Japanese American artist Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988) is renowned for his stone and bronze sculpture, his gardenlike installations in public spaces, and his furniture designs. Far less familiar, but no less important, is Noguchi's work in clay, which he executed in three intensive sessions in 1931, 1950, and 1952, all during visits to Japan. The pieces included in this elegant volume and the accompanying exhibition comprise the first major museum presentation of Isamu Noguchi's ceramics and the introduction of the work of major postwar Japanese ceramic artists with whom Noguchi collaborated or interacted. Supported by four linked essays and opulently illustrated in full color and black and white, Isamu Noguchi and Modern Japanese Ceramics highlights the sculptor's struggles with cultural identity and his experimentation with the conflicts between modernity and tradition. Noguchi's sculptures in the medium of clay reveal informal, spontaneous, and humorous aspects not visible in less flexible media such as bronze or stone. Through clay, Noguchi probed unresolved personal issues surrounding his ambiguous cultural identity as the son of a Japanese father and American mother. Because Noguchi made his ceramics in Japan, his work also creates links to a diversity of approaches within the ceramic world of Japan. These range from traditionalists such as Kitaoji Rosanjin and the Living National Treasure designates, to primitivists exemplified by Okamoto Taro and Tsuji Shindo, to avant-garde experimentalists led by the Sodeisha group. An understanding of the nature and scope of the concerns Noguchi expressed through clay is crucial to understanding his work as a whole, and consideration of Japanese ceramic artists in the 1950s reveals a largely unknown genre of modern Japanese art. Copublished with the Smithsonian Institution


Abstract The article presents the results of the study on the professional and pedagogical aspect of developing open education in higher education institutions in the UK. It is established that as a result of society informatization, the new requirements for training of future specialists arise. Solving requirements means to create an improved open (computer-based) environment with advanced computer facilities of educational institutions, laboratories, libraries; updating methodological support, pedagogical technologies and the content of distance and e-learning based on the use of ICT; introducing new forms and methods of organizing the education process; introducing open educational systems; using the method of forming information and communication competences in scientific and pedagogical workers, methods for evaluating the quality of open electronic systems and free access to open educational resources; as well as to study the condition, trends and monitoring of open education development. The principles of constructing professional training in British universities are presented, namely, the consolidation of educational courses into blocks (general, special and professional and pedagogical), the use of innovative technologies (distance, credit, modular, personalized, mutual, tutoring, massive open educational courses (MOOC)) and innovative forms of education such as eco-education, media education, peace-education (education in the spirit of peace) and intercultural education. It is proved that the main advantages of open education are accessibility, flexibility, parallelism, modularity, efficiency, internationalization and co-ordination, which make it possible for everyone to receive education. The use of elements of open education provides not only access to digital content, but also helps to improve the system of education management and monitor its quality.


The gas-exchange function, blood circulation and structure of the revascularized lung after a continuous (up to 3 months) occlusion of its pulmonary artery were studied in 36 dogs in experiment. The repair of the artery patency resulted in the reestablishment of blood flow, gas-exchange function of the lung, normalization of the structure and metabolic processes in its cells. The functional competence of the revascularized lung was estimated by the ability of the animal to survive after removal of 3 lobes of the intact right lung, with the upper lobe only being left.


Complete hydrolytic degradation of starch requires hydrolysis of both the α-1,4and α-1,6-glucosidic bonds in amylopectin. Limit dextrinase (LD) is the only endogenous barley enzyme capable of hydrolyzing the α-1,6-glucosidic bond during seed germination, and impaired LD activity inevitably reduces the maltose and glucose yields from starch degradation. Crystal structures of barley LD and active-site mutants with natural substrates, products and substrate analogues were sought to better understand the facets of LD–substrate interactions that confine high activity of LD to branched maltooligosaccharides. For the first time, an intact α-1,6-glucosidically linked substrate spanning the active site of a LD or pullulanase has been trapped and characterized by crystallography. The crystal structure reveals both the branch and main-chain binding sites and is used to suggest a mechanism for nucleophilicity enhancement in the active site. The substrate, product and analogue complexes were further used to outline substrate binding subsites and substrate binding restraints and to suggest a mechanism for avoidance of dual α-1,6and α-1,4-hydrolytic activity likely to be a biological necessity during starch synthesis. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


Chloromonas nivalis (Volvocales, Chlorophyceae) is considered a cosmopolitan species of a snow-inhabiting microalga because cysts morphologically identifiable as zygotes of the species are distributed worldwide. However, recent molecular data demonstrated that field-collected cysts identified as the zygotes consist of multiple species. Recently, we demonstrated that species identification of snow-inhabiting Chloromonas species is possible based on light and electron microscopy of asexual life cycles in strains and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Vegetative cells without eyespots and of inverted-teardrop shape have been reported once in North American material of C. nivalis; however, strains with such vegetative cells in snow-inhabiting species of Chloromonas have not been examined taxonomically in detail. Here, we used light and transmission electron microscopy together with molecular analyses of multiple DNA sequences to examine several C. nivalis strains. The morphological data demonstrated that one North American strain could be identified as C. nivalis, whereas three other strains should be re-classified as C. hoshawii sp. nov. and C. remiasii sp. nov. based on vegetative cell morphology, the number of zoospores within the parental cell wall during asexual reproduction, and whether cell aggregates (resulting from repeated divisions of daughter cells retained within a parental cell wall) were observed in the culture. This taxonomic treatment was supported by multigene phylogeny and comparative molecular analyses that included a rapidly evolving DNA region. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses also demonstrated that the North American strain of C. nivalis was phylogenetically separated from the Austrian and Japanese specimens previously identified as C. nivalis based on zygote morphology.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate reproductive outcome after ectopic pregnancy (EP) treated with methotrexate (MTX) and to assess the relative contribution of various risk factors to future fertility.

DESIGN
Telephone follow-up interviews in a cohort of patients treated for EP.

SETTING
University hospital.

PATIENT(S)
A cohort of 158 patients treated with MTX for tubal pregnancies between April 1991 and March 1999.

INTERVENTION(S)
Assessment of fertility outcomes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Cumulative pregnancy rates for intrauterine and ectopic pregnancies.

RESULT(S)
Thirty-two patients (20.2%) were lost to follow-up. Of 126 patients, 93 (73.8%) sought to become pregnant, and of these 93 women, 76 (81.7%) did. Sixty-four pregnancies were spontaneous, and 12 resulted from in vitro fertilization (IVF). No pregnancies occurred in the group not trying to become pregnant. Of the 64 spontaneous pregnancies, 52 (81.2%) were intrauterine, with 12 (18.7%) resulting in miscarriages, and 12 (18.7%) were recurrent ectopic pregnancies. The cumulative intrauterine pregnancy rate was 57.5% after 1 year and 66.9% after 2 years. The cumulative ectopic pregnancy rate was 15.4% after 1 year and 23.7% after 2 years. After adjusting for factors associated with fertility with a Cox regression, only one factor was associated with poor reproductive performance: previous history of infertility.

CONCLUSION(S)
Within 1 year of seeking to become pregnant, more than half the women previously treated medically for EP conceived and had ongoing pregnancies. Our analysis indicates that fertility depends more on the patients' previous medical history than on her treatment for EP.


Objective: To explore the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging technique and the clinical application in ligament and tendons of elbow. Methods: The study was reviewed and approved by an institutional review board of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. A total of 20 normal volunteers with 40 elbows including 12 males and 8 females, aged from 20 to 55 years, with an average age of 35 years and 38 patients with 38 elbows who complained elbow pain with elbow injuries including 23 males and 15 females, ranged in age from 9 to 77 years, with an average age of 41 years old were chosen to undergo magnetic resonance examination between May 2013 and October 2018.All subjects underwent examination on coronal T(1)WI scan and PD-FS on three planes respectively in a prone position. Then the MRI characteristics of tendons in elbow of healthy volunteers and patients with elbow injuries were studied and the MRI features of tendon injury were compared with the surgical results and confirmed by double-blind method. Results: Twenty normal volunteers without tendons or ligament injures showed homogeneous low-signal-intensity on T(1)-weighted and proton fat saturation sequence (PD-FS) images.In the 38 patients with elbow injuries, there were 44 tendon injuries, including 14 cases of common extensor tendon injuries, 10 cases of common flexor tendon injuries, 3 cases of biceps tendon injuries, 7 cases of brachialis tendon injuries and 10 cases of triceps tendon injuries. The injuried tendons became thicker and discontinuity in T(1)WI and demonstrated heterogeneously increased signal intensity with effusion of tendon sheath in PD-FS. Partial tear showed discontinuity and thickening of tendons and the complete tear showed that the tendons were interrupted, retracted, the fiber structure disappeared and was filled with liquid, and the surrounding soft tissue edema was found. Conclusions: MRI can demonstrate the anatomy and injuries features of tendons in elbow joint accurately. It is significance for the early diagnosis and treatment protocols of the tendons injuries.


Dose reduction in computed tomography (CT) has been of great research interest for decades with the endeavor to reduce the health risk related to radiation. Promising results have been achieved by the recent application of deep learning to image reconstruction algorithms. Unrolled neural networks have reached state-of-the-art performance by learning the image reconstruction algorithm end-to-end. However, it suffers from huge memory consumption and long training time, which made it hard to scale to 3D data with current hardware. In this paper, we proposed an unrolled neural network for image reconstruction which can be trained step-by-step instead of end-to-end. Multiple cascades of image domain network were trained sequentially and connected with iterations which enforced data fidelity. Local image patches could be utilized for the neural network training, which made it fully scalable to 3D CT data. The proposed method was validated with both simulated and real data and demonstrated competing performance against the end-to-end networks.


How do people assess the severity of health problems? How do they decide whether these merit medical attention? We investigate how beliefs about psychological and physical causes of medical signs affect their perceived severity. Three studies showed that people perceive medical signs, objective and observable evidence of illnesses, as less severe if they originate from psychological rather than physical causes. For instance, participants rated the same cough as less harsh and scratchy when they believe it was caused by anxiety rather than by drinking contaminated tap water. As a result, participants were less likely to recommend care for medical signs with psychological origins, less likely to prioritize their care among multiple health problems, and reluctant to financially support scientific research for their cure.


This paper addresses a problem of optimizing the operation of a gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine equipped with a Three Way Catalyst (TWC) and a Lean NOx Trap (LNT). This engine can be operated significantly lean of stoichiometry. Lean operation results in reduced pumping losses and improved fuel economy. During lean operation the LNT is used to trap the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) that constitute a regulated pollutant. As the LNT loading with NOx increases, its trapping efficiency decreases. The trap can be purged of the stored NOx by operating the engine at slightly rich of stoichiometry conditions. A trade-off has to be found between fuel economy, which deteriorates with longer purge time, and NOx reduction. It is shown how this problem can be cast in the setting of optimal control and solved numerically.


This research investigates the different aspects, which make a hotel energy efficient and sustainable. Base case of a hotel in Oxford UK is studied, on which Post Occupancy evaluation is carried out to understand the functionality of the hotel with respect to its users while the building design tool IES is used to understand what strategies can be followed in order to make the existing hotel energy efficient. The strategies analysed are based on the design, management and the customers' attitude towards green hotels. The aim is to derive an optimum retrofit and environmental management solutions for existing hotels helping to reduce energy consumptions. The  conclusions are that significant amount of energy can be saved if the management is trained towards technical and organizational activities which reduce the negative impacts of the hotel on the environment due to its operational activities. Refurbishing old hotel buildings with updated technology, energy efficient products saves energy expenditure. Hotels can use green strategies as a marketing tool, thus influencing the customer to pay for the green facilities. Keywords: Hotels, Hotel Management, Customer attitude, Energy Efficiency


Ants typically use path integration and vision for navigation when the environment precludes the use of pheromones for trails. Recent simulations have been able to accurately mimic the retinotopic navigation behaviour of these ants using simple models of movement and memory of unprocessed visual images. Naturally it is interesting to test these navigation algorithms in more realistic circumstances, particularly with actual route data from the ant, in an accurate facsimile of the ant world and with visual input that draws on the characteristics of the animal. While increasing the complexity of the visual processing to include skyline extraction, inhomogeneous sampling and motion processing was conjectured to improve the performance of the simulations, the reverse appears to be the case. Examining closely the assumptions about motion, analysis of ants in the field shows that they experience considerable displacement of the head which when applied to the simulation leads to significant degradation in performance. The family of simulations rely upon continuous visual monitoring of the scene to determine heading and it was decided to test whether the animals were similarly dependent on this input. A field study demonstrated that ants with only visual navigation cues can return the nest when largely facing away from the direction of travel (moving backwards) and so it appears that ant visual navigation is not a process of continuous retinotopic image matching. We conclude ants may use vision to determine an initial heading by image matching and then continue to follow this direction using their celestial compass, or they may use a rotationally invariant form of the visual world for continuous course correction.


Lattices are discrete mathematical objects with widespread applications to integer programs as well as modern cryptography. An important class of lattices are those that possess an orthogonal basis, since if such an orthogonal basis is known, then many other fundamental problems on lattices can be solved easily (e.g., the Closest Vector Problem). However, intriguingly, deciding whether a lattice has an orthogonal basis is not known to be either NP-complete or in P. In this paper, we focus on the orthogonality decision problem for a well-known family of lattices, namely Construction-A lattices. These are lattices of the form C + qZn, where C is an error-correcting q-ary code, and are studied in communication settings. We provide a complete characterization of lattices obtained from binary and ternary codes using Construction-A that have an orthogonal basis. We use this characterization to give an efficient algorithm to solve the orthogonality decision problem. Our algorithm also finds an orthogonal basis if one exists for this family of lattices.


A69 Using genetic Gaucher disease (GD) as a model of single gene disorder, we were able to detect a point mutation (or SNP) in DNA samples extracted from patients, using a convenient and rapid detection method: Handy Bio-Strand (microarray). GD is the most prevalent lysosomal storage disorders of humans. The disorder is caused by deficiency of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase, leading to pathological accumulation of glucosylceramide in the cells of spleen, liver, lungs, bone marrow and also, in certain patients, in the brain. There are, at least, three phenotypes of the diseases, type-I (non-neuronopathic form), type-II (acute-neuronopathic form), and type-III (chronic-neuronopathic form). In the type-I GD, one of the most frequent mutations is N370S (1226A>G). Based on previous three-dimensional Handy Bio-Strand platform developed by PSS, the samples were spotted on one strand with capacity of holding 384 samples in one microarray tip, in which the hybridization and detection are carried out at about 20 min at room temperature. Thus, we report here a rapid and convenient procedure for the detection of this genotype using the novel Handy Bio-Strand® Technique, this technique should be also useful for application in the field for genotyping, detection research and biomarker validation.


A battery pack (10) having a protruding battery contact (14) is provided with a disconnect switch circuit. The circuit comprises at least one battery cell (22), and a mechanical switch (24) which controls aoperation of an electronic switch circuit (36). A latch member (16) is provided for attaching the battery pack to a device to be powered, and is moveable between a first and second position, and is biased by a spring means to the first position. In the first position, the latch member acts on the mechanical switch such that the electronic switch circuit disconnects the battery contact from the battery cell or cells. When the latch member is moved to the second position (17), the circuit operates to connect the battery contact to the battery cell or cells.


Odour emissions from complex industrial plants can cause potential impacts on the surrounding areas and, as consequence, complaints with the local residents. The identification of specific Odour control plan is therefore needed in the plant management. The current challenge is the definition of instrumental odour monitoring systems (IOMS) that allow the continuous odour characterization. No regulation or standardized procedure exist at present. Limited data are available in the literature with reference to the characteristics and operational procedure of this systems for the environmental odours monitoring.
The study presents a novel prototype of intelligent and integrated IOMS for the continuous classification and quantification of the odours emitted in ambient air by complex industrial plants, with the scope to control the plants emissions in an objective and continuous manner, thus avoiding odour impact. Research studies are validated through an application to a real case study on a petroleum refinery. The architecture and the principal components of the IOMS are highlighted. The operational procedures are presented and discussed. Results highlights the importance and the flexibility of the proposed IOMS in the odour monitoring. Real-time and accurate information are provided by the system about the source and concentration of the odour emissions.


Hannah Arendt's studies and essays on totalitarianism revealed that in the concentration camps of the National Socialists, human life reached a limit that teaches us something about the human being. Giorgio Agamben took up this insight and developed it further in his ethics of bare life.3 Are there indications in Arendt's work that the human being can approach the limit of human life in other contexts as well? This essay will show that poverty also constitutes such a limit, a wall at which we experience something about the human being, about the possibility and impossibility of a public life. (1st paragraph)


To explore the antiproliferative effects of rhumAbHER2 on head and neck squamous carcinoma cell (HNSCC) lines and breast cancer cell lines (BCCLs) and to evaluate the combined effects with irradiation, 2 human HNSCC lines and 2 BCCLs were exposed to rhumAbHER2 with or without irradiation. The results showed that combined treatment enhanced the growth and colonization inhibitory effects of rhumAbHER2 or irradiation. Interestingly, the apoptotic cell fraction produced by irradiation disappeared on combined treatment. This disappearance was associated with repression of p53 and Bax upregulation induced by irradiation, but conservation of the upregulation of p27. Based on these results, rhumAbHER2 and irradiation may be a new strategy for treating HNSCC and breast cancers. In addition, the upregulation of cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitors by rhumAbHER2 may occur upstream of irradiation‐induced p53 upregulation. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The standard atmospheric correction algorithm for the five thermal infrared (TIR) bands of the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is based on radiative transfer calculation using the MODTRAN code. Atmospheric profiles input to MODTRAN are extracted from either the Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) product or the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) climatology model. The present study provides validation results of this algorithm. First, in situ lake surface temperatures measured in 13 vicarious calibration (VC) experiments were compared with surface temperatures retrieved from ASTER data. As the results, the mean bias was 0.8 and 1.8 K for GDAS and NRL, respectively. The NRL model performed worse than GDAS for four experiments at Salton Sea, CA, probably because the model was not suitable for this site, which has typically higher surface temperature and humidity than other VC sites. Next, the algorithm was validated based on the max-min difference (MMD) of water surface emissivity retrieved from each of 163 scenes acquired globally. As a result, the algorithm error increased quadratically with the precipitable water vapor (PWV) content of the atmosphere, and the expected MMD error was 0.049 and 0.067 for GDAS and NRL, respectively, with a PWV of 3 cm, where 0.05 on MMD is roughly corresponding to -0.8 or +2.3 K on the retrieved surface temperature error. The algorithm performance degraded markedly when the surface temperature exceeded about 25/spl deg/C, particularly for NRL. Consequently, GDAS performs better than NRL as expected, while both will perform less well for humid conditions.


The withdrawal time of erythromycin in cultured olive flounder was investigated to ensure the food safety of the fish treated with erythromycin. The oral administration of erythromycin was carried out using the experimental diet containing erythromycin (200 mg/kg) daily dose of 40 mg/kg body weight. The 45 day experimental period was broken into 7 days of habituation, 8 days of medication and 30 days of additional feeding without antibiotics. The erythromycin concentration in the flounder muscle had been increased gradually with medication. After 5 days of medication, the concentration increased to its maximum level of 6.05 mg/kg. After discontinuing the antibiotic, the erythromycin concentration decreased drastically and day 9 was below 0.1 mg/kg. The erythromycin concentration had slowly declined from the 6th to the 20th day after medication and disappeared completely after 25 days. From these results, the time needed to reduce the erythromycin level to the 0.2 mg/kg limit adopted by the ED and Japan was suspected to be 4-6 days. Therefore, a reasonable withdrawal time following ED and Japanese regulatory guidelines for erythromycin in the cultured flounder could be estimated to be 10 days.


Humans can amazingly well manipulate objects without firm grasp. After a couple of hours of training, an ordinary person could perform basic tricks in rolling spheres on palms of his or her hands, as it would be done by a contact juggler. These observations indicate feasibility of motion planning and motion control assignments and relative simplicity for a human to learn such agile behaviors despite of diversity of human hands and known imperfections and deficiencies of their motor control systems. These cognitive experiments provoke roboticists to develop benchmark set-ups to mimic or to extend human capabilities. The talk provides a comprehensive discussion on one of such conceptual designs and on the computational challenges associated with planning and controlling rolling motions of objects on a palm of a robotic hand. Here, we explore the so-called "Butterfly robot" example, originally proposed by Drs. Lynch and Mason in 1998 to test different strategies for dynamic manipulations. The robot has two identical plates with smooth boundaries, fixed on a constant distance from each other, so that a ball can freely roll on them. The plates are in the vertical plane and can be rotated by an electrical motor to form stable rolling motions of the ball. The curvature of the plates' boundary changes its sign mimicking a human hand. Along with a comprehensive discussion of the problem, we will provide insights into analytical and computational methods that allowed solving the long-standing task and performing validating experiments. The talk will be concluded by a discussion on related open problems as well as perspectives provided by the development for advancing robotic systems in industrial and service robotic manipulation assignments. 6 Aalborg U Robotics Workshop 5 Introduction to the EXOTIC project Authors: Lotte N. S. Andreasen Struijk, Anne Marie Kanstrup, Shaoping Bai, Thomas Bak and Thomas Moeslund Abstract: Population ageing is challenging the number of available caregivers for individuals with functional disabilities. Exoskeleton (Exo) technology has a great potential to both rehabilitate and empower disabled citizens and to protect caregivers from injuries. However, the technology is facing a paradox: The larger disability, the larger the potential of using an Exo, and yet the harder it is to control it. Additionally, if the technology is not acceptable for the user it will not be used. Acceptance requires an aesthetic system that is applicable in daily life. Therefore, we will initiate a project in 2018 concerning a user-based, tongue-controlled arm/hand Exo as a platform for a full-body AAU bio-exoskeleton: the EXOTIC. We will give a brief introduction to the EXOTIC project, in which it is essential to unite user centred-design, bio-interfacing, artificial intelligence, control and mechanics into the bio-controlled Exo. Population ageing is challenging the number of available caregivers for individuals with functional disabilities. Exoskeleton (Exo) technology has a great potential to both rehabilitate and empower disabled citizens and to protect caregivers from injuries. However, the technology is facing a paradox: The larger disability, the larger the potential of using an Exo, and yet the harder it is to control it. Additionally, if the technology is not acceptable for the user it will not be used. Acceptance requires an aesthetic system that is applicable in daily life. Therefore, we will initiate a project in 2018 concerning a user-based, tongue-controlled arm/hand Exo as a platform for a full-body AAU bio-exoskeleton: the EXOTIC. We will give a brief introduction to the EXOTIC project, in which it is essential to unite user centred-design, bio-interfacing, artificial intelligence, control and mechanics into the bio-controlled Exo. 6 Aalborg U Robotics Workshop 6 Tongue Control of Assistive Robotic Arms Authors: Lotte N. S. Andreasen Struijk, Rasmus Kobborg, Christian Andersen, Andreas Norman, Max Hildebrand, Rikke Gade and Frederik Bonde Abstract: The current lack of hand-free interfaces to Assistive Robotic Arms (ARM) compromises their use for those most in need: severely paralyzed users. At the same time, it has been shown that the need of assistance can be reduced with up to 41% by use of an ARM. This may have significant prospects for the current yearly societal cost of 1.8 billion kr related to caregivers for severely paralyzed individuals in Denmark alone. Therefore, we have researched in alternative robotic control methods based on tongue interfacing. We will present three different novel control methods: Direct actuator control, Cartesian endpoint control and semiautonomous control of an ARM based on tongue interfacing. The latter is a result of a 4 semester project performed by students from the Bachelor in robotics at AAU. The current lack of hand-free interfaces to Assistive Robotic Arms (ARM) compromises their use for those most in need: severely paralyzed users. At the same time, it has been shown that the need of assistance can be reduced with up to 41% by use of an ARM. This may have significant prospects for the current yearly societal cost of 1.8 billion kr related to caregivers for severely paralyzed individuals in Denmark alone. Therefore, we have researched in alternative robotic control methods based on tongue interfacing. We will present three different novel control methods: Direct actuator control, Cartesian endpoint control and semiautonomous control of an ARM based on tongue interfacing. The latter is a result of a 4 semester project performed by students from the Bachelor in robotics at AAU. 6 Aalborg U Robotics Workshop 7 Plasticity and Functional Differences Following a BCI-Controlled Robotic Intervention in Spinal Cord Injury Authors: Kasper Kunz Leerskov, Erika Spaich, Mads Jochumsen and Lotte N. S. Struijk Andreasen Abstract: Background: Recent development in the rehabilitation of spinal cord injury (SCI), include the use of powered exoskeletons, which has been shown to be on par with conventional therapy. It is suggested that rehabilitation of SCI patients, can be further facilitated by combining a braincomputer interface (BCI) with the exoskeleton. Background: Recent development in the rehabilitation of spinal cord injury (SCI), include the use of powered exoskeletons, which has been shown to be on par with conventional therapy. It is suggested that rehabilitation of SCI patients, can be further facilitated by combining a braincomputer interface (BCI) with the exoskeleton. Hypothesis: Using a BCI for exoskeleton control, plastic and functional recovery is improved compared to regular exoskeleton training. Methods: Over the course of a PhD study, a BCI for step-intention detection in able-bodied and SCI patients, will be developed and integrated into the control of an exoskeleton. In a crossover study, subjects will receive exoskeleton training with and without BCI-control. Using measures for changes in the brain and spinal cord, together with functional measures related to gait, the difference in outcomes when using the BCI for exoskeleton control will be analyzed. Potential significance: In the event of positive results in favor of utilizing the BCI for controlling the exoskeleton, an indication has been given, that BCI technology could be used in rehabilitation with positive effects on recovery. 6 Aalborg U Robotics Workshop 8 Design of a tendon network for a dexterous assistive glove Authors: Mohamed M. Hamdy, Lotte N.S. Andreasen Struijk, Strahinja Dosen, Erika G. Spaich Abstract: Background: An assistive glove could improve the quality of life of patients who suffer from hand impairment. Such a glove must assist performing meaningful tasks and different types of grasping by means of a small and lightweight device. The types of grasps, which are most required by patients are power grasp, pinch grasp, and tripod grasp, which will be the focus of this study. Background: An assistive glove could improve the quality of life of patients who suffer from hand impairment. Such a glove must assist performing meaningful tasks and different types of grasping by means of a small and lightweight device. The types of grasps, which are most required by patients are power grasp, pinch grasp, and tripod grasp, which will be the focus of this study. Purpose: In this study, the authors investigate the ability of the glove to perform the aforementioned grasps using a continuous tendon configuration on the palmar side of the hand and springs over the dorsal side of the hand. Methods: The springs are responsible for producing the different hand postures (grasps). The tendon on the palmar side is designed to perform a stable grasping even if the object shape is irregular. Finally, a "Stepped differential mechanism" is applied to the fingers to overcome hyperextension and abnormal finger movements while grasping. Expected results: The proposed tendon configuration is expected to provide the ability to perform stable grasps using different postures (grasp types). The tendon network will be used as a component in the design of a complete glove that will assist patients in daily-life manipulation tasks. 6 Aalborg U Robotics Workshop 9 Semi-autonomous control of artificial limbs Authors: Strahinja Dosen Abstract: Introduction: Modern artificial limbs (exoskeletons, prostheses) are advanced mechatronics systems with many available functions. For example, there are hand prostheses that have individually controllable fingers. However, due to limitations in the human machine interfacing, the users cannot exploit this advanced functionality. In the conventional approach to control, the user is responsible for generating command signals for all the degrees of freedom (DOFs). Introduction: Modern artificial limbs (exoskeletons, prostheses) are advanced mechatronics systems with many available functions. For example, there are hand prostheses that have individually controllable fingers. Howeve


The aim of the research was to determine the level of development of fundamental motor skill of manipulative kind at overhand throw in children aged 7 to 10 years. All groups of participants, statistically are significantly different among themselves except for respondents aged 9 and 10. A monotonously increasing trend was determined in the average score of the skill and the percent- age extent of the first criterion. Among students we have not observed constancy by age in terms of the hardest and the easiest manifestation criterion. Monitoring the level of development of stu- dents is beneficial for the teacher which enables him to do more effective and efficient planning of the Physical and Health Education classes.


In recent years it has been shown that an intelligent combination of metaheuristics with other optimization techniques can significantly improve over the application of a pure metaheuristic. In this paper, we combine the evolutionary computation paradigm with dynamic programming for the application to the NP-hard k-cardinality tree problem. Given an undirected graph G with node and edge weights, this problem consists of finding a tree in G with exactly k edges such that the sum of the weights is minimal. The genetic operators of our algorithm are based on an existing dynamic programming algorithm from the literature for finding optimal subtrees in a given tree. The simulation results show that our algorithm is able to improve the best known results for benchmark problems from the literature in 60 cases.


The effects of intramuscularly and orally administered medroxyprogesterone acetate on cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) activity were investigated in twelve postmenopausal women in a randomized, crossover study. Unbound prednisolone clearance and the erythromycin breath test were used as markers of CYP3A4 activity. After 2 months of intramuscular progestin therapy, unbound prednisolone clearance increased by 25% in five of six subjects. Similarly, after intramuscular progestin therapy, results from the erythromycin breath test showed a 23% mean increase in CYP3A4 activity. In contrast, 2 months of oral progestin therapy had no effect on prednisolone pharmacokinetics or erythromycin metabolism. These results suggest that parenterally but not orally administered progestins may induce or activate the CYP3A4 enzyme system, leading to an increased metabolism of many CYP3A4 substrates.


We describe a clinical case of a postmenopausal woman with a perforated pyometra with clinical manifestations of generalized peritonitis. In the English literature there are 15 reported cases and only 2 secondary to cancer of cervix, our case in the 3rd. case reported in detail. We make pertinent considerations regarding the management of this extremely rare complication.


This article focuses on state foster care as a case study in the (re)configuration and negotiation of boundaries between work and non-work. Foster care can be seen as occupying a liminal position between the domains of 'work' and 'family', requiring management of the tensions presumed to exist between competing value systems. Through a review of research and policy developments, the relevant boundary issues are contextualized and explored, drawing examples from areas such as remuneration, taxation and benefits, employment status, work-life balance and the labour process. It is argued that while foster care shares the hybridity and ensuing tensions of care work more generally, the spatial and temporal integration of work and family and the high level of state regulation give them a particular intensity. In turn, this offers great potential for the study of work/non-work boundaries. Possible research avenues are set out.


Fiscal policy, in the sense of economic and social action by means of compulsory levies (taxes, levies and social contributions), constitutes a major instrument in the hands of the public authorities to promote investment and thus achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by the UN. Such a policy often takes the form of tax incentives initiated by the legislator (government and parliament) to make its territory attractive to investors and this by means of "tax expenditures" (tax credits, exemptions, reductions and credits taxes). However, this state fiscal interventionism, which has the merit of deeply reforming the political, economic and social structures of a country, can be held back by an administrative state (financial and fiscal administration) which considers it necessary to maintain or even increase taxation. to cover general interest expenditure (financing of physical infrastructure such as public works and equipment, communication and / or intangible routes such as education and research, public health, environmental protection and sustainable development. ..). The Covid 19 pandemic and its serious economic consequences are forcing States to reduce or even postpone the date of compulsory levies, thus lowering the tax burden on businesses and households. In times of crisis, taxation seems to be an instrument to be used with caution to maintain a certain level of investment necessary for the revival of economic activity. In addition, an effective public and/or private investment producing wealth and therefore social redistribution requires prior regulation and public governance subject to the principles of the rule of law. transparency the of public affairs and are contained in the generic concept of accountability. In addition to a stable political framework, predictable and transparent legislation, particularly in financial and fiscal matters, often influences public and / or private investment decisions. The interest in tax incentives is that this is an instrument favored by certain emerging and developing countries to attract foreign capital on the model of FDI in the face of insufficient human and material resources, mining and/or national savings. Furthermore, it seems easier for some countries to use targeted tax incentives leading to reduce or even eliminate any tax burden than to pay public subsidies directly. In addition, these tax incentives are often taken by multiple political authorities (ministries of trade, industry, economy, investment ...) and formalized by various texts (law on investments, laws finance, law on economic regulation ...). The mobilization of public and / or private investment calls for a simplification and transparency of public governance in order to make accessible fiscal incentive measures and their effective implementation by interested investors.Our communication will specify, firstly, the importance but also the limits of tax incentives to make a territory attractive for national and international investors and, secondly, stress the need for a legal framework favorable to good governance public finance and tax to make productive and efficient any investment to achieve the SDGs.


This paper presents a general overview of substrate integrated transmission lines, from the perspective of historical background and progress of guided-wave structures and their impacts on the development of microwave circuits and integration solutions. This is highlighted through a technology roadmap involving the categorized five generations of microwave circuits. In particular, the substrate integration technologies are reviewed and discussed with focus on technical features, design highlights, component developments, structures evolution, and systems integration. A number of examples are presented to showcase some of the selected milestone research and development activities and accomplishments in connection with substrate integrated transmission line technologies, with particular focus on substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) techniques. Practical applications and industrial interests are also presented with key references and technical results, which show more and more product developments in the end-user sectors. It can be found that the popularity of SIW techniques is closely related to the achieved seamless integration of planar and non-planar structures into a unified design space, thereby allowing the possibility of combining major advantages of all the structures while alleviating their potential drawbacks. The future perspectives of the substrate integration technology are discussed through five major research directions, which suggest potential impacts in the development of future generations of circuits and systems such as system-on-substrate (SoS).


Urban areas renovation may lead to problematic situations associated with financing of the works in absence of a detailed analysis of the distribution of resources. An analysis of the needs and the obstacles in achieving buildings refurbishment to improve their energy efficiency must be observed. Buildings requiring energy refurbishment will be those with poor construction quality, not adapted to the new energy efficiency requirements. Many of them will be inhabited by people with insufficient resources to deal with such actions. This paper proposes a model for energy needs assessment at an urban scale with the objective set on the refurbishment of residential buildings neighbourhoods, addressing comfort needs. In this sense, aspects of building energy vulnerability are explored as a prerequisite to the analysis of energy poverty in our cities and neighbourhoods. A methodology to characterize heating needs of urban areas is developed by using statistical data from the Spanish Census of Housing and Population. The superimposition of resulting demand values with demographic data allows introducing socio-economic criteria in order to locate energy efficiency and fuel vulnerability. This information is useful in order to address specific public refurbishment strategies based on the reality of socioeconomic aspects of the neighbourhoods and the state of preservation of buildings.


The protein horseradish peroxidase when injected intravenously into rats and mice rapidly begins to pass from the blood into the walls of arteries. It is found in the intercellular junctions of the endothelium and appears to be crossing the endothelial layer by this route. It is present also in the system of caveolae and vesicles, but it is not clear whether or to what extent these form a means of transport across this layer. It enters multi-vesicular bodies and other relatively large vesicles of the endothelium. Within a few minutes of injection it penetrates through elastic tissue and muscle layers and becomes widely dispersed in the tissue spaces of the media.


In this paper, a novel class of multiclass classifiers inspired by the optimization of Fisher discriminant ratio and the support vector machine (SVM) formulation is introduced. The optimization problem of the so-called minimum within-class variance multiclass classifiers (MWCVMC) is formulated and solved in arbitrary Hilbert spaces, defined by Mercer's kernels, in order to find multiclass decision hyperplanes/surfaces. Afterwards, MWCVMCs are solved using indefinite kernels and dissimilarity measures via pseudo-Euclidean embedding. The power of the proposed approach is first demonstrated in the facial expression recognition of the seven basic facial expressions (i.e., anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise plus the neutral state) problem in the presence of partial facial occlusion by using a pseudo-Euclidean embedding of Hausdorff distances and the MWCVMC. The experiments indicated a recognition accuracy rate achieved up to 99%. The MWCVMC classifiers are also applied to face recognition and other classification problems using Mercer's kernels.


Infective endocarditis is a rare complication affecting solid-organ transplant recipients. Isolated pulmonic valve endocarditis is also rare. A case of persistent bacteremia secondary to an isolated pulmonic valve vegetation occurred in a woman 10 days after liver transplantation. A pulmonary vegetectomy was performed as an alternative to valve replacement in addition to long-term antibiotic therapy.


The role of aortic atheromatosis as a risk factor for systemic embolism and its relationship to other potential sources of embolism was examined in 335 patients undergoing transoesophageal echocardiography for various clinical reasons. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between embolism and moderate (atheroma protruding less than 5 mm into the aortic lumen, grade 2) to complex (atheroma protruding at least 5 mm into the vessel lumen with or without mobile components, grade 3) atherosclerosis of the aortic arch. Odds ratios were 4.0 for grade 2 atheromatosis (95% CI 1.1-14.4; P < 0.05) and 9.7 for grade 3 atheromatosis (95% CI 1.5-61.0; P < 0.05). Other significant associations were found with cardiac thrombi (odds ratio 4.0, 95% CI 1.7-9.3; P < 0.005) and hypertension (odds ratio 1.8, 95% CI 1.0-3.3; P < 0.05). In a subset of 163 patients in whom results of an ultrasound examination were available, atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries was another significant marker of embolism (odds ratio 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.3; P < 0.01). In conclusion, aortic arch atheromatosis, which was predominantly recognized in patients with cerebrovascular events of undetermined cause, seems to carry a risk of embolism that is comparable to cardiac and carotid atherosclerosis.


Solanum villosum is an important leafy vegetable in Kenya whose production faces low yields. Two potentially high leaf-yielding genotypes of S. villosum, T-5 and an octoploid have been developed. Field experiments were conducted at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology to evaluate the vegetative and reproductive growth characteristics and leaf nitrogen of the genotypes under varying N levels. The experiments were carried out as split plots in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Nitrogen supply levels of 0, 2.7 and 5.4 g N/plant formed the main plots while the T-5, octoploid and the wild-type genotypes were allocated to the sub-plots. Periodic harvests were done at 5-10 days interval to quantify growth and leaf N. The octoploid plants had up to 30-50% more leaf area and up to 35-50% more leaf dry weight compared to wild-type plants. However, all the genotypes had similar shoot dry weight. The wild-type genotype had about 2-4 times higher flower/fruit dry weight as compared to the octoploid and T-5 genotypes. All the genotypes responded to N supply similarly by increasing leaf area and shoot dry weight 1.7-2.5 times. Leaf N on a dry weight basis was significantly higher in plants supplied with N, but these differences were not observed when the leaf N was expressed on leaf area basis. In conclusion, the S. villosum genotypes responded similarly to N limitation by drastic reduction in leaf area and dry matter production and maintaining the leaf N content on leaf area basis. The octoploid is a suitable candidate for increasing leaf yield of S. villosum. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Studying electric potential distribution on the cell membrane and electric conductivity gives us an insight into the effects of the electric field on cells and tissues. Since cells are always surrounded by other cells, we studied how their interactions influence the induced transmembrane potential (TMP) and the effective conductivity in dense cell systems. We numerically and analytically studied the effect of cell organization on the induced TMP and the effective conductivity by organizing cells into simple-cubic, body-centered cubic, and face-centered infinite cubic lattices. We analyzed the general relation between the local quantities (electric field and the induced TMP) and the effective properties such as effective conductivity. We demonstrated that the effective conductivity mainly depends on cell volume fraction, while the induced TMP is affected by cell volume fraction as well as cell ordering. We show that in contrast to some reported results, the phenomenological effective medium theory (EMT) equations cannot be used to determine the local quantities (e.g., the induced TMP) in dense cell systems, whereas the effective properties (e.g., conductivity) can be readily analyzed with EMT equations. We further derive an analytical approximation for the induced TMP in dense cell system exposed to dc and ac electric fields, where dominant factors, which govern the local electric field and the induced TMP, are cell volume fraction and cell ordering. The presented theoretical analysis can be extended also to high frequencies or random distribution of cells.


Presence of fading degrades enormously the BER characteristics of a noise based DS-CDMA system. These characteristics can be substantially improved by the use of a block interleaver/deinterleaver structure, as shown in this paper. A mathematical model of the interleaved noise based CDMA system operation in the presence of fading is developed and the probability of error is derived. It was shown that the degradation in the BER performances of the interleaved system in the presence of fading can be reduced to be close to the level of AWGN influence. Due to the random nature of spread sequences, the system has a high level of protection against interception.


Snap, the disappearing message app, went public at $17 per share on March 2, 2017, making its two 20-something founders the youngest self-made billionaires in the country. Over the next three weeks, 14 analysts make investment recommendations on Snap: two with buy recommendations, six with holds, and six with sells. When the "IPO quiet period" expired three weeks later, 16 more analysts — who worked at firms that served as underwriter for the Snap IPO — issued recommendations: 10 with buy and six with hold recommendations, with price targets ranging from $21 to $31 compared to a current market price of $23. Elizabeth Kemp, the portfolio managers of a long-only, technology fund at Sand Hill Road Capital, had bought 500,000 shares at the IPO and had to decide whether to harvest her gain or to double down and buy more shares.
This short (4 pages of text) case analyzes the first of three sequential analyst reports from Brian Nowak, Morgan Stanley's internet analyst. The case series analyzes a unique natural experiment that plays out across the analyst reports, and is designed to accomplish four goals. First, to teach DCF valuation and illustrate the challenges of valuing young, rapidly growing technology firms. Second, to highlight the differences between affiliated and unaffiliated analysts — are the ones affiliated with the firms that underwrote the IPO more informed or more conflicted? Third, to illustrate how valuation is done in practice and raise questions about the methods (e.g., are DCF models used to establish price targets or to justify them). And fourth, to provide a forum in which to discuss IPO anomalies related to initial pricing and long-run performance.


Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex disease, meaning that multiple genetic variants, environmental factors and random events interact to trigger pathological pathways. Although many of these etiological factors have not yet been identified, recent groundbreaking advances have expanded our knowledge about the genetic factors that contribute to RA. Here, we review the most recent findings on the genetic risk factors for RA. First, we give an overview of the genetics of RA and briefly describe the susceptibility loci discovered prior to the availability of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Second, we focus on the newly discovered RA loci that have arisen from GWAS in populations of European ancestry. Through these studies, the number of established RA susceptibility loci has now grown to 13. Third, we discuss several important issues emerging from GWAS, such as ethnic heterogeneity and shared autoimmunity risk loci. Finally, we discuss what still needs to be accomplished before a more complete picture of the genetic risk to RA can be attained.


Rectangles are used to approximate objects, or sets of objects, in a plethora of applications, systems and index structures. Many tasks, such as nearest neighbor search and similarity ranking, require to decide if objects in one rectangle A may, must, or must not be closer to objects in a second rectangle B, than objects in a third rectangle R. To decide this relation of "Spatial Domination" it can be shown that using minimum and maximum distances it is often impossible to detect spatial domination. This spatial gem provides a necessary and sufficient decision criterion for spatial domination that can be computed efficiently even in higher dimensional space. In addition, this spatial gem provides an example, pseudocode and an implementation in Python.


Many theories have been proposed to help understand delusional misidentification syndromes (DMS) and the danger associated with them. We report on three cases with histories of paranoid schizophrenia who developed DMS. Two of them acted out on delusional thinking toward their sons. Case 1 managed to kill her son and Case 2 was caught twice trying to choke him. Our case reports suggest that the degree of threat perceived by the patient from the delusionally misidentified object is the most important factor in determining the patient's response to the delusions. Alcohol and substance intoxication facilitated the patients' acting out on their delusions, but did not explain the genesis of the delusions. There is a need to continue to study patients with DMS in order to provide opportunity for greater understanding of the psychopathology of DMS.


The Baft ophiolitic mélange, covering an area approximately 150 Km, is located in the Esfandaghe-Khamrood melange belt. The main part of intrusive rocks in the Baft ophiolitic mélange consists of gabbros, mostly isotropic and occasionally as pegmatitic rocks. Plagiogranites, as veins and small outcrops, are common along with gabbros and doleritic dikes through the area. Plagiogranites consist of trondhjemite, albite granite and granophyre. Based on geochemical studies, gabbros and plagiogranites are belonging to tholeiitic-calc-alkaline magmatic series. Plagiogranites are metaluminous to slightly peraluminous and typologically show characteristics between oceanic ridge (OR) and I-type granites which is consistent with their formation in a supra-subduction zone environment. Chonderite normalized REE patterns of plagiogranites show slight enrichment in LREEs along with flat HREE patterns. Chonderite normalized REE pattern of gabbros are relatively flat with slight enrichment in LREEs compare to HREEs. The derivation of an acidic melt from a gabbroic phase through either fractional crystallization and/or partial melting is less likely. It appears that the origin of Baft ophiolitic melange plagiogranites must be related to doleritic phase, although partial melting of hornblend gabbro and/or amphibolite can be also considered for at least one of the samples.


In this work, chitosan-TiO2 nanocomposites (NСs CS-TiO2) were developed for the photocatalytic degradation of some representatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by laser ablation method and their sizes were determined by dynamic laser light scattering (DLLS). Anthracene and pyrene in micellar solution were used as representatives of PAHs. The effect of TiO2 in the composition of prepared nanocomposites on the photodegradation of PAHs in model environments under UV irradiation was studied. The method of solidphase luminescence (SPL) was used to estimate the decrease in PAHs concentrations. Based on the results of the studies carried out, pseudo-first order photodegradation kinetics were plotted. The efficiency of using the nanocomposites for the photocatalytic degradation of anthracene and pyrene was proved. © 2021 Journal of Biomedical Photonics & Engineering.


The Boulder batholith contains many texturally complex leucogranitic aplite-pegmatite intrusives. Both the aplite-pegmatites and the enclosing quartz monzonites were hydrothermally altered along steep zones of closely spaced fractures that are in part the hosts for vein deposits. Mineralogically and chemically similar alterations of different origin are common in some aplite-pegmatite intrusives near Boulder, Mont. These internal alterations are small, irregular, and vaguely outlined and are commonly related spatially to pegmatitic textures. The altered rocks were formed during crystallization of the aplite-pegmatites and are thus deuteric in nature. These deuteric alterations and other mineralogic changes related to textural variations imply the physical-chemical conditions of crystallization in the batholith. Because hydrothermal alterations in the quartz monzonite are closely similar to the deuteric ones, the deuteric alterations have some significance to the origin of ore deposits.The geometrically irregular textural variants and deuteric alterations in the aplite-pegmatites may be the result of increased vapor pressure and of concentration of mineralizers in local, hermetically sealed volumes of rock. This increase led to coarsened grain, recrystallization, to the occurrence of tourmaline and sulfides, and/or to major stability adjustments of mineral composition and crystal structure. Mineral assemblage is systemmatically related to textural type as shown by the progressive decrease of plagioclase and coarsening of grain until only separate bodies of quartz and of K-feldspar rock remain. Chemically deuteric alteration resulted in similar differentiation.The differentiation pattern of the aplite-pegmatites closely resembles Neuman9s hypothetical process of hydrothermal differentiation, leading to aplites and pegmatites and also to an aqueous product, possibly rich in ore metals. The similarity of deuteric alteration of aplite-pegmatites to hydrothermal alteration of quartz monzonite and aplite-pegmatites clearly indicates that residual magmatic fluids alone may cause all the observed features of hydrothermal alteration in the quartz monzonites. Theoretically, the migration of residual fluids into volumes of lessened pressure resulting from thermal contraction may cause the observed hydrothermal alterations of the batholith and may also transport ore-metals. These fluids also may gain additional metals released by alteration of the original rock minerals. If hydrothermal alteration releases ore metals from rock minerals, several hundred thousand tons of metal could have been made available to ore solutions from an estimated 5 cubic miles of altered batholithic rock.These three processes of ore deposition--hydrothermal differentiation, migration of fluids, and alteration release of metals--may be amenable to geochemical-geological testing. Systematic analyses of rocks of varying chemistry and structural positions are proposed as a basis for such tests.


A full scale seven-storey insitu advanced reinforced concrete building frame was constructed in the Building Research Establishment's Cardington laboratory encompassing a range of different concrete mixes and construction techniques. This provided an opportunity to use insitu non-destructive test methods, namely the Lok and CAPO tests, on a systematic basis during the construction of the building. They were used in conjunction with both standard and temperature-matched cube specimens to assess their practicality and their individual capabilities under field conditions. Results have been analysed and presented to enable comparisons of the performance of the individual test methods employed.


This essay identifies the source for the defleshing of Alexandro Aranda and the use of his skeleton as a figurehead. This identification, supported by related allusions in Melville's text, opens up an additional level of significance in "Benito Cereno." By revealing some of Melville's obliquely presented reflections on the implications of the events of Amasa Delano's Narrative , this essay enhances readings that focus primarily on the topic of African slavery in the Americas. Melville knew of this source-story from having, in his youth, read of it in three books. It concerns Edward I of England and his deathbed order for his own skeletonizing with the intent of subjugating the Scots. It stands as a historical instance of what Melville, early in "Benito Cereno," refers to as "the malign evil in man" and "what humanity is capable [of]" as a result. The two skeletons emblematize the inflicting of death—in Aranda's case, through the lethal abuses of slavery and, in Edward's, through lethal subjugation. Further allusions are identified relating to the uprisings of the Wars of Scottish Independence and the Jacobite Rebellion, to the defleshing of corpses in mos Teutonicus , to crusading, and to the death of Melville's brother Gansevoort.


Phase tuned quantum confined In2S3 nanocrystals are accessible solvothermally using task-specific ionic liquids (ILs) as structure directing agents. Selective tuning of size, shape, morphology, and, most importantly, crystal phase of In2S3 is achieved by changing the alkyl side chain length, the H-bonding, and aromatic π-stacking ability of the 1-alkyl-3- methylimidazolium bromide ILs, [Cnmim]Br (n = 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10). It is observed that crystallite size is significantly less when ILs are used compared to the synthesis without ILs keeping the other reaction parameters the same. At 150 °C, when no IL is used, pure tetragonal form of β-In2S3 appears however in the presence of [Cnmim]Br [n = 2,4], at the same reaction condition, a pure cubic phase crystallizes. However, in case of methylimidazolium bromides with longer pendant alkyl chains such as hexyl (C6), octyl (C8) or decyl (C10), nanoparticles of the tetragonal polymorph form. Likewise, judicious choice of reaction temperature and precursors has a profound effect to obtain phase pure and morphology controlled nanocrystals. Furthermore, the adsorption driven catalytic and photocatalytic activity of as-prepared nanosized indium sulfide is confirmed by studying the degradation of crystal violet (CV) dye in the presence of dark and visible light. A maximum of 94.8% catalytic efficiency is obtained for the In2S3 nanocrystals using tetramethylammonium bromide (TMAB) ionic liquid.


The diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism due to microadenoma or unilateral adrenal hyperplasia can be challenging, since hypokalaemic alkalosis, high plasma aldosterone and a definite adenoma on imaging may all be absent. Method and result. We describe three cases of resistant hypertension (on > 5 antihypertensives) where hyperaldosteronism was suspected because of a suppressed plasma renin level despite treatment with multiple drugs which normally elevate renin. Renin mass was measured by a double-site chemi-immunoluminometric assay. All patients had normal plasma aldosterone levels. Hypokalaemia was present in the first two cases but computed tomography did not show clear cut adenomas.Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) revealed lateralisation (> 4 times higher aldosterone to cortisol ratio (ACR) on the affected than contra-lateral side).The third patient was normokalaemic and AVS showed only minimal lateralisation (ACR 1.3:1).The severe hypertension in all cases was reversed by adrenalectomy, with blood pressure falling to target despite withdrawal of all but one to two drugs. Conclusions. The robotic assay of renin mass permits rapid detection of patients in whom plasma renin is suppressed below the normal range. A suppressed plasma renin indicates abnormal Na+-retention, and — when not overcome by drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers — may be the only clue to a curable adrenal adenoma.AVS is required to demonstrate lateralisation of aldosterone secretion, justifying adrenalectomy.


The cell culture obtained from dorsal root ganglia (DRG) is a valuable model used in biology or medical research. However, the effect of cryopreservation on the properties of DRG-derived cell culture of different passages remains unclear up to date. The objective of the study is to assess the effect of cryopreservation with various concentrations of cryoprotectant dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on the viability and morphological features of porcine neonatal DRG cell culture of different passages. Cell suspension was obtained from DRG of neonatal piglets and cultured in an α-MEM nutritional medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (0, 1st, and 2nd passages). Cells of different passages were cryopreserved at a cooling rate of 0.58C/min to 2208C (step 1) and 18C/min to 2808C (step 2) followed by immersion into liquid nitrogen. Cryoprotective solutions based on α-MEM nutrient medium and 25% fetal calf serum (FCS) containing 5%, 7.5%, and 10% DMSO were used. It was established that the primary culture (passage 0) consisted of four cell morphological types: large rounded cell bodies of sensory neurons (SN) and three types of non-neuronal cells, namely, polygonal cells with pronounced elongated processes (type 1), spindle-shaped cells (type 2), and multipolar flattened fibroblastoid cells (type 3). As the number of passages increases, an elimination of SN from the culture, a decrease in the relative number of 1st and 2nd cell types, and expansion of 3rd cell type were observed. DRG cell culture had sufficiently high resistance to cryopreservation as cell viability was in the range from 83% to 90% using different concentrations of DMSO. The cells of passage 1 were more resistant to cryopreservation in comparison with primary culture cells (passage 0). The best result was achieved by freezing the culture of passage 1 in the cryoprotective medium with 7.5% DMSO, where 90.6% of viable cells were observed after thawing.


This dissertation examines the 'implementation gap' and
reports evidence on progress in implementing closure of
health services at micro-implementation level.
Specifically, the research develops an historically
bound, processual and contextual account of the
development and fate of permanent closures of General
Practitioner Maternity Units (GPMU) in four
neighbouring Oxford DHAs.
The major objectives of this study are to illustrate
and analyse the process by which the 'implementation
gap' is closed and to identify. some of the potentially
important factors which help to explain the pace and
rate of change differential across health districts.
The key questions, guiding the research include: What
affects the pace of implementation? Why do districts
fail or succeed in implementing change? What affects
the 'implementability' of the GPMU closure proposals?
To make further progress towards an understanding of
implementation, this research adopts a new, eclectic,
and integrative approach: the Contextualist Approach.
One major theme underlying most of the results and
ideas presented here, is that the outcome of
implementation can be explained by the interplay
between the content, the context and the process of
implementation itself.
The research is essentially qualitative. The data
collection process comprises three main activities:
documentary search, in-depth interviews, and
ethnographic material. The strategy of data
presentation and analysis was to develop a descriptive
framework for organising the data (Yin, 1989).
A set of three interacting groups of factors is found
to affect implementability and rate and pace of change
at micro-implementation level - the nature of the
locale, leadership, and the quality of the proposal
itself.
Although other authors have studied health service
policy, this research is unique in offering an
extensive treatment of the changing policy context
under investigation. It is also the first to
investigate partial, as opposed to total, closure of
hospitals within the context of the NHS, with
particular emphasis on the GPMU.


Acute hypokalemic paralysis (AHP) is a life-threatening emergency. It is exceptionally unusual for hypothyroidism to present with AHP. This association can be either primary or secondary through distal renal tubular acidosis. We report two cases who presented with acute quadriplegia. The succeeding investigations revealed severe hypokalemia and autoimmune hypothyroidism. The second case was found to have Sjogren's syndrome additionally. The underlying aetiology of hypokalemia in both cases was found to be dRTA. The combination of such conditions is reported sporadically. Here we also discuss the potential association of AHP with autoimmune conditions by proxy through dRTA.


Continuing work by B acso and Tuza and Cozzens and Kelleher, we investigate dominating sets which induce subgraphs with small clique covering number, or small independence number. We show that if a graph G is connected and contains no induced subgraph isomorphic to P6 or Ht (the graph obtained by subdividing each edge of K1;t; t 3), then G has a dominating set which induces a connected graph with clique covering number at most t 1. We then show that if G has no isolated vertices and contains no induced subgraph isomorphic to mK2, then G contains a dominating set with independence number at most 2m 2. For both of these results, the bounds are best possible. Finally, we prove a theorem which implies similar bounds for a variety of classes of graphs, and we show that if G is connected and contains no induced subgraph isomorphic to Pk or Ht, then the domination number of G is bounded above by a constant that depends only on k, t, and the clique number of G.


BACKGROUND Hypertension exerts a substantial public health burden on cardiovascular health status and healthcare systems in India. It is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease 35 . This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity in hypertensive individuals attending the medical OPD or admitted in a tertiary care center and to determine the association of obesity with socio-economic class in hypertensive individuals. METHODS From November 2014 to May 2016, a cross sectional study was done among 200 hypertensive patients attending the OPD or admitted in tertiary care center. The following parameters were used; blood pressure, height, weight, BMI as per WHO criteria, socio-economic class based on modified Kuppuswamy scale, nutritional pattern, physical activity, alcohol intake, type of occupation- sedentary/manual and residence (urban/rural). RESULTS The significant risk factors by univariate analysis were found to be upper-middle socio-economic class, female sex, family history of hypertension, family history of diabetes, family history of dyslipidaemia, urban residence and sedentary life style. After multivariate analysis, the confounding factors were removed and it was found that female sex, sedentary life style and people from urban areas had significant independent association between hypertension and obesity. CONCLUSIONS This research revealed a higher prevalence of obesity in the urban women with hypertension and sedentary life style. The need of the hour is to develop comprehensive and flexible measures to promote adoption of a healthy diet and physical activity for the at-risk population.


BACKGROUND
The relation between spontaneous abortion and the use of video display terminals (VDTs) is of great public health concern. Previous investigators of this issue have reported inconsistent findings.

METHODS
To determine whether electromagnetic fields emitted by VDTs are associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, a cohort of female telephone operators who used VDTs at work was compared with a cohort of operators who did not use VDTs. To obtain reliable estimates of exposure, we determined the number of hours of VDT use per week from company records and measured electromagnetic fields at VDT workstations and, for purposes of comparison, at workstations without VDTs. Operators who used VDTs had higher abdominal exposure to very-low-frequency (15 kHz) electromagnetic fields (workstations without VDTs did not emit very-low-frequency energy). Abdominal exposure to extremely-low-frequency fields (45 to 60 Hz) was similar for both operators who used VDTs and those who did not. Among 2430 women interviewed, there were 882 pregnancies that met our criteria for inclusion in the study.

RESULTS
We found no excess risk of spontaneous abortion among women who used VDTs during the first trimester of pregnancy (odds ratio = 0.93; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.63 to 1.38), and no dose-response relation was apparent when we examined the women's hours of VDT use per week (odds ratio for 1 to 25 hours per week = 1.04; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.61 to 1.79; odds ratio for greater than 25 hours per week = 1.00; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.61 to 1.64). There continued to be no risk associated with the use of VDTs when we accounted for multiple pregnancies, conducted separate analyses of early abortion, late abortion, and all fetal losses, or limited our analyses to spontaneous abortions for which a physician was consulted.

CONCLUSIONS
The use of VDTs and exposure to the accompanying electromagnetic fields were not associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion in this study.


Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia is a relatively common lesion of the breast. In general, it is less commonly found as a clinically palpable mass and is more commonly found as incidental microscopic foci. It is a benign proliferative, probably neoplastic, hormonally driven process of the mammary stromal myofibroblasts. The clinical, radiologic, and cytologic findings can resemble those of fibroadenoma. Histologically, it can be confused with low-grade angiosarcoma. The exact etiology of pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia is still controversial, but a neoplastic process of the stromal myofibroblasts, with a hormonal stimulus in its development and progression, is the favored theory. Most lesions can be cured by complete surgical excision, and patients undergoing the excision have a good prognosis.


Free space optics communication (FSO) offers several advantages over its counterpart radio frequency (RF) systems in terms of bandwidth, data rates, and cost efficiency. However, FSO, being a line-of-sight (LoS) communication system, is hindered by various environmental factors. In this paper, we propose a multihop decode-and-forward (DF) relaying-based intelligent reflecting surface (IRS)-assisted FSO system with an aim to deal with the impediments in FSO communication, and it is assumed that each IRS consists of multiple reflecting elements. Specifically, we derive end-to-end expressions for cumulative distribution function (CDF) of output instantaneous signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Furthermore, with the aid of the CDF statistics, we study the performance of the proposed system by obtaining the expressions for outage probability (OP) and average symbol error rate (ASER) in terms of multivariate Fox's H-function. Moreover, we have quantified the system performance by numerical results. The numerical results show that the multihop IRS-assisted FSO system provides better performance when compared to a single-hop IRS-assisted FSO system and multihop FSO system without IRS. Finally, the derived expressions of OP and ASER are validated using Monte-Carlo simulations.


ABSTRACT In this paper, I discuss how professional identities in early childhood education in Chile are performatively constituted within the interplay between a religious discourse of vocation and gender. 'Having the vocation' has become a regime of truth that regulates and governs educators' behaviours, motivations and relationships in their workplace. By deconstructing the concept of vocation through a poststructuralist and feminist theory, I show the arising tensions in this discourse, emphasising that it positions female early childhood educators as a subject of both exploitation and admiration. Vocation shapes early years practitioners not only as nurturing and caring, but deeply altruist, devoted and self-sacrificed women seeking (eternal) salvation. Exposing the contradictory nature of this discourse, the article highlights its tensions with the professionalization of the early years workforce. Whilst vocation situates practitioners as good educators and morally good women, it allows for workforce exploitation, trapping them in hazardous working conditions.


BACKGROUND
To investigate the association between degree of nicotine dependence and unhealthy nutrition, lack of physical activity, and hazardous alcohol drinking.

METHODS
Data with respect to cigarette and alcohol consumption, nutrition, and physical activity was collected in a representative general population sample (N = 4.075).

RESULTS
Smokers with high compared to moderate and low degrees of nicotine dependence consume unhealthy foods more frequently, report less physical activity and more hazardous alcohol drinking.

CONCLUSION
From a public health point of view, special secondary preventive interventions for smokers with high nicotine dependence and additional unhealthy behaviours are necessary.


Opioid prescribing for postoperative pain management is challenging because of inter‐patient variability in opioid response and concern about opioid addiction. Tramadol, hydrocodone, and codeine depend on the cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) enzyme for formation of highly potent metabolites. Individuals with reduced or absent CYP2D6 activity (i.e., intermediate metabolizers [IMs] or poor metabolizers [PMs], respectively) have lower concentrations of potent opioid metabolites and potentially inadequate pain control. The primary objective of this prospective, multicenter, randomized pragmatic trial is to determine the effect of postoperative CYP2D6‐guided opioid prescribing on pain control and opioid usage. Up to 2020 participants, age ≥8 years, scheduled to undergo a surgical procedure will be enrolled and randomized to immediate pharmacogenetic testing with clinical decision support (CDS) for CYP2D6 phenotype‐guided postoperative pain management (intervention arm) or delayed testing without CDS (control arm). CDS is provided through medical record alerts and/or a pharmacist consult note. For IMs and PM in the intervention arm, CDS includes recommendations to avoid hydrocodone, tramadol, and codeine. Patient‐reported pain‐related outcomes are collected 10 days and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. The primary outcome, a composite of pain intensity and opioid usage at 10 days postsurgery, will be compared in the subgroup of IMs and PMs in the intervention (n = 152) versus the control (n = 152) arm. Secondary end points include prescription pain medication misuse scores and opioid persistence at 6 months. This trial will provide data on the clinical utility of CYP2D6 phenotype‐guided opioid selection for improving postoperative pain control and reducing opioid‐related risks.


Background To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and outcome of laparoscopic kidney transplantation (LKT) after retroperitoneoscopic living-donor nephrectomy. Methods Between February 2010 and January 2012, a total of 217 renal transplantations were performed from living donors by a single surgical unit. All living-donor nephrectomies were performed by retroperitoneoscopic approach. Recipient surgery was performed either laparoscopically (n=72) or by conventional open approach (n=145). In the LKT group, a 5 to 6 cm Pfannenstiel incision was placed and the kidney was dropped into abdomen. Renal vessels were anastomosed by freehand suturing technique. Calcineurin inhibitor–based immunosuppressants were given. Results The mean operative time was 223.8 and 175.7 min (P=0.07) and the rewarming time was 60.3 and 30.3 min (P=0.03) in the LKT and open kidney transplantation (OKT) groups, respectively. The estimated glomerular filtration rate value on days 7 and 30 was significantly less in the LKT group, but no difference was found at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. The mean wound length was 5.5 and 17.8 cm (P=0.0001) and the analgesic requirement was 1.4 and 3.2 mg morphine equivalent in first 24 hr (P=0.005) in the LKT and OKT groups, respectively. In the LKT group, four cases required conversion to open surgery due to vascular complications and one for urinary leak. Kaplan-Meier curve shows 86.5% and 94.6% (P=0.086) and patient survival is 94.1% and 94.7% (P=0.745) at 22.3 months of follow-up. Conclusions LKT after living-donor nephrectomy is feasible, but it has steep learning curve. Graft fixation with peritoneal fold is necessary to avoid torsion and related graft loss. Pain after LKT is significantly less compared with conventional OKT.


In the years 1965-1990 in the hospital department for treatment of spinal injuries 1330 patients with spinal lesions at the C5-Th1 levels were treated after admission early after trauma. The most frequent causes of injuries of this part of the spine were falls from horsecarts, jumping into water head first and traffic accidents. The relationship was analysed between the degree of spinal cord injury and the mechanism of spine injury, and also the results were compared of conservative and surgical treatment. The most severe damage to the spinal cord was observed after traumas involving the flexion mechanism. Typical crush fractures of vertebral bodies had be best prognosis. Significant neurological improvement was obtained in over 50% of the treated patients, and it was more pronounced and occurred more frequently after surgical treatment.


This paper introduces a new control topology for converter-interfaced wind turbines. Through a singular perturbation decomposition of the system dynamics, a controller is designed that isolates wind-power fluctuations from the power grid. Specifically, the controller causes the closed-loop wind turbine to behave as a simple first-order power filter, where power injected into the grid is a low-pass filtered version of the incident wind power. It is shown that a turbine hub-speed instability imposes a limit on the largest filtering time constant that may be safely implemented. A linearized analysis is used to calculate how a small filter time constant can be implemented to obtain regulation of the tip-speed ratio for the widest range of frequencies. The methodology thus offers the possibility to either deliver a filtered power at suboptimal conversion efficiency or track peak wind power. It is mathematically demonstrated that the control structure achieves the regulation of torsional dynamics and the dc-link capacitor voltage without involving the grid-side converter controls, thus eliminating the influence of those dynamics on the grid. Simulation studies are used to demonstrate the methodology's viability and explore the associated tradeoffs.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of a single treatment of topical and subconjunctival 0.1% preservative-free morphine sulfate (PFMS) in providing analgesia following phacoemulsification in dogs.

ANIMALS STUDIED
Ten diabetic and ten non-diabetic client-owned dogs treated with bilateral phacoemulsification.

PROCEDURES
A prospective, randomized, masked, negative-controlled clinical trial was performed. All dogs received topical (0.2 mL) and subconjunctival (0.1 mL) 0.1% PFMS in one eye following phacoemulsification. The other eye received an equal volume and mode of administration of balanced salt solution (BSS). Ophthalmic examination, blinking rates, tearing, conjunctival hyperemia, aqueous flare, and central corneal esthesiometry (CCE) were evaluated in all eyes 1 day prior to surgery and at 4, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. Complete physical examination, ocular ultrasound, electroretinogram, hemogram, and serum biochemistry panel were performed in all dogs prior to phacoemulsification. All dogs received the standard of care treatment before and after surgery, including uniform anesthetic protocol.

RESULTS
Baseline ophthalmic exams were unremarkable, except for the presence of cataracts, in all dogs. The mean CCE (±SD) at 4 hours post-operatively was 1.76 ± 1.27 g/mm2 and 1.85 ± 1.5 g/mm2 for the negative control and PFMS groups, respectively. There were no statistical differences in blepharospasm, conjunctival hyperemia, tearing, aqueous flare, blinking rates, CCE, or intraocular pressure (IOP) between the treatment groups for any of the time points for the non-diabetic and diabetic dogs, or for all dogs combined (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS
Topical and subconjunctival 0.1% PFMS did not affect the evaluated parameters after phacoemulsification in the study dogs at the timepoints assessed.


Like most global agro-industrial commodity chains today, the global cocoa - chocolate industry is buyer-driven. However, the chain is characterized by the lead role of a few transnational companies in two different segments: the grinders (processors of cocoa)and the branders (manufacturers of chocolate), a structural pattern identified in other so-called turn-key industries consisting of contract manufacturers and brand-name firms. The paper examines two important spatial sub-systems of the chain: the national cocoa bean supply system in Ghana and the regional cocoa trading-storing-grinding complex in the Zaanstreek, Amsterdam. The structural patterns and relationships in these sub-systems suggest that the dynamics of 'bi-polar' buyer-driven chains is best comprehended in terms of various types of containment strategies of the leadfirms, i.e. efforts to defend and improve their positions on the global market by creating competition among their suppliers and expanding their customers.


Organizations will get benefit when workers are having good relationship among themselves. An interpersonal relationship is the nature of interaction that occurs between two or more people. People in an interpersonal relationship may interact overtly, covertly, face-to-face or even anonymously. Interpersonal relationships occur between people who fill each other's explicit or implicit physical or emotional needs in some way. Interpersonal relationships may occur with their colleagues, superiors and subordinators in Dover Company in Bangalore. The main intentions of this paper is explaining the importance, types and how to improve interpersonal relations at work between employees, how the interpersonal relations at work are influenced by employees' backgrounds. The demographic characteristics of employees that were expected to influence their perceptions of interpersonal relations were: the age, gender, educational level, and hierarchical level for which they work. The interpersonal relations between the coworkers, superiors and subordinators can be understood from this paper.


Overexpression of apolipoprotein (apo) AIV in transgenic mice confers significant protection against atherosclerosis in apoE knockout animals even in the presence of a more severe atherogenic lipid profile. Because lipoprotein oxidation has been recognized to be pivotal in development of atherosclerosis, the antioxidative activity of apoAIV was investigated. Fasting intestinal lymph was used to mimic conditions in the interstitial fluid, the potential site for lipoprotein oxidation in vivo. ApoAIV (10 μg/ml) significantly inhibited copper-mediated oxidation of lymph. This inhibitory effect was further evaluated using purified low-density lipoprotein. Addition of apoAIV (2.5 μg/ml) increased the time of 50% conjugated diene formation by 2.4-fold, whereas apoE or BSA did not show such a protection even at 20 μg/ml. Addition of apoAIV during the propagation phase also resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition. ApoAIV also protected macrophage-induced oxidation of fasting lymph. These results provide the first evidence that apoAIV is a potent endogenous antioxidant.


The purpose of this paper is to draw a comparison between the two types of temporality in pervasive games that explore diegese the chronos ordinary everyday life, the aion of the object and image of the fictional filmic records of these games, from the contributions of Deleuze. As an object, we will analyze some audiovisual records to reflect on the temporal organization of narrative in the events surrounding the event. We seek, therefore, to argue that there is a relationship between the aesthetic and filmic record game action in relation to the ordinary time.


Objectives Electroacupuncture (EA) therapy has been widely accepted as a useful therapeutic technique with low or no risk in the clinical prevention from cardiac disease. However, the physiological mechanism underlying this protective effect remains unclear. The current study investigates the effects of EA pretreatment on myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury in mice and its possible signalling pathway. Methods Up to 100 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into Sham, MI/R, EA + MI/R, EA (-) + MI/R, and AM630 + EA + MI/R groups (n = 20, each group). The mice in EA + MI/R and AM630 + EA + MI/R groups received EA pretreatment for 30 min before MI/R. Five minutes before EA pretreatment, mice received intraperitoneal injection of the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) selective inhibitor AM630 (20 mg/kg) or vehicle. Left anterior descending coronary artery ligature in mice was performed for 30 min, and the myocardium was reperfused for 3 h after knot release (for apoptosis, oxidative stress, and CB2 expression) or 24 h (for cardiac function and infarct size determination). Results EA pretreatment significantly ameliorated MI/R-induced myocardial injury, evidenced by increased cardiac function, reduced infarct size, and decreased apoptosis in mice. This was associated with a reduction of oxidative stress in the infarcted myocardium, which was through CB2. Administration of AM630 before EA pretreatment didn't improve cardiac function and inhibit oxidative stress. The expression of CB2 was up-regulated in hearts after EA pretreatment, as well as content of N-arach-idonoylethanolamine-anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) in heart tissue. Furthermore, the expression of AMPK and PGC-1α in the left ventricular myocardial tissue was decreased in MI/R group, while increased in EA pretreatment group. Preinjection of CB2 inhibitor AM630 could partially decreased the EA pretreatment-mediated AMPK or PGC-1α expression. Conclusions Pretreatment with EA increases the production of endocannabinoid, which elicits protective effects against MI/R injury through CB2 activation. The mechanism of this effect is related to the activation of AMPK/PGC-1α pathways, followed by an inhibition of oxidative stress. These results suggest a novel mechanism of EA pretreatment-induced protective effects on MI/R.


This paper analyzes renewable energy feed-in tariff (FIT) programmes in the context of World Trade Organization (WTO) subsidy rules. By examining the functioning of the FIT programmes implemented by the Canadian province of Ontario, Germany and the United Kingdom (UK) the paper explores how current subsidy rules may treat FIT programmes. The issue formally entered the halls of the WTO when a dispute was lodged with the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) in September 2010 over Ontario's feed-in tariff scheme (Canada-Renewable Energy (Japan)). A second case on the same measure followed in August 2011 (Canada-Feed-in Tariff (EU)). The FIT programme in question contains a controversial local-content provision which requires up to 60% of input of the project to be resourced in Ontario. Japan and the EU argue that this disadvantages producers outside Ontario and amounts to an illegal subsidy. In particular this decision to file the dispute under the WTO's subsidy accord has attracted great attention. In an effort to inform the debate on the matter, the main question that this paper addresses is whether WTO rules, specifically the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement), prohibit FIT programmes as illegal subsidies and if so, on which grounds. The paper also assesses whether there are any exceptions available, in particular whether Article XX of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) could apply.


Maritime SMEs play a key role in South Africa's results-driven approach to economic development, code-named 'Operation Phakisa'; whose main aim is to address the triple bottom challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequality. It is disdain that maritime SMEs face the dilemma of building good operating and governance structures while trying to foster ecoentrepreneurial spirit. Eco-entrepreneurship helps foster sustainable business operations driven by environmentally sensitive entrepreneurs. Many SMEs struggle to manage their operational sustainability due to high costs of ecological activities along the coastline, where they are exposed to entrepreneurial risks. A quantitative research approach was conducted to collect data by way of a purposive snowball sampling method used to identify maritime SMEs in Cape Town. Results show that maritime SMEs in Cape Town are exposed to substantial amount of entrepreneurial risks, deterring overall entrepreneurial performance, especially from the ecological and technological perspective. These entrepreneurial risks include environmental, technological, financial, market and strategic risks. In spite of their lack of experience, ecoentrepreneurs highly regard themselves as knowledgeable; and that they revealed awareness of social issues and related environmental risks. However, they do not have means and ways to resolve the issues. The results also indicate that although maritime SMEs have written policies that incorporate optimum levels of training on ecological importance, poor ethical standards are still prevalent within their operational environments. Surprisingly, these SMEs perceive social environment as an important factor to them within their business community. The findings in this study support ongoing body of research, having potential to seize opportunities, find solutions and possibly help eradicate vulnerability issues and enhance entrepreneurial risk mitigation. This paper adds value to research focused on the ocean economy, and also proposes possible future studies.


This paper deals with the recovery of clean images from a set of their noisy convolutive mixtures. In practice, this problem can be seen as the one of simultaneously separating and restoring source images that have been first degraded by unknown filters, then summed up and added with noise. We approach this problem in the framework of Blind Source Separation (BSS), where the unknown filters, in our case FIR filters in the form of blur kernels, must be estimated jointly with the sources. Assuming the statistical independence of the source images, we adopt Bayesian estimation for all the unknowns, and exploit information about local correlation within the individual sources through the use of suitable Gibbs priors, accounting also for well-behaved edges in the images. We derive an algorithm for recovering the blur kernels that make the estimated sources fit the known properties of the original sources. The method is validated through numerical experiments in a simplified setting, which is however related to real application scenarios.