Each of us will be trying to prove some condition or state of the soul to be the one that can render life happy for all human beings. - You that it is pleasure, we that it is knowledge. ( Phil , 11d) Although the main topic of the Philebus, the rivalry between pleasure and knowledge as candidates for the dignity of the highest good in human life, is a familiar one from the early Socratic dialogues on, for the wider congregation of Plato's admirers the Philebus to this very day remains largely terra incognita. It is regarded as one of the late and difficult dialogues, an area for the specialist who has mastered the intricacies of the late Platonic doctrine that we find more alluded to than explained in the Parmenides, the Theaetetus, and the Sophist. What frightens the student of Plato's ethics off the territory is most of all the long "dialectico-metaphysical preface" of the Philebus (14c-31b). For the first quarter of the dialogue is filled with a rather complex discussion of dialectical procedure, dealing with "the one and many," and with a new kind of ontological classification that is, at least at first sight, more bewildering than enlightening and may exhaust the reader's patience before he has even penetrated to the lengthy discussion of different sorts of pleasures that starts at 31b and fills most of the rest of the dialogue.


First reports on the use of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) in patients were published in 1991. These reports confirmed data from animal experiments which suggested a selective vasodilatory effect of inhaled NO in pulmonary vessels. As the main clinical effects, both improved oxygenation and a drop of pulmonary artery pressure despite unchanged arterial pressure were observed. Since then, many studies have evaluated the effects of inhaled NO as well as of other aerosolised vasodilators (e.g. PGI(2), PGE(1), nitrates, phosphodiesterase-inhibitors) in patients with pulmonary hypertension, acute right heart failure and/or life-threatening hypoxemia. However, primary pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is the only indication for which inhaled NO has been clinically approved so far. Although an obvious clinical benefit in outcome from inhaled vasodilators has never been formally documented, good clinical efficacy has resulted in an increasing "off label" use of the concept both in Germany and worldwide, particularly with respect to anaesthesia and intensive care medicine. The present article aims to review both the pathophysiological and pharmacological basis of inhaled vasodilators, to critically reevaluate their potential clinical indications and to give a perspective on future developments in the field.


Hermann Oppenheim was influential in many areas of neurology, but his ideas about music are relatively unknown. In 1888, he published a paper that outlined how the assessment of music skills in patients with aphasia could lead to a better understanding of aphasia and language. Oppenheim conducted the first comprehensive music assessment as part of a neurologic examination and presented the first case series of music in aphasia. His paper was widely cited and had significant influence over the next 30 years. Although largely unrecognized as such, Oppenheim was an important historical figure in the study of music and neurology.


The World Health Organization has recommended the integration of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) with modern medicine, as part of the global "health for all" approach. Herbal treatments are the most common and known methods of CAM. Based on the critical role of physicians in true and safe application of these products, this research evaluated knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of physicians in Rasht towards herbal remedies. This was a cross sectional study, performed between April 2017 and May 2019 on all physicians, who worked in Rasht city, northern Iran. A researcher-made questionnaire with 2 main parts, including a demographics section and research questions was used. A total of 142 (38%) individuals responded to the questionnaires. Mean KAP scores were 6.47 ± 6.17, 27.80 ± 3.26, and 5.02 ± 5.54, respectively. In none of these fields, significant differences were seen in participants regarding demographic variables, experience, work place, academic relevance, and field of work (P > .05). Physicians of Rasht city, with different work environments and regardless of demographic characteristics, had a positive view towards herbal remedies, without enough knowledge to consult their patients.


Whole-genome sequencing efforts of tumors and normal tissues have identified numerous genetic mutations, both somatic and germline, that do not overlap with coding genomic sequences. Attributing a functional role to these non-coding mutations and characterizing them using experimental methods has been more challenging compared to coding mutations. In this review, we provide a brief introduction to the world of non-coding mutations. We discuss recent progress in identifying non-coding mutations and the analytical and experimental approaches utilized to interpret their functional roles. We also highlight the potential mechanisms by which a non-coding mutation may exert its effect and discuss future challenges and opportunities.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the genetic basis of a child with recurrent infection, multiple malformation and dysmorphism.

METHODS
The child and his parents were subjected to trio whole exome sequencing.

RESULTS
The child had a complaint of fever and cough, with long and thin eye fissures and long eyelashes. Genetic testing revealed that the child has carried a non-triplet deletion of the KDM6A gene, which was unreported previously. The variant resulted in frameshift and premature termination of the translation. His parents were both of the wild type for the locus. After antibiotic and immunoglobulin treatment, the severe secondary pneumonia caused by immunodeficiency has improved.

CONCLUSION
With combined laboratory test, imaging examination and genetic testing, the child was ultimately diagnosed with Kabuki syndrome type 2. The characteristics of immunodeficiency of Kabuki syndrome may render conventional antibiotic treatment ineffective, which deserves clinical attention.


Type-2-diabetes is considered the new plague of the current century and its incidence and prevalence are rapidly increasing. Chronic insulin resistance and a progressive decline in beta-cell function are discussed as the root causes of type-2-diabetes. Both are associated with obesity and prolonged exposure to pathologically elevated concentrations of circulating free fatty acid (FFA) levels in the blood. Fatty acid derivatives may interfere with beta-cell function and ultimately lead to their death through lipoapoptosis. The harmful effects of chronically elevated FFA levels on glucose homeostasis and non-adipose tissues are generally referred to as lipotoxicity. Pancreatic beta-cells appear to be particularly vulnerable, and both dietary fat quantity and quality may impact their function. Diets high in saturated fat are especially harmful to beta-cells while (poly-)unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are associated with beta-cell protective effects. Therefore, this narrative review suggests that a dietary modification toward a low-fat vegan diet might help to prevent or reduce lipotoxicity-induced beta-cell dysfunction. By cutting the oversupply of saturated fat and reducing total calorie intake, and by improving both body weight and glycemic control, low-fat vegan diets may reduce the likelihood of lipotoxic events to occur. In light of the accumulating evidence that lipotoxic events are tightly coupled to excess glucose levels, improved glycemic parameters appear to be of utmost importance. These mechanisms are likely to contribute complementarily to improved beta-cell function in individuals with type-2-diabetes who choose a low-fat vegan diet. Physicians must consider these findings when counseling patients on lifestyle modifications and healthy nutrition.


Thomas Jefferson's statesmanship on slavery is an enduring puzzle. Jefferson began his career as an outspoken critic of slavery and tried to restrict its growth in the territories. But by the 1820s, he advocated the spread of slavery in the territories, rejected abolitionism as a Northern plot, and implicitly threatened that the South would secede if the North kept trying to restrict slavery. How did Jefferson move from the proto-abolitionism of his youth to a position characteristic of the antebellum South? This essay finds the key to Jefferson's trajectory on slavery in his republicanism. Jefferson believed that civic health required the protection and promotion of republican, agrarian virtue; yet in the American context, protection of agriculture meant protection of the South and slavery. Jefferson's inability to resolve the tension between his republicanism and his natural rights doctrine was the source of his uniquely problematic legacy for the United States.


With the China's tobacco industry continuous changing and restructuring, tobacco companies are facing a new round of challenges and competition. This paper, take Zhejiang tobacco enterprise resource planning (ERP) system as the background, in the further deepening of enterprise reform, the situation in the tobacco industry required by the Standardization Administration of deepening business Zhejiang tobacco enterprise after consolidation and reorganization in the successful conduct of the overall information technology after planning the project, according to information of the overall blueprint for the next information integration platform to build a premise deployment; the goal is based on the overall information technology planning, designing future Zhejiang tobacco core information platform.


The effect of varying strain rate on the compression strength and energy absorption characteristics of a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic honeycomb core has been investigated over a wide range of loading rates. The honeycombs were manufactured by infusing an epoxy resin through a carbon fibre fabric positioned in a dismountable honeycomb mould. The vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding technique yielded honeycomb cores of a high quality with few defects. Compression tests were undertaken on single and multiple cells and representative volumes removed from the cores in order to assess how the compression strength and specific energy absorption vary with test rate. Crushing tests over the range of strain rates considered highlighted the impressive strength and energy-absorbing response of the honeycomb cores. At quasi-static rates of loading, the compression strength and specific energy absorption characteristics of the unidirectional samples exceeded those of the multidirectional cores. Here, extensive longitudinal splitting and fibre fracture were the predominant failure mechanisms in the cores. For all three stacking sequences, the single-cell samples offer higher compression strength than their five-cell counterparts. In contrast, the specific energy absorption values were found to be slightly higher in the five-cell cores. The experiments highlighted a trend of increased compression strength with loading rate in the multidirectional samples, whereas the strength of the [0°]4 samples was relatively insensitive to strain rate. Finally, the energy absorbing capacity of all structures studied was found to be reasonably constant at increasing rates of strain.


Despite the underlying similarities, class I molecules seem to be more heterogeneous in structure and function than class II molecules. Many features which are shared between classical class I, certain nonclassical class I and classical class II molecules (including the patterns of dilsufide bonds and particular glycosylation sites) are also conserved in vertebrate evolution; some clearly reflect structural requirements but others may be due to similarities in function. In contrast, other features (for example, the residues involved in binding the mainchain atoms of the antigenic peptide) are different in classical class I and class II molecules, but nevertheless are highly conserved in vertebrate evolution. The residues implicated in interaction with the co-receptors CD4 and CD8 are not very well conserved in vertebrate evolution, and may reflect co-evolution of the MHC molecules with their particular co-receptors.


Tooth bleaching is a treatment that has been practiced by the dental profession since the early 1800s but the procedure fell into disrepute several years back due to the very caustic agents that were previously used for the procedure. Such bleaching agents had caused thermal burns, acid burns or significant soft tissue damage to the oral mucosae when they inadvertently came in contact with these tissues. Less caustic agents more recently introduced, in the late 1900s, have revived the interest of the dental profession in the art of tooth bleaching. These agents are now being packaged as bleaching kits, which may be used for in-office bleaching by the dentist or used at home by the patient under the supervision of the dentist.
Case reports are presented in this article of patients treated with bleaching kits in office and at home. Patients who came into the dental clinic requesting for tooth bleaching services were assigned to either have an in office or an at home procedure.
Types of tooth discolouration seen among the patients included extrinsic stains caused by poor oral hygiene and food stains, as well as intrinsic discolouration caused by tetracycline staining, enamel hypoplasis and age related discolouration. In-office tooth bleaching was done for three patients while one patient had at home tooth bleaching. A colour change at least two shades lighter than the presenting tooth colour was recorded in all patients. The patients did not report any adverse effect from the bleaching procedure.
Bleaching kits will certainly go a long way in broadening the spectrum of aesthetric dentistry treatment options for patients in our environment.
 NQJHM Vol. 14 (3&4) 2004: pp. 236-239


The ADA recommends that all people with diabetes at risk of level 2 or 3 hypoglycemia be prescribed glucagon. Studies of conventional reconstituted injectable glucagon showed low rates of successful delivery of a full dose and low prescription filling rates. Since July 2019, ready-to-use glucagon options have become commercially available. IBM® MarketScan® Research Database was used to study prescription patterns among people with T1D or T2D on insulin who had filled a glucagon prescription 2 years prior to July 2019 (pre-period) and/or 2 years after through July 2021 (post-period) . Logistic regression models (for feature selection of independent variables followed by two-way interaction identification from Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines) were utilized to determine glucagon fills post-period based on variables pre-period (demographics, diabetes type, insurance, comorbidities, history of hypoglycemia, diabetes medications) . Classification trees were used to illustrate the effects of significant variables (variables added >1% accuracy from cross validation) . Of all insulin-treated people (n=138,826) over the 4-year period, 13.5% (T1D 48.4%, T2D 3.5%) had glucagon prescriptions filled. Of those who filled glucagon post-period (n=14,234) , 54.3% filled a ready-to-use glucagon. The primary drivers and % of glucagon fills post-period: overall included age <22 (63.3%) , T1D (37.4%) , and glucagon filled pre-period (62.2%) (each p<.001) ; among people with T1D, age <17 (81.6%) and glucagon filled pre-period (66.7%) (each p<.001) ; among people with T2D, glucagon filled pre-period (34.0%) , basal-bolus insulin filled in the 4-year period (4.4%) , and age <16 (58.6%) (each p<.001) . The results suggest that, despite guideline recommendations, glucagon prescription fills are low, and mostly by young people. Though at increased risk of hypoglycemia, fill was low in the elderly and people with T2D on basal-bolus insulin. After becoming available, ready-to-use glucagon represented over 50% of glucagon fills.

 B. Mitchell: Employee; Eli Lilly and Company, Stock/Shareholder; Eli Lilly and Company. D. R. Nelson: Employee; Eli Lilly and Company. A. Meeks: Employee; Eli Lilly and Company. Y. Yan: Employee; Eli Lilly and Company.

 Eli Lilly and Company


The clinical crown heights of 2,048 permanent teeth were measured using a pair of dividers and a metre rule on stone casts of study models of subjects aged 21-45 years in order to establish the data for the clinical crown heights of Nigerians. A gradual increase in clinical crown height with advancing age was observed. The clinical crown heights of Nigerians appear to be shorter than the clinical crown heights of Caucasians.


This study addresses the influence of siderophores on the geochemical behavior of critical metals in rocks, ores and aqueous solutions. Rare earth elements and Y, the platinum group elements as well as other high field strength elements such as Zr, Hf, Th and U are presently referred to as high technology metals with many of them classified as critical metals. These critical metals are facing a distinct supply risk due to high production concentration and/or processing issues but are, however, essential for the development of state-of-the-art industries. Today's industries rely on a steady supply of these metals for their economic development and the industry's demand as well as the linked anthropogenic input of these metals will likely increase significantly in the near future.
Siderophores are produced by a variety of microbes and plants in Fe-deficient environments to solubilize sparingly soluble Fe. However, siderophores also complex a range of other polyvalent metal ions. This study elucidates the mechanisms and the geochemical implications behind leaching with the hydroxamate siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFOB) and focuses on the siderophore-promoted mobility of 'immobile' high field strength elements. The second goal of this thesis was to elaborate to what extent siderophores can be used for processing and extraction of high technology metals from mineralogically complex ores like oxidized Platinum Group Element (PGE) ores or deep-sea ferromanganese nodules and crusts.
Leaching of rocks and particle-rich aqueous solutions with siderophores leads to a significant mobilization of the 'immobile' high field strength elements like rare earth elements, Zr, Hf, Th and U and to distinct features in REY patterns. Bulk-rock normalized REY patterns of leaching solutions with DFOB showed a very distinct positive Ce anomaly and a depletion of La and other light REY relative to the middle REY, with a concave downward pattern between La and Sm. The "siderophore redox pump" that is first described in this thesis leads to a preferential enrichment of redox-sensitive Ce and U relative to redox-insensitive dissolved LREY and Th during siderophore leaching due to changes in the redox equilibrium and preferential complexation of oxidized species by DFOB. The observed fractionation patterns and decoupling of Ce and U by siderophore-induced oxidation might be helpful in constraining the presence of siderophores or chemically similar metal-specific organic chelating agents present during weathering and might be used as a bio-proxy for paleoenvironmental research.
Furthermore, a leaching process was developed and is presented in this thesis that uses siderophores for the extraction of Pt and Pd from oxidized (weathered) Platinum-Group Element (PGE) ores of the Great Dyke, Zimbabwe. Current mining operations focus on the recovery of PGE from pristine and unweathered ore material from the Main Sulfide Zone (MSZ). The oxidized PGE ores are currently not mined, because recoveries using conventional processing techniques render this uneconomic. The data presented in this study indicates chemical extraction of Pt and Pd at alkaline conditions as (Pt,Pd)HDFOB and/or (Pt,Pd)H2DFOB+ complexes. Up to 80% Pt were mobilized using the developed leaching process. Siderophores also represent viable reagents for the hydrometallurgical extraction of high technology metals from ferromanganese nodules and crusts. Deep-sea ferromanganese deposits contain a wide range of high technology metals and are considered an important future resource, but extraction techniques, especially with respect to high technology metals, are still not established. The data on leaching of ferromanganese nodules and crusts presented in this thesis showed that the high technology metals Li, Mo, Zr, Hf, Nb and Ta are significantly extracted using siderophores, whilst base metals are not mobilized to large extents.
This study highlights the importance of siderophores for the mobility and fractionation of certain high technology metals in the environment. The data presented in this study shows that siderophores like desferrioxamine B not only enhance the solubility and mobility of Fe(III), but also strongly enhance the mobility of 'immobile' high field strength and highly siderophile elements such as the rare earth elements, Zr, Hf, Th, U and Pt and Pd. Additionally, siderophores or similar specific metal-binding organic ligands have a promising potential in future processing technologies of oxide deposits like those investigated in this study.


A differential-mode wideband bandpass filter on microstrip line is proposed with three transmission zeros under common-mode operation. A four-port branch-line differential-mode bandpass filter is implemented by linking two vertical arms using a stub-loaded connecting line. As such, its two-port symmetrical bisection behaves like a wide bandpass or bandstop filter topology under differential- or common-mode excitations. After its differential-mode bandpass filter is synthesized, three transmission zeros can be created under common-mode operation by adjusting the length and width of the connecting line and open-circuited stubs. It results to produce a widened stopband under common-mode operation. In final, a differential-mode wideband bandpass filter is designed and fabricated. The predicted and measured performances are found in good agreement with each other, showing good common-mode suppression with an insertion loss close to 10dB over the differential-mode passband with a fractional bandwidth of 80%.


We report on a case of urothelial carcinoma (UC) with lipid cell and micropapillary variants in the ureter. A 64-year-old man presented with gross hematuria. Urinary cytology revealed the presence of atypical urothelial cells. Computed tomography and drip infusion/retrograde pyelography identified a mass-occupying lesion in the left mid-ureter, as well as left hydronephrosis. A clinical diagnosis of left ureteral cancer was given and the patient underwent left nephroureterectomy. Microscopically, the major component of the tumor was a conventional high-grade UC. In the invasive region, however, lipid cell and micropapillary variants of UC were also observed. Upon immunohistochemical analysis, all of the components were diffusely positive for cytokeratin 7 and p53. Intense membranous expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) was also observed in both the lipid cell and micropapillary variants of UC, whereas weak and incomplete staining was observed in most regions of the conventional UC. The pathological stage was pT3 N2. Multiple times, the patient experienced recurrence of the UC in the urinary bladder and urethra. Although the patient underwent total cystectomy and urethrectomy, 52 months following the initial surgery, signs of local recurrence developed, as well as multiple lymph node and bone metastases. The patient died 75 months following the initial surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a lipid cell variant of ureteral UC. The overexpression of HER2 may be associated with both the lipid cell and micropapillary variants of UC.


Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies have been performed to reveal a crosslinked epoxy nature of the spherical particles formed in cured epoxy/DDS/PMMA blends. An interesting phase inversion phenomenon was observed in cured DGEBA/DDS/PMMA blends, which occurred at a relatively low thermoplastic composition of 20 phr PMMA in blends. A unique method of preparing crosslinked epoxy spheres of controlled sizes based on cure-induced phase inversion is described in this report. Several factors have been found to affect the geometry of the formed epoxy spheres. The volume fraction of PMMA in the blends strongly dominates the influence. With the increase of PMMA volume fraction in the blends, the spheres not only become smaller in sizes, but also more regular in the spherical geometry due to less impingement. The crosslinking density (DDS phr in the blends) has been found to influence the average sizes of the spheres. The cure temperature has relatively limited effects only when the PMMA loadings in the blends are relatively small. Various potential applications for the epoxy microspheres may be investigated in future studies. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


A method to segment a floor and an obstacle region from images is a fundamental function for robots in real world. This paper describes a floor detection method by integrating binocular stereo vision and whole body information, for walking direction control of a humanoid robot. We developed the humanoid robot navigation system using vision-based local floor map. The developed system consists of a map building stage and a walking direction control stage. In the map building stage, the system builds a local floor map around a robot by integrating floor region information from visual input and whole body posture information. Plane segment finder (PSF) algorithm, which is able to extract planner surface from 3D vision input, is utilized to segment a floor and an obstacle regions. Floor region segmentation from input images is represented in view coordinates, then the whole body posture information is utilized to transform from view coordinates to body coordinate to build a local floor map. In another stage, the system search for open space direction on the local floor map and control walking direction towards open space to avoid obstacles. Finally, walking navigation experiments based on floor detection using a life-size humanoid robot are shown.


In 1908, while studying the effects of gonococcal vaccines in gonococcal arthritis, I noted that the subcutaneous inoculation of dead gonococci in persons suffering from gonococcal infections frequently was followed in from twelve to twenty-four hours by local and general reaction.1This reaction consists of an area of redness, swelling and tenderness at the site of the inoculation, often an increase in pain and tenderness in the affected joints and other localizations, together with symptoms of general malaise, and sometimes increase in fever and leukocytosis. These phenomena resemble those seen in the tuberculin reaction, and are of value in the diagnosis of obscure cases, in which gonococcal infection is suspected. This reaction has been observed by Bruck2in epididymitis, by Reiter3in pelvic infections in women, and also by others. Bruck has described a "cutireaction" in gonorrhea on injection of gonococcal vaccine. In recent experiments with glycerin


Context. With "work from home" policies becoming the norm during the COVID-19 pandemic, videoconferencing apps have soared in popularity, especially on mobile devices. However, mobile devices only have limited energy capacities, and their batteries degrade slightly with each charge/discharge cycle. Goal. With this research we aim at comparing the energy consumption of two Android videoconferencing apps, and studying the impact that different features and settings of these apps have on energy consumption. Method. We conduct an empirical experiment by utilizing as subjects Google Meet and Zoom. We test the impact of multiple factors on the energy consumption: number of call participants, microphone and camera use, and virtual backgrounds. Results. Zoom results to be more energy efficient than Google Meet, albeit only to a small extent. Camera use is the most energy greedy feature, while the use of virtual background only marginally impacts energy consumption. Number of participants affect differently the energy consumption of the apps. As exception, microphone use does not significantly affect energy consumption. Conclusions. Most features of Android videoconferencing apps significantly impact their energy consumption. As implication for users, selecting which features to use can significantly prolong their mobile battery charge. For developers, our results provide empirical evidence on which features are more energy-greedy, and how features can impact differently energy consumption across apps.


Why for so many Iranians the change in citizenship is tinged with a sense of shame? This essay pursues this question to its very genesis, to the moral and political tribulations that tormented Haj Sayyah, the first Iranian who became a naturalized US citizen on May 26, 1875.
After spending about ten years in the United States, preceded by about as many years traveling throughout the old world, Haj Sayyah left San Francisco, the port of his naturalization, for his country of birth. When he arrived in Iran, he was welcomed by a fierce rivalry among the elite to meet his acquaintance. Even Naser al-Din Shah, the then king of Iran, excitedly asked him to become one of his majesty's retainers. Haj Sayyah declined, knowing well that exoticism is a highly perishable commodity. He was right.
Advocating modernization, human rights and liberal reforms, he soon became a pariah, first sent into fourteen months of tormenting internal exile, and then imprisoned under harsh conditions for twenty-two months. When finally released, he felt ostracized, entrapped and, "knowing of the victimizing nature of most Iranians," vulnerable. It was then that he, confounding every one, appeared at the U.S. Legation in Tehran, in early January 1893, with a decree of naturalization in hand, and asked for protection as a U.S. citizen.
Haj Sayyah's asylum at the legation lasted about six months and traversed the entire tenure of Watson Sperry, the humane and headstrong US ambassador, who unflinchingly supported Haj Sayyah, both against Tehran's arbitrary persecution and the prevarications of his superiors in Washington. Haj Sayyah later reported the episode in his Memoirs. Thus we are offered two narratives, one penned by Haj Sayyah, and the other implied in the official communication between the U.S. Legation in Tehran and the Department of State. Comparing the situations of correspondence and discrepancy between the two, each narrative betrays its own peculiarities. This, in turn, allows us to reflect on ways through which the imperatives of shame and pride produce and contort Haj Sayyah's account of his citizenship and asylum.
When a youthful Haj Sayyah embarked on his world travels, he did so, he says, in search of humanity, and to be disencumbered from the fetters of attachment. As to the first, there remains a picture of him, one of those staged 19th century photographs, where Haj Sayyah, gazing into the void, is sitting by a prominently displayed sign that reads: "I found the book of humanity blank." No more successful, it appears to me, was he in his striving for detachment. At the end, it was, ironically, his friend and protector, the Ambassador Watson Sperry, who, to save his friend's neck, had to insist to the Iranian authorities that notwithstanding Haj Sayyah's US citizenship, he is "as much a subject of His Imperial Majesty as …if he had never stepped across Persian frontiers."


We consider the explanation problem of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs). Most existing GNN explanation methods identify the most important edges or nodes but fail to consider substructures, which are more important for graph data. The only method that considers subgraphs tries to search all possible subgraphs and identify the most significant subgraphs. However, the subgraphs identified may not be recurrent or statistically important. In this work, we propose a novel method, known as MotifExplainer, to explain GNNs by identifying important motifs, recurrent and statistically significant patterns in graphs. Our proposed motif-based methods can provide better human-understandable explanations than methods based on nodes, edges, and regular subgraphs. Given an input graph and a pre-trained GNN model, our method first extracts motifs in the graph using well-designed motif extraction rules. Then we generate motif embedding by feeding motifs into the pre-trained GNN. Finally, we employ an attention-based method to identify the most influential motifs as explanations for the final prediction results. The empirical studies on both synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.


Auctions are believed to be effective methods to solve the problem of wireless spectrum allocation. Existing spectrum auction mechanisms are all centralized and suffer from several critical drawbacks of the centralized systems, which motivates the design of distributed spectrum auction mechanisms. However, extending a centralized spectrum auction to a distributed one broadens the strategy space of agents from one dimension (bid) to three dimensions (bid, communication, and computation), and thus cannot be solved by traditional approaches from mechanism design. In this paper, we propose two distributed spectrum auction mechanisms, namely distributed VCG and FAITH. Distributed VCG implements the celebrated Vickrey-Clarke-Groves mechanism in a distributed fashion to achieve optimal social welfare, at the cost of exponential communication overhead. In contrast, FAITH achieves sub-optimal social welfare with tractable computation and communication overhead. We prove that both of the two proposed mechanisms achieve faithfulness, i.e., the agents' individual utilities are maximized, if they follow the intended strategies. Besides, we extend FAITH to adapt to dynamic scenarios where agents can arrive or depart at any time, without violating the property of faithfulness. We implement distributed VCG and FAITH, and evaluate their performance in various setups. Evaluation results show that distributed VCG results in optimal allocation, while FAITH is more efficient in computation and communication.


Introduction/Background Sentinel node biopsy is a mini-invasive technique used in the staging of cervical and endometrial carcinoma. Methodology The laparoscopic approach allows a better visualization, thus achieving punctual dissections. Sentinel node detection methods include vital dyes such as patent blue and fluorescent dyes such as indigocyanine green (ICG). Patent blue is a low cost and high availability method. The use of ICG requires specific and high-cost equipment. This marker has shown a higher rate of detection and bilaterality than blue and TC99 in early stages of cervical and endometrial cancer. Results In the present video, the use of both methods of detection in each patient with carcinoma of the cervix and initial endometrium is shown. Conclusion We perform rutinelly the blue dye detection, eventhoug ICG is a better method. The reason are cost effective results. Disclosure Nothing to disclose


A half century after gold ceased to play a significant formal role in the international monetary system, it still captures a great deal of attention in the financial press and the popular imagination. Yet there has been very little scrutiny of the primary factors determining the price of gold since its dollar price was first allowed to vary freely in 1971.1 In this article, we attempt to fill in that gap by highlighting three considerations that are commonly cited as drivers of gold prices: inflationary expectations, real interest rates, and pessimism about future macroeconomic conditions.


A survey of 218 woody vegetation plots at 109 streamside sites was undertaken to describe anthropogenic degradation of riparian zone woodlands in the mountains of mainland Greece. Two assessment indices and specific anthropogenic pressure variables were employed and they showed good correlations at both the site and river segment scales. It was demonstrated through the Spanish Riparian Forest Quality Index (Qualitat de Bosc de Riber: QBR) that most riparian zones were in moderate or good condition, although extremely few sites were of high ecological status. Most riparian sites were affected by several anthropogenic pressures, some pressures produce notable degradation beyond the site-scale (i.e. at the river segment scale). This work provides a summary of the first wide-ranging vegetation-based assessment of montane riparian zones in Greece; the results support the use of site-based rapid assessment protocols along-side aquatic ecological status surveys.


Much of the work that is labeled 'descriptive' within linguistics comprises two activities, i.e. the collection of primary data and a (low-level) analysis of these data. These are indeed two separate activities as shown by the fact that the methods employed in each activity differ substantially. To date, the field concerned with the first activity — called 'documentary linguistics' here — has received very little attention from linguists. It is proposed that documentary linguistics be conceived of as a fairly independent field of linguistic inquiry and practice which is no longer linked exclusively to the descriptive framework. A format for language documentations (in contrast to language descriptions) is presented and various practical and theoretical issues connected with this format are discussed. These include the rights of the individuals and communities contributing to a language documentation, the parameters for the selection of the data to be included in a documentation, and the assessment of the quality of such data.


The structural modification of natural pyrethrins has led to a number of synthetic pyrethroid insecticides, and each compound has its own characteristics. At present, pyrethroid insecticides are applied not only for household use, the original use for pyrethrins, but also for a wide range of uses such as crop protection, pharmaceuticals, and veterinary applications. Quoting primary sources, this review describes the historical view of structural modifications of pyrethroids, with a focus on structural similarities, and their use.


Based on the background that vehicle monitoring system had urgent necessity recently, the paper put forward a overall scheme of vehicle monitoring system combining with Global Positioning System (GPS), Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) and Geographical Information System (GIS), introduced the key technologies of this monitoring center software, designed the function software of monitoring center based on VC++ software platform and finally achieved the aim that monitoring center made real-time position to vehicle terminal. The experimental results indicate that the design program is cost-effective, reliable and has the function of accurate positioning and monitoring.


The first European observers in the archipelago we now call Vanuatu characterised Indigenous men as martial warriors. Such observations occluded the diversity of Indigenous masculinities and the violence inherent in colonial processes of exploration, and later dispossession, 'pacification' and the imposition of colonial law. Indigenous relations between men were grounded in ascribed hierarchies of seniority and either achieved or ascribed hierarchies of divine power. Ideally more senior and higher 'men of peace' were seen to eclipse younger, lower 'men of war', but creative and destructive aspects of masculine power were often co-present in Janus-face formations. In surveying the longue durée of changing masculinities in Vanuatu we can witness complex reconfigurations associated with Christian conversion, the 'labour trade', commodity economy and state politics. The American military presence during the Second World War was a pivotal moment in such historical reconfigurations. As against the colonial masculine hierarchy of white mastas and black boes, it generated idioms of racial equality and fraternity between black men and white men and fuelled movements for independence. This is in stark contrast with the historical experience of another Pacific archipelago, Hawai'i, a state of the United States and a major base for the US military securing what some Kānaka Maoli see as an occupation of their homelands. A comparison of these two Pacific archipelagos highlights how Indigenous masculinities are historically formed and transformed in the context of the race relations of different colonialisms.


Diverse interactions among species within bacterial biofilms often lead to intricate spatiotemporal dynamics. The spatial structure of biofilms can determine growth and survival of different species, but the mechanisms driving formation of this structure are not fully understood. Here, we describe the emergence of complex structures in a biofilm grown from mixtures of motile and non-motile bacterial species on a soft agar surface. Time-lapse imaging shows that non-motile bacteria "hitchhike" on the motile bacteria as the latter migrate outward. The non-motile bacteria accumulate at the boundary of the colony and trigger an instability that leaves behind striking flower-like patterns. The mechanism of the front instability governing this pattern formation is elucidated by a mathematical model for the frictional motion of the colony interface, with friction depending on the local concentration of the nonmotile species along the interface. A more elaborate two-dimensional phase-field model that explicitly accounts for the interplay between growth, mechanical stress from the motile species, and friction provided by the non-motile species, fully reproduces the observed flower-like patterns.


A discrete volume scattering model based on a distorted Born approximation was validated with the experimental data from a multi-frequency scatterometer. The influence of the ground interface has been found important for high wavelength bands while as for bands with low wavelength, the soil contribution is negligible under vegetated conditions. It could be concluded both from the experimental and simulation results that low frequency radars (L-band) are most suitable for soil moisture determination and the soil moisture determination gets difficult with the high frequency radars (X-band) which are suitable for wheat growth monitoring.


This chapter is about designing service-learning and gives voice to college students engaging in service along with children and families who attend a culturally diverse urban Title One school. The various settings presented in this chapter show the numerous options open to service-learners in the University Assisted Community School. Engagement in this program realizes that schools with low resources have communities with low resources and communities with low resources have schools with low resources.


One theory that was initially questioned was the proposal of Dr. Denhan Harman (1956) of the University of Nebraska. He was the first researcher to propose Free radicals (FR) as an important cause of cellular aging. Today this theory enjoys wide approval. FR are "disequili‐ brated" molecules that travel through our organism attempting to capture an electron of the stable molecules to obtain its electrochemical stability [1,2].


The real AC electrical conductivity was studied as a function of frequency f, temperature T and composition x for a series of samples prepared using the double-sintering ceramic technique. The experimental results indicated that increases as the temperature and frequency increase and as the Ni ion substitution decreases. The Curie temperature and the activation energy for electrical conduction ( in the paramagnetic and in the ferrimagnetic region) increase as the Ni ion substitution increases. decreases while increases as the frequency increases and they become frequency-independent above the Curie temperature. The parameters n and B in the power law for were found to be composition- and temperature-dependent. n decreases while B increases as temperature increases. Both n and B decrease as the Ni ion substitution increases. Empirical formulae were suggested for the temperature-dependences of n and B.


This paper adopts Named Data Network technology for data delivery/forwarding over the Internet of Vehicles (IoVs) and proposes an NDN-based architecture for IoVs based on mobile edge computing(MEC). Advanced research has demonstrated the considerable benefits of introducing MEC into IoVs, but comes with issues such as insufficient security and privacy protection problems. To address these issues, we propose a dual-mode privacy-preserving framework for the security layer of the proposed network architecture. Specifically, we construct a privacy protection identity-based broadcast proxy re-encryption scheme to provide privacy to a set of vehicles with data requests. Furthermore, we use a federated learning scheme based on local differential privacy in the proposed NDN-based architecture for MEC-empowered IoV to achieve high-speed response and decision making. Simulation results demonstrate that our proposed scheme performs effectively.


The mechanisms by which multi‐potent stem cells switch their program to become functional differentiated cells have intrigued biologists for decades. Most focus has been on transcriptional pathways, but whether they have sufficient dynamic range to cause discrete shifts in cell state is not clear. Because the steady‐state level of RNAs is also dictated by their decay rate, an attractive possibility is that specific RNA decay mechanisms also have a role in promoting differentiation mechanisms. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, Li et al (2015) obtained evidence that a highly conserved RNA degradation pathway called nonsense‐mediated RNA decay (NMD) is critical for the differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells.


We present the dc, ac, and low-frequency noise characteristics of SiGe channel pFETs on silicon-on-sapphire (SOS). The SiGe pFETs show higher mobility, transconductance, and cutoff frequency compared to the Si control devices. A significant reduction in low-frequency (1/f) noise is observed in the SiGe pFETs, and understood to be the result of a lower border trap density sampled at the Fermi-level due to the valence band offset. The linear g/sub m/ of the SiGe pFET's at 85 K shows a secondary peak which is attributed to the turn-on of the surface channel.


Abstract The fact that equitable social policy expanded drastically in Latin America during the left turn and during a time of prosperity does not necessarily mean that the ideological color of governing parties and economic growth are the engines behind changes in social policy, as is usually claimed by part of the literature. Using panel data from Latin American countries for 1990–2013, this paper offers an alternative explanation, derived from previous qualitative research, that the level of political competition, the strength of civil society, and wealth are the key factors behind the expansion of equitable social policy. Once these explanations are included in our models, the ideological leaning of governments and economic growth lose statistical significance. Thus, this paper challenges dominant approaches that consider social policy change in Latin America a consequence of the ideological leaning of the government and economic growth.


Oxygen defect clustering in uranium dioxide had been indicated in powder neutron diffraction measurements, and an empirical clustering mechanism had been proposed to explain the data. However, using first-principles LSDA+U calculations, we find that this empirical model, in fact, cannot work. A more physically reasonable model is proposed based on a thermodynamical competition between point defects and cuboctahedral clusters. This mechanism interprets the puzzled origin of the observed asymmetric interstitial O′ and O″ naturally. It also gives a good and consistent agreement with all available experimental data, except the high occupation of the O″ site.


This paper documents some possible reasons of failure of programs for street children in Mexico, and provides background information on demographic and socioeconomic trends that underlay self-employment as well as a historical perspective of the social context of street children. It also describes the strategies used to survive in the streets, trends in drug use/misuse, the felt needs of children and the social responses to this problem. It documents how underlying failure there are unrealistic goals, a fragmented perception of the problem and consequently, a fragmented response to it. It also refers to the great pressure on institutions for results, lack of continuity of the programs and disregard of the perception and felt needs of working children who should benefit from these programs.


Objectives To investigate the association of high baseline MMP-3 serum levels with hands and feet joints structural damage progression, estimated by ultrasonography (US), in patients with early, treatment "naïve" RA without X-ray visible erosions. Methods Sixty-three pts. (9 males and 54 females; mean age 53.4 yrs 21–81±14.1) with early RA (EULAR/ACR 2010 criteria) and symptom duration of ≤12 months (mean duration of 3.8 months) had baseline serum MMP-3 levels tested. Patients had been DMARDs/glucocorticoid naïve, without visible X-ray erosions at the study entry. The subsequent structural joints damages, that were estimated by high frequency linear probe by ESAOTE My Lab 70 machine, as well as clinical markers of disease activity, in the first 2 years were followed. The presence of bone erosion was analyzed at the wrist, MCP2 and MCP5 joints of both hands, as well as at MTP5 joints according to OMERACT US group definition. In order to estimate progression of preexisting erosion the total volume (TV) of bone erosion were calculated by multiplying three diameters (mm): a-the length of erosion; diameter b- the width and diameter c-the depth of erosion. Anova statistical method was performed in data processing. Results 46 pts. had basal serum MMP-3 level higher than normal (MMP-3 positive). The 504 joints were assessed summary by US on each visit. The 122 bone erosions in total (1.9 per patient) were depicted at baseline and 213 bone erosions (4.3 per patient) at follow-up visit in whole group. After 24 months MMP3 positive pts. had significantly higher total number of US erosions than MMP-3 negative (3.8 vs. 2.4, p=0.039). The total volume of bone erosion (mm3) was higher in MMP-3 positive than MMP-3 negative pts. after 24 months of treatment, but without statistical significance (18.6 vs. 8.9, p=0.07). MMP-3 positive pts. had a significantly higher value of ESR, CRP and DAS28 than MMP-3 negative pts. at the baseline visit (53.6 vs.25.9, p=0.002; 36.6 vs. 9.5, p=0.005; 6.0 vs. 4.8, p=0.002, respectively). All of those parameters were significantly decreased after 24 months in a group of MMP-3 positive compared to MMP-3 negative pts. (p=0.009, p=0.021, p=0.028, respectively). Conclusions After 2-year of follow-up, US assessment showed a significantly higher number of new bone erosions in patients with early, treatment "naïve" RA and baseline MMP3 levels higher than normal (MMP3 positive) compared to patients with normal baseline levels of MMP3, as well as a biger TV of bone erosions but not statistically significant. The parameters of RA activity (ESR, CRP, DAS28) significantly correlated with baseline MMP-3 levels of higher than normal. Disclosure of Interest None declared


Abstract Climate change and the urban heat island (UHI) effect are increasing extreme heat risk in cities across the world, and have already made extreme heat the top weather-related cause of death in the United States. Despite this, understanding of viable strategies to address extreme heat is still limited, for both decision-makers and the public. Using a design-based research methodology, we developed an interactive educational game, Chill City, which teaches players about possible heat planning strategies and their tradeoffs. We surveyed adult, non-expert players to understand the game's reception and impacts. Players expressed that they enjoyed the game and that it helped them better understand heat planning strategies and the environmental, social, and economic tradeoffs associated with them. We argue that environmental games offer educational potential for adult learners on issues of extreme heat and climate change that should be further explored to inform effective approaches and designs.


Background It could be helpful to ascertain which patients are at risk of poor bowel preparation prior to performing sedated colonoscopy. The aim of the present study was to identify the predictive factors for poor colon preparation prior to colonoscopy. Methods A prospective study was performed at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, from September 2011 to May 2013. Patient characteristics, food consumed within 2 days of colonoscopy, volume of polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution, interval between completing PEG and examination, number of bowel movements, and character of the last stool were evaluated. Results Seven hundred and three patients were enrolled (mean age 50.3 ± 11.6 years, 43 % female). In univariate analysis, character of the last stool (\0.001), body weight (p = 0.007), body mass index (p = 0.047), waist circumference (p = 0.008), buttock girth (p = 0.016), meal residue score (\0.001), and interval between end of PEG and colonoscopy (p = 0.01) were related to inadequate colon preparation. In multivariate analysis, waist circumference (p \ 0.001), meal residue score (p \ 0.001), and characteristics of last stool (p \ 0.001) were variables that predicted poor colon preparation. Conclusions Patients who have consumed a high residue diet and/or who report that their last stool is semisolid are likely to have poor bowel preparation, and consideration could be given to rescheduling the examination.


The analysis of a wide class of waveguide bends using the method of lines is suggested. The discretization is performed in radial direction. The cross section of the waveguide may consist of many inhomogeneous layers. Loss can be taken into account by using complex permittivities. The radiation loss is calculated by the use of absorbing boundary conditions. The presented algorithm is verified by the analysis of a rib waveguide bend. The results are in good agreement with those published in the literature.


For the hadronic calorimeter of ATLAS, TileCal, neural processing is used to establish an efficient methodology for the online particle identification in beam tests of calorimeter prototypes. Although beam purity is usually very good for a selected particle type, background from wrong-type particles cannot be avoided and is routinely identified in the offline analysis. The proposed neural system is trained online to identify electrons, pions, and muons at different energy levels and it achieves more than 90% efficiency in terms of particle identification. The neural system is being implemented by integrating it to the readout drive (ROD) of the TileCal.


This paper introduces the European Unified Framework for Accessible Lifelong Learning project (EU4ALL). The aim of the project has much in common with the themes of the "e" Teaching and Learning Workshop. It aims to create a software framework using a service-oriented approach that can be interfaced to the existing generation of learning technology systems (VLEs). The framework will aim to enhance the accessibility of these systems by offering end users (both students and educators) a set of useful services. These services include the personalization of learning materials that match end users needs and preferences, services to present learning materials to hand-held devices or assistive technologies, and e-services that connect an individual learner to an institution to ensure that an educational institution can respond to the needs of learners to enable their full participation within higher education.


This work presents a promising process to carry out the reclamation of urban treated wastewaters that consists of the application of UV irradiation to an electrocoagulation process with aluminium electrodes (photo-electrocoagulation). Results show that it is possible to perform the simultaneous removal of the microbiological content and turbidity in wastewater by applying low current densities. During the photoelectrocoagulation process, coagulant species are formed by the electrodissolution of the anode material (aluminium), causing the removal of turbidity in wastewater. The nature of these coagulant species will mainly depend on the pH and the metal concentration. In this context, the pH during the process remained constant around 8, a value that favours the formation of insoluble aluminium hydroxides and therefore, a sweep flocculation as main coagulation mechanism. On the other hand, it has been observed the presence of disinfectant species in wastewater during the process, specifically, free and combined chlorine disinfectants. Urban wastewater present significant concentration of chlorides in their composition and these species are susceptible of being oxidized on the anode surface favouring the generation of hypochlorite. In addition, the electrogenerated hypochlorite can react with the ammonium typically present in wastewater to form chloramines. Both species have noticeable disinfectant capacity and they are the main responsible of the elimination of E. coli. Finally, the application of UV radiation during the process favours the elimination of microorganisms due to the interaction of the light on the cell membrane of E. coli. Likewise, the application of UV light during the electrocoagulation promotes the formation of free radicals from the oxidizing species previously formed. These radicals not only increase the process performance in terms of E. coli removal but also favour the chemical dissolution of the sacrificial electrode and therefore, there is an increase in the turbidity removal performance.


Abstract : The Canadian Army is incapable of executing National Defense tasks as assigned by Canadian Defense Policy. The Canadian Army has a history of being ill prepared for major conflicts. A combination of negligent senior leadership in both the Army and the Government has allowed the Canadian Army's combat readiness decline to the point where it is not capable of safely executing either assigned warfighting or operations other than war tasks. The present, unacceptable, situation has been exacerbated by the naive belief that the end of the Cold War has negated the requirement for combat ready conventional forces. The consequent rush to realize the ?peace dividend? has resulted in reduced defense spending and an accelerated decline in the capabilities and effectiveness of the Army. The Army is undermanned, ill equipped and poorly trained. However, through a process of reorganizing, restructuring and making modest equipment acquisitions the Army can make radical improvements in its levels of combat readiness. Many of these changes involve emotional and politically explosive issues, primarily those issues dealing with the Reserves. Without significant changes in the manner in which the resources of the Canadian Army are managed, and without concrete improvements to equipment and training methodology the Army will slowly devolve into little more than a heavily armed constabulary. The political and military leadership of the Canadian Army must address the issue of combat readiness immediately in order to ensure that the Army is organized, trained and equipped to execute assigned and potential future tasks.


Study Design. Prospective study. Objective. To examine the efficacy of teriparatide or bisphosphonate treatment to reduce pedicle screw (PS) loosening after instrumented lumbar posterolateral fusion in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Summary of Background Data. Failure of fixation caused by loosening of PSs in osteoporosis is a problem in spinal surgery. Oral administration of bisphosphonate or intermittent injection of parathyroid hormone treatment increases bone mass and reduces the risk of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Although these treatments may be factor in improving bone quality, a clinical study of the efficacy of bisphosphonate or parathyroid hormone for reducing PS loosening that addresses the quality of the bone marrow and pedicle cortex has not yet been reported. Methods. Sixty-two women with osteoporosis diagnosed with degenerative spondylolisthesis were divided into 3 groups: a teriparatide group (daily subcutaneous injection of 20 &mgr;g of teriparatide, n = 20), a bisphosphonate group (daily oral administration 2.5 mg of risedronate, n = 20), and a control group (without medication for osteoporosis, n = 22). All patients underwent decompression and 1- or 2-level instrumented posterolateral fusion with a local bone graft. Loosening of PSs and surgical outcome were evaluated radiographically, clinically, and by computed tomography 12 months after surgery. Results. At 12-month follow-up, the incidence of PS loosening was 7% to 13% in the teriparatide group, 13% to 26% in the risedronate group, and 15% to 25% in the control group. The incidence of PS loosening in the teriparatide group was significantly lower than that in the risedronate or the control group (P < 0.05). In contrast, the extent of PS loosening in the risedronate group was not significantly different from that in the control group (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Our findings suggest that administration of teriparatide increased the quality of the lumbar spine bone marrow and pedicle cortex. Level of Evidence: 3


In this paper, we propose a trajectory reconstruction method based on a low-cost IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), which is usually equipped in smartphones. The IMU used in our work consists of a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis gyroscope, which can record information of acceleration and rotation, respectively. However, intrinsic bias and random noise cause unreliable IMU signals. Thus, to improve the accuracy of the reconstructed trajectory, we apply filtering methods to reduce high or low frequency noises of the signal. Moreover, the machine learning technique is utilized to detect the movement state of the smartphone. Also, instead of a simple threshold to detect the smartphone movement as implemented in previous related works, we extract multiple features from IMU signals and train a movement detection model based on the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to increase the robustness of the system. Finally, a "reset switch" mechanism is used to more effectively restrain the accumulated error of the accelerometer.


Summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) is one of the most
economically and ecologically important estuarine-dependent species in the northeastern United States. The status of the population is currently a topic of controversy. Our goal was to assess the potential of using larval abundance at ingress as another fishery independent measure of spawning stock biomass or recruitment. Weekly long-term ichthyoplankton time series were analyzed from Little
Egg Inlet, New Jersey (1989–2006) and Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina (1986–2004). Mean size-at-ingress and stage were similar between sites, whereas timing of ingress and abundance at ingress were not similar. Ingress primarily occurred during the fall at Little Egg Inlet and the winter at Beaufort Inlet. These findings agree with those from earlier studies in which at least two stocks (one north and one south of Cape Hatteras) were identified with different
spawning periods. Larval abundance at Little Egg Inlet has increased since the late 1990s and most individuals now enter the estuary earlier during the season of ingress. Abundance at Little Egg Inlet was correlated with an increase in spawning stock biomass, presumably because spawning by larger, more abundant fish during the late 1990s and early 2000s provided increased larval supply, at least in some years. Larval abundance at ingress at Beaufort Inlet was not correlated with spawning stock biomass or with larval abundance at ingress at Little Egg Inlet, further supporting the hypothesis of at least two
stocks. Larval abundance at Little Egg Inlet could be used as a fishery-independent index of spawning stock size north of Cape Hatteras in future stock assessments. Larval occurrence at Beaufort Inlet may provide information on the abundance of the stock south of Cape Hatteras, but additional stock assessment work is required.


This study of 20 'white-collar' workers aged 20–30 measured motivation, enjoyment and access to various categories of experience in both work and leisure, and examined their relationship with psychological well-being on a number of dimensions. The method used a short questionnaire, psychological scales and the innovatory 'experience sampling methodology' (ESM) where respondents answer questions in a diary on the receipt of a signal from a pre-programmed watch or radio pager eight times a day for 1 week. The results show, in line with other studies, that intrinsic motivation in daily life is correlated with happiness but that, not previously reported, when motivation at work is examined both extrinsic motivation and instances where a person had to do the activity but did not wish to be doing something else, i.e. 'positive motivational change', are correlated with positive aspects of psychological well-being, while instances where a person wanted to do the activity but wished to be doing something else, i.e. 'negative motivational change', correlated with negative aspects. The results also show that enjoyment in both work and leisure correlates with aspects of psychological wellbeing; and that macro 'flow' experiences, where high skills and high challenges are perceived as equal, are enjoyable and interesting and come primarily from work. The study also shows that categories of experience considered important for psychological well-being and deemed to come primarily from work can be obtained in leisure. The results are discussed in the context of person—situation interactions and processes, and it is advocated that these should be studied in a variety of samples.


ABSTRACT In the past, the law has not been considered as an important part of gerontological science. Historically, different sciences such as medicine, biology, psychology, and sociology have played far more important roles in the creation and crystallization of gerontological knowledge. This state of affairs is reflected in academic education and field research, which ascribes little weight to legal aspects of aging. This article maintains that the time is ripe for gerontological education to recognize the importance of exposing students of gerontology in academic institutions to the study and research of law and ageing. Though this claim could be defended on the simple ground that the law is no different, in principle, from a wide range of other scientific disciplines—each of which makes a particular contribution to gerontology—in this article we shall go one step further. This article attempts to demonstrate special elements which make it particularly important to add the study of legal matters to the curriculum of gerontological education. They are the result of 5 aspects of the encounter between the law and old age: (a) the law as a tool for sociological research; (b) the law as a tool for social change; (c) the law as a tool for planning and undertaking care of the old; (d) the weaknesses of the legal discipline in the field of law and aging; and (e) the potential value of legal education for the practice of gerontology, and collaboration between gerontologists and lawyers.


The stability constants of a number of copper complexes were determined using pHmetric titrations to investigate the effect of complexes, if any, on solubilization of copper. Potentiometric studies were conducted on copper (II) ions with some selected organic contaminants. The organic contaminants selected are present in the effluents of coffee processing industry. These comprise of amino acids, which include alanine, serine, glycine, lysine, proline and valine. The pH-metric titrations were carried at 25 ± 0.5 °C and ionic strength, I = O.l M KN03. Copper and amino acids complexes were investigated to find their possible role in copper solubilization. The molspin pH metric data obtained was further used by SUPERQUAD program to calculate stability constants for the complexes formed. SPECIES program was used to find the most probable models. From the results, it was established that valine, lysine and glycine formed mostly single ligand complexes at pH 6 8.5 with log 13> 7.9 implying that they are important in holding copper in solution. However, for the mixed ligand complexes investigated; CopperValine-Glycine-Hydroxide, Copper-Valine-Glycine and Copper-Glycine-Lysine systems were formed significantly at pH greater than physiological pH range implying that they may not have significant role in the ionic equilibria associated with their transport.


................. This critical commentary discusses Yale-NUS College, a recently established liberal arts college in Singapore enabled by a controversial partnership between Yale University and the National University of Singapore. The Yale – NUS collaboration marks a shift in the role of educational institutions in Singapore ' s neoliberal economy and one that contends with the legacy of Singapore ' s earlier discourse of ' Asian values ' . The essay analyses the curricular design process of the college ' s ' literature and humanities ' common curriculum course, as well as one faculty member ' s experience of teaching a course on modern Chinese literature and fi lm, to highlight both the potential and the challenges of liberal arts education in the context of Singapore ' s postcoloniality and neoliberal economy.


Objective To explore the challenges academic FPs face when assessing patients' functional ability to return to work; to produce a detailed account of FPs' experiences and views on workplace disability management; to describe which parts of the disability assessment and management process FPs would like to modify or relinquish; and to provide solutions to streamline the overall process of assessing disability. Design Qualitative phenomenologic study using in-depth interviews. Setting A family health team located in a large urban teaching hospital in Toronto, Ont. Participants Purposive sample of 6 FPs. Methods Participants were invited to participate in 1-hour, in-depth interviews. Themes were derived from qualitative analysis of the data using a phenomenologic approach. Main findings Four themes emerged from the interviews: the FP's role in filing a compensation claim; the complexity of the patient; the FP's lack of training in occupational health; and possible solutions to improve the process of assessing the functional ability of an injured worker. Conclusion As in other areas of medicine, the role of the FP is to restore health; optimize social, psychological, and functional capabilities; and minimize the negative effects of injury. Assessing functional abilities for return to work can be challenging, as FPs are trained to focus on assessing and treating symptoms rather than on determining occupational functioning. Functional assessment forms do not provide enough information for physicians and serve as a poor communication tool among the stakeholders involved with returning an injured worker to work.


We report improved measurements of the product branching fractions B(B+ --> (D) over bar D-0(s0)*(+)(2317)) x B(D-s0*(+)(2317) --> D-s(+) pi(0)) (8.0(-1.2)(+1.3) +/- 1.1 +/- 0.4) x 10(-4) and B(B-0 --> D-Ds0*(+)(2317)) x B(D-s0*(+)(2317)) --> D-s(+) pi(0)) = (10.2(-1.2)(+1.3) +/- 1.0 +/- 0.4) x 10(-4) where the first errors are statistical, the second are systematic and the third are from D and D-s(+) branching fractions. In addition, we report negative results from a search for hypothesized neutral (z(0)) and doubly charged (z(++)) isospin partners of the D-s0*(+)(2317) and provide upper limits on the product branching fractions B(B-0 --> D(0)z(0)) x B(z(0) --> D-s(+)pi(-)) and B(B+ --> D(0)z(++) ) x B(z(++) --> D-s(+)pi(+)) that are more than an order of magnitude smaller than theoretical expectations for the hypotheses that the D-s0(*+)(2317) is a member of an isospin triplet. The analysis uses a 711 fb(-1) data sample containing 772 million B (B) over bar -meson pairs collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance in the Belle detector at the KEKB collider.


An efficient electron density profile inversion algorithm is developed for use on automatically scaled digital topside ionograms. The profile-fitting method described here models the topside ionosphere with a single polynomial, a method particularly suited for autoscaled data because it is not too sensitive to a certain amount of scatter in the h′(ƒ) data and it makes use of ordinary and extraordinary ray echoes. The program was applied to input data consisting of O and X trace segments obtained from automatic scaling of a number of digitized ISIS ionograms. It is shown that fully automatic calculation of the topside electron density profiles from digital topside ionograms can be performed in less than 10 s on a Cyber 71 computer.


The excitation function of the 68Zn(p, x)64Cu reaction was investigated in an attempt to clarify a serious discrepancy in the recently published data. New measurements based on both a weak γ-line of 1345.8 keV (0.47%) as well as the 511 keV annihilation radiation were performed after radiochemically separating the Cu from the Zn target matrix. In the case of the 511 keV measurements, the method of decay-curve analysis was employed as the annihilation radiation is not specific for a particular radionuclide. The results from the two methods were found to be in excellent agreement. Simulations were also performed to test the method of 511 keV decay-curve analysis for the effects of possible intruder contaminants.


BACKGROUND
Total mesorectal resection (TME) has led to improved survival and reduced local recurrence in patients with rectal cancer. Straight coloanal anastomosis after TME can lead to problems with frequent bowel movements, fecal urgency and incontinence. The colonic J pouch, side-to-end anastomosis and transverse coloplasty have been developed as alternative surgical strategies in order to improve bowel function.

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study is to determine which rectal reconstructive technique results in the best postoperative bowel function.

SEARCH STRATEGY
A systematic search of the literature (MEDLINE, Cancerlit, Embase and Cochrane Databases) was conducted from inception to Feb 14, 2006 by two independent investigators.

SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomized controlled trials in which patients with rectal cancer undergoing low rectal resection and coloanal anastomosis were randomized to at least two different anastomotic techniques. Furthermore, a measure of postoperative bowel function was necessary for inclusion.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Studies identified for potential inclusion were independently assessed for eligibility by at least two reviewers. Data from included trials was collected using a standardized data collection form. Data was collated and qualitatively summarized for bowel function outcomes and meta-analysis statistical techniques were used to pool data on postoperative complications.

MAIN RESULTS
Of 2609 relevant studies, 16 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met our inclusion criteria. Nine RCTs (n=473) compared straight coloanal anastomosis (SCA) to the colonic J pouch (CJP). Up to 18 months postoperatively, the CJP was superior to SCA in most studies in bowel frequency, urgency, fecal incontinence and use of antidiarrheal medication. There were too few patients with long-term bowel function outcomes to determine if this advantage continued after 18 months postop. Four RCTs (n=215) compared the side-to-end anastomosis (STE) to the CJP. These studies showed no difference in bowel function outcomes between these two techniques. Similarly, three RCTs (n=158) compared transverse coloplasty (TC) to CJP. Similarly, there were no differences in bowel function outcomes in these small studies. Overall, there were no significant differences in postoperative complications with any of the anastomotic strategies.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
In several randomized controlled trials, the CJP has been shown to be superior to the SCA in bowel function outcomes in patients with rectal cancer for at least 18 months after gastrointestinal continuity is re-established. The TC and STE anastomoses have been shown to have similar bowel function outcomes when compared to the CJP in small randomized controlled trials; further study is necessary to determine the role of these alternative coloanal anastomotic strategies.


The relatively low Schottky barrier height on In0.52Al0.48As lattice-matched to InP has hampered the achievement of enhancement-mode InAlAs/InGaAs/InP high electron mobility transistors (E-HEMTs). By introducing lattice-mismatched strained aluminum-rich In0.45Al0.55As as the Schottky contact material to enhance the barrier height, we have developed InP-based InAlAs/InGaAs/InP E-HEMT with threshold voltage of about 150 mV. A maximum extrinsic transconductance of 660 mS/mm and output conductance of 15 mS/mm are measured for 1 μm-gatelength devices at room temperature. The devices also show excellent radio-frequency performance with cutoff frequency of 50 GHz and maximum oscillation frequency of 54 GHz.


The agricultural world is developing tires with new capabilities that improve heavy machinery's fuel efficiency, tractive force, and ride comfort. To minimize cost, a manufacturer could use the Brixius or Wismer-Luth soil traction dynamic model to predict how a vehicle's tire would perform in the field. However, these models have two major drawbacks, inconsistent soil cone index readings and inaccurate tire dimension representations. Since empirical equations are used to generate a tire's tractive capability characteristics, only the tire evaluated and the field conditions present during testing are represented well by the model. This increases error when comparing different tires in different conditions. To provide a model that provides a reliable evaluation of tractive performance, an agricultural tire dynamometer was proposed. The proposed dynamometer eliminated the cone index altogether so that engineers could see what relationship a wheel's dimensions have on its tractive performance independent of cone index readings. To eliminate the cone index, the test stand will utilize a set of belts to study the interaction between the tire and a well-defined surface. The test stand is able to control the torque, down pressure, contact area, and velocity of the agricultural tire in question, while providing accurate and reliable data to analyze. This thesis contains a literature review of the soil traction dynamic models. Then, a detailed description of how the parts were sized and selected for the dynamometer. Finally, the characteristics and outputs of the test stand were modeled. The system was simulated to investigate its performance. The dynamometers capabilities were discussed along with future work that could provide improvements. Future work could include the system control of the contact area between the tire and belts. Also, a method of quickly changing the belts if needed.


The major structures of interest in the pelvis for sonography are the uterus and ovaries. TVS, with its superior imaging characteristics, provides better sonographic detail of this anatomy and improves our diagnostic capabilities. It is certainly reasonable to expect this approach to yield even greater improvements in the future as the refinements to the technology continue to evolve.


This study was conducted to identify factors that affect nursing performance; Those factors are personal characteristics, sub-categories of empowerment and job satisfaction of clinical nurses. Methods: Data were collected from November 24, 2012 to March 11, 2013, and participants were 451 hospital nurses in 6 hospitals. Descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression were used for data analysis. Results: Nurses who were older, married, highly educated, in the position of charge nurse, and with longer clinical careers showed relatively higher empowerment, higher job satisfaction, and higher nursing performance than others. Also, there were strong correlations between nursing performance and empowerment (r=.576)/ job satisfaction (r=.617). Factors predicted nursing performance were relationship with coworkers (β=.398), duty (β =.181), promotion system (β=.134), and turnover intention (β=-.109). Factors predicting job satisfaction were competency of empowerment (β=.249), and clinical career (β=.151). These 6 factors explained 55.2% of the variance in nursing performance (F=93.37, <.001). Conclusion: Regarding human resource management, relationship with co-workers is a changeable factor. Therefore nursing organizations should apply these factors in human resource management to enhance nursing performance and achieve organizational goals.


Purpose Occupational skin disease (OSD) is a commonly known occupational disease. However, epidemiological data about this condition in Korea are limited. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of OSD using nationally representative data. Materials and Methods We used data from the large-scale, cross-sectional, nationwide 4th Korean Working Conditions Survey conducted in 2014. OSD was defined as skin diseases caused or aggravated by working environments as indicated in a self-reported questionnaire. Factors affecting the occurrences of OSD were investigated using logistic regression analysis. Results The prevalence rates of OSD were 1.35% in all workers and 62.2% in workers with skin diseases. The workers with OSD were older, had lower educational levels, and had longer working times per week than those without OSD (p<0.001). Furthermore, OSDs occurred more frequently in self-employed workers (p=0.002), those with small-sized businesses (p=0.008), those with longer working durations (p<0.001), and manual and service workers (p<0.001). Although the workers with OSD had greater exposure to various hazardous factors, logistic multivariate analysis showed that high temperatures and skin contact with chemical products were significantly correlated (odds ratios: 2.096 and 2.326, respectively). High prevalence rates of OSD were observed in membership organizations/repair/other personal services (3.2%), agriculture/forestry/fishing (2.7%), manufacturing (2.0%), and construction (1.6%) industries. Additionally, depression/anxiety problems were significantly more prevalent in workers with OSD than in those without (p<0.001). Conclusion This is the first study to present large-scale epidemiological data on OSD prevalence in Korean workers. Our results highlight modifiable factors contributing to the development of OSDs.


We compute the final kinetic energies of the fragments emitted in the light charged particle accompanied cold fission of $^{252}$Cf taking into account the ground state quadrupole deformation and the finite-size effects of the fragments and integrating the equations of motion for a three-body system subjected only to Coulomb forces. The initial conditions for the trajectory calculations were derived in the frame of a deformed cluster model which includes also the effect due to the absorbative nuclear part. Although the distributions of initial kinetic energies is rather broad we show that in cold fission the initial conditions can be better determined than in the usual spontaneous fission.


A 42 year old female patient with an unusual vascular tumor, a malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the aortic arch is described. The clinical, radiological and pathological features of this case are presented.


On the bases of partial differential equation for transverse displacement function of anisotropic rectangular plates in bending,a general solution which can be used to solve the bending problem for arbitrary loading with whatever boundaries.The integral constants in general solution can be determined by boundary conditions.Along each edge there are two edge conditions: deflection or equivalent shearing force,slope or bending moments should be equal to the given value along the edges respectively.While at the corner there are corner conditions: deflection or reaction also.For example,a square plate with four edges simply supported and loaded uniformly distributed or concentrated have been calculated.This general analytical method gives the accurate solution.


Chemical composition of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Achillea biebersteinii Afan. and A. wilhelmsii C. Koch were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The essential oils of A. biebersteinii and A. wilhelmsii were characterized by the presence of a high percentage of oxygenated monoterpenes 72.9% and 49%, respectively. Sixty-four compounds were identified in the essential oil of aerial parts of A. biebersteinii representing 95.9 % of the essential oil. The main components of A. biebersteinii essential oil were 1,8-cineole (34.6%) and camphor (12.9%). Fourty-two compounds were identified in the essential oil of aerial parts of A. wilhelmsii representing 88.2 % of the essential oil. Main component of the essential oil of A. wilhelmsii was determined as camphor (32.0%).


Satellite-based methods are proposed for the estimation of clear day average hourly illuminance from satellite data under local climate conditions. First, aerosol optical depth (AOD) data collected using a ground-based sun photometer were used to calibrate the satellite remote sensing AOD data. Next, we screened for the factors affecting the illuminance of clear sky and detected three important factors, namely the sine of the solar altitude angle, aerosol optical thickness, and atmospheric precise water content. Finally, based on the AOD data of satellite remote sensing, combined with the local illumination data and meteorological data, a clear sky average hourly illumination model in Chongqing was established via the regression method. There was good agreement between the calculated and the measured values of clear day average hourly illuminance, with a root mean square difference and mean bias difference of 22% and -0.05%, respectively. The model was used to map clear day annual, quarterly, and monthly average hourly illuminance. The maps show the clear day annual, seasonal, and monthly variations of average hourly illuminance in Chongqing.


Antigenic activity related to the amyloid serum protein SAA was observed in indirect immunofluorescence studies on human placental tissue. Positive Staining with anti‐SAA antisera was localized to the cytoplasm of cells scattered within the mesenchymal stroma, thought to be fibroblasts, and to foetal stem vessel endothelium and some individual fibrillar Structures in villous stroma and perivascular tissue. This immunofluorescent staining was specifically inhibited by protein SAA. In contrast, no immunofluorescent staining was achieved using anti‐Sera to the amyloid protein AA. Absorption and immunodiffusion studies have further suggested that anti‐SAA antisera may recognize in human placentae only a very limited number of the antigenic determinants present in protein SAA but not in the smaller protein in AA. The results support previous observations that protein SAA‐like antigenic material can be found in normal human tissue.


This paper presents a recently developed simulation software tool for ac predictive and mitigation techniques for pipeline networks influenced by high-voltage (HV) power lines. The software can deal with any configuration (no limitation on number of pipes, transmission lines, bonds, groundings, coating, and soil resistivity) and is very user friendly and robust since a general applicable algorithm is used to calculate the induced electromagnetic force (EMF), eliminating the need for a subdivision of the pipelines in sections parallel or not to the transmission line(s). With the calculated values for the EMF, the induced voltages and currents are then obtained by solving the well-known transmission-line model using a numerical technique that allows to specify the pipeline parameters (diameter, coating, soil resistivity, ...) for each individual section of the pipeline. In this paper, simulation results will be presented and compared with available theoretical test cases. It will be demonstrated that the calculated values for the induced EMF and the induced voltage and current are in perfect agreement with these theoretical test cases. In addition, it will be proven that commonly used formulas for the induced EMF need to be handled with care, especially when the distance between the transmission line and the pipeline becomes bigger.


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded a three-year demonstration project in San Francisco to assess the feasibility of a large-scale school-based vaccination effort. The project overcame a number of barriers, including lack of pre-existing health services, diversity of home languages, and an every-50-minute-bell schedule. The project targeted seventh graders and all special education students for hepatitis B vaccine (HBVac). Of 4,928 students targeted, 3,509 (71%) consented to vaccination and received the first dose. Of these 3,509 students, 3,256 (93%) completed the three-dose series at school. Key lessons learned include emphasizing a collaborative process in the planning stage, offering an educational component for students, providing an incentive to get timely parental consent, planning distribution and collection of parent materials, and planning vaccination clinics to minimize interrupting the school day. The project clearly demonstrated that, with sufficient attention to political and logistical dimensions, school-based vaccination programs are possible in large urban schools.


Correct inflation of the cuff of any breathing tube is important; overinflation can damage the mucosa of the tracheobronchial tree and underinflation will cause a leak. Three different techniques to determine cuff seal/leak during inflation of the bronchial cuff of left double-lumen endobronchial tubes (DLT) were each evaluated in 10 patients. DLT size was chosen from a formula based on the patient's height and sex. In the first technique, designated the positive pressure technique of bronchial cuff inflation (PPT), the bronchial side of the DLT is pressurized during connection of the tracheal side to a beaker of water. Air bubbles will appear in the beaker in the absence of bronchial seal. The second technique, designated the CO2 analysis technique of bronchial cuff inflation (CAT), is based on analysis of CO2 content of gas sampled from the tracheal side of the DLT during ventilation of its bronchial side. When the bronchus is sealed, the normal CO2 waveform changes to a flat line. In the third technique, designated the negative pressure technique of bronchial cuff inflation (NPT), suction is applied to the tracheal side of the DLT. The absence of bronchial seal will result in collapse of the reservoir bag within a breathing system connected to the bronchial side of the tube. The bronchial sealing volumes were 1.1 ± 0.9 mL, 0.9 ± 0.7 mL, and 0.3 ± 0.4 mL (mean ± SD) when measured with the PPT, CAT, and NPT, respectively. The cuff volumes were significantly smaller when measured with the NPT compared to the PPT and CAT (P < 0.01) and when measured with the CAT compared to the PPT (P < 0.05). Lung collapse was satisfactory in all patients when the cuff volume corresponded to the sealing volume measured with the NPT, which was the smallest cuff volume measured. In 6 of the 10 patients, satisfactory lung collapse was achieved without any air in the cuff. These results suggest that when an appropriate-sized endobronchial tube is used, satisfactory lung collapse can be produced with little or no air in the bronchial cuff. These findings, however, do not define the best method of seal that prevents spread of blood or secretions.


This article presents exploratory research investigating the way teachers integrate music into their regular mathematics lessons as well as the effects of music-mathematics interdisciplinary lessons on elementary school students' mathematical abilities of modeling, strategy and application. Two teachers and two classes of first grade and third grade students (n=46) participated in the present study. The two teachers designed and implemented music activities as an integrated part of their regular mathematics lessons across five weeks. Results demonstrated that both teachers integrated a variety of music activities with different mathematical content. The music-math interdisciplinary lessons had positive effects on multiple mathematical ability areas.


The neuromodulator dopamine (DA) has complex effects on the activity of striatal neurons by changing their excitability and strength of synaptic inputs in the context of motor control, action-selection, reinforcement learning, and addiction. DA is volume transmitted, it leaves the synaptic cleft and diffuses through the extracellular space in the striatum. The spatial and temporal distribution of DA created by this diffusion have not been extensively studied yet. In this thesis a computational model based on diffusion in a porous medium was developed to study the spatiotemporal distribution of DA in the striatum. During the development of the model a second interesting problem was identified: DA receptors have slow kinetics. Due to these slow kinetics the DA receptors do not directly follow the DA concentration, but can integrate over longer timespans. Taking into account realistic kinetics it is shown that the different DA receptors do not have markedly different responses to different timescales of DA signals. The full model incorporates inhomogenous DA uptake, DA axonal tree morphologies, detailed receptor kinetics and spike trains based on rat cell recording. The thesis shows that spatiotemporal DA maps of a healthy striatum are highly variable in space and time but the death of dopaminergic axons, as seen in Parkinsons Disease, reduces the variability of the DA maps and makes them more homogenous. Furthermore, the DA receptor maps are shown to be correlated to anatomical features, synaptic positions and locations of reduced local DA uptake, and therefore have a component that is stable in time. The code of the full model has been made available at https://bitbucket.org/Narur/dope-amine/src/, so that others may also find out that dopamine is a dope amine.


The automatic recognition of emotional states are quite researched problem. In this work, emotion recognition problem was investigated and the system has been developed that can recognize expressions of happy, sad, surprised, angry, afraid, disgusted and neutral from an image. Previously, a feature vector was extracted for the detected face and the classification was made using the distance information between the vector and vectors of emotional expression. SVM(Support Vector Machine) approach was used. Middle-aged faces were studied without glasses and clean-shaven. KDEF dataset was used.


This paper discusses about miniaturization of microwave resonators based on the artificial dielectric concept. Very high effective permittivity will contribute to reduce the dimension of resonators significantly, though the unloaded Q is deteriorated. Its recovery should be possible by controlling the thickness of metal strips.Another feature of artificial dielectrics, easy control of anisotropy and inhomogeneity, will improve the spurious property of the resonator. Artificial dielectric is suitable to be implemented in the LTCC technology. Some examples were described, though there is more room for improvement of spurious and loss property. The concept of artificial dielectrics is related to that of coupled resonators. Control of mutual coupling between resonators creates a new type of resonator. The improvement of loss property is a key issue for the application of artificial dielectrics, and it is now being studied by our group. The same thing is also true for metamaterials, as long as the unit particles are made of metal strips.


In futuristic AR, we believe that both real and virtual objects surrounding the player should be interactive and controllable. With this in mind, we introduce "Garage", which is an AR project based on our particle-based system capable of outputting a variety of interactive content. In our system, everything in the player's surrounding environment is presented as particles and adequately simulated in real-time on a desktop PC equipped with a discrete GPU and rendered to in-house HMD, while their color and depth information is captured and sent by RGB camera and LiDAR sensor. LiDAR data is converted to particles using an algorithm that calculates world coordinated positions from depth values. Our system content and provided experiences have time flexibility and spatial control features that cannot be achieved in conventional polygon mesh-based systems. Additionally, the AR information output is presented in an appealing visual style that conserves GPU resources. Because of these features, Garage has a profound impact on AR immersion, and can augments our perception of the world in a limitless and creative manner. To demonstrate the abilities of our system and build new interactive AR experiences, in this project, we designed a game and created several demos that can give players interesting glimpses into the future world of augmented reality.