved by 96 hours of onset of treatment, and there were no complications specifically related to the use of a sealed dressing over infected wounds.

CONCLUSION
Gauze dressing with wall suction and VAC therapy can be used in selected acute, infected wounds and both methods of treatment appear to be similarly effective for reducing wound surface area and volume. .


Design methods for asynchronous sequential pass-transistor circuits, which result in circuits that are hazard- and critical-race-free and which have added degrees of freedom for the input signals, are discussed. The design procedures are straightforward and easy to implement. Two single-transition-time state assignment methods are presented, and hardware bounds for each are established. A surprising result is that the hardware realizations for each next state variable and output variable is identical for a given flow table. Thus, a state machine with N states and M outputs can be constructed using a single layout replicated N+M times. >


In te rn at io n al J o u rn al o f A rc h it ec tu re a n d P la n n in g Abstract Discourses on woman/space relations boomed in the 90s. The fundamental reason was to give support to the Feminist Movement. This trend which has had feeble effect on architectural design remained controversial. The comprehensive research expounded in this article which was based on an open-ended questionnaire that targeted at determining the gender roles at home, applied to female subjects who simulated the national demographics, clearly demonstrated that the home experience of an average Turkish woman basically consists of kitchens; the female who runs the house does not really have a place for herself at home. However she does not perceive her restrained, secondary role an issue worthy of struggling to change and she grants spaces for recreation and study to the male. The well-established civil laws conducive for equality has not changed this disturbing situation and do not seem to do so in the near future. Ev: Kadın Büyürken... Şengül ÖYMEN GÜR Şengül YALÇINKAYA EROL


As responses to first-time, nonviolent juvenile offenders move towards community-based restorative justice, approaches such as the Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) Model are prominent. The BARJ Model engages the youth offender, offense victim(s), and community in which the offense occurred with three associated goals: accountability, community safety, and competency development. However, while the goals of accountability and community safety are often prioritized, many community-based restorative justice programs neglect the goal of competency development, which is ultimately a disservice not only to the youth offender, but to the community. To interrupt the cyclical nature of juvenile offending and support the long-term rehabilitation of the youth offender, the integration of the BARJ model and a positive youth development (PYD) approach within the context of community-based restorative justice is proposed. PYD is grounded in the belief that all youth have the potential for healthy development, viewing them as assets and resources in community settings. To enhance long-term development, PYD objectives simultaneously promote protective factors, develop internal and external assets, and mitigate risk factors. The integration of a PYD approach within the BARJ model addresses the need to enhance youth competency development through PYD indicators inherent to many community-based programs. This article explores the conceptual compatibility of integration of the BARJ model and a PYD approach with the goal of promoting competency development among youth offenders in a restorative justice context.


Effects of water stress on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, changes in protein content, leaf water potential (Ψ l ) and growth were studied in drought-sensitive Kyokko (KK) and Ratan (RT), and drought-tolerant TM 0126 (TM) and VF-134-1-2 (VF) cultivars of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in order to obtain fundamental information for breeding drought tolerant cultivars that may be adapted to water stress in many parts of the world. Growth of drought-tolerant TM and VF was greater than that of drought-sensitive KK and RT under water stress conditions. Leaf water potential (Ψ l ) decreased by water stress treatments in all the cultivars, but the reduction was much more rapid and pronounced in KK and RT than VF and TM. Ψ l of stressed cultivars decreased by 30% to 40% compared to the untreated control cultivars. The initial reduction in the range of 20% to 35% was more rapid in KK and RT than TM and VF. SOD activities were increased by water stress in all cultivars. Increase of SOD activities by water stress was much more rapid and pronounced in TM and VF than in KK and RT. Leaf protein concentration was decreased by the water stress treatments in all cultivars evaluated. In KK and RT, much more rapid reductions in protein concentration were observed than in TM and VF. The regression analysis of Ψ l and SOD suggest the possibility to using SOD activities as an additional screening criterion for tomato drought tolerance improvement.


Particle dampers can suppress structural vibration over a broad range of frequencies, which makes them attractive in comparison to many other passive damping technologies. They constitute a cavity filled with particles. Energy dissipation from particle dampers depends on many parameters including, size of the cavity, diameter of the particles, shape of the damper, filling ratio, material properties of the particles and the volumetric ratio between the cavity and particles. Performance changes with the amplitude of the excitation and, to a lesser extent, the frequency. This study focuses on the energy dissipation in the granular material that fills particle dampers as the damper is subjected to low-amplitude dynamic load. The behaviour of this material is modelled using the Discrete Element Method (DEM) for a specific case: a tube-shaped cavity filled with spherical particles. An equivalent continuum model is proposed for the granular material and the Finite Element Method (FEM) is used to simulate the response of a damper subject to structural vibration. This study shows how the equivalent material model can be used to predict amplitude dependent behaviour in particle dampers under lowamplitude excitation.


A three-dimensional asymptotic scheme that combines the transfer matrix method and the asymptotic expansion technique is used to analyze thermo-electro-mechanical deformations of a piezothermoelastic laminate with surface tractions, electric potentials, and temperatures specified on its top and bottom surfaces. The scheme results in a hierarchy of two-dimensional equations with the same homogeneous operator for each order. For an elastic problem, the homogeneous operator reduces to that for classical thin-plate equations. Results computed for a simply supported rectangular plate with edges grounded are found to be in excellent agreement with the exact solution of the problem.


The K-Ar systematics of illite/smectite (I/S) mixed layers in deeply buried shales from the Gulf Coast, the North Sea and the Mahakam Delta basins have been compared to provide additional perspectives on the diagenetic evolution of these minerals. Comparison of the results suggests that illitization proceeds similarly in the 3 basins, at least for the increase in the illite-layer and K contents, despite differences in the provenance of the detrital components, the ages of deposition, the depths of burial and the tectonic history of the basins. Analysis of the trends with depth in the illite-layer and K contents of I/S-enriched size fractions of shales in the North Sea and the Mahakam Delta basins shows that these trends represent segments of the more complete trends from I/S minerals of the Gulf Coast area.The trends with depth in the radiogenic 40Ar contents and in the K-Ar ages of the I/S-rich fractions in the North Sea and Mahakam Delta basins suggest that, relative to the reference trends of the Gulf Coast area, the K-Ar system of the clay material is more dependent on the behavior of the radiogenic 40Ar than on the occurrence or non-occurrence of detrital grains in the size fractions. Recasting of the available data suggests that retention of radiogenic 40Ar by the illite-type minerals occurs in the intense illitization zone and release occurs in the deeper part of the basins. We therefore speculate that the illitization process of the I/S mixed layers of progressively buried shale-type sediments could be controlled by a transformation process integrating dissolution of detrital components in poral rock environments relatively impermeable to radiogenic 40Ar. These excesses, which might be partly or completely erased in deeper parts of the sedimentary basins, question the application of the K-Ar dating method on clay minerals extracted from shales.


In this paper we introduce foundational techniques and prove the following: if X is a \mathbb{Z}^d subshift without periodic points, if Y is a \mathbb{Z}^d square mixing subshift of finite type containing a finite orbit and if there exists a homomorphism X\rightarrow Y, then X embeds into Y if and only if h(X)<h(Y). For the proof, clopen markers are used to generate Voronoi tiles whose thickened boundaries are coded using the homomorphism. The entropy gap and the square mixing permit the construction of an injective code on the tile interiors. A second paper will show that \mathbb{Z}^2 square filling mixing shifts of finite type are square mixing and that homomorphisms exist, resulting in an extension of Krieger's Embedding Theorem to \mathbb{Z}^2 subshifts.


Allocation of educators to diverse and rapidly evolving educational programmes of study such as those within Computing and under increasingly tighter budgetary constraints is a non-trivial task. Suitability and availability of expertise coupled with a need to limit disruption to existing teaching assignments can often result in first fit solutions that are less than optimal in terms of suitability. This system is highly sensitive to even small changes, which ripple out through assignments and make it a difficult problem for solution. This paper presents a methodology for profiling programmes of study and, by association, educator expertise that provides a basis for exploring a large number of potential teaching assignments utilising a genetic algorithm. The teaching assignment problem is exponential in problem size and is combinatorially large. Here, a genetic algorithm implementation generates teaching assignments and informs management decision making for continuity planning. The process rapidly achieved very good solutions to a difficult problem, informed scheduling for the coming academic year and determined the acquisition of educators from other areas where local expertise was insufficient for needs. General Terms Automated Teaching Assignment


Nuclear medicine provides a great clinical impact in the assessment and follow-up of kidney transplantation. In addition to the direct evaluation of transplant perfusion and function, indirect scintigraphic features may enhance the detection of potential transplant complications. The authors present a renal scintigraphy showing a large parenchymal perfusion compromise based on transplant caliceal reflux.


First paragraph: The children in our studies were three or four years old. Like Andy and Evie they used technologies in different ways. They went to nursery, enjoyed active lives, and engaged in a diverse range of pursuits with friends and family. Whilst all the children had exposure to technologies at home their experiences varied: some children lived in homes with high levels of technology but preferred to read books, draw pictures or play with toys. Other children lived in homes where parents lacked confidence or interest in how to use technology and yet the children were able to find creative ways of integrating technology into their play. Andy was a keen Game Boy player, enjoyed surfing the web with his Dad but also liked dressing up, football and swimming. Evie's favourite toy was the LeapPad but, apart from that, she did not show much interest in technology, preferring to look after her guinea pigs, play hopscotch or draw pictures.


This dictionary includes over 6,500 entries and a clear pronunciation guide detailing and providing examples for the many different sounds of Yoruba. The concept of a tonal language, essential to this major Nigerian tongue, is thoroughly defined and illustrated. Each Yoruban entry is romanized and each English entry is transcribed into the Yoruban alphabet - making this an incredibly valuable tool for both Yoruban and English speakers alike. Yoruba, with its lengthy and important history in West Africa, remains today the most widely spoken language in African religious ceremonies in the Western hemisphere. It is the main language spoken in Nigeria, Benin Republic and Togo.


Dielectric-based photonic structures, composed of a lossless but high refractive index material, are currently among the preferential solutions for light management in thin film photovoltaics, as they allow broadband manipulation of sunlight to strongly boost the absorptance in the thin solar cell layers. In this work, we present an innovative colloidal lithography nanofabrication method that allows the precise engineering of wavelength-sized features, with the materials and geometries appropriate for efficient light trapping when implemented on the front surface of the cells. The method is developed here with TiO2 nanostructures tested on amorphous-silicon absorber thin films coated on the rear side by a metallic reflector. It is a simple, low-cost and scalable approach consisting of 4 main steps: (1) deposition of periodic close-packed arrays of polystyrene colloids which act as the mask; (2) shaping the particles and increasing their spacing via dry etching; (3) infiltration of TiO2 into the inter-particle spaces and (4) removal of the polystyrene particles to leave only the structured TiO2 layer. The resultant array of wavelength-sized features acts as a nanostructured high-index anti-reflection coating, which not only suppresses the reflected light at short wavelengths but also increases the optical path length of the longer wavelengths, via light scattering, within the absorber. The optical results have been compared with numerical electromagnetic computations to provide a deeper understanding of the physical mechanisms responsible for absorptance enhancement in the cells. A notorious 27.3% enhancement in the cell photocurrent is anticipated with the fabricated structures, relative to conventional anti-reflection coatings.


Personal care robots are expected to be valuable labor force in Japan that is entering an aging society. When using the personal care robot in the same space as humans, there are many safety issues. Personal care robots are actively researched, and flexible pneumatic actuators are used there. Collecting environmental information is necessary for robots and humans to coexist safely. Research on the tactile field of the robot does not reproduce the human skin sensation and the like but utilizes data obtained from contact sensors and the like as a physical quantity different from human skin sensation. However, there are many problems that have not yet been elucidated for the mechanism of human material recognition. Tactile sensation is a sense that it is possible to detect the hardness, surface roughness, temperature of an object for the first time by touching and moving an object unlike vision and hearing, and it is a sensation that it is important to actively move a finger. In this study, artificial fingers with joints for detecting the surface condition, hardness and temperature are fabricated using a strain gauge and a thermocouple, and by introducing active tactile perception using a pneumatic actuator, Develop pneumatic artificial fingers with near tactile sensory function. To make the texture factor equivalent to that obtained from humans by these, a material recognition system capable of discriminating the material equivalent to human by optimizing a neural network that simulates the connection structure of nerve cells in human brain.


OBJECTIVE
This study estimated the impact of a statewide, centralized telepsychiatry service provided in nonpsychiatric emergency departments (EDs) on use of mental health services.

METHODS
Individuals treated via telepsychiatry were compared with a matched control group of individuals with mental health diagnoses who were treated in nonparticipating hospitals. Bivariate and two-part and generalized linear regression models were used to assess differences between the two groups in outpatient follow-up, hospital admission following the ED visit, length of hospital stay if admitted, and inpatient and total costs.

RESULTS
Between March 2009 and June 2013, there were 9,066 patients with at least one telepsychiatry visit. Of these, 7,261 had index telepsychiatry visits that the authors were able to successfully match. Compared with the matched control group, telepsychiatry recipients were more likely to receive 30-day outpatient follow-up (46% versus 16%, p<.001) and 90-day outpatient follow-up (54% versus 20%, p<.001). Telepsychiatry recipients were less likely than the control group to be admitted to the hospital during the index ED visit (11% versus 22%, p<.001). The combined effect of having a telepsychiatry consult during the index ED visit was a reduction of .86 days in inpatient length of stay. Thirty-day inpatient costs were $2,336 (p=.04) lower for the telepsychiatry versus the control group, but 30-day total health care costs were not statistically different.

CONCLUSIONS
Telepsychiatry delivered in the ED through a centralized coordinated program has great promise for improving linkage with outpatient mental health services while reducing inpatient utilization and hospital costs.


In view of the problem of real-time video transmission, the paper puts forward a kind of the method for congestion control based on video transmission, the method achieves congestion control by means of the adjustment of transmission rate of video, in comparison with other algorithms for congestion control, this algorithm synthetically considers the two factors of delay jitter and packet loss rate, thus to preferably reduce packet loss rate of video and delay jitter and to improve the quality of video transmission.


The current security architecture in Asia is facing serious challenges including more offensive alliances and less defensive collective security mechanisms, the co-existence of redundancy and deficit of security regimes, and the absence of effective management of Sino-American structural contradictions. Given the diversification and complexity of these security challenges, the priority on the Asian security agenda should be to pursue effective coordination among various security regimes, rather than try to build an integrated architecture. This article argues that a new security framework can be created from three levels of security regimes. On the first level, forums led by smaller Asian countries with participation from China and the U.S. can boost more dialogues and mutual trust. On the second level, regional regimes can deal with regional security issues by harmonizing regional powers with the collective security mechanism. On the third level, Sino-American security regimes can help manage the conflicts between two great powers. Ultimately, the concert of regimes depends on the benign and effective interactions between China and the United States.


OBJECTIVES
To validate the use of a brief suicide risk screening tool, the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) instrument, in pediatric inpatient medical and surgical settings.

METHODS
Pediatric patients (10-21 years) hospitalized on inpatient medical and surgical units were recruited through convenience sampling for participation in a cross-sectional instrument validation study. The Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire was used as a standard criterion to validate the ASQ. Patient opinions about screening and parent consent to enroll in a suicide risk screening study were assessed to determine the feasibility of administering the ASQ in this venue.

RESULTS
A total of 600 pediatric medical inpatients were screened. Compared with the gold standard, the ASQ had strong psychometric properties, with a sensitivity of 96.67% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 82.78 to 99.92), a specificity of 91.05% (95% CI: 88.40 to 93.27), a negative predictive value of 99.81% (95% CI: 98.93 to 99.99), and an area under curve of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.90 to 0.97). Only 3 participants (0.5%) had acute positive screen results on the ASQ, endorsing current suicidal ideation, whereas 77 participants (12.8%) screened nonacute positive, and 48 participants (8.0%) reported a past suicide attempt.

CONCLUSIONS
The brief 4-item ASQ is a valid tool to detect elevated suicide risk in pediatric medical and surgical inpatients. Our findings also reveal that screening is feasible in terms of detection of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and is acceptable to parents and patients.


Abstract Objective: The Developmental Origins of Disease hypothesis has spurred increased interest in how prenatal exposures affect lifelong health, while mechanisms such as epigenetics may explain the multigenerational influences on health. Such factors are not well captured within conventional epidemiologic study designs. We explored the feasibility of collecting information on the offspring and grand-offspring of participants in a long-running study. Design: The Bogalusa Heart Study is a study, begun in 1973, of life-course cardiovascular health in a semirural population (65% white and 35% black). Main measures: Female participants who had previously provided information on their pregnancies were contacted to obtain contact information for their daughters aged 12 and older. Daughters were then contacted to obtain reproductive histories, and invited for a clinic or lab visit to measure cardiovascular risk factors. Results: Two hundred seventy-four daughters of 208 mothers were recruited; 81% (223) had a full clinic visit and 19% (51) a phone interview only. Forty-five percent of the daughters were black, and 55% white. Mean and median age at interview was 27, with 15% under the age of 18. The strongest predictors of participation were black race, recent maternal participation in the parent study, and living in or near Bogalusa. Simple correlations for cardiovascular risk factors across generations were between r = 0.19 (systolic blood pressure) and r = 0.39 (BMI, LDL). Conclusion: It is feasible to contact the children of study participants even when participants are adults, and initial information on the grandchildren can also be determined in this manner.


We present a framework for developing source coding, channel coding and decoding as well as erasure concealment techniques adapted for distributed (wireless or packet-based) speech recognition. It is shown that speech recognition as opposed to speech coding, is more sensitive to channel errors than channel erasures, and appropriate channel coding design criteria are determined. For channel decoding, we introduce a novel technique for combining at the receiver soft decision decoding with error detection. Frame erasure concealment techniques are used at the decoder to deal with unreliable frames. At the recognition stage, we present a technique to modify the recognition engine itself to take into account the time-varying reliability of the decoded feature after channel transmission. The resulting engine, referred to as weighted Viterbi recognition, further improves the recognition accuracy. Together, source coding, channel coding and the modified recognition engine are shown to provide good recognition accuracy over a wide range of communication channels with bit rates of 1.2 kbps or less.


Cytisine is a quinolizidine alkaloid isolated from various Leguminosae plants. Cytisine and its derivatives exhibit a broad range of biological properties, such as smoking cessation aid, antidepressant, neuroprotective, nootropic, anticancer, antiviral, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, insecticidal, and nematicidal activities. In this review, the progress of cytisine and its derivatives in regard to bioactivities, total synthesis, structural modifications focusing on their N-12 position and lactam ring is reported. Additionally, structure-activity relationships of cytisine and its derivatives are also discussed.


In the United States, Bacillus anthracis is a select agent and is subject to select agent requirements under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.* On April 20, 2015, samples of B. anthracis spores considered inactivated were shipped from a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) laboratory at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, to various laboratories for routine collaborative diagnostics research. On May 22, 2015, CDC was notified of live B. anthracis in one sample received by a private company and initiated a response. On May 29, 2015, DoD began reviewing safety practices for generating and handling inactivated B. anthracis spores. By June 1, 2015, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs had established a task force to coordinate the DoD response (1). The DoD Comprehensive Anthrax Laboratory Review (2) was completed within 30 days and addressed five main objectives: 1) conduct root cause analysis for incomplete inactivation of B. anthracis; 2) investigate the lack of effective postinactivation sterility testing for detection of live B. anthracis; 3) review DoD laboratory biohazard safety procedures/protocols; 4) determine laboratory adherence to established procedures/ protocols; and 5) identify systemic problems and corresponding solutions. The DoD investigation identified 194 commercial companies, academic institutions, and federal laboratories that had received potentially live B. anthracis samples across 50 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories, and nine foreign countries. In South Korea, the Joint U.S. Forces Korea Portal and Integrated Threat Recognition program works on detection of biologic agents in the environment. A sample of B. anthracis was sent to Osan Air Base from the Dugway Proving Ground shipment for research, and 22 DoD personnel were exposed to the sample. Immediately after the event was discovered, these personnel were assessed for the need for emergency postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). On May 27, 2015, all 22 potentially exposed personnel began a PEP regimen tailored to their individual vaccination history. Persons lacking prior anthrax vaccination or with expired vaccination history received the standard emergency use protocol for PEP: 3 anthrax vaccine doses over 4 weeks plus 60 days of oral ciprofloxacin (500 mg twice a day) or doxycycline (100 mg twice a day) (3,4). Persons current for B. anthracis vaccination received emergency PEP: 30 days of oral ciprofloxacin or doxycycline (3,4) (Table). The cohort of exposed personnel was monitored by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, in collaboration with CDC and Army Public Health Center. Cases were monitored for adherence with PEP regimens and onset of symptoms consistent with exposure. No clinical anthrax cases were associated with this incident. Of the 22 persons exposed in South Korea, 14 (63.6%) who lacked prior anthrax vaccination or had expired vaccination received anthrax vaccine and a 60-day schedule of ciprofloxacin or doxycycline; all 14 completed antibiotics, and 13 of the 14 completed all anthrax vaccine doses. Eight persons who were current for B. anthracis vaccination had 30-day antibiotic schedules, with 100% completing their PEP. No adverse events to vaccination or antibiotics were reported; one pregnant woman was medically advised to transition from ciprofloxacin to amoxicillin. This unintentional incident that resulted in no clinical cases highlights the importance of vigilance in preparedness and response capabilities for biologic events. Surveillance of potentially exposed military personnel demonstrated near 100% adherence to required PEP. Although challenging because of the mobility of this unique population, the swift DoD response ensured control of the population at risk, minimized risk for disease, and demonstrated that a high rate of compliance is achievable in closely monitored otherwise healthy persons.


Widespread religious disbelief represents a key testing ground for theories of religion. We evaluated the predictions of three prominent theoretical approaches—secularization, cognitive byproduct, and dual inheritance—in a nationally representative (United States, N = 1,417) data set with preregistered analyses and found considerable support for the dual inheritance perspective. Of key predictors of religious disbelief, witnessing fewer credible cultural cues of religious commitment was the most potent, β = .28, followed distantly by reflective cognitive style, β = .13, and less advanced mentalizing, β = .05. Low cultural exposure predicted about 90% higher odds of atheism than did peak cognitive reflection, and cognitive reflection only predicted disbelief among those relatively low in cultural exposure to religion. This highlights the utility of considering both evolved intuitions and transmitted culture and emphasizes the dual roles of content- and context-biased social learning in the cultural transmission of disbelief (preprint https://psyarxiv.com/e29rt/).


Recent advancement in both human embryology and genomics has created a completely new situation for practical and widespread application of preimplantation genetic diagnosis and screening with a dramatic effect on assisted reproduction. The mapping of the first human genome and the advancement in sequencing technology and bioinformatics has led to the discovery of the exact genetic background of exponentially increasing number of diseases. In parallel, methods for culturing human embryos have also radically improved, enabling the late transfer, and the procedure of vitrification the safe cryopreservation. In consequence, refined genetic analyses have become available from blastocyst biopsy followed by the application of novel genomic methods. Furthermore, some studies suggest that by the selection of aneuploid embryos the pregnancy- and birth-rates can be increased. The amount and the depth of information obtainable from the embryos raise several technical and ethical questions that can be answered by further prospective randomized trials.


A novel assembly method for a micro direct methanol fuel cell (μDMFC) using multi-layer bonding is developed. The anode and cathode plates of the μDMFC are fabricated by using MEMS technologies. PDMS gaskets are introduced to fill the gap between the silicon plate and the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) to prevent fuel or oxidant leaking. To assemble a μDMFC, adhesive tapes and oxygen plasma treatment of the PDMS gasket for surface activation are introduced. In this method, the PDMS gasket with adhesive tapes is bonded to the silicon plate then bonded to the MEA, which fixes the movable components of the μDMFC to simplify the assembly operation. The novel assembly method shows good maneuverability and reliability. The μDMFC shows great performance due to the low internal resistance attributing to this novel assembly method. With thermal insulated holders, the μDMFC generates a power density of 20.29mW/cm2. This assembly method is applicable for the assembly of the μDMFC stack.


A new joint research project (JRP) integrating metrology institutes and universities from nine countries is aimed at realization of a new generation of standards for quantum resistance metrology. The project exploits graphene's properties to simplify operation of standards without compromising the unprecedented precision delivered by semiconductor quantum Hall devices. Higher operating temperatures (above 4.2 K, and up to 8 K) and together with lower magnetic fields (below 5 T, and potentially down to 2 T) will lead to a significantly improved and cost-saving dissemination of intrinsically referenced resistance standards to all end-users relying on electrical measurements.


Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare fetal disease that has been uprising since the 1980s. Accurate diagnosis can be challenging and requires a thorough clinical suspicion, particularly among individuals who do not have HIV infection. Further diagnostics studies including cerebrospinal fluid analysis are required for DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and if negative, more invasive tests like Brain biopsy are required. Herein, we describe a rare case of a 64-year-old female with a history of discoid lupus for 30 years who was not on any medications and presented to the hospital multiple times with different neurological deficits. The initial diagnosis consistently pointed toward a stroke until a critical turning point when a cerebrospinal fluid sample tested positive for John Cunningham (JC) virus DNA. Unfortunately, by the time the disease was identified, it had already progressed significantly, resulting in the unfortunate demise of the patient. To our knowledge, this represents the second reported case of PML in a patient with discoid lupus who lacks other commonly observed risk factors for the disease. This finding underscores the significance of maintaining clinical attentiveness within this specific patient population.


Multi-wall Carbon Nanotubes (MWNTs) is the new hotspot material as the active sensing element, but there is no certain theory on the phenomenon of the vapor's capillary condensation in MWNTs for the present. This paper presents a new theory that the capillary condensation of vapor in MWNTs mostly occur in the internal hollow tube, according to the calculation of equivalent model of MWNTs. A kind of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) humidity sensor based on quartz crystal microbalance was fabricated, CNTs employed as adsorption materials. The sensor was put in 11% and 97% relative humidity environment in experimental, and the value of MH2O/MCNT was calculated. The theory in this paper is proved by the comparison between the experimental and the analysis results.


The thermal stability, crystallization behaviour and glass forming ability of Cu-Zr-Ag system have been investigated on the basis of a ternary phase diagram. We altered the concentration of the alloys from the Cu58Zr42 to the concentration of the deep eutectic point of the Cu-Zr-Ag ternary system and we calculated the glass forming ability parameters. This paper summerises the results of the procedure during which Cu-Zr-Ag amorphous alloys with different Ag content (0-25%) were prepared by casting and ball-milling. Wedge-shaped samples were prepared from the ingots by centrifugal casting into copper mold. The supercooled liquid region (ΔTx) exceeded 75K. Following the characterization of the cast alloys, master alloys of identical composition were milled in a Fritsch Pulverisette 2 ball-mill. The powders, milled for various periods of time were analysed by XRD in order to define the amorphous fraction.


ABSTRACT Very little is known about pediatric media guidance, or the one-on-onse advice that medical and clinical professionals (MCPs) communicate to parents about their children's recreational media and technology (RMT) use. One population that stands to benefit from a closer examination is children on the autism spectrum due to their behavior and communication challenges. We surveyed one group of pediatric autism MCPs, applied behavioral analysis (ABA) providers (N = 234), due to their proximity to families and conducted an applied thematic analysis of RMT advice they deliver. Providers reported primarily suggesting that caregivers employ restrictive parental mediation with their autistic child, that RMT should primarily be limited to use as a reward or reinforcement, and that parents should set time limits. Our findings offer new insights into the intersections of health communication theory and practice, while highlighting the need for greater research into RMT guidance for children with and without disabilities.


The distribution of the performed work for spin glasses with gauge symmetry is considered. With the aid of gauge symmetry, which leads to exact (rigorous) results in spin glasses, we find a fascinating relation of the performed work to the fluctuation theorem. The integral form of the resultant relation reproduces the Jarzynski-type equation for spin glasses that we have obtained. We show that similar relations can be established not only for the distribution of the performed work but also for that of the free energy of spin glasses with gauge symmetry, which provides another interpretation of the phase transition in spin glasses.


Studies are underway at Yucca Mountain to characterize physical and hydrologic conditions for a potential high-level radioactive waste repository. Site characterization requires the development of three- dimensional models describing hydrogeologic units in terms of inputs for numerical models. It is also important to understand the spatial distribution of these properties, vertical and horizontally, in order to estimate values at unmeasured points. Deterministic processes of volcanism caused the initial formation of the rock units, and it is useful to be able to correlate rock properties with the more qualitative descriptions of rock lithology that occur on a larger scale. Preliminary data were collected to develop methods and evaluate spatial relations to determine sampling frequency. In addition, a data base was developed to provide some of the parameters needed for preliminary flow-modeling exercises. Surface transects of rock outcrops facilitated rapid collection of closely spaced samples of all units exposed at and around Yucca Mountain. This report presents the data collected, descriptive statistics for various units, preliminary hydrogeologic units, and analyses of porosity compared with flow properties.


The COVID-19 pandemic has modified the seasonal pattern of respiratory infections. The objective of the present study is to characterize the out-of-season circulation of influenza viruses and an influenza outbreak that occurred in southern Italy in August 2022. Nasopharyngeal swabs collected from patients with influenza-like illnesses (ILI) were tested for the presence of influenza and other respiratory viruses. Epidemiological investigations on 85 patients involved in an influenza outbreak were performed. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of hemagglutinin genes was undertaken on samples positive for influenza A. In August 2022, in the Apulia region (Italy), influenza A infection was diagnosed in 19 patients, 18 infected with A/H3N2 and one with A/H1N1pdm09 virus. Seven influenza-positive patients were hospitalized with ILI. A further 17 symptomatic subjects, associated with an influenza outbreak, were also tested; 11 were positive for influenza A/H3N2 virus. Phylogenetic analysis of 12 of the A/H3N2 sequences showed that they all belonged to subclade 3C.2a1b.2a.2. The A/H1N1pdm09 strain belonged to subclade 6B.1A.5a.2. The out-of-season circulation of the influenza virus during the summer months could be linked to changing dynamics in the post-COVID-19 era, as well as to the impact of climate change. Year-round surveillance of respiratory viruses is needed to monitor this phenomenon and to provide effective prevention strategies.


Anti-gingipain IgY (IgY-GP), known as hyperimmune γ-livetin from egg yolk, inhibits the enzyme activity, growth and adherence of Porphyromonas gingivalisto gingival epithelial cells. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of IgY-GP on periodontal health of dogs. IgYGP was prepared from the egg yolk of hens immunized with the gingipain from Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277. Two in vivo trial models were conducted on 15 adult dogs with periodontitis by giving IgY-GP-supplemented dog feed for 8 weeks and direct application of the IgY in dental ointment to the periodontal pockets at weekly interval for 4 weeks. Clinical parameters including gingivitis, periodontitis, oral health index, bleeding on probe (BOP), pocket depth (PD), and dental calculus removal pattern for selected premolar teeth were recorded at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks post treatment.IgY-GP showed strong crossreactivity with gingipain from Porphyromonas gulae and inhibited the enzyme activity in vitro. In the dog trials, IgY-GP resulted in significant improvement of oral health parameters including gingivitis and periodontitis scores, BOP, dental calculus removal. No adverse events during and after antibody applications were noted. Oral immunotherapy by using IgY-GP is a new promising alternative to conventional preventive and therapeutic methods to improve oral health status in dogs.


In the present study, first of all, several sample glasses have been made by replacing one after another the lime contents with cobalt oxide while keeping constant the amounts of alkali and silica contents in alkali-lime-siliea glass. Examination have been given in these glasses with respect to how the chemical properties therein are changed as the amount of cobalt oxide increases and the amount of lime decreases.The effects on chemical properties have been studied according to the changes in the solubility on water, 20.24% HCl, 2N-sodium carbonate solution, and 2N-sodium hydroxide solution, by employing the powder method.As a result of experiments it has been found that no marked changes have occurred in the solubility of glasses due to the alterations of both lime and cobalt oxide contents in glass compositions however, in the case where the amount of lime and that of cobalt oxide are equal the solubility thereof has been observed to be slightly greater than in other cases. And it has also been found that the solubility of glasses with respect to hydrochloric acid is always small and not changed, with irrespective to the amounts of lime and cobalt oxide contents in the composition of glasses.


Participating networks and social media have emerged by mobilizing people in many creative ways over the last decade. Millions of users are activating, identifying, working and socializing on the Internet, expressing new types of cooperation, communication and intelligence that have not been imagined much earlier. Social Media do impact ideas and emotions, as well as lot of fake news and rumours. With some of the characteristics mentioned above are my reasons for choosing this topic in other to have a clear understanding on how SNA are used to analyse massive amount of data.


The physiological responses of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Folva) to partial root-zone drying (PRD) were investigated in potted plants in a greenhouse (GH) and in plants grown in the field under an automatic rain-out-shelter. In the GH, irrigation was applied daily to the whole root system (FI), or to one-half of the root system while the other half was dried, for 9 d. In the field, the plants were drip irrigated either to the whole root system near field capacity (FI) or using 70% water of FI to one side of the roots, and shifted to the other side every 5-10 d (PRD). PRD plants had a similar midday leaf water potential to that of FI, whereas in the GH their root water potential (Psi(r)) was significantly lowered after 5 d. Stomatal conductance (g(s)) was more sensitive to PRD than photosynthesis (A) particularly in the field, leading to greater intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE) (i.e. A/g(s)) in PRD than in FI plants on several days. In PRD, the xylem sap abscisic acid concentration ([ABA](xylem)) increased exponentially with decreasing Psi(r); and the relative [ABA](xylem) (PRD/FI) increased exponentially as the fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW) in the drying side decreased. In the field, the leaf area index was slightly less in PRD than in FI treatment, while tuber biomass was similar for the two treatments. Compared with FI, PRD treatment saved 30% water and increased crop water use efficiency (WUE) by 59%. Restrictions on leaf area expansion and g(s) by PRD-induced ABA signals might have contributed to reduced water use and increased WUE.


The performance of quantum error correction schemes depends sensitively on the physical realizations of the qubits and the implementations of various operations. For example, in quantum dot spin qubits, readout is typically much slower than gate operations, and conventional surface code implementations that rely heavily on syndrome measurements could therefore be challenging. However, fast and accurate reset of quantum dot qubits--without readout--can be achieved via tunneling to a reservoir. Here, we propose small-scale surface code implementations for which syndrome measurements are replaced by a combination of Toffoli gates and qubit reset. For quantum dot qubits, this enables much faster error correction than measurement-based schemes, but requires additional ancilla qubits and non-nearest-neighbor interactions. We have performed numerical simulations of two different coding schemes, obtaining error thresholds on the orders of $10^{-2}$ for a 1D architecture that only corrects bit-flip errors, and $10^{-4}$ for a 2D architecture that corrects bit- and phase-flip errors.


Human exposure to outdoor air pollution is believed to cause severe health effects, especially in urban areas where pollution levels often are high, because of the poor dispersion conditions and high density of pollution sources. Many factors influence human health, and a good assessment of human air pollution exposure is, therefore, crucial for a proper determination of possible links between air pollution and health effects. Assessment of human exposure is, however, not straightforward, and this is the background for the present paper, which recommends how to carry out such assessments. Assessment of human exposure to air pollution may be carried out by use of: categorical classification, application of biomarkers, analysis of air pollution data from routine monitoring networks, personal portable exposure monitors, or application of mathematical air pollution exposure models. The categorical classification is a crude indirect method based on indicators of exposure such as type of residence, type of job, presence of indoor sources, etc. Categorical classification is generally inadequate for application in air pollution epidemiology. Biomarkers can be a strong instrument in assessment of health effects and provide information about air pollution exposure and dose. Use of biomarkers is, therefore, particularly useful when applied in combination with exposure assessment through one of the methods 3 to 5. The main focus of this paper is on these three methods for determination of human air pollution exposure. The optimal solution is clearly a combination of methods 2 to 5, but the available resources often set a limit to how far the assessment is carried out, and the choice of strategy will, therefore, often be very important for the outcome of the final study. This paper describes how these approaches may be applied and outlines advantages and disadvantages of the approaches used individually and in combination. Furthermore, some examples of specific applications in Denmark and the Netherlands are given for illustration.


Cross presentation defines the unique capacity of an antigen presenting cell (APC) to present exogenous antigen via MHC class I molecules to CD8+ T cells. This process serves a critical role in host anti-tumor immunity. Dendritic cells (DC), specifically the CD8α+ subset, are specialised cross-presenting cells; however there is little understanding of how different DC subsets contribute to anti-tumour immunity. In this study we have examined the cross-presentation of a marker tumour antigen (transfected HA) expressed by the murine AB1-HA cell line. We have found that tumor antigen is constitutively cross-presented in the draining lymph node throughout disease progression and that both CD8α+ and CD8α - DC subsets are responsible for the observed cross-presentation of HA antigen to CD8+ T cells. Interestingly, tumor-infiltrating DCs fail to cross present, though they are not deficient in tumor antigen uptake or processing. Importantly, a tumor apoptosis-inducing false nucleotide agent, gemcitabine, which primes for anti-tumor immunity, also reverses the defect in antigen cross presentation of tumor DCs. These data suggest that lymph node resident CD8α+ DC are not the sole DC subset capable of cross-priming against tumor antigens and that local cross-presentation within tumors ie. TCR restimulation of tumor-infiltrating CD8 T-cells may be essential for effective anti-tumor immunity. These data have important implications for tumor immunotherapy particularly the use of immunotherapy in conjunction with tumor apoptosis-inducing therapy.


Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology (DLT) where data is shared among users connected over the internet. Transactions are data state changes on the blockchain that are permanently recorded in a secure and transparent way without the need of a third party. Besides, the introduction of smart contracts to the blockchain has added programmability to the blockchain and revolutionized the software ecosystem leading toward decentralized applications (DApps) attracting businesses and organizations to employ this technology. Although promising, blockchains and smart contracts have no access to the external systems (i.e., off-chain) where real-world data and events resides; consequently, the usability of smart contracts in terms of performance and programmability would be limited to the on-chain data. Hence, \emph{blockchain oracles} are introduced to mitigate the issue and are defined as trusted third-party services that send and verify the external information (i.e., feedback) and submit it to smart contracts for triggering state changes in the blockchain. In this paper, we will study and analyze blockchain oracles with regard to how they provide feedback to the blockchain and smart contracts. We classify the blockchain oracle techniques into two major groups such as voting-based strategies and reputation-based ones. The former mainly relies on participants' stakes for outcome finalization while the latter considers reputation in conjunction with authenticity proof mechanisms for data correctness and integrity. We then provide a structured description of patterns in detail for each classification and discuss research directions in the end.


Intracellular microcolonies of six Legionella species growing in Vero cells showed distinctly varied morphologies. The varieties were observed by light microscopy of Gimenez‐stained, Legionella‐infected Vero cells and by electron microscopy (EM). Legionella pneumophila Philadelphia‐1 formed needle‐shaped crystal‐like microcolonies. Legionella bozemanii WIGA formed microcolonies like wool balls containing filamentous cells. In EM, these organisms proliferated in endosomes, which were adjacent to swollen rough endoplasmic reticula. Legionella oakridgensis OR‐10 showed serpentine chains. Many mitochondria were observed around the microcolonies. Legionella jordanis BL‐540 formed spherical moss‐like microcolonies which were or were not surrounded by endoplasmic membranes. Legionella feeleii WO‐44C spread throughout the cytoplasm without making clusters. Legionella dumoffii Tex‐KL made big clusters that spread in the cytoplasm, a portion of which was outside the endosome membranes. These different morphologies imply diversity in modes of intracellular multiplication of Legionella spp.


We evaluated the efficiency and the field half-life of two pheromones for the sexual attraction of adult males of the species S. frugiperda in the department of Tolima, Colombia during the first half of 2008. The pheromone trademarks used were ChemTica from Costa Rica and Pherobank from The Netherlands. We used a randomized block design with three treatments (two brands of pheromones and a control) and 4 replications (blocks) for a total of 12 sampling units. The traps were installed in a cotton crop at the beginning of the reproductive stage and were evaluated three times a week. We used analysis of variance to detect differences between treatments and the Tukey mean comparison test to characterize them. Significant differences between the treatments were observed (P≤0.05), the brand ChemTica presented with the best results, with an average catch of 25.79 adults per trap per day, compared to 1.58 with Pherobank and 0.417 in the control. The results were consistent across all blocks and persistent over time. The half-life of the pheromone ChemTica was 50 days in the field at 30°C with 23.3 mm of rainfall and prevailing winds predominately from the south and southwest at 2.5 m s -1 .


In order to improve our understanding of parental experiences in elite youth sport, the present study investigated parental stressors within the context of professional football (i.e. soccer) academies in Great Britain. Focusing upon the specialising stage of athlete development, a total of 41 parents attended six focus groups exploring their experiences of stressors during the early and later phases of the specialising stage. A hierarchical thematic content analysis led to four dimensions of parental stressor: academy processes and quality of communication, match‐related factors, sport‐family role conflict and school support and education issues. Parents across the entire specialising phase identified uncertainty of their son's retention in the academy and quality of communication with staff as significant ongoing stressors. Unfamiliar coaching and match practices emerged as stressors for early stage parents, whereas the management of school and academy demands was most prominent for later stage parents. Their experiences suggested that the management of parents' expectations for their child in an academy and the ability for a professional club to communicate its 'developmental' and 'non‐developmental' practices might be central to parental support and well‐being. Strategic implications for practitioners, coaches and organisations are presented with these findings in mind.


A comparative study of the magnetic properties of arrays of Co–Ni rods with different composition gradients (smooth or step-like) along the rod axes was carried out. Ordered arrays of Co–Ni nanorods with diameters up to 400 nm and 8 µm length were prepared by electroless plating into a porous nuclear-track-etched polycarbonate membrane. The gradient in Co and Ni composition was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The variation of Co–Ni contents along the long axis of the rods correlates with the gradient of the magnetization within the rod. Magnetization reversal was studied by analyzing the angular dependence of coercivity and using micromagnetic simulations. For both types of gradient rods, reversal occurs by curling. The local magnetic anisotropy field of rods with a step-type gradient is significantly higher than that for rods with a smooth gradient.


In recent years, research on flexible algorithms for self-organizing networks has been a significant part of the development of wireless network technologies, such as Long Term Evolution. In this paper, we focus on modeling specific error types related to input data, i. e., to mobile data traffic maps, and investigate their impact on self-organizing network algorithm and network performance. We develop traffic map error patterns, which are able to reproduce erroneous geolocation of mobile users, e. g., by methods like (Enhanced) Cell-ID, Observed Time Difference of Arrival, or Global Positioning System. Furthermore, we model errors that occur when call traces and performance measurement counters are used to determine user locations. We find that self-organizing network performance may be robust to systematic distortions of user and traffic distributions, provided that 1) the overall traffic in the network is estimated accurately, i. e., regions without traffic information are avoided, 2) performance measurement counters in the base stations provide additional information on imperfect geolocation data, and 3) a certain degree of correlation between original heterogeneous user distributions and distorted maps is maintained to identify traffic hot spots. Index Terms—mobile traffic geolocation; error modeling; self- organizing network; network optimization; wireless network; performance evaluation; system modeling


Abstract We studied Greater Roadrunners' (Geococcyx californianus) habitat use during spring and summer of 2011 in the Red Rolling Plains of west Texas. We captured 10 roadrunners (one male and nine females) and fitted each with a 10-g backpack style radio-transmitter. Roadrunners were relocated 2–4 times per week from February–August. We used these data to build a logistic regression model to better understand the vegetative and topographic features important to roadrunners during the nesting season. The initial data set consisted of 30 random and 30 used locations. The best model showed both percent rock and percent litter to be higher at used locations and correctly classified 88% of the sites. Evaluation of the model with an additional 30 random and 30 used locations maintained significance of both the model and variables and correctly classified 83% of sites. Both variables were associated with the location's mesa ridge slopes. Litter dominated locations under shrubs on the ridge tops and slopes and likely provided security from predators, nest sites, and relief from extreme summer temperatures. Percent rock cover characterized locations on ridge tops and slopes which provided perch sites, travel lanes, and foraging sites where the roadrunners could find basking prey.


Immunological studies were performed on Ugandan patients with hepatocellular carcinoma to test the hypothesis that the high rate of persistence of hepatitis-associated antigen in these patients is the result of defects in host immune response. The responses to 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene sensitization and to a battery of recall skin test antigens were normal, as was the humoral antibody response to tularaemia antigen. Neither hypogammaglobulinaemia nor specific immunoglobulin deficiencies were found. Thus it appears unlikely that generalized defects in host immune responses can account for the high incidence of persistent hepatitis B virus infection found in Ugandan patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.


Aiming at the problem that the fuzzy neural network (FNN) technique itself does not provide the input matrix to the FNN prediction model, we present a prediction modeling methodology which combines the computation and analysis of condition number with FNN, and design the computation and analysis of analog deviation for the input matrix to choose samples close correlated with predictand as training samples, thus effectively reducing the scale of network and evidently enhancing the prediction ability of the FNN prediction model. Using the same CMA T213 and Japanese numerical prediction product (NPP) data, we performed the contrast experiments and analyses of the FNN prediction model for daily regional mean precipitation based on condition number and analog deviation against the condition number-FNN prediction model and the traditional stepwise regression prediction model, and results show that under the condition of the same number of selected predictors, the prediction accuracy of the FNN prediction model based on condition number and analog deviation is 12.6% higher than that of the stepwise regression model in the experiment of independent samples of 49 days.


In this study, atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) treatment was applied to polypropylene (PP) fabric with non‐polymerizing gases, such as air, argon, and nitrogen. Properties of the APP‐treated samples including low‐stress mechanical behavior, air permeability, water vapor permeability, and thermal characteristics were evaluated. Tensile and friction coefficient of the specimens were also measured. The changes in these properties are believed to be closely related to the inter‐fiber and inter‐yarn frictional force induced by the APP. The decrease in the air permeability of the APP‐treated PP fabric was probably because of the plasma action effect on change in fabric surface morphology, which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy micrographs. The change in the thermal properties of the APP‐treated PP fabric was in good agreement with the earlier findings and can be attributed to the amount of air trapped between the yarns and fibers. This study suggests that the APP treatment can influence the final properties of the PP fabric, and also provides information for developing APP‐treated PP fabric for industrial use.


Background: Clinicopathological scores are used to predict the likelihood of recurrence-free survival for patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) after surgery. These are fallible, particularly in the middle range. This inevitably means that a significant proportion of ccRCC patients who will not develop recurrent disease enroll into clinical trials. As an exemplar of using digital pathology, we sought to improve the predictive power of "recurrence free" designation in localized ccRCC patients, by precise measurement of ccRCC nuclear morphological features using computational image analysis, thereby replacing manual nuclear grade assessment. Materials and Methods: TNM 8 UICC pathological stage pT1-pT3 ccRCC cases were recruited in Scotland and in Singapore. A Leibovich score (LS) was calculated. Definiens Tissue studio® (Definiens GmbH, Munich) image analysis platform was used to measure tumor nuclear morphological features in digitized hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) images. Results: Replacing human-defined nuclear grade with computer-defined mean perimeter generated a modified Leibovich algorithm, improved overall specificity 0.86 from 0.76 in the training cohort. The greatest increase in specificity was seen in LS 5 and 6, which went from 0 to 0.57 and 0.40, respectively. The modified Leibovich algorithm increased the specificity from 0.84 to 0.94 in the validation cohort. Conclusions: CcRCC nuclear mean perimeter, measured by computational image analysis, together with tumor stage and size, node status and necrosis improved the accuracy of predicting recurrence-free in the localized ccRCC patients. This finding was validated in an ethnically different Singaporean cohort, despite the different H and E staining protocol and scanner used. This may be a useful patient selection tool for recruitment to multicenter studies, preventing some patients from receiving unnecessary additional treatment while reducing the number of patients required to achieve adequate power within neoadjuvant and adjuvant clinical studies.


We investigate the feasibility of using a classifier for security-related requirements trained on requirement specifications available online. This is helpful in case different requirement types are not differentiated in a large existing requirement specification. Our work is motivated by the need to identify security requirements for the creation of security assurance cases that become a necessity for many organizations with new and upcoming standards like GDPR and HiPAA. We base our investigation on ten requirement specifications, randomly selected from a Google Search and partially pre-labeled. To validate the model, we run 10-fold cross-validation on the data where each specification constitutes a group. Our results indicate the feasibility of training a model from a heterogeneous data set including specifications from multiple domains and in different styles. However, performance benefits from revising the pre-labeled data for consistency. Additionally, we show that classifiers trained only on a specific specification type fare worse and that the way requirements are written has no impact on classifier accuracy.


Much of the complexity of concurrent program design lies in the specification of patterns of communication: flows of information among objects (e.g. processes) expressed as functions of the global computation state. Underlying the communication mechanisms of every concurrent system is a naming system, whic is used to specify the objects participating in each communication. We call those characteristics of naming systems that determine the patterns of communication that can be specified the communication semantics of naming systems. A more expressive naming system allows communication to be specified at a higher level of abstraction. The available communication abstractions are significant in the choice of an algorithm, in which specific patterns of communication are manifest, to solve a particular problem. Thus the choice or design of a naming system often significantly affects the design of concurrent programs. Yet naming systems have not been widely studied as independent components of concurrent systems. This has led to empirical design and inappropriate choices of naming systems, which hinder the specification of complex patterns of communication and constrain algorithm design, yielding awkward programs and inefficient executions. To simplify the use of naming systems in specifying communication, and to make more precise our understanding of their communication semantics, we adopt a two fold approach: The development of a formal taxonomy of naming systems, and the design of a specific naming system and communication primitive, called Associative Broadcast, that enable straightforward specification of complex communication patterns. The taxonomy defines a set of orthogonal properties that characterize the ability ofnaming systems to express fundamental patterns of communication. Naming systems are classified and ranked in a partially ordered hierarchy according to their properties. The hierarchy allows systematic comparison of naming systems, and selection of naming systems for the solution of problems requiring specific properties. Associative Broadcast resides at the top of the hierarchy, and allows the specification of a dynamic, descriptively named target set of objects as the destination of a message by defining names to be propositional expressions over sets of object attributes, and by using delayed resolution. We apply Associative Broadcast to obtain algorithms with desirable symmetry, robustness, concurrency, and efficiency properties for problems in the areas of distributed constraint reduction, database consistency in the presence of network partition failures, and virtual time synchronization.


Cloud computing (CC) is the next revolution in the Information and Communication Technology arena. CC is often provided as a service comparable to utility services such as electricity, water, and telecommunications. Cloud service providers (CSP) offers tailored CC services which are delivered as subscription-based services, in which customers pay based on the usage. Many organizations and service providers have started shifting from traditional server-cluster infrastructure to cloud-based infrastructure. Nevertheless, security is one of the main factors that inhibit the proliferation of cloud computing. The threat of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack continues to wreak havoc in these cloud infrastructures. In addition to DDoS attacks, a new form of attack known as Economic Denial of Sustainability (EDoS) attack has emerged in recent years. DDoS attack in conventional computing setup usually disrupts the service, which affects the client reputation, and results in financial loss. In CC environment, service disruption is very rare due to the auto-scalability (Elasticity), capability, and availability of service level agreements (SLA). However, auto scalability utilize more computing resources in event of a DDoS attack, exceeding the economic bounds for service delivery, thereby triggering EDoS for the organization targeted. Although EDoS attacks are small at the moment, it is expected to grow in the near future in tandem with the growth in cloud usage. There are few EDoS detection and mitigation techniques available but they have weaknesses and are not efficient in mitigating EDoS. Hence, an enhanced EDoS mitigation mechanism (EDoS-EMM) has been proposed. The aim of this mechanism is to provide a real-time detection and effective mitigation of EDoS attack.


Objective. To assess an alliance-centred method of short-term psychotherapy (AP) in the formation of compliance in patients with opiate addiction. Material and methods. Authors studied 100 male inpatients with ICD-10 diagnosis Opioid Dependence (F11.2). Patients were stratified into main (with use of AP) and control groups. The tasks of short-term psychotherapy were to determine mutual goals for the patient and the physician and the interaction between them. Results and Conclusion. Based on some special quantitative psychological tests and correlation analysis, it was identified that AP stimulated compliance behaviour in patients with opioid dependence more effectively than traditional recommendations.


Causal inference (CI) is one of the popular performance diagnosis methods, which infers the anomaly propagation from the observed data for locating the root causes. Although some specific CI methods have been employed in the literature, the overall performance of this class of methods on microservice performance diagnosis is not well understood. To this end, we select six representative CI methods from three categories and evaluate their performance against the challenges of microservice operations, including the large-scale observable data, heterogeneous anomaly symptoms, and a wide range of root causes. Our experimental results show that 1) CI techniques must be integrated with anomaly detection or anomaly scores to differentiate the causality in normal and abnormal data; 2) CI techniques are more robust to false positives in anomaly detection than knowledge-based non-CI method; 3) To get the fine-grained root causes, an effective way with CI techniques is to identify the faulty service first and infer the detailed explanation of the service abnormality. Overall, this work broadens the understanding of how CI methods perform on microservice performance diagnosis and provides recommendations for an efficient application of CI methods.


Accumulating evidence suggests that faulty epigenetic reprogramming leads to the abnormal development of cloned embryos and results in the low success rates observed in all mammals produced through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The aberrant methylation status of H3K9me and H3K9me2 has been reported in cloned mouse embryos. To explore the role of H3K9me2 and H3K9me in the porcine somatic cell nuclear reprogramming, BIX-01294, known as a specific inhibitor of G9A (histone-lysine methyltransferase of H3K9), was used to treat the nuclear-transferred (NT) oocytes for 14-16 h after activation. The results showed that the developmental competence of porcine SCNT embryos was significantly enhanced both in vitro (blastocyst rate 16.4% vs 23.2%, P<0.05) and in vivo (cloning rate 1.59% vs 2.96%) after 50 nm BIX-01294 treatment. BIX-01294 treatment significantly decreased the levels of H3K9me2 and H3K9me at the 2- and 4-cell stages, which are associated with embryo genetic activation, and increased the transcriptional expression of the pluripotency genes SOX2, NANOG and OCT4 in cloned blastocysts. Furthermore, the histone acetylation levels of H3K9, H4K8 and H4K12 in cloned embryos were decreased after BIX-01294 treatment. However, co-treatment of activated NT oocytes with BIX-01294 and Scriptaid rescued donor nuclear chromatin from decreased histone acetylation of H4K8 that resulted from exposure to BIX-01294 only and consequently improved the preimplantation development of SCNT embryos (blastocyst formation rates of 23.7% vs 21.5%). These results indicated that treatment with BIX-01294 enhanced the developmental competence of porcine SCNT embryos through improvements in epigenetic reprogramming and gene expression.


A 23-year-old woman developed ischemic stroke (IS) 8 to 12 hours after ingestion of sumatriptan (ST) and then developed mucosal bleeding secondary to acute thrombocytopenia likely due to dipyridamole (DP) on the 10th day poststroke. Sumatriptan-associated IS and DP-induced thrombocytopenia are rare events in themselves and their sequential occurrence in the same patient is quite exceptional. We compare our case to other similar cases in the literature.


We propose a novel Branch-and-Bound method for reachability analysis of neural networks in both open-loop and closed-loop settings. Our idea is to first compute accurate bounds on the Lipschitz constant of the neural network in certain directions of interest offline using a convex program. We then use these bounds to obtain an instantaneous but conservative polyhedral approximation of the reachable set using Lipschitz continuity arguments. To reduce conservatism, we incorporate our bounding algorithm within a branching strategy to decrease the over-approximation error within an arbitrary accuracy. We then extend our method to reachability analysis of control systems with neural network controllers. Finally, to capture the shape of the reachable sets as accurately as possible, we use sample trajectories to inform the directions of the reachable set over-approximations using Principal Com-ponent Analysis (PCA). We evaluate the performance of the proposed method in several open-loop and closed-loop settings.


We discuss a range of Bayesian modelling approaches for spatial data and investigate some of the associated computational challenges. This paper commences with a brief review of Bayesian mixture models and Markov random fields, with enabling computational algorithms including Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) and integrated nested Laplace approximation (INLA). Following this, we focus on the Potts model as a canonical approach, and discuss the challenge of estimating the inverse temperature parameter that controls the degree of spatial smoothing. We compare three approaches to addressing the doubly intractable nature of the likelihood, namely pseudo-likelihood, path sampling and the exchange algorithm. These techniques are applied to satellite data used to analyse water quality in the Great Barrier Reef.


This thesis deals with planar drawings of planar graphs such that each interior face has a prescribed area. Our work is divided into two main sections. The first one deals with straight-line drawings and the second one with orthogonal drawings. For straight-line drawings, it was known that such drawings exist for all planar graphs with maximum degree 3. We show here that such drawings exist for all planar partial 3-trees, i.e., subgraphs of a triangulated planar graph obtained by repeatedly inserting a vertex in one triangle and connecting it to all vertices of the triangle. Moreover, vertices have rational coordinates if the face areas are rational, and we can bound the resolution. For orthogonal drawings, we give an algorithm to draw triconnected planar graphs with maximum degree 3. This algorithm produces a drawing with at most 8 bends per face and 4 bends per edge, which improves the previous known result of 34 bends per face. Both vertices and bends have rational coordinates if the face areas are rational.


The use of interleukin-18 (IL-18) together with IL-12 induced high levels of IFN-gamma in tumor-bearing mice and regression of liver tumors that was abolished in IFN-gamma((-/-)) mice. Natural killer (NK) and NKT cells were the major producers of IFN-gamma in the livers of mice treated with IL-18 and/or IL-12. Liver NK cells were significantly increased by treatment with IL-18/IL-12, whereas the degree of liver NKT cell TCR detection was diminished by this treatment. Reduction of NK cells with anti-asGM1 decreased the antitumor activity of IL-18/IL-12 therapy and revealed NK cells to be an important component for tumor regression in the liver. In contrast, the antitumor effects of both IL-18 and IL-12 were further increased in CD1d((-/-)) mice, which lack NKT cells. Our data, therefore, show that the antitumor activity induced in mice by IL-18/IL-12 is NK and IFN-gamma dependent and is able to overcome an endogenous immunosuppressive effect of NKT cells in the liver microenvironment. These results suggest that immunotherapeutic approaches that enhance NK cell function while eliminating or altering NKT cells could be effective in the treatment of cancer in the liver.


- Automatic image annotation (AIA) is a technique to provide semantic image retrieval. In AIA, the image contents are automatically labelled with a pre-defined set of keywords which are exploited to represent the image semantics. This paper proposes an Automatic image annotation method using MPEG-7 features. The feature vectors are provided for training the KNN-classifier. When a query image is provided by the user, the extracted features are provided to the trained KNN -classifier for annotation. The system also compares the results of different combinations of mpeg 7 descriptors. The Automatic image annotation proposed in this paper is on fruit images. This system has several applications like automatic labeling and price computing of fruits and vegetables in a grocery store, morphological analysis of fruits, for scientific studies, enhanced learning for kids and Down syndrome patients using fruits pattern recognition.


In this column, the authors reprise recent selections from the Lamaze International research blog, Science & Sensibility. Each selection discusses shortcomings in the news media coverage of childbirth issues. The authors demonstrate how to identify misleading claims in the media and highlight how childbirth educators can apply a common-sense approach and careful fact checking to help women understand the whole story.


Background Erosions, sclerosis and squaring are included in the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Spine Score (mSASSS). However, their value in predicting the development of new syndesmophytes has not been established, and their value in the mSASSS has been argued. Objectives To analyse the effect of erosions, sclerosis and squaring on the development of new syndesmophytes over 12 years. Methods Biannual radiographs from patients with AS (mNY criteria) followed in OASIS (up to 12 years) were included. Two readers (R1 and R2) independently scored the x-rays according to the mSASSS and separately registered all the items with a score of 1 (erosions, sclerosis and squaring, or any combination) per vertebral corner (VC). The progression from erosions, sclerosis and squaring to new (bridging) syndesmophytes (either score of 2 or 3 in the mSASSS) in a 2-year period and over the 12 years was investigated by means of a multilevel (adjusted for time, reader and cervical/lumbar spinal region) auto-regressive and time-lagged longitudinal model, using generalized estimating equations. Interactions with reader and spinal region were investigated. Results 211 patients were included in this analysis (mean age 43 (SD 13) years old, 71% male, 85% HLA-B27 positive, 11.5 (SD 9.1) years since diagnosis and 20.5 (SD 11.6) years since symptom onset, 4.4 (SD 1.8) radiographs per patient). A total of 921 radiographs were included in this analysis, with a total of 20509 VCs (R1) and 20568 VCs (R2) evaluable. Of these, erosions were scored in 1% for R1 (2.5% R2), sclerosis in 0.3% for R1 (1.7% R2), squaring in 6.5% for R1 (5.1% R2) and syndesmophytes in 25% for R1 (27% R2). The presence of erosions, sclerosis and squaring together had, compared with a normal VC, a risk for the development of new syndesmophytes over a 2-year period of 1.96 (Table). There was a significant interaction with 'spinal region' (OR cervical spine: 3.12; OR lumbar spine: 1.27). There was no significant difference between the readers. Separately, the presence of erosions or the presence of sclerosis, but not the presence of squaring, gave an increased risk for new syndesmophytes, Squaring was predictive of the development of new syndesmophytes in the cervical spine only (Table). Table – Longitudinal effect (GEE) of erosions, sclerosis and squaring on the development of new syndesmophytes over 12 years (adjusted for spinal region and reader) Conclusions Erosions and sclerosis occur rarely on X-rays, but if so, are predictive for the development of new syndesmophytes. Therefore, these lesions not only seem to precede the development of syndesmophytes, but are also correctly included in the mSASSS. The possibility of excluding squaring from the mSASSS in the lumbar spine may be considered. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Self-rated health (SRH) is an independent determinant for all-cause mortality. We aimed to examine the independent and combined associations of components of physical fitness with SRH at baseline (cross-sectional) and two years later (longitudinal) in children and adolescents. Spanish youth (N = 1378) aged 8 to 17.9 years participated at baseline. The dropout rate at 2-year follow-up was 19.5% (n = 270). Participants were categorized as either children (8 to 11.9 years age) or adolescents (12 to 17.9 years age). The ALPHA health- related fitness test battery for youth was used to assess physical fitness, and SRH was measured by a single-item question. Cumulative link, ANOVA and ANCOVA models were fitted to analyze the data. Cardiorespiratory fitness, relative upper body isometric muscular strength, muscular strength score, and global physical fitness were positively associated with SRH in children (OR, 1.048; 95% CI, 1.020–1.076; OR, 18.921; 95% CI, 3.47–104.355; OR, 1.213; 95% CI, 1.117–1.319, and OR, 1.170; 95% CI, 1.081–1.266, respectively; all p < 0.001) and adolescents (OR, 1.057; 95% CI, 1.037–1.076; OR, 5.707; 95% CI, 1.122–29.205; OR, 1.169; 95% CI, 1.070–1.278, and OR, 1.154 95% CI, 1.100–1.210, respectively; all p < 0.001); and motor fitness was positively associated with SRH only in adolescents at baseline (OR, 1.192; 95% CI, 1.066–1.309; p < 0.01). Cardiorespiratory fitness and global physical fitness were positively associated with SRH in children two years later (OR, 1.056; 95% CI, 1.023–1.091; p < 0.001; and OR, 1.082; 95% CI, 1.031–1.136; p < 0.01; respectively). Only cardiorespiratory fitness was independently associated with SRH in children and adolescents at baseline (OR, 1.059; 95% CI, 1.029–1.090; and OR, 1.073; 95% CI, 1.050–1.097, respectively; both p < 0.001) and two years later (OR, 1.075; 95% CI, 1.040–1.112; p < 0.001; and OR, 1.043; 95% CI, 1.014–1.074; p < 0.01, respectively). A high level of cardiorespiratory fitness at baseline or maintaining high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness from the baseline to 2-year follow-up were associated with a higher level of SRH at 2-year follow-up in children (p < 0.01) and adolescents (p < 0.05). These findings emphasize the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness as strong predictor of present and future SRH in youth. Intervention programs to enhance cardiorespiratory fitness level of the youth population are urgently needed for present and future youth's health.


In the soult western sector of the intracontinetal Duero basin, the post-Hercynian sedimentary record consist of Upper Cretaceous to Quaternary terrestrial sediments. Climates shifted from tropical, with poorly defined seansos (end of Cretaceous), to Mediterranean (Neogene). Tertiary deposits are divided into three tectonographic completes. The Late Cretaceous-Paleocene, related to the end of the Mesozoic cycle, is caractericed by a well developed weathering profile that eroded later. The Eocene Oligocene, formed during the morpho-structural definition of the actual basin boundaries, consists of three unconformity-bounded units related to successive tectonic events of the Alpine Orogeny by the cnd of this cycle, progressive incision of the Atlantic nuvial network led to capture of the fluvial systems of the southern Duero basin and degradation (emptying) began. The Miocene-Phocene, related to and extensional tectonic regime represents the spreading of exorheik conditions to the whole basin that marked a complete hydrugraphic reorganisation. Deposition and aggradation continued in more central areas of the basin until the end of the Neogene, coeval with degradation of the south-western corner of the Duero Basin. The coexistence resulted from differential subsidence, hinge lines (uplift zones) separated sub-basins, and the dynamics of capture processes.


We have developed and demonstrated a novel technique to manufacture very long and superstructured gratings based on writing a set of consecutive subgratings with interferometric control of the relative position between the subgratings.


We describe a case of essential thrombocythemia (ET), presenting as digital gangrene. ET is a rare myeloproliferative disorder characterised by a persistently elevated platelet count which commonly presents with haemorrhagic manifestations. Thrombosis occurs less frequently and digital gangrene is an uncommon presentation.


Entering the era of digital revolutionary guards head general yahya at the time of this where do information can be we simply get for had such a closeness to local revenue for example through hp us to our personal. All the information can be accessed 've gone through lots of social media electronic. By how easily be run as soon as information program needs to be in can keep looking at whether the contents of the information in the table containing news of the population of that is less appropriate or was not appropriate to be broadcast and publish through the medium of such as television, radio and soon.Because of the law of information, the public which had bought have arranged what was set before them based on the information in a manner worthy of getting by the community in accordance with legislative regulations. Be launched since many broadcasting hearing with the house commission Indonesia the regions where they are into the arm of the state that rules and regulates all it comes to dealing with be launched since many broadcasting ethics. With growing information was not appropriate these changes in the future by the community this certainly shall be the responsibility of office KPID in protecting every station on television responds by sending out the radio to a press statement on the great commission nor related to in order to keep it hold fast regulated in the law


The present study was conducted with the objective of analyzing the covariance structure and repeatability estimates of the variables related to guava productivity, such as fruit weight (FW), fruit number (FN) and fruit production (FP) of three harvests, in 95 genotypes of a segregating population. The study also aims to choose the most appropriate covariance structure of the observations within the same individual by means of AIC (Akaike's Information Criterion) and SBC (Schwarz's Bayesian Criterion) criteria. A covariance structure between repeated measures could be incorporated into the statistical model, with the self-regression and compound symmetry forms being the most adequate. The values of repeatability coefficients obtained for FW (0.25), FN (0.14), and FP (0.29) were considered low, indicating that the three harvests were not sufficient to select the best individuals with greater accuracy for the study population. For the variables PF and FP, estimates of accuracy around 0.50 could be obtained from five measurements, while for the variable FN more harvests would be necessary. These values indicate that in guava-segregating populations, evaluations in the first harvests are not enough to select more stable genotypes for the variables considered in this study.


We analyse a simple model of dynamic moral hazard in which there is a clear and tractable trade-off; between static and dynamic incentives. In our model, a principal wants an agent to complete a project. The agent undertakes unobservable effort, which affects in each period the probability that the project is completed. The principal pays only on completion of the project. We characterise the contracts that the principal sets, with and without commitment. We show that with full commitment, the contract involves the agent's value and wage declining over time, in order to give the agent incentives to exert effort.


Purpose To compare the aqueous humor levels of proinflammatory and angiogenic factors of diabetic patients with and without retinopathy. Methods Aqueous humor was collected at the start of cataract surgery from diabetic subjects and non-diabetic controls. The presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy were graded with fundus examination. Levels of 22 different inflammatory and angiogenic cytokines and chemokines were compared. Results Aqueous humor samples from 47 diabetic patients (20 without retinopathy, 27 with retinopathy) and 24 non-diabetic controls were included. Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, IL-12, interferon-alpha (IFN-α), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measurable in significantly fewer diabetic samples, and where measurable, were at lower levels than in non-diabetic controls. IL-6 was measurable in significantly more diabetic samples, and the median levels were significantly higher in the eyes with retinopathy than the eyes without retinopathy and the non-diabetic eyes. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level was significantly higher in the diabetic eyes with and without retinopathy compared to the non-diabetic controls. The IL-6 level positively correlated with the monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (CCL2) and interleukin-8 (CXCL8) levels and negatively with the TNF-α level. The VEGF level negatively correlated with the IL-12 and TNF-α levels. Conclusions The aqueous humor cytokine profile of diabetic patients without retinopathy was similar to that of patients with diabetic retinopathy. These cytokines may be useful biomarkers for early detection and prognosis of diabetic retinopathy. Compared to diabetic patients without retinopathy, only the IL-6 and VEGF levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients with retinopathy.


The objective of this study was to define the crash characteristics of near-side impact crashes in which children seated in the rear rows are injured. The crash characteristics included the direction of force, heading angle, horizontal impact location, vertical impact location, extent of deformation and intrusion at the child occupant's seating position. Cases from in-depth crash investigation databases of the NASS-CDS (National Automotive Sampling System-Crashworthiness Data System), CIREN (Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network) and Chalmers University of Technology were reviewed. The principal direction of force was most frequently between 60° and 75°. The heading angle of the bullet vehicle was most commonly between 61° and 90°. The bullet vehicle hit the passenger compartment of the target vehicle, particularly the rear door. Often, one or both of the adjacent pillars to the rear door were involved, most commonly the B pillar. In 11 of 16 crashes, the car sill was not engaged. Most commonly, the deformation extent was into Zone 3 or more – about 40 cm – and the intrusion at the child's seating position was in the range 20–30 cm. This review of the crashes revealed differences between the current side impact test procedures and the actual side impact crashes in which children were injured.


In fiscal 1974 and fiscal 1975, $650000 will be spent on contracts for studies of birth control methods and their relationship to birth defects. The effect of oral contraceptives (OCs) on various nutrients is among top interest. It has been shown that OCs increase blood levels of Vitamin-A, copper and iron while they decrease folic acid, zinc and Vitamin-B12 and B6. The decrease of Vitamin-B6 interfers with the tryptophan mechanism and affects glucose tolerance as well as neurotransmitters which can be directly related to reports of depression and a higher rate of bladder cancer. A question arose as to whether dietary supplements would counteract the nutritional depletion. The group of unanswered questions was summed up by a question: "So, the question is, is it the pill or the pill user?"


The Early-Late Cretaceous transition (Late Albian-Early Cenomanian; ~100 Ma) witnessed marked environmental changes and a deep reorganization of the marine fauna. Nevertheless, the impact of these environmental and biotic changes on Eurasian marine vertebrates remains poorly understood, as specimens from this area are mostly represented by fragmentary and isolated remains occurring in reworked, bonebed-like deposits. Here we report vertebrate remains from an upper Albian marine fossiliferous bed from the Geological Reserve of Digne (Alpes-de Haute-Provence, southeastern France), recovered with diverse invertebrate species (ammonoids, belemnoids, brachiopods and inoceramid bivalves). The fossiliferous bed consists of glauconitic marls enriched in planktic foraminifera and occurs within an expanded and monotonous succession of micaceous marls interbedded with silty carbonate levels that were deposited in the pelagic domain of the SE French Basin. The ammonite fauna is quite exceptional by its abundance, diversity and quality of preservation (i.e., large specimens preserving very fragile shell features that are generally not fossilized) and indicate that the investigated bed belong to the Mortoniceras fallax ammonite Biozone (Middle-Late Albian). The diverse vertebrate fauna consists of chondrichthyans, ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs. Chondrichthyans are represented by five shark species belonging to the order Lamniformes. This shark assemblage is dominated by Sphenodus teeth and comprises predator taxa probably living in temperate waters and indicative of open marine settings. The site yielded a large, partial post-cranial plesiosaur skeleton with articulated elements probably belonging to an elasmosaurid (long necked) taxa and representing one of the most complete Albian plesiosaur specimen known from Europe. These findings indicate that this new paleontological site holds promising clues about the evolutionary history of major groups of marine vertebrates near the Early-Late Cretaceous transition.


This paper proposes a single-channel audio source decomposition method that integrates perceptual quality criteria into source separation. Unlike the existing methods, the proposed method applies a perceptually weighted non-negative matrix factorization on log-frequency spectrogram of the mixed signal. The weights are adaptively calculated for each critical band based on a perceptual model described by ITU-R BS. 1387 perceptual quality standard. It is shown that the proposed adaptive weighting scheme significantly improves the quality of audio sources estimated by minimizing the weighted divergence between the observed log-frequency spectrogram and the model.


The binding motif (pharmacophore) for induction and the changes in the structure of the binding site that accompany induction have been determined from molecular-dynamics simulations on the tetracycline-repressor signal-transduction protein. The changes and the induction mechanism are discussed and compared with conclusions drawn from earlier X-ray structures. The differences in inducer strength of tetracycline and 5a,6-anhydrotetracycline are discussed with respect to their interaction in the MD simulations.