Biostratigraphy has a significant role in petroleum exploration, especially for correlation and depositional environment analysis. This research located in Kedinding Hill Area, Blora, Central Java, Indonesia. We uses semiquantitative graphic correlation method and quantitative constrained cluster analysis with data taken from measuring section of Kedinding River Track (Section-1) and Kalen River Track (Section-2). Both sections generate crossover in biostratigraphic event sequence that trouble the biozonation determination which resolved by Graphic Correlation Method and generate FAD Neogloboquadrina humerosa – LAD Globorotalia merotumida – LAD Globigerina venezuelana as regional biostratigraphic event sequence. Constrained Cluster Analysis method generate five cluster for depositional environment in both Section-1 and Section-2. Depositional environment of each cluster in Section-1 are: Cluster 1 (unpredictable), Cluster 2 (deep middle – outer shelf), Cluster 3 (outer shelf), Cluster 4 (outer shelf), Cluster 5 (outer shelf – upper slope), meanwhile in Section-2: Cluster 1 (inner shelf), Cluster 2 (deep middle – outer shelf), Cluster 3 (deep middle shelf), Cluster 4 (deep middle shelf), Cluster 5 (outer shelf – upper slope).


Primary objective: To challenge the Multi-Society Task Force's ruling that a persistent vegetative state (PVS) can be judged to be permanent for non traumatic brain injury after three months. Method: We report the case of a 44-year-old man who had recovery of consciousness with persistent severe disability 19 months after a non-traumatic brain injury at least in part triggered and maintained by intrathecal baclofen administration. Result: This unexpected and late recovery of consciousness raises an interesting hypothesis of possible effects of partially regained spinal cord outputs on reactivation of cognition. Conclusion: Considering that several ethical, legal, and socio-economic issues have been raised about the opportunity of withdrawing treatment and life support in patients with PVS the report of this case might add further documentation to the ongoing debate.


Heavy metals (HMs) are among the main environmental pollutants that can enter the soil, water bodies, and the atmosphere as a result of natural processes (weathering of rocks, volcanic activity), and also as a result of human activities (mining, metallurgical and chemical industries, transport, application of mineral fertilizers). Plants counteract the HMs stresses through morphological and physiological adaptations, which are imparted through well‐coordinated molecular mechanisms. New approaches, which include transcriptomics, genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics analyses, have opened the paths to understand such complex networks. This review sheds light on molecular mechanisms included in plant adaptive and defense responses during metal stress. It is focused on the entry of HMs into plants, its transport and accumulation, effects on the main physiological processes, gene expressions included in plant adaptive and defense responses during HM stress. Analysis of new data allowed the authors to conclude that the most important mechanism of HM tolerance is extracellular and intracellular HM sequestration. Organic anions (malate, oxalate, etc.) provide extracellular sequestration of HM ions. Intracellular HM sequestration depends not only on a direct binding mechanism with different polymers (pectin, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, etc.) or organic anions but also on the action of cellular receptors and transmembrane transporters. We focused on the functioning chloroplasts, mitochondria, and the Golgi complex under HM stress. The currently known molecular mechanisms of plant tolerance to the toxic effects of HMs are analyzed.


The possibility and effectiveness of ozone therapy and Millimeter wave therapy in the complex of therapeutic measures after surgery on the maxillary sinus (patent application number 2011137869 from 15.09.2011.) Using the presented method allows to reduce time of postoperative rehabilitation, which clinically manifested by a decrease in swelling, no pain and an earlier primary epithelialization of wounds, against a background of positive dynamics of laboratory data.


The Helmholtz-Poincare Wave Equation (H-PWE) arises in many areas of classical wave scattering theory. In particular it can be found for the cases of acoustical scattering from submerged bounded objects and electromagnetic scattering from objects. The extended boundary integral equations (EBIE) method is derived from considering both the exterior and interior solutions of the H-PWEs. This coupled set of expressions has the advantage of not only offering a prescription for obtaining a solution for the exterior scattering problem, but it also obviates the problem of irregular values corresponding to fictitious interior eigenvalues. Once the coupled equations are derived, they can be obtained in matrix form by expanding all relevant terms in partial wave expansions, including a biorthogonal expansion of the Green function. However some freedom of choice in the choice of the surface expansion is available since the unknown surface quantities may be expanded in a variety of ways so long as closure is obtained. Out of many possible choices, we develop an optimal method to obtain such expansions which is based on the optimum eigenfunctions related to the surface of the object. In effect, we convert part of the problem (that associated with the Fredholms integral equation of the first kind) an eigenvalue problem of a related Hermition operator. The methodology is explained in detail and examples are presented.


Using methods of statistical physics, we present rigorous theoretical calculations of Eigen's quasispecies theory with the truncated fitness landscape which dramatically limits the available sequence space of information carriers. As the mutation rate is increased from small values to large values, one can observe three phases: the first (I) selective (also known as ferromagnetic) phase, the second (II) intermediate phase with some residual order, and the third (III) completely randomized (also known as paramagnetic) phase. We calculate the phase diagram for these phases and the concentration of information carriers in the master sequence (also known as peak configuration) x0 and other classes of information carriers. As the phase point moves across the boundary between phase I and phase II, x0 changes continuously; as the phase point moves across the boundary between phase II and phase III, x0 has a large change. Our results are applicable for the general case of a fitness landscape.


The muscular hyperemia accompanying the patellar reflex was studied in decerebrate cats with and without sympathetic block, and compared with the vascular response resulting from equivalent muscle activation through stimulation of the intact or centrally blocked motor nerve. No obvious differences were seen in the vascular responses under these conditions, except possibly in the latency and pattern of onset of the response. It is concluded that, with the possible exception of the latter feature, the vasodilation accompanying the patellar reflex is independent of the central nervous system.


The efficacy of salazosulfapyridine (SI) has been recently reported in the course of peripheral arthritis in ankylosing spondylarthritis (SPA), but is action on the axial forms of the disease was not known. We have therefore conducted a therapeutic trial in 60 patients suffering from SPA, without peripheral involvement clinical sign evoking an enterocolopathy. This double-blind study compared the activity of SI at a dose of 2 g/day with a placebo, for 6 months. Thirteen patients had to discontinue the treatment: 6 in the placebo group (inefficacy: 3 cases, anemia: 1 case, epigastric pain: 1 case, rash: 1 case) and 7 cases in the SI group (inefficacy: 2 cases, nauseous: 3 cases, abdominal pain: 1 case, moderate elevation of transaminases: 1 case). These 13 patients were kept for the global analysis and considered as therapeutic failures. The treatment was considered effective in 15 out of 30 patients of group SI and in 30 patients on placebo (p less than 0.02). In addition, in group SI, a statistically significant decrease of the daily dose of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs was observed (-6.5 +/- 7.2 versus -2.4 +/- 6.4 in the placebo group, p less than 0.05); also was observed a decrease of the functional index (-5.9 +/- 6.6 versus -1.9 +/- 5.7 in the group placebo, p less than 0.05) and of the serum level of immunoglobulin G (-1.8 +/- 3.6 g/l versus +0.8 +/- 2.9 in the placebo group, p less than 0.025).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


This report describes the University of Northampton Research Data Project, conducted over a period of eight weeks in Summer 2010. Following the tried and tested Data Asset Framework (DAF) methodology, the project sought to investigate the types of data held by researchers throughout the university, researchers' existing data management practices, and the risks associated with these practices. It aimed to provide evidence to inform a possible new data management policy and services to satisfy the requirements of researchers and funders. Finally, it hoped to raise awareness amongst researchers about good data management practice, including the provision of short and long term data storage and access.


One of the key elements in building a time-division- multiplexed (TDM) switch is the time slot interchange (TSI). Given the current optical switching and buffer technologies, TSI-based TDM architectures have many implementation drawbacks, including severe signal attenuation. Some studies showed that some space-time equivalence diagrams can be converted into a delay-unit-based (TSI-free) TDM. This type of architecture is attractive for optical TDM switches, but the techniques discussed in those studies are for rearrangeable switches. Many applications require nonblocking switches where adding a new connection (or a flow) will not cause rearrangement of existing connections. In this paper, we present the design principle for building strictly nonblocking delay-unit-based (TSI-free) optical TDM switches.


The regulatory authority responsible for the control of aquatic animal diseases in Japan is the Animal Products Safety Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF). The ministry (Animal Products Safety Division) specifies certain diseases and their host species that are subjects for import quarantine on the basis of the law called "Fisheries Resources Protection Act." The MAFF also implements risk control measures for the same diseases within Japan on the basis of another law, "Fish Farming Production Maintaining Act." Currently, 24 such diseases are listed. For disease control within Japan, the MAFF issues "Guideline for the Control of Aquatic Animal Diseases," which states the roles of different stakeholders, appropriate actions that are to be taken on the occurrences of specified or other diseases, fish health guidelines for fish farmers, or diagnostic methods for specified diseases, etc. Local prefectural governments in Japan are required to place personnel who work on fish health issues at the prefectural fisheries research laboratories. These people usually inspect fish farms, observe cultured aquatic animals, supervise the use of antibiotics or vaccines, and guide fish farmers for disease control. Disease diagnosis for aquatic animals is usually conducted by these local fisheries research labs for free. The Japan Fisheries Resource Conservation Association provides a comprehensive training course on fish diseases including laws or hands-on trainings for the staff of prefectural fisheries research laboratories. The JFRCA also give local fish health personnel the qualification as the "fish health expert," if the person passes the examination conducted after the training course. Primary diagnosis for specified diseases is conducted by local fisheries laboratories. On the occurrence of the diseases that are suspected to be one of the specified diseases or OIE listed diseases that have not been reported in Japan, the samples are sent to the National Research Institute of Aquaculture (NRIA) where confirmatory diagnosis is made. When such diseases are confirmed, it is reported to the MAFF (or to the OIE through MAFF). For specified diseases, Fish Farming Production Maintaining Act enables local governments to implement necessary measures to prevent the disease from spreading, including issuing orders such as to stop the transfer of the animals to other watersheds, to destroy animals, or to disinfect the facilities. When an unknown disease is encountered by a prefectural fisheries research laboratory, the NRIA is requested to conduct diagnosis. The NRIA develops diagnostic methods for new diseases and disseminate the techniques to local fisheries research laboratories. The NRIA provide positive control materials for disease diagnosis, hands-on trainings of specific subjects concerning diagnostic techniques, or proficiency tests for the fish health personnel of the local fisheries research laboratories. D ow nl oa de d by [A no ny m ou s] fr om h tt p: // re po si to ry .s ea fd ec .o rg .p h on A ug us t 2 3, 2 01 9 at 3 :0 5 PM C ST


In this paper, we study the problem of recovering a low-rank matrix (the principal components) from a high-dimensional data matrix despite both small entry-wise noise and gross sparse errors. Recently, it has been shown that a convex program, named Principal Component Pursuit (PCP), can recover the low-rank matrix when the data matrix is corrupted by gross sparse errors. We further prove that the solution to a related convex program (a relaxed PCP) gives an estimate of the low-rank matrix that is simultaneously stable to small entry-wise noise and robust to gross sparse errors. More precisely, our result shows that the proposed convex program recovers the low-rank matrix even though a positive fraction of its entries are arbitrarily corrupted, with an error bound proportional to the noise level. We present simulation results to support our result and demonstrate that the new convex program accurately recovers the principal components (the low-rank matrix) under quite broad conditions. To our knowledge, this is the first result that shows the classical Principal Component Analysis (PCA), optimal for small i.i.d. noise, can be made robust to gross sparse errors; or the first that shows the newly proposed PCP can be made stable to small entry-wise perturbations.


For a reliable natural language processing (NLP), it is important to know how to link the meaning of a statement or a sentence to its syntactic structure. The link between semantic and syntax can be established using a syntax-semantic interface that allows the construction of sentence meaning. In this paper, we present a new approach, which built a tree adjoining grammar to represent the syntax and the semantic of modern standard Arabic. In the first part, we detail the process that automatically generates this grammar using Arab-XMG meta-grammar. Then we explain how we have established the link between syntax and semantic and how we have introduced the semantic frame -based dimension into the meta-grammar using Arabic Verbnet.


The Polish telecommunication company TP SA provides diversified services for alternative operators (AO). The quality of these services is measured periodically using the so-called Key Performance Indicators (KPI).

There are more than 500 alternative operators and 63 different KPIs that measure the quality of services. The Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) receives periodic reports for each operator with specific data which can be arranged in one table. This table has a lot of cells that are not filled and its structure may differ in time, which poses the problem of how to compare alternative operators and indicate eventual discrimination. Proposed was the concept of defining discrimination. This approach is based on some additional parameters, which were determined, however, they have not been collected so far.

The main challenge was to design aggregated indicators measuring the quality of services rendered by the wholesale telecommunication operator to alternative operators. The indicators must be comparable, i.e. they should indicate whether some AOs are favoured or discriminated.

As a result, two different methods of computing aggregated indicators were proposed. The first one, Principal Component Analysis, is based on the reduction of data dimension, which facilitates further analysis. It shows whether some AOs are treated in a different way, when compared with others. This may indicate discrimination.

The second method aggregates all values of KPIs and assigns a real number to each alternative operator. Subsequently, rankings of AOs treatment can be set up. This method enables detection of a discriminated operator and was tested in simulations.


Epilepsy is a disorder in which the balance between cerebral excitability and inhibition is tipped toward uncontrolled excitability. There is now clear evidence that there are distinct differences between the immature and mature brain in the pathophysiology and consequences of seizures. Both the enhanced excitability of the immature brain compared with the mature brain and the unique pathologic consequences of seizures are related to the sequential development and expression of essential signaling pathways. Although the immature brain is less vulnerable than the mature brain to seizure-induced cell death, seizures in the developing brain can result in irreversible alterations in neuronal connectivity. Developing novel strategies to treat and avert the consequences of seizures in children will require further understanding of the unique mechanisms of seizure initiation and propagation in the immature brain.


Mobile app users post their opinion about the apps, report bugs or request features on various platforms, the main one being App Stores. Previous research suggests that Twitter should be used as an additional resource to receive users' feedback, as app users tweet different issues. Although the classification and review summarization methods are developed previously for each platform separately, manual investigation of reviews or tweets is still required to identify the similar or different points that are discussed on App Store or Twitter. In this paper, we propose a framework to study the differences or similarities among app reviews from Google Play Store and tweets automatically by using the semantics of the words. The results from several experiments compared with expert evaluation, confirm that it can be applied to identify the similarities or differences among the extracted topics, n-grams, and users' comments.


A large volume of atmospheric constituent data is being collected in the global air lanes by specially equipped B-747 aircraft. This NASA program also obtains data from the similarly equipped NASA CV-990 aircraft during dedicated flights as in a recent near pole-to-pole latitude survey mission. Aerosol composition data are also collected with a NASA F-106 aircraft. Present measurements include ozone, carbon monoxide, water vapor, aerosol and condensation nuclei number densities, sulfates, and nitrates. Meteorological and flight parameters are also recorded for use in data analysis. The present aircraft operations obtain data between 6 and 13.5 km from 65 deg N between Europe and the North Pacific, and from 23 deg S over South America and 42 deg S over New Zealand. Typical constituent data from the aircraft operations during the first one and a half years are presented. Instrumentation is discussed.


inevitable above 60 breaths/minute (4 x z N 1 .O second) which was demonstrated by previous work from this de~artrnent.~,~ Considering the inflation pressures required to ensure adequate ventilation with a lower I:E ratio, the effect on gas trapping may be minimal up to breathing frequencies of 80 breaths/minute. The increase in FRC from gas trapping is difficult to measure and the potential magnitude of the consequent PEEP usually remains unknown. The compliance and airways resistance of patients who have cardiopulmonary bypass is remarkably constant, from the prebypass to the recovery period.' Various authors in previous papers on the use of jet ventilation for high frequency weaning have worked at a constant arbitrary ventilation frequency, e.g. 80 or 100 breaths/minute. This is the case in Dr Smith's previous work, unlike the present study where a ventilation frequency of 50 breaths/minute was selected not only to be near the low part of the inflation pressure curve but also to minimise gas trapping and hence to provide minimal pressures in both large and small airways. These decisions were taken on data produced from this department which leads us to believe that this is indeed a new concept. If our discussion of all these various points was not informative enough for Dr Smith it is purely because of constraints on space and a desire not to write yet another review on this subject and introduce data not relevant to the current paper. A comprehensive review of high frequency ventilation and oscillation would include reference to all data on weaning already available in the public domain including that by Dr Smith, which could and arguably should, have been included in the discussion in our paper.


Water-soluble CuInSe₂/ZnS (CISe/ZnS) and AgInSe₂/ZnS (AISe/ZnS) core/shell quantum dots (QDs) on a multigram scale have been synthesized by using gelatin and thioglycolic acid as dual stabilizers in an electric pressure cooker. The core/shell QDs present composition-tunable emission in the range of 582 nm to 686 nm with a maximum PLQY of 23.3%. The core/shell QDs also exhibit good water/buffer stability. The red-emitting CISe/ZnS QDs are applied as wavelength converters to achieve warm white light-emitting diodes.


Background. In order to elucidate further the cognitive processes underlying auditory hallucinations, an experiment investigating delayed and immediate source monitoring for positive, negative and neutral verbal material was conducted with schizophrenic patients. Methods. Patients experiencing auditory hallucinations, patients not experiencing auditory hallucinations and normal subjects participated in a word association task, rating their responses for how much a self-generated thought was their own, how controllable and involuntary it was and their confidence in these ratings. A delayed source monitoring test in which subjects had to recall the source (self or experimenter) of the words from the association task was also administered. Results. Hallucinators showed a greater bias towards external attribution of their thoughts compared with both control groups for immediate attributions of source, but not for delayed attributions. Hallucinators showed a bias towards external attribution of emotional material for immediate source monitoring and all subjects showed a bias towards misattribution of positive material to an external source and negative material to an internal source for the delayed source monitoring task. Conclusions. These findings appear to be most consistent with theories proposing that hallucinations result from an external attributional bias for internal events. The implications of these results for research and practice are also discussed.


AIM
To study the therapeutic effect of exogenous interleukin-10 on CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats and its possible mechanisms.

METHODS
Fourty-seven SD rats were randomly divided into control group (group N) and CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis model group (group C). After CCl4 was given for 9 wk, the model group was divided into three groups. Rats in group M were put to death immediately,rats in group T were treated with IL-10 for another three wk and then put to death, rats in group R recovered after three weeks and were then killed. The degree of hepatic fibrosis was measured by HE staining and histological activity index (HAI). Histological activity index (HAI), change of collagen types I and III were measured by Picrosirius staining. The expression of TNF-alpha, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in liver tissue was measured by S-P immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS
CCl4- induced experimental rat hepatic fibrosis model was established successfully. The degree of hepatic fibrosis was markedly lower in group T than in groups M and R, and there was no difference between the two groups. The expression of collagen types I and III was significantly suppressed in group T and was slightly suppressed in groups M and R. The positive levels of TNF-alpha, MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in group M increased significantly compared to those in group N (P<0.01). The positive signals decreased significantly in groups T and R (P<0.01),but positive score was significantly lower in group T than in group R (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION
Exogenous IL-10 can reverse CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. IL-10 may exert its reversible effects on hepatic fibrosis by blocking CCl4-induced inflammation,inhibiting expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 and promoting resolution of collagen types I and III.


Laser reflectometry (BOTDR), commonly used for structural health monitoring (bridges, dams, etc.), for the first time is being tested to study movements of an active fault on the seafloor, 25 km offshore Catania Sicily (an urban area of 1 million people). Under ideal conditions, this technique can measure small strains (10E-6), across very large distances (10 - 200 km) and locate these strains with a spatial resolution of 10 - 50 m. As the first experiment of the European funded FOCUS project (ERC Advanced Grant), in late April 2020 we aimed to connect and deploy a dedicated 6-km long strain cable to the TSS (Test Site South) seafloor observatory in 2100 m water depth operated by INFN-LNS (Italian National Physics Institute). The work plan for the marine expedition FocusX1 onboard the research vessel PourquoiPas? is described here. First, microbathymetric mapping and a video camera survey are performed by the ROV Victor6000. Then, several intermediate junction frames and short connector cables (umbilicals) are connected. A cable-end module and 6-km long fiber-optic strain cable (manufactured by Nexans Norway) is then connected to the new junction box. Next, we use a deep-water cable-laying system with an integrated plow (updated Deep Sea Net design Ifremer, Toulon) to bury the cable 20 cm in the soft sediments in order to increase coupling between the cable and the seafloor. The targeted track for the cable crosses the North Alfeo Fault at three locations. Laser reflectometry measurements began April 2020 and will be calibrated by a three-year deployment of seafloor geodetic instruments (Canopus acoustic beacons manufactured by iXblue) also started April 2020, to quantify relative displacement across the fault. During a future marine expedition, tentatively scheduled for 2021 (FocusX2) a passive seismological experiment is planned to record regional seismicity. This will involve deployment of a temporary network of OBS (Ocean Bottom Seismometers) on the seafloor and seismic stations on land, supplemented by INGV permanent land stations. The simultaneous use of laser reflectometry, seafloor geodetic stations as well as seismological land and sea stations will provide an integrated system for monitoring a wide range of types of slipping events along the North Alfeo Fault (e.g. - creep, slow-slip, rupture). A long-term goal is the development of dual-use telecom cables with industry partners.


The present paper provides results of studying the dynamics of ecological trails development in specially protected natural areas of Altai Krai. The study revealed the average number of the trails visitors, trail length, information content for educating students. Recommendations are given on the further development of this focus area and regular effective work on ecological trails. The authors identified the most attended ecological trails, studied the activities for schoolchildren and tourists on specially equipped trails in the wild. The article also examines the impact of the trails development on the environmental education of schoolchildren and the research work of students of the Department of Recreational Geography, Tourism and Regional Marketing of Altai State University (Geography Department) while developing the environmental routes.
Key words: Ecological trails; Specially protected natural areas; Altai Krai (Region); Environmental education; Development of ecological tourism
References
Antyufeeva T.V., Mardasova E.V. (2013). Designing routes for the development of ecological tourism in the Altai region. Bulletin of Altai State University, 3-2(79), 138-141.
Ecological trail Big Tigirek. (2019). Available from: www.tigirek.ru.
Environmental education. (2019). website of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of Altai Krai. Available from: http://altaipriroda.ru/current_activities/ekoprosveshhen/.
Extension of the protected areas network. Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of Altai Krai. Availble from: http://altaipriroda.ru/news/oopt_/?/2018/02/08/7319_rasshirenie_seti_oopt_v_2017_godu/.
Prudnikova N.G., Dudnik A.V. (2014). Using the potential of Aya Natural Park in tourism development. Using the potential of the protected areas for the development of ecotourism. Proceed. Sc. Conf., Barnaul.
Specially Protected Natural Areas of Altai Krai. Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of Altai Krai (Ministry of Natural Resources of Altai Territory). Available from: http://altaipriroda.ru/directions/prirodnye_resursy/oopt/ooptAK/.
The trail in harmony with nature. (2007). A collection of Russian and foreign experience in creating ecological trails. Moscow. "R.Valent". Available from: https://www.wildnet.ru/images/stories/bibl/Glava1.pdf/.


Abstract We studied the acceptability of tenofovir gel among HIV-infected and uninfected men who were exposed to it during vaginal intercourse. The gel was found to be highly acceptable to most men, the large majority indicating they would probably use it in the future if they were concerned about HIV and the product were available. Men liked the gel's transparency and odorless qualities, although reactions to its viscosity were more varied. Men acknowledged women's rights to self-determination concerning HIV-prevention, yet considered that women's covert use of the product was more acceptable in the context of 'one-night-stands' than in stable relationships, for which dialogue on protection measures was preferred. Restrictions to couples' habitual sexual repertoire and the protocol requirement to use condoms resulted in complaints. Microbicide trials that do not require condom use from men who don't typically use them may provide a more accurate assessment of acceptability. Consistent microbicide use may be contingent on its ease of incorporation into typical sexual practices, type of sexual partnership and contextual issues.


Capacitor has been used principally for the power factor compensation long ago. However now it does as passive filter to reduce harmonics of nonlinear load with reactor. Most of the customer's low-voltage feeder has been designed with approximately balanced and connected at the 3 phase four wire system. But voltage and current unbalance is appeared by the mixing operation of single or three phase load etc. The addition of reactor at the condenser may rise its terminal voltage. Voltage and current values above rating can act on electrical stress on the condenser. In this paper, we calculated and measured that voltage, current and capacity of condenser are changed under the voltage balance. We conclude that magnitude and deviation of phase voltage act on major point of electrical stress.


Introduction: Lung neuroendocrine tumors (NET) comprise typical (TC) and atypical carcinoid (AC), large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) protein is a known cytosolic tumor suppressor with recently described novel nuclear functions. We investigated this differential PTEN protein compartmentalization together with its genomic status in pulmonary NETs. Patients and Methods: A retrospective multicenter cohort of 192 patients with lung NET was investigated on a tissue microarray (TMA, surgical resections = 183/autopsies = 9) by immunohistochemistry (IHC, cytoplasm and nucleus) and fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH, nucleus). Results were correlated with markers of neuroendocrine differentiation (synaptophysin, chromogranin A), proliferation (mib-1), cell cycle (p27, cyclin D1) and survival data. Results: The histotypes represented were TC in 58 patients, AC in 42, LCNEC in 32 and SCLC in 60. All NETs showed higher PTEN immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm than in the nucleus, whereby the greatest nucleo-cytoplasmic difference was found for SCLC. In both compartments, immunoreactivity was higher in the carcinoids than in LCNEC and SCLC. Loss of cytosolic or nuclear PTEN protein was correlated with increased mitotic rate, with low synaptophysin or chromogranin A and with PTEN genomic deletion. Loss of nuclear PTEN protein correlated with high nuclear TTF1, whereas loss of cytosolic protein correlated with low p27 and low cyclin D1 (all p-values Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4159. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4159


Object tracking is one of the most important tasks in many applications of computer vision. Many tracking methods use a fixed set of features ignoring that appearance of a target object may change drastically due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The ability to dynamically identify discriminative features would help in handling the appearance variability by improving tracking performance. The contribution of this work is threefold. Firstly, this paper presents a collection of several modern feature selection approaches selected among filter, embedded, and wrapper methods. Secondly, we provide extensive tests regarding the classification task intended to explore the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed methods with the goal to identify the right candidates for online tracking. Finally, we show how feature selection mechanisms can be successfully employed for ranking the features used by a tracking system, maintaining high frame rates. In particular, feature selection mounted on the Adaptive Color Tracking (ACT) system operates at over 110 FPS. This work demonstrates the importance of feature selection in online and realtime applications, resulted in what is clearly a very impressive performance, our solutions improve by 3% up to 7% the baseline ACT while providing superior results compared to 29 state-of-the-art tracking methods.


The work considers the depth evaluation of ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys using the attenuation factor of electromagnetic radiation in a medium. A method of determining the attenuation factor of low-conductive non-magnetic soils is developed based on the results of direct measurements of permittivity and conductivity of soils in the range of typical frequencies of GPR. The method relies on measuring the shift and width of the resonance line after a soil sample is being placed into a tunable cavity resonator. The advantage of this method is the preservation of soil structure during the measurement.


We present the latest $B$ hadron lifetimes, $B^0_s$ mixing, and $D^0$ mixing measurements using up to 3.0 fb$^{-1}$ of data collected by CDF and D0 experiments at Fermilab. The $B^0_s$ lifetime is measured from both $J/\psi \phi$ (CP admixture) and flavor specific channels, and the $B_c$ lifetime is obtained from semileptonic channels. Following the $B^0_s$ oscillation frequency measurement at CDF in 2006, the D0 collaboration now observes $B^0_s$ oscillation at a significance of about 3$\sigma$. Since the first $D^0$ mixing evidence established at $B$ factories in 2007, CDF has observed $D^0$ mixing at a significance of about 4$\sigma$ level, the first time from hadron collider.


In order to determine the possible effects of metals in soil on plants and other living beings, it is being beneficial to determine the available and toxic concentrations of metals in the soil. For the improvement of soils with rich metal content, addition of organic remediators such as compost, or lime in the soil is among the applicable methods. In this study, it was aimed to examine the changes in the immediately available, potentially available and toxic concentrations of metals found in the soil having acidic character when municipal solid waste compost, lime (CaCO3) and commercial soil conditioners (A2 and T50) were used. When the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure results were examined, it was observed that the concentrations which can be regarded as the amount of compost added to the soil were increasing as toxic concentrations for heavy metals decrease. When the values are defined as immediately available which are expressing the weakly bound metal concentrations was determined that the mobility of metals in soil is pretty decreasing by the use of T50 from among the soil remediators. And by the use of lime, it was observed that the potentially available concentrations of metals are being reduced to minimum.


The "hidden curriculum" has long been supposed to have an effect on students' learning during their clinical education, and in particular in shaping their ideas of what it means to be a professional. Despite this, there has been little evidence linking specific changes in professional attitudes to the individual components of the hidden curriculum. This study aimed to recognize those components that led to a change in students' professional attitudes at a UK veterinary school, as well as to identify the attitudes most affected. Observations were made of 11 student groups across five clinical rotations, followed by semi-structured interviews with 23 students at the end of their rotation experience. Data were combined and analyzed thematically, taking both an inductive and deductive approach. Views about the importance of technical competence and communication skills were promoted as a result of students' interaction with the hidden curriculum, and tensions were revealed in relation to their attitudes toward compassion and empathy, autonomy and responsibility, and lifestyle ethic. The assessment processes of rotations and the clinical service organization served to communicate the messages of the hidden curriculum, bringing about changes in student professional attitudes, while student-selected role models and the student rotation groups moderated the effects of these influences.


In 2021, Nigeria witnessed a severe cholera outbreak that affected Borno state, in which more than 1,600,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) resided at the time. This rapid appraisal explored factors that facilitate the recurrence of cholera outbreaks in sites hosting IDPs in Northeast Nigeria. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), management, and healthcare personnel working in 10 displacement camps in Borno state. The interviews were complemented by transect walks and field observations, measurements of free residual chlorine levels, and publicly available data published by the International Organization for Migration Displacement Tracking Matrix. The recurrence of cholera outbreaks appears to be facilitated by substantial interactions between IDPs and host communities, and suboptimal WASH services in camps. Of particular concern, IDP camps are exposed to extreme weather-related events that damage facilities and subsequently affect WASH practices. WASH services in camps may likewise be severely hindered by an influx of new arrivals. In conclusion, we emphasize the importance of expanding WASH activities to host communities and developing site-specific WASH interventions and chlorination targets. Practical recommendations are needed for the prevention and control of outbreaks following extreme weather-related events and population influxes.


The introduction of the euro and closer coordination of economic policies in the European Union are fuelling a debate on Europe's representation in the international finan-cial institutions. A single EU representation at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would affect the balance of power in the institution through a fundamental reallocation of quotas and executive directors among its membership. A reduction in the number of European executive directors, and in the total voting power of Europe and in its contribution to the Fund's general resources, could go hand in hand with an increase in the Union's impact on IMF decision-making. Such a change would also weaken the cooperative nature of the Fund through a reduction in the number and impact of mixed constituencies.


The application of Near Surface Mounted (NSM) method to strengthen reinforced concrete (RC) members in flexure through the use of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) rods has become a subject of interest to designers and researchers over the past few years. This technique has been extensively applied, and there is still a need for more experiments, analytical, and numerical studies to determine the effects of their parameters on the flexural performance of RC members. Therefore, a detailed 3D nonlinear finite element (FE) numerical model was developed in this study to predict the load-carrying capacity and the response of RC T-beams strengthened in the negative moment region accurately through the use of NSM FRP rods at different depth of embedment which are placed under three-point bending loading. The model was, however, designed with due consideration for the nonlinear constitutive material properties of concrete, yielding of steel reinforcement, NSM rods, and cohesive behaviors to simulate the contact between two neighboring materials. Moreover, the findings of the numerical simulations were compared with those from the experiments by other investigators which involve two specimens strengthened with NSM FRP rods added to one unstrengthened control specimen. The results, however, showed that the mid-span deflection responses of the predicted FE were in line with the corresponding data from the experiment for all the flexural loading stages. This was followed by the use of the validated FE models to analyze the effect of several properties of the FRP materials to provide more information than the limited experimental data available. It was discovered that the FE model developed is appropriate to be applied practically and economically with more focus on the parametric studies based on design to precisely model and analyze flexural negative moment strengthening for the RC members through the use of NSM FRP rods.


Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the ipsilateral renal function after open pyeloplasty. Patients and methods: The study comprises 50 patients with ultrasonographically and urographically demonstrated hydronephrosis and primary pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction for reconstructive surgical treatment at urology department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital between January 2012 and September 2013. AndersonHynes pyeloplasties were performed in 50 patients. Data were collected by interview, review of records and documents in data collection sheet. Data were analyzed by using paired t-test. Level of significance was set at 5%(P<0.05). Statistical analysis done by SPSS (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA), version 16.0.0. Results: The male and female ratio was1: 0.33. Mean age of the patients was 7.35 years. Left and right side ratio was 1.5: 1. The mean ± SD of pre operative cortical thickness was 3.67 ± 0.91 and post operative thickness after 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months were 3.95 ± 0.91, 4.61 ± 1.18, 4.61 ± 1.18, 5.15 ± 1.31 and 6.22 ± 1.37 respectively. The mean ± SD of split renal function were 24.22 ± 3.42 and 29.14 ± 4.20 in pre operative and post operative respectively. The mean ± SD of split GFR were 25.38 ± 4.11and 34.47 ± 6.30 in pre operative and post operative respectively. Renal functional status was seen as improvement in 39, stable in 3, and deterioration in 2 patients. Conclusions: When dealing with patients with pelviureteric junction obstruction, surgical treatment should be undertaken in patients with symptoms and/or impaired renal function.


Summary: In the paSt 4 rears a yentriculo-peri toncal shunt was performed on 84 mildren. for 47 patients the ventriculo-perilOneal shunt was the firSt operation whilSt 37 mildren had had another type of shunt prior 10 the new one. The diStal revision rate was 8 % during a mcan follow-up of 2.1 years. Disconnections of the peritoneal catheter can be prevented if the catheter is carefully handled during the implantation and if repeated pressure upan the abdomen, such as in Crede's manocuvrc, is avoided. The observed frequent mange in position of the abdominal catheter seems 10 delay the for mation of adhesions and pseudocysts and 10 con tribute 10 the low distal revision rate while no significant diffcrcncc in [he cxtcnt of rCCQnstruc tion of the cerebral mantle could be ob<erved using eicher a low-pressure-or a medium-pressure-\'alve, clinical and radiolo~ical signs of o"crdrainage are less severe than with vascular shunts, contributing tO a lower degree of shunt dependenc)'.


Most corporate executives are by now convinced that the scale and pervasiveness of technological change requires a fundamental review of business strategy. Web-based technology is creating opportunities to rethink business models, processes and relationships along the whole length of the supply chain. Successful e-strategies translate established strategic concepts into contexts in which they previously were not economically viable. For example, in the 1960s and 1970s IBM won the loyalty of major corporate customers through highly paid account executives who provided so-called relationship management. Today that same concept ? now technologically based ? is being deployed to tailor support to individual consumers.

But there is still enormous uncertainty within the business community about the future shape of e-business ? as evidenced by the mood swings of the financial markets and the faltering fortunes of even the icons of the New Economy. The sheer scope of potential change presents some challenges: How can executives make sense of the burgeoning e-business ideas, and where does strategic analysis begin? Behind the new e-business language, how new are the strategic concepts? And what form will a company's strategic e-opportunity take?

As a platform for answering those questions and exploring the new strategic landscape, author David Feeny constructs a coherent map of the e-opportunity. He identifies three layers of e-opportunity, or domains, that exist within operations, marketing and customer service. In each domain, technology may enable a radical new vision of what a business can accomplish. Although every business should be considering opportunities across all three domains, the potential significance of each domain and of individual ideas within it will vary widely across industry sectors and businesses.


Objective To evaluate the combination of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in women with apparent early-stage endometrial carcinoma. The correlation between radiomics features extracted from PET images of the primary tumor and the presence of nodal metastases was also analyzed. Methods From November 2006 to March 2019, 167 patients with endometrial cancer were included. All women underwent PET/CT and surgical staging: 60/167 underwent systematic lymphadenectomy (Group 1) while, more recently, 107/167 underwent SLN biopsy (Group 2) with technetium-99m +blue dye or indocyanine green. Histology was used as standard reference. PET endometrial lesions were segmented (n=98); 167 radiomics features were computed inside tumor contours using standard Image Biomarker Standardization Initiative (IBSI) methods. Radiomics features associated with lymph node metastases were identified (Mann-Whitney test) in the training group (A); receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, area under the curve (AUC) values were computed and optimal cut-off (Youden index) were assessed in the test group (B). Results In Group 1, eight patients had nodal metastases (13%): seven correctly ridentified by PET/CT true-positive with one false-negative case. In Group 2, 27 patients (25%) had nodal metastases: 13 true-positive and 14 false-negative. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of PET/CT for pelvic nodal metastases were 87%, 94%, 93%, 70%, and 98% in Group 1 and 48%, 97%, 85%, 87%, and 85% in Group 2, respectively. On radiomics analysis a significant association was found between the presence of lymph node metastases and 64 features. Volume-density, a measurement of shape irregularity, was the most predictive feature (p=0001, AUC=0,77, cut-off 0.35). When t esting cut-off in Group B to discriminate metastatic tumors, PET false-negative findings were reduced from 14 to 8 (-43%). Conclusions PET/CT demonstrated high specificity in detecting nodal metastases. SLN and histologic ultrastaging increased false-negative PET/CT findings, reducing the sensitivity of the technique. PET radiomics features of the primary tumor seem promising for predicting the presence of nodal metastases not detected by visual analysis.


Background/Aims: There is increased amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) expression and amyloid-β protein (Aβ) production in the brain shortly following cerebral ischemic stroke in rodent models. It has been postulated that this may seed amyloid deposition in the brain. On the other hand, it remains unclear how cerebral ischemia affects preexisting Aβ deposits in the brain. Here we determine the consequences of focal ischemic stroke on existing Aβ pathology in Tg-SwDI transgenic mice. Methods: At 12 months of age, Tg-SwDI mice were subjected to photo-induced focal cerebral ischemia in one hemisphere. One, 7, or 21 days after lesioning, the amount of deposited Aβ in the ischemic and control hemispheres was measured using ELISA. Image analysis was used to visualize deposited Aβ and the presence of microglia/macrophages. Results: After 7 days, and further after 21 days, there was a dramatic reduction in the amount of deposited Aβ and increased presence of microglia/macrophages in the ischemic hemisphere of the mice. Conclusions: Focal cerebral ischemia leads to clearance of deposited Aβ in Tg-SwDI mice starting at 7 days with almost complete removal in the ischemic area by 21 days. The delayed clearance of Aβ following focal cerebral ischemia may involve the infiltration of activated neuroinflammatory cells.


In this book an attempt to examine the working of co-operative Societies from different dimensions. Keeping in view of the Globalization and Liberalization context, the present study adopted a micro analysis approach for gaining deeper insights into the role of cooperative sector in rural development. This book explains the use of cooperative credit, borrowing and repayment behaviour and the perceptions of the sample respondents of the PACSs. This book also identifies the impact of co-operative movement on rural development and the transformation of the living standards of the members of the Co-operative Societies under the area chosen for the study.


Effects of symmetry breaking in the 4f orbital occupancy of Ce atom in ferromagnetic Ce compounds on the multiplet structures in the Ce 3d- and 4d-core photoabsorption spectra are discussed based on the impurity Anderson model. The calculation predicts a strong circular dichroism in the spectra even for a molecular field producing the 4f magnetic moment of ~0.5µB. The interplay of the 4f-conduction band hybridization and the 4f spin-orbit interaction in the ground state is discussed in detail and the present dichroism is shown to be a good method to measure the spin and orbital contributions to the 4f magnetic moment.


Abstract Background: Practice-based studies are needed to assess how physicians communicate health messages about weight to overweight/obese adolescent patients, but successful recruitment to such studies is challenging. This paper describes challenges, solutions, and lessons learned to recruit physicians and adolescents to the Teen Communicating Health Analyzing Talk (CHAT) study, a randomized controlled trial of a communication skills intervention for primary care physicians to enhance communication about weight with overweight/obese adolescents. Materials and methods: A "peer-to-peer" approach was used to recruit physicians, including the use of "clinic champions" who liaised between study leaders and physicians. Consistent rapport and cooperative working relationships with physicians and clinic staff were developed and maintained. Adolescent clinic files were reviewed (HIPAA waiver) to assess eligibility. Parents could elect to opt-out for their children. To encourage enrollment, confidentiality of audio recordings was emphasized, and financial incentives were offered to all participants. Results: We recruited 49 physicians and audio-recorded 391 of their overweight/obese adolescents' visits. Recruitment challenges included 1) physician reticence to participate; 2) variability in clinic operating procedures; 3) variability in adolescent accrual rates; 4) clinic open access scheduling; and 5) establishing communication with parents and adolescents. Key solutions included the use of a "clinic champion" to help recruit physicians, pro-active, consistent communication with clinic staff, and adapting calling times to reach parents and adolescents. Conclusion: Recruiting physicians and adolescents to audio-recorded, practice-based health communication studies can be successful. Anticipated challenges to recruiting can be met with advanced planning; however, optimal solutions to challenges evolve as recruitment progresses.


The paper presents a direct and systematic method for determining the entire operating range of a UPFC in the presence of equipment and system operating limits. The method is inclusive of all limits: series converter voltage and current limits, shunt converter current limit, and voltage limits at the equipment terminals. The formulation is general and permits calculation of P-/spl delta/ curves for a UPFC installed at any point along the transmission line. Equipment and system operating limits are shown to significantly impact the P-/spl delta/ curves of the UPFC. The methodology presented in the paper provides system planners a means to realistically quantify potential benefits of a UPFC installation for a transmission system.


Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae, which is a cause of disease in the upper and lower respiratory tract, can survive intracellularly in human epithelial cells and macrophages. We studied the in vitro activity of five antibiotics against intracellular non-typeable H. influenzae in human type II alveolar epithelial cells. The eukaryotic cells were loaded with bacteria, and extracellular bacteria were killed by gentamicin. After the cells were washed, antibiotics were added at concentrations of 0.12-64 mg/L for 18 h before the numbers of viable intracellular bacteria were determined. Of the antibiotics tested, ciprofloxacin and quinupristin/dalfopristin were the most potent agents, followed by clarithromycin and telithromycin. Ampicillin was not active against intracellularly localized, non-typeable H. influenzae.


Under high-fat feeding, the hypothalamus atypically undergoes pro-inflammatory signaling activation. Recent data from transcriptomic analysis of microglia from rodents and humans has allowed the identification of several microglial subpopulations throughout the brain. Numerous studies have clarified the roles of these cells in hypothalamic inflammation, but how each microglial subset plays its functions upon inflammatory stimuli remains unexplored. Fortunately, these data unveiling microglial heterogeneity have triggered the development of novel experimental models for studying the roles and characteristics of each microglial subtype. In this review, we explore microglial heterogeneity in the hypothalamus and their crosstalk with astrocytes under high fat diet–induced inflammation. We present novel currently available ex vivo and in vivo experimental models that can be useful when designing a new research project in this field of study. Last, we examine the transcriptomic data already published to identify how the hypothalamic microglial signature changes upon short-term and prolonged high-fat feeding.


A review of the literature on the relationship between Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and depression was conducted; a total of 22 papers met inclusion criteria. The review was structured by three questions: 1) Is there an association between IGD and depression? 2) What mediators and moderators may be involved in this relationship? 3) Is there any evidence to suggest causal pathways? The majority of the reviewed research identified an association between IGD and depression. Some potential mediators and moderators were identified, including self-esteem and loneliness, although methodological limitations restricted the inferences that could be drawn from the findings. The research is still in its infancy and more sophisticated research methods are required to further understand the nature of the association between IGD and depression. A quasi-experimental design was used to explore the proposed association between reward disturbances, internet addiction and depression. Specifically, it was hypothesised that the internet addict group would experience reduced 'liking' of positive stimuli and increased 'wanting' of internet stimuli, whilst being less motivated to obtain reward in comparison with controls. The internet addiction group reported significantly higher depression scores, however there were no differences in groups' 'liking' of stimuli, yet the internet addiction group reported greater arousal overall. There were no between group differences for motivation, although within group correlations revealed that for the internet addiction group there was a dissociation between 'liking' of rewards and motivation to obtain them; there was also a positive correlation between BDI-II scores and motivation. These findings were not in line with hypotheses, and may suggest that the internet addiction group experience greater reward sensitivity, and are therefore drawn to internet use to satiate this heightened rewardsensitivity; or that internet addiction may serve as a form of experiential avoidance, thus potentially maintaining depression.


Primary Examiner-John Kight, III Assistant Examiner-Duc Troung Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gary L. Griswold; Walter N. Kirn; Gregory A. Evearitt o (57) ABSTRACT Normally solid organic solvent-soluble thermoplastic, polyethylenically-unsaturated polyurethane polymers having pendent cardo (cyclic) groups are disclosed. These polymers can be coated to provide coatings that can be worked (sanded) and that under the influence of activating energy, polymerize to coatings which can have excellent solvent and abrasion resistance.


In wireless multi-hop networks, the spatial reuse determines the number of simultaneous connections allowed in a given region. It has a strong influence on the throughput and delay characteristics of the network and is thus an important metric in performance evaluation. This paper presents an analytic model for the spatial reuse in a wireless multi-hop network with a random access MAC protocol that uses a fair scheduler to accomplish collision avoidance. We employ a purely probabilistic model to derive the closed form solution for the achievable throughput. Using our model we are able to show the maximum saturation throughput obtainable as a function of the node density.


This paper focus on some important features in the Swedish and European Road, Transport and informatic (RTI) program - the intelligent communication between road infrastructure and the vehicles. The overall objectives are to increase safety, reduce the impact on the environment and enhance the level of service for traffic. The basic elements in the road infrastructure are advanced traffic control including facility for Public Transport and in the vehicle an intelligent cruise control (ICC). The communication linking them uses the new SRC 5.8 GHz transponder technique


ABSTRACT Background: Cocaine use and its consequences are disproportionately higher and more severe among African Americans compared to other ethnic/racial groups. Objectives: The aims of this study were to examine a risk model specific for African American users and assess whether risk varies as a function of sex. Methods: 270 African American adults in a residential drug treatment facility completed measurements assessing first and past year crack/cocaine use frequency, childhood trauma, and stress reactivity. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the unique effect of each predictor variable on past year crack/cocaine frequency. Sex was included as a moderator variable in the regression analysis. Results: All predictor variables were positively correlated with past year crack/cocaine use. However, sex differences were also observed: females reported higher rates of childhood emotional abuse, childhood sexual abuse, and stress reactivity—as well as past year crack use and cocaine use—than males. Regression analyses were performed with sex, first year use, and stress reactivity emerging as the only significant predictors for frequency of crack and cocaine use among all study participants. Moreover, sex differences were observed in the influence of first year crack use frequency on past year crack use frequency, such that the effect was stronger for males than for females. Conclusion/Importance: This study offers a clearer understanding of the risk factors for crack and cocaine abuse specific to African Americans, as well as sex specific pathways to risk, providing useful implications for future prevention and treatment efforts.


Summary Continental lower crust comes in a limited number of types that are best distinguished tectonically. Lower crust is formed primarily in oceanic or continental zones of lithospheric plate convergence and secondarily in regions of intracontinental rifting. Formation processes involve magmatic intrusion of mantle-derived basalt and structural burial of pre-existing upper crust by thrust or reverse faults. In both cases, metamorphism, crustal melting and ductile deformation result from the accompanying heating and release of volatiles. A compositional conundrum exists for both arcs and continental rifts since the new continental crust has a basaltic rather than an andesitic (mean crustal) composition. Possible solutions to this compositional disparity include formation of more silicic lower crust in the Archaean, and lower crustal delamination which could preferentially remove tectonically immature basaltic crust.


In November 2019, the authors conducted a survey of Bachelor's and Master's degrees students, Ph.D. candidates, teachers and employees of RUDN University. The aim of the study was to identify the role of corporate culture in the reputation development of the university, as well as the place of academic discourse in this process. Corporate culture is a complex of traditions and values of an organization supported by an extensive communication system. Based on the results of the study, the authors assessed the impact of corporate culture on the reputation of an educational institution. Also the characteristics of academic discourse were identified and the practice of corporate communications of RUDN University was studied. At the same time, the authors made recommendations for the creation of a corporate culture for global universities.


In recent years, the production of hydrogen through dark fermentation has become increasingly popular because it is a sustainable approach to produce clean energy. Thus, an evaluation of studies reported on hydrogen production from different complex waste - waters will be of immense importance in economizing production technologies. This work presents a review of the advances in the bioreactor and bioprocess design for bio - hydrogen production from different complex wastewaters. The biohydrogen production is discussed emphasizing the production metabolic pathways, bioreactor configuration and operation, organic loading rate (OLR), pretreatment of wastewater, as well as micro bial diversity. Also, in this review, various bioreactor configurations and performance parameters including H 2 yield (HY) and hydrogen production rate (HPR) are evaluated and presented. The work concludes with challenges and prospects of biohydrogen pro duction and claims for more systematic and comprehensive studies on the subject.


Archaeologists have approached the study of art from several directions, drawing their inspiration variously from evolutionary biology, anthropology, and art history. We exam-ine the strengths and weaknesses of each of these approaches and hope to demonstrate the unique opportunities open to archaeology in the study of art, from its origins to the recent past.


Purpose
Digital transformation is the way forward for all businesses. The technology is advancing at a rapid pace and the companies need to adapt to the change, not just to take advantage of the enormous opportunities it provides but even to stay relevant in this volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity world. This study aims to define the concept of digital transformation and what it means in today's business scenario. It helps to understand the different stages of digital maturity, identify the barriers in adopting different technologies and provide solutions to overcome those challenges.

Design/methodology/approach
This is a qualitative study in which opinions of the digital transformation experts were collected using a qualitative questionnaire. Natural language processing (NLP) and text mining techniques were applied along with a thorough analysis of the text to generate the results.

Findings
The study was able to uncover – what it means to be digitally transformed, different challenges an organization faces during the digital transformation journey and their potential solutions.

Originality/value
The existing literature on the topic is scattered and does not provide a roadmap for a company to adopt digital transformation. This study aims to fill up the gap and cover various aspects of the whole transformation process. The uniqueness of the study lies in the use of NLP techniques to perform text analytics on the data.


Using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to sense three-dimensional water vapor (WV) has been intensively investigated. However, this technique still heavily relies on the a priori information. In this study, we propose an improved tomography approach based on adaptive Laplacian smoothing (ALS) and ground meteorological observations. By using the proposed approach, the troposphere tomography is less dependent on a priori information and the ALS constraints match better with the actual situation than the constant constraints. Tomography experiments in Hong Kong during a heavy rainy period and a rainless period show that the ALS method gets superior results compared with the constant Laplacian smoothing (CLS) method. By validation with radiosonde and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) data, we found that the introduction of ground meteorological observations into tomography can solve the perennial problem of resolving the wet refractivity in the lower troposphere and thus significantly improve the tomography results. However, bad data quality and incompatibility of the ground meteorological observations may introduce errors into tomography results.


Packaged drinking water (PW) sold in bottles and plastic bags/sachets is widely consumed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and many urban users in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) rely on packaged sachet water (PSW) as their primary source of water for consumption. However, few rigorous studies have investigated PSW quality in SSA, and none have compared PSW to stored household water for consumption (HWC). A clearer understanding of PSW quality in the context of alternative sources is needed to inform policy and regulation. As elsewhere in SSA, PSW is widely consumed in Sierra Leone, but government oversight is nearly nonexistent. This study examined the microbiological and chemical quality of a representative sample of PSW products in Freetown, Sierra Leone at packaged water manufacturing facilities (PWMFs) and at points of sale (POSs). Samples of HWC were also analyzed for comparison. The study did not find evidence of serious chemical contamination among the parameters studied. However, 19% of 45 PSW products sampled at the PWMF contained detectable Escherichia coli (EC), although only two samples exceeded 10 CFU/100 mL. Concentrations of total coliforms (TC) in PSW (but not EC) increased along the supply chain. Samples of HWC from 60 households in Freetown were significantly more likely to contain EC and TC than PSW at the point of production (p<0.01), and had significantly higher concentrations of both bacterial indicators (p<0.01). These results highlight the need for additional PSW regulation and surveillance, while demonstrating the need to prioritize the safety of HWC. At present, PSW may be the least unsafe option for many households.


This paper seeks to examine the establishment and ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) as an endeavour on the part of the African Union to promote intra-African trade. The African socioeconomic development and industrial competitiveness is anticipated to increase as a result of the AfCFTA. The agreement is expected to link 1.3 billion people in 55 nations, with a $3.4 trillion global GDP. By 2035, it is projected to be able to save 30 million people from abject poverty. The AfCFTA will result in a significant liberalization of trade in products and services within Africa, making it simpler for business people to conduct international business and lowering trade costs. However, there are concerns that putting the agreement into practice successfully in a continent with limited capacity, uncompetitive industries, and reliable infrastructure will be difficult. The research relies on the secondary sources of data collection, which include the use of such materials as textbooks, journals, newspapers, magazines and internet sources. The paper analyses the political- economic dynamics and argues that the success of AfCFTA will be greatly influenced by a number of variables, including member states level of commitment, the availability of cutting-edge technology, technical capacity, and essential infrastructure, the transparency and accountability of processes, and how infractions and complaints are resolved.


In lower termite such as Coptotermes gestroi, cellulose and hemicellulose are hydrolysed by cellulases and hemicellulases secreted from bacteria, archaea, protozoa and fungy in the hindgut. In which, majority of the enzymes are contributed by protozoa. From the metagenomic DNA data (125,423 open reading frames -ORFs) of free-living bacteria in the gut of C. gestroi harvested in Southern Vietnam and by MEGA 4.0 software, 100.340 ORFs were classified into 1,368 species, 628 genera, 217 families, 97 orders, 41 classes and 22 phyla (Do et al., 2014). Among these, 2,131 ORFs (2,12%) belong to 24 bacterial species (account 1,75% bacterial species), 11 families, 9 orders, 8 classes and 5 phyla were predicted have ability to produce cellulases; 679 ORFs belong to 18 bacterial species 8 families, 6 orders, 5 classes, 4 phyla were predicted have ability to produce hemicellulase. Majority of cellulase producers were species which of Firmicutes (15/24 species), accumulated in class Clostridia, order Clostridiales. The most abundant cellulase producer was Pseudomonas fluorescens (1,258 ORFs) of order Pseudomonadaceae. Out of the 18 hemicellulase producers, the most abundant species was Clostridium thermocellum (113 ORFs) in the phylum Firmicutes, followed by 3 species belonging to the phylum Bacteroidetes. The species predicted to produce both cellulase, hemicellulase were C. thermocellum, Ruminococcusns flavefaciens and Bacillus subtilis. Our study provides  a data of gut cellulose and hemicellulose - degrading bacteria composition of C. gestroi


Land Evaluation studies were carried out on two wetland soils (Ado-Ekiti and Kabba) in Nigeria. FAO Frame work and fertility capability classification (FCC) systems were used to evaluate the sites for rice production. The influence of two management practices (Local and Improved) on rice yield were evaluated on the field. Soil samples were collected under eight rice stands in each plot for regression analysis to determine the influence of individual soil properties on rice yield. An economic analysis was carried out to assess the more profitable site for rice production. The wetland soil at Ado-Ekiti was classififed as Fluvaquept Endoaquept, while the Kabba wetland soil was classified as Typic Halaqeupt. The pedon at Kabba was classified as Lgh and that of Ado-Ekiti as Leghk using the FCC System, with cation Exchange capacity and K status accounting for differences between the two. Kabba sites was classified as presently not suitable (N1) for rice production and Ado-Ekiti as N2 because of limitations imposed by soil chemical properties. With proper soil fertility management, the potentials of these soils can increase to moderately suitable (S2), for rice production. Improved management system gave significantly higher yields than the local management (t=2.50). Stepwise regression of rice yield on soil properties revealed that Seventeen soil properties contributed to rice yield within the study areas with R 2 values of 92.81% and 93.56% at Ado-Ekiti and Kabba respectively. Economic analysis of rice production in the two sites showed that the cost benefit ratio was positive at both sites but best return on investment was obtained from Kabba with gross margin of N532,775/ha.


Treating the employment and income patterns underlying the observed occupational structure as an analytical tool and using primary information obtained from 218 households in four villages in Tiruchirapalli district of Tamil Nadu, this article aims to empirically explain as to how and why rural transformation has a differential impact on various rural groups in terms of employment and income diversification. It shows that since the income benefits of rural transformation are related more with asset ownership than with employment shares, employment diversification, though necessary, is not sufficient for income diversification among the rural poor. While occupational diversification does contribute to income stability, its role in income enhancement is severely constrained by lower wage rates in rural occupations where the poor groups participate the most.


Clostridium difficile pathogenicity is related to in vivo production of toxins, and it is of great interest to detect toxins produced in biological samples. Several reports have shown that proteases in stools interfere with immunological methods for quantitation of toxin A. The purpose of this work was to estimate the relationship between the proteases and the C. difficile toxins produced in a gnotobiotic mouse model of pseudomembranous cecitis. Cecal proteolytic activities hydrolyzed toxin A, and immunoglobulin G bound to the microtiter plate used in immunoassays. This interference could be blocked by the addition of trypsin inhibitor to the samples. The ability of soluble toxin A to bind to bound antibodies in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was not affected by the proteases, but the biological activity was reduced 100-fold. The cytotoxicity of toxin B was not modified by proteolytic activity treatment. Mice inoculated with a low toxin A-producing strain of C. difficile did not died, and no modulation of proteolytic activities occurred. After inoculation with the lethal VPI strain of C. difficile, toxins A and B reached maximum levels in the ceca at 12 h postinfection. At this time, the proteolytic activities did not decrease from the levels seen at zero time. Mice died within 2 days. At this time (about 32 postinfection), proteolytic activities were sharply decreased in the lower parts of the digestive tracts. The findings that serum inhibited the proteases and that there was a 100-fold increase in serum-derived mouse immunoglobulins in the lumen as the C. difficile infection progressed suggest that the decrease in protease activity in the lower digestive tract may be related to the exudation of serum from the inflammation process.


We attempted to investigate the reason why the students got a worse grade in gross anatomy and the way how we can improve upon the teaching method since there were gaps between teaching and learning under recently changed integration curriculum. General characteristics of students and exploratory factors to testify the validity were compared between year 2011 and 2012. Students were asked to complete a short survey with a Likert scale. The results were as follows: although the percentage of acceptable items was similar between professors, professor C preferred questions with adequate item discrimination and inappropriate item difficulty whereas professor Y preferred adequate item discrimination and appropriate item difficulty with statistical significance (P<0.01). The survey revealed that 26.5% of total students gave up the exam on gross anatomy of professor Y irrespective of years. These results suggested that students were affected by the corrected item difficulty rather than item discrimination in order to obtain academic achievement. Therefore, professors in a team-teaching subject should reach a consensus on an item difficulty with proper teaching methods.


Abstract Knowledge of population divergence history is key to understanding organism diversification mechanisms. The geotrupid dung beetle Phelotrupes auratus, which inhabits montane forests and exhibits three color forms (red, green, and indigo), diverged into five local populations (west/red, south/green, south/indigo, south/red, and east/red) in the Kinki District of Honshu, Japan, based on the combined interpretation of genetic cluster and color‐form data. Here, we estimated the demographic histories of these local populations using the newly assembled draft genome sequence of P. auratus and whole‐genome resequencing data obtained from each local population. Using coalescent simulation analysis, we estimated P. auratus population divergences at ca. 3800, 2100, 600, and 200 years ago, with no substantial gene flow between diverged populations, implying the existence of persistent barriers to gene flow. Notably, the last two divergence events led to three local populations with different color forms. The initial divergence may have been affected by climatic cooling around that time, and the last three divergence events may have been associated with the increasing impact of human activities. Both climatic cooling and increasing human activity may have caused habitat fragmentation and a reduction in the numbers of large mammals supplying food (dung) for P. auratus, thereby promoting the decline, segregation, and divergence of local populations. Our research demonstrates that geographic population divergence in an insect with conspicuous differences in traits such as body color may have occurred rapidly under the influence of human activity.


I argue that dynamicism does not provide a convincing alternative to currently available cognitive theories. First, I show that the attractor dynamics of dynamicist models are inadequate for accounting for high-level cognition. Second, I argue that dynamicist arguments for the rejection of computation and representation are unsound in light of recent empirical findings. This new evidence provides a basis for questioning the importance of continuity to cognitive function, challenging a central commitment of dynamicism. Coupled with a defense of current connectionist theory, these two critiques lead to the conclusion that dynamicists have failed to achieve their goal of providing a new paradigm for understanding cognition.


We explore the finite-dimensional part of the non-commutative Choquet boundary of an operator algebra. In other words, we seek finite-dimensional boundary representations. Such representations may fail to exist even when the underlying operator algebra is finite-dimensional. Nevertheless, we exhibit mechanisms that detect when a given finite-dimensional representation lies in the Choquet boundary. Broadly speaking, our approach is topological and requires identifying isolated points in the spectrum of the $\mathrm{C}^*$-envelope. This is accomplished by analyzing peaking representations and peaking projections, both of which being non-commutative versions of the classical notion of a peak point for a function algebra. We also connect this question with the residual finite-dimensionality of the $\mathrm{C}^*$-envelope and to a stronger property that we call $\mathrm{C}^*$-liminality. Recent developments in matrix convexity allow us to identify a pivotal intermediate property, whereby every matrix state is locally finite-dimensional.


Gastric schwannoma can be malignant in 13.8% of cases. The prognosis of malignant schwannoma is usually poor, characterized by a rapidly progressive disease course and a poor response to chemotherapy. Normally, the recurrence of schwannoma is due to involvement of the surgical resection margin. In turn, recurrence of malignant gastric schwannoma GS is approximately 50%, 25% locoregional and 25% with liver metastases. Even after a complete gastric resection with associated lymphadenectomy, schwannoma may present liver metastases during follow-up.


This paper focuses on the turbulence structure in a non-uniform, gradually varied, sub-critical open channel flow (OCF) on a rough bed. The flow field is analysed under accelerating, near-uniform and decelerating conditions. Information for the flow and turbulence parameters was obtained at multiple sections and planes using two different techniques: two-component laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) and particle image velocimetry (PIV). Different outer region velocity scaling methods were explored for evaluation of the local friction velocity. Analysis of the mean velocity profiles showed that the overlap layer exists for all flow cases. The outer layer of the decelerated velocity profile was strongly affected by the pressure gradient, where a large wake was noted. Due to the prevailing nature of the experimental setup it was found that the time-averaged flow quantities do not attained equilibrium conditions and the flow is spatially heterogeneous. The roughness generally increases the friction velocity and its effect was stronger than the effect of the pressure gradient. It was found that for the decelerated flow section over a rough bed, the mean flow and turbulence intensities were affected throughout the flow depth. The flow features presented in this study can be used to develop a model for simulating flow over a block ramp. The effect of the non-uniformity and roughness on turbulence intensities and Reynolds shear stresses was further investigated.


PURPOSE
To determine the effects of tooth brushing on the surface roughness (Sa) and morphology, maximum relative depth (Rv), gloss (GU), and microhardness (MH) of four esthetic restorative materials and enamel.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A light-curing composite resin (Filtek Supreme Ultra [FSU], 3M ESPE), two hybrid resin/ceramic CAD/CAM materials (Lava Ultimate [LAV], 3M ESPE, and VITA Enamic [VEN], VITA Zahnfabrik), and a CAD/CAM feldspathic ceramic (VITA Blocs Mark II [VMA], VITA Zahnfabrik) were evaluated. Bovine enamel (ENA) was used as a control group. All surfaces were polished in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Samples were analyzed before and after brushing (30,000 cycles) regarding Sa and Rv using a 3D laser-measuring microscope. GU was evaluated every 10,000 tooth brushing cycles. MH was also measured before and after tooth brushing. The surfaces were observed using scanning electron and laser measuring microscopies to determine the wear patterns. Data were analyzed by paired t test, one-way or two-way repeated measures analysis of variance, and Tukey test (α = .05), depending on the method performed.

RESULTS
The Sa increased significantly after brushing for all materials, except for VMA, which showed the opposite effect. ENA and VEN showed higher Rv than VMA. After 30,000 tooth brushing cycles, VMA showed the highest GU, while FSU showed the lowest. Also, little surface topography changes were observed for VMA. MH did not change significantly after 30,000 brushing cycles, except for LAV.

CONCLUSION
Brushing caused surface alterations in all tested materials except for feldspathic ceramic. The changes were more evident in resin-based materials.


Scholars have widely used the enlargement process as a foil for assessing both the nature and the potential influence of the ENP. In this paper, I attempt to show that the ENP-enlargement comparison is flawed by the fact that the two policies pursue different finalite – association and integration respectively. The paper then privileges the comparison with the Euro-Mediterranean policy. Drawing on the ENP-EMP comparison, the paper argues that the ENP marks the shift away from policy-change to policy-level. Two implications are drawn from this finding. The first is substantive in that it points to a pragmatic international role for the EU. The second is methodological in that I argue that adopting an IPE approach to the study of the ENP bears important analytic advantages.


ABSTRACT Rapid growth in public communication of science and technology has led to many diverse training programs. We ask: What are learning goals of science communication training? A comprehensive set of learning goals for future trainings will draw fully from the range of fields that contribute to science communication. Learning goals help decide what to count as success and how to gather evidence of learning. Based on the strands of learning developed for 'learning science in informal environments', we built a conceptually coherent definition of science communication learning that addresses affective issues, content knowledge, methods, reflection, participation, and identity. We reviewed dozens of articles describing science communication training, identifying explicit and implicit learning goals. We identified gaps in outcomes commonly used for training programs; these gaps appeared especially in the areas of affective learning and identity formation. No one program can achieve all learning goals. Different courses might be tailored for scientists who remain in science, wish to become journalists, wish to work for museums, etc. But we believe conceptual coherence can help course designers identify important goals. Creating a common language will increase the ability to compare outcomes across courses and programs.


Sericulture as an agrarian small-scale industry suits both marginal and small land holders because of its high returns, and it creates opportunity for family employment. Iran has long history in cocoon and silk production, but the demand for rearing silkworm during recent years has had a significant reduction. This study examines sericulture extension as a strategy for revitalizing silkworm cocoon production from sericulturists' view in Iran. Research methodology applied in this study was a combination of descriptive-analytical and quantitative methods and statistical methods included correlation and multiple regression analysis as data processing methods along with structural equation modeling (SEM). Sample size included 316 sericulturists in Iran. The results of structural equation modeling have appeared that effective training is the most important effective factor on revitalizing silkworm cocoon production. Marketing had most effect on attitude about extension. The method of acquiring sericulture information had effect on effective training. The effective training had effect on presenting technologies and participation and also the method of acquiring sericulture information had effect on effective factors of technologies adoption. On the basis of structural model, we can conclude that extension education is necessary for revitalizing silkworm cocoon production in Iran, human capital development and to mobilize sericulturists with valuable knowledge and technology through the formation of partnerships.

  Key words: Structural equation modeling (SEM), sericulture extension, revitalization, Iran.


Assessing the effects of fishing activity and environmental variability on fishing species might help to understand their fluctuations and to manage them accordingly. However, despite the increasing number of studies linking fisheries and environmental data, few had a multi-species approach considering flatfish species and different age groups. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effects of environmental and fishing related variables on commercial flatfish species across different regions of the Portuguese coast. For that, sea surface temperature, North Atlantic Oscillation, upwelling index, wind components, river discharges and fishing effort were related to landings per unit effort (LPUE) of five commercial flatfish species (Pleuronectes platessa, Dicologlossa cuneata, Microchirus spp., Solea lascaris, and Solea solea) fished by the artisanal fleet along different regions of Portuguese coast (Northwestern coast, Southwestern coast, and Southern coast), using a multi-model statistical approach from 1989 to 2009. The fishing effort had the same effect along the life cycle and was negatively related with LPUE trends for most of the species. Regarding to environmental variability, during early phases (larval to juvenile – age-group-0) the factors that affected the recruitment, in addition to being related to the physiological needs (e.g., sea surface temperature) of individuals that will trigger growth and survival, were related to larval transport and dispersion from offshore spawning areas to coastal nursery habitats beyond (e.g., wind components and upwelling). For juvenile and young-adult phases (age-groups I and II), the effects of environmental variability appeared to be linked to physiological needs important for growth and maturation (e.g., temperature). Concluding, different effects were observed depending on the region, species, and life-cycle phase. Therefore, these environmental-fishing relationships should be used when managing local fishing resources.


Abstract Background Remission in schizophrenia is difficult to achieve. Antipsychotic drugs are critical in the treatment of schizophrenia. International guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia recommend a 3-step algorithm with clozapine being the third-line antipsychotic agent. This study investigated the 1-year outcome and the application of the guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of nonremitted first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients during the first year of follow-up. Methods A sample of 78 FES patients from the Norwegian TIPS (Early Treatment and Intervention in Psychosis) 2 study was assessed at the end of the first year of follow-up. The symptom remission criteria were those defined by the Remission in Schizophrenia Working Group. The adherence to the pharmacological guidelines was assessed by reading the medical files and by a digital search of the words "clozapine," "klozapin," and "Leponex" in the hospital electronic data system. Results The majority (n = 53, 67.9%) of the patients included were nonremitted at the 1-year follow-up. The majority of the nonremitted patients received either none (7.5%), one (56.6%), or 2 types (15.1%) of antipsychotic drugs during the first year of follow-up. Only 2 (3.8%) received treatment with clozapine, and 3 (5.7%) in total were offered it. Conclusions For our FES sample, there was a low 1-year remission rate and a poor adherence to the pharmacological guidelines. Higher adherence to treatment guidelines with a more intensified antipsychotic treatment, which in some cases will include clozapine, will enhance the quality of treatment and may enhance the rates of remission for schizophrenia.


The use of ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to data independent tandem mass spectrometry with traveling wave ion mobility for detection and structural identification of ether‐linked glycerophosphoethanolamine is described. The experimental design generates 4D data (chromatographic retention time, precursor accurate mass, drift time with associated calculated collisional cross‐section, and time‐aligned accurate mass diagnostic product ions) for each ionization mode. Confident structure identification depends on satisfying 4D data confirmation in both positive and negative ion mode. Using this methodology, a number of ether‐linked glycerophosphoethanolamine lipids are structurally elucidated from mouse brain lysosomes. It is further determined that several ether‐linked glycerophosphoethanolamine structures are differentially abundant between lysosomes isolated from mouse cortex following traumatic brain injury as compared to that of sham animals. The combined effort of aligning multi‐dimensional mass spectrometry data with a well‐defined traumatic brain injury model lays the foundation for gaining mechanistic insight in the role lysosomal membrane damage plays in neuronal cell death following brain injury.


In a sample of 15,390 students, no significant difference in the season of birth could be found between right- and left-handers, classified according to their responses to the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. A separate analysis for each sex also yielded nonsignificant differences.


The experience with operative treatment of 27 patients with cardioinhibitory and mixed forms of the carotid sinus syndrome (CSS) is summarized. Continuous endocardial electrocardiostimulation contributing to effective rehabilitation of the patients is a method of choice in cardioinhibitory form of the CSS. Location of an endocardial electrode in the atrium for avoidance of the cardiostimulator syndrome development is preferable. Use of the method in mixed form of the CSS requires further investigation.


In the paper the application of a magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) in an aviation structure was presented. The prototype of the aviation structure with MRE was described. The original, carbon composite model set a reference value of both lift and drag coefficients for an E214 profile. Experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the influence of the magnetorheological elastomer (placed on a surface of a wing) on the overall performance. Results of experiments were depicted and discussed.


Regardless of land use, the results indicated significant differences in all the studied parameters. Total % SOC ranged from 0.52 to 0.72 for conventional farm samples (mean 0.62%) and 0.63 to 1.59 for the organic samples (mean 1.19). Bulk density (g/cc) ranged from 0.43 to 0.81 (mean 0. 62) for conventional and 0.17 to 0.28 (mean 0.20) organic farm soils. Organic manures increased microbial biomass carbon by 117% and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration by 181% over conventional farming. The results suggested that organic matter is better protected in organic soils and are consequently less vulnerable to mineralization.


We study the problem of globally optimizing the causal effect on a target variable of an unknown causal graph in which interventions can be performed. This problem arises in many areas of science including biology, operations research and healthcare. We propose Causal Entropy Optimization (CEO), a framework that generalizes Causal Bayesian Optimization (CBO) to account for all sources of uncertainty, including the one arising from the causal graph structure. CEO incorporates the causal structure uncertainty both in the surrogate models for the causal effects and in the mechanism used to select interventions via an information-theoretic acquisition function. The resulting algorithm automatically trades-off structure learning and causal effect optimization, while naturally accounting for observation noise. For various synthetic and real-world structural causal models, CEO achieves faster convergence to the global optimum compared with CBO while also learning the graph. Furthermore, our joint approach to structure learning and causal optimization improves upon sequential, structure-learning-first approaches.


Credibility theory is closely related to Kalman filtering. As a consequence, methods proposed for robustifying the Kalman filter can often be specialised to obtain robust credibility rating procedures. The application of one such method to several classical credibility models is shown in this paper.