Humans can recognize objects in a way that is invariant to scale, translation, and clutter. We use invariance theory as a conceptual basis, to computationally model this phenomenon. This theory discusses the role of eccentricity in human visual processing, and is a generalization of feedforward convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Our model explains some key psychophysical observations relating to invariant perception, while maintaining important similarities with biological neural architectures. To our knowledge, this work is the first to unify explanations of all three types of invariance, all while leveraging the power and neurological grounding of CNNs.


The authors describe a 7-year-old boy with acute glomerulonephritis, who developed acute renal failure in the early course of his disease. While the renal function and other clinical manifestations gradually improved, hyperkalemia occurred unexpectedly, and returned to normal level spontaneously after a short period of symptomatic treatment. With the result of a low transtubular potassium gradient (TTKG) level, it was concluded that hypoaldosteronism was the major cause of hyperkalemia in this patient.


The title is not a metaphor, though past tense might be better as this chapter is about how each of the many hundred abrupt coolings of the last several million years could have served as a pump stroke, each elevating intelligence a small increment - even though what natural selection was operating on was not intelligence per se.

While we often use the term 'intelligence' to encompass both a broad range of abilities and the efficiency with which they're enacted, it also implies flexibility and creativity, an "ability to slip the bonds of instinct and generate novel solutions to problems" (Gould and Gould 1994, p. 70). Those three pillars of animal intelligence - association, imitation, and insight - are also impressive (Byrne 1994), as are the occasional symbolic (Deacon 1997) and reasoning (Gould & Gould, 1998) abilities. But Piaget (1929; 1952) said that intelligence is what you use when you don't know what to do, when neither innateness nor learning has prepared you for the particular situation.


Three major difficulties have hindered the general application of in vivo recombination techniques to library screening: (i) the original selection could not be applied to libraries prepared in phage vectors lacking amber mutations, (ii) nonirradiated packaging extracts gave high backgrounds even when amber mutated vectors were used, and (iii) most red- vectors lacked rap, a recently discovered phage gene promoting phage-plasmid recombination. Here we describe a selection scheme for phage bearing suppressor tRNA plasmids, which relies upon an Escherichia coli host bearing an amber mutation in the dnaB gene. The selection is tight enough to allow library screening by recombination, is applicable to almost every phage vector in common use, and overcomes the background associated with nonirradiated packaging extracts. We also describe an ancillary plasmid that supplies the rap gene function in trans, permitting the recombination level to be raised fruitfully in phage libraries lacking endogenous rap. Finally, we demonstrate simple procedures for preparing and detecting phages that have lost integrated suppressor tRNA plasmids by homologous recombination.


BACKGROUND
Laryngectomy stomas are formed following excision of the larynx, usually for the treatment of an underlying malignancy. This is a permanent stoma in which the trachea is separated from the oesophagus and brought to an opening in the neck. The complication rate of laryngectomy stomas is reported to be more than 60%.

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of total laryngectomy stomas and inform general practitioners (GPs) of the frequently encountered complications, to improve stoma-related care and ultimately patient outcomes.

DISCUSSION
Numerous early and late complications can be encountered by a GP, some of which are potentially life-threatening and require prompt recognition. Care of patients who have had a laryngectomy is multi-disciplinary, and GPs are often the first point of contact. The importance of a well-informed GP who can treat the patient and identify when they require referral to a stomal therapy nurse, speech pathologist or surgeon cannot be understated.


Provision of appropriately structured memory is shown, in some cases, to be advantageous to genetic programming (GP) in comparison with directly addressable indexed memory.

Three "classic" problems are solved. The first two require the GP to distinguish between sentences that are in a context free language and those that are not given positive and negative training examples of the language. The two languages are, correctly nested brackets and a Dyck language (correctly nested brackets of different types). The third problem is to evaluate integer Reverse Polish (postfix) expressions.

Comparisons are made between GP attempting to solve these problems when provided with indexed memory or with stack data structures.


A confluence of subarctic, tropical, and subtropical water masses feed the California Current System (CCS), supporting a highly productive ecosystem and wide array of marine ecosystem services. Long‐term declines in oxygen have been observed in this region, causing habitat compression and other ecosystem consequences. Here we quantify the water masses and processes causing deoxygenation in the subsurface CCS from 1993–2018, and we find that deoxygenation was caused both by changes in the advection of source waters and increased remineralization in the source waters. The historical deoxygenation trend can be attributed primarily (81%) to the Northern Equatorial Pacific Intermediate Water, the deep Pacific Equatorial Water mass transported in the California Undercurrent. We also find that advection and remineralization share nearly equal contributions to deoxygenation. This improved understanding of the mechanisms affecting the aerobic habitat of the CCS will inform projections of ecological impacts and mitigation of future deoxygenation.


The aim of this work is to evaluate the influence of S. pombe and T. delbrueckii species on the sensory quality of red wine when used in sequential and mixed fermentations with S. cerevisiae.


The diffraction efficiency (DE) of guided optical waves (GOWs) and the magneto-optic (MO) −3 dB bandwidth are key parameters in MO Bragg cells. To improve the diffraction performance, the MO Stokes interaction between magnetostatic forward volume waves (MSFVWs) and GOWs are studied by use of the coupledmode theory in metal clad yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) waveguides. Our analysis shows that, by adjusting the spacing of the metal layer from the ferrite surface, (1) the DE can be further increased by 7.32 dB compared with that of the inclined magnetization, but the MO bandwidth will be dropped down to the low level in the optimizing waveguide configuration; (2) when the DE and the MO bandwidth should be considered synthetically, a DE improvement of 3.9 dB with a bandwidth about 560 MHz is achieved corresponding to the large gainbandwidth product. Thus, the YIG waveguide coated with perfect metal layers can be used to improve the performance of MO Bragg cells.


The measurement of intersite distances with laser ranging to satellites has been demonstrated during the last few years for distances of several hundred to several thousand kilometres with precisions of a few tens of centimetres. These techniques are now being tested across the San Andreas fault in California where it is hoped plate motion will be observable after several years of measurements. The first measurements, between sites in southern and northern California, were made in 1972 and repeated again in 1974 with agreement between the baselines for each of the two years at the 10 cm level. The next measurements are planned for the summer of 1976. The results of these and related experiments will be described together with simulations of the projected capability using the high altitude Lageos satellite. General plans for future experiments will be described.


This article proposes a new method called the Compensated Distributed-Parameter Line Decoupling (CDLD) method, and used for decoupling distribution networks among parallel processing cores in a real-time multi-core environment. Due to the short length of distribution grid lines, decoupling the distribution network for real-time processing is challenging and approaches such as Stublines and State Space Nodal (SSN) solvers have been proposed. Both approaches have limitations and the method proposed in this work addresses these limitations to implement improvements. Specifically, the CDLD method can be used as an enhanced Stubline decoupling, improving on its accuracy and transient response, or it can be combined with an SSN solver to improve its computational performance and remove bottleneck issues. The CDLD method was tested on three IEEE benchmark systems in a real-time environment, and significant improvement was realized in network response and computational performance compared to the prevailing methods. The combined SSN-CDLD method proved to be the most promising approach for network decoupling.


ABSTRACT: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) was first proposed as a potential risk factor for developing a glioma in the 1800s, and conditions for establishing a causal relationship between brain injury and gliomas have since been proposed. Given the medical and legal ramifications, the current literature was reviewed to better understand this possible association. Articles that examined the relationship between TBI and glioma formation in adults and were published in English between 1978 and 2022 were reviewed. There were 19 case reports of 25 patients and 16 observational studies. The case reports describe glioma formation at the precise site of prior brain injury in continuity with traumatic scar; the observational studies report conflicting findings, but they largely demonstrate no association. Most of the observational studies are limited by their retrospective nature, but we identified one prospective cohort study which found a positive association. Altogether, we suggest that glioma formation after TBI is a rare occurrence that warrants further study.


Cloud Computing is a relatively new and appealing concept; however, users may not fully trust Cloud Providers with their data and can be reluctant to store their files on Cloud Storage Services. This paper describes a solution that allows users to securely store data on a public cloud, while also allowing for searchability through the user's encrypted data. Users are able to submit encrypted keyword queries and, through a symmetric searchable encryption scheme, the system finds all files with such keywords contained within. The system is designed in such a manner that trust from a public cloud provider is not required. The solution satisfies confidentiality of data; data integrity is maintained, file sharing is catered for and a user key-revocation scheme is in place. A further advantage of this approach is that if there is a security breach at the cloud provider, the user's data will continue to be secure since all data is encrypted. Users also do not need to worry about Cloud Providers gaining access to their data illegally. The architecture of the system consists of two components, the Client side application and the Server application running on the compute cloud. The client side application performs all the security operations on the data. Along with saving and retrieving data from the Storage Service, the Server application performs the processing involved in handling the encrypted queries. The performance overheads of such a system are potentially significant in terms of additional processing time and the size of the additional meta-data needed. Preliminary results show that the storage overheads remain fairly constant as input file sizes increase — as file sizes were increased from 3Kb to 147Mb, the security overhead remained between 1038b and 1053b. This overhead is basically insignificant when storing large files. Overall the benefits of a searchable encrypted cloud service are significant and the approach is viable for using public clouds while still retaining control of the data.


A case of ameloblastic fibroma of the mandible in a 7-year-old girl is presented. The case is of interest because of the unusually large size of the lesion. The lesion was treated with conservative surgical enucleation. There has been no evidence of recurrence of the lesion during the 14-mongh postoperative period. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the United States Air Force or the Department of Defense.


Researchers in cancer nanomedicine are exploring a revolutionary multifaceted carrier for treatment and diagnosis, resulting in the proposal of various drug cargos or "magic bullets" in this past decade. Even though different nano-based complexes are registered for clinical trials, very few products enter the final stages each year because of various issues. This prevents the formulations from entering the market and being accessible to patients. In the search for novel materials, the exploitation of 2D nanosheets, including but not limited to the highly acclaimed graphene, has created extensive interest for biomedical applications. A unique set of properties often characterize 2D materials, including semiconductivity, high surface area, and their chemical nature, which allow simple decoration and functionalization procedures, structures with high stability and targeting properties, vectors for controlled and sustained release of drugs, and materials for thermal-based therapies. This review discusses the challenges and opportunities of recently discovered 2D nanosheets for cancer therapeutics, with special attention paid to the most promising design technologies and their potential for clinical translation in the future.


Abstract Since Alaska lacks stable political units equivalent to counties, it has become necessary to develop an alternative for a standardized system of site designation. This system utilizes the 1:250,000 USGS topographic quadrangle as an areal base equivalent to the county. Alaska is completely covered at this scale. The quadrangle names may be abbreviated and joined with the prefix "49" to form a trinomial paralleling the Smithsonian system. A list of these quadrangles and abbreviations is appended.


Objective This study assessed the real-world application, effectiveness, and safety of olaparib and niraparib as maintenance therapies in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer (PSROC) in China and investigated clinical factors associated with prolonged benefits of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors to help guide clinician treatment-decision making in daily practice. Methods This real-world single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute. Archival data of consecutive patients diagnosed with PSROC who achieved a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) after the last platinum-based chemotherapy and treated with olaparib or niraparib as maintenance therapy from August 2018 to September 2021 were collected. Results Overall, 106 women were included in the cohort. Seventy-two (68%) patients were treated with olaparib, while 34 (32%) received niraparib; 99.1% of the patients were diagnosed with high-grade serous carcinoma, and 73.6% had FIGO stages III–IV. Approximately 71.7% of the patients had received PARP inhibitors after the second platinum-based line and 44.3% of the patients achieved a CR in their last platinum-based therapy. The median platinum-free interval (PFI) after the penultimate platinum-based therapy was 10 (95% CI: 10–13.6) months. The median PFS was 21 (95% CI: 13–24.5) months and the median CFI was 22 (95% CI: 16–26.5) months. Consistent with the univariate analysis, the multivariate analysis identified three independent factors associated with prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and chemotherapy-free interval (CFI): breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA) mutant type (p = 0.005 and p = 0.003); PFI ≥12 months (p = 0.01 and p = 0.006); and CR to last platinum-based therapy (p = 0.016 and p = 0.019). It was found that there was no appreciable difference in any grade 3–4 hematological AE between patients who received olaparib and niraparib. Conclusion Maintenance treatment with olaparib and niraparib is effective and well tolerated for PSROC patients in real-world clinical practice. Three clinical factors were identified that predicted prolonged survival under maintenance therapy with PARP inhibitors: BRCA mutant type, PFI ≥12 months, and CR to last platinum-based therapy. These findings should be further confirmed with an appropriately powered analysis in studies with larger sample sizes.


The response of two populations (CC1, 43.59°N & 20.40°E; CC2, 44.46°N & 20.17°E) of common cocklebur ( Xanthium strumarium L.) to nicosulfuron was investigated both in field experiments and in the laboratory. Population CC1 had no history of treatment with any herbicide, while population CC2 was treated with ALS inhibitor herbicides for six consecutive years. In the field, plants were treated post-emergence with nicosulfuron (0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 g ai ha -1 ) at four true leaves. Visual injury estimation and vegetative parameters (plant height, fresh weight, leaf area) were recorded about month after herbicide application. The acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme activity in response to herbicide concentrations of 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 μ M was determined in vitro . GR 50 values for vegetative parameters and I 50 values for ALS activity were slightly greater for the CC2 than for the CC1 population, but the results confirmed that neither population was susceptible to nicosulfuron. Namely, based on results for fresh weight, the population CC1 was about 3.9 and 2.6-fold more susceptible to nicosulfuron than population CC2 in two consecutive years, but differences were not so prominent for other parameters (plant height, leaf area and ALS activity), ranging from 1.18 to 1.8-fold. The differences between population CC1 and CC2 could be attributed to inter-population variability in susceptibility to nicosulfuron or could be the consequence of repeated application of ALS herbicides to the CC2 population during the six previous years. Future investigations are necessary in order to clarify this dilemma.


Abstract : We have carried out an experimental and in silico investigation of path selection by a single droplet inside a tertiary junction microchannel using oil-in-water as a model system. The droplet was generated at a T-junction inside a microfluidic chip and its flow behaviour as a function of droplet size, streamline position, viscosity, and Reynolds number (Re) of the continuous phase was studied downstream at a tertiary junction having perpendicular channels of uniform square cross-section and internal fluidic resistance proportional to their lengths. Numerical studies were performed using the multicomponent lattice-Boltzmann method (LBM). Both the experimental and numerical results showed good agreement and suggested that at higher Re equal to 3, the flow was dominated by inertial forces resulting in the droplets choosing a path based on their center position in the flow streamline. At 10x lower Re, the streamline assisted path selection became dragforceassisted above a critical droplet size. As the Re was further reduced to 0.03, or when the viscosity of the dispersed phase was increased, the critical droplet size for transition also decreased. This multivariate approach can in future be used to engineer sorting of cells, e.g. circulating tumor cells (CTCs) allowing early-stage detection of life-threatening diseases.


In this paper, we study random access in a drive-thru scenario, where roadside access points (APs) are installed on a highway to provide temporary Internet access for vehicles. We consider vehicle-to-roadside (V2R) communications for a vehicle that aims to upload a file when it is within the APs' coverage ranges, where both the channel contention level and transmission data rate vary over time. The vehicle will pay a fixed amount each time it tries to access the APs, and will incur a penalty if it cannot finish the file uploading when leaving the APs. First, we consider the problem of finding the optimal transmission policy with a single AP and random vehicular traffic arrivals. We formulate it as a finite-horizon sequential decision problem, solve it using dynamic programming (DP), and design a general dynamic optimal random access (DORA) algorithm. We derive the conditions under which the optimal transmission policy has a threshold structure, and propose a monotone DORA algorithm with a lower computational complexity for this special case. Next, we consider the problem of finding the optimal transmission policy with multiple APs and deterministic vehicular traffic arrivals thanks to perfect traffic estimation. We again obtain the optimal transmission policy using DP and propose a joint DORA algorithm. Simulation results based on a realistic vehicular traffic model show that our proposed algorithms achieve the minimal total cost and the highest upload ratio as compared with some other heuristic schemes. In particular, we show that the joint DORA scheme achieves an upload ratio 130% and 207% better than the heuristic schemes at low and high traffic densities, respectively.


This paper makes an analysis of the European System of Accounts (ESA95) financial treatment of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). PPP are complex operations that allow incumbents to create infrastructures while hiding debt, with an eye on the next elections. However, the sad part of the story is that PPP are more expensive than traditional contracts in the long run. We think that PPP are not always the best solution. Governments should allocate the risk to the party that is the "least cost avoider", i.e., the party best suited to control and/or bear the risk. Without this approach, the public sector runs the risk of using PPP with the aim to achieve inadequate goals, for example to achieve a short-term improvement of public accounts, and at the same time, worsening the long-term financial picture.


There is a growing concern regarding the welfare of laying hens worldwide and there are both ethical and economic reasons for improving their welfare. Although several different welfare indicators are used today, their ability to accurately reflect welfare status is sometimes questioned. This thesis sought to increase knowledge regarding a number of these welfare indicators by investigating whether and to what extent they were affected when layers were exposed to different stressors. Three different commercial laying hen genotypes were used and birds were challenged by being excluded either from their nests in furnished cages or from the litter area in a single-tier floor system.

Excluding birds from their nests resulted in an increased stress response that was detectable in corticosterone metabolites in droppings, corticosterone concentration in egg yolk, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and egg shell irregularities. Excluding birds from the litter area during the first two weeks in the laying facility resulted in differences in feather cover, approaches towards a novel object, tonic immobility duration and egg shell irregularities measured later in the laying period. Interestingly, according to the welfare indicators used, birds previously excluded from the litter area, and consequently deprived of litter and available area, had better welfare than non-excluded birds. In addition, levels of corticosterone metabolites in droppings were influenced by factors such as diet, genotype, bird age, cage tier, droppings mass, time of day and the kind of assay used.

The results showed that several, but not all, indicators were able to detect different stress responses, suggesting that they are more or less appropriate to use depending on the situation prevailing. Many factors influenced the results obtained and there were few and inconsistent correlations, displaying a complex relationship between indicators. Overall, this indicates that welfare assessment should preferably be based on results from several indicators and that careful interpretation of the results is required before stating firm conclusions regarding laying hen welfare.


The concept of dynamic rating (DR) implies that the capacity of a component varies dynamically as a function of external parameters, while the rating traditionally is based on the worst-case. The value of DR thus lies in utilizing existing equipment to a greater extent. By implementing DR and correlating the new ratings with wind power generation, more generation can be implemented. The aim is hence to facilitate connection of renewable electricity production. This paper provides two main contributions: 1) a general dynamic line rating (DLR) calculation model on overhead lines; and 2) an economic optimization simulation model regarding wind power integration comparing DLR with more traditional approaches. These models can both be implemented together, but also separately. The DLR calculation model is easy to use by companies in daily operation where the dynamic line capacity is calculated as a function of static line capacity, wind speed, and ambient temperature. The DLR calculation model is furthermore compared with more comprehensive calculations that validate that the model is accurate enough. This paper also provides an application study where both proposed models are exemplified together and evaluated. Results from this study conclude that it is a significant economic potential of implementing DR within wind power integration.


Purpose of the study: This study seeks to show that religious contestation in Jayapura, as apparent through the widespread use of religious symbols in the city, is not only a form of resistance against other faiths but also reflective of historical apprehensiveness. Studies on Muslim-Christian relations tend to deny the historical perspective by giving more attention to economic and political factors.
Methodology: As the basis of its analysis, this study uses visual data in the form of photographs. Further data was collected from informants through unstructured interviews. Using a phenomenological approach, data were analyzed to ascertain the meaning of the studied phenomenon.
Main Findings: This study shows that religious contestation in Papua, as manifested in public religious symbols, is not only a form of resistance against other faiths but also a continuation of unresolved interfaith tensions.
Applications of this study: Knowledge of the interfaith contestation, as manifested through the public display of religious symbols, is of paramount importance in creating a spatial planning policy that accommodates a multiethnic and multireligious society.
Novelty/Originality of this study: While previous studies have tended to show the causes of interfaith conflict, often by emphasizing religious differences, this study finds a shared space that offers an opportunity for religious accommodation and the resolution of interfaith tensions.


The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) included several new federal programs intended ostensibly to "unfreeze" the credit markets as a result of the global financial crisis. One such program, the Build America Bond (BAB) program, aimed to lower the borrowing costs for state and local governments by increasing their access to capital and providing a more generous federal subsidy than the traditional indirect tax exemption subsidy. BABs are taxable bonds sold by subnational governments, which carry a 35 percent direct federal payment subsidy to the borrower. In creating this program, the federal government hoped that the large direct federal subsidy along with greater potential investor interest in taxable securities would result in lower borrowing costs for state and local governments vis‐a‐vis traditional tax‐exempt bonds. This research study examines the relative effectiveness of the BAB program and details the various quantitative and qualitative implications on federal and subnational budgeting by moving from an indirect to a direct federal subsidy approach in facilitating state and local government capital raising.


Forward osmosis, or simply, osmosis, refers to a process by which a solvent moves across a semipermeable membrane due to the difference in the solute concentration established across the membrane. Because of its spontaneous nature, forward osmosis has received immense attention during the last few decades, particularly for its diverse applications, which include municipal wastewater treatment, seawater desalination, membrane bioreactor, potable water purification, food processing, drug delivery, energy generation, and so forth. Of many parameters that determine the performance of the forward osmosis process, the most fundamental factor that impacts performance is temperature. Considering the importance of the temperature on the forward osmosis process, there have been only a limited number of studies about the effect of temperature on the osmosis-driven process. In this chapter, we discuss the temperature effect on the forward osmosis process from two main aspects. First, we provide an extensive and in-depth survey on the currently available studies related to the anisothermal osmosis phenomena. Second, we then discuss a state-of-the-art theoretical framework that describes the anisothermal forward osmosis process that may shed light on achieving an enhanced performance via temperature control.


Embryos surplus to therapeutic requirements following preimplantation genetic diagnosis can be used to derive human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines carrying mutations significant to human disease. These cells provide a powerful in vitro tool for modelling disease progression in a number of cell types as well as having the potential to revolutionise drug discovery. Robust and reproducible directed differentiation protocols are needed to maximise the potential of these cells. In this review, we explore the current use of hESC and induced pluripotent stem cells in disease‐specific research and discuss the use of stem cell technology in drug discovery and toxicity testing.


Pediatric hypertension has risen to an overall prevalence of 16.3%. If left untreated, hypertension in children and adolescents can have significant implications for cardiovascular and renal health into adulthood, including stroke, coronary artery disease, kidney disease, and heart failure. In 2017, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released updated guidelines for the screening, evaluation, and management of pediatric hypertension. This article reviews the definition of pediatric hypertension, describes why the guidelines were updated, and defines treatment protocol. By familiarizing themselves with and applying these guidelines, clinicians will be able to appropriately screen and manage hypertension in children to prevent morbidity into adulthood.


In 2010-2012, in Sahryń (Lubelskie Voivodeship), a field experiment was carried out, the aim of which was to assess the cost-effectiveness of foliar nutrition of sugar beet with marine calcite Herbagreen Basic containing silicon. The fertilizer was applied in two variants: 1) 1 kg/ha at the 4-6 leaf stage of sugar beet (BBCH 14-16) + 2 kg/ha 21 days later; 2) 2 kg/ha at the 4-6 leaf stage of sugar beet (BBCH 14-16) + 2 kg/ha 21 days later; the effects were compared with the control (without foliar nutrition with marine calcite). Additionally, in the years 2011-2012, an identical experiment was carried out with another sugar beet cultivar. For each combination, the gross production value, foliar nutrition costs, the net production value and profitability index were calculated. The total cost of application of foliar calcite was 190 and 240 PLN/ha. The gross production value of sugar beet in experiment 1, on average over three years of research, increased in combination 1 by 24.8% and in combination 2 by 25.6% compared to the control; in experiment 2, on average for 2 years of research, in combination 1 by 15.7%, and in combination 2 by 15.0%. The increase in the net production value in experiment 1 amounted to 22.8 and 23.2% respectively, and in experiment 2 - 13.9 and 12.8%. The indicator of the profitability of foliar nutrition with marine calcite in experiment 1, on average, for the period 2010-2012, amounted to 12.6 in combination 1 and 10.3 in combination 2. In experiment 2, the index of profitability of foliar nutrition, on average, for the period 2011-2012, reached the value of 8.96 for object 1 and 6.77 for object 2.


A survey including 25 sheep farms in Bakrajo District, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, was conducted to determine anthelmintic resistance (AR) against albendazole, ivermectin, and levamisole. Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT) was used to accomplish this goal. Forty 6–24 month-old sheep of mixed sexes were selected from each farm and randomly divided into four groups. One group served as the untreated control, and the other groups orally administered the recommended doses of the tested drugs. Multidrug resistance against all three drugs was present in 8 of 25 farms (32%). Also, resistance to albendazole and ivermectin was detected on one farm. Albendazole was the most effective anthelmintic agent. Resistance to ivermectin was significantly higher than levamisole and albendazole. Larval cultures revealed that Trichostrongylus spp., Nematodirus spp., and Trichuris spp. were the prevalent gastrointestinal nematodes in the study area. The nematode genera were also detected in the posttreatment larval cultures. It is concluded that AR to albendazole, ivermectin, and levamisole is widespread in sheep in Bakrajo District, north Iraq. This resistance is mainly caused by the emergence of resistant Trichostrongylus and Nematodirus spp.


The number of Internet users and internet-connected computers are estimated to be in the order of hundred millions. Users are restricted to performmainly information retrieval (document search) and e-commerce related (shopping, online banking) tasks, while the majority of the computing resources are under-utilised. With suitable technology, it is possible to create a service-centred Internet, where users can perform more sophisticated (e.g. computing) tasks. We argue that grid research should explore the issues of creating very large systems of services available to many users, as opposed to HPC programs available to relatively few scientific users. This paper describes the architecture of a Jini based global computing environment, whose aim is to support the execution of sequential and parallel programs on a large scale. We describe the architecture, supported programming models of the system, as well as our current, ongoing work and future development plans.


Objectives: To compare the distribution of chemical elements among the carious and normal enamel layers on teenagers, using energy dispersive X ray spectrometer (EDS Rx). Materials and Methods: The EDS Rx analyzer is integrated to scanner electron microscope. The macro and mi-croelements were made in 30 premolars of teenager: 14 carious enamel layers and 16 normal enamel layers. Results: The quantitative and qualitative microanalyses of macro and microele-ments were found between the enamel layers of carious and normal premolar in term of variation and concentration expressed in percentage atomic weight. The statistical data analysis of ANOVA showed that the macroelements [C, Ca, P] and the microelements [Al, Cl, Mg, Na] were significantly different (P < 0.05) while, the macro [O] and the microelements [In, Si, W, S] were not significantly different (P < 0.05) among the carious and normal enamel layers. Moreover, the microelements Sb, Ba, Br, I, Ir, K, Pt, Sc, Sr, Sn and Yb were absent in carious enamel layers and present in normal enamel layers. Conclusion: The macro and microelements differ in composition and variation from the external to the internal enamel layers between the carious and the normal premolars. However, the deficiency or excess of these elements in the enamel layers determines the degree of susceptibility to carious and other dental disease. Clinical Relevance: The carious enamel in dental structure could be a major dental problem due to the deficiency or excess of macro and microele-ments which are responsible for secondary or recurrent caries, discoloration, pulpal inflammation, re-infection, abscess in jaw bone and dental disease.


Descemet membrane detachment (DMD) is a rare but potentially serious surgical complication that arises most often during cataract surgery. A recent study (Couch, S. M. & Baratz, K. H. (2009) Cornea, 28, 1160-1163) cited the case of a patient with DMDs in both eyes, noting that though one detachment was surgically repaired, the other spontaneously reattached and needed no further treatment. A fluid mechanical model of buoyancy-driven aqueous humour flow in the anterior chamber around a DMD is developed to explain this phenomenon. The analytical model is based on the lubrication theory limit of the Navier-Stokes equations. The flow is determined for a fixed geometry and the possible motion of the DMD is then analysed. Numerical calculations are also carried out (using COMSOL© Multiphysics) to confirm the lubrication theory results. The analytical and numerical results both show that, under the correct conditions, either spontaneous reattachment or worsening of the tear may occur. We conclude that it is possible that clinical outcomes for DMDs may be controlled by adjusting the temperature difference across the eye and/or the orientation of the patient.


Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impacted those with chronic diseases worldwide, especially those with diabetes. Very few studies have explored the effect of COVID-19 on diabetic patients' health markers. The present retrospective study compared various health markers of diabetic patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients (N = 511) displayed a significant increase in systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), diabetic medications, and dose of insulin (p < 0.05) as well as a decrease in low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (p = 0.04). When patients were stratified by body mass index (BMI), those in higher BMI categories were more negatively impacted during the pandemic than those in lower categories. Results display the impact that COVID-19 had on the general well-being of diabetic patients, and should encourage providers to increase telehealth visits when in-person visits are not possible.


A successive approximation (SAR) ADC is presented, whose components make use of effective ultra low-power techniques to enable wireless sensing with passive and semi-passive sensor nodes. Compared to prior publications new layout enhancements were applied to the integrated capacitive DAC array to gain less distortion caused by mismatch. In addition it is shown, that the digital circuit parts consume most of the available energy. Therefore digital near-threshold operation is proposed to minimize their consumption. The applicability of the ADC is demonstrated in an UHF RFID System. Within this system it is applied as core of a sensor interface integrated into a passive multi-standard RFID tag. The EPC protocol used for communication ensures the compatibility with standard UHF RFID readers while the sensor data is acquired using custom commands. The ADC consumes only 525 nA at 40 kSps and 0.9V supply voltage. Under these conditions an ENOB of 7.23 is reached and thus a FOM of 79 fJ/conversion-step.


Objective: to determine the distribution of D. viscosa in the vicinity of the Guadalupe Victoria Dam in Durango, Mexico, for the years 1990, 2010 and 2017.Design/Methodology/Approach: Landsat satellite images were processed in order to carry out supervised classifications using an artificial neural network. Images from the years 1990, 2010 and 2017 were used to estimate ground cover of D. viscosa, pastures, crops, shrubs, and oak forest. This data was used to calculate the expansion of D. viscosa in the study area.Results/Study Limitations/Implications: the supervised classification with the artificial neural network was optimal after 400 iterations, obtaining the best overall precision of 84.5 % for 2017. This contrasted with the year 1990, when overall accuracy was low at 45 % due to less training sites (fewer than 100) recorded for each of the land cover classes.Findings/Conclusions: in 1990, D. viscosa was found on only five hectares, while by 2017 it had increased to 147 hectares. If the disturbance caused by overgrazing continues, and based on the distribution of D. viscosa, it is likely that in a few years it will have the ability to invade half the study area, occupying agricultural, forested, and shrub areas


Smartphones are widely spread and their usage does not require any trained personnel. Recently, smartphones were successfully used in analytical chemistry as a simple detection tool in some applications. This paper focuses on immobilization of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) onto commercially available pH strips with stabilization in the gelatin membrane. AChE degrades acetylcholine into choline and acetic acid which causes color change of acid-base indicator. Smartphone served as a tool for measurement of indicator color change from red to orange while inhibitors blocked this process. AChE inhibitors were measured with limits of detection, 149 nM and 22.3 nM for galanthamine and donepezil, respectively. Organic solvents were measured for method interferences. Measurement procedure was performed on 3D printed holder and digital photography was evaluated using red-green-blue (RGB) channels. The invented assay was validated to the standard Ellman's test and verified on murine plasma samples spiked with inhibitors. We consider that the assay is fully suitable for practical performance.


1 The distribution of sympathetic adrenergic nerves on the rat middle cerebral artery and on the arterioles which originated from it was determined by use of gloxylic histochemistry. 2 Whereas the middle cerebral artery and proximal arterioles arising from this artery received a sympathetic innervation, the distal regions of the same arterioles were devoid of innervation. 3 The arteries and arterioles which were innervated were depolarized by noradrenaline in the combined presence of α‐ and β‐adrenoceptor antagonists. Those which were not innervated were not depolarized by noradrenaline. 4 ATP depolarized all arteries and arterioles examined. 5 These observations are discussed with respect to the similarities and differences between γ‐adrenoceptors and P2 purinoceptors.


Motivated by problems of frontier estimation in productivity analysis, and boundary estimation in scatter-point image analysis, we consider polynomial-based estimators of the edge of a distribution. Our aim is to develop methods for correcting polynomial-type estimators of bias, and for constructing simultaneous confidence bands for the data edge. We tackle this problem by first deriving large-sample approximations to distributions of polynomial-based edge estimators, and then developing algorithms for simulating from them so as to produce Monte Carlo approximations to the distribution of the difference between the true edge and its estimator. This involves applying representations for joint extreme value distributions. The majority of attention is focused on the parametric case, but nonparametric problems, where polynomial approximations are fitted locally, are also considered.


Background Serotonin signaling influences social behavior in both human and nonhuman primates. In humans, variation upstream of the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) has recently been shown to influence both behavioral measures of social anxiety and amygdala response to social threats. Here we show that length polymorphisms in 5-HTTLPR predict social reward and punishment in rhesus macaques, a species in which 5-HTTLPR variation is analogous to that of humans. Methodology/Principal Findings In contrast to monkeys with two copies of the long allele (L/L), monkeys with one copy of the short allele of this gene (S/L) spent less time gazing at face than non-face images, less time looking in the eye region of faces, and had larger pupil diameters when gazing at photos of a high versus low status male macaques. Moreover, in a novel primed gambling task, presentation of photos of high status male macaques promoted risk-aversion in S/L monkeys but promoted risk-seeking in L/L monkeys. Finally, as measured by a "pay-per-view" task, S/L monkeys required juice payment to view photos of high status males, whereas L/L monkeys sacrificed fluid to see the same photos. Conclusions/Significance These data indicate that genetic variation in serotonin function contributes to social reward and punishment in rhesus macaques, and thus shapes social behavior in humans and rhesus macaques alike.


Background Although respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, have long been recognized as precipitators of exacerbation in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), identifying signs of concomitant pneumonia in ADHF is a clinical diagnostic challenge. We evaluated the predictive value of the delta neutrophil index (DNI), a new indicator for immature granulocytes, for diagnosing superimposed pneumonia in patients presenting with ADHF in the emergency department (ED). Methods This was a retrospective and observational study of consecutive patients (>18 years old) diagnosed with an ADHF in the ED over a 7-month period. Patients were categorized into either the ADHF group or the ADHF with pneumonia group. DNI, serum white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), and β-natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured upon ED arrival. Results The ADHF with pneumonia group included 30 patients (20.4%). Median initial DNI, WBC, and CRP were significantly higher in the ADHF with pneumonia group [0% vs. 1.8%, p<0.001, 8,200 cells/mL vs. 10,470 cells/mL, p<0.001, and 0.56 mg/dL vs. 6.10 mg/dL, p<0.001]. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that only initial DNI significantly predicted the presence of superimposed pneumonia in patients with ADHF. In the receiver operating characteristic curves for initial DNI, WBC, and CRP for differentiating superimposed pneumonia in ADHF patients, the area under curve (AUC) of DNI (0.916 [95% confidence interval 0.859–0.955]) was good. AUC of DNI was significantly higher than AUC of CRP and WBC [0.828 and 0.715] (DNI vs. CRP, p = 0.047 and DNI vs. WBC, p<0.001). Conclusions Initial DNI, which was measured upon ED arrival, was significantly higher in the ADHF with pneumonia group than in the ADHF group. The initial DNI's ability of prediction for ADHF with superimposed pneumonia in the ED was good and it was better than those of serum WBC and CRP. Therefore, DNI may serve as a convenient and useful marker for early diagnosis of superimposed pneumonia in patients with ADHF in the ED.


Background In England and Wales nearly 66 000 women are living with FGM and a potential 22 000 girls are at risk each year. Due to increasing demand, a dedicated FGM service within the sexual health setting was initiated in partnership with a dynamic Somali facilitator and a voluntary community organisation. Aims To analyse the attendances of women with FGM to our dedicated clinic. Methods Retrospective analysis of all attendees to the FGM clinic between 1 December 2010 and 31 December 2011. Results Of 197 attendees, 96% were from Somalia (190); mean age was 38 (14–72 years) with 52% living locally. Of those in whom we had documented information, FGM was mainly undertaken for cultural reasons (83/105, 79%), the majority (50/68, 73%) being cut in groups at their home (66/113, 58%). Mothers were the main instigators (58/81, 71%). Nearly half (84/173, 49%) had female children and seven women reported having their daughters cut abroad. The majority were against the practice (112/114, 98%). Reasons for attendance included chronic pelvic pain (57%), dyspareunia (44%) and sub fertility (24%). There was a high uptake of sexual health screening, with almost all patients (191, 97%) having serology for HIV and syphilis. Interestingly, no HIV was detected but 7% (13/185) were hepatitis B surface antigen positive and 31% (58/185) had cleared hepatitis B. There were six diagnoses of late latent syphilis and two of chlamydia. Conclusions Our Somali facilitator has played a key role in challenging the taboo of sexual health issues within FGM-practising communities, providing a service that is culturally and linguistically appropriate. The rate of blood-borne viruses in this vulnerable group proves the importance of engaging them with sexual health services. Fast track referrals to on-site gynaecology and hepatitis clinic have facilitated re-engagement of some patients with medical care.


Bone is a living tissue that is able to regenerate by itself. However, when severe bone defects occur, the natural regeneration may be impaired. In these cases, bone graft substitutes can be used to induce the natural healing process. As a scaffold for tissue engineering, these bone graft substitutes have to meet specific requirements. Among others, the material must be biocompatible, biodegradable and have a porous structure to allow vascularization, cell migration and formation of new bone. Additionally, the mechanical properties of the scaffold have to resemble the ones of native tissue. The goal of this project is to create a computational model of the calcium phosphate scaffolds that are produced by rapid-prototyping by the Biomaterials, Biomechanics, and Tissue Engineering group at the Technical University of Catalonia. These models are based on finite element analysis and micro computed tomography images in order to consider the actual architecture of the scaffolds. The generated FE-models allow the computation of both local strains, which act as mechanical stimuli on attached cells, as well as the behaviour of the entire scaffold. When considering this information, the scaffold can be optimized for tissue differentiation by tuning both the scaffold architecture and the scaffold material bulk properties.


To prevent users from switching to competitors, on-line companies in the B2C market are implementing various technologies and investing substantial resources to enhance the "stickiness" of their Web sites. The authors propose that users stick with a Web site through a process of developing a relationship with it. Thus, sticking with a Web site reflects a persistent Web site-user relationship. Theories from social psychology and relationship marketing are used to develop a model of Web site stickiness from the user's perspective. The model focuses on the relationship between user and Web site, with commitment and trust as key mediating variables. A total of 239 users responded to a survey concerning Web site stickiness. The survey results supported all the hypotheses generated from the model and explained 70 percent of the variance in stickiness intention. There was a significant association between intention to stick with a Web site and commitment to and trust in the Web site. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.


One of the flagship exercises in positive psychology is the best-possible-self (BPS) intervention, which has been repeatedly shown to increase positive affect. Yet little is known about the intervention's underlying psychological mechanisms. We propose that goal ambivalence and positive future expectations should operate as mediators because both variables might be affected by the BPS intervention and have been shown to promote positive affect. To investigate this issue, we randomized clusters of 188 psychology undergraduates to write about either their best possible future or their previous day. Participants reported goal ambivalence, positive future expectations, and positive affect before, immediately after, and 1 week after the intervention. Path analysis results indicated that the BPS intervention increased positive affect and decreased goal ambivalence up to 1 week later. Neither goal ambivalence nor positive future expectations mediated the effect of the BPS intervention on positive affect in the week after its implementation. Future studies should investigate how repeated administrations of the BPS intervention affect goal ambivalence over time and whether resulting lower levels of distress might explain the intervention's effect on depressive symptoms.


Background: Late-life experiences such as protracted and indisposing medical disorders can negatively impact older adults' psychological and mental health, making them vulnerable to depression. Majority of the assessment tools for depression were developed for use in western countries. There is therefore need for availability of culture- and environment- specific tools for assessment of depression in low and middle income countries. This study was designed to cross-culturally adapt and validate the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) into Igbo Language and culture. Methods: The English version of the GDS-15 was translated into Igbo language; synthesized, back-translated, and underwent expert panel review, pretesting and cognitive debriefing interview, according to Beaton's guideline. The Igbo version of the GDS-15 was tested for concurrent and structural validities and internal consistency among consecutively recruited 140 consenting older adults (62.9% females) in Enugu North Senatorial District, at 0.05 level of significance.Results: The English version of the GDS-15 was successfully cross-culturally adapted to Igbo with all the 15 items still retained on the Igbo version of the GDS-15. The Igbo version of the GDS-15 exhibited the same structure as the English version. The Igbo version of the GDS-15 has Cronbach's alpha value of 0.53. The correlation between the participants' total scores on the Igbo and the English versions of the GDS-15 (rho = 0.86) was excellent. There was no significant difference between corresponding scores in the English and Igbo versions of the GDS-15 (p = 0.89).Conclusions: The Igbo version of the GDS-15 is a valid and culturally specific instrument, and can be used for assessing depression among Igbo older adults in Nigeria.


Protection in the wings Beetles have hardened forewings for the protection of their bodies and hindwings, and their use during crawling or burrowing is well understood. However, the behavior of the larger hindwings during collisions in flight has not been clear because they do not readily flex. Phan and Park present a detailed study of the folding and unfolding mechanisms of the hindwings in free-flying rhinoceros beetles in which the wings were impacted during flight to simulate a cluttered environment (see the Perspective by Sun). They found that origami-like folds in the wing could rapidly collapse on impact and then spring back, thus acting as shock absorbers and stabilizers. The authors replicated this behavior in a flapping-wing robot, enabling it to fly safely after collisions. Science, this issue p. 1214; see also p. 1165 Passive folding wings act as shock absorbers during in-flight collisions, enabling stable flight recovery. At rest, beetles fold and tuck their hindwings under the elytra. For flight, the hindwings are deployed through a series of unfolding configurations that are passively driven by flapping forces. The folds lock into place as the wing fully unfolds and thereafter operates as a flat membrane to generate the aerodynamic forces. We show that in the rhinoceros beetle (Allomyrina dichotoma), these origami-like folds serve a crucial shock-absorbing function during in-flight wing collisions. When the wing collides with an object, it collapses along the folds and springs back in place within a single stroke. Collisions are thus dampened, helping the beetle to promptly recover the flight. We implemented this mechanism on a beetle-inspired wing on a flapping-wing robot, thereby enabling it to fly safely after collisions.


Electron beam output (dose/MU) is generally specified at the depth of maximum dose (zmax). The location of this point depends on beam energy, field size and field shape. Useful relationships have been developed to estimate zmax as a function of field size and beam energy. The formalism uses a pencil beam theory applied to circular fields.


The most rapidly growing manufacturing could be cosmetics industries due to this phenomenon. In this study, the cosmetic distribution structure not to mention Korea, Asia's largest market, China and Japan are based on references. Purpose of study is to provide a basis for marketing strategy through the research process and results. Korea cosmetics market has been exerting a tremendous power of LG Household & Health and Amore Pacific as a major company. Cosmetics industry is rapidly booming around the mid-priced brand through internet shopping, TV shopping, and road shops. Cosmetics preferences were analyzed targeted at tourists by distributing questionnaire to 1500 in road shop and Myeong-dong from September 14 to October 13, 2013. The answers for the questions of the most awareness cosmetic brands in Korea are appeared in order of Laneige, Innisfree, The Face Shop. The satisfaction of the use of Korea cosmetic are 61.85% and the reasons are that in a variety of color cosmetics are 32.58%, the reaction of around that you look prettier are 29.34%. Therefore purchasing products are 49.14% of the color cosmetics and 24.93% of the functional products. Within the result of the survey, although the quality versus the price for the Korean cosmetic brands has been competitive advantage over yet from the advertising of Korea wave stars, the foreign purchasers have been willing to buy the color cosmetics and high-end performance products being the research and development of the continuously higher quality of the performance if the preceding even if being more expensive purchase price.


Smoking incidence is rising among adolescents but not adults. Although many prevention programs are effective, there is room for improvement. This pilot project combined the welldocumented benefits of Life Skills Training (LST) with the unique multisensory, 3D qualities of virtual environment (VE) technology to address some of the disadvantages of traditional prevention programs. In an 8-week pilot study, 72 seventh-grade students were randomly assigned to either LST, VE, or nonintervention control groups. The VE system included goggles, synthesized speech, spatial trackers on head and hand, a hand-held controller, and a speech recognition system. Questionnaires measured participants' smoking knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. A bogus pipeline procedure was used to increase reliability of the self-report measures. Pre-exposure data showed no significant differences between groups on the questionnaire. Post-exposure data indicated improvements in attitudes in the LST and VE groups. In addition, the VE group showed more accurate information concerning peer and adult cigarette use and more likelihood of using coping and refusal skills. Usability and acceptability questionnaire data showed ease of use and learning and that participants would use VE technology frequently if it were available to them at school. These data indicated that this VE application is a promising tool for keeping teens healthy.


The lack of a fundamental theory of hysteresis is a major barrier to successful design of structures against deterioration associated with earthquakes, high winds, and sea waves. Development of a practical model of degrading structures that would match experimental observations is an important task. This paper has a two-fold objective. First, a superior system identification algorithm is devised to estimate the unspecified parameters in a differential model of hysteresis from experimental load-displacement traces. This algorithm is based upon the latest theory of genetic evolution and it will be streamlined through global sensitivity analysis. Second, the utility of identification of hysteresis is demonstrated through nonlinear response prediction, which is important in structural design. Suppose a hysteretic model is generated with a given load-displacement trace. It will be shown experimentally that the model will predict the response of the same system driven by other cyclic loads. The requirements for accurate prediction will be addressed. Through identification of hysteresis, it becomes possible to assess the performance of a real-life structure that has previously been damaged. In the open literature, there is not any other method that can perform the same task.Copyright © 2007 by ASME


Rotation about the x, y and z axes can be performed in the aligned mode of the program to examine the four degenerate orientations of two modules as shown below-The180° rotations about the axes of the alignment tensor generate multiple solutions for the relative orientations of the two modules. The four different orientations of module 1 relative to module 2 are shown above. The dotted line indicates the covalent junction between the modules. This covalent information may in certain cases be sufficient to select the most probable conformation. The residual dipolar couplings considered here (between spins from covalently bound nuclei) contain purely orientational information; this means that there is complete translational freedom in all Cartesian (x,y,z) directions. Where possible either covalent, experimental or non-bonded interactions can of course be used to place different modules with respect to each other. The program Module will calculate, and localise the steric contacts due to atom-overlap between modules (left).


Social movements use social computing systems to complement offline mobilizations, but prior literature has focused almost exclusively on movement actors' use of social media. In this paper, we analyze participation and attention to topics connected with the Black Lives Matter movement in the English language version of Wikipedia between 2014 and 2016. Our results point to the use of Wikipedia to (1) intensively document and connect historical and contemporary events, (2) collaboratively migrate activity to support coverage of new events, and (3) dynamically re-appraise preexisting knowledge in the aftermath of new events. These findings reveal patterns of behavior that complement theories of collective memory and collective action and help explain how social computing systems can encode and retrieve knowledge about social movements as they unfold.


Longitudinal data of 57 middle-aged men from the Grant Study Adult Development were analyzed in terms of nine indices of psychosocial adjustment and four social motives: achievement, power, affiliation, and intimacy motivation. The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), administered in 1950-52, was scored for the four motives. Psychosocial adjustment, determined by ratings made primarily with reference to life history data gathered between 1950 and 1967, was comprised of scores on income level, occupational promotion, occupational enjoyment, days of sick leave, marital enjoyment, regular vacations, pastimes with friends, drug or alcohol misuse, and psychiatric visits. High intimacy motivation at age 30 was significantly associated with better adjustment 17 years later. The results are discussed in terms of contemporary theories of psychosocial adaptation.


Although anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs) enhance the ability of athletes, but it can cause the destructive effects on athletes' health. In this paper, we reviewed and introduced medical consequences of long-term AASs abuses in athletes and the risks of AASs utilization have been investigated. Some side effects were reduced spermatogenesis, testicular shrinkage in men, menstrual disorders and the development of male characteristics in women, liver toxicity and liver cancer. Some changes such as blood cells counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit, changes in glucose concentration, sex hormones, liver enzymes, changes in the parameters concentration related to iron metabolism, BUN, urea, uric acid, creatinine, LDH have also been observed. The other changes were blood clots, fluid retention, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, changes in lipid profiles, liver toxicity, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, oily hair, persistent bad breath, problem with sleeping, severe acne, feet swelling, trembling, shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count and sexual functioning, infertility. In addition, baldness, gynecomastia, risk of prostate cancer, changes in menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris, growth of facial hair, increased sex drive, male pattern baldness in women, and shrinking of the breasts have been observed. Also, behavioural and psychological side effects were identified such as aggressive behaviours, mood swings, getting angry and very irritable over trivial daily incidences, forgetful, distracted, depressive behaviours, hallucinations and delusions. Because the potential benefits were not enough for consumers; therefore, identification and prevention of adverse effects on athletes taking these medications should be warned.


Holographic tomography (HT) is a noninvasive, quantitative imaging technique, which enables reconstruction of three-dimensional distribution of refractive index. In this paper we describe the basic concept of HT as well as discuss various methods of its realization. The emphasis is put on the tomographic reconstruction algorithms, practical implementation and applications of tomographic systems.


Terrestrial isopods (Crustacea) are macro decomposers of organic matter and bio accumulators of metals. Soil management and farming practices have changed the population dynamics of isopods, jeopardizing the balance of agro ecosystems. We investigated the potential of preserved forest areas as a refuge for isopod populations in agro ecosystems. The investigation was carried out in areas with different cover types: beans, corn, soybeans, rye grass and adjacent preserved native forest areas. We sampled three points at random using squares of 40 cm x 40 cm, in which we collected the litter of the forest area and a 0-10 cm layer of soil. We also estimated the organic matter, pH and soil moisture. The isopods were removed from the samples, counted and preserved. Forty-three specimens were found in the forest samples and none in the samples from cultivated areas. Only two distinct species were identified. The results showed the impact of agricultural areas on populations of terrestrial isopods, and the importance of preserved forest areas as a refuge for isopods.


Mesoamerican nephropathy (MeN), also known as chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu), is an unusual form of kidney disease not associated with diabetes, hypertension, or glomerular nephritis. It has a number of known risk factors, none of which adequately explain the skyrocketing prevalence of the disease among sugarcane workers in El Salvador and Nicaragua. In this paper, we narrow the research focus from agricultural chemicals, in general, to glyphosate, in particular, an herbicide routinely used on sugarcane. We explain how glyphosate compellingly contributes to CKDu, by reviewing the evidence for glyphosate's direct toxicity to kidneys and showing how the herbicide amplifies the damage to kidneys from other known risk factors. Using standard web search on index words and phrases, we gathered and perused a large collection of papers describing the pathology of MeN and associated metrics, on the one hand, and the mechanisms of toxicity of glyphosate in humans, animals and in in vitro studies, on the other hand. We show that glyphosate is used on sugarcane in three distinct ways, with exposure greatest when the herbicide is used as a ripener near harvest time. We identify several pathologies associated with MeN that have been found to be implicated in papers on glyphosate exposure, such as enhancing the growth of Clostridia species and fungus, promoting arsenic toxicity, suppressing the synthesis of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), disrupting fructose metabolism, and promoting dehydration and high serum urate. A companion paper explains how glyphosate's substitution for glycine could cause additional renal damage. Together, these two papers strongly suggest that glyphosate is a causative agent in CKDu. Overall, the research literature provides compelling evidence that glyphosate exposure is a significant factor in MeN. Glyphosate usage on crops should be curtailed in order to protect the agricultural worker population from this devastating and life-threatening disease.


Example embodiments are directed to frequency mapping for a wireless communication system. An example embodiment provides a method frequency reuse method. The frequency reuse method includes assigning frequencies for use and reuse to sectors of a cell of a wireless communication system; and communicating with a mobile station using the assigned frequency. Each of the sectors includes sub-sectors, and each of the sub-sectors have an assigned frequency for communicating with a mobile station within the sub-sector. The frequency assignments for each sector of the cell are different.


Providing healthcare services in the rural parts of India is a big challenge mainly due to dismal doctor - patient ratio. Deadly diseases like cancer need experts to detect and diagnosis. Breast cancer, is the second major type of cancer found in women worldwide. Mammography screening has been proven to be most effective in reducing the mortality rate of breast cancer, with the application of advanced ICT technology to rural primary health care centers for breast cancer detection, will definitely help in early detection of breast cancer and hence increases the survival rate in women. The Digital "Telemammography Service System" - (TSS), is one such initiative to enable trained healthcare workers and patient from the rural primary health care center to consult experts/radiologist remotely at low cost and get done with their digital mammograms analyzed thoroughly. In this work, we present the software architecture and low cost implementation model for a Rural Service Platform to provide an end-to-end solution while touching the next billion under-served populations. In this paper, we mainly focused on the studies related to digital mammography, system architecture and software components to provide effective healthcare services to rural Indian women.


This paper reports experiments on single and dual electromagnetic jets (also called photonic jets) emerging from a weakly multimode waveguide excited by a plane wave in the microwaves frequencies (30 GHz), ended with a tip with a special shape. The measurements are performed with a two-dimensional spatial field mapping system. This system acquires the electric field distribution at the end of the tipped waveguide. Qualitatively, the electric field maps confirm the presence of photonic jets that were recently predicted by a computational model based on boundary integral equations. Backscattering induced by the interaction of a particle with the electromagnetic jet is also measured; particles with a size smaller than the incident wavelength can be easily detected. The high sensitivity feature of the backscattering can be used to develop a near-field technique for microwave or optical imaging.


In this paper, laboratory-based bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) analysis of vegetation leaves, soil, and leaf-litter samples is presented. The leaf litter and soil samples, numbered 1 and 2, were obtained from a site located in the savanna biome of South Africa (Skukuza: 25.0deg S, 31.5deg E). A third soil sample, number 3, was obtained from Etosha Pan, Namibia (19.20deg S, 15.93deg E, altitude of 1100 m). In addition, BRDF of local fresh and dry leaves from tulip polar tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) and black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia) were studied. It is shown how the BRDF depends on the incident and scatter angles, sample size (i.e., crushed versus whole leaf), soil samples fraction size, sample status (i.e., fresh versus dry leaves), vegetation species (i.e., poplar versus locust), and the vegetation's biochemical composition. As a demonstration of the application of the results of this paper, airborne BRDF measurements acquired with NASA's Cloud Absorption Radiometer over the same general site where the soil and leaf-litter samples were obtained are compared to the laboratory results. Good agreement between laboratory and airborne-measured BRDF is reported.


Photonic sensor networks are exploited to increase resilience of large phased arrays for radar and space applications. The network is embedded in the phased array front end to continuously enable easy and real-time control of the system components. The photonic sensors are able to measure amplitude and phase of the actual electromagnetic field distribution on the array aperture. The photonic network provides an estimation of failure/calibration errors and allows the minimization of the mismatch between the actual pattern and the reference one. The feedback system dynamically acts on the weights of the beamforming network (BFN), thanks to accurate and effective synthesis methods. Preliminary results concerning the overall system design, the possibility to integrate the photonic sensor inside the active radiating elements, and the capability to accurately correct undesired failure are reported.


Allophylus edulis is a Brazilian plant  commonly used in the mid-west region of Brazil for treatment of disorders  related to oxidative stress such as diabetes, inflammation, hypertension and digestive diseases. The aims of the present study were to quantify flavonoids and phenolic compounds, evaluate the antioxidant activity, antimicrobial effect and acute toxicity of leaves of A. edulis. Ethanolic (EEAE) and aqueous (AEAE) extracts of A. edulis were prepared. The antioxidant activity was determined by 2.2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging,  lipid peroxidation and oxidative hemolysis induced by 2.2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane). The antimicrobial assays of diffusion on solid media and broth microdilution were performed against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The acute toxicity was assessed in Wistar rats treated with doses of 2 and 5 g/kg of body weight. The EEAE presented higher concentrations of flavonoids and phenolic compounds, and higher activity of scavenge DPPH free radicals. In addition, it was more effective against S. aureus compared to AEAE. The extracts were unsuccessful against E. coli and C. albicans. The EEAE prevented the lipid peroxidation in human erythrocytes and inhibited oxidative hemolysis in all  the concentrations assessed. During the evaluation of acute toxicity, the dose of 5 g/kg of body weight increased hepatic mass. Together, these results demonstrated that the EEAE of leaves of A. edulis is more effective than the AEAE, showing antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effect against S. aureus, as well as low toxicity.

 Key words: Cocum, native Brazilian plant, lipid peroxidation, DPPH, AAPH, TBARS, malondialdehyde, Sapindaceae.


The invasive comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi is a lobate ctenophore native of coastal and estuarine waters of the temperate western Atlantic Ocean. In the last decades this species has expanded its range of distribution, colonizing marine and transitional environments in Europe. In October 2015, during a survey fishing the European eel Anguilla anguilla in Sardinia (western Mediterranean), a massive bloom of this specie was observed in the eutrophic S'Ena Arrubia Lagoon for the first time. In November 2015, sampling was conducted at three stations in the lagoon and in a fyke net, in order to estimate the abundance of M. leidyi and to determine its impact on the fishing activity. The results showed an abundance of 2.83 ctenophores m -3 . Specimens were all adults, measuring 18 - 62 mm total length. The abundant number of ctenophores (6837 individuals per fyke net) damaged fishing operations, reducing catches and affecting the performance of fishing gears. Since there is no effective mechanical, chemical or biological method to counter M. leidyi , the short term economic damage may be approached by new management measures of fisheries. In addition, other actions against the recurring of M. leidyi invasion, can include management strategies, in particular those finalized to reduce the high trophic state of the lagoon.


In this paper we propose two analytically tractable stochastic models of non-slotted Aloha for Mobile Ad-hoc NETworks (MANETs): one model assumes a static pattern of nodes while the other assumes that the pattern of nodes varies over time. Both models feature transmitters randomly located in the Euclidean plane, according to a Poisson point process with the receivers randomly located at a fixed distance from the emitters. We concentrate on the so-called outage scenario, where a successful transmission requires a Signal-to-Interference-and-Noise Ratio (SINR) larger than a given threshold. With Rayleigh fading and the SINR averaged over the duration of the packet transmission, both models lead to closed form expressions for the probability of successful transmission. We show an excellent matching of these results with simulations. Using our models we compare the performances of non-slotted Aloha to previously studied slotted Aloha. We observe that when the path loss is not very strong both models, when appropriately optimized, exhibit similar performance. For stronger path loss non-slotted Aloha performs worse than slotted Aloha, however when the path loss exponent is equal to 4 its density of successfully received packets is still 75% of that in the slotted scheme. This is still much more than the 50% predicted by the well-known analysis where simultaneous transmissions are never successful. Moreover, in any path loss scenario, both schemes exhibit the same energy efficiency.


The Iron Calorimeter (ICAL) detector at the India based Neutrino Observatory (INO) is planned to be set up in an underground cavern with a rock overburden of more than 1 km. This overburden reduces the cosmic muon flux by a factor of 106 with respect to that at the sea level. In this paper, we examine the possibility of a 100 m shallow depth ICAL (SICAL) detector. The cosmic muons would have to be detected in a veto detector with an efficiency of 99.99% in order to have the same level of muon background leaking undetected through the veto detector as at the 1 km depth underground site. However, an additional background arises from interactions of cosmic muons with the rock. Since the neutral particles produced in such interactions can pass through the veto detector without any interaction, they can possibly mimic neutrino events in the ICAL. In this paper, the results of a GEANT4 based simulation study to estimate the background signals due to muon induced interactions with the rock for the SICAL is presented.


Single-electron tunneling through Au substrate-alkanethiol-Pd cluster-tip junctions is investigated with scanning tunneling spectroscopy. The measured I(V) curves reveal several characteristic features of the Coulomb blockade, namely, the presence of a Coulomb gap and a Coulomb staircase. By using the orthodox theory of single-electron tunneling, the capacitances and resistances of the double junction system as well as the fractional charge are extracted from the experimental data.


In this article we study the second degree functionals on the unit circle, obtaining several characterizations of them. In the positive definite case and when the measure belongs to the Szegő class we obtain a property concerning the reversed of the orthogonal polynomials. The connection with second degree functionals on the real line allows us to present several examples. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com We also study the stability of the class of second degree functionals under some transformations in the linear functional or in the formal series of moments. Finally, we connect the second degree functionals and the Laguerre-Hahn affine functionals. Unlike on the real line, the class of second degree functionals is not included in the class of Laguerre-Hahn affine functionals on the unit circle. Two examples of second degree functionals which are not Laguerre-Hahn affine are presented.


Purpose
The research indicates that relatively powerful firms exploit their advantages to damage their weaker partners. However, how power can be abused by advantaged firms remains unclear. This study aims to examine the relationship between power advantage and abuse of power and whether the power advantage mediates the relationship between dependence and personal interests and between trust and company performance.

Design/methodology/approach
A total of 130 retailers in Taiwan were investigated. Partial least squares regression was performed to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings
The results of this study show that power-advantaged firms are more likely to abuse their power; however, the purposes are more for their company performance than for personal interests. Power advantage has different mediating effects on the dependence–personal interests and trust–company performance relationships.

Research limitations/implications
Considering both time and cost limitations, this study investigated one aspect of the retailer–supplier dyad in northern Taiwan. The samples collected may be influenced by the nature of the industry and sampling method, possibly limiting the generalizability of the research results.

Practical implications
This study can help channel managers with a power advantage to have an improved understanding of their salespersons' behavioral patterns, particularly gaining personal interests from customers.

Originality/value
This study expands the understanding of the antecedents and consequences of power advantages in supplier–retailer relationships. It also highlights in specific institutional arrangements, the weaker parties' efforts to endure their counterparts' use of their power advantage to serve their personal interests. Future research may analyze abuse of power by expanding research to other industries and different cultural contexts.


Identifying systematic errors that are introduced by the measurement equipment is a necessary prerequisite for reproducible measurements and reliable results. However, technical artefacts often remain unpublished. Here we report on a sudden change of luminescence intensity observed while measuring IR-RF signals from K-feldspar extracts. The measurements were carried out on a lexsyg research reader. A lateral movement of the sample carrier up to 0.5mm relative to the pho-tomultiplier tube and the irradiation source, causes a change in the sample geometry. This movement results in inter-aliquot scatter during the measurement of IR-RF. Two solutions are discussed to remove this effect: (I) data post-processing and (II) design change by the manufacturer. Our study so far is limited to IR-RF measurements on a single luminescence reader and suggests due caution in the identifi-cation of such systematic errors.


The Sergio Arboleda University is preparing its next satellite mission, named Libertad 2. It will carry out a system of image acquisition as a working tool for researches based on the obtained data. Complete methodologies are often used in the development of satellite missions for planning, execution and deployment, for example, the standards of the European Cooperation for Space Standardization; these methodologies, however, do not include technical specifications or requirements for the development of nano-satellites nor for their subsystems. For this reason, this article focuses on the identification of the characteristics, requirements and restrictions, which must be considered in the design of a remote sensing system for satellites under the CubeSat standard, in order to serve as a starting point for the development of the main payload of the Libertad 2 mission.


This study examined the effects of social housing manipulations on body weight, corticosterone levels, and performance of T-maze alternation in male CD-1 mice. Males that adopted a dominant social rank were heavier than those that adopted a subordinate social rank. Dominant males also had lower corticosterone concentrations than the subordinates. However, there was little to suggest that these physiological indicators of social rank were moderated by housing condition. Indeed, statistical analysis confirmed that the difference in body weights was evident before males were socially housed. The mice showed high levels of spatial alternation on the T-maze from the start of testing so performance accuracy was high. Neither social rank nor housing condition had any clear categorical effect on T-maze performance. However, performance did fluctuate over successive blocks of testing and there was a negative association between accuracy on the T-maze and corticosterone levels (consistent with performance impairment because of elevated corticosterone). Therefore, under present conditions, individual differences in corticosterone were a better predictor of T-maze performance than were social rank or housing condition. The results of the present study lend further support to the proposition that corticosterone levels measured non-invasively in urine may be used to predict diverse welfare outcomes for laboratory mice, from body weight to cognitive performance. Moreover, intrinsic physiological parameters rather than external influences such as social housing may have more influence on mouse behaviour.


Pseudomesotheliomatous adenocarcinoma is an uncommon variant of peripheral lung cancer. This condition mimics a malignant mesothelioma in terms of its clinical presentation and its gross and microscopic appearance. An immunohistochemical investigation is important when it is difficult to determine whether diffuse carcinomatous involvement of the pleura is secondary to metastasis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma. We herein report a very rare case of concomitant pseudomesotheliomatous adenocarcinoma, gastric cancer and esophageal cancer.


We present a new R package PRECISION.array for assessing the performance of data normalization methods in connection with methods for sample classification. It includes two microRNA microarray datasets for the same set of tumor samples: a re-sampling-based algorithm for simulating additional paired datasets under various designs of sample-to-array assignment and levels of signal-to-noise ratios and a collection of numerical and graphical tools for method performance assessment. The package allows users to specify their own methods for normalization and classification, in addition to implementing three methods for training data normalization, seven methods for test data normalization, seven methods for classifier training, and two methods for classifier validation. It enables an objective and systemic evaluation of the operating characteristics of normalization and classification methods in microRNA microarrays. To our knowledge, this is the first such tool available. The R package can be downloaded freely at https://github.com/LXQin/PRECISION.array.


We introduce a model for zwitterionic monolayers and investigate its tribological response to changes in applied load, sliding velocity, and temperature by means of molecular-dynamics simulations. The proposed model exhibits different regimes of motion depending on temperature and sliding velocity. We find a remarkable increase of friction with temperature, which we attribute to the formation and rupture of transient bonds between individual molecules of opposite sliding layers, triggered by the out-of-plane thermal fluctuations of the molecules' orientations. To highlight the effect of the molecular charges, we compare these results with analogous simulations for the charge-free system. These findings are expected to be relevant to nanoscale rheology and tribology experiments of locally-charged lubricated systems such as, e.g., experiments performed on zwitterionic monolayers, phospholipid micelles, or confined polymeric brushes in a surface force apparatus.


We have derived the viscous MHD equilibrium and perturbed equations for current carrying cylindrical plasmas. We have considered compressible plasmas and, when the viscosity is introduced in the equation of motion it leads to a linearized vector second order perturbed equation for the fluid displacement, showing the appearance of non Hermitian operators. The Lagrangian representation is used to investigate the stability and we used the normal mode analysis to study the linearized equation. We applied our model for the problem of the coronal loop heating and solved the eigenmode equation, which is nonlinear in the eigenvalue, using a numerical code based on the software Mathematica, with appropriate boundary conditions. We have confirmed that viscosity is relevant as the dominant mechanism for the coronal loop heating in our self-consistent calculation as indicated by previous non self-consistent work of De Azevedo et al (1991 Solar Phys. 136 295). In the limit of zero viscosity, we obtain the discrete and the continuous spectra and some unstable points.


Direct catalytic valorization of bioethanol to 1-butanol over different alumina supported catalysts was studied. Thirteen (13) heterogeneous catalysts were screened in search for the optimal material composition for direct one-pot conversion of ethanol to 1-butanol. For the most promising catalyst, a 25% ethanol conversion with 80% selectivity (among liquid carbon products) to 1-butanol could be reached at 250 °C. Additionally, the reaction kinetics and mechanisms were further investigated upon use of the most suitable catalyst candidate.


The Government of Malawi has since 2005 been pursuing a growth strategy mainly based on increasing the volume of agricultural exports. This entails that Malawi should endeavor to improve the competitiveness of its agricultural commodities so as to gain an increasing share of the regional and international markets. This paper analyzes the competitiveness of the country's key agricultural commodities -- tobacco, maize, cotton, and rice -- using prices that prevailed in the 2007/08 agricultural season. The paper employs a quantitative value chain methodology to assess the country's prospects for competitiveness and suggest weak links along the value chain that require attention in order to improve trade competitiveness. The results indicate that Malawi has some competitive advantage in the production and exportation of tobacco and cotton, and that this mostly derives from its low labor cost advantage. However, the results indicate that based on 2007/08 prices and costs, Malawi does not have competitive edge in maize and rice production for export. As such, Malawi would better pursue an import substitution strategy in these cereals, and perhaps only aim at the export market when regional market opportunities arise. Key factors that underpin Malawi's narrow competitiveness include the high cost of inorganic fertilizer and other inputs, low productivity, and the higher trader margins and intermediation costs along the value chains. Furthermore, farm gate prices in Malawi are higher than in other countries, and this undercuts its trade competitiveness.


Background  Endoscopic surveillance of Barrett's esophagus (BE) with Seattle protocol biopsies is time-consuming and inadequately performed in routine practice. There is no recommended procedural time for BE surveillance. We investigated the duration of surveillance procedures with adequate tissue sampling and effect on dysplasia detection rate (DDR). Methods  We performed post hoc analysis from the standard arm of a crossover randomized controlled trial recruiting patients with BE (≥C2 and/or ≥M3) and no clearly visible dysplastic lesions. After inspection with white-light imaging, targeted biopsies of subtle lesions and Seattle protocol biopsies were performed. Procedure duration and biopsy number were stratified by BE length. The effect of endoscopy-related variables on DDR was assessed by multivariable logistic regression. Results  Of 142 patients recruited, 15 (10.6 %) had high grade dysplasia/intramucosal cancer and 15 (10.6 %) had low grade dysplasia. The median procedural time was 16.5 minutes (interquartile range 14.0–19.0). Endoscopy duration increased by 0.9 minutes for each additional 1 cm of BE length. Seattle protocol biopsies had higher sensitivity for dysplasia than targeted biopsies (86.7 % vs. 60.0 %; P  = 0.045). Longer procedural time was associated with increased likelihood of dysplasia detection on quadrantic biopsies (odds ratio [OR] 1.10, 95 %CI 1.00–1.20, P  = 0.04), and for patients with BE > 6 cm also on targeted biopsies (OR 1.21, 95 %CI 1.04–1.40; P  = 0.01). Conclusions  In BE patients with no clearly visible dysplastic lesions, longer procedural time was associated with increased likelihood of dysplasia detection. Adequate time slots are required to perform good-quality surveillance and maximize dysplasia detection.


Abstract Amid widespread occurrence of herbicide-resistant weeds in the United States, the use of PRE herbicides and cover crops have resurged once again as important strategies for weed management in cropping systems. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the length of soil residual weed control from PRE soybean herbicides and the detrimental impact of these herbicides on cover crop species using field treated soil in greenhouse bioassays. Greenhouse bioassays were conducted using soil from field experiments conducted in 2018 and 2019 in Arlington and Lancaster, WI. PRE herbicides consisted of imazethapyr, chlorimuron-ethyl, and cloransulam-methyl (acetolactate synthase [ALS] inhibitors); metribuzin (photosystem II [PS II] inhibitor); sulfentrazone, flumioxazin, and saflufenacil (protoporphyrinogen oxidase [PPO] inhibitors); acetochlor, S-metolachlor, dimethenamid-P, and pyroxasulfone (very long-chain fatty acid [VLCFA] inhibitors); and a nontreated control. Greenhouse bioassays were conducted using soil (depth, 0 to 10 cm) sampled at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 d after treatment (DAT). Palmer amaranth and giant foxtail (weeds), and radish and cereal rye (cover crops) were used as bioindicators of herbicide levels in the soil. Bioassay results showed extended soil residual control of Palmer amaranth with sulfentrazone and pyroxasulfone; extended residual control of giant foxtail was observed with pyroxasulfone and S-metolachlor. Chlorimuron-ethyl and metribuzin were the most injurious herbicides to radish and cereal rye shortly after application, respectively, but minimal injury was observed from soil samples collected 50 DAT, indicating the use of PRE and fall-seeded cover crops in southern Wisconsin can be compatible. These results can support growers and practitioners with selection of effective PRE herbicides for Palmer amaranth and giant foxtail control and reduced impact on fall-seeded radish and cereal rye cover crops, altogether leading to more effective, diverse, and sustainable weed management programs. Nomenclature: Acetochlor; chlorimuron-ethyl; cloransulam-methyl; dimethenamid-P; flumioxazin; imazethapyr; metribuzin; pyroxasulfone; saflufenacil; S-metolachlor; sulfentrazone; giant foxtail; Setaria faberi Herrm.; Palmer amaranth; Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson; cereal rye; Secale cereale L.; radish; Raphanus sativus L.; soybean; Glycine max (L.) Merrill


This work focuses on enabling the use of Python-based methods for the purpose of performing in situ analysis and visualization. This approach facilitates access to and use of a rapidly growing collection of Python-based, third-party libraries for analysis and visualization, as well as lowering the barrier to entry for user-written Python analysis codes. Beginning with a simulation code that is instrumented to use the SENSEI in situ interface, we present how to couple it with a Python-based data consumer, which may be run in situ, and in parallel at the same concurrency as the simulation. We present two examples that demonstrate the new capability. One is an analysis of the reaction rate in a proxy simulation of a chemical reaction on a 2D substrate, while the other is a coupling of an AMR simulation to Yt, a parallel visualization and analysis library written in Python. In the examples, both the simulation and Python in situ method run in parallel on a large-scale HPC platform.


KATHRYN OLSEN illuminates some of the meaning of Zulu identity and masculinity by exploring the work of two musicians who take up a form of music which has its origins in pre-colonial versions of manhood and belonging


In order to help and support learning practices, the development of web-based Personal Learning Environments (PLE) is widely adopted. A PLE is a set of services customized by the student. Among these services, resource (either digital or human) recommendation is a crucial one. The paper briefly reviews existing approaches for recommending resources in PLE. Then it describes a novel approach implemented in the OP4L prototype. OP4L is combining Social Web presence data and semantic web technologies, based on an intensive use of ontological models to represent the learning context. Then the paper reports about qualitative studies that were conducted with students on the currently available version of the OP4L prototype. The aim of the study was to get students' feedbacks about new online presence services offered in a LMS.