Background: Vitamin D supplementation for fracture prevention is widespread despite conflicting interpretation of relevant randomised controlled trial (RCT) evidence. This study summarises quantitatively the current evidence from RCTs and observational studies regarding vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and hip fracture risk. Methods: We undertook separate meta-analyses of RCTs examining vitamin D supplementation and hip fracture, and observational studies of serum vitamin D status (25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level), PTH and hip fracture. Results from RCTs were combined using the reported hazard ratios/relative risks (RR). Results from case-control studies were combined using the ratio of 25(OH)D and PTH measurements of hip fracture cases compared with controls. Original published studies of vitamin D, PTH and hip fracture were identified through PubMed and Web of Science databases, searches of reference lists and forward citations of key papers. Results: The seven eligible RCTs identified showed no significant difference in hip fracture risk in those randomised to cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol supplementation versus placebo/control (RR = 1.13[95%CI 0.98-1.29]; 801 cases), with no significant difference between trials of <800 IU/day and ≥800 IU/day. The 17 identified case-control studies found 33% lower serum 25(OH)D levels in cases compared to controls, based on 1903 cases. This difference was significantly greater in studies with population-based compared to hospital-based controls (χ1 (heterogeneity) = 51.02, p < 0.001) and significant heterogeneity was present overall (χ16 (heterogeneity) = 137.9, p < 0.001). Serum PTH levels in hip fracture cases did not differ significantly from controls, based on ten case-control studies with 905 cases (χ9 (heterogeneity) = 149.68, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Neither higher nor lower dose vitamin D supplementation prevented hip fracture. Randomised and observational data on vitamin D and hip fracture appear to differ. The reason for this is unclear; one possible explanation is uncontrolled confounding in observational studies. Post-fracture PTH levels are unrelated to hip fracture


We investigate the interplay of radial size and density segregation in a three-dimensional cylinder numerically. By fixing the size ratio of a binary particle mixture and varying the density of the smaller particle, we find a very surprising segregation dynamics in the case of a counter-balance of size segregation by density segregation. It can be best described by a "segregation wave" propagating through the system which has dissolved completely by the time it has reached the cylinder boundary.


Reactive metal penetration is a novel method for the preparation of A1,03/Al matrix composites . In metal matrix in -situ composites generally the reinforcing phase
is produced by chemical reaction in the molten matrix phase . However, in the reactive metal infiltration process the matrix phase , viz. Al_03 is produced in-situ by chemical reaction between SiO, and molten aluminium,

SiO, + Al = A1,,03 + Si

The paper deals with the preparation of the in-situ composite and its microstructural features. The method offers the possibility of producing net-shape or near
net-shape composites.


Liver biopsy is the gold standard method to assess nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) resolution after therapeutic interventions. We developed and validated a simple and noninvasive scoring system to predict NASH resolution without fibrosis worsening after 1 year of lifestyle intervention. This was a prospective cohort study conducted in 261 patients with histologically proven NASH who were treated with lifestyle changes for 52 weeks and underwent a second liver biopsy to confirm NASH resolution. We divided the data into development (140 subjects) and validation (121 individuals) sets. NASH resolution occurred in 28% (derivation group) and 27% (validation group). At the multivariable analysis, weight loss (odds ratio [OR] = 2.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.65‐4.58; P < 0.01), type 2 diabetes (OR = 0.04, 95% CI 0.005‐0.49; P = 0.01), normal levels of alanine aminotransferase at the end of intervention (OR = 9.84, 95% CI 2.21‐44.1; P < 0.01), age (OR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.83‐0.97; P = 0.01), and a nonalcoholic fatty liver activity score ≥5 (OR = 0.08, 95% CI 0.01‐0.43; P < 0.01) were independent predictors of NASH resolution. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the selected model was 0.956 and 0.945 in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. Using a score threshold of ≤46.15, negative predictive values were 92% in the derivation and validation groups, respectively. By applying a cutoff ≥69.72, positive predictive values were 92% and 89% in the derivation and validation groups, respectively. Using both cutoffs, a liver biopsy would have been avoided in 229 (88%) of 261 patients, with a correct prediction in 209 (91%) Conclusions: A noninvasive prediction model including weight loss, type 2 diabetes, alanine aminotransferase normalization, age, and a nonalcoholic fatty liver activity score ≥5 may be useful to identify NASH resolution in patients under lifestyle intervention. (Hepatology 2016;63:1875‐1887)


Plesiosaurian relationships have been subject to considerable debate at both higher and lower levels within the date. Recent fieldwork in the Uppermost Jurassic of the Agardhfjellet Formation on central Spitsbergen has uncovered numerous ichthyosaurians and plesiosaurian remains, including three new plesiosauroids, one new pliosauroid referrable to Pliosaurus, and a previously described, re-classified taxon. The phylogenetic relationships of these five taxa were investigated based on data sets previously constructed for global plesiosaurian relationships. Two specimens from the British Kimmeridge Clay Formation and a Russian Volgian (uppermost Jurassic) taxon referrable to Pliosaurus were added to the data matrix to improve the phylogenetic resolution of this genus. The results yielded a tree topology closely conforming to the traditional plesiosauroid and pliosauroid dichotomy, nesting Leptocleidia within the latter. Pliosaurus forms a monophyletic clade containing all currently recognised species. The three new long-necked taxa form a monophyletic sister group to the Cretaceous Elasmosauridae. These results should, however, be considered preliminary pending the discovery of more complete cranial material and adult specimens.


Ensemble data assimilation systems incorporate observations into numerical models via solution of the Kalman filter update equations, and estimates of forecast error covariances derived from ensembles of model integrations. In this paper, a particular algorithm, the ensemble square root filter (EnSRF), is tested in a limited-area, polar numerical weather prediction (NWP) model: the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (AMPS). For application in the real-time AMPS, the number of model integrations that can be run to provide forecast error covariances is limited, resulting in an ensemble sampling error that degrades the analysis fit to observations. In this work, multivariate, climatologically plausible forecast error covariances are specified via averaged forecast difference statistics. Ensemble representations of the "true" forecast errors, created using randomized control variables of the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU–NCAR) Mesoscale Model (MM5) three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) data assimilation system, are then used to assess the dependence of sampling error on ensemble size, data density, and localization of covariances using simulated observation networks. Results highlight the detrimental impact of ensemble sampling error on the analysis increment structure of correlated, but unobserved fields—an issue not addressed by the spatial covariance localization techniques used to date. A 12-hourly cycling EnSRF/AMPS assimilation/forecast system is tested for a two-week period in December 2002 using real, conventional (surface, rawinsonde, satellite retrieval) observations. The dependence of forecast scores on methods used to maintain ensemble spread and the inclusion of perturbations to lateral boundary conditions are studied.


The author analyses the personage of professor Grzegorz Leopold Seidler from the angle of contradictions existing in himself, assuming the convention of spinning out the digressions and references to arts and literature which was familiar to the professor. Professor Seidler was using the term of antinomy in his lectures of philosophy of law willingly: he was talking of antinomies in law, presenting them against a background of history of philosophy and political-legal doctrines, also embracing 20th century. In fact he was full of internal contradictions himself, both in his life as well as in his academic achievements. Erudition, intellectual depth of ideas of the professor is stressed, as well as the conditions of time and place, which created the liaison with Marxism, application of methodology of dialectical and historical materialism, when his intellectual friability was exposed, involvement in ideology and affiliation with communist party. Family and intellectual roots of the Professor were presented, development in interwar period, being in the circle of right wing elites of pre-war Poland. The author discusses the studies at Jagiellonian University, first academic achievements, raised under the wings of professor M. Starzewski and professor J. Lande – student of L. Petrazycki, including the political system and history of political-legal ideology. The attention is drawn to work in the Library of the Sejm and the Senate, stressing the connection of the professor with the establishment of those times. The essay ends with considerations on spiritual transformation which took place within the last 15 days of life of G.L. Seidler, on his role in rebirth of Rotary in Poland and on his last dissertations and attitude to the reality. The far route, which Professor Seidler passed, was fascinating but also very complicated: 1. Grzegorz Leopold – during the baptism he was bestowed, for the future, with block of real estates with the name Goldenkugel at Św. Marcin street in Poznan by his paternal uncle generously, by his grandmother – relative of Romaszkan Lvov archbishop of Armenian Rite. 2. Son of popular solicitor [adwokat] – member of Supreme Bar Council, senator of the Republic of Poland and co-author of April Constitution of Poland. 3. Perfecting academic skills under the wings of the so called sanacja regime (1926–1939) professor of Jagiellonian University Maciej Starzewski and Jerzy Lande – student of Leon Petrazycki. 4. Favourite of gray eminence of sanacja regime and important figure of first ten years of People's Republic of Poland – Henryk Kolodziejski. 5. Participant of Polish September Campaign 1939. 6. Erudite, thinker, expert in political systems at state and legal systems, philosophy, history of thought, literature and arts. 7. Marxist and comrade. 8. Cosmopolitan and polyglot – man of the world, he followed the fashion faultlessly like an English gentleman – with tailor-made suits, a Chesterfield coat, a Homburg hat, and with a cane. 9. Citizen of the world, in contact with great people of this world through his whole life. 10. Finally professor, rector and co-creator of UMCS, visiting-professor at prestigious Western universities, not free of ideological concessions and payment of tribute of conformity, using "the attractions of the court". 11. "Surgeon", who called for amputation of social entity, which was created from social and national revolt against totalitarianism and degradation of a man. his own harm and to no purpose. 13. Finally returning to – in modesty of his spirit – his roots, rich in imponderables, both on the spear side and distaff side. One big antinomy.


Lagrangian transport in the dynamical systems approach has so far been investigated disregarding the connection between the whole state space and the concept of observability. Key issues such as the definitions of Lagrangian and chaotic mixing are revisited under this light, establishing the importance of rewriting nonautonomous flow systems derived from a stream function in autonomous form, and of not restricting the characterization of their dynamics in subspaces. The observability of Lagrangian chaos from a reduced set of measurements is illustrated with two canonical examples: the Lorenz system derived as a low-dimensional truncation of the Rayleigh-Bénard convection equations and the driven double-gyre system introduced as a kinematic model of configurations observed in the ocean. A symmetrized version of the driven double-gyre model is proposed.


Close to one half of the LHC events are expected to be due to elastic or inelastic diffractive scattering. Still, predictions based on extrapolations of experimental data at lower energies differ by large factors in estimating the relative rate of diffractive event categories at the LHC energies. By identifying diffractive events, detailed studies on proton structure can be carried out.
The combined forward physics objects: rapidity gaps, forward multiplicity and transverse energy flows can be used to efficiently classify proton-proton collisions. Data samples recorded by the forward detectors, with a simple extension, will allow first estimates of the single diffractive (SD), double diffractive (DD), central diffractive (CD), and non-diffractive (ND) cross sections. The approach, which uses the measurement of inelastic activity in forward and central detector systems, is complementary to the detection and measurement of leading beam-like protons.
In this investigation, three different multivariate analysis approaches are assessed in classifying forward physics processes at the LHC. It is shown that with gene expression programming, neural networks and support vector machines, diffraction can be efficiently identified within a large sample of simulated proton-proton scattering events. The event characteristics are visualized by using the self-organizing map algorithm.


Alteplase is a recombinant form of human tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) that converts plasminogen to plasmin essential for fibrinolysis. It is commonly used to treat embolic or thrombotic disorders such as ischemic stroke. Despite its rarity use in ophthalmology, we are reporting the effectiveness of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) in treating an eye with secondary pupillary block as a consequence of severe endophthalmitis. A patient presented with acute endophthalmitis after a complicated cataract extraction. Examination showed severe anterior chamber reaction leading to seclusion pupillae, iris bombe and presence of iridocorneal touch 360-degree. Following intracameral alteplase 2.5 microgram in 0.1 ml given, iris bombe was observed to resolve completely onehour later. Anterior chamber was also significantly deeper and slightly larger pupil compared to before rtPA injection. Due to clearer view of anterior segment, pars planar vitrectomy and extraction of intraocular lens could be performed with significant visual improvement after surgery. Our findings suggest that usage of rtPA, which is alteplase, was effective in treating secondary pupillary block due to intense anterior segment inflammation in endophthalmitis cases. Thus it is useful in replacing the conventional use of laser peripheral iridotomy in treating pupillary block, as the latter potentially aggravates the pre-existing inflammatory condition.


The UBS Virtual Maestro is an interactive conducting system designed by Immersion Music to simulate the experience of orchestral conducting for the general public attending a classical music concert. The system utilizes the Wii Remote, which users hold and move like a conducting baton to affect the tempo and dynamics of an orchestral video/audio recording. The accelerometer data from the Wii Remote is used to control playback speed and volume in real-time. The system is housed in a UBSbranded kiosk that has toured classical performing arts venues throughout the United States and Europe in 2007 and 2008. In this paper we share our experiences in designing this standalone system for thousands of users, and lessons that we learned from the project.


Purpose: Quantitative measurement of minimal residual disease predicting recurrence in individual cancer patients is available only in very few indications, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but is still missing in most solid tumors, including non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Experimental Design: MAGE-A expression levels in blood and bone marrow determined as calibrator-normalized relative ratios by quantitative multimarker real-time RT-PCR for transcript amplification of MAGE-A1, -A2, -A3/6, -A4, -A10, and -A12 in 94 patients with completely resected NSCLC were correlated with survival in a clinical study. Results: Patients with MAGE-A expression levels ≥0.2 in at least one sample of bone marrow or blood at tumor surgery had a significantly reduced overall (P = 0.007), cancer-free (P = 0.002), and distant metastasis–free survival (P < 0.001) versus patients below 0.2 in all samples without significant difference in locoregional recurrence–free survival. The corresponding HRs (≥0.2 vs. <0.2) for death, cancer-related death, and development of distant metastasis were 2.56 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.42–4.63], 3.32 (95% CI, 1.66–6.61), and 4.03 (95% CI, 1.77–9.18), respectively. Five-year Kaplan–Meier estimates of distant metastasis–free survival were 43% (MAGE-A ≥ 0.2) versus 87% (MAGE-A < 0.2). Conclusions: MAGE-A expression in blood or bone marrow at tumor surgery is an independent predictor of survival in resected NSCLC. The reliable prediction of distant metastasis in individual patients with a statistically proven impact on overall survival may help to refine patient selection for adjuvant therapy urgently needed, especially in the clinical management of elderly patients. Clin Cancer Res; 23(5); 1213–9. ©2016 AACR.


The paper reflects on the experience of preparing a 'From the Editors' (FTE) editorial for The Academy of Management Review that went through a process of editorial evaluation prior to its rejection. It provides a detailed example of an encounter between orthodox and heterodox forms of scholarship, illuminating their distinctive value-orientations and forms of engagement. Its specific focus is upon evaluative criteria applied, accountability of decision-making and the mobilization of scholarly aspirations and ethical principles in the preparation and assessment of the FTE. Its intent is to stimulate debate on what it means to 'challenge conventional wisdom' – an aim that is broadly shared by 'top' journals in the field of management and organization.


We tested whether clinically-relevant, vascular-origin low frequency oscillations (LFOs) in 0.05–0.15 Hz could be derived on routinely-acquired resting-state BOLD-fMRI to determine their potential as a marker of vascular dysfunction in cerebral small vessel disease. Our case control study in 840 UK Biobank participants showed a statistically significant increase in LFOs in the arterial vessels of participants with high white matter hyperintensities, consistent with greater transmission of arterial blood pressure to the cerebral circulation in subjects with increased arterial stiffness. LFOs could provide a practical measure, applicable to large datasets and clinical practice, as an index of intracerebral vascular dysfunction.


Hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) is widely used in authentication and message integrity. As a Chinese hash algorithm, the SM3 algorithm is gradually winning domestic market value in China. The side channel security of HMAC based on SM3 (HMAC-SM3) is still to be evaluated, especially in hardware implementation, where only intermediate values stored in registers have apparent Hamming distance leakage. In addition, the algorithm structure of SM3 determines the difficulty in HMAC-SM3 side channel analysis. In this paper, a skillful bit-wise chosen-plaintext correlation power attack procedure is proposed for HMAC-SM3 hardware implementation. Real attack experiments on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) board have been performed. Experimental results show that we can recover the key from the hypothesis space of 2256 based on the proposed procedure.


A novel and sensitive approach for the accurate determination of antimony (Sb) in natural waters is described using photochemical vapor generation (PVG) coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) for detection. Utilizing a unique flow-through photochemical reactor capable of subjecting the samples to deep-UV (185 nm) radiation, generation efficiency was found to be independent of whether Sb(III), Sb(V), or organometallic species [trimethyltantimony(V)dibromine, TMSb(V)] were present, eliminating the shortcoming of Sb species depended sensitivity encountered during direct solution nebulization by ICPMS. Furthermore, the potentially severe matrix effect from seawater was efficiently eliminated by using a mixture of 5% (v/v) formic and 15% acetic acids (v/v) as the photochemical reductant, making direct determination of Sb in seawater feasible. The proposed method provides a 15-fold improvement in sensitivity over direct solution nebulization. A method detection limit of 0.0006 ng g(-1) based on external calibration was obtained (0.0002 ng g(-1) for isotope dilution), yielding a 15-fold improvement over that for direct solution nebulization. Accuracy is demonstrated by analysis of two water certified reference materials (CRMs, e.g., SLRS-6 and NIST 1640a) with satisfying results. In addition, spike recoveries of 100.6 ± 5.5% and 100.8 ± 3.8% (standard deviation, n = 3) were obtained for NASS-6 and CASS-5 seawater CRMs, respectively, since no certified values for Sb has been established for these materials. The performance of several calibration strategies, including double isotope dilution (ID), multiple and single-point gravimetric standard additions with internal standardization, as well as multiple and single-point gravimetric standard additions alone was examined. High precision of determination of Sb in four natural water samples (0.51-1.4%) was realized based on ID calibration, whereas one-point gravimetric standard addition calibration with internal standardization provided precisions of 1.6% and 3.3% at 0.22 and 0.44 ng g(-1) levels, respectively, in seawater.


Driven by the ever increasing need for mastering systems complexity in dynamic environments, self-adaptation becomes an important requirement for software systems. Crucially, system consistency must not be compromised during adaptation. In this paper, we approach behavioural adaptations of component-based systems and address the challenge of consistency preservation. To safely adapt an individual component, we provide the usage of alternative adaptation processes rather than being limited to a single one. These processes efficiently manage dependencies between components, even if they are cyclic. In addition, we introduce coordination protocols that can be used when a change of a component may cascade across other components. The amount of required coordination directly depends on the type of adaptation process intended to be performed. Formal models help us to give further confidence in the correctness of the protocols.


In this ecological poetic inquiry, I contemplate a curriculum of silence, discipline and student bodies. As I seek to work through and against the entrenched-knowings of school and schooling in these ecologically urgent times, I contemplate how children's bodies are disciplined, how the voices of nature are silenced, how dominance rears its head through the myths of competition, progress and human supremacy. The cluster of poems is a consideration of some of the ways in which bells, security screening systems, silent lunchrooms, dead-lines, and all of the so-called "practical necessities" of schools, serve to silence and marginalize the voices, beings and bodies implicated in the industrial-powerful places and ecologically barren times of education. I ask, what wild, young-old, creaking, sleeping voices, beings and bodies need to be considered in our curriculum encounters? In response to David Geoffrey Smith's (2014) call for educators to "reimagine new, wiser, human possibilities" (p. 1), I consider how educators may encounter ecological possibilities for a curriculum of living.


The purpose of this research work is to evaluate the functionality of the intrusion detection systems (IDS) based on Open Source platforms using the anomalies detection technique, defining several concepts about intrusion detection systems. For the evaluation of the IDS a methodology based on the application and quasi-experimental research was used, considering the existing knowledge and the implementation of the cases of: learning, simulation of attacks and application by means of virtual scenarios, on which they were installed the Snort, Suricata and Bro IDS and the different Benchmark tools. The correlation of the alerts issued by both Snort and Suricata using the anomaly detection technique based on statistical data, allowed to determine the true positives (TP) for the effective alerts and the false negatives (FN) for the anomalies.


A tool for the design of a periodic motion in an underactuated mechanical system via generating a self-excited oscillation of a desired amplitude and frequency by means of the variable structure control is proposed. First, an approximate approach based on the describing function method is given, which requires that the mechanical plant should be a linear low-pass filter–the hypothesis that usually holds when the oscillations are relatively fast. The method based on the locus of a perturbed relay systems provides an exact model of the oscillations when the plant is linear. Finally, the Poincaré map's design provides the value of the controller parameters ensuring the locally orbitally stable periodic motions for an arbitrary mechanical plant. The proposed approach is shown by the controller design and experiments on the Furuta pendulum.


The reproductive life phase, most notably the preconception, pregnancy and postpartum periods, is a key driver of weight gain in women and therefore substantially increases the risk of noncommunicable diseases for mothers and their offspring. The ecological systems theory (EST) model for maternal obesity prevention positions the woman and her behaviour as interacting with surrounding layers of influences, including proximal interpersonal relationships embedded within social, environmental, and policy contexts. However, current thinking and use of the EST model for maternal obesity prevention are limited by a focus on women as being responsible for lifestyle change, with the associated blame and weight stigma, and by a lack of understanding of the interactions between EST layers. This paper presents a new socioecological framework for maternal obesity prevention, which aims to address these issues and offer potential strategies to assist researchers to generate new knowledge and understanding of the myriad ways we can approach maternal obesity prevention.


Previous studies have demonstrated extracorporeal cardiac shock waves (ECSW) could induce angiogenesis and improves myocardial function in patients with coronary heart diseases as a safe, effective, and non-invasive angiogenic approach. The endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can migrate to the ischemic myocardium and differentiate into vascular endothelial cells, thus promoting the angiogenesis. Whether ECSW can improve the angiogenic ability of EPCs is unclear. This topic studied the effects of ECSW Therapy on EPCs functions and related signal transduction pathways. The bone marrow-derived EPCs of SD rats were isolated by the density centrifugation method. After treatment with ECSW (500 shots at 0.09 mJ/mm2), the cell viability, anti-apoptosis, migration, and tube formation of EPCs were significantly improved. In addition, the expressions of phosphorylated AKT and ERK were increased after ECSW treatment, the expressions of downstream signaling molecules eNOS and Bcl-2 were also increased, but the expressions of Bax and Caspase3 were decreased. However, these beneficial effects can be inhibited by PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 and MEK/ERK inhibitor PD98059. Together, ECSW can promote the cell viability, migration, and angiogenic ability of EPCs and inhibit the apoptosis of EPCs through the PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK signaling pathways. The mechanism may be related to promoting the expressions of downstream p-eNOS and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and inhibiting the expressions of pro-apoptotic protein Bax and Caspase3 through the PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK signaling pathways.


Objectives Healthy behaviour changes, such as reducing salt intake, are important to prevent lifestyle-related diseases. Social environment is a major challenge to achieve such behaviours, but the explicit mechanisms remain largely unknown. We investigated whether social networks of children were associated with their behaviours to reduce salt intake. Design An ancillary study of a school-based cluster randomised controlled trial to reduce salt intake in children and their families (School-EduSalt), in which salt intake of children was significantly reduced by 25%. Setting 14 primary schools in urban Changzhi, northern China. Participants 603 children aged 10–12 years in the intervention arm. Primary and secondary outcome measures We developed a score assessing salt-reduction behaviours (SRB score) of children based on self-administered questionnaires. The SRB score was validated by the changes in salt intake measured by 24-hour urine collection in a random sample of 135 children. A 1-unit increase in SRB score was associated with a 0.31 g/day greater reduction in salt intake during the trial (95% CI 0.06 to 0.57, p=0.016). Results Children from families with more family members not supporting salt reduction had significantly lower SRB scores (p<0.0001). Children from a class with a smaller size and from a class with more friendship connections, as well as children having more friends within the class all showed higher SRB scores (all p<0.05). Children whose school teachers attended the intervention programme more frequently also had higher SRB scores (p=0.043). Conclusion Social networks were associated with the behaviours to reduce salt intake in children. Future salt-reduction programmes may benefit from strategies that actively engage families and teachers, and strategies that enhance interconnectivity among peers. Trial registration number NCT01821144; post-results.


This paper proposes a novel received response (RR) code sequence as the spread code for the direct sequence-ultra wideband (DS-UWB) multipath channel model. This paper also demonstrates the effectiveness of the RR code sequence in inter-symbol interference (ISI) reduction for the DS-UWB system. It suggests that by using conventional M-ary biorthogonal keying based direct sequence-ultra wideband (MBOK DS-UWB) system, there is a possibility of generating extra ISI in the UWB system. Therefore, it is quite difficult to collect the energy efficiently although the RAKE reception method is applied at the receiver. The main feature of the proposed RR code sequence is to reduce the ISI effect during high speed transmission of ultra short pulses in a multipath channel. Simulation results verify that significant improvement can be obtained by the proposed system in the UWB multipath channel models compared to the MBOK DS-UWB system.


Black carbon (BC) aerosol deposited in and onto Arctic snow increases the snow's absorption of sunlight and accelerates snowmelt. Wet removal of BC from the atmosphere plays a key role in determining its abundance in the Arctic atmosphere and in Arctic snow. However, this process is poorly understood, mainly due to the scarcity of relevant measurements. To study wet deposition of BC, we made measurements of mass concentration of BC in snow and rain (CMBC) and of BC in air (MBC) with high accuracy (16% and 10%, respectively) at the Barrow Atmospheric Baseline Observatory, Alaska, from July 2013 to August 2017 and analyzed them along with routinely measured meteorological parameters from Barrow. Monthly mean MBC near the surface and CMBC were poorly correlated from midwinter to early spring, when CMBC was close to the annual median while MBC was at its annual peak. Seasonal variations in the altitude distribution of MBC may lead to these differences in seasonal variation of MBC near the surface and CMBC. About 50% of the annual wet deposition of BC occurred in the 3 months of summer, associated with high values of total precipitation and BC originating from biomass burning. Size distributions of BC in snow and rain were stable throughout the year, suggesting that the size distribution of BC in the lower troposphere was similarly stable. Calculations by two global models reproduced the observed seasonal variations of CMBC and showed that BC from biomass burning dominated CMBC in summer.


OBJECTIVE
Pharmacotherapy and behavioral treatments for alcohol use disorder are limited in their effectiveness, and new treatments with innovative mechanisms would be valuable. In this pilot study, the authors tested whether a single subanesthetic infusion of ketamine administered to adults with alcohol dependence and engaged in motivational enhancement therapy affects drinking outcomes.

METHODS
Participants were randomly assigned to a 52-minute intravenous administration of ketamine (0.71 mg/kg, N=17) or the active control midazolam (0.025 mg/kg, N=23), provided during the second week of a 5-week outpatient regimen of motivational enhancement therapy. Alcohol use following the infusion was assessed with timeline followback method, with abstinence confirmed by urine ethyl glucuronide testing. A longitudinal logistic mixed-effects model was used to model daily abstinence from alcohol over the 21 days after ketamine infusion.

RESULTS
Participants (N=40) were mostly middle-aged (mean age=53 years [SD=9.8]), predominantly white (70.3%), and largely employed (71.8%) and consumed an average of five drinks per day prior to entering the study. Ketamine significantly increased the likelihood of abstinence, delayed the time to relapse, and reduced the likelihood of heavy drinking days compared with midazolam. Infusions were well tolerated, with no participants removed from the study as a result of adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS
A single ketamine infusion was found to improve measures of drinking in persons with alcohol dependence engaged in motivational enhancement therapy. These preliminary data suggest new directions in integrated pharmacotherapy-behavioral treatments for alcohol use disorder. Further research is needed to replicate these promising results in a larger sample.


In pH 4.8 Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer solution, Mercaptopurine (MP) could react with Cu(II) to form stable chelate compound, a new Resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) spectrum generated and enhanced for the binary system which the highest peak located at 453 nm as detection wavelength. But the RRS spectra could be quenched after adding her- ring milt DNA (hsDNA), salmon milt DNA (sDNA) and calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) into the binary system, respect- tively. And the weakened degree of spectra was directly proportional to the concentration of DNA. The reaction product of three nucleic acid system have identical spectral features, their range of linearity for the relation of spectral intensity with concentration respectively are 0.05 - 0.9 μg.mL-1 for hsDNA, 0.1 - 0.9 μg.mL-1 for sDNA and 0.3 - 0.9 μg.mL-1 for ctDNA; their detection limit respectively are 5 ng.mL-1for hsDNA, 6 ng.mL-1for sDNA, 6 ng?mL-1 for ctDNA. So a new method for determination of DNA was developed and successfully applied to determine the content of the DNA in artificial synthetized samples. At the same time the spectral features of absorption spectra and RRS spectra of the three reaction system, and the eligible reaction conditions and influencing factors were investigated in this paper.


Although it is known that the Src family tyrosine kinase Lyn initiates Fc epsilon receptor I (Fc epsilon RI) signaling by phosphorylation of the receptor subunits, regulation of Lyn kinase activity and its consequences for receptor signaling are incompletely understood. Using a phospho-Lyn-specific antiserum, we show an increased phosphorylation of the Lyn C-terminal regulatory tyrosine and decreased Lyn kinase activity during Fc epsilon RI-mediated mast cell activation. Mutant Lyn, defective in the C-terminal tyrosine, constitutively phosphorylated several substrates in resting cells, but did not cause Fc epsilon RI internalization or spontaneous degranulation. Fc epsilon RI-induced signaling in the presence of constitutively active Lyn exhibited enhanced phosphorylation of the receptor subunits, Syk, LAT, Gab2, phospholipase C (PLC)gamma 1 and PLC gamma 2, and production of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate. Although enzymatic activities of PLC gamma 1 and PLC gamma 2 were also up-regulated, amounts of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, mobilization of intracellular calcium and degranulation were suppressed. Additionally, constitutively active Lyn was strikingly less efficient than wild-type Lyn in restoring the receptor-mediated calcium responses in bone marrow mast cells derived from Lyn(-/-) mice. These findings pinpoint the tight regulation of Lyn kinase activity as a critical event in mast cell degranulation.


Objective Despite numerous investigations, the question whether all bona fide treatments of depression are equally efficacious in adults has not been sufficiently answered. Method We applied two different meta-analytical techniques (conventional meta-analysis and mixed treatment comparisons). Overall, 53 studies with 3,965 patients, which directly compared two or more bona fide psychotherapies in a randomized trial, were included. Meta-analyses were conducted regarding five different types of outcome measures. Additionally, the influence of possible moderators was examined. Results Direct comparisons of cognitive behavior therapy, behavior activation therapy, psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal therapy, and supportive therapies versus all other respective treatments indicated that at the end of treatment all treatments but supportive therapies were equally efficacious whereas there was some evidence that supportive therapies were somewhat less efficacious than all other treatments according to patient self-ratings and clinical significance. At follow-up no significant differences were present. Age, gender, comorbid mental disorders, and length of therapy session were found to moderate efficacy. Cognitive behavior therapy was superior in studies where therapy sessions lasted 90 minutes or longer, behavior activation therapy was more efficacious when therapy sessions lasted less than 90 minutes. Mixed treatment comparisons indicated no statistically significant differences in treatment efficacy but some interesting trends. Conclusions This study suggests that there might be differential effects of bona fide psychotherapies which should be examined in detail.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) responses of self-identified African American and white participants in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study to therapeutic trials of topical, nonselective beta-adrenergic antagonists or prostaglandin analogues.

METHODS
Multivariate models that adjusted for baseline IOP and corneal thickness were used to estimate IOP response by race. Participants included 536 who were prescribed topical beta-adrenergic antagonists and 191 who were prescribed prostaglandin analogues, 25% of whom were African American.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
Intraocular pressure response in the ipsilateral eye after 4 to 6 weeks of a therapeutic trial.

RESULTS
Intraocular pressure response to nonselective beta-adrenergic antagonists did not differ between African American and white participants. Intraocular pressure response to prostaglandin analogues was slightly greater in African American participants, but this difference was not statistically significant. With both classes of medication, greater IOP reduction was associated with higher baseline IOP and thinner central corneal measurement.

CONCLUSIONS
We found no statistically significant differences in IOP response to topical, nonselective beta-adrenergic antagonists or prostaglandin analogues between self-identified African American and white individuals. Application to Clinical Practice Studies of IOP response to medication should statistically adjust for baseline IOP and central corneal thickness. Clinicians should consider factors other than ethnicity when choosing an ocular hypotensive medication for a patient.

TRIAL REGISTRATION
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00000125.


Treatment of acute type III acromioclavicular separation is controversial. In some patients, nonoperative treatment is associated with pain, weakness, and stiffness. Many acromioclavicular joint reconstructions are associated with complications and results not substantially better than those of nonoperative treatment. Use of autogenous free tendon graft to anatomically reconstruct the acromioclavicular and coracoclavicular ligaments offers several advantages over other surgical techniques. These advantages include improved biomechanical properties, no foreign body implantation, biological fixation, anatomical reconstruction, and early rehabilitation.


The genus Anastrepha (Diptera Tephritidae) includes some of the most important fruit fly pests in the Americas. Here, we studied the gut bacterial community of 3rd instar larvae of Anastrepha fraterculus sp. 1 through Next Generation Sequencing (lllumina) of the V3-V4 hypervariable region within the 16S rRNA gene. Gut bacterial communities were compared between host species (guava and peach), and geographical origins (Concordia and Horco Molle in Argentina) representing distinct ecological scenarios. In addition, we explored the effect of spatial scale by comparing the samples collected from different trees within each geographic origin and host species. We also addressed the effect of fruit size on bacterial diversity. The gut bacterial community was affected both by host species and geographic origin. At smaller spatial scales, the gut bacterial profile differed among trees of the same species and location at least in one host-location combination. There was no effect of fruit size on the larval gut bacteriome. Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) assigned to Wolbachia, Tatumella and Enterobacter were identified in all samples examined, which suggest potential, non-transient symbioses. Better knowledge on the larval gut bacteriome contributes valuable information to develop sustainable control strategies against A. fraterculus targeting key symbionts as the Achilles' heel to control this important fruit fly pest.


A novel killer toxin, labelled as KT4561, secreted by Williopsis saturnus DBVPG 4561, was found to possess a wide antimycotic activity against strains of Candida glabrata, Issatchenkia orientalis and Pichia guillermondii. KT4561 was precipitated by ethanol and purified by ion-exchange chromatography. The active protein migrated as a single band in SDS-PAGE and was characterized by a molecular weight of approximately 62 kDa. Purified KT4561 was active across wide ranges of temperature (5-45 degrees C) and pH (4.5-8.0) and displayed a rapid decrease in viability of yeast cells after 4-8 h. The in vitro activity of KT4561 against 102 yeast isolates (79% of clinical origin) was determined: MIC(50) and MIC(90) of strains were 0.08 and 0.15 microg/ml for C. glabrata, 0.03 and 0.23 microg/ml for I. orientalis and 1.50 and 2.25 microg/ml for P. guilliermondii. Comparative susceptibility tests showed that a high number of strains used in the present study were insensitive to selected azole and polyene antibiotics. The present study demonstrated the potential of KT4561 to be applied as novel control agent against pathogenic yeasts.


A pair of spanning trees rooted at a vertex "r" are independent if for every vertex "v" the pair of unique tree paths from "v" to the root "r" are disjoint. This paper presents the first analysis of the path lengths involved in independent spanning trees in 2-edge-connected and 2-vertex-connected graphs. We present upper and lower bounds on the stretch factors of pairs of independent spanning trees, where the stretch factor of a spanning tree is defined to be the maximum ratio between the length of paths in the tree to the root to the length of the shortest path in the graph to the root. We prove that if "G" is a 2-edge-connected graph with the property that every edge lies on a cycle of size at most "h", then we can construct in linear time a pair of edge-independent spanning trees whose stretch factors are bounded by O(h). In fact, we prove a more general result, namely that the stretch factor of both independent trees can be bounded by a minimax length of ears with respect to a certain class of ear decompositions of the graph. We demonstrate analogous constructions of vertex-independent spanning trees with bounded stretch factors for the class of 2-vertex-connected graphs. We show that our upper bounds are existentially optimal, that is, there are classes of graphs for which our bounds are tight. --------------------------------------- The last author would like to acknowledge the hospitality of DIMACS Center.


Hypernephromas may give rise to extensive thrombus formation in the inferior vena cava. In a 70-year-old female patient, two-dimensional echocardiography revealed a well-defined mass (2 X 2 cm in dimension) in the right atrium with occlusion of the tricuspid valve and thrombo-embolic material spreading from the inferior vena cava to the right atrium. This finding was confirmed by computed tomography and cavography. Computed tomography of the abdomen detected a large left-sided renal tumour and thrombotic occlusion of the whole vena cava. The patient was not willing to undergo surgery and the masses of thrombo-tumorous material in the right atrium and ventricle spread rapidly. Meanwhile a spontaneous recanalization of the oval foramen occurred. The patient died from massive pulmonary embolism. Only the signs and symptoms of right heart failure with confirmed thrombus formation in the right atrium led to the diagnosis of hypernephroma.


Computational optimization for design is effective, only to the extent that the aggregate objective function adequately captures designer's preference. Physical programming is an optimization method that captures the designer's physical understanding of the desired design outcome in forming the objective function. Furthermore, to be useful, a resulting optimal design must be sufficiently robust/insensitive to known and unknown variations that to different degrees affect the design's performance. This paper explores the effectiveness of the physical programming approach in explicitly addressing the issue of design robustness. Specifically, we synergistically integrate methods that had previously and independently been developed by the authors, thereby leading to optimal - robust - designs. We demonstrate that the Physical programming method can be used to efficiently address designer's preference in making tradeoffs between the mean and variance attributes when solving biobjective robust design problems. The work documented in this paper establishes the superiority of the Physical programming method over the conventional weighted sum method in solving multiobjective optimization problems. It also illustrates that the Physical programming method is as efficient as other multicriteria mathematical programming techniques for the generation of Pareto solutions that belong to


On 25 February 2019 the International Court of Justice (ICJ or the Court) issued its advisory opinion on legal consequences of the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965. The request for the advisory opinion was made by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) through its Resolution 71/292. The Resolution adopted on 22 June 2017 with 94 votes in favor, 15 against and 65 abstantions. The Court held unanimously that it has jurisdiction to give the advisory opinion as requested and by 13 votes to one decided that the detachment of the Chagos Archipelago immediately before the final stage of decolonization was wrongful thus violating international law and specifically the right to self-determination. Inter alia the court was of the opinion that the agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) and Mauritius concluded in 1965 leaving Chagos Archipelago under administration of United Kingdom after completion of decolonization was flawed because it lacked the free expression of the will of the people on the side of Mauritius. Therefore according to the Court the United Kingdom is obliged to bring to an end its administration over Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible and that all members states are obliged to cooperate in the process. Eight judges presented their declarations among whom two presented a joint declaration, four judges presented separate opinions and one of the judges presented a dissenting opinion at the end of the proceedings. Thirty three states have submitted written statements. In addition the African Union organization was allowed to submit written statement. Eleven state have submitted comments related to written statements and 23 states have presented their oral argument before the ICJ. The Chagos Archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean about 500 km from the Maldives archipelago.


The phenomenon of S-wave splitting indicates the development of fractures in the shallow crust. Therefore, methods based on S-wave splitting have been established to predict the development of one set of parallel fractures. However, for rocks containing two non-orthogonal sets of vertical fractures, the mechanism of S-wave splitting is more complex, and the available methods cannot be applied. To resolve this inadequacy, we propose a two-way rotation method to separate split S-waves with the aim of restoring the split S-wave polarizations and predicting the fracture azimuths. First, we calculate the stiffness matrix of fractured media based on the linear slip theory and derive the phase velocities and polarizations of split S-waves induced by fractures using the Christoffel equation. Second, we clarify the S-wave splitting mechanism in this media by employing velocity analysis and deconstruct the S-wave polarizations on the horizontal components. Third, we deduce a two-way rotation matrix obtained by the S-wave splitting modes to separate the split S-waves. To solve for the angle parameters related to the fracture azimuths in the two-way rotation matrix, we superpose the subspace polarizations in two dimensions to determine the polarization azimuths of the split S-waves. Numerical model tests demonstrate that the proposed method is stable under noisy conditions. Finally, we apply the proposed method to real near-offset and walkaround VSP data, and the predicted fracture results are verified by imaging logs and prior knowledge.


Rapidly finding a specific nucleic-acid sequences in a large pool of competing off-targets is a fundamental challenge overcome by all living systems. To optimize the search and beat the diffusion limit, it is known that searchers should spend time sliding along the nucleic-acid substrate. Still, such sliding generally has to contend with high levels of molecular crowding on the substrate, and it remains unclear what effect this has on optimal search strategies. Using mechanistic modelling informed by single-molecule data, we show how sliding combined with correlated short-ranged skips allow searchers to maintain search speed on densely crowded substrates. We determine the conditions of optimal search, which show that an optimized searchers always spend more than half its time skipping and sliding along the substrate. Applying our theory to single-molecule data, we determine that both human and bacterial Argonaute proteins alternate between sliding 10 nt and skipping 30 nt along the substrate. We show that this combination of skipping and sliding lengths allows the searcher to maintain search speeds largely unaffected by molecular roadblocks covering up to 70% of the substrate. Our novel combination of experimental and theoretical approach could also help elucidate how other systems ensure rapid search in crowded environments.


The traditional Chinese (TC) and transpositional (TP) methods of animal acupoint location result in different acupoint charts. Representative TC and TP equine zangfu organ shu-association acupoint charts are compared to each other and to a human chart. Despite their differences, practitioners of both methods appear to achieve equally effective therapeutic results--a phenomenon termed "traditional Chinese/transpositional equal efficacy" (TTEE). Common veterinary acupuncture practices, traditional Chinese medical theory, spinal cord anatomy, and a preliminary equine "association segment" chart are proposed to explain TTEE. The differences between the charts indicate that all documented animal acupoint locations should be explicitly described.


Family-centered care is an evolving process between patients, families, and health care providers. The family centered care model emphasizes the strength families bring to the healing process. The research project was a quasi-experimental pre-and post-test study with a communication intervention phase. The study was conducted in a Surgical-Trauma Intensive Care Unit (STICU) in a university affiliated hospital in the Southeast with restricted visitation hours. The purpose of this IRB-approved study was to measure the nurses' perceptions of communication involvement with family members before and after the intervention phase. Approximately 50% of eligible participants responded. The communication intervention phase consisted of assisting the family advocate waiting room attendant by distributing educational pamphlets to family members, along with providing the nurses with education on the availability of patient discharge information folders. There was a significant statistical change (p>.01) that family members received higher level of clearer and more complete explanations provided to them by the nurse about their family member's medical condition. This implied that by educating the nurses on availability and resources of patient education the nurses begin to perceive communication to be more effective. The study laid a foundation for increasing flexibility of the visiting policies.


This article develops the concept of 'alternative cultural tourism' through an in-depth study of the Prague Fringe Festival (PFF). In doing so, it argues that existing approaches to cultural tourism often fail to differentiate between different forms of culture (i.e. alternative versus mainstream), whilst also interrogating the criteria by which festivals can be understood as examples of alternative cultural tourism. Utilising a combination of both quantitative and qualitative data, involving audiences, festival performers and workers/volunteers, it is asserted that the PFF brings together a diverse mix of cultures, and seeks to create a more participatory and engaging tourist experience. Additionally, its more egalitarian organising structure produces different kinds of work and social relations in the production of art and culture ! particularly between various groups working within the festival, but also in the creation of different ideas about audience engagement, performer relations, and engagement with the local community (through the idea of the 'festival participant'). The article concludes by briefly exploring the potential of alternative cultural tourism to provide more meaningful and sustainable models of urban cultural development.


Suicide is a judicial event that is encountered frequently as a death cause among adults and adolescents and affects people of all age, race and class. The aim of this study is to determine the sociodemographic properties of death cases related with suicide in Konya and its significance from the forensic medicine point of view as well as to compare the data with literature. Of 2698 death cases within the Konya Forensic Medicine Department Directorship between 01.01.2000 and 31.12.2005, 220 (8.2%) cases of suicide were evaluated retrospectively. The manners of deaths were determined by consultation and autopsy findings. The cases were investigated according to age, gender, method of suicide, monthly and daily timeframe, psychiatric comorbidity and presence of previous suicide attack. 157 (71.4%) events out of 220 death cases related with suicide were male and 63 (29.6%) of them were female. The ages of these cases were between 10 and 94 and the average age was found as 38.7 ± 18.7 years. Deaths related with suicide occurred frequently between ages 20 and 29 with 54 (24.5%) cases. The frequency of suicide method used in descending order is as follows; hanging 105 (47.8%) cases, firearm injuries 51 (23.2%) cases (30 guns, 21 shotguns), botulism 39 (17.7 %) cases and finally jumpmg(s) from a high place 15 (6.8%) cases. Giving active and effective services to children and adolescents by psychology and guiding departments in schools, delivery of psychological support service to those who have a suicide attack history, a psychological illness such as depression and a tendency for a suicide will most likely lead to a decrease in the numbers of deaths related with suicide and in the rates ol suicide attack Key words: Suicide, forensic medicine, death.


Daily PM2.5 concentrations and composition were monitored at an urban site at 14 m above ground level, at the National Technical University of Athens campus from February to December 2010. Total sulfur, crustal origin elements and elements of a major crustal component (Al, Si, Fe, Ca, K, Mg, Ti) trace elements (Mn, V, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni) and water soluble ions (Cl – , NO3 – , SO4 2– , Na + , K + , NH4 + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ ) were determined. Carbonaceous compounds were determined for a period of one month. Sulfur (sulfates) and carbonaceous material were the most abundant constituents (35% and 30% respectively). Ionic balance calculations revealed a cation deficit in PM2.5 attributed to H + associated with sulfates. The concentrations of the elements of crustal origin presented abrupt increases during Saharan dust transport events. Mass closure was attempted considering Secondary Inorganic Aerosol (SIA), Particulate Organic Matter (POM), Elemental Carbon (EC), Dust, Mineral Anthropogenic Component (MIN) and Sea Salt (SS). The sum of these components accounted for about 75% of the measured PM2.5 concentrations. SIA and carbonaceous material (OM + EC) contributed almost equally for about 30% in the PM2.5 mass, and while the dust contribution was significant during dust transport events, it was only about 5% in absence of such events. The contribution of sea salt was calculated to be about 4%.


A closed-loop adaptive controller for propofol and remifentanil administration using BIS measurements is proposed in this paper. The controller design relies on a reduced MISO Wiener model for the depth of anesthesia. The exact linearization of this minimal Wiener structure using the model continuous-time parameter estimates calculated online by an extended Kalman filter is a key point in the design. A linear quadratic gaussian controller is developed for the exactly linearized system. Good results were obtained when the robustness of the proposed controller was assessed with respect to inter and intrapatient variability through Monte Carlo simulations on a database of 500 patients.


Semantic versioning is widely used by library developers to indicate whether updates contain changes that may break existing clients. Especially for dynamic languages like JavaScript, using semantic versioning correctly is known to be difficult, which often causes program failures and makes client developers reluctant to switch to new library versions. The concept of type regression testing has recently been introduced as an automated mechanism to assist the JavaScript library developers. That mechanism is effective for detecting breaking changes in widely used libraries, but it suffers from scalability limitations that make it slow and also less useful for libraries that do not have many available clients. This paper presents a model-based variant of type regression testing. Instead of comparing API models of a library before and after an update, it finds breaking changes by automatically generating tests from a reusable API model. Experiments show that this new approach significantly improves scalability: it runs faster, and it can find breaking changes in more libraries.


In this paper, we report in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry of Cu deposition from supercritical carbon dioxide fluids. The motivations of this work were 1) to perform a detailed observation of Cu growth with precision optical metrology, 2) to study substrate dependence on Cu growth, particularly for Ru and TiN substrates in the present case, and 3) to demonstrate the possibility and usefulness of ellipsometry for diagnosing supercritical fluid processing. The Cu deposition was carried out through hydrogen reduction of a Cu β-diketonate precursor at 160–180 °C. During growth, a very large deviation of ellipsometric parameters (Ψ and Δ) from a single-layer model prediction was observed; this deviation was much larger than that expected from island formation which has been frequently reported in in-situ ellipsometric observation of the vapor growth of thin films. From model analyses, it was found that an abnormal dielectric layer having a high refractive index and a thickness of 10–50 nm is present on the growing Cu surface. The refractive index of this layer was (1.5–2) + (0.2–0.3)i; and from this, we concluded that this layer is the condensed precursor. The condensed layer develops prior to Cu nucleation. As for the substrate dependence on Cu growth, both layers develop faster on Ru than on TiN. This corresponds to the fact that chemisorption occurs more easily on Ru. The deposition kinetics under the presence of the condensed layer are also discussed.


Objectives were to quantify the phenotypic (rp ) and genetic (rg ) correlations between early-life feeding behaviours, dry matter intake, and feed efficiency and measures of cow performance and lifetime productivity traits. Traits were measured on 1,145 crossbred replacement beef heifers and then on cows over parities one to four. Feeding event duration (FD) was phenotypically correlated with cow prebreeding body weight (PBWT; rp 0.29-0.45), cow prebreeding back fat thickness (PBBF; rp 0.35-0.49), progeny weaning weight (WW; rp 0.09-0.31) and progeny birthweight (BW; rp -0.06 to 0.17). Feeding event frequency (FF) was phenotypically correlated with PBBF (rp 0.16-0.30). Dry matter intake (DMI) was phenotypically correlated with PBWT (rp 0.16-0.20) and PBBF (rp -0.22 to -0.05). Feeding event duration was genetically correlated with PBWT (rg 0.38-0.41). Feeding event frequency was genetically correlated with PBWT (rg -0.43 to -0.39). Dry matter intake was genetically correlated with PBWT (rg -0.27 to 0.14). Days in herd (DIH) was phenotypically correlated with FD and DMI (rp  = 0.12, 0.20, respectively). Lifetime productivity was phenotypically correlated with FD and FF (rg  = 0.25, 0.22, respectively). Calving interval was phenotypically correlated with FD and FF (rp  = -0.12, -0.14, respectively) and genetically correlated with FF (rg  = -0.41). Due to moderate positive correlations with cow weight, caution would be required in selection to prevent an increase in mature cow size. Use of FF, FD, DMI and a measure of feed efficiency such as residual feed intake adjusted for back fat (RFIFAT ) in a balanced selection index is recommended.


Medical education is facing today one of the strangest combinations of paradoxes imaginable. In the first place, medical schools and voluntary hospitals in the United States have been confronted with the gravest of financial crises in a decade of unprecedented prosperity. In the second place, there is the paradox of rising per diem hospital costs with fewer and fewer patients who cannot meet them. A third and related paradox is that, although as a result of both shorter stay and more beds there is a vast increase in numbers of patients hospitalized each year, there has been a steady decline in patients available for postgraduate teaching. A further complication is the marked increase in the numbers of those seeking postgraduate education. In order that we may not starve in the midst of this plenty, in order that we may fulfill our obligation to those who will follow us by providing


This study explored attitudes of occupational therapy faculty toward tenure and selected alternatives to tenure. A survey method was employed, and the Tenure Attitude Survey Instrument, (TASI), was created for use in the study. Additionally, a questionnaire sought information regarding respondents' rank, tenure and administrative status, institutional type, and years in academia. Participants were accredited occupational therapy professional program faculty who identified their primary work setting as "Academic" on the 2000-2001 American Occupational Therapy Association membership survey. Factor analysis of 577 surveys examined the structure of scores on the TASI, and the instrument consisted of 4 scales, and 18 items, as follows: Scale One: Attitude toward academic freedom and job security protection, 7 items; Scale Two: Attitude toward tenure in general, 6 items; Scale Three: Attitude toward stop-the-tenure clock provisions, 2 items; and Scale Four: Attitude toward post-tenure review, 3 items. Cronbach's alpha was conducted, as follows: TASI overall alpha = .7915; Scale 1 alpha = .7884; Scale 2 alpha = .8420; Scale 3 alpha = .7020; Scale 4 alpha = .4229. Proportional analysis showed that most respondents were full time faculty (88.1%); taught full time at public institutions (52.8%); were tenured or tenure-track (55.5%); had no administrative duties (70.5%); with a rank of instructor or lecturer (17.5%), or assistant professor (45.7%). Time in academia ranged from 1-40 years, with a mean of 11.27 years, median of 9.25 years, and mode of 4 years. Attitudes toward, and support for, the continuation of tenure and for selected proposed alternatives to tenure were analyzed according to the following: faculty rank, administrative status, and tenure status. Respondents held generally favorable attitudes toward tenure as measured by Scales 1 and 2 of the TASI, and the best predictors of faculty attitude toward tenure were tenure status and rank. Due to low reliability scores on Scales 3 and 4, no conclusions can be drawn regarding respondents' attitudes toward alternatives to tenure.


Author(s): Larson, Adam George | Advisor(s): Narlikar, Geeta | Abstract: Gene silencing by heterochromatin is proposed to occur in part as a result of the ability of heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) proteins to spread across large regions of the genome, compact the underlying chromatin and recruit diverse ligands\cite{pmid21346195,pmid10753776,pmid9169472}. The mechanism of how HP1 achieves this silencing activity is not yet described, though much work has shown it associates with many diverse chromatin components and on many different timescales. We identified a new property of the human HP1$\alpha$ protein: the ability to form phase-separated droplets. While unmodified HP1$\alpha$ is soluble, either phosphorylation of its N-terminal extension or DNA binding promotes the formation of phase-separated droplets. Phosphorylation driven phase separation can be promoted or reversed by specific HP1$\alpha$ ligands. Known components of heterochromatin such as nucleosomes and DNA preferentially partition into the HP1$\alpha$ droplets, but molecules such as the transcription factor TFIIB show no preference. Using a single-molecule DNA curtain assay, we found that both unmodified and phosphorylated HP1$\alpha$ induce rapid compaction of DNA strands into puncta, although with different characteristics\cite{pmid20580955}. By direct protein delivery into mammalian cells we found that an HP1$\alpha$ mutant incapable of phase separation in vitro forms smaller and fewer nuclear puncta than phosphorylated HP1$\alpha$. These findings suggest that heterochromatin-mediated gene silencing may occur in part through sequestration of compacted chromatin in phase-separated HP1 droplets, which are dissolved or formed by specific ligands on the basis of nuclear context. Importantly, this activity is rooted in mechanistic changes within the HP1 protein itself. The ability to assemble and phase separate is prefaced by a large conformational change directed through the unstructured NTE, CTE, and hinge regions. The change is dependent on both length and composition of charges/hydrophobicity within these regions. This leads to a belief that though rooted in regions that appear unstructured, there is delicate mechanism behind the ordered transition to a phase-separated assembly.


Currently, most organisations still manage documents of valuable explicit knowledge using the distributed management approach and transfer them via e-mail and file transfer over the internet. Without centralisation, distributed systems often result in disorderly, inconsistent, and inaccessible management of enterprise documents. This paper presents a centralised document server concept to enable consistent and effective knowledge management (KM) services for the technology value chain. The architecture and operational mechanisms are introduced and a three-tier authorisation model consisting of the system administrator, the group administrator, and the common user is presented. Since user and file databases support the manipulation of physical documents, a database scheme is provided to demonstrate the relationship between file security control and database management. A web-based interface is developed so that all of the explicit knowledge management functions can be accessed at the client side globally. The functions of seven web-based modules in the prototype system are demonstrated and validated using an industrial case study. Under the hierarchical KM architecture, the explicit knowledge of an enterprise can be systematically maintained and traced in a shared environment with sufficient security and access control. The concept and technology of the KM service hub are essential to maintain intellectual properties in technology-oriented industries. The KM solution will improve collaboration efficiency in the global value chain.


Polydimethylsiloxane tensile specimens were fabricated and tested in accordance with ASTM standard D638-99 with an Instron 5548 MicroTensile Tester. The study quantified the stiffness of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a function of curing parameters, weight ratio of prepolymer to hardener, and aging. The experiments reveal the manufacturer's recommended curing parameters yield devices with different material properties. Since PDMS is often used as an engineering material, the understanding of how the stiffness changes as a result of curing parameters is an important issue.


Universal Computational Extractors (UCEs), introduced by Bellare, Hoang and Keelveedhi (CRYPTO 2013), are a framework of assumptions on hash functions that allow to instantiate random oracles in a large variety of settings. Brzuska, Farshim and Mittelbach (CRYPTO 2014) showed that a large class of UCE assumptions with computationally unpredictable sources cannot be achieved, if indistinguishability obfuscation exists. In the process of circumventing obfuscation-based attacks, new UCE notions emerged, most notably UCEs with respect to statistically unpredictable sources that suffice for a large class of applications. However, the only standard model constructions of UCEs are for a small subclass considering only q-query sources which are strongly statistically unpredictable (Brzuska, Mittelbach; Asiacrypt 2014). The contributions of this paper are threefold: 1. We show a surprising equivalence for the notions of strong unpredictability and (plain) unpredictability thereby lifting the construction from Brzuska and Mittelbach to achieve q-query UCEs for statistically unpredictable sources. This yields standard model instantiations for various (q-query) primitives including, deterministic public-key encryption, message-locked encryption, multi-bit point obfuscation, CCA-secure encryption, and more. For some of these, our construction yields the first standard model candidate. 2. We study the blow-up that occurs in indistinguishability obfuscation proof techniques due to puncturing and state the Superfluous Padding Assumption for indistinguishability obfuscation which allows us to lift the q-query restriction of our construction. We validate the assumption by showing that it holds for virtual black-box obfuscation. 3. Brzuska and Mittelbach require a strong form of point obfuscation secure in the presence of auxiliary input for their construction of UCEs. We show that this assumption is indeed necessary for the construction of injective UCEs.


The aim of this paper is to determine the optimal time of coal mine liquidation given the necessity of bearing the costs of post-mining reclamation. In order to consider the volatility of parameters important for making a liquidation decision and the entrepreneur's flexibility in the decision-making process, the real options approach was applied. Mine liquidation, which is inextricably linked to post-mining reclamation, is examined as an American put option on the market value of continuing the mine's operation which plays the role of the underlying asset. In turn, the role of the exercise price is played by expenditures for mine liquidation and post-mining reclamation, which can be avoided if the decision to close the mine is taken before all the deposits are exhausted. The liquidation option is exercised when the value of liquidation and reclamation cost savings significantly exceeds the continuation value. Mine liquidation was additionally made conditional on the value of funds accumulated to finance post-mining reclamation.


It was demonstrated with artificially processed sulfides that the minimum temperature of equilibration of a pair of electro-conductive minerals can be determined electrochemically. The procedure consists of setting up an electrochemical cell with the mineral electrodes and a suitable electrolyte, changing the temperature of the cell slowly in a furnace, and finding the temperature at which the emf of the cell becomes zero. The experimental results strongly suggest that this electrochemical method could be used as a new method of geothermometry.


This systematic reflection essay blends research and community engagement with Margaret Kovach's keynote address at the 2022 conference of the International Society of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL) and with the coauthors' autoethnographic accounts reflecting on their challenges across Australia and the US in conducting ethically responsible SoTL scholarship. The essay is a call for engagement with community-led projects drawing on Neil Drew's (2006) metaphor of a seagull, who flies in, takes what it wants, and leaves a mess behind. Two stories provided by the co-authors invite further discussion into the hopeful challenges of conducting community-led SoTL research.


The interaction between grid-connected inverters and the grid may cause stability issues, and compromise the reliable operation of the inverters. This study investigates the stability of a three-level neutral point clamped (NPC) inverter connected to the grid using impedance-based methods. Because the impedance model of a three-phase three-level NPC inverter has not yet been reported, this study fills the literature gap by analyzing the influence of three-level DC-side neutral point control on the impedance characteristics. By fully considering the DC bus dynamics and DC voltage control loop, and the current loop and phase-locked loop (PLL), the admittance model of a three-phase three-level NPC inverter is established and verified by simulation. Additionally, in the stability analysis of a three-level NPC inverter grid-connected system, the frequency coupling introduced by the PLL and DC bus dynamics is included with the help of an established admittance model. The stability of the grid-connected system under different grid short circuit ratios (SCR) and operating power levels is analyzed according to the Nyquist stability criterion. The experimental results revealed that the established impedance model of the three-phase three-level NPC inverter can properly represent the stability of this system.


Coastal streams provide important habitat for many diadromous fish species, which migrate between freshwater and the sea during their life cycle. However, coastal systems are poorly studied in comparison to large, continental river systems. Furthermore, the relative importance of catchment- and site-scale factors in structuring lotic fish communities is largely unknown. In this study, I addressed these issues by surveying the fish fauna of small coastal streams on Sado Island (northwest Japan) and determining the relative importance of catchment- and site-scale factors to the structure of freshwater fish assemblages. In total, 14 freshwater fish species were collected from the 19 streams. All but one of the fish species collected were diadromous and 9 of the species (64%) were amphidromous, primarily represented by the goby group including the genera Rhinogobius and Gymnogobius . Variance partitioning analyses showed that catchment-scale factors (namely, stream discharge) were better predictors of both fish species richness and composition than site scale and spatial factors. These results indicate that discharge, which is directly linked to habitat stability, can have a major role in structuring coastal fish assemblages, likely because small coastal streams experience extreme discharge fluctuations associated with regional weather conditions.


Abstract Conclusion: BDET might be effective for the patients with OME, and proved to be an efficacious and mini-invasive treatment for OME. Objectives: To evaluate the therapeutic benefits of balloon dilation eustachian tuboplasty (BDET) in the treatment of adult patients with otitis media with effusion (OME) caused by eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). Methods: After informed consent, eight adult patients with OME were included in this study. After investigated patients' case history and oto-function, all patients underwent BDET treatment. Then four criteria including tympanic membrane, pure tone audiometry (PTA), tympanometry, and subjective symptoms were adopted to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of BDET. Results: None of the involved patients complained of problems or complications during the post-operative period, or with absence of pain and bleeding after the operation. Prominent post-operative improvement was observed in tympanic membrane and otoscopic appearance. In addition, cure rates after 3 months and 6 months post-operatively were gradually increased.


We read with interest the review article entitled "Chest magnetic resonance imaging: a protocol suggestion" by Hochhegger et al.. The authors have reviewed the technical aspects and suggested a protocol for performing chest MRI. The authors have also described three major clinical indications for MRI of the lungs: staging of lung tumors; evaluation of pulmonary vascular diseases; and investigation of pulmonary abnormalities in patients who should not be exposed to radiation. Radiation exposure is particularly more serious in children, as they are at a greater risk of experiencing harmful effects from radiation compared to adults. In our recent prospective study in 26 children with leukemia presenting with febrile neutropenia, we evaluated role of rapid lung MRI in the detection of nodules, consolidation and ground glass opacity (GGO) in this population. The duration of all the four sequences combined in our study was less than 2 minutes. The findings of HRCT and MRI were compared, with HRCT as the standard of reference. No significant difference was observed between the two modalities by the McNemar test (p > 0.05). For the detection of nodules and consolidation by MRI, per-patient sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were all 100%. For the detection of GGO by MRI, per-patient sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 66.67%, 100%, 100% and 90.91%, respectively. The kappa test showed perfect agreement between MRI and CT scan for the detection of nodules and consolidation (κ = 1), and a substantial agreement in the detection of GGO by MRI and CT scan (κ = 0.755). The results of our study indicated that pulmonary MRI has great potential as a diagnostic modality for the detection of lung parenchymal findings in patients with febrile neutropenia. Similarly, we determined the diagnostic utility of rapid lung MRI for the detection of various pulmonary and mediastinal abnormalities in 75 children with suspected pulmonary infections. MRI demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 100% for detecting pulmonary consolidation, nodules (> 3 mm), cyst/ cavity, hyperinflation, pleural effusion, and lymph nodes. The kappa test showed almost perfect agreement between MRI and MDCT in detecting thoracic abnormalities (κ = 0.965). No statistically significant difference was observed between MRI and MDCT for detecting thoracic abnormalities by the McNemar test (p = 0.125). As MRI does not have any radiation risks, it can be repeated to assess disease progression or regression without exposing the patients to radiation (as against performing the CT scan). We propose rapid lung MRI may also be used as an initial radiological investigation in patients with suspected pulmonary infections especially where repeated follow up imaging is required.


Attention Restoration Theory point to nature as a particularly good candidate for restoring the ability to focus and inhibit distractions. However, little effort has been directed to elaborating on what makes nature's visual pattern unique for restoration purposes. One suggested explanation is the fractal properties of natural patterns (Hagerhall, 2005). Both perception studies (Hagerhall et al., 2004) and studies using quantitative electroencephalography, qEEG (Hagerhall et al., 2008) have pointed to that visual patterns with mid fractal dimension, D, seem to be the most relaxing and preferred. However, it has so far not been investigated if these responses are being driven by fractal geometry in general or by the specific form of fractal geometry found in nature. In natural scenery it is so called statistical fractals that are common because of nature's integration of randomness with the underlying fractal scaling properties. A natural fractal hence looks different from an artificial exact fractal (where the patterns repeating are identical at all scales), even if the two patterns have the same D value. We have here conducted the first study in which we consider both types of fractals and morph one type into the other.qEEG was recorded from 35 subjects viewing 9 images, combining 3 fractal dimensions and 3 levels of randomness. Each image was shown for 60 seconds, interspaced by 30 seconds of a neutral grey image. The data was mainly treated by analysis of variance (repeated measures design), including both within-group (fractal dimension, level of randomness) and between-group (order) variances. Bonferroni correction was carried out and the significance level set to p<.005. The study confirmed our hypotheses in that it showed that alpha power (an indicator of a wakefully relaxed state and internalized attention) was largest for fractals found in nature, i.e. fractals incorporating high randomness and mid to low fractal dimension. Statistically a majority of the results were tendencies (with p_.05) but the reaction patterns showed consistencies which point to that human response to the patterns, and the parameters randomness and fractal dimension, have some fundamental base. The results must be considered as preliminary, but encouraging given the relative visual simplicity of the patterns.


Bioactive nano-hydroxyapatites have been synthesised for orbital floor repair and regeneration. Hydroxyapatite (HA) is widely used for bone repair and regeneration. It is composed of multiple anionic and cationic species, such as carbonate, fluoride, phosphate, sodium, magnesium, silicon and citrate. However, the development of bioactive materials that can repair and regenerate bone is crucial for orbital floor fracture repair. Different ionic-substituted hydroxyapatites that included carbonate, fluoride and citrate were prepared by using a low-temperature hydrothermal flow process and their chemical and physical properties evaluated. Biological properties were evaluated by analysing cell viability of these synthesised materials by Alamar Blue cell metabolic activity assay with two different cell lines (MG63 and HTERT-BMSC's). Results confirmed that ionic substitution with fluoride and citrate improved biocompatibility and cell viability of synthesised hydroxyapatites.


Determining the underlying mechanisms responsible for species-specific responses to climate change is important from a species management perspective. The grey-headed flying-fox, Pteropus poliocephalus, is listed as vulnerable but it also a significant pest species for orchardists and thereby presents an interesting management conundrum. Over the last century, the abundance of the grey-headed flying-fox, P. poliocephalus, in Australia has decreased due to a variety of threatening processes but has increased in abundance in urban areas. These flying-foxes are highly susceptible to extreme heat events which are predicted to increase in the future under climate change scenarios. Exceptionally hot days result in many deaths, the majority of whom are females with dependent young. This study examined the behavioural responses of roosting P. poliocephalus to temperature during the summer in their daytime roosts. Bats spent about 30% of their time resting at low temperatures, however, as temperature increased, fanning displaced resting as the predominant behaviour as bats attempted to cool themselves. Females with nursing young fanned significantly more often ( P = 0.001) and at a higher rate with rising temperature ( P < 0.001) than males and females without young (average proportion of time fanning 27%, 19% and 16%, and 4.6, 2.8 and 2.5 for gradient respectively). As a consequence, nursing females also rested less with rising temperature than the other demographic groups ( P < 0.001). These behavioural indicators suggest that nursing mothers are more vulnerable to heat stress than any other demographic category studied. The data highlight a clear need to monitor the most vulnerable demographic units as part of any species management program.


Polymer matrix-based composites are the workhorse of the composite industries.
Besides, the idea of modifying the polymer matrix by various inorganic fillers has greatly drawn
the attention of materials engineers due to their diversified applications and advanced properties.

The objective of this work was to prepare and characterize Titania (TiO2) and Silica (SiO2)
nanoparticles and develop 1wt%, 3wt%, 5wt% and 10wt% TiO2 and SiO2 incorporated epoxy-based
nanocomposites. Here, we used TiO2 incorporated epoxy composites as a model to compare the effectiveness
and contribution of locally available nano SiO2 in the epoxy matrix.

The TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by most famous and conventional sol-gel method and
SiO2 nanoparticles were extracted from Padma river (silica) sand obtained from Rajshahi city, Bangladesh
from a very easy and inexpensive route. Both TiO2/epoxy and SiO2/epoxy nanocomposites (approximately
1.3-1.5 mm thick) were prepared via a solution casting method incorporating the TiO2
and SiO2 nanofillers in the epoxy matrix.

The XRD patterns and SEM image ensure the formation of TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles. A
number of tests reveal that mechanical properties especially hardness and young's modulus of the
nanocomposites have increased while decreasing the tensile and flexural strength than neat epoxy due
to the incorporation of nanofiller. It is visible that, TiO2/epoxy nanocomposites have shown better performance
than the virgin epoxy but surprisingly in most cases, nano SiO2 exhibited comparable and
even better contribution than TiO2/epoxy nanocomposites. This indicates that the use of TiO2 in epoxy
might be replaced by inexpensive nano SiO2 to be used in various structural sectors.

The TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized successfully. The preliminary experiments
predict that the addition of nanoparticles (TiO2, SiO2) converts the composite from being ductile
into a brittle material where SiO2/epoxy shows comparable performance with TiO2/epoxy nanocomposites.


We introduce an incremental cooperation mode into the framework of adaptive networks (AN). The method applies to generic topologies and avoids the need to establish a Hamiltonian cycle over the network, generalizing the original incremental mode, while keeping nearly the same mean-square performance, as illustrated by the simulations. We motivate the new mode by relying on an LMS rule at the nodes, and mean-square analysis is provided.


UNLABELLED
The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of endoscopic ultrasonography in the etiological diagnosis of patients initially diagnosed with acute idiopathic pancreatitis and to determine the clinical and laboratory factors related to the results of this technique.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
We studied 73 patients initially diagnosed with acute idiopathic pancreatitis and referred to our service for biliopancreatic endoscopic ultrasonography. A positive result was considered to be identification of at least one possible cause of pancreatitis, excluding patients in whom the only echoendoscopic finding was chronic pancreatitis. The clinical characteristics and clinical course of these patients were compared with the results of the technique.

RESULTS
Endoscopic ultrasonography diagnosed at least one possible cause of acute pancreatitis in 32 patients (44%). The most frequent diagnoses were cholelithiasis (16%) and biliary sludge (20%). The diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasonography was lower in patients with prior cholecystectomy (16% vs. 49%; p=0.037) while a positive result was more likely in patients with elevated glutamyl oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) or glutamyl pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels at diagnosis of acute pancreatitis (GOT: 68 vs. 31%; p=0.002; GPT: 63 vs. 26%; p=0.001). No differences were found in diagnostic yield according to whether endoscopic ultrasonography was performed during the first episode of pancreatitis (48%) or in recurrent episodes (37%) (p=0.40). Over a mean follow-up period of 28 months, recurrence of new episodes of pancreatitis was significantly lower in patients with an etiological diagnosis (3 vs. 22%; p=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic ultrasonography is a useful technique in the etiological diagnosis of acute pancreatitis of unknown origin, especially in patients with elevated transaminase levels and/or without cholecystectomy. This technique should be used in the first episode of acute idiopathic pancreatitis.


The spin wave stiffness constant D (q) of unsupported FCC (100), (110), and (111) nickel monolayers are calculated for different directions, q, of spin wave propagation. It is shown that D is isotropic for the (100) and (111) orientations, and highly anisotropic for the (110) orientation. Results indicate that the strength of the exchange coupling between nearest neighbour magnetic moments is quite sensitive to the effective space dimensionality as well as the crystalline structure of the system.


The cost of accessing healthcare can be a major determinant of disease prevalence, which in turn has short- and long-term welfare implications on poor households. In response, governments in developing countries often resort to subsidizing the cost of drugs, which, while perhaps easier to administer, may not always be the most effective way of addressing healthcare cost. In this regard, we analyze the impact of different types of household level health expenses on disease incidence and agricultural production efficiency. We use data from the 2006 Uganda National Household Survey, which covered approximately 7,400 households. The results suggest that a 10% increase in consultation, medicine, and hospitalization expenses would reduce malaria incidence respectively by 35.6%, 20.5%, and 21.3 %, which translates into a 1.1%, 0.6%, and 0.6 % decrease in agricultural inefficiency, respectively. The results indicate that helping poor households meet expenses for consultation through subsidies or eliminating consultation fees has a larger impact on malaria incidence and agricultural productivity among poor rural households than subsidizing the cost of medical drugs, the most common avenue chosen by developing country governments in the fight against the disease.


Recent studies have demonstrated that acoustic wave devices are capable of quantitatively probing the behaviors of cells on the sensor surface, which has potential applications in biomedical research, environmental contaminant monitoring, drug screening and efficacy testing, and detecting bacteria and viruses in food safety and for anti-bioterrorism. Guided surface acoustic wave (or Love mode) sensor has many advantages among the acoustic wave devices. However, up to now, studies on the use of love-mode SAW devices as cell-based sensors are very limited, including theoretical and experimental studies. In this study, we developed a theoretical model to determine the attenuation and phase shift due to cells attaching on the device surface. According to the theoretical models, it has been found that the sensitivity of the love mode acoustic wave sensors can be optimized by appropriate selection of shear modulus and thickness of the wave-guiding layer and the piezoelectric substrate. The phase and attenuation shifts of the device are also sensitive to the properties and thickness of the interfacial layer between the cell layer and the substrate. This study indicates that love mode acoustic wave sensor system provides a powerful tool to study cell biological events, such as ECM production and cell adhesion, in a real-time, quick, easy, quantitative, and high- throughput fashion.


Contemporary discourses on migration from West Africa to Europe tend to frame migrants as victims of syndicated trafficking cartels that truck in human desperation. As part of this narrative, migrants are increasingly portrayed as 'modern-day slaves' in need of humanitarian protection. In both media and policy circles, African migrants are commonly referred to as desperate travellers who fall prey to exploitative 'slave traders' on their clandestine journeys to Europe. And yet, such framings do not adequately account for the ways in which migration from West Africa to Europe has a long and profound history, and thus does not sufficiently correspond to histories of enslavement. Nor do such framings appreciate how contemporary movements within and outside West Africa are informed by interrelated political genealogies that tie Europe to Africa in mutually dialectic ways. Focusing on the case of Senegal, this article aims to disrupt the 'migrant as slave' narrative by looking back at the histories of regional and international mobility that continue to shape population movements out of Senegal today.


Primary pleural synovial sarcomas (SSs) are rare tumors comprising <1% of all primary lung tumors. They are frequently misdiagnosed as relatively more common entities such as malignant mesothelioma. We present one such rare case of biphasic SS in the pleura of a 40-year-old female who presented with massive right hemothorax, and computed tomography revealed a pleural-based tumor in the right lung. Histopathological examination of the excised tumor was suggestive of biphasic SS. Immunohistochemical staining showed positivity with antibodies against cytokeratin 7, epithelial membrane antigen, vimentin, and bcl-2.


Abstract Educators are always reminded that the act of teaching and learning has to be purposeful and highly relevant to all individuals and groups within particular societies. However, societies are highly complex, and they are traversed by varied categorical groupings based on individual and group identities. Taylor contends that categorical identity groupings have become current social realities. Hence we, as educators, cannot avoid the meaningful recognition of such social groups to mobilise relevant, accessible and purposeful educational experiences for all. As we recognise and acknowledge the categorical groups, we construct images of society by positioning these groups in particular ways. We draw upon our images to further engage in our pedagogical acts, as each image advises us how we conduct our role as educators. Thus, images of society held by us as educators become our discursive choice. In this paper, I outline the conceptual underpinnings of some of those discursive images; and I propose that identifying the conceptual relationship between educators' images of society and their choice in educating groups is critical for the act of education to become socially just and equitable.


Structural investigation of tissue biopsies requires the coupling of optimal structural sample preservation with detailed information collected at the light and electron microscopic level. Unfortunately, although cryoimmobilisation by high-pressure freezing provides the best structural preservation, it is used routinely only for EM investigations, while for light microscopy chemical fixation protocols have been established. These chemically invasive fixation protocols have the drawback of introducing unpredictable fixation artefacts. Therefore, comparative histopathological (i.e. light microscopic) and ultrastructural (i.e. electron microscopic, EM) results are usually obtained from parallel samples that have not been prepared identically and never by examining exactly the same features in exactly the same, optimally preserved sample. Finally, finding an area of interest for EM investigation within a complex tissue is like searching for a needle in a haystack.