The role of nutritional supplementation in prevention of onset or progression of ocular disease is of interest to health care professionals and patients. The aim of this review is to identify those antioxidants most appropriate for inclusion in an ideal ocular nutritional supplement, suitable for those with a family history of glaucoma, cataract, or age‐related macular disease, or lifestyle factors predisposing onset of these conditions, such as smoking, poor nutritional status, or high levels of sunlight exposure. It would also be suitable for those with early stages of age‐related ocular disease. Literature searches were carried out on Web of Science and PubMed for articles relating to the use of nutrients in ocular disease. Those highlighted for possible inclusion were vitamins A, B, C and E, carotenoids beta‐carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, minerals selenium and zinc, and the herb, Ginkgo biloba. Conflicting evidence is presented for vitamins A and E in prevention of ocular disease; these vitamins have roles in the production of rhodopsin and prevention of lipid peroxidation respectively. B vitamins have been linked with a reduced risk of cataract and studies have provided evidence supporting a protective role of vitamin C in cataract prevention. Beta‐carotene is active in the prevention of free radical formation, but has been linked with an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers. Improvements in visual function in patients with age‐related macular disease have been noted with lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation. Selenium has been linked with a reduced risk of cataract and activates the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, protecting cell membranes from oxidative damage while zinc, although an essential component of antioxidant enzymes, has been highlighted for risk of adverse effects. As well as reducing platelet aggregation and increasing vasodilation, Gingko biloba has been linked with improvements in pre‐existing field damage in some patients with normal tension glaucoma. We advocate that vitamins C and E, and lutein/zeaxanthin should be included in our theoretically ideal ocular nutritional supplement.


Ongoing expansion of digital images requires new methods for sorting, browsing, and searching through huge image databases. This is a domain of Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) systems, which are database search engines for images. A user typically submit a query image or series of images and the CBIR system tries to find and to retrieve the most similar images from the database. Optimally, the retrieved images should not be sensitive to circumstances during their acquisition. Unfortunately, the appearance of natural objects and materials is highly illumination and viewpoint dependent. This work focuses on representation and retrieval of homogeneous images, called textures, under the circumstances with variable illumination and texture rotation. We propose a novel illumination invariant textural features based on Markovian modelling of spatial texture relations. The texture is modelled by Causal Autoregressive Random field (CAR) or Gaussian Markov Random Field (GMRF) models, which allow a very efficient estimation of its parameters, without the demanding Monte Carlo minimisation. Subsequently, the estimated model parameters are transformed into the new illumination invariants, which represent the texture. We derived that our textural representation is invariant to changes of illumination intensity and colour/spectrum, and also approximately invariant to local intensity variation (e.g. cast shadows). On top of that, our experiments showed that the proposed features are robust to illumination direction variations and the image degradation with an additive Gaussian noise. The textural representation is extended to be simultaneously illumination and rotation invariant. The proposed features were tested in experiments on five different textural databases (Outex, Bonn BTF, CUReT, ALOT, and KTH-TIPS2). The experiments, closely resembling real-life conditions, confirmed that the proposed features are able to recognise materials in variable illumination conditions and different viewpoint directions. The proposed representation outperformed other state of the art textural representations (among others opponent Gabor features, LBP, LBP-HF, and MR8-LINC) in the almost all experiments. Our methods do not require any knowledge of acquisition conditions and the recognition is possible even with a single training image per material, if substantial scale variation or perspective projection is not included. The psychophysical experiments also indicated that our methods for the evaluation of textural similarity are related to the human perception of textures. Four applications of our invariant features are presented. We developed a CBIR system, which retrieves similar tiles. We integrated the invariants into a texture segmentation algorithm. And feasible applications were demonstrated in optimisation of texture compression parameters and recognition of glaucomatous tissue in retina images. We expect that the presented methods can improve the performance of existing CBIR systems or they can be utilised in specialised CBIR systems focused on e.g. textural medical images or tiles as in the presented system. Other applications include computer vision, since the analysis of real scenes often requires a description of textures under various light conditions.


Objective C 2.0 is the object-oriented language that is the basis for Cocoa and Cocoa Touch, the development environment for the iPhone/iPod Touch.You'll learn all the basics: from handling data and creating functions to managing memory and handling exceptions. For programmers who want to develop iPhone apps, it's a must, and this title in the Visual QuickStart-style is the easy, fast way to get started.


Recent determinations of the internal composition and structure of two helium-atmosphere variable white dwarf stars, GD 358 and CBS 114, have led to conflicting implied rates for the 12 C(α, γ) 16 O reaction. If we assume that both stars were formed through single-star evolution, then the initial analyses of their pulsation frequencies must have differed in some systematic way. I present improved fits to the two sets of pulsation data, helping to resolve the tension between the initial results.


A new homologous series of Schiff base esters comprising a terminal fluoro substituent was studied. Molecular polarizability is enhanced by the presence of fluoro substituent, subsequently, affecting intermolecular interactions and resulting in smectic molecular arrangement. All members can be differed from the number of carbons at the alkanoyloxy chain (C n-1 H 2n-1 COO – , n = 10, 12, 14, 16, 18). The structure of the title compound was confirmed by spectroscopic (IR and NMR) techniques along with mass spectrometric analysis. Their mesomorphic properties were studied by using differential scanning calorimetry and optical polarizing microscopy techniques. Early members (n = 10, 12 and 14) exhibited monotropic smectic A phase while the longer chain members (n = 16 and 18) are non mesogenic compounds. X-ray diffraction analysis was used and confirmed monolayer of smectic A phase in n -dodecanoyloxy derivative.


Loss of lean body mass is apparent in many chronic diseases, such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and heart failure. The loss is a combined consequence of clinical conditions, loss of appetite, and lack of physical activity. In addition, even short-term hospitalization would increase the risk for loss of lean body mass. It has been shown that this malnutrition state significantly increased the length of hospitalization, readmission rate, and mortality.


An aluminium alloy surface with a microgroove array was fabricated via laser processing, and exhibited superhydrophobicity. The as-prepared surface showed excellent anti-adhesion properties and potential self-cleaning behaviour. The wettability of the fabricated surface was investigated by measurement of the water contact angle. The surface morphology and chemical composition were characterised by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The wettability of the surface was successfully modified from hydrophilicity to superhydrophobicity by the laser processing. The water contact angle was increased to 155°, and the sliding angle reduced to <;5°, without any chemical modification. Water droplets on the surface existed in an almost perfectly suspended state, resembling a model Cassie state. The superhydrophobic surface showed excellent stability under conditions of external extrusion. This easy and inexpensive modification method is expected to play an important role in extending the applications of aluminium alloys.


We present a catalogue of 4098 photometrically selected galaxy clusters with a median redshift � z �= 0.32 in the 270 deg 2 'Stripe 82' region of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), covering the celestial equator in the Southern Galactic Cap (−50 ◦ <α <59 ◦ , |δ |≤ 1. ◦ 25). Owing to the multi-epoch SDSS coverage of this region, the ugriz photometry is ∼2 mag deeper than single scans within the main SDSS footprint. We exploit this to detect clusters of galaxies using an algorithm that searches for statistically significant overdensities of galaxies in a Voronoi tessellation of the projected sky. 32 per cent of the clusters have at least one member with a spectroscopic redshift from existing public data (SDSS Data Release 7, 2SLAQ and WiggleZ), and the remainder have a robust photometric redshift (accurate to ∼5–9 per cent at the median redshift of the sample). The weighted average of the member galaxies' redshifts provides a reasonably accurate estimate of the cluster redshift. The cluster catalogue is publicly available for exploitation by the community to pursue a range of science objectives. In addition to the cluster catalogue, we provide a linked catalogue of 18 295 V ≤ 21-mag quasar sightlines with impact parameters within ≤3 Mpc of the cluster cores selected from the catalogue of VeronCetty & Veron (2010). The background quasars cover 0.25 <z < 2, where Mg II absorption-line systems associated with the clusters are detectable in optical spectra.


As science and engineering projects are becoming increasingly more complex, sophisticated, comprehensive and multidisciplinary, there is a growing need for systems thinking skills to ensure successful project management. Systems thinking plays a major role in the initiation, effective management, and in facilitating inter-organizational tasks. This research assesses the capacity for engineering systems thinking and its contribution in carrying out a multidisciplinary project. The research also reviews the cognitive process through which systems thinking skill is acquired. The study focused on a group of students who have completed their senior design projects in high-tech industry, while their plans were being integrated into existing larger projects in the respective industrial sites. The systems thinking skill of the students was examined according to a questionnaire for assessing the Capacity for Engineering Systems Thinking (CEST). Statistical analysis shows significant differences in the students capacity for systems thinking at the beginning and end of the work (p<0.001). This research demonstrates that systems thinking skills can be improved through awareness and involvement in multidisciplinary projects.


Abstract Eggplant is an important vegetable crop because of its rich nutrition, but to date no mitochondrial genome has been reported. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of the eggplant was sequenced. The complete mitochondrial genome was 498,136bp, linear structure, containing 54 protein-coding genes, four rRNAs, and 32 tRNAs. The phylogenetic tree supported the hypothesis that the eggplant is most closely related to Solanum tuberosum and Solanum lycopersicum.


Parent-mediated interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have elicited emerging interest among music therapists. A conceptual framework (reported elsewhere) delineated the incorporation of music to an established parent coaching model (Parent-Early Start Denver Model [P-ESDM];). The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of adapting the P-ESDM to a music-based parent coaching model. An alternating treatments design with a parent–child dyad was implemented, with music and non-music conditions in each treatment session. Behavioral video analysis of parental verbal and non-verbal responsiveness, child joint attention and verbal behaviors, and parent and therapist adherence to treatment provided quantitative data. A semi-structured follow-up interview with a parent addressed concerns, preferences, and suggestions for improvement. Parental verbal responsiveness seemed lower during the music condition, but non-verbal responsiveness increased notably during the music condition. Parent adherence to treatment was achieved in the sixth session. Child receptive joint attention increased in the music condition only, and initiating joint attention was higher in most sessions during the music condition. Parental comfort with the music did not seem ideal with the brief time allotted to training despite familiarity with the music. Music-based parent coaching to enhance social communication of preschoolers with ASD seems feasible. This study provides initial support to a conceptual framework of parent coaching of music interventions. Further research should investigate other methods to teach the music, alternative session schedules, and more precise measures of parental responsiveness.


Aim: To verify the knowledge of pregnant women on mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, the availability of HIV tests in the public health system and counseling on the disease in two cities, Birigui and Piacatu, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Methods: This is a descriptive and exploratory research using as samples, the files of 141 pregnant women attending the Basic Health Unit. Data were collected by survey, followed by a semi-structured questionnaire with open and closedend questions. Data were analyzed on Epi Info™ 7.1.4, by the Chi-square and Exact Fisher tests. Results: From all the 141 pregnant women, 119 were interviewed and 92.4% reported to have been informed about the need of taking the HIV test during prenatal exams. However, only 5.9% were counseled and 20.2% reported to be aware of how to prevent MTCT of HIV, usually mentioning lactation suppression and prescribed medication. The association between the knowledge about how to prevent MTCT of HIV and some social, demographic and economic variables like ethnics, educational level, home location, occupation, age and parenting was not verified. Conclusions: It is necessary to advise pregnant women on the importance of taking the HIV test regardless of the examination outcome, which was not observed in the cities where the research was conducted.


In the context of a generalized robot localization task we
investigate the utility of qualitative arrangement information
in recognition tasks. Qualitative information allows us to
make certain knowledge explicit, separating it from uncertain
information that we are facing in recognition tasks. This can
give rise to efficient matching algorithms for recognition
tasks. Particularly qualitative ordering information is very
helpful: it can adequately capture certain spatial knowledge
and leads to efficient polynomial-time matching algorithms.


We present a tool for model-based development of multimodal interfaces. The HMI model captures all involved modalities, thus ensuring highly consistent interfaces. In this paper we focus on the development of speech dialogs. These are specified using state machines, which is in contrast to the traditional way of using flow-charts. The usage of state machines gives us the possibility to fully specify the HMI so that it contains enough information to be fully simulated without the need to connect any target applications as well as for automatic target code generation. Due to the extensive simulation capabilities usability evaluations can be conducted at very early design stages. We further explain how different dialog strategies for different user types can be developed with the help of the user modelling plug-in. The tool thus supports the whole development chain starting from design studies to specification, development and testing over usability studies and target implementation.


This study aims to assess whether using byproducts as additional binders can reduce the environmental damage of concretes that already contain bottom ash instead of sand. In particular, two concretes in which sand had been replaced by coal bottom ash at varying percentages (from 0 to 100 wt %) were evaluated in which (i) silica fume was an additional binder, and (ii) silica fume and blast furnace slag were additional binders. Consequential life cycle assessment was applied to environmentally evaluate the effect from the production stage of these byproducts. We used the ReCiPe2016 midpoint hierarchist and single-score (six methodologies) methods. A two-stage nested mixed analysis of variance was used to simultaneously evaluate the results of six ReCiPe2016 methodologies. The ReCiPe2016 midpoint hierarchist results indicate that using additional binders in both bottom ash-based concretes decreases global warming potential, terrestrial ecotoxicity, water consumption, and especially, fossil resource scarcity environmental impacts. The bottom ash-based concrete with silica fume and blast furnace slag as additional binders shows more environmental benefits than the bottom ash-based concrete with only silica fume. The ReCiPe2016 single-score method results indicate that the bottom ash-based alternatives with 40–100 wt % (with silica fume as an additional binder) and 75–100 wt % (with silica fume and blast furnace slag as additional binders) of sand replacement seem to cause the least environmental damage.


This chapter contributes to our typological understanding of negation in Arawak languages by describing negation in Paresi. Paresi is a Southern Arawak language spoken by approximately 2000 people in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. There are two primary ways of expressing negation in Paresi: by using the particles maiha or maitsa, or by the prefix ma-. In non-prohibitive clauses negation is expressed by the particle maiha/maitsa placed immediately before the verb or clause-initial. In terms of structural and paradigmatic relationships between negative clauses and their affirmative counterparts (following the terminology in Miestamo, 2005), there are two types of asymmetrical negative constructions: the neutralization of the perfective/imperfective aspectual distinctions, and the nominalization of verbs, exhibiting a habitual/ temporally non-specific meaning. In prohibitive and conditional clauses the particle awa is used. The negative prefix ma- is used as a derivational morpheme deriving nominal and stative predicates from nouns and stative verbs respectively. It is a reflex of the proto-Arawak privative *ma-. In addition, negative indefinites are formed by using indefinite pronouns, and there is a negative focus particle xini which occurs in non-prohibitive clauses and in the negation of constituents.


The purpose of the study was to point out the arterial branches that are supplying the visual cortex. This study was carried out on 100 brains, fixed in formaldehid 10% and dissected under the surgical microscope; 20 of them were at first injected with colored nitrolac. It was observed the origin, relationships and distribution of the arterial branches, which supply these areas. The data obtained reveal that: medial face of the visual cortex receives branches from the posterior cerebral artery (throughout its collaterals: calcarine artery 100%, parietooccipital artery 96% and posterior temporal artery 92%; its lateral surface receives cortical branches from the middle cerebral artery (100%) and its inferior surface is irigated from collaterals of the posterior temporal and temporo-occipital arteries (100%). Some of the branches penetrate directly the visual cortex perpendiculary and others form at first, a superficial, pial network. The knowledge of arterial variants which supply the visual areas is very important for ophthalmologists, radiologists, neuroophthalmologists, neurosurgeons, for recognising their vascular damage in some complex neuroophthalmologic syndroms.


1,2,3,5-Tetrasubstituted and 1,2,3,4,5-pentasubstituted pyrroles may be synthesized through three-component reaction of 1,3-diketones, aldehydes, and amines induced by low-valent titanium reagent. High regioselectivity was achieved. Compared with the classical synthetic method, this new method has the advantages of short reaction time (15 min), high yields, convenient manipulation, and high regioselectivity.


Ion polarizabilities derived from low-frequency precision measurements of the dielectric constants of single crystals of more than 120 different oxides have recently been published but have proved difficult to interpret in terms of classical theory. The latter predicts that the polarizability of an ion should be proportional to the cube of its radius. We present a new approach to the analysis of the experimental data which clearly demonstrates a square law dependence, in agreement with the quantum mechanically based result expected for a purely electronic polarizability. There is then a demonstrable relationship between the low-frequency polarizability of an ion and the orbital angular momentum quantum number associated with its outermost, or most polarizable, electron subshell. The apparent absence of ion displacement contributions in oxides is explained as a consequence of the method though which polarizability data have been derived and the relative magnitude of the Szigeti charge. The new analysis offers, for the first time, the possibility of deriving a set of absolute values for the low-frequency `in crystal' polarizabilities of all ions for which there is a clearly established valence state. These should permit more reliable calculations of the properties of dielectric materials and a useful check for the modelling of their dynamical behaviour.


The paper deals with magnetic field mapping outside a finite length solenoid electromagnet, by an in-house designed and calibrated inductive pick-up or search coil. The search coil is calibrated in a unique methodology based on the azimuthal magnetic field component generated by a straight wire. This unique calibration technique helps us to avoid additional circuitry to integrate the signal obtained from search coil. The methodology proves advantageous in diffusion, implosion studies where the signal frequency changes with dimension and material of experimental job-piece (hollow metal tube). Remedial measures have been taken to avoid electrostatic capacitive pick-up (which eventually exacerbates with integration) keeping measurement simple and accurate. The experimentally measured field values have also been compared with electromagnetic field results obtained from mathematical calculations and finite element based simulations. Two different mathematical approaches have been demonstrated for field computation based on Biot-Savart Law. Both the methods have taken into account the exact geometry of the solenoid, including the inter-turn gaps. The methods use appropriate combination of closed-form mathematical expression and numerical integration techniques and are capable of determining all the vector components of magnetic field anywhere around the finite length solenoid. The mathematical computations are equally significant contributions in the paper especially because exact determination of magnetic fields outside finite length solenoids has not been discussed in sufficient specific details in already existing literature. The mathematical computations, finite element simulations and experimental verification together provide a holistic solution to magnetic field determination problems in pulse power applications that have not been discussed in available literature or books in specific details.


Injecting drug users may now be the largest group at risk for contracting HIV, mainly through the sharing of drug injection equipment (including lending, borrowing, and renting). This article presents the results of an ongoing ethnographic study into the drug-taking rituals of heroin addicts. A possible additional route of HIV contamination is presented, namely the ritual sharing of drugs through a practice termed "frontloading," which is embedded in a broader pattern of the sharing of resources among addicts. It is hypothesized that in the Netherlands this practice may be responsible for a substantial proportion of HIV spread among injecting drug users.


It is widely accepted that the lease duration of spectrum bands sold through auctions plays a crucial role in affecting spectrum utilization. Shorter lease duration increases the frequency of spectrum auctions. Within the scenario studied in this paper, frequent spectrum auctions increases the chances of the spectrum bands being allocated to those operators who can utilize it the best. However, if the lease duration is too short it will not incentivize enough operators to join the market and hence lead to lower competition which in turn deteriorates spectrum utilization. In spite of the importance of lease duration in affecting spectrum utilization, there is no formal study dealing with optimizing the duration of a spectrum lease. This paper presents the first mathematical model to study the effect of lease duration on spectrum utilization under certain market scenario. In such a market scenario, revenue of an operator is the measure of its spectrum utilization. Based on our model, we formulate an optimization problem and develop algorithms to solve the optimization problem for two special cases. Using these algorithms, we numerically study how the optimal characteristics vary with different market parameters.


A genomic library of Clostridium septicum NCTC547 strain was made in Escherichia coli by means of lambda gt10. The DNA insert of a hemolysin-positive (Hly+) lambda-clone was transferred into pUC19. The resulting plasmid, pCS21, confers a Hly+ phenotype on E. coli. Crude lysates of E. coli (pCS21) possessed a strong lytic activity on human erythrocytes and also a lethal effect on mice, characteristic of an alpha toxin. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the insert DNA (5.2 kb) in pCS21 included at least one open reading frame of 1380 bp. The coding frame for hemolysin was predicted to be 1329 bp in size and to encode a protein of 49.8 kDa. It coincided with the molecular mass (48 kDa) of the alpha toxin secreted by C. septicum. Taken together, the data indicated that plasmid pCS21 indeed encoded an alpha toxin gene of C. septicum.


Pre-trained language models have contributed significantly to relation extraction by demonstrating remarkable few-shot learning abilities. However, prompt tuning methods for relation extraction may still fail to generalize to those rare or hard patterns. Note that the previous parametric learning paradigm can be viewed as memorization regarding training data as a book and inference as the close-book test. Those long-tailed or hard patterns can hardly be memorized in parameters given few-shot instances. To this end, we regard RE as an open-book examination and propose a new semiparametric paradigm of retrieval-enhanced prompt tuning for relation extraction. We construct an open-book datastore for retrieval regarding prompt-based instance representations and corresponding relation labels as memorized key-value pairs. During inference, the model can infer relations by linearly interpolating the base output of PLM with the non-parametric nearest neighbor distribution over the datastore. In this way, our model not only infers relation through knowledge stored in the weights during training but also assists decision-making by unwinding and querying examples in the open-book datastore. Extensive experiments on benchmark datasets show that our method can achieve state-of-the-art in both standard supervised and few-shot settings


The aim of this research was to develop an advanced screening model that can be used quickly to identify areas of high pollution. The thesis describes the development of a new dispersion simulation that uses results from parametric studies of an existing advanced dispersion model. The output from the PARAmetrically Derived dispersion Simulation (PARADIS) is in the form of a receptor grid. This information may then be used in a Geographical Information System to produce pollutant contour maps. The main objective of PARADIS was to assist Environmental Health Officers in their duty, under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995, in identifying areas that are likely to exceed Statutory Objectives for Air Quality within their area. PARADIS allows both manual and automated input through ESRI ArcMapRTM. These options permit the user to input data for each individual 'road-link' or import the data from a validated traffic model. The automated option vastly reduces the input time often required for dispersion models. PARADIS was further developed to include 3 additional tools that pinpoint locations where exceedences of the Air Quality Objectives are likely to occur. PARADIS was validated through comparison with monitored data from both diffusion tubes and real-time units. The model was then used in several case- studies to examine the behaviour of traffic related pollutants in a variety of settings and future scenarios. These investigations were completed far more quickly than the methodology currently adopted by local authorities and other investigators. Finally, some ideas to further develop PARADIS are presented. These included the identification of specific sensitive receptor locations, automated validation and links to external programs for transport planning and public knowledge. The reduction of air pollution levels within the UK is a long-term Governmental Objective. The research undertaken in this thesis has demonstrated the need for a faster approach to determining air quality within a local area, such as that proposed by PARADIS.


Two thermal cylinders with varied shapes (circular (R = 0.15), square (L = 0.15), ellipse (Rx = 0.2, Ry = 0.15), and circular (R = 0.15) near the cold wall of the square enclosure where the (AR = 0.7) is explored numerically in the present study. The nanofluid is contained within the cavity (Al2O3). Left-side vertical wall and inner bodies are maintained at a fixed temperature (Th), while the right-side vertical wall is maintained at a cool temperature (Tc). Thermal insulation is used to insulate the upper and lower horizontal walls. This code is used the (technique of finite elements), which is utilized to resolve dimensionless equations in the COMSOL program. The basic parameters that were utilized in this paper where: the Rayleigh number (Ra), which ranged from 103 to 106; the percentage of solid volume (ϕ=0.06); and the aspect ratio (AR =0.7). The outcome demonstrates that: When the heated internal bodies are used in different forms, the effect of fluid movement will be different, and when the two inner bodies are combined, the highest stream function of up to 33 can be obtained. The isotherm line shows the clear and important effect of internal bodies in enhancing and improving heat transfer. For the two-square case, the average Nu was at its lowest point. While the highest Nu was for two – the ellipse case followed by the cylinder – the ellipse and the two circular cylinders.


Bone age estimations used correctly are a valuable adjunct in clinical paediatrics. Many paediatricians do not, however, recognise that reported bone age values may be inappropriately estimated and inaccurate. It is natural to accept without question the typed report of a radiologist, as one would other laboratory pathological results, and to use this information uncritically. Yet such reports may not only be inaccurate but positively misleading, and a clinical judgment would be better without them.


Face recognition has so many problems like to identify an image robustly of a human face. It also gives databases of some known faces. We use Viola-Jones algorithm for face detection and SURF based approach for face recognition. The principle behind the Viola-Jones algorithm is to scan a sub-window. To rescale the input image to different sizes and then after run the fixed size detector by using these images the standard image processing approach would be. It is time consuming approach because of the calculation of the different size images. On the Contrary by using the standard approach like Viola-Jones detector which is used for rescale instead of the input image and to run the detector many times by using the image – each time with a different size. Both approaches are equally time consuming, but Viola-Jones is a scale invariant detector which requires the same number of calculations of any size. This detector is constructed by using integral image and by using some simple rectangular features of Haar wavelets. This concept represents a scale-invariant and a novel rotation detector and descriptor known as SURF (Speeded-Up Robust Features). SURF is used to perform previously defined schemes with respect to repeatability, robustness and distinctiveness. It is more computing and comparing can be much faster. It is done through on integral images for image convolutions; by making the strengths of the leading existing detectors and descriptors (using a Hessian matrix-based measure for the use of detector, and a descriptor which is distribution-based). It gives result of combination of novel detection and description. This concept shows an overview of the detector and descriptor and then finds out the effects of the most important parameters. This paper uses SURF's application to two challenging. It achieves such goals like camera calibration which is a special case of image registration and recognition of objects. By this experiment we can say that SURF is very fast and used for image recognition.


In the early 1840s a wave of enthusiasm for the socialist theory of Charles Fourier swept through American reform circles. Excited utopians in New York, Boston, and elsewhere in the North divided their efforts between publicizing their version of Fourierism, called "Association," and building model communities or "phalanxes" to illustrate it. While the history and sociology of their nearly three dozen short-lived communal experiments continue to attract scholarly attention, the Associationists' writings have been relatively neglected. Yet the expositions and arguments that won thousands of converts to Fourierism represent an innovation in American religious thought too important to be forgotten: the first extensive attempt to harness the powerful ideas and symbols of Christianity to the emerging worldview of secular socialism.


Between 1920 and 2010 France experiences three periods in the matter of modernisation and development of its former colonies then of the third world countries. These take place for various political and historical reasons mostly in Black Africa. Through almost a century, applied as well as fundamental field research, on both empirical and theoretical levels, have been based on this geo-political region. In the 1980 other parts of the world (Latin America, Asia) come to the fore. But the methodological change of social science orientations (the study of development operations and not only the beneficiaries of the programs) does not seem to put into question the implicit reference to the model of black African societies.


Equity and Access attempts to unravel the complex narrative of why inequities in the health sector are growing and access to basic health care is worsening, and the underlying forces that contribute to this situation. It draws attention to the way globalization has influenced India's development trajectory as health care issues have assumed significant socio-economic and political significance in contemporary India. The volume explains how state and market forces have progressively heightened the iniquitous health care system and the process through which substantial burden of meeting health care needs has fallen on the individual households. Twenty-eight scholars comprising social scientists, medical experts, public health experts, policy makers, health activists, legal experts, and gender specialists have delved into the politics of access for different classes, castes, gender, and other categories to contribute to a new field of 'health care studies' in this volume. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach within a broader political-economy framework, the volume is useful for understanding power relations within social groups and complex organizational systems.


In most countries, failed criminal attempts are punished less severely than those that succeed. Many philosophers, including myself, have argued that differential punishment can be justified. However, in a recent paper, Hanna raises objections to defenses of differential punishment, claiming that such policy goes against our "desert intuitions" and also cannot be justified on utilitarian grounds. I argue in this paper that Hanna's desert-based and utilitarian objections can be undermined. Further, they are valid only within moral theories that take the agent to be an independent self, whose responsibility rests on his or her intentions and deliberations alone. However, differential punishment can be justified in a different kind of moral theory, in which there are good reasons to give luck a role to play.


Objective: To perform audit of patients presenting with pregnancy associated breast cancer (PABC) in terms of initial stage, grade, histology, disease course and outcome. Study Design: Retrospective, non-interventional study. Settings: Oncology Department of PINUM Cancer Hospital, Faisalabad Pakistan. Duration: Two years from January 2017 to December 2018. Methods: All breast cancer patients presenting during pregnancy and within one year after delivery registered in oncology department of hospital were included in this study. After Complete clinical examination and diagnostic workup patients were treated according to national comprehensive cancer network guidelines (NCCN). Data of all these patients was collected and recorded in predesigned Performa. Results: Data of pregnancy associated breast cancer from January 2017 to December 2018 collected and analyzed. Total number of breast cancer patients in this period were 775. Among these pregnancies associated breast cancer patients were 13 (1.6%). Average age of these patient was 27 (23-28) years, Gravida-2 (1-3). In 90% no risk factor was found and only 1 (8%) received hormonal therapy for infertility. 1 (8%) patient presented after lumpectomy and modified radical mastectomy each, 6 (46%) with fungating /ulcerating growth and 5 (38 %) with recurrence after primary surgical intervention. Stage wise 8 (62%) in Stage III, 2 (15%) stage II & 3 (23%) Stage 1V. Adjuvant chemotherapy given in 4 (31%) and neoadjuvant in 9(69%), prognosis wise 7(54%) are alive and (5)38% expired and (1)8% left the follow up. Among alive patients (4)57%are disease free, (3)43% are in follow-up with bone metastasis, receiving treatment. Conclusion: PBAC is usually not diagnosed at earlier stage due to physiological changes occur during pregnancy. Patients are reluctant to undergo treatment due to fear of abortion/termination of pregnancy and fear of fetal outcome. Treatment of PBAC needs multidisciplinary approach including gynecologist, oncologist and surgeon.


In conventional invasive or minimally invasive surgical procedures involving blood vessels, the surgeon does not receive any real-time indication or feedback of tissue properties when operating on a vessel. In the widely used coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure, the vessel harve and transplantation may result in trauma to the vessel wall and the endothelium, resulting in an eventual early failure of the graft. To minimize such trauma and to study the interaction of surgical tools with the vessel structure, we have developed a novel approach to instrument the relevant surgical appliances with force sensors and provide tissue property feedback to the surgeon through a haptic feedback device. To better understand the deformation of soft vessel imposed by the surgical appliance and to provide an additional guidance to the surgeon, we have implemented a real-time visual feedback through a computer model of the vessel. The proposed method can also be applicable to other surgeries, such as minimally invasive surgery, telesurgery, as well as the surgical training of the surgery students.


The number of data sources that an organization has to deal with continues to be nontrivial. Integrating this data is a growing problem. A great deal of research has been done to solve the general problem. Work on topics like multi-databases, mediators and ontologies has been directed at solving the general data integration problem. While all of this activity has been useful, the general problem of integrating heterogeneous data sources remains only partially solved. This paper looks at the solution of a sub-problem of the general problem where the data sources are restricted to relational databases and record-based legacy systems owned by the same organization. For many organizations, this restriction precisely defines their integration problem. For example, data warehouses typically have a tuple as their storage format, whether they are table- or cube-oriented. The task of defining the tuple requires integrating the organization's existing relational and/or record-based legacy systems. Populating the data warehouse can be accomplished by querying the integrated data sources. Specifically, we provide a mechanism for developing a relational model for the set of data sources, provide a method for generating correct queries over the model, and create an architecture for executing the queries based on the mobile agent paradigm. A prototype of the system has been designed and implemented.


Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are disorders characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. The focus of the present study was to examine the effect of the fungus Coriolus versicolor (CV), underlining its correlation with Toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2); we aim to evaluate its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect in mice exposed to experimental colitis. The model was induced in mice by colon instillation of dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS), CV was administered orally (200 mg per kg) daily for 4 days. On day 4, the animals were killed, and the tissues collected for histological, biochemical, and molecular analyses. Four days after DNBS administration, CC motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production increased in association with damage to the colon. Neutrophil infiltration, as assessed by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, in the mucosa was associated with overexpression of P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1). Immunohistochemistry for nitrotyrosine and poly-(ADP-Ribose)-polymerase (PARP) showed evident stain in the inflamed colon. Treatment with CV significantly reduced the appearance of colon changes and weight loss. These effects were associated with a remarkable ability of CV to reduce the expression of TLR4 and modulate the pathway of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB). This improved the colon architecture, reduced MPO activity, the release of proinflammatory cytokines, the presence of nitrotyrosine, and the hyperactivation of PARP, as well as the up-regulation of P-selectin and ICAM1. Furthermore, we studied the action of CV on the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, which is important for maintaining redox balance, demonstrating that CV by significantly increasing both enzymes is able to counteract the oxidative stress induced by DNBS. Taken together, our results clearly show that this natural compound can be considered as a possible dietary supplement against colitis.


In this article, we study the Stokes problem with some nonstandard boundary conditions. The variational formulation decouples into a system for the velocity and a Poisson equation for the pressure. The corresponding discrete system do not need an inf‐sup condition. Hence, the velocity is approximated with "curl" conforming finite elements and the pressure with standard continuous elements. Next, we establish optimal a priori and a posteriori estimates and we finally concluded with numerical tests. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2012


In the article the directions of decrease of the operational expenses and, as a result, the cost price of transportations due to reduction of a part of administrative expenses in cost prices of transportation of cargoes and passengers, the growth of labour productivity and the reduction of personnel contingent according to the volume of transportations are considered.


Graphitized carbon materials from biomass resources were successfully synthesized with an iron catalyst, and their electrochemical performance as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) was investigated. Peak pyrolysis temperatures between 850 and 2000 °C were covered to study the effect of crystallinity and microstructural parameters on the anodic behavior, with a focus on the first-cycle Coulombic efficiency, reversible specific capacity, and rate performance. In terms of capacity, results at the highest temperatures are comparable to those of commercially used synthetic graphite derived from a petroleum coke precursor at higher temperatures, and up to twice as much as that of uncatalyzed biomass-derived carbons. The opportunity to graphitize low-cost biomass resources at moderate temperatures through this one-step environmentally friendly process, and the positive effects on the specific capacity, make it interesting to develop more sustainable graphite-based anodes for LIBs.


We have demonstrated a new type of phonon sensor for cryogenic particle detectors with high-bandwidth SQUID readout. Our Quasiparticle-trap assisted Electrothermal feedback Transition edge sensor (QET) utilizes aluminum quasiparticle traps attached to a tungsten superconducting transition edge sensor patterned on a silicon substrate. The tungsten lines are voltage biased and self-regulate in the transition region. Phonons from particle interactions in the silicon deposit energy into the creating quasiparticles. The quasiparticles are trapped into the tungsten and cause its electrical resistance to increase. The resulting decrease in current through the sensor is measured with a DC SQUID array. We have been able to demonstrate xy-position resolution of /spl sim/0.3 mm for 6 keV X-rays from an /sup 55/Fe source in a 2 cm/spl times/2 cm/spl times/4 mm (4 g) detector. We describe our optimizations of the sensor design for improved energy and position. By simultaneously measuring the ionization yield we have demonstrated discrimination between electron and nuclear recoil events in a 100 g Si detector for the CDMS (Cryogenic Dark Matter Search) experiment.


Since the commencement of the factory system in Great Britain, Birmingham has been a leading centre of manufactures. Throughout this period the industries have been many and various but particularly in the metal trades. In these circumstances it is not surprising that local medical practitioners have shown special interest in diseases of artisans. Indeed in the modern advance of industrial medicine Birmingham has made an outstanding contribution. Among the early writers in English on trade diseases it is customary to give pride of place to Charles Turner Thackrah of Leeds, whose pamphlet on " The Effects of the Principal Arts, Trades and Professions and of Civic States and Habits of Living on Health and Longevity with a Particular Reference to the Trades and Manufactures of Leeds" was first published in 1831. Ten years earlier, in 1821, Dr. John Darwall, a physician of Birmingham, presented a thesis to the University of Edinburgh, entitled " Diseases of Artisans with Particular Reference to the Inhabitants of Birmingham ". As a contribution to the literature of trade diseases the discourse has no great merit, but as an early historical document it seems worthy of record, which, so far as I can discover, it has not hitherto obtained. As was the custom of the time the thesis is written in Latin. I have translated it and in this exercise I have been assisted by reference to the terminology in an article entitled "Diseases of Artisans " which Darwall contributed to the " Cyclopaedia of Practical Medicine " in 1833.


The birth of a universe is described as having two main stages: a) a phenomenological informational process that generates the fundamental phenomenological information of the universe; b) an informational - energetic process which produces the structural universe. It is shown that the laws of the universe have a semantic origin, producing a cellular universe, both at the phenomenological and structural levels.


Migraine is one of the most common primary/idiopathic headaches as well as one of the most frequent complaints in the society. For the last 15 years there has been a significant change in the acute treatment of migraine attacks. It was a result of an extensive research on serotonin receptors, primarily their 5-HT(1B) and 5-HT(1D) subtypes, and on the pathological mechanisms underlying migraine headache. New drugs acting selectively, triptans, are not only more effective than traditional medicaments, common pain-killers (NSAID) and ergotamine, but are also much safer than non-selective and high affinity pharmaceuticals and ergotamine, which binds for a long time the 5-HT receptors, predominantly in the coronary arteries. The review shows main differences between particular triptans and discusses the principles of therapy, including contraindications.


A broadband and scalable lumped-element model for silicon on-chip transformers is presented. Model elements are driven from layout and process technology specifications. We provide simple and accurate expressions for evaluating the self inductance and the mutual coupling coefficient. The effects of various layout parameters, including transformer area, number of turns, and turns ratio, on transformer electrical response have been investigated. Model accuracy is demonstrated by comparing simulated and measured S-parameters, minimum insertion loss, quality factor, coils inductance, and magnetic coupling of several transformers with a wide range of configurations


The design philosophy and the construction techniques to make a novel mosaic lens to collect Cerenkov radiation are described. The lens blanks were rough cut into segments by a water jet. The segments were cut to the final inner and outer diameters by ultrasonically assisted machining, an unusual new technique developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The technology will soon be available to the public through Sonic Mill, Inc., 3820 Academy Parkway North, NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109. The advantage of ultrasonically assisted machining lies in rapid, accurate shaping of brittle materials such as ceramics and glass, which can, by this technique, be shaped about as fast as aluminum.


Quantum simulation traditionally relies on unitary dynamics, inherently imposing efficiency constraints on the generation of intricate entangled states. In principle, these limitations can be superseded by non-unitary, dynamic circuits. These circuits exploit measurements alongside conditional feed-forward operations, providing a promising approach for long-range entangling gates, higher effective connectivity of near-term hardware, and more efficient state preparations. Here, we explore the utility of shallow dynamic circuits for creating long-range entanglement on large-scale quantum devices. Specifically, we study two tasks: CNOT gate teleportation between up to 101 qubits by feeding forward 99 mid-circuit measurement outcomes, and the preparation of Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) states with genuine entanglement. In the former, we observe that dynamic circuits can outperform their unitary counterparts. In the latter, by tallying instructions of compiled quantum circuits, we provide an error budget detailing the obstacles that must be addressed to unlock the full potential of dynamic circuits. Looking forward, we expect dynamic circuits to be useful for generating long-range entanglement in the near term on large-scale quantum devices.


The stability in financial markets is important to promote economic growth. Due to its fundamental importance, the causes of market instability are of broad interest. The purpose of this dissertation is to propose plausible explanations of financial market phenomena related to market stability such as prices, liquidity, volatility, information value, welfare, and market efficiency. The premise in the analysis is that uncertainty in financial markets is multidimensional and information structure is complex. To be more precise, in modern financial markets, forming consistent beliefs about the fundamental values of securities, the composition of market participants, and other market characteristics are complex and uncertain. On the basis of this premise, this dissertation investigates the trading decisions, order sizes, liquidity, security prices, information value, welfare, and market efficiency to shed light on the causes of financial market instability (fragility) and makes a number of empirical predictions some of which provide explanations for results that have been reported in the empirical market microstructure literature and others are yet to be tested. The dissertation also identifies conditions under which markets are vulnerable to instability and thus also has important policy implications. The first phenomenon investigated in this dissertation is sudden liquidity deteriorations and improvements in financial markets. Chapter 2 presents a security price formation model with ambiguous liquidity provision. The model provides a unified and parsimonious framework to explain the empirically documented features that market liquidity can suddenly deteriorate during market crashes and improve during trading reforms. Consequently, ambiguity in liquidity provision can increase the value of information and social welfare. The ambiguous price formation model helps to understand (i) the dynamics of ambiguity, (ii) the determinants of time-varying ambiguity aversion of liquidity providers, (iii) the price and liquidity dynamics during various order flow patterns, and (iv) the effect of trade size on security prices during ambiguous market episodes. Chapter 3 develops a model in which traders face uncertainty about the composition of informed and uninformed traders (composition uncertainty) to investigate the "crowded-trade" problem (not being able to know how many others are taking the same position) in financial markets. This chapter characterizes the equilibrium in the information market where both types of traders are affected by composition uncertainty and in the financial market where only uninformed traders are affected, leading the uninformed traders to be disadvantaged in the face of composition uncertainty. This composition uncertainty distorts traders' information acquisition, demands, and perceived equity premium, resulting in undervalued (resp. overvalued) stock when traders are sufficiently (resp. insufficiently) uncertainty averse. The model helps to understand a linkage between liquidity and asset prices, proposes plausible explanations for large price swings, and demonstrates how regulations to enhance market efficiency may not work when the composition of traders is uncertain. Chapter 4 shows that when market participants learn about the level of adverse selection from order flow, a large order imbalance can be destabilizing, causing sharp price movements and evaporation of liquidity, as it signals high "toxicity" (adverse selection). While such effect is consistent with the practitioner view that order flow is informative about toxicity, it contrasts with standard microstructure models in which the level of adverse selection is assumed to be known and thus order imbalance improves liquidity by revealing private information. The model helps to understand when markets are most susceptible to imbalance-induced instability and the dynamic process of how markets digest order imbalance. Chapter 5 examines the implications of the true complexity of real-world information on market efficiency. Using the literature of decision theories and information sciences, Chapter 5 discusses how accounting different attributes of information can unify two controversial views, efficient markets hypothesis and behavioral finance. The main thesis advanced is that the roots of behavioral anomalies are the imprecision and reliability of information. By exemplifying different decision scenarios, Chapter 5 argues that the decision making is rational with precise and reliable information, whereas becomes more behavioral in nature as the information becomes more imprecise and unreliable. Overall, the results of this dissertation suggest that multiple dimensions of uncertainty formalized in different languages can illuminate on various aspects of market stability that we otherwise label as anomalies and offer a promising middle ground between efficient markets hypothesis and behavioral finance.


Mode-division multiplexing (MDM) has been extensively exploited to expand the capacity of chip-scale optical interconnects, whereas high-volume manufacturing of on-chip mode (de)multiplexers is still full of challenges. In this paper, we analyze the fabrication errors (sidewall, width, height) of silicon mode (de)multiplexer and present two cases of fabrication-tolerant high-performance silicon mode (de)multiplexer. The presented mode (de)multiplexer could eliminate the mode mismatch and mode hybridization caused by the fabrication errors. When sidewall errors are 0°, 5°, width errors are 0, ± 20, ± 30 nm, and height errors are 0, ± 10 nm, the designed fabrication-tolerant high-performance silicon mode (de)multiplexer can achieve low excess loss less than 2.5 dB and low inter-mode crosstalk less than -15 dB over a broad bandwidth from 1500 to 1600 nm. The obtained results provide an important guideline for designing fabrication-tolerant photonic integrated circuits on silicon platform, which could be applied to the prospective high-volume manufacturing and large-scale integration.


As I prepare to step down after nearly 15 years as first Associate Editor and then Editor of the Journal of Canadian Studies. I have been experiencing very mixed feelings. These I can best define as a tension between the pride that I share with my editorial colleagues concerning what has been achieved over these years and an uncertainty, indeed a fear, about what my successors have to face as they seek to bring the Journal as a meaningful agency of communication into the twenty-first century. It hardly seems remarkable now that a Canadian Studies journal should be in its 28th year, publishing more than 700 pages a year and sustaining a worldwide readership of over 1400 subscribers, and all while enjoying only an informal linkage with its related academic organization, the Association of Canadian Studies. However, if we cast our minds back to 1965 we may just remember that the idea of such an enterprise must have seemed sheer folly to most Canadians, be they academics or not; it was only through the vision and persistence of Trent University's founding president, T.H.B. Symons, and the Journal's first editor, Denis Smith, that this periodical slowly got itself up and running. The editor was chronically short of available material and, of course, even shorter of interested subscribers, and he managed to get by on the bits of money that could be squeezed from the University's budget. Less than three decades later the Journal of Canadian Studies finds itself facing competition within the country from the International Journal of Canadian Studies, the aggressive creation of the International Council of Canadian Studies and its generous funding arm, formerly Canada's Department of External Affairs. Abroad, journals devoted to Canadian Studies flourish in close to 20 countries (and languages) under the auspices of that same International Council. How, one cannot help but note, the proverbial worm has turned since that time when the United States advanced into Vietnam and the Beatles advanced upon New York! On the surface things have never looked better. The interest in the serious and comparative study of Canada continues to grow and the quality of interdisciplinary and revisionist work is constantly before us who have to make difficult editorial decisions. And insofar as that interest is international, one hopes that more and more it is stuff of inherent fascination and less the hothouse creation of the Canadian government abroad. On the one hand, then, I am alive with good memories - the parade of supportive partners I have worked with on the Journal over the years, first under Ralph Heintzman and then John Wadland (I include here staff, associate editors, editorial board members, and the people at the Association of Canadian Studies), the quarterly joy of seeing a new issue appear (though one knows ad tedium all the stages in the process, there is still a moment of sheer magic when one takes hold of a finished product), the meeting of various editorial challenges, and the sense of having been a part of a most important mission the production and promotion of the study of Canada and things Canadian. On the other I am dogged by looming anxieties. There has been and continues to be an effective reduction of government funding in support not only of academic research in Canada in the humanities and social sciences but also of the primary means of dissemination of such research in the country; that is, Canadian-based journals. It may in fact be easier for individual scholars to get funding for work outside the country than within; it may even be easier to be published outside. As well, there are troubling signs of a new level of social intolerance for the work of humanists in particular, a willingness among far too many people - especially government leaders and civil servants - to buy into a materialistic and merely pragmatic view of learning and society, a view that increasingly pressures universities to reshape themselves into job-training centres that are accountable to everyone regardless of their level of experience. …


The distribution network operator is usually responsible for increasing the efficiency and reliability of network operation. The target of active loss minimization is in line with efficiency improvement. However, this approach may not be the best way to decrease the losses payments in an unbundled market environment. This paper investigates the differences between loss minimization and loss payment minimization strategies. It proposes an effective approach for decreasing the losses payment considering the uncertainties of electricity prices in a day ahead energy market using energy storage systems and demand response. In order to quantify the benefits of the proposed method, the evaluation of the proposed technique is carried out by applying it on a 33-bus distribution network.


Dual composite theory of many-meson amplitudes is applied to investigation of the Bethe-Salpeter (BS) equation for one-meson states. The interaction kernel is the direct ex tension to this case of those which were determined by duality for many-meson amplitudes. The BS equation is shown to have solutions with the following properties : i) There are no second-kind exotic states in the leading Regge trajectories. ii) Mesons form approxi mate irreducible representations of SU (6) &;0(3)£ and SU (6) w®O (2) Lsymmetry at rest and for linearly moving states respectively. iii) These states may be made exact irreducible representations if one takes an appropriate form of an arbitrary function of total momentum which remains in the BS amplitudes. iv) Mesons form linearly rising Regge trajectories with respect to the total orbital angular momentum of urbaryons inside the meson. v) De pendence on relative space-time coordinates of the BS amplitudes is given by the factorized residue functions at the poles of the dual function in the interaction kernel. vi) BS ampli tudes on the leading trajectory have positive norm, whereas there appear negative norm states also on the daughter trajectories when the Veneziano function is chosen as the space time part of the interaction kernel. Discussion is given on the relations among the constructive and interactive forces and on the duality in the composite theory of hadrons.


The behaviour of many-body systems has always been attracting a lot of research interest at the experimental as well as the theoretical level. Understanding the role and effects of correlations between particles is a key requirement to provide a profound description of manybody quantum systems. The use of Quantum Monte Carlo simulation methods allow for very precise calculations, nevertheless, the possibility to simulate time dynamics constitutes still a challenging task, where substantial progress has been made over the last few years. In this thesis I will focus on the description and applicability of the new time dependent variational Monte Carlo method, and in particular its imaginary time variant, in which the variational wavefunction is propagated to the optimal approximation of the real ground state of the underlying system. A detailed derivation of the method based on the principles of stationary action will be given. I will show that the method is suited to describe few-particle systems as well as bulk systems where up to 1000 particles in a periodic box are studied. These simulations will demonstrate the possibility to efficiently optimize very generic trial wavefunctions, parametrized with up to a hundred parameters. The well studied liquid 4He will serve as a test system in all the calculations, for which a Jastrow-Feenberg-like trial wavefunction will be used. In particular I will present the optimized ground state energies as well as the two-body correlation function used in the variational ansatz. Furthermore, the particle density and the pair distribution function are presented for the cluster and bulk simulations respectively.


To answer the question: is the anxious a dependant person, it is necessary to define to what extend behaviour depends on pathology. The difficulty in answering this question relies on the fact that these two phenomenons interact with each other. The comorbidity analysis allows a descriptive point of view. It shows a higher incidence of these troubles when occurring together, compared to a general population. Nevertheless, the comorbidity approach does not give any information on the nature of the links between anxiety and dependence. The causality models depend on the theory they use. Furthermore, unity between anxiety and dependence disorders does not exist; it is then certainly a mistake to consider their link in a unique way. Three main hypothesis are usually used. The neurobiology point of view supposes a link between brain structures, neurofunctioning, anxiety and dependence disorders. Some authors suggest a general addictive propensity of brain functioning, especially in cases of anxiety disorders. Lastly, the psychopathological analysis can be useful in the understanding of dependence behaviour in case of anxiety.


In this paper, a study is presented of how self-organizing ART networks can be used to create a trainable, feature-based real-time 3-D object recognition system. Feature extraction is a well known approach to reduce the number of appearances of a three-dimensional object. Since features are derived from only a small part of the information comprised in the original image, it cannot be assumed that a given set of objects is separable in the reduced feature space. To avoid ambiguities, in general, multiple features have to be integrated in an object recognition system. Since feature extraction can be computationally intensive, a real-time system should evaluate features sequentially and terminate recognition when ambiguities are resolved. This paper gives an analysis of the clustering properties of ART 2A-E networks. It is shown how ART networks can be used to generate meaningful hints concerning the object's identity from ambiguous features by exploiting them up to an optimal degree.


Social science research on disaster-prone communities often cites social capital and community resilience to examine methods for improving emergency management and disaster risk reduction. The City of Conway, South Carolina, is susceptible to numerous natural disasters throughout the year and it has sustained damage from four major flooding disasters since 2015. This qualitative, ethnographic case study used interview data collected from nine Conway residents to examine and analyze perceived threats to citizens of Conway following a large-scale natural disaster and the possible responses by citizens in need of government assistance. Findings reveal that participants have endured more than one large-scale disaster that has impacted their perceived level of community resilience. The results also indicate that while most citizens stated they liked their community, they did not think they could endure another large-scale disaster. The article discusses the viability of using FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant to develop local resilience planning groups (LRPGs). Implications for social change include cultivating efforts by governmental and non-governmental organizations to improve the level of community engagement, enhance the dissemination of information, improve disaster risk reduction; and build and maintain resilient communities. This research can also inform strategies to achieve several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction's Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR).


A method is proposed for studying and distinguishing between 'external' and 'internal' processes leading to voltage decay in polymeric electrets. The technique of thermally stimulated partial recovery of voltage (TSRV) yields the difference between the remaining internal homocharge and the accumulated compensation charge after exposure to humid atmospheres. A phenomenological model yields two time-dependent functions which describe the voltage decay processes. The application of these methods to FEP-AL-FEP sandwich structures stored at 95% RH and at room temperature allows one to identify two discrete mechanisms leading to voltage decay. The first describes the deposition of compensation charge from the atmosphere which is dominant over the first ten days of exposure. The second describes homocharge decay accelerated by invasive action.


This paper discusses hours of rest for Canadian shipping employees on the basis of statutory regulations, the research literature, and consultations with representatives of the shipping industry during four workshops held in different parts of Canada. Topics include analyses of current regulations, operational practices and research on work and rest and on time of day and rest, and recommendations for change. The analyses found that current regulations do not distinguish between sleep and recreation during rest periods and fall to take into account time of day effects in relation to quality of sleep. The proposed changes in the regulations require the use of non-rotating 24-hour duty schedules providing for minimum rest periods and maximum work periods.


Hemorrhage is a recognized occurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma but is infrequently seen with tumors metastatic to the liver. This complication was observed in three patients with primary hepatic malignancy and in four patients with hepatic metastases (melanoma, two; colon, one; breast, one) who were studied by CT. Hemorrhage occurred in the patient with metastatic colon carcinoma in the setting of anticoagulation. Definitive radiographic signs of hemorrhage were detected by CT in six of the patients, including hyperdense hepatic masses on noncontrast scans (four patients), high density peritoneal (one patient) and subcapsular fluid (one patient), and the hematocrit effect in peritoneal fluid (one patient). In three patients an irregular liver border adjacent to perihepatic fluid suggested the liver as the organ from which bleeding originated. There were four deaths, none of which was immediately related to the hemorrhagic complication.


Although valuable advances have been made in the hematological field over the past years, most of the B-cell malignancies remain incurable, as malignant B cells retain the ability to respond to a variety of microenvironment signals, providing additional opportunities in the development of therapeutic interactions. The role that the microenvironment has in the natural history of malignant B cell of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) appears to favor the development of new treatment modalities aimed at interrupting the interaction between malignant B cells and microenvironment. At this moment, the therapeutic approaches whose target is the CLL microenvironment or the signaling pathways associated with CLL microenvironment are one of the most important therapeutic strategies. Interactions taking place within the tumor microenvironment are targeted by multiple clinical trials, and preliminary results are favorable. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a size of complexity because leukemic cells are grown and protected by anti-cancer therapies by the components constituting the tumor microenvironment in lymphoid organs (e.g., endothelial cells, dendritic cells (CD), T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), monocytederived nurse-like cells (NLC)). Current standard therapy in CLL combines chemotherapy with an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody. This combination induces substantial toxicity and is not curative, as most patients relapse. Recent advances using kinase inhibitors, such as ibrutinib and idelalisib or BCL2 signaling inhibitors e.g. Venetoclax, indicate a major change promising to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia without chemotherapy. At present, these therapeutic agents do not provide complete responses and should be administered continuously by the patient in order to avoid recurrence/relapse of the disease. Resistance to ibrutinib has already been detected in patients with high genetic risk. This problem requires the identification of therapies that combine agents with distinct mechanisms of action.


Objective: People with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) are required to make complex treatment decisions, which require an understanding of personal risk and associated benefits. However, many people with LTBI in the United Kingdom are at risk of low health literacy and can also experience language barriers, which can affect decision making. Patient education resources can support understanding but must meet the needs of the target population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accessibility, readability and content of LTBI patient education resources. Design: Review and descriptive analysis of online LTBI patient education resources. Setting: UK-based online patient education resources. Method: We searched UK public health and charitable organisations for online LTBI patient education resources. Resources were evaluated in terms of accessibility (availability of translated versions); readability (Flesch–Kincaid Reading Ease [FKE], Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level [FKG] and Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook [SMOG]), theoretical content (Extended Common-Sense Model) and principles of shared decision making. Results: Seventeen out of 60 articles identified in the search met the prespecified criteria for inclusion. Translated materials were available for 7 of them. The overall mean ± SD readability scores and corresponding reading ages were FKE 63.51 ± 8.81 (13–15 years), FKG 9.14 ± 8.95 (13–15 years) and SMOG 8.27 ± 1.51 (13–14 years). No resources met Health Education England recommended readability levels for health-related information. Dimensions of cognitive representations of illness and treatment most commonly addressed included treatment control, cause and identity (symptom and label); no resources addressed emotional identity. Conclusion: Current and future LTBI patient education resources would benefit from greater consideration of the needs of non-English language speakers, readability and theoretical content to improve patient illness experience and support informed treatment decision making.


This thesis proposes a decentralized reward-based incentive mechanism to address the problem of noncomplying subsidiaries when the parent company wish to meet its targeted energy consumption level. Besides its effectiveness in ensuring compliance, the proposed mechanism is advantageous as it is able to induce the optimal subsidiary behavior that maximizes the company profit given a carefully chosen reward allocation scheme. In addition, when the company is willing to trade part of its profit for an operationally simple mechanism, simple uniform allocation scheme is highly effective when the subsidiaries exhibit certain degree of symmetry. The results above are drawn from our investigation on a more general model: Cournot competition under a joint constraint. For this model, we study the equilibrium behavior under free competition and compare the profit and total surplus achieved with the corresponding values when different levels of coordination are introduced in the market (i.e., the Monopoly market and the society-wide coordinated market). We establish tight upper bounds for the profit and total surplus loss due to lack of coordination as functions of various market characteristics (i.e., number of firms, intensity of competition and asymmetry between firms). Thesis Supervisor: Georgria Perakis Title: William F. Pounds Professor of Management MIT Sloan School of Management


The development of composite technology represents one of the most significant advances in materials science since 1940s. The major advantages of composite materials are their high strength and stiffness, light weight, corrosion resistance, crack and fatigue resistance and design flexibility as compared to metallic materials. Because
of the attractive properties. the use of composite materials has been increasing steadily in recent years. Unfortunately, there are disadvantages in composite materials as compared with metals. They include brittleness, vulnerability to stress concentration,
inflexibility for localised multidirectional stresses, sensitivity to environmental effects, and poor damage tolerance to impact. These factors must be critically considered in designing a composite system.
The aramid keviar family of fibres have been accepted as reinforcement for composites and finds wider and newer applications in various industrial and aerospace
sectors. The interfacial bond strength between aramid fibres and epoxy resins is normally lower than what is experienced with carbon fibre composites. This weakness
with kevlar necessitates investigation and evaluation of the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and modulus under some realistic environmental conditions. The present
work has been taken up to evaluate the variation of ILS S and modulus values after being given the extreme thermal shock of 160°C thermal gradient. The thermal shock
is given in two separate ways, firstly, one series of kevlar/ epoxy and kevlar/polyester short beam shear (SBS) specimens are kept in a oven at 80°C for different time intervals and then immersed in a liquid bath at -80`'C temperature. The other experiment is done in reverse way i.e. first kept at -80°C and then exposed to 80°C temperature. The interesting variations of ELSS and modulus values have generated some ideas for
assessment in this area. The thermal shock, positive temperature and cryogenic temperature affect the kevlar/epoxy and kevlar/polyester composites in a very complex way. The wide fluctuation in results necessitates further investigation and depth analysis of this interaction, It may be hypothesised that the extreme thermal shock may introduce some decohesion between fibre/matrix interface especially when the gradient is
positive in thermal shock.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the evidence related to the efficacy of condom use versus the human papillomavirus vaccine in the prevention of human papillomavirus infections.

DATA SOURCES
Cochrane, CINHAL, PubMed, and Clinical Evidence. Various combinations of the keywords HPV, vaccine, and condoms were used for the search.

STUDY SELECTION
Randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled trials were reviewed for evaluation of the human papillomavirus vaccine. Several longitudinal studies and a meta-analysis were used for review of condom efficacy related to human papillomavirus transmission.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Studies evaluating the use of either condoms or the human papillomavirus vaccine and its impact on human papillomavirus transmission rates, detected through either human papillomavirus DNA testing or clinical disease.

CONCLUSIONS
The evidence indicates that the greatest degree of protection from specific types of human papillomavirus infection is provided by the vaccine. However, the use of condoms in addition to the human papillomavirus vaccine provides the greatest protection from the untoward effects of human papillomavirus infection and may also provide protection against human papillomavirus types not in the vaccine and other sexually transmitted infections.


Recently, I argued that human subjects in artificial wombs (AWs) 'share the same moral status as newborns' and so, deserve the same treatment and protections as newborns. This thesis rests on two claims: (A) subjects of partial ectogenesis—those that develop in utero for at time before being transferred to AWs—are newborns and (B) subjects of complete ectogenesis—those who develop in AWs entirely—share the same moral status as newborns. In response, Elizabeth Chloe Romanis argued that the subject in an AW is 'a unique human entity…rather than a fetus or a newborn'. She provides four lines of response to my essay. First, she argues that I have 'misconstrued' what birth is. Once we correct that error, it becomes clear that subjects of partial ectogenesis have not been born. Second, she argues that my claims imply that non-implanted embryos (existing in vivo) 'would also be "born"'. But that is absurd. Third, she claims I fail to 'meaningfully respond' to distinctions she draws between subjects of ectogenesis and neonates. Finally, she criticises my essay for focusing on subjects of AWs rather than focusing on pregnant persons (who should be at the 'centre' of debates over AWs). I respond to each of these charges. In doing so, I reaffirm that (contra Romanis) some subjects of ectogenesis are newborns and all subjects of ectogenesis—even those that have not been born—share the same moral status as newborns.


Have a look at anything related to our ongoing Pages Book Clubs. Be it for this semester or past semesters. It's all in one place! Come Join Us for Our First All Digital Pages Book Club!


We study linear time invariant (LTI) continuous time consensus dynamics in the presence of bounded communication delays. Contrary to traditional Lyapunov based methods, we approach the problem using Fixed Point Theory. This method, allows us to create an appropriate complete functional metric space and through contraction mappings to establish the existence and uniqueness of a solution of this model. We explore the case of constant as well as distributed delays.


This paper presents the design and implementation of a novel file I/O solution for Blue Gene systems. We propose a hierarchical I/O cache architecture based on open source software. Our solution is based on an asynchronous data staging strategy, which hides the latency of file system access from compute nodes. The performance results demonstrate the high scalability and significant performance improvements of our architecture over existing solutions.


Preface. Foreword. Acknowledgements. Contributors. Part I Introduction (Philip Marder and Virginia Litwin). 1 Introduction to Flow Cytometry (Elizabeth Raveche, Fatima Abbasi, Yao Yuan, Erica Salerno, Siddha Kasar and Gerald Marti). 2 Recent Advances in Flow Cytometry: Platforms, Tools and the Challenges for Data Analysis (Paul J Smith, Roy Edward, Rachel J Errington). 3 Introduction to Biomarkers (Ole Vesterqvist and Manjula Reddy). Part II Flow Cytometry in the Drug Development Process (Virginia Litwin and Philip Marder). 4 HTS Flow Cytometry, Small Molecule Discovery, and the NIH Molecular Libraries Initiative (Larry A. Sklar and Bruce S. Edwards). 5 A Multiparameter Approach to Cell Cycle Analysis as a Standard Tool in Oncology Drug Discovery (Carmen Raventos-Suarez and Byron H. Long) 6 Flow Cytometry in Pre-Clinical Toxicology/Safety Assessment Environment (David McFarland and Kristi Harkins) 7 Use of Flow Cytometry for Defining and Validating the Molecular Mechanism of Anti-cancer Drugs in Humans (David W Hedley). 8 CD4 T cell Assessments in Evaluation of HIV Therapeutics (Thomas N. Denny, Raul Louzao, John Wong and Brooke Walker). 9 A Translational Medicine Approach to Monitoring the Immune System during Clinical Trials (Virginia Litwin and James Andahazy). 10 Immunogenicity Testing Using Flow Cytometry (Denise M. O'Hara and Valerie Theobald). 11 Pharmacokinetics by Flow Cytometry: Recommendations for Development and Validation of Flow Cytometric Method for Pharmacokinetic Studies (Yuanxin Xu and Susan M Richards). Part III Validation and Regulatory Compliance (Virginia Litwin and Philip Marder). 12 Regulatory Compliance and Method Validation (Carla Hill, Dianna Wu, John Ferbas, Virginia Litwin, Manjula Reddy). 13 Instrument Validation for Regulated Studies (John Ferbas and Michelle Schroeder). Part IV Future Directions (Virginia Litwin and Philip Marder). 14 Probability State Modeling: A New Paradigm for Cytometric Analysis (Bruce Bagwell). 15 Phospho Flow Cytometry: Single Cell Signaling Networks in Next Generation Drug Discovery and Patient Stratification (Peter O. Krutzik, Sean C. Bendall, Matthew B. Hale, Jonathan M. Irish, Garry P. Nolan). Index.


Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is a water channel that is highly expressed on the apical side of the choroid plexus epithelium (CP) and thought to be one of the major pathways for the high water permeability of this structure. Blockade of AQP1 in the CP reduce the production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Downregulation of AQP1 might be protective against some neurological disorders correlated with increased intracranial pressure and/or poor drainage of CSF. Curcumin, the major constituent of the rhizome of Curcuma longa, has been shown to inhibit potassium channels, Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase, as well as AQP3 in some cells. We therefore speculated that curcumin might be a useful tool to inhibit and/or decrease AQP1, and thus might be useful in the regulation of CSF production in pathophysiological conditions, including traumatic brain injury, hydrocephalus, stroke, systemic hyponatremia, acute cerebral edema, and hypertension. Choroidal epithelial cells of the lateral ventricle of Wistar rats were isolated and grown in in-vitro cultures for 24 h. Curcumin was then added to the medium at different concentrations, and the cell viability tested by the (3,4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Additional wells of cells were tested for AQP1 protein expression using immunocytochemistry, immunoblotting, and flow cytometry. Our results showed that curcumin treatment decreases AQP1 expression in rat choroid epithelium cells in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that curcumin may be a useful tool to regulate CSF production in pathophysiological conditions such as hydrocephalus, systemic hyponatremia, hypertension, and other neurological conditions.


Departing from a participatory-research-action that started in 2019 in a segregated zone of the Municipality of San Martin in the Great Buenos Aires, this article proposes to analyze women migrants' strategies to deal with the health emergency related to the COVID19 pandemic. We will show that the migrant population uses their social networks in a multiplicity of collective strategies of integration in this territory of high social vulnerability, which become even more important in a context of crisis. It is mostly women migrants who, through their organizations and knowledge, are containing the health emergency in these popular neighborhoods, and so they cover the void of the state. Taking this into consideration, we use the concept of communitarian caring to understand women's strategies and their importance in the creation and strengthening of networking.


Background This study investigated the association between insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 1036 healthy children aged between 7 and 13 years was conducted. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated as an index of IR. Participants were classified according to the HOMA-IR quartiles. Results Incremental, linear trends were found in age (p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001), body fat (p < 0.001), waist circumference (p < 0.001), resting blood pressures (BP) (p < 0.001), triglycerides (TG) (p < 0.001), total cholesterol (TC) (p < 0.001), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (p < 0.001), FBG (p < 0.001), and insulin (<0.001) according to incremental HOMA-IR categories (from the 1st to 4th quartile). Compared with children in the 1st HOMA-IR quartile, children in the 4th HOMA-IR quartile had significantly higher odd ratios (ORs) of abnormalities in systolic (p = 0.051) and diastolic BP (p = 0.005), FBG (p < 0.001), TG (p < 0.001), TC (p = 0.016), and HDL-C (p = 0.006) even after adjustments for age, gender, BMI, and body fat percentage. Children in the 3rd HOMA-IR quartile had significant abnormalities in FBG (p < 0.001), TG (p = 0.001), and HDL-C (p = 0.010) even after adjustments for the covariates. Conclusion The current findings suggest that IR is significantly associated with the clustering of MetS risk factors in children in Korea.


Since the original demonstrations of homogeneous organometallic catalysis under mild conditions in the 1960s there has been much progress. A central focus for development has been asymmetric synthesis, through the use of optically active ligands. Chiral chelating biphosphines have played a key role in these advances, which have led to: asymmetric hydrogenation as a route to amino-acids and Vitamin E precursors, kinetic resolution in directed hydrogenation, asymmetric isomerisation of olefins in a route to citronellol, and asymmetric catalytic C-C bond formation. This review highlights recent developments.


This study aims to explore the effectiveness of smart board use in language learning and teaching at the School of Foreign Languages (AUSFL), Anadolu University, Turkey. The study was conducted with teachers and students chosen by convenience sampling method in AUSFL in the 2016-2017 academic year. The participants were six volunteer teachers and 266 students who were taught English by using smart boards. The teachers carried out at least 4 hours of their classes in the classrooms which are equipped with smart boards. The data were gathered by using both qualitative and quantitative methods including surveys, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The data analysis revealed that both teachers and students found the use of smart boards effective in terms of bringing fun and variety along with better learning to the class.


Despite having a rather weak family connection to Ireland, the American modernist poet Marianne Moore (1887-1972) described herself in a letter to Ezra Pound in 1919 as 'Irish by descent'. This thesis relates Moore's claim of Irish descent to her career as a publisher, poet and playwright, and argues that her decision to shape an Irish inheritance for herself was linked with her self-identification as an American poet. Chapter 1 discusses Moore's self-confessed susceptibility to 'Irish magic' in relation to the increase in contributions from Irish writers during her editorship of The Dial magazine from 1925 to 1929. Moore's 1915 poems to the Irish writers George Moore, W. B. Yeats and George Bernard Shaw, which reveal a paradoxical desire for affiliation to, and disassociation from, Irish literary traditions, are scrutinized in Chapter 2. Chapters 3a and b discuss Moore's 'Irish' poems 'Sojourn in the Whale' (1917) and 'Spenser's Ireland' (1941). In both poems political events in Ireland – the 'Easter Rising' of 1916 and Ireland's policy of neutrality during World War II – become a backdrop for Moore's personal anxieties as an American poet of 'Irish' descent coming to terms with her political and cultural inheritance. Expanding upon previous chapters' discussion of the interrelation of poetics and politics, Chapter 4 shows how Moore's use of Irish sources in 'Spenser's Ireland' and other poems including 'Silence' and the 'Student' reflects her quixotic attitude to Irish culture as alternately an inspiration and a tool for manipulation. The final chapter discusses Moore's adaptation of the Anglo-Irish novelist Maria Edgeworth's 1812 novel The Absentee as a play in 1954. Through this last piece of 'Irish' writing, Moore adopts a sentimentality that befits the later stages of her career and illustrates how Irish literature, rather than Irish politics, has emerged as her ultimate source of inspiration.


The safety profile of alcoholic extract of stem-bark of B. ovalifoliolata was investigated in male Wistar albino rats as per OECD guidelines 407. A total of 24 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of six rats each. Group 1 served as control and was given 0.3% carboxymethylcellulose, groups 2, 3 and 4 were given alcoholic extract of B. ovalifoliolata @ 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg respectively in 0.3% carboxymethylcellulose orally for 28 days. The animals were observed daily for clinical signs, mortality, physiological and behavioral changes. Body weights were measured at weekly intervals and various hematological parameters like Hb, PCV, TEC, TLC and serum biochemical profile which included AST, ALT, creatine phosphokinase, creatinine, total protein and antioxidant parameters like TBARS and GSH in liver were estimated at the end of experimental period. There were no clinical signs of abnormality. The weekly body weights, organ weights and hematological parameters did not vary significantly amongst the groups. The mean activity of AST, ALT and CPK, and the concentration of serum creatinine, total protein, TBARS and GSH did not differ significantly among the groups. Histological abnormalities of toxicological significance were not detected in groups 2 and 3. However, mild histopathological alterations were observed in higher dose group 4. In conclusion, the present study revealed that the alcoholic extract of stem-bark of B. ovalifoliolata is safe at lower doses of 100 and 500 mg/kg. Hence, alcoholic extract of stem bark of B. ovalifoliolata is safe and no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) is found to be 500 mg/kg following repeated oral administration for 28 days in rats.


Cyclo[18]carbon (C18), a recently synthesized carbon allotrope, was found to have a polyynic ground state structure with D9h symmetry and formally alternating single and triple bonds. Yet, under less influencing experimental conditions this molecule might undergo an automerization reaction between its two degenerate geometries via a cumulenic (non-alternating, adjacent double bonds) D18h transition state. Herein we discuss the role of quantum mechanical tunneling (QMT) in this degenerate reaction. Our computations predict that at the experimental temperature (5 K) the reaction in gas phase is completely driven by an extremely rapid heavy atom tunneling (k = 2.1 × 108 s-1). Even when approaching room temperature, the QMT rate is still an order of magnitude faster than the semi-classical one. We propose an experimental test to support our prediction, by measuring a characteristic tunneling energy splitting within the radio wave region. Additionally, we examine the role of QMT in other hypothetical C4n+2 carbon clusters.


Data mining has become a fundamental methodology for computing applications in the domain area of medicine. Data mining is defined as the procedure that finds the valuable data from raw information sets by investigating and compressing them by considering alternate points of view. Medical data mining is a set of methods that extract valuable and novel information from human services databases to help doctors to get best diagnosis. In this area, cancer disease growth and diabetes are the top mortal disease in Gaza strip during the last few years. Therefore, data mining can be the part mostly utilized, as these include extravagant and drawn out tests. As an extension to the previous researches related to the discovery of breast cancer, we proposed a model to help in resolving the difficulty of determining the degree of risk for the disease and to get best practices, abatement time and expense with the objective of advancing well-being, based on data collected from hospitals in the Gaza Strip. The model is applying classification techniques such as Support vector machine, artificial neural networks and k-nearest neighbors on the collected breast cancer data, which in turn predicts the severity of breast cancer. We also applied association rules to see what the top attributes related to high severity breast cancer are. After evaluation and testing using the mentioned classification techniques on the breast cancer dataset, we obtained an accuracy of 77%, which is an accepted rate of prediction for the severity of breast cancer. Additionally, we were able to list the most related attributes to high severity of breast cancer.