The present paper examines the life of Apollonius of Tyana, who lived in the Greek territory in the first century AD, a famous pagan Phytagorean philosopher and, allegedly, a man of numerous miracles. The text is divided into three parts. In the first one the sources of information about Apollonius are discussed. Many of them come from debates between pagan and Christian intellectuals, who lived after his death. The mostimportant testimony is the biography of Apollonius by Flavius Philostratos, a sophist connected with the court of Julia Domna, wife of emperor Septimius Sever. In the second part of this paper Apollonius's unusual life is shown with an aim of evaluating which of the events reported in the sage's biographies contain some element of historical truth and which are only implausible anecdotes. The third part of the article attempts to provide an answer to the question raised in the title. It seems that Apollonius of Tyana was neither a saint nor a charlatan in the Christian nomenclature but rather a figure who could be named theos aner (divine man) in the Hellenic(?) sense of this term. He was an eminentpagan holy man who throughout his entire life held intellectual discussions with Christians.


Individual sites with gain and loss of probing attachment were identified amongst 1688 proximal sites in non-molar teeth from 49 patients monitored for 24 months following oral hygiene instruction and root debridement. The distribution of sites with gain and loss of probing attachment was studied within each of the 49 subjects, for each of the 10 different tooth types treated, for teeth with and without root canal fillings, for mesial and distal surfaces, and for surfaces with and without the presence of root concavity/furcation involvement. Similarly, sites with gain and loss were related to the following measurements of the severity of the initial lesion: initial probing depth, radiographic bone score, depth of radiographic intraosseous defect, and radiographically widened periodontal ligament. The analyses indicated that subjects with a higher proportion of sites with probing attachment gain tended to have a lower proportion of sites with probing attachment loss. Sites with deep initial probing depth demonstrated a high incidence of gain and a low incidence of loss of probing attachment. All other investigated characteristics showed weak or no association with probing attachment change following therapy. This report indicates that the 24-month outcome of plaque control and root debridement in proximal surfaces of non-molar teeth is not compromised by the severity of the initial soft tissue or bony lesion.


To design acid fracturing treatments, acid fracturing models require acid leakoff values including experimental coefficients such as acid propagation rate and acid penetration distance into the formation. This paper presents an experimental study aiming at defining a methodology for the acquisition of these parameters. The pressure variation curve obtained during a conventional acid injection experiment in a Hassler cell is analysed in relation with the dissolution mechanism. X Ray Computerized Tomography is applied to characterize the dissolution patterns. Influence of core length, acid concentration and acid flow rate are considered. Critical values are found above which the filtration process is dominated by the wormholing mechanism. Critical lengths and rates are interpreted in terms of the Damkohler Number, i.e. the ratio of the acid brought by transport to the acid consummed by the chemical reaction. In addition, from the interpretation of the experimental results, a new methodology is proposed for the measurement of acid propagation rates and distances.


: A recent Supreme Court decision has refuted the National Labor Relations Board's position that supervisory field RNs are not technically supervisors. This decision makes it easier for providers to supervise staff and aligns these nurses more closely with management.


Staphylococcus aureus is the most common contagious causative agent of bovine mastitis. Many virulence factors associated with the pathogenesis of mastitis have been characterized and identified in bovine S. aureus isolates. Studies have been done to test the effects of different virulence factors on pathogenicity in animal models, as well as using in vitro cell cultures to test the effects they have on host cells. The mouse model of S. aureus mastitis is frequently used for research of bovine mastitis. Although there are similar lesions between mouse mastitis and bovine mastitis, more in vivo bovine studies need to be done for better understanding the pathogenesis of S. aureus due to the remarkable differences between the two species. In order to develop an effective diagnosis tool and to identify a potent vaccine candidate it is necessary to elucidate the molecular mechanism of pathogenicity, and to understand the regulatory mechanism for mediating virulence factors of S. aureus. The purpose of this report is to review the epidemiology of bovine mastitis, the progress made in developing a bovine mastitis vaccine, the role of staphylococcal toxins in S. aureus mastitis, and the regulatory mechanisms in bovine mastitis S. aureus.


Demand for neuromonitoring in neonatal, pediatric and cardiac intensive care units continues to grow, motivated by increased awareness of the high prevalence of seizures among critically ill neonates and children, and emerging evidence that these seizures can contribute to brain injury. This book provides physicians, nurses and trainees caring for critically ill newborns and children with a practical overview of how to use and interpret continuous neuromonitoring to enhance patient care. Authored by international experts from diverse institutions and professional backgrounds, this is a practical guide that is accessible to intensive care specialists, but also comprehensive enough to serve as a reference book for neurologists and neurophysiologists. Concise enough to be read cover-to-cover and illustrated with over thirty case-based examples, this authoritative reference will guide readers in accurate neuromonitoring interpretation and optimal use of conventional EEG, amplitude-integrated EEG and other quantitative EEG techniques.


The effects of sodium dantrolene (DaNa) a calcium antagonist specifically acting on skeletal muscles were evaluated on the spontaneous contractions of ileum, uterine horns and longitudinal strips of oesophageal smooth muscle, in vitro. DaNa (1,81 to 15 micrograms/ml) caused a reversible dose-related increase of the spontaneous contractions of the three organs. DaNa (15 micrograms/ml) caused a 60 +/- 3% increase of the ileum spontaneous tone, and caused a 57 +/- 3% increase in the frequency of the spontaneous contractions of the uterus. The stimulatory effect of DaNa on the uterine musculature was not antagonized by atropine, methysergid or indomethacin. In the oesophagus the maximum increase of the spontaneous tone and contractions (65 +/- 2%), was due to 3,7 micrograms/ml perfusion of DaNa. This effect was antagonized by nifedipine.


The ability of a cancer cell to detach from a primary tumor and intravasate is a fundamental prerequisite for development of metastatic disease. As metastatic tumors are frequently the principal cause of death in cancer patients with advanced disease, targeting the ability of cancer cells to metastasize may improve patient outcomes. Advanced, aggressive prostate cancers are characterized by abnormal metabolic upregulation of aerobic glycolysis, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. We have previously demonstrated that prostate cancer and breast cancer cells use aerobic glycolysis as the primary energy pathway for cellular motility and cytoskeletal remodeling. In clinical prostate cancer patients, the progression of cells to an androgen insensitive state renders treatment difficult and often unsuccessful. In the present study, we investigate the role of aerobic glycolysis in motility and invasion in prostate cancer cells with intact androgen signaling. To test this, we utilized a Seahorse XF24 metabolic to measure aerobic glycolysis and oxygen consumption rate of prostate cancer cells with and without intact androgen receptor signaling. Cellular motility was measured by tracking cell movement over time while subjecting cells to pharmacological inhibition of aerobic glycolysis, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, or fatty acid beta-oxidation. Cellular invasion was measured by a Boyden chamber invasion assay with similar pharmacological inhibition. As anticipated, prostate cancer cells with intact androgen receptor signaling displayed a modulated usage of aerobic glycolysis, whereas mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was unchanged. Consequently, androgen receptor signaling altered cancer cell invasiveness. Notably, regardless of invasiveness and androgen receptor status, cellular motility and invasion capacity can be attenuated upon pharmacological inhibition of aerobic glycolysis. Taken together, these data suggest that targeting aerobic glycolysis in prostate cancer could severely weaken prostate cancer metastatic capability and limit tumor spread from the primary site. In the future, combining glycolytic inhibitors with conventional therapy may prevent dissemination of metastatic clones to distal sites and thus drastically reduce risk of metastatic recurrence. Citation Format: James E. Verdone, Jelani C. Zarif, Kenneth J. Pienta. Aerobic glycolysis is the primary metabolic pathway used for prostate cancer cell motility and invasion processes regardless of androgen sensitivity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5100. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5100


SUMMARY This research was developed to evaluate the effect of inclusion the levels of integral scraping of cassava roots on performance and carcass characteristic of pullets of Ross strain, in the period from 1 to 42 days. The experimental design was a randomized block with five treatments and four replications, being the experimental unit represented by twenty birds, housed in each box. The treatments consisted of diets containing different levels of inclusion of integral scraping of cassava root (0; 5; 10; 15 and 20%), formulated to attend the nutritional requirements according to each phase of the birds, using four feeding programs. The inclusion of scrapings of cassava root in diets did not affect the weight gain and feasibility of housing of pullets in the period from 1 to 42 days. However, feed intake and feed conversion were affected with inclusion levels scraping cassava root. The scrapings of cassava root can be used in diets of pullets, in the period from 1 to 42 days in levels up to 6.77%, without compromising carcass characteristics and main cuts and edible organs. Keywords : carcass, nutrition, performance, weight gain


We investigate classical Heisenberg spins on the Shastry-Sutherland lattice and under an external magnetic field. A detailed study is carried out both analytically and numerically by means of classical Monte-Carlo simulations. Magnetization pseudo-plateaux are observed around 1/3 of the saturation magnetization for a range of values of the magnetic couplings. We show that the existence of the pseudo-plateau is due to an entropic selection of a particular collinear state. A phase diagram that shows the domains of existence of those pseudo-plateaux in the $(h, T)$ plane is obtained.


The study is devoted to thorough justification of a new periodization model of human geography development in Ukraine on the base of objective functioning regularities of science. The topicality and relevance of the given research for the national science were reasoned in the context of absence of accredited development periodization of Ukrainian human geography. The diversity of views on the problem has been logically unified. All the internal factors of the human geography development were successfully taken into account with crucial attention, making the further possibility to ascertain the stages and periods of its formation in Ukraine in the streamline of core concepts, determining the methodological status of science at a certain stage. Actually, the human geography was under the deep analysis within the science forming process in Ukraine. It was proved the origin of human geography in Ukraine goes back to the last quarter of the XIX c., while its eventual arrangement is stated at the first quarter of the XX c. As for the process of institutionalization of geography as a separate branch of knowledge, integrating natural-geographical, demogeographical, ethno-geographical, political-geographical, and economic-geographical knowledge about the area of Ukraine, it took place at the beginning of the last century. The activity of S. Rudnytskyi was of a key role at that time. It is he who is considered the founder of the modern Ukrainian geography in general and of human geography in particular, taking into account European traditions as well as own intellectual potential.
As a result of the author's own approach, there were three stages differentiated with corresponding periods: stage 1: the end of the XIX c. – the beginning of the XX c.: 1873–1904; 1905–1917; 1918–1921. Stage 2 corresponds to mid XX c.: 1922–1933; 1934–1963; 1964–1990. Stage 3 stands for the end of the XX c. – the beginning of the XIX c. scilicet 1991–2020. The vital traits of each stage and period were clarified in succession; namely, all the theoretical achievements likewise scientific-educational centres and scientific schools were under all-embracing investigation. The specific focus laid upon the traits of scientific trends, concepts, and theories of foreign geography. Peculiarities of their impact on the development of Ukrainian human geography were the matter of entire estimation. In terms of analysis of trends and concepts of the foreign human geography development of the XIX – the beginning of the XXI c., the significance of the latter on the research human-geographical issues' formation in Ukraine has been revealed in succession. The professionalization degree of the human-geographical science in Ukraine was deeply shown, primarily confirming the objectivity of the given periodization.


The paper examines the reliability of investment risk estimates based on probabilistic realizations of purpose-designed scenarios. The calculations of the probabilities of scenario realization were based on logical and probabilistic methods. The reliability of risk assessment is understood as the probability of successful completion of a project, fulfillment of all contractual obligations: construction in compliance with the architectural and engineering design and quality requirements, within the contractual period and approved budget. Investment risks were estimated based on eight primary scenarios. The realization of the risks of the main group depended on the realization of the various numbers of risk scenarios of each subgroups in the main group. For instance, the first scenario of the main group consisted in the risk of faulty project ROI analysis and the risk of underestimated construction budget. The second one consisted in the risk of underestimated construction budget and risk associated with the selection of the basic flowsheet and primary process parameters, etc. The risks of each subgroup could be obtained by means of expert estimations or, in case of sufficient statistical data, based on the actual distributions. A mathematical model was developed for the purpose of a computerized solution. The mathematical model also allowed identifying such dependability factors as "weight", "significance" and "contribution" of each risk in the success of an investment project (reliability structure of investment risk estimation). The analysis of calculation data enabled the identification of the probability of successful project completion (reliability), the risks that are the most important, significant and having the largest contribution to the successful implementation of investment projects. Also, the risks were identified that have the least pronounced effect on the successful implementation of an investment project.


B31 Background: Modulation of estrogen signaling is one of the most successful modalities in the treatment of estrogen-receptor (ER) positive breast cancers. However, many ER-positive tumors show primary or acquired resistance to the commonly used anti-estrogens, such as tamoxifen. It has been proposed that in addition to the modulation of ER, tamoxifen may also invoke autophagy.
 Histone deacetylases (HDAC) play a central role in transcriptional regulation and may be involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Histone deacetylase inhibitors may have antiproliferative effects on breast cancer cells and potentiate the anti-tumor effects of tamoxifen in ER-positive as well as ER-negative cells. In addition to the induction of apoptosis, HDAC inhibitors may also induce autophagic cell death. Here we evaluate the role of autophagy in the synergistic anti-tumor activity of HDAC inhibitors in combination with tamoxifen.
 Methods: The potentiation of tamoxifen by HDAC inhibitors was evaluated using MTS, colony forming and apoptotic assays. The induction of autophagy by HDAC inhibitors and/or tamoxifen was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy as well as the expression of autophagic markers, such as LC3 and Beclin 1 by microarray and Western blot analyses.
 Results: Treatment of breast cancer cell lines with either tamoxifen or HDAC inhibitors showed morphological features consistent with autophagy and expression of autophagic markers. The morphological characteristics of autophagy were detected in cultured breast cancer cell lines as well as in xenograft tumors from mice treated with HDAC inhibitors. Microarray and Western blot analyses of cells treated with HDAC inhibitors and/or tamoxifen showed modulation in the expression of autophagic markers.
 Conclusions: The anti-tumor effects of tamoxifen in breast cancer cell lines are enhanced by the co-administration of HDAC inhibitors irrespective of ER expression status. This synergistic interaction may be explained in part by the induction of autophagy by both modalities. To delineate between apoptotic and autophagic cell death may guide the future clinical development of HDAC inhibitors and the design of accompanying correlative studies.


For historians interested in the religious beliefs and practices of classical antiquity, votive offerings constitute a resource of almost immeasurable richness. Gifts to the gods—anathemata in Greek, dona in Latin—have been found at sites all over the ancient world, from the peak sanctuaries of Minoan Crete to the chilly streams of Roman Britain. Over the last few decades, scholars have become increasingly attentive to this form of material religion, and have adopted a wide range of approaches for studying it. Votives have been used, among other things, as documents for the study of social and gender history, as evidence for the development and transmission of religious beliefs, as sources for art historical analyses of ancient craft industries, and for the retrospective diagnosis of ancient illnesses. Although these studies differ widely in their aims and methods, they nevertheless share a common feature: they all consider the votives collectively, either in broader categories of form and/ or medium (e.g., votive heads from terracotta, marble votive reliefs), or in the context of larger votive assemblages from particular sanctuaries or geographical areas.

This chapter will adopt a different approach to the ancient votive offering by tracing the "biography" of a single votive through time and across space. Object biographies and life cycles have become very popular in material culture studies recently and have been applied to a wide range of artifacts including Neolithic ceramics, Roman sarcophagi, and Japanese netsuke. The object biography is a promising mode of analysis for votives, given that these are often small and inherently mobile items, which inevitably—at least in the case of ancient Greco-Roman offerings—move over time from a sacred to a secular context. The biographical approach also encourages us to shift our attention away from the moment of ritual dedication (which has tended to dominate most scholarly analyses of votives) and onto later, equally interesting stages of the offering's history. For the function and meaning of a votive are not fixed at the moment of dedication; rather, these properties change as the object moves through time and space and as it becomes entangled in new associations with things and people. The process of compiling a votive's biography also has the potential to enhance that object's value and meaning for modern audiences, not only because it allows us to attach engaging stories to the material offering, but also because it enables us to measure change in beliefs and attitudes in later historical periods, including our own.


Introduction The view that bone and energy metabolism are integrated by common regulatory mechanisms is broadly accepted and supported by multiple strands of evidence. This includes the well-characterized role of the PPARγ nuclear receptor, which is a common denominator in energy metabolism and bone metabolism. Little is known, however, about the role of PPARα nuclear receptor, a major regulator of lipid metabolism in other organs, in bone. Methods A side-by-side comparative study of 5-15 mo old mice with global PPARα deficiency (αKO) and mice with osteocyte-specific PPARα deficiency (αOTKO) in order to parse out the various activities of PPARα in the skeleton that are of local and systemic significance. This study included transcriptome analysis of PPARα-deficient osteocytes, and analyses of bone mass and bone microarchitecture, systemic energy metabolism with indirect calorimetry, and differentiation potential of hematopoietic and mesenchymal bone cell progenitors. These analyses were paired with in vitro studies of either intact or silenced for PPARα MLO-A5 cells to determine PPARα role in osteocyte bioenergetics. Results In osteocytes, PPARα controls large number of transcripts coding for signaling and secreted proteins which may regulate bone microenvironment and peripheral fat metabolism. In addition, PPARα in osteocytes controls their bioenergetics and mitochondrial response to stress, which constitutes up to 40% of total PPARα contribution to the global energy metabolism. Similarly to αKO mice, the metabolic phenotype of αOTKO mice (both males and females) is age-dependent. In younger mice, osteocyte metabolism contributes positively to global energetics, however, with aging the high-energy phenotype reverts to a low-energy phenotype and obesity develops, suggesting a longitudinal negative effect of impaired lipid metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction in osteocytes deficient in PPARα. However, bone phenotype was not affected in αOTKO mice except in the form of an increased volume of marrow adipose tissue in males. In contrast, global PPARα deficiency in αKO mice led to enlarged bone diameter with a proportional increase in number of trabeculae and enlarged marrow cavities; it also altered differentiation of hematopoietic and mesenchymal marrow cells toward osteoclast, osteoblast and adipocyte lineages, respectively. Discussion PPARα role in bone is multileveled and complex. In osteocytes, PPARα controls the bioenergetics of these cells, which significantly contributes to systemic energy metabolism and their endocrine/paracrine function in controlling marrow adiposity and peripheral fat metabolism.


Study Design. An in vitro biomechanical study on 3-dimensional flexibility of human lumbosacral motion segments after multiple freeze-thaw cycles and cumulative testing. Objective. To determine the significance of multiple freeze-thaw cycles and extended testing duration on between-day and within-day variations in motion segment flexibility. Summary of Background Data. Previous studies have found no significant effect of single freeze-thaw cycle on creep behavior of human spinal motion segments. Up to 3 freeze-thaw cycles were found to not affect flexibility of porcine spines and viscoelastic properties of human tendons, but more than 5 freeze-thaw cycles resulted in declined structural properties of human tendons. Methods. Three lumbosacral motion segments were subjected to repeated flexibility tests to determine both the effects of within-day ambient exposure and between-day multiple freeze-thaw cycles on range of motion (ROM) and neutral zone (NZ). Repeated measures analysis of variance was carried out to evaluate within-day and between-day effects at &agr; = .05. Results. Significant between-day effects were found for intervertebral ROM and NZ in flexion-extension (FE), lateral bending (LB), and axial rotation (AR) (all P < 0.001). Post hoc analysis indicated that significant differences from test day 1 become apparent after 4 freeze-thaw cycles with cumulative testing. There were no within-day variations from repeated testing on intervertebral FE ROM (P = 0.10), LB ROM (P = 0.36), AR ROM (P = 0.46), FE NZ (P = 0.83), LB NZ (P = 0.42), and AR NZ (P = 0.72). Conclusion. The flexibility of the human cadaveric lumbosacral motion segments between test days was significantly affected after repeated freeze-thaw and cumulative testing cycles. Multiple freeze-thaw cycles and cumulative testing, however, does not affect flexibility data for tests carried out within a single test day.


The effect of stress level on the compressive strength of rock samples is researched using Tephrite samples subjected to cyclic loading. Four sets of stress level (% 20, %30 %40 and % 50 of uniaxial compressive strength) were applied for cyclic loading tests on dry and saturated samples by 200 tons servo-hydraulic testing rig. The compressive strength of the rock by different stresses were determined under constant frequency and number of cycles at failure. The results of the cyclic loading tests indicate that stress level has significant influence on the uniaxial compressive strength. An increase in stress resulted in a decrease in compressive strength proportionality. In the case of the saturated samples, it was found that compressive strength reduced by approximately 25 per cent.


Switchable fluorescent silica nanoparticles have been prepared by covalently incorporating a fluorophore and a photochromic compound inside the particle core. The fluorescence can be switched reversibly between an on- and off-state via energy transfer. The particles were synthesized using different amounts of the photoswitchable compound (spiropyran) and the fluorophore (rhodamine B) in a size distribution between 98 and 140 nm and were characterized in terms of size, switching properties, and fluorescence efficiency by TEM, and UV\Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy.


Although production volume rendering has been well studied over the past decade, there are still some volumetric features that cannot be rendered with the latest methods. In particular, when rendering fire or explosion volumes, current state-of-the-art techniques lack refraction effects due to temperature or pressure changes and are especially problematic when using next event estimation. In this talk, we present two unbiased volume rendering algorithms that can achieve a wide range of refractive effects, such as heat haze, blast waves and caustics. We demonstrate on a set of test scenes that these new features significantly improve the visual appearance of these volumes.


ABSTRACT In recent years the theory known as constructivism has attracted considerable attention from researchers and document writers in particular. Implementation of constructivist principles inside the classroom is still problematic, however. Different reasons for this are explored in the paper. An overview of previously ‐ and in some cases still ‐ popular theories of learning and teaching precedes a detailed discussion of constructivism: its sources, definitions, advocates, and critics. A number of classroom experiments designed and executed within a constructivist paradigm are reported in considerable detail. The roles of both learner and teacher are described. Throughout, the discussion is confined to mathematics, mathematics education, and the mathematics classroom. However, the main arguments presented are applicable as well to other disciplines.


Cell polarization is a fundamental requirement for development and many physiological processes such as cell motility, stem cell differentiation, immune response and neuronal polarity. Small G-protein Rho GTPase, Cdc42 has long been shown to be the key regulator of the polarization process. In this study we aim to understand how cell maintains an optimum Cdc42 concentration at the polar cortex, and how distinct polarized Cdc42 distribution is achieved based on its recycling pathways taking budding yeast as a model system.
Our in depth study revealed that Cdc42 at yeast polar cortex is dynamically maintained via two redundant pathways of distinct response time. A slow pathway dependent on actin-mediated endocytosis and exocytosis and a fast response pathway dependent on Rdil, yeast GDI (guanine dissociation inhibitor) for Rho GTPases. Quantitative imaging and mathematical modeling found both the pathways to be spatially overlapping in order to have physiological Cdc42 distribution. We further demonstrated Cdc42 GTPase cycle as the common regulator of actin and Rdil mediated pathways, a process supports their concentric localization.
We further focused on gaining mechanistic insight of Rdil-mediated Cdc42 recycling at polar cortex. Using a high throughput genetic screen, imaging, spectroscopy and mathematical modeling we found that phospholipid asymmetry at the polar cortex regulated by lipid flippase complex (Lem3-Dnfl and Lem3-Dnf2) plays a key role in Rdil mediated fast dissociation of Cdc42 from the polar cortex. Our finding suggests that flipping of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), a phospholipid with a positively charged head group, reduces the charge interaction between a Cdc42 C-terminal cationic region with the inner leaflet of the polar cortex, a key step for fast Rdil mediated Cdc42 extraction. In Δlem3 cells the negatively charged phospholipid phosphatidylserine (PS) is enriched in the inner leaflet of plasma membrane, as demonstrated by analysis of Cdc42 mutants with altered charge properties and biosensor for PS. Increase in PS in the inner leaflet increases Cdc42 and plasma membrane charge interaction antagonizing Rdil-mediated Cdc42 extraction. Using an in vitro assay with reconstituted supported lipid bilayers, we further demonstrated that relative composition of PE versus PS directly modulates the rate of Cdc42 extraction from the membrane by GDI.


Abstract Population monitoring and evaluation of spatial requirements of species are key actions for the conservation of wild populations, especially for endemic and threatened species. We estimated the abundance of the endemic species Mesoclemmys dahli in 2 streams in Cesar, Colombia, from February 2008 to February 2009, by using aquatic sampling. We monitored fluctuations in abundance through the year and used mark–recapture sampling and the Jolly–Seber model to estimate population size and density. Home ranges and movement patterns were studied by using very high frequency (VHF) radio telemetry. We calculated home ranges for the year and for the wet and dry season independently. Estimated population size for the 2 streams varied during the year from 16 (95% CI, 7–30) to 175 (95% CI, 32–298) turtles. Densities ranged from 16 turtles/ha in April to approximately 170 turtles/ha in June, which is lower than other populations of M. dahli in Colombia as well as other South American chelids. Individuals captured during the wet season had a significantly higher mean body mass than those captured during the dry season, which suggests that larger animals may leave the streams during the dry months or that animals may lose weight during this period. Home ranges for 1 year varied from 1.6 to 30.8 ha when using the minimum convex polygon method and from 9.2 to 22.5 ha when using the fixed kernel density estimator. There were no significant differences in the mean movements during the dry and wet seasons. However, the greatest movements were documented either during the transition from wet to dry months or during the dry months. Conservation of M. dahli will require protection of the few streams where it occurs, as well as the associated riparian vegetation and surrounding areas used by the species.


In many engineering applications, the wake-body interaction or body-vortex interaction (BVI) occurs. In the wake-body interaction, vortices shed from an upstream obstacle interact with downstream obstacle and generate noise, for example blades in a turbomachinery, tubes in a heat exchanger,
 rotating blades like a helicopter and wind turbine and so on. The rod-airfoil and airfoil-airfoil configurations are typical models for the wake-body interaction. A rod and an airfoil are immersed upstream of the airfoil. In this paper, we reviewed the noise mechanism generated by the wake-body
 interaction and show the numerical results obtained by the coupling method using commercial CFD and acoustic BEM codes. The results shows that depending on the spacing between the rod or airfoil and the airfoil, the flow patterns and noise radiation vary. With small spacing, the vortex shedding
 from the upstream obstacle is suppressed and it results in the suppression of the sound generation. With large spacing, the shear layer or the vortices shed from the upstream obstacle impinge on the downstream obstacle and it results in the large sound generation. The dominant peak frequency
 of the generated sound varies with increasing of the spacing between the two obstacles.


Abstract: China's broad geopolitical strategy and positioning for global influence includes its averred legal position in relation to its sovereignty and jurisdiction in the South China Sea. A response to this legal position was the Philippines' initiation of arbitral proceedings constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Despite the non-participation of China in these proceedings, the arbitral decision of 2016 clarified a number of legal provisions pertinent to the ongoing territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea. This decision impacted directly on China's assertion of sovereign and jurisdictional historical title or rights, which, in part, relies on evidence obtained from underwater cultural heritage and the associated maritime archaeology. This article critically evaluates China's maritime archaeology program and its policy with respect to underwater cultural heritage in light of the 2016 arbitral decision and the underlying international law of the sea. While recognizing that China's policy is not inconsistent with its broader heritage policy, and its national approach to the protection of underwater cultural heritage, this article argues that this cannot be used to support China's South China Sea claims and is not only misplaced, such as to pose a risk to the archaeological record, but also inconstant with international developments in the form of the 2001 United Nations Convention of the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.


The homeobox transcription factor Hlxb9 controls pancreatic β-cell differentiation during the early and late stages of endocrine pancreas development. Recently, increased expression of Hlxb9 was observed in β-cell tumors associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), a tumor syndrome caused by germline mutation in the MEN1 tumor suppressor gene encoding menin. In MIN6 cells, a mouse pancreatic β-cell line, overexpression of Hlxb9 has been shown to cause apoptosis in a menin-dependent manner. Although Hlxb9 is known to act as a transcriptional repressor, its DNA-binding site at its target genes in pancreatic β-cells has not been elucidated. To identify targets of Hlxb9 and genomic binding sites in β-cells (MIN6 cells) we used chromatin immunoprecipitation and deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) followed by bioinformatics analysis of the ChIP-seq data. The Hlxb9 specific ChIP-seq libraries and corresponding input controls were sequenced on the Illumina Hi Seq 2000. The ChIP-seq reads were subjected to peak calling tools, and upon stringent filtering 2569 peaks were obtained. After assigning chromosomal positions to the peaks, 24 statistically significant (FDR-P de novo using the Genomatix Genome Analyzer suite that appeared to be common in most of the targets (Re-value: 1.88). Further analysis revealed that this motif was similar to binding sequences of the following proteins: Tcfe2a (involved in brain development) , Ascl2 (involved in nervous system) , REI1 (involved in mitotic signal network) , ZFp691 (zinc finger protein) , myf (involved in mitosis), and Bcl6b (involved in apoptosis). Gene Ontology analysis of the identified targets showed that 18.3% were associated with the Wnt signaling pathway, 27.3% with cell proliferation, 54.5% were involved in cellular response to stimulus, 13.6% in MAPK cascade and 31.8% in negative regulation of biological processes. Our genome-wide analysis of Hlxb9 target genes demonstrates the presence of a potential Hlxb9-binding site in target genes associated with important processes relevant for cellular differentiation and neoplasia. Further studies investigating these targets for menin-dependent and menin-independent actions of Hlxb9 will provide insights into the role of menin-Hlxb9 interaction in normal physiology and in the development of pancreatic β-cell tumors. Citation Format: Shruti S. Desai, Sita D. Modali, Weiping Chen, Vaishali I. Parekh, Sunita K. Agarwal. ChIP-seq based identification of genes regulated by a pancreatic β-cell differentiation factor, Hlxb9, that is dysregulated in β-cell tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-118. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-LB-118


A personal construct psychology (PCP; Kelly, 1955/1991) framework was employed in an attempt to reveal a holistic understanding of mental toughness in the context of Australian Football. Eleven male coaches (M age = 42, SD = 9.62) with considerable playing and coaching experience at the elite level were interviewed using a PCP-based interview protocol. Transcribed verbatim data were analyzed using grounded theory procedures. Three independent categories (characteristics, situations, behaviors) were inductively derived and integrated into a model in which the importance of understanding each component individually was emphasized. The relationship between these three central categories was also highlighted. Results identified the key mental characteristics and their contrasts together with those situations that demand mental toughness, and the behaviors commonly displayed by mentally tough footballers. Conceptualized in the context of these three categories, mental toughness in Australian Football can be considered as a buffer against adversity but also as a collection of enabling factors that promote and maintain adaptation to other challenging situations. Practical implications of the findings are discussed and focus on issues pertaining to enhancing and/or developing mental toughness.


ABSTRACT Natural nonwoven fiber was impregnated with a tannin resin and laminated with wood veneer for preparation of laminated composites. The tannin resin used showed a good compatibility with the natural fiber, and was easy to assemble with the wood veneers. The tannin resin penetration into the wood veneer was observed by light microscopy. The laminated composite shows very good mechanical properties and water resistance. Shear force–displacement testing demonstrates that the laminated composite had a ductile behavior under wet testing conditions. The laminated composite was prepared using 100% natural biorenewable raw materials and had good properties compared to conventional plywood bonded with synthetic resin.


The backlight apparatus comprising a waveguide, said optical waveguide comprising an input terminal (54), a top surface (58), a bottom surface (56), the corresponding side (60), and a distal end opposite the light input end (62) and having waveguide material with a respective total internal reflection critical angle. A plurality of first facet bottom surface (56) is formed (80) distributed along the waveguide between the light input end (54) and a distal end (62). Each of the first facet (80) having a top surface inclined to the (58) in a direction away from the distal end (62) of the first facet bottom surface (82). Light scattering and reflecting surfaces (344) disposed near the distal end of the waveguide of the calibration. The first facet bottom surface (82) so that light entering the light input end to the distal end of the total internal reflection of the waveguide of the calibration, the distal end surface of the scattering and reflection of incident light scattered and reflected back to the light input end thereon. The first facet bottom surface (82) may be planar or may be curved, may also carry a reflective material.


One thousand seven hundred and eighty vehicles were photographed from the rear whilst being driven in fog on the M4. Speed, vehicle registration number, date and time were recorded on the photograph whilst separate equipment monitored the visibility level. The registered keepers of 600 of these vehicles were traced and sent a questionnaire asking for the drivers' opinions on the conditions in which the vehicles was photographed and on driving in fog generally. Seventy six per cent of questionnaires were returned. At a visibility of 50 M or less more than half the drivers were exceeding the speed at which they could stop within this visibility distance. /Author/


High-field Mössbauer spectroscopy was performed on a range of tin-containing ternary and binary silicate glass systems. All the glasses unambiguously exhibited a positive value for for the valence state. Determination of the sign of indicates that the electron distribution around each Sn nucleus is similar at all the tin atoms, which is a significant finding for glasses. These results suggest that the electronic state of the is dictated by its non-bonding electron orbital, which has strong character, and which provides the dominant contribution to the electric field gradient present at the nucleus.


the cause of the demise of the Neandertals, the well-known middle Pleistocene population, is the topic of an unresolved debate.the demographic differences between Neanderthals and modern humans (fecundity rate or diversity in timing of maturation) mayhave had a major impact on this demise. the aim of our study is to analyze this phenomenon using a demographic approach inaccord with the hypothesis that the Neanderthal population was already demographically weakened or endangered when modernhumans arrived in Europe. We began [1, 2] to analyze this phenomenon in terms of a very simple demographic approach in orderto test the hypothesis that demographic variations in fertility and/or survival rates might have led to a reduction in the size of theNeanderthal population. In this paper we propose a more complex model on the basis of animal ecology, aiming to identify param-eters that correspond to the decay and extinction of the Neandertal population over a period of 10,000 years, beginning from aninitial population of 70,000 individuals, which were divided into at least three geographical subgroups [4, 5], the first correspond-ing to southern Europe, the second to central Europe, and the third to eastern Europe and Asia. We used the Leslie matrix whichrequires the survival, the fertility and the migration rates for each age group. Since the demographic rates for the Neanderthalsare unknown, we used a random selection from a beta distribution of each parameter for each age group, for each geographicalsubgroup, and for each of the 10,000 years. the model we have developed allows us to affirm that very small changes in fertilityand / or survival rate are sufficient to account for the disappearance of the Neandertal population. Among these subgroups, theeastern European subgroup was the first to disappear, followed by the demise of the central European subgroup and finally by thatof southern Europe. this study is part of the multidisciplinary project NEDEMO (Neanderthal Demise Modeling), which aimsto identify the demographic parameters (fertility, survival rates, structure and variation in population size) that would have causedthe disappearance of the Neandertal population


An increase in vascular permeability as measured by the Evans Blue dye leakage into forepaws, was observed 1 hour following the destruction of mamillo-tegmental tracts in rats. Ten days after capsaicin pre-treatment the destruction did not induce any changes of the microvascular permeability in the skin forepaws. The findings suggest that the descending projections of hypothalamic mamillary nuclei might regulate the mechanisms of the skin microvessel permeability, the action being mediated through capsaicinsensitive neurons of the spinal ganglion.


We present a general mesh-free description of the magnetic field distribution in various electromagnetic machines, actuators, and devices. Our method is based on transfer relations and Fourier theory, which gives the magnetic field solution for a wide class of two-dimensional (2-D) boundary value problems. This technique can be applied to rotary, linear, and tubular permanent-magnet actuators, either with a slotless or slotted armature. In addition to permanent-magnet machines, this technique can be applied to any 2-D geometry with the restriction that the geometry should consist of rectangular regions. The method obtains the electromagnetic field distribution by solving the Laplace and Poisson equations for every region, together with a set of boundary conditions. Here, we compare the method with finite-element analyses for various examples and show its applicability to a wide class of geometries.


ABSTRACT Incorporation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoproteins into assembling particles is crucial for virion infectivity. Genetic and biochemical data indicate that the matrix (MA) domain of Gag and the cytoplasmic tail of the transmembrane glycoprotein gp41 play an important role in coordinating Env incorporation; however, the molecular mechanism and possible role of host factors in this process remain to be defined. Recent studies suggested that Env incorporation is mediated by interactions between matrix and tail-interacting protein of 47 kDa (TIP47; also known as perilipin-3 and mannose-6-phosphate receptor-binding protein 1), a member of the perilipin, adipophilin, TIP47 (PAT) family of proteins implicated in protein sorting and lipid droplet biogenesis. We have confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy titration experiments and surface plasmon resonance that MA binds TIP47. We also reevaluated the role of TIP47 in HIV-1 Env incorporation in HeLa cells and in the Jurkat T-cell line. In HeLa cells, TIP47 overexpression or RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated depletion had no significant effect on HIV-1 Env incorporation, virus release, or particle infectivity. Similarly, depletion of TIP47 in Jurkat cells did not impair HIV-1 Env incorporation, virus release, infectivity, or replication. Our results thus do not support a role for TIP47 in HIV-1 Env incorporation or virion infectivity.


Speech recognition is one of the fast moving research areas in pervasive services requiring human interaction. Like any type of pattern recognition system, selection of the feature extraction method and the classifier play a crucial role for speech recognition in terms of accuracy and speed. In this paper, an efficient wavelet based feature extraction method for speech data is presented. The feature vectors are then fed into three widely used linear subspace classifiers for recognition analysis. These classifiers are Class Featuring Information Compression (CLAFIC), Multiple Similarity Method (MSM) and Common Vector Approach (CVA). TI-DIGIT database is used to evaluate the performance of speaker independent isolated word recognition system designed. Experimental results indicate that the proposed feature extraction method together with the CLAFIC and CVA classifiers give considerably high recognition rates.


Summary This paper presents the evaluation of the relation of aerosol optical depth and surface fluxes of mass and energy on three study sites using Artificial Neural Networks and radiative transfer modeling. The impact of atmospheric aerosols on the carbon bal-ance over three sites in South America were investigated, in the deforestation arch of the Amazon forest, making use of a novel approach, combining two different types of modeling techniques.


Objective
To investigate the bone repair and regeneration ability of biomimetic mineralized collagen bone graft material and autologous bone marrow in rabbit posterolateral spinal fusion model.

Methods
Twenty-seven 20-week-old male New Zealand white rabbits [weighing (5.0±0.5) kg] were used to establish the posterolateral spinal fusion model of L 5 and L 6 segments by stripping the transverse process and exposing cancellous bone with electric burr. The rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups, 9 in each group. Groups A, B, and C were implanted 1.5 mL autologous iliac bone, 1.5 mL (30 mm×10 mm×5 mm) biomimetic mineralized collagen bone graft material, and 1.5 mL (30 mm×10 mm×5 mm) biomimetic mineralized collagen bone graft material and autologous bone marrow in each bone defect. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation, the apparent hardness of the bone grafting area was observed by manipulation method, in order to evaluate bone graft fusion effects. Three animals were sacrificed in each group at each time point, the vertebral body specimens were excised and the bone defect repair and fusion were observed by X-ray films, and three-dimensional CT examination was performed to evaluate whether new bone was formed in the body. HE staining was performed at each time point to observe the formation of new bone and the repair and fusion of bone defects.

Results
The manipulation test showed that bone graft fusion was not found in all groups at 4 weeks after operation; 3 (50.0%), 2 (33.3%), and 4 (66.7%) of groups A, B, and C reached bone graft fusion at 8 weeks after operation; 5 (83.3%), 4 (66.7%), and 5 (83.3%) of groups A, B, and C reached bone graft fusion at 12 weeks after operation; the fusion rate of group C was similar to that of group A, and all higher than that of group B. X-ray film observation showed that the fusion rate of group C at 8 and 12 weeks after operation was higher than that of group B, similar to group A. Three-dimensional CT observation showed that the effect of bone fusion in group C was better than that in group B, which was close to group A. HE staining observation showed that large area of mature lamellar bone coverage appeared in the bone graft area of groups A, B, and C at 12 weeks after operation, the material was completely degraded, and the marginal boundary of the host bone disappeared and tightly combined.

Conclusion
Biomimetic mineralized collagen bone graft material mixed with autologous bone marrow has good osteoinduction and osteogenesis guidance. Compared with biomimetic mineralized collagen bone graft material, it has better and faster osteogenesis effect, which is close to autologous bone transplantation.


Range cameras using structured light and triangulation are essentially based on the assumption of one diffuse reflection from the measured surfaces, Specular and transparent objects usually give multiple reflections and direct triangulation can give different types of 'ghosts' in the range images. These 'ghosts' are likely to cause serious errors during gripping operations. As the robot moves some of the 'ghosts' move in an inconsistent way. In this paper, the authors study, experimentally and theoretically, how the range measurements can be integrated in a consistent way during the motion of the robot. Emphasis is on parts with 'optical complications' including multiple scattering. For a scene with one planar mirror the 'ghosts' are shown to lie in a plane separated from the laser plane. In this case the orientation and position of the mirror can be estimated.<<ETX>>


Data from the 2010 US Census Bureau, Latinos are one of the largest non-White groups in the United States, a trend expected to continue during the next two decades. Despite their status as the largest nonWhite populations in the US, Latinos continue to be poorly understood and their heterogeneous backgrounds are often ignored. The purpose of this paper is to describe an interactive learning activity designed to explore Latino demographics, food preferences, and culturally-specific health practices and beliefs among this population that traces its roots to many Latin American countries extending from Mexico to Tierra del Fuego and some Caribbean islands. The activity described in this paper is designed for English speaking audiences and may be used with junior or senior high school or college students


In the Caborca–Altar area of northwest Sonora, variably deformed and metamorphosed sedimentary and volcanic rocks crop out in a northwest-southeast–trending belt (El Batamote belt) at least 70 km long. We obtained detrital zircon U-Pb ages from two distinctive components of the belt near Altar, here termed the Altar complex and Carnero complex. Zircon ages for metasandstone and metaconglomerate matrix from the Altar complex indicate a Late Cretaceous maximum age of sedimentation, with at least part of the complex no older than 77.5 ± 2.5 (2σ). Pre-Cretaceous detrital zircons in the complex were derived largely from local sources, including Proterozoic basement, the Neoproterozoic–Cambrian miogeocline and the Jurassic arc. The detrital zircon ages and lithologic character of the Altar complex suggest correlation with the Escalante Formation, the uppermost unit of the Upper Cretaceous El Chanate Group. In contrast, one sample from the Carnero complex yielded a Middle Jurassic maximum depositional age and a detrital zircon age distribution like that of the Jurassic eolianites of the North American Cordillera. The Carnero complex may correlate with the Middle Jurassic Rancho San Martín Formation but could also be a metamorphosed equivalent of the Upper Jurassic Cucurpe Formation, Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Bisbee Group, or El Chanate Group derived by recycling of Jurassic erg sandstones. The Late Cretaceous age for the Altar complex protolith contradicts models that relate deposition of the entire El Batamote protolith to a basin formed by oblique slip along the Late Jurassic Mojave-Sonora megashear. Instead, the belt is best explained as an assemblage of Middle Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous formations deformed and locally metamorphosed beneath a northeast-directed Laramide thrust complex. Potassium-argon and 40Ar/39Ar ages confirm previous inferences that deformation of El Batamote belt occurred between the Late Cretaceous and late Eocene. A second phase of deformation, involving low-angle normal faults, occurred during and/or after intrusion of the ~22-21 Ma Rancho Herradura granodiorite.


An analysis of the magnetic behavior of Barium Hexaferrite nanoparticles is presented in this paper. The particles' average size is around 200 nm. The SU-8 photoresist is used as dielectric host matrix in which the particles are embedded. The volume fraction of magnetic particles reached is around 10%. Microwave characterizations show the properties of the resulting nanocomposite. The external applied magnetic field plays the main role in orienting these magnetic particles in the composite. Coplanar CPW lines were used to investigate the magnetic material's efficiency by its non-reciprocal effects. Magnetic nanocomposites seem promising material for future applications. Thus, higher magnetic particle volume fractions and better orientation are required.


Purpose To study macular morphology in amblyopic eyes using high-definition spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to compare the findings with fellow eyes. Methods This was a prospective institutional study of patients ≥6 years of age with unilateral amblyopia. Enhanced high-definition single line macular scans of amblyopic eyes were obtained using SD-OCT and compared with fellow eyes. Scans were evaluated qualitatively for structural differences. Central foveal thickness was measured and areas of the different retinal layers were computed within 500 µm from the foveal centre nasally and temporally. Results Forty-five patients with unilateral amblyopia were included: 25 with strabismic and 20 with anisometropic amblyopia with a mean age of 24.8 years. Qualitatively, the bulge in the inner segment/outer segment junction of the central fovea was noted to be attenuated or absent in 60% of amblyopic eyes compared with 29% of normal eyes, p=0.02. Also, amblyopic eyes demonstrated a shallow foveal pit compared with normal fellow eyes. Mean foveal thickness was significantly increased in amblyopic (228.56 µm) versus fellow eyes (221.72 µm), p=0.03. Upon exploring different retinal layers, the temporal inner nuclear layer area was increased (p=0.04) while the outer nuclear layer area was decreased (p=0.04) in amblyopic eyes compared with fellow eyes. Conclusions Using enhanced high-definition SD-OCT, amblyopic eyes demonstrated qualitative and quantitative differences in macular features, possibly representing signs of immaturity compared with normal fellow eyes.


It is important to reduce the thermal stresses for managing and extending the lives of pipes in plants. In this problem, heat conduction, elastic deformation, heat transfer, liquid flow should be considered, and therefore the problem is of a multidisciplinary nature. An inverse method was proposed by the present authors for determining the optimum thermal load history which reduced transient thermal stress considering the multidisciplinary physics. But the obtained solution had a problem that the temperature increasing rate of inner surface of the pipe was discontinuous at the end time of heat up. In this study we introduce temperature history functions that ensure the continuity of the temperature increasing rate. The multidisciplinary complex problem is decomposed into a heat conduction problem, a heat transfer problem, and a thermal stress problem. An analytical solution of the temperature distribution of radial thickness and thermal hoop stress distribution is obtained. The maximum tensile and compressive hoop stresses are minimized for the case where inner surface temperature Ts(t) is expressed in terms of the 4th order polynomial function of time t. Finally, from the temperature distributions, the optimum fluid temperature history is obtained for reducing the thermal stresses.


In this brief, a new control scheme is presented for the doubly fed induction machine (DFIM). The proposed control algorithm offers the advantages of proven stability and remarkable simplicity. In contrast to the classical vector control method, where the DFIM is represented in a stator-flux-oriented frame, a model with orientation of the stator voltage is adopted. This approach allows the decomposition of the active and reactive powers on the stator side and their regulation on the rotor side. A main contribution of this brief is the use of the Hurwitz test for polynomials with complex coefficients that has had little prior application in control theory. This results in a proof that a proportional-integral (PI) control regulating the stator currents ensures global stability for a feedback-linearized DFIM. The specific condition that the PI gains must satisfy is derived as a simple inequality. The PI controller has a particular structure that directly relates the d-component of the rotor voltages to the q-component of the stator currents and vice versa. The feedback linearization stage only uses the direct measurement of the rotor and stator currents and is thus easily implementable. Furthermore, it is also shown that the PI controller (without the feedback linearization terms) is also stable for a large range of control gains and does not require the knowledge of the machine parameters. Finally, the control system is validated in simulations and in experiments.


Soil pH is a key predictor of plant species occurrence owing to
its effect on the availability of nutrients and phytotoxic
metals. Although regional differences in realized soil pH niche
('niche shifts') have been reported since the 19th century, no
study has disentangled how they are influenced by spatial
differences in substrate availability, macroclimate, and
competitors. We linked plot-level data on species occurrence
and measured soil pH from dry grasslands in eight regions
across Eurasia (n = 999 plots), spanning a geographic gradient
of 6862 km. We calculated regional shifts in niche optimum
(Dopt) and width (Dwidth) for 73 Species × Region 1 × Region 2
combinations (SRRs; 38 study species) using extended
Huisman–Olff–Fresco models. Next, we used commonality analysis
to partition the contribution of substrate availability,
precipitation, and species traits indicative of competitive
ability to variation in regional niche shifts. Shifts in
optimum were rare (5% of SRRs with Dopt >= 1 pH units) but many
species did not show optima within regions. By contrast, shifts
in niche width were common (22% of SRRs with Dwidth >= 1 pH
units) and there were pronounced interspecific differences.
Whereas none of the three predictors significantly explained
shifts in niche optimum, common and unique effects of substrate
availability and precipitation accounted for 85% of variation
in niche width. Our results suggest that substrate availability
and precipitation could be the driving factors behind species
regional shifts in niche width. Studies that address additional
factors, such as other edaphic niches, and their variability at
the regional and micro-scale will improve our understanding of
the mechanisms underlying species distributions.


Abstract Background Interferon-free regimens to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 are effective but costly. At this time, payers in the United States use strategies to control costs including (1) limiting treatment to those with advanced disease and (2) negotiating price discounts in exchange for exclusivity. Methods We used Monte Carlo simulation to investigate budgetary impact and cost effectiveness of these treatment policies and to identify strategies that balance access with cost control. Outcomes included nondiscounted 5-year payer cost per 10000 HCV-infected patients and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Results We found that the budgetary impact of HCV treatment is high, with 5-year undiscounted costs of $1.0 billion to 2.3 billion per 10000 HCV-infected patients depending on regimen choices. Among noncirrhotic patients, using the least costly interferon-free regimen leads to the lowest payer costs with negligible difference in clinical outcomes, even when the lower cost regimen is less convenient and/or effective. Among cirrhotic patients, more effective but costly regimens remain cost effective. Controlling costs by restricting treatment to those with fibrosis stage 2 or greater disease was cost ineffective for any patient type compared with treating all patients. Conclusions Treatment strategies using interferon-free therapies to treat all HCV-infected persons are cost effective, but short-term cost is high. Among noncirrhotic patients, using the least costly interferon-free regimen, even if it is not single tablet or once daily, is the cost-control strategy that results in best outcomes. Restricting treatment to patients with more advanced disease often results in worse outcomes than treating all patients, and it is not preferred.


Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of skeletal sarcopenia on the prognosis of intertrochanteric fracture in the elderly. Methods We collected information on 144 patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture (FIF). The influence of sarcopenia on the chance of death was determined using binary Probit regression analysis. For additional analysis, the Chow test was utilized to select the best distinguishing node in the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) score. We looked for characteristics that were linked to a higher probability of death and a poor IADL outcome within 1 year. The data collected above were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The internal calibration degree and model validity were assessed by GiViTI calibration. Results Sarcopenia, EuroQol-5D 1 month score, age, gender, and hypertension were identified as risk factors for death in older patients with FIF within a year by logistic regression analysis. Sarcopenia, psychotropics, BMI, and length of hospital stay were all found to be risk factors for poor IADL outcomes (P < 0.1). The calibration curves indicated that the anticipated and actual probabilities of these two models were very close. The study's reliability coefficient was 0.671, showing a satisfactory level of reliability. Conclusion In elderly patients with FIF, sarcopenia, EuroQol-5D score, age, gender, and hypertension were risk factors for death; sarcopenia, hospital stay length, BMI were risk factors for poor quality of life.


This narrative review discusses the effects of implementing command centers, centralized management systems, supported by information technology, predictive analytics, and real-time data, as well as small-scale centralized operating systems, on patient outcomes, operation, care delivery, and resource utilization. Implementations of command centers and small-scale centralized operating systems have led to improvement in 3 areas: integration of both multiple services into the day-to-day operation, communication and coordination, and employment of prediction and early warning system. Additional studies are required to understand the full impact of command centers on the healthcare system.


This paper investigates the expression of authorial identity in English published research articles and Hungarian EFL students' MA theses written in English. Based on the analysis of a computer corpus of 100 research papers in applied linguistics, it compares the frequency of one indication of author identity, author pronouns, and the rhetorical functions for which these pronouns are used in the two corpora. Frequency counts show that student writers employ a considerably higher number of author pronouns than expert writers do. Concordances of the data reveal that qualitative differences also appear in the two corpora regarding the rhetorical functions fulfilled by the personal reference used. The study also reports on the results of interviews conducted with student writers to reveal the reasons for their performance and shed light on their perceptions of pronoun use in English academic discourse. The interviews portray a considerable discrepancy between what students claim about the nature of academic d...


Purpose Optimal correction of the cleft nasal deformity remains challenging. The purpose of this study was to examine the practice patterns and postoperative course of patients undergoing cleft lip repair with rhinoplasty compared to those who have primary lip repair without rhinoplasty. Methods and Materials A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the Kids' Inpatient Database. Data were collected from January 2000 to December 2011 and included infants aged 12 months and younger who underwent cleft lip repair. The predictor variable was the addition of rhinoplasty at primary cleft lip repair. Primary outcome variables included hospital setting, year, and admission cost, while secondary outcome variables included length of stay and postoperative complication rate. Independent t-tests and chi-squared tests were performed. Continuous variables were analyzed by multiple linear regression models. Results The study sample included 4559 infants with 1422 (31.2%) who underwent primary cleft rhinoplasty. Over time, there was a significant increase in the proportion of cleft lip repairs accompanied by a rhinoplasty (p < .01). A greater proportion of patients with unilateral cleft lips received simultaneous rhinoplasty with their lip repairs (33.8 vs 26.0%, p < .01). This cohort had a significantly shorter length of stay (1.6 vs 2.8 days, p < .01) when compared to children that underwent cleft lip repair alone. Conclusions Performing primary cleft rhinoplasty is becoming more common among cleft surgeons. Considering comparable costs and complication rates, a rhinoplasty should be considered during the surgical treatment planning of patients with cleft nasal deformities.


【This is a study on plate waste, management of the facilities and utensil, and for their hygenic management through the survey conducted at 106 enterprise located in Seoul institutional foodservice. Which were evenly divided into two groups; the white color and the blue color. The results are below: 1. Volume of food and menu were set in advance with no free choice. A campaign was launched to reduce food wastes. It was shown that free choice feeding was better in wastes reduction than none free choice feeding. 2. Hygenic management was relatively good in two groups. Machine and utensil usually sterilized by heating or disinfectant sterilization was performed at every using time or one time a day, but with no differentiation between two groups.】


We present CaCUDA - a GPGPU kernel abstraction and a parallel programming framework for developing highly efficient large scale scientific applications using stencil computations on hybrid CPU/GPU architectures. CaCUDA is built upon the Cactus computational toolkit, an open source problem solving environment designed for scientists and engineers. Due to the flexibility and extensibility of the Cactus toolkit, the addition of a GPGPU programming framework required no changes to the Cactus infrastructure, guaranteeing that existing features and modules will continue to work without modification. CaCUDA was tested and benchmarked using a 3D CFD code based on a finite difference discretization of Navier-Stokes equations.


Optical fibers and fiber-optic sensors have in the last century been subjects for a great interest especially in industry and communication but also in medicine. Optical fibers are used in endoscopes and as light guides for laser surgery. Biomedical sensors using fiberoptics has among other things been developed for analyzes of blood gases, temperature and blood pressure measurement. This thesis describes a method utilizing a fiber-optic sensor for limb blood flow measurement and a new fiber-optic sensor for respiratory rate monitoring.Venous occlusion plethysmography is a standard method for measuring blood flow in extremities. Today is a mercury strain gauge sensor the most common sensor for this measurement. The mercury strain gauge sensor is very flexible and easy to use, however, there are disadvantages such as temperature drift and long term instability. In addition free mercury from wasted or braken sensor is an environmental problem. We have developed and shown that a fiber-optic sensor that utilizes the microbending principle, can be used for venous occlusion plethysmography in the limb as an alternative to the mercury strain gauge sensor.The respiratory rate sensor uses an optical fiber that detects the evaporated humidity that departs from the mouth and/or nose at each exhalatfon. The condensed humidity on the fiber end surface substantially alters the coupling ratio of light from the fiber. A number of experiments and computer simulations are determined to evaluate and explain the function of the sensor.


This study examines the effects of parental variable(parental support and supervision), temperament(activity level, attention span/persistence, and emotionality) and the internal locus of control on self-regulation of children. Data were collected from 455 5th and 6th graders and analyzed with Pearson's correlations and pathway analysis. The results were as follows : Children's temperament, internal locus of control and parental variable directly affected children's self-regulation. Parental variables mediated between children's temperament and internal locus of control and self-regulation. Internal locus of control mediated between children's temperament and self-regulation: in addition, the most important variable predicting children's self-regulation was children's attention span/persistence temperament.


RATIONALE, AIM AND OBJECTIVES
This paper describes the results of the process evaluation of a physical activity programme for people with intellectual disabilities (ID), including information about the concepts 'fidelity', 'dose delivered', 'satisfaction' and 'context'.

METHODS
Qualitative and quantitative methods among participants and programme leaders were used.

RESULTS
The programme was well accepted, feasible and applicable to ageing people with ID. It was successfully implemented in terms of fidelity and dose delivered, although differences between day-activity centres were observed.

CONCLUSIONS
The hampering factors that are revealed in this study and the facilitating activities that were part of the implementation plan may be used by care provider services for (ageing) people with ID and other groups of people with cognitive and/or physical deficits, such as frail elderly people or people with dementia when developing and or preparing implementation of health promotion programmes.


We propose a new and general approach to learn deep generative models. Our approach is based on a new observation that the importance weighted autoencoders (IWAE, Burda et al. [2015]) can be understood as a procedure of estimating the MLE with an EM algorithm. Utilizing this interpretation, we develop a new learning algorithm called importance weighted EM algorithm (IWEM). IWEM is an EM algorithm with self-normalized importance sampling (snIS) where the proposal distribution is carefully selected to reduce the variance due to snIS. In addition, we devise an annealing strategy to stabilize the learning algorithm. For missing data problems, we propose a modified IWEM algorithm called miss-IWEM. Using multiple benchmark datasets, we demonstrate empirically that our proposed methods outperform IWAE with significant margins for both fully-observed and missing data cases.


The avoidance of complicated mathematics makes this introduction to antenna design especially appealing. Covering every step of the antenna design process--from initial selection to final product testing--this book provides extensive design examples and hard models which illustrate the simplest, most efficient methods of antenna design. Monser also discusses how to secure patent protection for a design. 125 illustrations.


In Western literature University has long been imagined as a metaphorical 'ivory tower' whose inhabitants had very little to do with the 'common man'. However, the insular character of the academe did all but inhibit the development of a very vivid imagery concerning scientists, university professors and students. The stereotypical portraits of scholars as buffoons or occult magicians formed in early narratives like Plato's dialogues and medieval legends, have survived to this day in global popular culture. In the nineteenth century, the literatures of Norway, Great Britain and North America saw the birth of a new genre: the university novel which was primarily concerned with depicting certain segments of the academe. The new rather romanticized or optimistic representations which have emerged in these novels can be interpreted in relation to the gradual popularization of university education in the respective countries. In the Anglo-American context, a real breakthrough occurred in the 1950s and 1960s, with the publication of several classics of the genre. In Norway, the university novel did not expand until the 1990s, coinciding with a renewed interest in the genre in the English-speaking world. The world of academia evoked in these often satirical works is quite different from the world of the nineteenth-century novels, as they explore ideological debates of the time, question the postulates of the academia, and for the first time present the university man as the 'common man'.


Background Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation impair white blood cells and endothelial cells activities in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, which eventually result in the early atherogenesis and the cardiovascular disease (CVD) displayed by those patients. Anti-cyclic citrulinated protein antibodies (anti-CCP) are the most specific autoantibody markers in RA patients. However any study has evaluated their direct involvement in the atherogenic process. Objectives 1) To assess the mitochondrial integrity of circulating leukocytes from RA patients, their overall oxidative status, and their relationship with chronic inflammation and early atherogenesis; 2) To investigate the involvement of anti-CCP antibodies in all that processes. Methods Fifthy two RA patients and 30 healthy donors were recruited to the study. Cell surface tissue factor (TF), protease activated receptors (PARs) expression, peroxides and peroxinitrites expression levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), were analyzed by flow cytometry in purified monocytes and neutrophils; glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx) was evaluated in cell lysates. Plasma nitric oxide (NO), and N-Tyr were further measured. Atherosclerosis/cardiovascular risk markers were also evaluated. The carotid-intimate media thickness (CIMT) was measured as a clinical surrogate parameter of atherosclerosis. In parallel in vitro studies, isolated monocytes or neutrophils were incubated with non-specific human IgG or with anti-CCP antibodies purified from pooled anti-CCP-positive RA sera. Results Increased expression of TF and PAR2 was found in neutrophils from AR patients, with higher plasma levels of VEGF, tPA, MCP1, MIP1α, TNFα, IL-6, -8, -17A and -23. AR monocytes and neutrophils had higher peroxides and peroxynitrite levels, more depolarised mitochondria and lower GPx activity. Plasmatic NO was reduced in AR patients, with increased plasmatic N-Tyr levels. Both peroxide/peroxinytrite production in neutrophils and N-Tyr plasma levels showed positive correlations with TF and PAR2, and inflammatory markers (TNFα, IL17A and IL-23). Association studies showed direct relationship between positivity for anti-CCP and increased expression of IL-2 and IL-17A, and neutrophils MMP. A direct association was found between the presence of an increased CIMT and oxidative stress in neutrophils (peroxides and MMP), and proinflammatory molecules (IL-2, IL-6, IL-17 and IL-23).In vitro treatment of monocytes and neutrophils with anti-CCP promoted significant increase in peroxide production as well as on the percentage of cells with increased MMP. Moreover, elevated cell surface TF expression, as well as increased mRNA levels of MCP-1, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNFαwas induced in monocytes by anti-CCP treatment. Conclusions These observations indicate that anti-CCP antibodies act as direct inductors of inflammation and oxidative stress in monocytes and neutrophils of AR patients, possibly contributing to the accelerated atherosclerosis and the CVD found in that patients. Supported by JA0246/2009, P08-CVI-04234, PS09/01809, and Spanish foundation of Rheumatology (FER). Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Abstract We report the oldest reliably identified and dated specimen of Gasterosteus aculeatus. The specimen was found after several decades in storage, and we used siliceous microfossils to infer its depositional environment, provenance, and age. The specimen came from a 13.0 to 13.3 Ma deposit in the Monterey Formation of California, probably from the Alta Mira Shale of Palos Verdes. Gasterosteus aculeatus is a highly polytypic and polymorphic species complex. Although this specimen exhibits extreme morphology for this complex, it is not distinctly different from modern Threespine Stickleback for measurable traits, and we consider it to be within the G. aculeatus species complex. Its morphology resembles that of modern marine or anadromous stickleback, which is consistent with the paleoecology of the Alta Mira Shale. Its presence in this deposit, however, is more consistent with a cooler ocean temperature inferred from planktonic diatoms than with the warmer temperature inferred from near-shore, benthic mollusk and epipelagic fish assemblages.


Purpose: This study aimed to determine if Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) graduate students' perceptual skills improved after taking an MSD course by comparing pre- and posttest performance. The potential relationship between posttest perceptual-skills performance and academic performance was also investigated.Method: Before beginning instruction in MSD course content, students in a Master's program in SLP were given a pretest (The Baseline & Post Learning Assessment of Listening & Diagnostics Skills (BPLALDS; Duffy, n.d.a)). Throughout the semester, students were exposed to didactic learning in the classroom supplemented by audio and video modules. At the end of the course, the BPLALDS was used as a posttest. Variation in perceptual skills development was described and compared to overall course performance. Results: Scores on posttests of perceptual ability were significantly higher than pretest scores. Post-hoc comparisons revealed that students who learned relatively more were those who generalized perceptual knowledge to novel stimuli. Academic grade assignment correlated strongly with but accounted for only some of the variation in perceptual ability. Conclusion: Although some variation in perceptual ability related to differentially diagnosing motor speech disorders can be accounted for by academic attainment, additional factors, such as students' ability to generalize knowledge from novel to new cases, likely contribute. The authors reflect on the manner in which learning theory can inform these results.


The foraging behavior of II species of woodpeckers in Guatemala, Maryland, and Minnesota was studied in order to test the seasonal stability hypothesis. This hypothesis predicts that specialization and species richness should be no greater for tropical wood-excavators than for those in the temperate zone because wood-excavators in both regions are buffered against seasonal change. Niche breadth values for six variables that describe foraging methods and perches were calculated by two methods. Unweighted niche breadth values were similar for tropical and temperate wood- peckers for all variables except foraging technique; in this case the temperate species are more specialized. With weighted niche breadth values temperate species are more specialized for two variables and less specialized for two others. Thus there is no consistent tendency for tropical species to be more specialized. However, the excavating guild includes twice as many species in Guatemala as in either of the northern study sites. Two of the three "additional' species in Guatemala use a configuration of foraging methods and perches not used by northern woodpeckers. Hence the larger number of tropical woodpecker species can be attributed partly to the greater range of resources available in the struc- turally complex rain forest.


We report the case of a 46-year-old man who developed syncope, a widened QRS interval, and depressed left ventricular systolic function during propafenone therapy for atrial fibrillation. These acute findings may have been consequent to an increased dosage of propafenone combined with heavy alcohol consumption that led to decreased metabolism of propafenone. In addition, propafenone is known to interfere with liver function, although this patient's test results showed scant evidence of liver abnormalities. Yet another possible factor is the genetic spectrum in the metabolism of propafenone and other class I antiarrhythmic agents. When propafenone is prescribed, we recommend advising patients that alcohol consumption and interactions with other drugs can lead to increased levels of the antiarrhythmic agent, with resultant toxicity that can lead to adverse cardiovascular effects. Patients taking propafenone should also undergo periodic liver function testing. Finally, attention should be paid to voluntary or official recalls of specific antiarrhythmic medications that are of unreliable quality or potency.


The author states that works such as those of P. Janet, which adopt a scientific method and are content with strict facts of clinical observation, are rare. It is essentially with a methodological purpose that the author wished to write this schematic book, in order to insist on the necessity of an instrument of clinical approach which seemed to him capital: the method of observation. In spite of our present involvement in theory he believes that a return to clinical observation must be realized. Research in psychopathology has always oscillated between two tendencies: neurogenesis and psychogenesis. In view of the struggles of generations of clinicians toward the comprehension of psychopathological phenomena and before the progress of biochemistry and neurophysiology, it remains to choose the best direction for the comparative study of the clinical and biological data. The modern organodynamic and the psychoanalytical approach do not seem


Objective This study aimed to assess the presence of pancreatic hyperenzymemia in patients with pancreatic cystic lesions as compared to other chronic diseases of the pancreas. Methods Ninety-one patients were studied: 32 had mucinous cystic lesions, 35 had chronic pancreatitis (CP), and 24 had pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Surgery was carried out in 10 of the 32 patients with mucinous cystic lesion (7 of them had severe dysplasia), in 5 patients with CP, and in 9 patients with PDAC. Results Abnormally high serum pancreatic isoamylase activity was present in 11 (34.4%) patients with mucinous cystic lesions, in 14 (40.0%) patients with CP, and none in patients with PDAC (P = 0.002); whereas serum lipase activity was abnormally high in 8 (25.0%) patients with mucinous cystic lesion, in 17 (48.6%) patients with CP, and in 3 (12.5%) patients with PDAC (P = 0.009). In 7 patients with mucinous cystic lesions and histologically confirmed severe dysplasia, abnormally high levels of both serum pancreatic amylase and lipase were present in 3 (42.9%) patients. Conclusions High serum concentrations of pancreatic amylase and lipase were found in no more than half of the patients with mucinous cystic lesions. High levels of pancreatic enzymes were not associated with a greater risk of malignancy.


Intelligent buildings are quickly becoming cohesive and integral inhabitants of cyberphysical ecosystems. Modern buildings adapt to internal and external elements and thrive on ever-increasing data sources, such as ubiquitous smart devices and sensors, while mimicking various approaches previously known in software, hardware, and bioinspired systems. This article provides an overview of intelligent buildings of the future from a range of perspectives. It discusses everything from the prospects of U.S. and world energy consumption to insights into the future of intelligent buildings based on the latest technological advancements in U.S. industry and government.


Objective
This study is the first to analyze the factor structure of the Center for Epistemological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale with custodial grandmothers involving both cross validation and convergent validity analyses.

Method
Cross validation was accomplished with two different samples of custodial grandmothers (GCM) to calibrate (n=733; Average Age=52) and then validate (n=343; Average Age=52.5) the model.

Results
Radloff's originally proposed four factor model (Depressed Affect, Well-Being, Somatic Symptoms, and Interpersonal Problems) was found to best fit the data for both calibration (RMSEA=0.049) and validation samples (RMSEA=0.050). The construct validity of the four CES-D factors was supported by the correlations observed between these factors and conceptually related psychosocial measures.

Conclusion
four CES-D factors as proposed are psychometrically sound when applied to custodial grandmothers and that each factor contributes unique and meaningful information in its own right.


Software developers need to cope with a massive amount of knowledge throughout the typical life cycle of modern projects. This knowledge includes expertise related to the software development phases (e.g., programming, testing) using a wide variety of methods and tools, including development methodologies (e.g., waterfall, agile), software tools (e.g., Eclipse), programming languages (e.g., Java, SQL), and deployment strategies (e.g., Docker, Jenkins). However, there is no explicit integration of these various types of knowledge with software development projects so that developers can avoid having to search over and over for similar and recurrent solutions to tasks and reuse this knowledge. Specifically, Q&A sites such as Stack Overflow are used by developers to share software development knowledge through posts published in several categories, but there is no link between these posts and the tasks developers perform. In this paper, we present an approach that (i) allows developers to associate project tasks with Stack Overflow posts, and (ii) recommends which Stack Overflow posts might be reused based on task similarity. We analyze an industry dataset, which contains project tasks associated with Stack Overflow posts, looking for the similarity of project tasks that reuse a Stack Overflow post. The approach indicates that when a software developer is performing a task, and this task is similar to another task that has been associated with a post, the same post can be recommended to the developer and possibly reused. We believe that this approach can significantly advance the state of the art of software knowledge reuse by supporting novel knowledge-project associations.


Utilitarian attractive reverberation imaging or useful MRI estimates cerebrum movement by distinguishing changes related with blood stream. This strategy depends on the way that cerebral blood stream and neuronal initiation are coupled. At the point when a space of the cerebrum is being used, blood stream to that area additionally increments. This is a kind of particular cerebrum and body examine used to plan neural movement in the mind or spinal rope of people or different creatures by imaging the adjustment of blood stream (hemodynamic reaction) identified with energy use by synapses. This action is often tainted by commotion from different sources; consequently, measurable methodology are utilized to remove the hidden sign.


This paper explores the maximisation of the vehicle lateral dynamics on off-road conditions by means of active drifting and optimised wheel torque allocation. An Autonomous Drift Control (ADC) system based on a hierarchical control architecture is proposed to achieve this task. Specifically, the ADC consists of a high level layer that generates the state references and feedforward inputs to follow a reference path at a given body slip angle, and a low level Model Predictive Controller that coordinates the action of an Active Front Steering (AFS) system and four individual electric motors to track the upper level drift references. The performance of the proposed system is assessed in a Multi-Actuated Ground Vehicle (MAGV) using the simulation software IPG-CarMaker. Results evidence the ability of the proposed system to perform agile drifting manoeuvres. Essentially, the vehicle is able to follow tight road paths and maintain stability at high body slip angles, currently not feasible with other active safety technologies.


It is not clear whether specific brain areas act as hubs in the eyes-closed (EC) resting state, which is an unconstrained state free from any passive or active tasks. Here, we used electrophysiological magnetoencephalography (MEG) signals to study functional cortical hubs in 88 participants. We identified several multispectral cortical hubs. Although cortical hubs vary slightly with different applied measures and frequency bands, the most consistent hubs were observed in the medial and posterior cingulate cortex, the left dorsolateral superior frontal cortex, and the left pole of the middle temporal cortex. Hubs were characterized as connector nodes integrating EC resting state functional networks. Hubs in the gamma band were more likely to include midline structures. Our results confirm the existence of multispectral cortical cores in EC resting state functional networks based on MEG and imply the existence of optimized functional networks in the resting brain.


An annotated checklist is presented of the triclad fauna of the island of Sardinia, Italy, including an update of their geographic distribution and new records for several species. All three families of European freshwater planarians are represented on the island, viz. Dugesiidae (3 genera, 9 species), Planariidae (3 genera, 2 species), and Dendrocoelidae (1 genus, 3 species), inhabiting surface and subterranean waters. Besides freshwater species, over the last decades also land planarians (Geoplanidae) have been recorded.


We have developed an integrated optical tracking and focusing sensor, which is a chip 1 mm by 0.5 mm. It can travel along guide patterns keeping a certain gap between itself and the guide pattern. It consists of a laser diode, monolithically fabricated photodiodes and microlenses having a graded refractive index distribution in the thickness direction. Experimental results showed that this integrated sensor can be used as a focusing and tracking sensor with sub-micron accuracy.


This paper proposes the idea of Trace Register Allocation, a register allocation approach that is tailored for just-in-time (JIT) compilation in the context of virtual machines with run-time feedback. The basic idea is to offload costly operations such as spilling and splitting to less frequently executed branches and to focus on efficient registers allocation for the hot parts of a program. This is done by performing register allocation on traces instead of on the program as a whole. We believe that the basic approach is compatible to Linear Scan, the predominant register allocation algorithm for just-in-time compilation, in both code quality and allocation time, while our design leads to a simpler and more extensible solution. This extensibility allows us to add further enhancements in order to optimize the allocation based on the run-time profile of the application and thus to outperform current Linear Scan implementations.


Three parts of the theory of automorphic forms. I am inclined to divide the modern theory of automorphic forms into three parts: (i) the theory over a number field, F , thus for functions on G(F )\G(AF ); (ii) the theory for functions on G(F )\G(A), where F is the field of rational functions on a Riemann surface, thus closed nonsingular curve, X ; (iii) the relation between automorphic forms in the sense of (i) and diophantine equations in the sense of Grothendieck's conjectural notion of motives. This I refer to as reciprocity. It is a difficult subject, hardly broached, although Wiles's proof of the Shimura-Taniyama conjecture is a major contribution to it. The first part is well-developed but far from complete. The major problem may be taken to be functoriality. This part may also be taken to include the theory for function fields over a finite field, which of course is not unrelated to (ii). This first part was examined in "A prologue to Functoriality and Reciprocity," which appeared in a volume dedicated to Rogawski. The major work remains to be done.


We study estimation in the class of stationary variable length Markov chains (VLMC) on a finite space. The processes in this class are still Markovian of high order, but with memory of variable length yielding a much bigger and structurally richer class of models than ordinary high-order Markov chains. From an algorithmic view, the VLMC model class has attracted interest in information theory and machine learning, but statistical properties have not yet been explored. Provided that good estimation is available, the additional structural richness of the model class enhances predictive power by finding a better trade-off between model bias and variance and allowing better structural description which can be of specific interest. The latter is exemplified with some DNA data. A version of the tree-structured context algorithm, proposed by Rissanen in an information theoretical set-up is shown to have new good asymptotic properties for estimation in the class of VLMCs. This remains true even when the underlying model increases in dimensionality. Furthermore, consistent estimation of minimal state spaces and mixing properties of fitted models are given. We also propose a new bootstrap scheme based on fitted VLMCs. We show its validity for quite general stationary categorical time series and for a broad range of statistical procedures.


Plants being sessile suffer from several abiotic stresses during growth. These include drought, salinity, heavy metal, temperature, and nutrient stress. Salt stress is one of the devastating abiotic stresses that plant suffers under natural growth conditions. It is more common in arid regions due to excessive evaporation, which causes the accumulation of inorganic salts disrupting the plant metabolism. It also triggers the influence of drought stress, as plants are unable to absorb water. Additionally, it also causes oxidative stress in plant tissues. Thereby, plant adaptation to salt stress, rely on signals and pathways that help plant in establishing cellular ionic and osmotic homeostasis. Stress-responsive transcription factors play crucial roles in the regulation of gene expression in responses to salt stress. Moreover, genome editing has gained much attention for the engineering of traits for the better adaptation of plants to salt stress. This chapter elucidated the plant's physio-biochemical responses and molecular mechanisms to salt stress.