In this paper we consider the electrophoresis of a functionalized nanoparticle in electrolyte solution. The undertaken particle is comprised of a rigid inner core encapsulated with a layer of dielectric liquid (e.g., oil or lipid layer), which is immiscible to the bulk aqueous medium. The peripheral liquid layer of the undertaken nanoparticle contains mobile charges due to presence of solubilized surfactants. The mobile electrolyte ions can penetrate across the peripheral layer depending on the difference in the Born energy of the both phases. Such types of nanoparticles have received substantial attention due to their widespread applications in biomedical research. The electric double layer (EDL) is governed by the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation under a low potential limit and the electroosmotic flow field is governed by modified Stokes equation. We adopt the flat-plate formalism to obtain the closed analytical expression for the electrophoretic mobility of the undertaken particle under a thin EDL approximation. The dependence of electrophoretic mobility on the pertinent parameters is also illustrated.


The cytoplasmic and outer membranes of a nonconditional chain-forming mutant, Escherichia coli PM61 envC, were separated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The phosphatidylglycerol/cardiolipin ratio in both membrane fractions was about one-third as high as in the parental strain P678. The increased level of cardiolipin in PM61 membranes is the result of an alteration of the polyglycerophosphatide cycle. It was found that the turnover rate of phosphatidylglycerol is more rapid in PM61 than in the parental strain but that its cardiolipin turnover is not significantly different. The envC mutation can be corrected phenotypically by increasing the osmolarity of the medium. In the presence of 0.6 M sucrose, the population of PM61 is composed of short rods, and the phosphatidylglycerol/cardiolipin ratio is shifted to that of the parent. The phosphatidylglycerol turns over more slowly, whereas the cardiolipin turns over more rapidly in both strains. Thus, the increase of external osmolarity acts on phospholipid metabolism as well as on an unknown step involved in the mechanism of cell division of the envC mutant.


The aims of this study was to assess the effect of two lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Lactobacillus curvatus and Leuconostoc mesenteroides, originally isolated from gastrointestinal (GI) tract of beluga (Huso huso) and Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus), respectively, on growth, survival and digestive enzyme (amylase, lipase and protease) activities and the population level of LAB in the GI tract. The treatments included 10 different groups; control, separate supplements of L. curvatus and Leu. mesenteroides at three different counts [2 × 109, 5 × 109 and 9 × 109 colony forming units (CFU) per gram food] and three combinations of the two LAB (2 × 109 + 2 × 109, 5 × 109 + 5 × 109 and 9 × 109 + 9 × 109 CFU per gram food). The bacteria used in this study were added in lyophilized form to chopped Chironomidae. In the beluga study, highest specific growth rate, survival and improved intestinal enzyme activities were noted in the rearing group fed 9 × 109 L. curvatus per gram food. In Persian sturgeon, the inclusion level of 2 × 109 Leu. mesenteroides had similar positive effect. The ability of LAB to colonize the digestive tract seems to involve host specificity, and our bacteriological results are relevant to initiate future probiotic studies in sturgeons and future directions will be discussed.


Ion solid interactions have been shown to be an important new mechanism of unipolar arc formation in high‐gradient rf linear accelerators through surface self‐sputtering by plasma ions, in addition to an intense surface field evaporation. We believe a non‐Debye plasma is formed in close vicinity to the surface and strongly affects surface atomic migration via intense bombardment by ions, strong electric field, and high surface temperature. Scanning electron microscope studies of copper surface of an rf cavity were conducted that show craters, arc pits, and both irregular and regular ripple structures with a characteristic length of 2 microns on the surface. Strong field enhancements are characteristic of the edges, corners, and crack systems at surfaces subjected to rf breakdown.


Biofilm microcolonies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronically infect the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis and fuel ongoing destructive inflammation, yet the impact of the switch from planktonic to biofilm growth on host responses is poorly understood. We report that in airway epithelial cells a threshold of p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation was required to trigger neutrophil recruitment, which is influenced by extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Planktonic P. aeruginosa diffusible material (PsaDM) induced stronger p38α MAPK activation as compared to biofilm PsaDM. Biofilm PsaDM activated p38α MAPK in a Toll-like receptor-independent fashion via the lasI/lasR quorum-sensing system, but this activation was insufficient to recruit neutrophils. However, in airway epithelial cells from patients with cystic fibrosis with hypersensitivity to injurious stimuli, biofilm PsaDM activated p38α MAPK strongly enough to recruit neutrophils, which can contribute to lung injury.


Concerned educators seek ways to counter the myths, mistrust, false rumors, ignorance and fears surrounding issues of immigration, migration, race and ethnicity that have so negatively affected our students, schools and communities. This article presents an approach through a sample lesson plan, framework and synopsis of content and theoretical underpinnings of the chapters of Borders to Bridges: Creativity-Based Immigration Curriculum Guidebook. The guidebook and successful pilot program challenge the standardized "teach-to-the-test" narrative by proposing a student-directed curriculum which utilizes creativity to awaken critical consciousness.


The effect of rotation in a leading edge, two-pass channel is experimentally investigated in this study. Cooling air, traveling radially outward, is supplied to a smooth, square channel. The coolant turns 180°, and travels radially inward through a semi-circular, smooth channel. This semi-circular passage models a cooling channel located in the leading edge region of a modern turbine airfoil. For the radially outward flow in the square channel, the coolant Reynolds number is varied from 10000–40000. The rotational speed of the channel varies from 0–500 rpm, the rotation number in the first-pass channel varies from 0 to 1.2, and as a result, the buoyancy parameter can exceed 5.0 under the given flow conditions. Due to a slight reduction in the hydraulic diameter, the semi-circular, second-pass experiences Reynolds numbers ranging from 10300–41000, rotation numbers varying up to 1.0, and buoyancy numbers exceeding 4.0. With both passes of the serpentine passage instrumented, the effect of rotation on heat transfer with both radially outward and radially inward flow can be characterized under high rotation and buoyancy numbers. The channel is oriented 90° to the direction of rotation, and the Nusselt numbers on both the leading and trailing surfaces deviate from those measured in a non-rotating channel. The degree of separation between the leading and trailing surfaces depends on the position within the passage; near the inlet of the channel, the effect of rotation is minimal as the heat transfer coefficients are more strongly influenced by the entrance geometry into the channel. Moving downstream of the entrance, the effect of rotation increases. With the current channel geometry, all regions in the second pass of the channel experience heat transfer enhancement with rotation, and the separation between the leading and trailing surfaces is reduced compared to the first pass.Copyright © 2012 by ASME


Owing to a low operation voltage, high on/off ratio, and tunable band gap, halide perovskites (HPs) are being conceived as an alternative to oxide or chalcogenide materials in resistive-switching (RS) memory devices. However, the HP-based RS memory devices face problems such as short endurance, low retention, and device stability. Herein, the oxide-passivated HP devices were fabricated by hybridizing the oxide sol-gel and halide adduct methods. The silicon oxide (SiO2)-passivation enhanced the device properties with an endurance of 6000 cycles and retention of 1.8 × 104 s. The study of activation energy using ionic conductivity and time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectroscopy demonstrated that the migration path of the Ag ions is well-controlled by the SiO2 passivation layer. Various oxides were used as passivation materials. Especially, the zirconium oxide-passivated devices exhibit excellent properties with an endurance of 57 000 cycles and retention of 7.8 × 104 s. The high cohesive energy of oxides effectively increased the formation voltage by retarding the Ag-ion migration, leading to the improved endurance properties of the devices. This paper proposes a strategy for significantly improving the low endurance property of HP-based RS memory devices using the oxide passivation technology.


We study the effect of size polydispersity on the stress distributions and structural properties of static frictionless packings under isotropic compressions. More than 50 isostatic packings with constant mean stress of 1 kPa are generated for each size polydispersity s with a uniform distribution of diameter between (d0−s/2) and (d0+s/2). In order to vary the degree of positional order, the size polydispersity s ranges from 0 to 0.5. Several typical structural characterizations, (i.e., the height of the first pair correlation peak, the global and the local order parameters), the probability distribution of the normalized mean stress and the stress-stress correlation are calculated. The result shows that (i) the stress distribution scales as a power law in the limit of small stresses, and the distribution displays a Gaussian tail in the limit of large stresses; (ii) s has no evident influence on the structural and mechanical properties when s > 0.2.


Computed tomography, though few previous reports have dealt with this aspect of it, is an excellent aid when percutaneous skeletal biopsies have to be taken, especially in critical skeletal regions. Our own series consists of 48 CT-guided musculoskeletal biopsy procedures, mainly concerning the spine and pelvis. We used biopsy needles with calibers between 22 G and 14 G; specifically, the sure-cut needle was used in most cases. There were no complications. The results were conclusive in 29 cases, semiconclusive in 10 cases, and inconclusive in 9 cases. The advantages of CT guidance are most obvious in the case of lesions of the axial skeleton and pelvis: it allows precise planning of an adequate biopsy approach, better location of small cortex leaks for intraosseous entry of the puncture needle, and more sensitive selection of the best place for tissue sampling. Therefore, with CT guidance intraosseous lesions are more accessible, even to less highly invasive instruments. The risk of complications is low, and the accuracy similar to that obtained with fluoroscopic guidance.


In this paper we report on the available X-ray data collected by INTEGRAL, Swift, and XMM-Newton during the first outburst of the INTEGRAL transient IGR J17451–3022, discovered in 2014 August. The monitoring observations provided by the JEM-X instruments on board INTEGRAL and the Swift /XRT showed that the event lasted for about 9 months and that the emission of the source remained soft for the entire period. The source emission is dominated by a thermal component (kT ∼ 1.2 keV), most likely produced by an accretion disk. The XMM-Newton observation carried out during the outburst revealed the presence of multiple absorption features in the soft X-ray emission that could be associated with the presence of an ionized absorber lying above the accretion disk, as observed in many high inclination, low mass X-ray binaries. The XMM-Newton data also revealed the presence of partial and rectangular X-ray eclipses (lasting about 820 s) together with dips. The rectangular eclipses can be associated with increases in the overall absorption column density in the direction of the source. The detection of two consecutive X-ray eclipses in the XMM-Newton data allowed us to estimate the source orbital period at Porb = 22620.5+2.0 −1.8 s (1σ confidence level).


Until now there has been no doubt about the late antique origin of the Milan ivory pyxis; it has been dated by the scholars to the fourth through sixth centuries. The following article argues against this early date on the basis of a detailed analysis of decoration and style: the congruences with ivory works of the end of the eleventh and the beginning of the twelfth century point clearly to a medieval origin for the Milan pyxis.


This paper presents a novel backoff algorithm based on a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) for the IEEE 802.11 Distributed Coordination Function (DCF). In the DCF, the NAV indicates the amount of time that a medium will be reserved by other nodes, so it provides an accurate estimation of neighbor nodes activities around a node. Thus, the proposed scheme dynamically adjusts the contention window according to the variation of neighbor nodes activities, which is estimated by NAV measurements. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme outperforms existing schemes in terms of total throughput and fairness between nodes.


The main goal of this dissertation is to study the formulation and analysis of primal-dual path-following methods for nonlinear programming (NLP), which involves the minimization or maximization of a nonlinear objective function subject to constraints on the variables. Two important types of nonlinear program are problems with nonlinear equality constraints and problems with nonlinear inequality constraints. In this dissertation, two new methods are proposed for nonlinear programming. The first is a new primal-dual path-following augmented Lagrangian method (PDAL) for solving a nonlinear program with equality constraints only. The second is a new primal-dual path-following shifted penalty-barrier method (PDPB) for solving a nonlinear program with a mixture of equality and inequality constraints. The method of PDPB may be regarded as an extension of PDAL to handle nonlinear inequality constraints.Algorithms PDAL and PDPB are iterative methods that share the same "two-level" structure involving outer and inner iterations. In the outer iteration of PDAL, the optimality conditions are perturbed to define a "path-following trajectory'' parameterized by a set of Lagrange multiplier estimates and a penalty parameter. The iterates are constructed to closely follow the trajectory towards a constrained local minimizer of the nonlinear program. If an outer iterate deviates significantly from the trajectory, then an inner iteration is invoked in which a primal-dual augmented Lagrangian merit function is minimized to force the iterates back to a neighborhood of the trajectory.A similar approach is used to handle the inequality constraints in PDPB. In this case, the trajectory is followed towards a local solution of the mixed-constraint nonlinear program. This trajectory is parameterized by a set of Lagrange multiplier estimates and penalty and barrier parameters associated with the equality and inequality constraints. If an iterate moves away from the trajectory, a primal-dual shifted penalty-barrier merit function is minimized using a trust-region method. By introducing slack variables, global convergence can be achieved from any starting point without the need for an initial strictly feasible point. Furthermore, numerical experiments indicate that when minimizing the shifted barrier function, the trust-region method requires fewer matrix factorizations and iterations than a comparable line-search method.


This paper deals with the control strategy and dynamic simulation of the large-scale high-T/sub c/ superconducting synchronous motor fed by an auto-sequentially commutated inverter. The auto-sequentially commutated inverter for the high-T/sub c/ superconducting synchronous motor drive takes into account the commutations between thyristors, and the effect on the high-T/sub c/ superconducting field windings is considered in the control strategy. For accurate prediction of the machine characteristics, the motor simulator was designed to provide an effective design tool that will allow to rapidly and easily simulate the high-T/sub c/ superconducting synchronous motor system.


A collection of some of Hoffmann's most famous and widely read works including "The Mesmerist" and "A Report on the Latest Adventures of the Dog Berganza".


A 28‐year‐old woman undertaking in vitro fertilisation had a single day five blastocyst transferred, resulting in a monozygotic triplet pregnancy. This case report illustrates the potential for multiple pregnancies even after transfer of a single embryo. A literature review regarding monozygotic triplets following use of assisted reproductive techniques reveals that an unexpectedly large proportion of these cases are associated with blastocyst transfer.


The new cutting process, Assist Gas Free laser cutting (AGF laser cutting), was developed and the cutting properties were investigated in our laboratory. In a previous study of AGF laser cutting by using circular polarized CO2 laser, basic properties have been investigated. On the other hand, when cutting of metallic materials with a linear polarized laser is performed, it is known that the cutting kerf might slant and critical cutting speed can be accelerated. These phenomena have been also observed in AGF laser cutting. However, more detailed research about the properties by using a linear polarized laser in AGF laser cutting is needed. In the present study, the effect of laser polarization on cutting properties in AGF laser cutting by using linear polarized laser was investigated. The cutting speed and direction were varied in order to study the influence of these parameters on the critical cutting speed and kerf shapes such as slant angle, width, and removed area of kerf. The study showed that when the cutting direction and the polarized direction were parallel, the kerf slant was depressed. In addition, the critical cutting speed could be the fastest in any other cutting direction.


Aim. Calculation of indirect medical costs for pneumonia in the Samara region. Material and methods. Collecting and the analysis of data of federal state and branch statistical supervision for 2010 which formed a basis for the description of the medico-social characteristic of population of patients with pneumonia (the general, primary, hospitalized incidence, a lethality) in the Samara region. Results. Indirect medical costs consist of charges on social payments to patients (temporary disability benefit and disability pensions) and the half-received contribution to gross domestic product as a result of an absenteeism of workers for work. Costs of payment of sheets of temporary disability by reason of pneumonia in the Samara region made 32,9 million rubles, in the Volga federal district – 303,9 million rubles, in the Russian Federation – 1,5 billion rubles for 2010. Losses of a regional gross product by reason of temporary disability because of pneumonia in the Samara region for 2010 made 7,6 million rubles, in Volga federal district – 66,5 million rubles, in the Russian Federation – 464,5 million rubles. The fact of registration of disability the people who have had pneumonia, no therefore the disability pension with this disease isn't charged by the patient. Conclusion. Indirect medical costs of the state of treatment of pneumonia in the Samara region for 2010 make 40,5 million rubles that is 2,1% from costs of the state of all across Russia.


The main purpose of surgical correction in Poland's syndrome is to improve chest wall symmetry and correct breast hypoplasia. Creation of an anterior axillary fold and smoothing out the infraclavicular defect greatly improves the final result. Cardiorespiratory function may be impaired, but serious conditions requiring early operative correction are rare. When present, unilateral costochondral agenesis involves one to three segments in the mid-anterior chest and sternal depression to that side. Operative planning in such cases includes a multi-layered approach to provide a solid base for soft tissue reconstruction of the more superficial layers.


Objective Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1, PTGS1) catalyzes the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin H2, which is subsequently metabolized to various biologically active prostaglandins. We sought to identify and characterize the functional relevance of genetic polymorphisms in PTGS1. Methods Sequence variations in human PTGS1 were identified by resequencing 92 healthy individuals (24 African, 24 Asian, 24 European/Caucasian, and 20 anonymous). Using site-directed mutagenesis and a baculovirus/insect cell expression system, recombinant wild-type COX-1 and the R8W, P17L, R53H, R78W, K185T, G230S, L237M, and V481I variant proteins were expressed. COX-1 metabolic activity was evaluated in vitro using an oxygen consumption assay under basal conditions and in the presence of indomethacin. Results Forty-five variants were identified, including seven nonsynonymous polymorphisms encoding amino acid substitutions in the COX-1 protein. The R53H (35±5%), R78W (36±4%), K185T (59±6%), G230S (57±4%), and L237M (51±3%) variant proteins had significantly lower metabolic activity relative to wild-type (100±7%), while no significant differences were observed with the R8W (104±10%), P17L (113±7%), and V481I (121±10%) variants. Inhibition studies with indomethacin demonstrated that the P17L and G230S variants had significantly lower IC50 values compared to wild-type, suggesting these variants significantly increase COX-1 sensitivity to indomethacin inhibition. Consistent with the metabolic activity data, protein modeling suggested the G230S variant may disrupt the active conformation of COX-1. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that several genetic variants in human COX-1 significantly alter basal COX-1-mediated arachidonic acid metabolism and indomethacin-mediated inhibition of COX-1 activity in vitro. Future studies characterizing the functional impact of these variants in vivo are warranted.


1. 1. The use of the surface-active agents, Duponol WA and Lorol, for the preparation of skin test antigens from Brucella suis is described. These reagents were more effective than Tergitol 7, Tween 80, Triton A-20, phenol and water.

2. 2. The time of onset of cutaneous hypersensitivity in guinea pigs was related to the number of living organisms used for sensitization. The intensity of the allergic response reached a maximum after 8 weeks of infection and decreased to a relatively constant level from the tenth to eighteenth week of infection.

3. 3. Reactions of the purpura type were produced in guinea pigs by the crude extract from the fourth to tenth week of infection. Such reactions were not observed in response to the partially purified reagent.

4. 4. The crude extract exhibited specificity for Brucella infection in guinea pigs. Responses in animals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Coccidioides immitis were not of the same order of magnitude in size or intensity as were produced in experimental Brucella infections.

5. 5. The partial purification and crystallization of the antigen by precipitation at pH 4–5 and ammonium sulfate precipitation at 6–10% of saturation at pH 7.0 and 5 C was described.

6. 6. The antigen is water-soluble near pH 7.0, thermostable and inactivated by trypsin. Tests for the presence of desoxyribonucleic and ribonucleic acids were negative while the tests for protein were positive. Only traces of carbohydrate were detected in the purified antigen.

7. 7. Upon further purification skin test activity of the reagent sharply increased, while the concentration of carbohydrate and of substances responsible for strong ultraviolet absorption at 2700 A decreased. The final product showed a low specific density at this wave length.

8. 8. Repeated intradermal injections of the allergen did not result in the development of either systemic (anaphylactic) or dermal sensitivity in normal guinea pigs. These intradermal injections of the purified antigen resulted in very minor stimulation of agglutinin formation in guinea pigs and in a small group of humans.

9. 9. Guinea pigs infected subcutaneously with as few as 9 cells of Br. suis responded to the cutaneous test with the purified antigen 1 week following infection.

10. 10. The antigen was about 225% more potent when used to skin-test rabbits infected for 4 weeks with Br. suis (homologous species) than for rabbits infected for 4 weeks with Br. abortus or Br. melitensis (heterologous species).

11. 11. An allergen capable of detecting skin sensitivity in guinea pigs infected with Br. suis could not be extracted from Br. abortus strain A19 under the conditions of the method used successfully on Br. suis .

12. 12. Upon storage at 5 C for 11 months a solution of the purified antigen lost 85% of its skin test potency.

13. 13. Response to dosage data on various preparations were susceptible to analysis of relative potency by virtue of the parallelism of the log dose-log response relationship.

14. 14. The skin-test antigen inhibits the linear migration of leukocytes of normal guinea pigs in direct proportion to its concentration.


Theileriosis is an important tick-borne protozoosis that causes high morbidity and mortality in cattle. In this study, the pathological and clinical characteristics of cattle experimentally infected with Theileria annulata were investigated. The clinical findings revealed typical signs of bovine theileriosis, including fever, enlargement of superficial lymph nodes, anemia, and respiratory distress. The most common pathological features were petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhages on the mucosa and serosal surface, severe jaundice, pulmonary edema and emphysema, multifocal necrosis and numerous ulcerations in the abomasum, congestion and marble-like discoloration of the spleen, and severe intestinal ecchymotic hemorrhages. The main histological characteristics were proliferation and infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages in the lymph nodes, spleen, and lymph node mass. Macroschizonts were observed in the cytoplasm of lymphocytes and macrophages of the lymph nodes and spleen. This study has significance for basic research and the clinical detection and diagnosis of Theileria annulata infection and can aid the prevention and control of theileriosis and future studies of the pathogenic mechanisms.


ABSTRACT Several thinkers have expressed the view that the central nostrums of neoliberalism, including self-reliance, personal responsibility and individual risk, have become part of the "common sense" fabric of everyday life. My paper argues that Erich Fromm's idea of social character offers a comprehensive and persuasive answer to this question. While some have sought the answer to this conundrum in Foucault's notion of governmentality, I argue that, by itself, this answer is not sufficient. What is significant about the notion of social character, I claim, is that it manages to unify "top-down" approaches like governmentality focused on ideas and policy, with "bottom-up" approaches focused on how the insights of day to day experience are mediated through culture. Adapting this theory to neoliberalism, I argue, means that the "common sense" nature of neoliberalism, and the lack of a reckoning for its massive economic failure (as evidenced by the 2007 Great Recession), are explicable through the formation of a neoliberal social character, by means of which experiential processes align with cultural meanings and, subsequently, fuse with social expectations.


A gridless technique for the solution of the integral form of the radiative heat flux equation for emitting and absorbing media is presented. Treatment of non-uniform absorptivity and gray boundaries is included. As part of this work, the authors have developed fast multipole techniques for extracting radiative heat flux quantities from the temperature fields of one-dimensional and three-dimensional geometries. Example calculations include those for one-dimensional radiative heat transfer through multiple flame sheets, a three-dimensional enclosure with black walls, and an axisymmetric enclosure with black walls.


We survey the research on interactive evolutionary computation (IEC). The IEC is an EC that optimizes systems based on subjective human evaluation. The definition and features of the IEC are first described and then followed by an overview of the IEC research. The overview primarily consists of application research and interface research. In this survey the IEC application fields include graphic arts and animation, 3D computer graphics lighting, music, editorial design, industrial design, facial image generation, speed processing and synthesis, hearing aid fitting, virtual reality, media database retrieval, data mining, image processing, control and robotics, food industry, geophysics, education, entertainment, social system, and so on. The interface research to reduce human fatigue is also included. Finally, we discuss the IEC from the point of the future research direction of computational intelligence. This paper features a survey of about 250 IEC research papers.


The lowland plains on Mars have surfaces marked by large polygonal fracture patterns. It was recently proposed that the fracture patterns were developed on sedimentary deposits from outflow channels. We support this hypothesis because of the following observations. (1) Polygonal fracture patterns tend to occur in low areas on Mars that apparently received influx of sediments; the area of northern plains, in which the fractures occur, also forms a regional low. (2) The fracture patterns are concentrated near reentrants of the plains projecting into the southern highlands. Not only are these reentrants associated with outflow channels, but channels and polygonally fractured deposits have similar ages. (3) Sinuous ridges at the mouths of Martian outflow channels resemble ridges in Antarctic ice streams and ice shelves; the similarity suggests that the Martian material was transported from the southern highlands toward the northern plains, as the Antarctic material is transported from the continent toward the adjacent ocean. Overall, it appears that a massive transfer of material took place midway in Martian history, either through the outflow channels or elsewhere along the northern highland scarp, and that this material probably formed the deposits now characterized by polygonal fracture patterns.


Abstract. This study proposes an improved group decision making (GDM) framework that combines the VIKOR method with data fuzzification to quantify the spatial flood vulnerability including multiple criteria. In general, GDM method is an effective tool for formulating a compromise solution that involves various decision makers since various stakeholders may have different perspectives on their flood risk/vulnerability management responses. The GDM approach is designed to achieve consensus building that reflects the viewpoints of each participant. The fuzzy VIKOR method was developed to solve multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) problems with conflicting and noncommensurable criteria. This comprising method can be used to obtain a nearly ideal solution according to all established criteria. This approach effectively can propose some compromising decisions by combining the GDM method and fuzzy VIKOR method. The spatial flood vulnerability of the southern Han River using the GDM approach combined with the fuzzy VIKOR method was compared with the spatial flood vulnerability using general MCDM methods, such as the fuzzy TOPSIS and classical GDM methods (i.e., Borda, Condorcet, and Copeland). As a result, the proposed fuzzy GDM approach can reduce the uncertainty in the data confidence and weight derivation techniques. Thus, the combination of the GDM approach with the fuzzy VIKOR method can provide robust prioritization because it actively reflects the opinions of various groups and considers uncertainty in the input data.


This study aims at experimentally exploring whether reconstruction can actually be taken as a diagnostic of movement in JA. Three experiments were conducted. Experiment 1, an acceptability judgment task, investigated the availability of gap and resumption strategies in JA relative clause and wh-interrogative. Experiment 2, combining both forced-choice and acceptability judgment tasks, tested the availability of reconstruction effects in JA relative clauses regarding the type of the binding principles (A, C, and BVA), resumptive pronouns (Weak and Strong RPs), and islands (strong and weak islands). Adopting the same design of Experiment 2, Experiment 3 tested the availability of reconstruction effects in JA wh-interrogatives. The findings reveal that only resumption strategy is available in JA relative clauses. Furthermore, JA relative clauses do not exhibit sensitivity to islands; JA wh-interrogatives do. Reconstruction effects are available in JA relative clauses irrespective of the type of the binding principle, the type of the RP, and the type of the island, whereas the presence of strong islands blocks the availability of reconstruction effects in JA wh-interrogatives. The theoretical implications of these findings unravel that relative clauses in JA are derived via base-generation rather than A'-movement whereby the referentiality of the RP is achieved by binding.


The Eastern Himalayan region of northeast(NE) India covers a geographical area of over 255,000 sq. km. and consists of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura states (Figure 1.1). This region encompasses wide range of eco-geographical conditions, ranging from lowland flood plains of Brhamaputra and Barak Riverto mountains as high as 4000 m above sea level in the West Kameng and Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh. Rice (Oryza sativa) is the staple food of the local inhabitants in NE India. Traditional farmers of the region cultivate a large number of indigenous rice varieties under diverse topographic and agroclimatic conditions and different growing seasons. However, rice genetic resources in NE India are being rapidly lost due to changes in the land use and agricultural practices that favor agronomically improved varieties. A detailed understanding of the genetic structure and diversity of rice varieties in NE India is crucial for developing conservation and management strategies of rice genetic resources and use of the rice gene pool in the region for breeding and genetic improvement programs.
In this study, genetic structure and diversity of rice varieties representing several ecotypes collected from various regions of NE India were investigated using molecular tools. Chapter 1 covers a study focused on the genetic structure and diversity of 24 indigenous varieties representing Sali (12), Jum (4), Boro(3), and glutinous (5) types and five agronomically improved varieties. The results revealed that the genetic diversity among indigenous rice varieties was higher than that of the agronomically improved varieties. The Sali and Jum types showed significantly higher levels of genetic diversity as compared to agronomically improved types. Two major genetically distinct clusters were detected in this study, which corresponded to two subspecies of O. sativa, namely indica and japonica.
In Chapter 2, the results of a study on characterization of rice ecotypes into japonica or indica subspecies using insertion-deletion (indel) markers are presented. The indel markers were designed based on the genome-wide DNA polymorphism database of typical indica cv 93-11 and japonica cv Nipponbare. The result showed that the traditional method of indica and japonica rice classification based on cultivation type, morphological traits, physiological and biochemical characteristics is incongruent with the indel marker based classification. Majority of the upland (Jum) and glutinous seeded varieties, which were traditionally classified as japonica clustered with indica types. Similarly, a few lowland varieties, which were traditionally classified as indica clustered with japonica types.
Chapter 3 covers the nucleotide polymorphism and patterns of nucleotide diversity at two trait specific genes, Wx and OsC1. The Wx gene is associated with amylose content, which determines the glutinous nature of rice grains while theOsC1 gene is associated with the apiculus coloration. The polymorphism in the Wx gene among glutinous and non glutinous grain types, and the nucleotide diversity inthe OsC1 gene among colored and colorless apiculus rice varieties were investigated. The results revealed that trait specific nucleotide polymorphisms that were identified in previous studies did not necessarily correspond to the specific phenotypes in the indigenous rice varieties of NE India. The glutinous type varieties showed higher levels of nucleotide diversity as compared to the nonglutinous types at the Wx locus. The neutrality analysis did not reveal signature of selection among the glutinous and nonglutinous rice phenotypes at the Wx gene. On the other hand, the OsC1 gene revealed low level of selection among the colorless apiculus varieties as evident by lower nucleotide diversity in colorless types as compared to the colored apiculus varieties.


Nowadays, there are biologically sustainable options that can partially replace synthetic fertilizers and reduce production costs. To test the response of 18 maize varieties to synthetic fertilization (FQ), synthetic fertilization plus inoculant (FQB) and synthetic fertilization plus compost (FQC), in 2010 two experiments were established in rainfed conditions in the Valley of Puebla, with a completely randomized design, under a split plots arrangement, with three replications. Type of fertilization was assigned to the main plot and maize genotypes were the split plot. No differences were found in grain and stover yield by type of fertilization. There was a strong interaction between varieties and type of fertilizer as well as between varieties and location in grain and stover yield. For the interaction between variety and type of fertilization, it was found that 56% of the varieties showed higher yields with FQC, in while 27.8% had higher yields with FQB and 16.7% yielded better with FQ. The highest stover yield was obtained in San Andres Calpan with FQC (8.8 Mg ha-1), while in San Pedro Tlaltenango it was obtained with FQB (15.3 Mg ha‑1) and FQ (15.4 Mg ha‑1). The use of both synthetic fertilization and inoculant or compost maintains and increases maize grain and stover yield, compared with using only synthetic fertilizer.


Intensive therapy aiming at near normalization of glucose levels effectively delays the onset and slows the progression of complications in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and is recommended in most patients. However, in a recent report, intensive insulin treatment was found to be associated with deleterious effects on nocturnal blood pressure (BP), the proposed mechanisms being subclinical nocturnal hypoglycemia or hyperinsulinemia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between glycemic control, insulin dose, and 24-h ambulatory BP (AMBP) in a group of well-characterized IDDM patients. Twenty-four-h AMBP was measured in 123 normoalbuminuric [urinary albumin excretion (UAE) < 20 microg/min] IDDM patients using an oscillometric technique (SpaceLabs 90207) with readings at 20-min intervals. UAE was measured by RIA and expressed as geometric mean of three overnight collections made within 1 week. Tobacco use and level of physical activity was assessed by questionnaire. HbA1c was determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (nondiabetic range, 4.4-6.4%), and patients were stratified into quartiles according to HbA1c levels. Mean HbA1c values in the four groups were 7.0% (n = 31), 8.0% (n = 31), 8.6% (n = 31), and 9.7% (n = 30). The groups were comparable regarding age, gender, diabetes duration, body mass index, UAE, smoking status, and physical activity. AMBP levels were almost identical in the HbA1c quartiles with night values of (increasing HbA1c order): 110/63, 112/66, 112/66, and 113/65 mm Hg (P = 0.69/P = 0.32). There was no association between tight glucose control and higher nocturnal BP or a more blunted circadian BP variation. On the contrary, a weak positive correlation between night to day ratios of mean arterial BP and HbA1c values was found (r = 0.26, P = 0.005), i.e. blunted circadian BP variation is most frequent in patients with high HbA1c values. Neither did we find doses of insulin to be associated with night BP (r = 0.04, P = 0.68). Tight blood glucose control is not associated with deleterious effects on 24-h AMBP in normoalbuminuric IDDM patients. Intensive therapy can be implemented without concerns of inducing high nocturnal BP and accelerating diabetic complications.


Coupling between different regions of the brain plays an important role in many functions of the brain. Dynamical changes occurring in coupling strengths between brain regions can result in synchronous activity within neuronal populations, which in turn render epileptic seizures happen. Knowing this fact can help us to develop new prediction systems with better performance. This seizure prediction study takes coupling strength into account to detect preictal changes several minutes before seizures. Simulation results indicate that preictal changes begin 20 to 25 minutes before upcoming seizures.


SUMMARY A novel approach to the development of a code for the solution of the time-dependent two-dimensional NavierStokes equations is described. The code involves coupling between the method of lines (MOL) for the solution of partial differential equations and a parabolic algorithm which removes the necessity of iterative solution on pressure and solution of a Poisson-type equation for the pressure. The code is applied to a test problem involving the solution of transient laminar flow in a short pipe for an incompressible Newtonian fluid. Comparisons show that the MOL solutions are in good agreement with the previously reported values. The proposed method described in this paper demonstrates the ease with which the NavierStokes equations can be solved in an accurate manner using sophisticated numerical algorithms for the solution of ordinary differential equations (ODEs).


since d(n) = O(nE) for any e > O. Thus it is clear that N , R(n) = o(N). (18) * ~~~~~n= N Using Hua's theorem, Lemma 1, in connection with E P(n), and then n=1 summation by parts, we obtain the result stated in Theorem 1. To obtain results for primes, we require estimates for trigonometric sums involving primes. For exponential terms, results concerning primitive roots are needed. 1 Bellman, R., "On Ingham Sums and Ramanujan Expansions," unpublished. 2 Hua, L. K., "On an Exponential Sum," J. Chin. Math. Soc., 2, 301-312 (1940).


PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the internal consistency and validity of the Italian version of the Jebsen- Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT-IT) in Italian post-stroke adults with chronic hemiplegia or hemiparesis.

METHODS
The test's internal consistency and validity were assessed by following international guidelines. Its internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's alpha (α) coefficient. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated for concurrent validity in comparison with a dynamometer instrument, whereas for construct validity, it was calculated in comparison with the mean execution time of the Wolf Motor Function Test time subscale (WMFT-IT-TIME).

RESULTS
The test was administrated to 48 people with chronic stroke. Cronbach's alpha reported a value of 0.96 for the dominant hand and 0.92 for the non-dominant hand. To define the validity of the scale, Pearson's correlation as measured using the WMFT-IT-TIME, and the dynamometer showed statistically significant results.

CONCLUSIONS
The present study supports the use of the JTHFT-IT as a measure of hand functionality in post-stroke adults with chronic hemiplegia or hemiparesis. It is an important tool for Italian professionals, and it can be useful both in clinical practice to evaluate improvement after rehabilitation treatments and for research in hand rehabilitation.


Introduction: Dengue is an acute viral illness caused by RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae and spread by Aedes mosquitoes which occur mainly in four closely related serotypes (DENV14). It has developed into emergent threat in the India and Karnataka state now. The most challenging difficulty associated with patient administration in dengue infection is early diagnosis. Objective: To determine the Prevalence of Dengue infection in the Kalaburagi district by serological test IgM ELISA. The detection of Immunoglobulin IgM is the core method for the laboratory diagnosis of dengue. The present study considered the relevance of a screening test for dengue pertaining to new cases and assessment of the epidemic attack rate. Materials and Methods: This evocative study was conducted at our Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences hospital, Kalaburagi for the period between January to December 2018. Serum samples were collected from suspected dengue patients attended in and out patient department, Sera were analysed by ELISA test for the presence of dengue IgM antibodies. Results: Over the study period, out of 1,807 samples, 123 were showed positive for dengue virus infection. Both male 61(49.59%) and female 62 (50.40%) patients predominantly affected. The positive peak values were noticed between April to December 2018. The most positivity was observed between the age group of 1-20 years. Conclusion: the present results revealed that the study region is epidemic for dengue viral infection and there is an urgent need for the constant monitoring to control further spreading of the infection in the community, hence serological test have important role in the early diagnosis. Therefore IgM ELISA is recommended in all the suspected dengue patients so as to instigate essential treatment and assessment of morbidity and mortality rate during an outbreak.


Clustering in wireless sensor networks improves lifetime of the network by load distribution, data aggregation and use of clusterheads to efficiently route messages to the central gateway. Parameters governing creation of optimal clusters are often numerous and domain-specific. The challenges increase with mobile nodes due to faster temporal change in one or more parameter values like speed and distance to the gateway. We propose a Genetic Algorithm based algorithm GAROUTE that performs energy-efficient mobility-aware clustering for wireless sensor networks. GAROUTE uses mobility awareness of each node to adaptively create stable clusters for energy-efficient routing of information.


Background: Overweight and obesity are chronic metabolic diseases characterized by abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. Warm-needling acupuncture (WNA), which combines the characteristics of acupuncture and moxibustion, has been commonly used to manage obesity with reasonable weight control in recent years. Therefore, our objective is to systematically appraise the efficacy and safety of WNA for overweight and obesity.Methods: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (via PubMed), Excerpt Medica Database (EMBASE), ALT HealthWatch, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Wanfang Data, and grey literature (trial registries, conference proceedings and academic degree dissertations) will be searched for the identification of articles. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving WNA independently or as an adjunct to other active therapies, compared with the same therapies alone, will be included. The principal outcome will be the difference in BMI from baseline to the end of studies. Secondary outcomes include the change of weight, waist circumference, percentage of body fat, serum lipid before and after treatment. The severity and incidence of adverse events will be measured as the safety assessment. Study selection, data extraction, and assessment of risk of bias will be performed independently by two reviewers. A third reviewer will resolve and determine disagreements. The Review Manager software (V.5.3.5) and Stata software (V.14.0) will be used for data synthesis. Furthermore, the quality of the evidence for the results will be described according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system (GRADE) with GRADEprofiler software (V.3.6.1).Discussion: This is the first systematic review to evaluate the effect of WNA in the management of obesity. This program will provide a high-quality synthesis of the current evidence to identify whether WNA is an effective therapeutic approach for overweight and obesity.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42019146380.


A Staphylococcus aureus infection in a mature horse, resulting from trauma, is described, which proved refractory to antibiotic therapy directed by the results of antibiotic sensitivity testing. After a prolonged course, rapid resolution of the infection was achieved with the administration of an autogenous formalized bacterin.


The FOCUS phase 3b study evaluated the long-term efficacy of fremanezumab in patients with chronic or episodic migraine (CM/EM) and prior documented inadequate response to 2-4 preventive treatment classes during 12-week double-blind period (DBP) and open-label extension (OLE). Following 28-day baseline period, patients were randomised (1:1:1) to quarterly or monthly fremanezumab or placebo for DBP. Patients completing DBP entered OLE, where all patients received treatment with monthly fremanezumab. Outcomes are summarised by DBP group. During DBP, least squares mean changes in monthly migraine days (MMD) in placebo, quarterly, and monthly fremanezumab groups, respectively, were –0.8, –3.9, and –4.5 for CM patients (n=509) and –0.6, –3.7, and –3.8 for EM patients (n=328; P<0.0001 vs placebo); during OLE, mean MMD changes were –5.3, –5.1, and –5.8 for CM patients (n=493) and –3.9, –5.1, and –5.1 for EM patients (n=313). Reductions were also observed for CM and EM patients in monthly headache days of at least moderate severity during DBP and increased during OLE. In placebo, quarterly, and monthly fremanezumab groups, respectively, for DBP, ≥50% reduction in MMD were 8%, 27%, and 29% for CM patients and 10%, 47%, and 43% for EM patients (P<0.0001 vs placebo) and for OLE, were 31%, 35%, and 40% for CM patients and 49%, 63%, and 56% for EM patients. Fremanezumab demonstrated long-term efficacy in CM and EM patients with prior inadequate response to multiple preventive classes.


Numerous works underlined for several decades that the land and natural resources issue in Sahel is complex. Resilience of socio-ecosystem primarily depends on actors' arrangements and practices which are here defined by the overlapping of several land regulation (i.e. rules and institutions) systems, from informal local land rules, which local people recognize and respect, to legal land policy rules that place the major part of the territory under the State responsibility. And while the aim of land tenure security is universally recognized, the debate is still complex between a privatization of lands (through a land access defined by individual private long-term rights, like a Land Title), considered as more adapted to economic investment and a more flexible regulation of land uses (through multiple distinct access rights on the same space, according to the resource, the activity, the season...), based on the local history, allowing an individual and collective adaptation to climate uncertainties, and built on a partial common resources management. The present study aims to structure the complexity of this land tenure situation, through the conception of a modeling conceptual framework. This framework is based on the assumption that land actors (authorities who regulate access and management of land and natural resources as well as users who use it) are the ones who give meaning and stimulate the different land and natural resources regulation systems, according to the way they behave with each other and with their environment. Regarding their needs, their individual or collective (family, village, lineage, ethnic...) interests, their means and their subjective perceptions, actors build their action logics, deciding which regulation (rule and institution) they want to mobilize or create, how they want to use it etc. The building of this modeling conceptual framework gathers bibliographical review and field experience through two regional case studies in Senegal, a Sahelian country. The case studies aim to represent the national variety of land issues: an agricultural irrigated / irrigable region with high agricultural potential, the valley of the Senegal river, and a dry region with low agricultural potential, the silvipastoral area. Aiming to link this pluri-disciplinary approach of Sahelian lands issue with the school of multi-agent systems, this modeling conceptual framework is implemented into a computerized agent-based model, in order (1) to initiate the co-construction (between a diversity of points of view) of some original rural land policy options, chosen to represent the diversity of the possible positions on the land resource; (2) to bring elements of comparative analysis on the potential relevance of these various options regarding the very concept of resilience. This potential relevance can be understood as the way a concept of property (individualized, privative, collective or common according to social groups) combined with a regulation system can or cannot maintain, protect and multiply the wealth and the shared advantages while staying in a sustainable development perspective. (Texte integral)


The therapeutic strategy of heart rate control for atrial fibrillation (AF) is undergoing a renaissance since several recent randomized trials demonstrated clear advantages over the rhythm control for many patients. Heart rate control for AF is hampered, however, by a dearth of information relating target heart rates to physiological measures or clinical outcomes. In this review, the rather sparse rationale behind the data elements for heart rate control - resting heart rate, activity heart rate, and regularity of the heart rate, is outlined. Beat-to-beat stroke volume is probably a key variable for calibrating heart rate targets. Presently it seems reasonable to propose targets for resting and activity heart rates but not for regularity. It also seems plausible but remains unproven that there should be a range (upper and lower) of heart rate targets rather than a simple upper limit. Nevertheless, it remains to be demonstrated through randomized clinical trials how to apply various heart rate control targets in patients with AF and whether complexity offers any advantage over simplicity.


It has often been predicted that large numbers of people will be displaced by climate change and that this will lead to violent conflict. At the core of this prediction is a simple causal model which assumes that climate change will result in resource scarcities, which in turn will drive migration as well as violent conflict. Academic research into the links between climate change, migration and conflict has questioned such predictions; their theoretical foundation and empirical support are thin. This does not mean that climate change will be irrelevant for future patterns of migration, including migration that may be linked to violent conflict. However, it has become clear that the links between climate change, migration and conflict are complex and defy simple and sensationalist conclusions. After outlining the state of the art on climate migration and the environment–migration–conflict nexus, this article sketches the environmental, economic and sociopolitical consequences of climate change contributing to migration and the different functions of migration in this context, for instance as an adaptive strategy to environmental change. It then delineates the different theorized pathways from migration to conflict escalation, evaluates their analytical value and develops a more differentiated model of the assumed links between climate change, migration and conflict.


The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of urinary incontinence of community residing climacteric women, and to identify the relationship between urinary incontinence and quality of life. The subjects of this study were 156 women(45 to 59 years old). Data was collected from Sep. 1 to Dec. 1 2002 by an interview or self-reporting by a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was composed of items of general characteristics, urinary characteristics, and conditions of urinary incontinence, using the modified Henderickson's stress incontinence scale(1981), and the quality of life scale developed by RO, You Ja(1988). The data was analyzed by the SPSS/WIN program using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, t-test and AVOVA. The results of the study were as follows : 1. The prevalence of urinary incontinence was 76.3%. Of the incontinent women, 42.0% had experienced urinary incontinence for a period of one to three years. Frequency of urinary incontinence was once or twice per day for 42.9% of the urinary incontinent women. Most of the participation with urinary incontinence(91.6%) had mild leakage of urine. In the whole urinary incontinent women, 70.6% had never treated or managed their urinary incontinence. Most of the subjects(79.8%) were mildly incontinent, and the prevalence of moderate and severe urinary incontinence was 20.2%. The mean scores among the items of urinary incontinence, in descending order, were increase of abdominal pressure(), coughing(), and sneezing(). 2. The average score in the level in the quality of life variables was 3.12. The urinary incontinence and quality of life were correlated negatively(r=-0.103, p


Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have proven highly effective at image synthesis and style transfer. For most users, however, using them as tools can be a challenging task due to their unpredictable behavior that goes against common intuitions. This paper introduces a novel concept to augment such generative architectures with semantic annotations, either by manually authoring pixel labels or using existing solutions for semantic segmentation. The result is a content-aware generative algorithm that offers meaningful control over the outcome. Thus, we increase the quality of images generated by avoiding common glitches, make the results look significantly more plausible, and extend the functional range of these algorithms---whether for portraits or landscapes, etc. Applications include semantic style transfer and turning doodles with few colors into masterful paintings!


Li-rich layered oxides with large capacity are considered as one of the most promising cathode materials for the next generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, Li-rich layered oxides usually deliver unsatisfactory volumetric energy density, poor cycle life and inferior thermal stability. Here, a concentration-gradient doping strategy is introduced for the first time to meet the above challenges. Surprisingly, the atomic distribution in micron-sized and spherical Li-rich layered oxides is tailored after concentration-gradient PO43− polyanion doping, in which Ni and Co atoms decrease continually and Mn atoms increase gradually from the center to the surface in a single particle. As expected, the concentration-gradient PO43− doped oxides exhibit a high initial volumetric energy density of 2027 W h L−1, long cycle life with a capacity retention of 88.2% within 400 cycles, and enhanced thermal stability. These improved performances are believed to be attributed to the formation of the stable Mn-rich and PO43−-rich shell layer, which is beneficial to mitigate the interreaction between Ni4+/Co4+ and the electrolyte in the highly delithiated state and suppress the aggregation of primary grains during cycles. These results demonstrate the feasibility of manipulating atomic distribution by the innovative concentration-gradient doping means, which also provides new insights into desired cathode for LIBs.


The current epidemiological transition in less developed countries is resulting in an epidemic of chronic diseases, with cancer being the second most common cause of mortality. The evidence linking diet to the development of cancer is based largely on epidemiological analysis of the relationships of the frequency of different cancers to data on food consumption. Cohort results have made clearer the link between diet and cancer, as have data on a number of biological mechanisms. Based on the available data, recommendations on dietary practices that may prevent cancer have been published recently by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund. Key recommendations are: diet should be based on plant products; 400 g of vegetables and fruits, to provide more than 10% of energy, should be consumed daily; cereals, legumes and tubers should provide at least 50% of energy, and sugars less than 10%; no more than 80 g of meat should be consumed, preferably fish or poultry, and limited amounts that are cured or smoked; fat intake should be limited to no more than 30% of energy, with a predominance of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated forms; total salt consumption should be less than 6 g; perishable foods should be kept frozen or refrigerated and consumed promptly; foods should be cooked at low temperatures, better to be boiled or steamed rather than fried or grilled; alcohol should not exceed 2 drinks a day. In addition to these dietary guidelines, cancer prevention may be achieved by not smoking, by avoiding excess weight, and by increasing physical activity, including half an hour of exercise and 4 hr not resting in a chair or bed. Int. J. Cancer Supplement 11:85–89, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


In this investigation, the reaction of 2-dithiomethylcarboimidatebenzothiazole with a series of six chiral amino-acids was studied. The reaction proceeds through the isolable sodium salt of SMe-isothiourea carboxylates as intermediates, whose reaction with methyl iodide in stirring DMF as solvent affords SMe-isothiourea methyl esters. The presence of water in the reaction leads to the corresponding urea carboxylates as isolable intermediates, whose methyl esters were obtained. Finally, the urea N-methyl amide derivatives were isolated when SMe-isothiourea or urea methyl esters were reacted with methylamine in the presence of water. The structures of synthesized compounds were established by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance and the structures of SMe-isothiourea methyl esters derived from (l)-glycine, (l)-alanine, (l)-phenylglycine, and (l)-leucine, by X-ray diffraction analysis. This methodology allows to functionalize 2-aminobenzothiazole with SMe-isothiourea, urea, and methylamide groups derived from chiral amino acids to get benzothiazole derivatives containing coordination sites and hydrogen bonding groups. Further research on the biological activities of some of these derivatives is ongoing.


Sparse tensors are rapidly becoming critical components of modern deep learning workloads. However, developing high-performance sparse operators can be difficult and tedious, and existing vendor libraries cannot satisfy the escalating demands from new operators. Sparse tensor compilers simplify the development of operators, but efficient sparse compilation for deep learning remains challenging because a single sparse format cannot maximize hardware efficiency, and single-shot compilers cannot keep up with latest hardware and system advances. In this paper, we observe that the key to addressing both these challenges is to leverage composable formats and composable transformations. We propose SparseTIR, a sparse tensor compilation abstraction that offers composable formats and composable transformations for deep learning workloads. SparseTIR constructs a search space over these composable components for performance tuning. With these improvements, SparseTIR obtains consistent performance speedups vs vendor libraries on GPUs for single operators: 1.20-2.34x for GNN operators, 1.05-2.98x for sparse attention operators, and 0.56-7.45x for sparse convolution operators. SparseTIR also accelerates end-to-end GNNs by 1.08-1.52x for GraphSAGE training, and 4.20-40.18x for RGCN inference.


Observations suggest that lysosomal enzymes released from synovial cells or leucocytes may be important in the pathogenesis of the inflammatory process in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (Weissmann, 1966; Cochrane, 1968). A likely source of these lysosomal enzymes is a synovial fluid polymorphonuclear leucocyte (Hollander, McCarty, Astorga, and Castro-Murillo, 1965) which has been found to engulf rheumatoid factor, immunoglobulins, complement, and other materials (Barnhart, Riddle, and Bluhm, 1967; Malinin, Pekin, Zvaifler, 1967; Brandt, Cathcart, and Cohen, 1968; Vaughan, Barnett, Sobel, and Jacox, 1968). Various protease inhibitors are present in serum, including at2-macroglobulin, interalpha-trypsin inhibitor, a2-antitrypsin, ao-antitrypsin, and acx-antichymotrypsin (Schwick, Heimburger, and Haupt, 1966). However, the principal proteolytic enzyme inhibitor in human serum is ax-antitrypsin, a glycoprotein that inhibits trypsin (Kueppers, 1971), plasmin (Heimburger and Haupt, 1966), thrombin (Rim6n, Shamash, and Shapiro, 1966), chymotrypsin (Kueppers, 1971), elastase (Janoff, 1972), and proteolytic enzymes from granulocytes (Kueppers and Bearn, 1966). In this study we investigated the role of ax-antitrypsin in regulating the joint inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis by measuring its concentration in sera and synovial fluid.


The Jasimampa area in the Sierra de Sumampa de Santiago del Estero,
Argentina, contains light rare earth element (LREE: Th-Nb) mineralization
associated with several stages of carbonates and widespread fenitization of
marble, granite (496 ± 2.9 Ma), and alkaline and siliceous igneous comendite
dikes (U/Pb zircon age of 390 Ma) derived from fractionation of oceanic island
basalts. This is the third discovery of LREE mineralization in Argentina and
marks a new alkaline intracontinental magmatic event of Devonian age. Albite (Ab 97-99 ) + aegirine (Ae 70-92 Ja 1-11 Q 6-19 )±
 hematite ± Mg-arfvedsonite ± fluorine-rich apatite and late Ca-Fe-Mn
carbonates ± monazite ± pyrochlore overprint and crosscut granite and
comendite outcrops in a 15 km 2 area; locally, the Na-rich assemblage
is pervasive and results in total destruction of host rocks. Na-Fe metasomatism
near granite and comendite produced aegirine (Ae 86-91 Ja 1-8 Q 6-11 )±
 Mg-arfvedsonite and minor albite (Ab 98-99 ) in adjacent marble,
with multiple stages of late Ca-Mn-Mg-Fe carbonates associated with iron and
manganese oxides, hematite, and traces of sulfides (sphalerite, pyrite, galena).
Monazite-(Ce) is the main LREE-bearing mineral and occurs with minor
ferrocolumbite, pyrochlore, strontiopyrochlore, and apatite associated with a
second generation of fine-grained hematite, barite, and celestine. Structural
controls on Na-Fe-Ca alteration and LREE mineralization in granitoid and marble
protoliths include brittle-ductile shear zones, brittle fracture systems, and a
series of monolithologic and heterolithologic breccias with hydrothermal
aegirine, carbonate, and chalcedony matrices that occur at granite-marble-comendite
contacts. Fragments of multiple breccia types within breccias indicate multiple
episodes of brecciation, alteration, and mineralization. The fluid responsible for early fenitization of granite and comendite was
aqueous-carbonic with CO 2 of relatively high density (between 0.85
and 0.95 g/cm 3 ), salinity near 9 wt percent NaCl equiv, and minimum
temperatures in the range of 250° to 280°C. Pervasively altered comendite and
granite have high total REE content (1,750 ppm and 2,126 ppm, respectively),
mainly LREE. Early banded and mottled aegirine ± arfvedsonite replacements of
marble have high absolute REE abundance (2,513–4,663 ppm) compared to the
least altered marble (476 ppm). Subsequent hydrothermal stages with carbonates,
hematite, pyrolusite, monazite, and subordinate celestine and barite caused
alteration of marble that was accompanied by an increase in absolute REE
abundance, up to 15.45 wt percent, and high Sr (10.5 wt %), Th (4,390 ppm), and
Ba (1.8 wt %). Alteration and mineralization at Jasimampa are the result of late-stage
carbonatitic magma fractionation and fluid exsolution. This is indicated by the
strongly alkaline character of early alteration, the composition of the
hydrothermal carbonates, apatite, and LREE-Sr- and Ba-rich minerals, the
chondrite-normalized REE patterns showing strong LREE enrichment without an Eu
anomaly, and the replacement of marble by assemblages with very high Ba, Th,
LREE, and Sr, and strong K, Zr, and Ti depletions. The alteration style and
mineralization at Jasimampa are similar to the giant Fe-LREE-Nb deposit Bayan
Obo and other hydrothermal LREE deposits hosted in carbonatites of China.


Drawbacks of traditional synthetic fertilizer led us to explore a biologically based (bio-based) alternative. Our objective was to quantify the efficacy of wastewater-grown algae pellets and pastes harvested from rotating algal biofilm systems as fertilizers for three crops, 'Honeycomb' marigold (Tagetes patula L.), 'Beefsteak' tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and 'Ambrosia' sweet corn (Zea mays L.). Factorial experiments were designed for each crop with fertilizer type (algae pellets, algae paste, a synthetic controlled-release fertilizer, or a commercially available bio-based fertilizer from wastewater treatment) and substrate (commercial or custom-made) as factors. Shoot growth, shoot nutrient concentration, and substrate pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were affected by fertilizer, substrate, or their interaction. Algae pellets and paste supplied nutrients to all three species effectively, increasing shoot size, dry weight, perceived health, and nutrient concentrations compared with unfertilized controls. Notwithstanding some variability among crops, performance of algal materials was similar to that of the synthetic fertilizer and better than that of the commercial bio-based fertilizer. As a bio-based fertilizer that supplies plants with recycled nutrients sequestered from wastewater, wastewater-grown algae can reduce the impacts of mineral nutrition management in container-crop production by partially supplanting synthetic fertilizer use.


LOW NOISE FREQUENCY COMB SOURCES BASED ON SYNCHRONOUSLY PUMPED DOUBLY RESONANT OPTICAL PARAMETRIC OSCILLATORS Name: Wan, Chenchen University of Dayton Advisors: Dr. Andy Chong and Dr. Ingmar Hartl Optical frequency combs are coherent light sources consist of thousands of equally spaced frequency lines. Frequency combs have achieved success in applications of metrology, spectroscopy and precise pulse manipulation and control. The most common way to generate frequency combs is based on mode-locked lasers which has the output spectrum of comb structures. To generate stable frequency combs, the output from mode-locked lasers need to be phase stabilized. The whole comb lines will be stabilized if the pulse train repetition rate corresponding to comb spacing and the pulse carrier envelope offset (CEO) frequency are both stabilized. The output from a laser always has fluctuations in parameters known as noise. In laser applications, noise is an important factor to limit the performance and often need to be well controlled. For example in precision measurement such as frequency metrology and precise spectroscopy, low laser intensity and phase noise is required. In mode-locked lasers there are different types of noise like intensity noise, pulse temporal position noise also known as timing jitter, optical phase noise. In term for frequency combs, these noise dynamics is more complex and often related. Understanding the noise behavior is not only of great interest in practical applications but also help understand fundamental laser physics. iii In this dissertation, the noise of frequency combs and mode-locked lasers will be studied in two projects. First, the CEO frequency phase noise of a synchronously pumped doubly resonant optical parametric oscillators (OPO) will be explored. This is very important for applications of the OPO as a coherent frequency comb source. Another project will focus on the intensity noise coupling in a soliton fiber oscillator, the finding of different noise coupling in soliton pulses and the dispersive waves generated from soliton perturbation can provide very practical guidance for low noise soliton laser design. OPOs are used to generate coherent laser-like radiations at which frequency the common gain material is not available. It is also a good candidate for extend frequency comb spectral range, for comb generation, the OPO is usually pumped by a comb source thus the OPO cavity needs to be synchronized to the pump pulses. Depending on whether the signal or idle light is in resonance, the OPO could be singly or doubly resonant. The doubly resonant OPO (DOPO) has much lower lasing threshold since both signal and idle are in resonance, but it also requires more cavity stability and was historically considered unstable for operation. However, recent research has proved that the synchronously pumped doubly resonant OPO could operate even without active cavity stabilization. Moreover, when the OPO is in degenerate state where the signal and idler are identical the OPO will remain frequency stabilized because it's acting as a frequency divide-by-2 system. This makes the DOPO an excellent candidate for extending the frequency comb spectral range to mid-IR by pumping with a frequency comb at near IR wavelength. In the dissertation, first a 1 μm Yb-doped fiber oscillator will be frequency stabilized to generate a frequency comb. The repetition rate is locked indirectly by locking the Yb laser to a stabilization single frequency laser and the CEO frequency is locked by f-2f selfreference. The fully locked 1 μm comb is then used to pump a DOPO. The DOPO can operate at either degenerate or non-degenerate states by tuning its cavity length. To characterize iv the OPO, its output spectral, output power will be measured. More importantly the CEO frequency of the OPO will also need to be simultaneously measured in order to verify and study the self stabilization of DOPO at degeneracy. To quantify the coherence property of the DOPO, the CEO frequency noise transfer function will also be measured, the pump comb is frequency modulated with an acoustooptic modulator (AOM) and the transfer function could be measured by measuring the DOPO CEO frequency phase noise. The DOPO would be a self-locked comb source if it fully inherits the pump comb coherence. This enables measuring the CEO frequency phase noise of the unlocked DOPO comb to be compared with the pump phase noise quantitatively. In the second part of the dissertation, the intensity noise of a soliton mode-locked laser is studied. The soliton is a pulse with perfect balance of dispersion and nonlinearity so it can propagate without any change of its spectral and temporal shape. In this project, an all-fiber Er soliton laser will be build. Due to the perturbation of cavity elements such as segmental gain and loss, the soliton generate dispersive wave that co-propagates inside the cavity. Notably the dispersive wave with the same phase shift of the soliton can interfere with the soliton and produce spectral peaks known as Kelly sidebands. In this work, the spectrally resolved intensity noise coupling in the soliton laser is studied. The results reveal that most of the intensity noise from the pump is couple to the Kelly sidebands while the soliton is much quieter in terms of intensity noise. In the last part of the dissertation, the 3D wave packets generation and measurement system are introduced. A SLM-based pulse shaper and beam shaper are used to generate special 3D optical wave packets from a mode-locked fiber laser. The programmable SLM enables generation of varies beam and pulse shapes. In particular, the so called wave bullets are generated with combination of diffraction free Bessel beams and dispersion free


The article focuses on transnationalization parameters of world economy. The analysis is preceded by a terminological and definition clarification with regard to the main notion used. Among the many terms used to denote international companies, there are two, according to the author, which, no doubt, prevail – namely, transnational and multinational corporations. The study shows that in most cases those are used synonymously. The author's preference towards the use of the notion TNCs is substantiated and the characteristic features of the latter are outlined. Based on the above, the article then proceeds to give a system of indicators, measuring the transnationalization of the world economy. The conclusion offered is that the globalization of the economy at the end of the XX c and the beginning of the XXI c has had a great effect over TNCs by way of rendering their expansion in the global economy even more dynamic.


We compute cell-wide mean throughputs for a wide range of multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system design parameters, in both single- and multi-cell scenarios, using realistic models for channel dispersion, path correlations, and cochannel interference. We assume the use of single-carrier modulation, and quantify the degradation in downlink throughput as the channel dispersion increases. Our results highlight the potential harm even from mild dispersion in MIMO links. In studying path correlations, we assume linear arrays at each end of the link, and quantify the interplay among device size, number of antenna elements, path correlation, and carrier frequency. We show that, under practical size constraints, the use of additional antenna elements can be counterproductive.


Objective To investigate the application of hybrid operation on revascularization of atherosclerosis obliterans(ASO).Methods Clinical data of 56 cases of multi-level lesion of ASO which received revascularization operation from January, 1998 to August,2009 were retrospectively analyzed,in which 13 cases undertaken surgical treatment,11 cases received intraluminal strategy,and 32 cases had hybrid operation.The implication,clinical effect,complication and perioperational mortality of these three strategies were investigated.Results There were 64.29% patients had been followed up within the time of 2~101 months.Hybrid procedure led to higher patency on multi-level lesion(62.50% vs 30.76% vs 27.27%,ANOVA analysis,F=54.17,P0.05).Meanwhile,its clinical effect was better than that of surgical and intraluminal procedure(efficiency was 56.25%,15.38% and 13.64% respectively,ANOVA analysis,F=58.46,P0.05;inefficiency was 12.5%,61.54% and 54.55% respectively,ANOVA analysis,F=54.23,P0.05).The complication incidence of hybrid operation was equal to that of intraluminal and was significantly lower than that of traditional operation(12.5% vs 38.46% vs 18.19%,ANOVA analysis,F=52.56,P0.05)。.The peri-operational mortality of surgical treatment was 7.69% and that of intraluminal and hybrid procedure also were 0%.Conclusion Hybrid procedure is superior to multi-level lesion of ASO.It can not be only capable of decreasing danger in anesthesia and operation,but also lead to satisfactory clinical effect and long term patency.


A semi-quantum model for energy transport in collagen molecules is presented. Soliton-like dynamics of this model is investigated numerically without and with the temperature effect taking into account. It is found that in both the cases energy can transport for a long distance along the collagen chain. This indicates that collagen molecules can be taken as a candidate for the acupuncture channel.


OBJECTIVES
To describe the adequacy and characteristics of emergency medical services education as assessed by a population-based sample of emergency medical technician (EMT)-basics and EMT-paramedics from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

METHODS
Stratified random samples of EMT-basics and EMT-paramedics from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians were mailed a 46-item demographic survey and a 16-question education survey in 1999.

RESULTS
Overall, EMT-basics and EMT-paramedics reported that course cost and distance to the course were not barriers. The majority of EMT-basic and EMT-paramedic respondents rated their course instructors and course materials as excellent or very good. EMT-basic and EMT-paramedic respondents felt that they were very well prepared from their training in the areas of trauma assessment (63% and 72%), medical assessment (59% and 65%), cardiac arrest management (64% and 76%), and airway management (69% and 77%), respectively. However, EMT-basic and EMT-paramedic respondents were less likely to feel very well prepared regarding childbirth (29% and 44%) and pediatric patient management (36% and 38%). Overall, EMT-paramedics were more likely to report being very well prepared for clinical activities and tasks from their training compared with EMT-basics.

CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that EMT-basics and EMT-paramedics were satisfied and felt well prepared by their certification courses. Opportunities to improve certification training exist, particularly related to childbirth and pediatric patient management.


Brain tumor detection is one of the challenging tasks in medical field and digital image processing. A tumor is the abnormal growth of cells in human brain. Such abnormal cell growth may cause a cancer in the human brain which according to a recent survey has been one of the most rapidly increasing reasons of deaths. With such an alarming number of cancer patients due to brain tumor, it is important to automate the diagnosis process for accurate and fast detection of tumors in the MRI scan of the patients. This research work thus discusses in detail the different automated segmentation techniques for detection and segmentation of tumor in MR images of brain. A brain tumor dataset of Surgical Planning Laboratory (SPL) and Department of Neurosurgery (NSG) is used which contains MRI brain tumor images of ten patients. The purpose of this research work is to compare different segmentation technique like threshold segmentation, histogram, watershed segmentation and k-means clustering and to find strategy which gives most accurate results. Segmentation techniques followed by morphological operations with optimum disk size of structuring element is used. The accuracy of Watershed technique using our segmentation strategy is 99.86% which is best of all other selected segmentation algorithms.


ABSTRACT We evaluate the impact of risk aversion and money illusion in the equity and options markets when the expected dividend growth rate is endogenously determined as a function of the dividend-price ratio and expected inflation. The closed-form equilibrium expressions for the dividend-price ratio, expected inflation, and dividend growth rate allow us to perform comparative statics to understand their sensitivity relative to the agent's preference parameters. Our calibration exercise indicates that the sensitivity of the dividend-price ratio relative to risk aversion depends critically on the sign of the exposure of the expected dividend growth rate to the divided yield, while an increase in the degree of money illusion always raises the dividend-price ratio, irrespective of its exposure to the dividend yield. In addition, we show that expected inflation is much less sensitive to variations in risk aversion and money illusion than these parameters, while the price of a zero-coupon caplet is affected in the opposite direction by these parameters.


The study deals with the end results of 375 surgeries performed for recurrent cancer of the stomach. Radical surgery was carried out in 168 cases (extirpation of the remaining part of stomach--140; repeated resection of stomach--12; extirpation of esophagoenterostomy--16). Stomach resection after Billroth-II with anterior long-loop colostomy created the best conditions for radical extirpation of the remaining stomach, while Billroth-I resection--the worst. The end results were worse when tumor relapsed earlier than three years after primary resection of the stomach and on sites in gastroenterostomy area, as compared to relapse at later stage and outside anastomosis area.


This paper examines the changes in water quality that have occurred within the Athi and Nairobi river basins in the last decade. The main focus is to examine the trends in water quality degradation, pollutant sources and pollution levels since the early 1990s to year 2000 and beyond. It draws its major findings from two research projects done within the basins over the same period. The two research projects revealed increasing trends in water quality degradation due to changes in land-use systems. Industrial, population (rural-urban migration) growth and agricultural activities were found to contribute significant amounts of water pollutants, thus degrading the water quality status in the two river basins investigated. This is of major concern to national water policy makers and environmentalists, as well as the Kenyan government in general. This paper reviews some of the possible mitigation strategies as means of mitigating against future water quality degradation trends and to abate the problem in good time. The use of riverine vegetation (macrophytes) and stormwater in the basins are recommended for reducing water quality degradation status in the two basins and other similar catchment areas in the country. Plant species Commelina benglensius, Sphaeranthus napirae and Xanthium pungens proved useful in adsorbing some of the pollutants, and especially heavy metals.


With the growing need to nurture students' independent learning, English language teaching (ELT) practices should reflect student-centered assessment approaches, such as self-assessment, an ultimate goal of higher education. It has been pointed out that to conduct effective self-assessment, students need to be taught systematically, and that is where teachers are expected to step in. Prior to implementing such a change in ELT, it is important to conduct research on English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers' attitudes toward, and self-efficacy beliefs about, implementing self-assessment to cultivate capable student self-assessors. Although the strong global endorsement of self-assessment over the past two decades has witnessed its classroom implementation in different disciplines, such studies are scant in relation to EFL writing classrooms. To address this gap, the present qualitative research examined five Chinese tertiary EFL writing teachers' attitudes toward and self-efficacy beliefs about student self-assessment of writing, as well as possible reasons that discourage them from engaging students in self-assessment practices. Data collected from in-depth, semi-structured interviews indicated that self-assessment, a critical element of self-regulated learning, is surprisingly missing from the teachers' knowledge base and previous practices. Additionally, the findings offer insights into the striking differences in teachers' understanding of, attitudes toward, and low self-efficacy beliefs about self-assessment of writing. Reasons why teachers choose not to implement self-assessment of writing are also discussed. Findings from this study contribute to a deeper understanding of how EFL teachers' attitudes and self-efficacy beliefs are enacted in relation to their classroom assessment practices in order to move forward discussions on the feasibility of implementing self-assessment of writing in tertiary EFL classrooms.


Fortification of enriched grains with synthetic folic acid is a potential concern for the elderly population who is at higher risk for Vitamin B12 deficiency. Consuming excess amounts of naturally occurring folate or synthetic folic acid can precipitate a deficiency of Vitamin B12, resulting in neurological damage. The purpose of this study was to determine the increase in folate intake in an elderly population due to the fortification of enriched grains. Three-day diet records of 320 participants (average age 76.8 years) were evaluated for total folate intake from food and supplements before and after the fortification of enriched grains. There was a significant mean daily folate intake increase of 63.8 microg due to fortification (p < 0.0001), raising the intake of total folate to 359 microg (89.8% of RDA). Supplements containing folic acid were consumed by 66% of the participants, raising the average total folate intake of supplement users to 793 microg per day. Only 5 participants exceeded the UL of 1,000 microg folic acid per day, with all 5 of these individuals consuming more than 1,000 microg folic acid per day from supplements alone. Folic acid fortification of grains does not appear to have increased the risk of excess folic acid in this population.


The swelling and deswelling of a pH-responsive electrosterically stabilized poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] microgel adsorbed to silica surfaces have been quantified using the techniques of optical reflectometry (OR) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). It is shown that by utilizing and comparing OR measurements performed on wafers with differing oxide layer thicknesses the adsorbed amount and film thickness of the adsorbed microgel in both the swollen and deswollen forms can be determined. Also, the kinetics of the transition can be followed, revealing that collapse is a slower process than swelling, and direct support is provided for the formation of a dense outer layer or skin during collapse that slows the deswelling process. It is shown that the adsorption of this low glass transition temperature film-forming microgel latex is robust to changes in pH after an initial swelling event which is responsible for desorption of a large and variable fraction of the initially adsorbed polymer. Subsequent deswelling and swelling of the adsorbed film indicates that adsorption to a surface greatly hinders the volumetric swelling capacity of the microgel film. In its swollen state the film is only 3-4 times thicker than the collapsed film, whereas for particles in bulk the volume increases by a factor of 20 upon protonation of the tertiary amine residues. QCM results show that even in the collapsed form the film contains a considerable amount of water. Further, the viscoelasticity of the deswollen film is similar to that of the swollen film, suggesting that the degree of cross-linking is the primary determinant of viscoelasticity.


Linear systems resulting from the electric-field integral equation (EFIE) become ill-conditioned, particularly for large-scale problems. Hence, effective preconditioners should be used to obtain the iterative solution with the multilevel fast multipole algorithm in a reasonable time. In this paper, we show that a threshold-based incomplete LU (ILU) preconditioner, i.e., ILUT, can be used safely for such systems, provided that column pivoting is applied for the stability of the incomplete factors. It is observed that the resulting preconditioner ILUTP reduces the solution times by an order of magnitude, compared to simple Jacobi preconditioner. Moreover, we also use the iterative solution of the nearfield system as a preconditioner, and use ILUTP as the preconditioner for the near-field system. This way, the effectiveness of the ILUTP is further improved


Linkage disequilibrium is used to infer evolutionary history and to identify regions under selection or associated with a given trait. In each case, we require accurate estimates of linkage disequilibrium from sequencing data. Unphased data presents a challenge because the co-occurrence of alleles at different loci is ambiguous. Widely used estimators for the common statistics r2 and D2 exhibit large and variable upward biases that complicate interpretation and comparison across cohorts. Here, we show how to find unbiased estimators for a wide range of two-locus statistics, including D2, for both single and multiple randomly mating populations. These provide accurate estimates over three orders of magnitude in LD. We also use these estimators to construct an estimator for r2 that is less biased than commonly used estimators, but nevertheless argue for using rather than r2 for population size estimates.


Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) is an annual legume crop widely cultivated in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, but in regression in Mediterranean region. Its rusticity and nutritious value is calling back attention for its reintroduction into Mediterranean rain-fed farming systems. We studied the adaptation of a range of breeding lines in multi-environment field testing in Spain and Egypt, showing wide variation for grain yield. Broomrape (Orobanche crenata) infection appeared as the major limiting factor in both countries. Level of broomrape infection was highly influenced by environmental conditions, being favored by moderate temperatures at crop flowering and rain and humidity after flowering. The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis was applied to understand the interaction between genotype (G) and environment (E) on grain yield and on broomrape infection. AMMI analyses revealed significant G and E effects as well as G*E interaction with respect to both traits. The AMMI analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that both, yield and broomrape infection were dominated by the environment main effect. AMMI1 biplot for grain yield revealed Ls10 and Ls11 as the accession with highest yields, closely followed by Ls16, Ls18 and Ls19. However, these accessions showed also lower stability, being particularly adapted to Delta Nile conditions. On the contrary, accessions Ls12 and Ls14 were more adapted to rain fed Spanish conditions. Accessions Ls7, Ls1 and Ls3 were the most stable over environments for grain yield.


With the emergence of the neologism 'intangible cultural heritage' in 2003 and the adoption of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Law of the People'sRepublic of China in 2011 various popular religious practices in China which used to be considered as feudal superstitions started to be recognized as examples of cultural heritage worthy of protection. If we examine the concept of religious diversity at a local level in contemporary China, the process of a 'patrimonialization' of popular religious practices that reflect the dynamic relationships which can be detected across diverse discourses, multiple stakeholders and cultural policies in different arenas could offer us a new perspective on religious practices to explore. In this article I offer an analysis, based on fieldwork conducted between 2013 and 2016 on the Leizhou Peninsula in southern China's Guangdong Province, of the varying degrees of acceptance, accommodation and resistance prompted by the actualization of popular religious practices in this era of patrimonialization.


We present a new solution to the electroweak hierarchy problem. We introduce N copies of the standard model with varying values of the Higgs mass parameter. This generically yields a sector whose weak scale is parametrically removed from the cutoff by a factor of 1/sqrt[N]. Ensuring that reheating deposits a majority of the total energy density into this lightest sector requires a modification of the standard cosmological history, providing a powerful probe of the mechanism. Current and near-future experiments can explore much of the natural parameter space. Furthermore, supersymmetric completions that preserve grand unification predict superpartners with mass below m_{W}M_{pl}/M_{GUT}∼10  TeV.


Pre-clinical biocompatibility testing of peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions has become an integral part of new solution development. The construction of a pre-clinical screening program for solution biocompatibility should take a hierarchical approach, starting with in vitro cell viability and function assays. The selection of cell types and assay systems for the in vitro studies should be broad enough to permit a balanced interpretation. Whenever possible, animal models are recommended for the next hierarchical level of testing, followed by human ex vivo study designs. Designs of the latter sort provide evidence that a new solution formulation is exerting an altered biological response in vivo; the response is not purely an in vitro artifact or restricted to a given animal species. This article discusses the various approaches available for biocompatibility testing during the pre-clinical phase of solution development, with an emphasis on the advantages and drawbacks of each method.


The present paper discusses about a simple, precise and validated method for the determination of selegiline loaded solid lipid nanoparticles. The study was carried as per the parameters laid down in ICH guidelines. Maximum wavelength of selegiline in 8:2 methanol: chloroform mixture was selected at 258nm. The method was found to be linear in the range of 200μg/mL to 1000μg/mL with correlation coefficient R2 of 0.994. Method was successfully validating as per ICH guidelines. Moreover, this method was simple, sensitive and easy to apply and can be performed at laboratory scale. Hence, the proposed method can be used for analysis of determination of selegiline loaded solid lipid nanoparticles.