Introduction HIV infection increases the risk of developing Tuberculosis (TB), as TB infection increases the progression of HIV. In Indonesia, the rate of patients HIV positive with TB (HIV/TB co-infected) have reported 31.8% in 2013. In Bali HIV/TB co-infected patients have increased from 26% in 2012 to 30% in 2013. This study aims to determine the correlation between demographics, clinical and risk factor for HIV infected with HIV/TB co-infected in Amertha Clinic Kerti Praja Foundation Bali.

Methods A cross-sectional study using secondary data of patients with HIV/AIDS who were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) from 2002–2012. Independent variables were demographics: sex, age, education level, occupation, and presence of ART supervisor; clinical: haemoglobin count, weight, and CD4 count; and risk factor for HIV infected. The status of HIV/TB co-infection was the dependent variable. All variables are conditions of patients when starting receiving ART. Data was analysed using univariate, bivariate (chi-square) and multivariate (cox regression).

Results From the 531 patients, the majority were male (57,6%), aged ≥31 years (50,8%), and starting ART with median CD4 count 130 (IQR = 40–224) cell/mm3. We found 5,5% of patients experienced HIV/TB co-infection. In multivariate analysis, the variables was correlated with HIV/TB co-infection were a CD4 count at baseline ≤ 200 cell/mm3(PR = 10,34; 95% CI = 1,39–76,69) and patients with a history of injecting drugs compared to patients reporting heterosexual contact (PR = 3,27; 95% CI = 1,56–6,88).

Conclusion Patients with CD4 count ≤ 200 cell/mm3 and patients with a history of injecting drugs have correlating with HIV/TB co-infection. These data support national recommendations encouraging early initiation ART when CD4 counts is higher. These data also suggests that promote awareness and monitoring patients with low CD4 count and who have a history injecting drugs for the presence of HIV/TB co-infection, particularly in those patients whose sputum smear examination or radiology was negative for TB.

Disclosure of interest statement None.


Caves represent portions of past landscapes that were, for a long time, used by humans and their ancestors for various purposes and therefore, they have been a focus of researchers for more than two hundred years. Accumulated artifacts, ecofacts, and sediments can be used to reconstruct the environments and lives of the past. Here, we describe current methods applied to excavations of cave sites with emphasis put on their interdisciplinary nature. The case of systematic interdisciplinary research is documented with regard to the Lapa do Picareiro limestone cave, located in central Portugal, approximately 100 km north of Lisbon. The cave sediments have been dated to between 45 and 8 kya BP. A wide range of evidence from the cave (artifacts, faunal and floral remains, sediments, etc.) is used to reconstruct past natural environments (e.g., Bicho et al. 2011; Haws 2012), including fauna (Haws and Valente 2006; Hockett and Haws 2009; Valente 2004), human diet (Hockett and Haws 2009) and socio-natural interactions (Haws 2012). The interdisciplinarity is a key to understanding a whole series of phenomena which would not otherwise be understood. The current scientific demand for high quality, complex research and publication is mirrored in an increasing trend of incorporating specialists from other fields in research design and management.


This paper presents a fast and scalable method for detecting threats in large-scale DNS logs. In such logs, queries about "abnormal" domain strings are often correlated with malicious behavior. With our method, a language model algorithm learns "normal" domain-names from a large dataset to rate the extent of domain-name "abnormality" within a big data stream of DNS queries in the organization. Variable-order Markov Models (VMMs) serve as out underlying algorithmic tool since their running time is linear in the input sequence while their memory requirements are constantly bounded from above, both very appealing characteristics. Our experimental study indicates that the proposed method can detect domain names generated by a genuine Domain Generation Algorithm, used in Advanced Persistent Threat attack scenarios, with less than 5% false-negative and 1% false-positive rates. This detection rate is similar to more computationally intensive methods that are not scalable for big data environments.


This article aims to analyze the importance of social networks in verbal communication (written or spoken), contributing in the questions of spelling and interpretation of reading, especially of People with Intellectual Disabilities. The positive or negative influence of technologies through social networks can interfere with the understanding and construction of literacy as well as with social interactions. The present study was developed with the alumni of the Tanara Girardon Julien Municipal School of Special Education in the city of Jaguari, state of "Rio Grande do Sul", currently in other municipal schools. Considering that virtual communication occurs through the exchange of messages, dialogues (chat), e-mails and others, it is necessary that there is an understanding regarding dialogue, thus building a learning of writing and also the development of the capacity interpretation and interaction. The Person with Intellectual Disability has difficulties in the literacy process, resulting in delays compared to those considered "normal", and this causes educators to seek attractive alternatives and to facilitate student learning based on their interests. Social networks, whose access was promoted during the research work, were effective in achieving significant improvements in writing, reading, interpretation and social interactions of the students involved.


Abstract—In this study, a numerical model was developed to predict cavitation phenomena around a NACA0009 profile. The equations of the Rayleigh-Plesset and modified Rayleigh-Plesset are used to modeling the cavitation by bubble around a NACA0009 profile. The study shows that the distributions of pressures around extrados and intrados of profile for angle of incidence equal zero are the same. The study also shows that the increase in the angle of incidence makes it possible to differentiate the pressures on the intrados and the extrados.


We study 2-dimensional Logarithmic Galilean Conformal Algebra (LGCA) by making use of a contraction of Topologically Massive Gravity at critical point. We observe that using a naive contraction at the critical point fails to give a well defined theory, though contracting the theory while we are approaching the critical point leads to a well behaved expression for two point functions of the energy-momentum tensors of LGCA.


People sometimes give thanks as a true expression of their feeling but also sometimes because they know gratitude expression helps to make a certain social impression. That is, some gratitude is expressed because of intrinsic motivations or extrinsic motivations. Such motivations affect the outcomes of behaviour. The present work assessed gratitude, trait tendency to manage socially desirable expressions and well-being across two studies (combined n = 398). Motivations to express gratitude were also measured and impression management goals were manipulated in Study 2. Results show that gratitude expression is highest when people want to make a good impression and extrinsic motives to express gratitude can moderate the relationship between gratitude and well-being. Implications for the measurement of gratitude and theoretical understanding of gratitude's social function are discussed.


The numb chin syndrome (NCS) is characterized by facial numbness along the distribution of the mental branch of the trigeminal nerve. Most cases of this syndrome that are not dental in origin have been associated with malignant tumors or diffuse metastatic disease, particularly with underlying lymphoproliferative diseases and breast cancer. NCS can appear together with other signs of neoplastic dissemination or constitute the presenting symptom of the disease. The appearance of this mental nerve neuropathy should be considered as a significant symptom for clinicians, and investigations to detect a possible cancer should be mandatory. We report 12 patients with the NCS as the presenting and isolated symptom of a generalized malignancy.


Objectives Hereditary sensory neuropathy type 1 (HSN1) is a rare progressive neuropathy characterised by profound sensory dysfunction, often accompanied by significant weakness. Muscle magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with determination of intramuscular fat accumulation has been proposed as a marker of progression in this condition and we aimed to investigate this further. Methods Calf-level muscle MR images were acquired longitudinally over three years in patients with genetically confirmed HSN1 due to SPTLC1 and SPTLC2 mutations. These patients were part of a larger trial of L-serine supplementation as a candidate therapy and MR images were acquired at baseline and while on treatment. Individual muscles and muscle groups were manually segmented at two cross-sectional levels in the proximal calf. Intramuscular fat accumulation and muscle atrophy were assessed. Results Detailed MR analysis was performed in a preliminary series of three patients. We demonstrated an average annual change in MR-based intramuscular calf fat fraction of 3.2%, 1.0% and 3.7% at a cross-sectional level 130mm below the tibial plateau and 2.0%, 0.6% and 1.2% at a cross-sectional level 25% of the tibial plateau-medial malleolus distance. The degree of muscle atrophy did not significantly change. There appeared to be ongoing progression of disease during this short duration of L-serine supplementation. Conclusion MR-based intramuscular calf fat fraction can be used to monitor progression in HSN1 and has potential utility in clinical trials. Technical limitations to this technique may be overcome using volumetric imaging with automated muscle segmentation in the future. Further investigation of L-serine supplementation is required.


The study on the relationship between plant species diversity and soil factors in the bird island of Qinghai Lake indicated that this island was a low diversity district, its Shannon-Wienner index and species richness decreased with the increasing soil available K, water soluble salt concentration and pH, and there were significant linear and quadratic correlations between them. Stepwise linear regressions showed that soil available K and water soluble salt were the key factors to estimate Shannon-Wienner index and species richness in this island, respectively, and no correlation was found between species evenness and soil factors.


Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), compromising gonorrhea treatment, is a global public health concern. Improved, quality-assured NG AMR monitoring at the global level is essential. This mini-review examined NG AMR susceptibility surveillance and AMR data from the African continent from 2001 to 2020. Eligible peer-reviewed publications (n = 30) containing NG AMR data for antimicrobials currently recommended for gonorrhea treatment were included. Overall, very limited NG surveillance and AMR data was available. Furthermore, the NG AMR surveillance studies varied greatly regarding surveillance protocols (e.g., populations and samples tested, sample size, antimicrobials examined), methodologies (e.g., antimicrobial susceptibility testing method [agar dilution, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) gradient strip test, disc diffusion test] and interpretative criteria), and quality assurance (internal quality controls, external quality assessments [EQA], and verification of AMR detected). Moreover, most studies examined a suboptimal number of NG isolates, i.e., less than the WHO Global Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (GASP) and WHO Enhanced GASP (EGASP) recommendations of ≥100 isolates per setting and year. The notable inter-study variability and frequently small sample sizes make appropriate inter-study and inter-country comparisons of AMR data difficult. In conclusion, it is imperative to establish an enhanced, standardized and quality-assured NG AMR surveillance, ideally including patient metadata and genome sequencing as in WHO EGASP, in Africa, the region with the highest gonorrhea incidence globally. This will enable the monitoring of AMR trends, detection of emerging AMR, and timely refinements of national and international gonorrhea treatment guidelines. To achieve this aim, national and international leadership, political and financial commitments are imperative.


Accurate estimation of losses is one of the major challenges in electromagnetic machinery modelling, where permanent magnet synchronous machines are attractive for high performance applications, making them relevant for investigation with regard to optimal design. This paper aims to investigate loss calculation methods for permanent magnet synchronous machines and implement loss functionality in the further development of a permanent magnet synchronous machine modelled in the finite element method program COMSOL Multiphysics®. A process of evaluation and testing the developed model will also naturally take place. The method chosen to estimate the core losses separates the loss into hysteresis and eddy-current components. This is a well established model and has been shown to give satisfactory results, coupled with FEM modelling, in previous studies. The method was deemed feasible to implement and should in theory give an adequate evaluation of the core losses. However, mismatch between the time and frequency domain solutions, as well as an imbalance in the flux distribution, due to conflicting interactions within the model, puts the validity of the implemented functionality into question. Losses in the windings and the permanent magnets are accounted for by modeling the resistive losses for their corresponding domains, as the magnets can be assumed resistance limited. The eddy-current losses in the magnets are affected by their size and structure, where sectioning could be implemented to decrease losses. In the case of the windings problematic integration results in unrealistic loss values.


8.2 Dimensioning 2 8.2.1 Radio Link Budgets and Coverage Efficiency 3 8.2.2 Load Factors and Spectral Efficiency 8 184.108.40.206 Uplink Load Factor 8 184.108.40.206 Downlink Load Factor 11 22.214.171.124 Spectral Efficiency of WCDMA 15 8.2.3 Soft Capacity 15 126.96.36.199 Erlang Capacity 15 18.104.22.168 Uplink Soft Capacity Examples 17


Multistate survival analysis usually involves a series of detailed regressional analyses describing transitions between various states. There is an often neglected need for the many estimates resulting from such an analysis to be re-synthesized into summary statements, such as prediction of various outcomes from specified patient histories. Arjas and Erola recently proposed a framework for dynamic probabilistic causality which has calculation of such prediction statements as a central tool. We illustrate these procedures on data from a multicentre bone marrow transplantation study, with death while in remission and relapse as terminal events and recovery of the patients's platelets to a normal level and the onset of acute graft-versus-host disease as intermediate events, using Cox regression models throughout. Among the features illustrated by the resulting plots is a strong effect on death while in remission if the platelets do not recover within the first three months.


The tissue-specific and development-dependent accumulation of secondary products in roots and mycorrhizas of larch (Larix decidua Mill.; Pinaceae) was studied using high-performance liquid chromatography and histochemical methods. The compounds identified were soluble catechin, epicatechin, quercetin 3-O-[alpha]-rhamnoside, cyanidin- and peonidin 3-O-[beta]-glucoside, 4-O-[beta]-hydroxybenzoyl-O-[beta]-glucose, 4-hydroxybenzoate 4-O-[beta]-glucoside, maltol 3-O-[beta]-glucoside, and the wall-bound 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillin, and ferulate. In addition, we partially identified a tetrahydroxystilbene monoglycoside, a quercetin glycoside, and eight oligomeric proanthocyanidins. Comparison between the compounds accumulating in the apical tissue of fine roots, long roots, and in vitro grown mycorrhizas (L. decidua-Suillus tridentinus) showed elevated levels of the major compounds catechin and epicatechin as well as the minor compound 4-hydroxybenzoate 4-O-[beta]-glucoside specifically in the root apex of young mycorrhizas. The amounts of wall-bound 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and vanillin were increased in all of the mycorrhizal sections examined. During the early stages of mycorrhization the concentrations of these compounds increased rapidly, perhaps induced by the mycorrhizal fungus. In addition, studies of L. decidua-Boletinus cavipes mycorrhizas from a natural stand showed that the central part of the subapical cortex tissue and the endodermis both accumulate massive concentrations of catechin, epicatechin, and wall-bound ferulate compared with the outer part of the cortex, where the Hartig net is being formed.


: Chemical composition of fruit and vegetable juices was studied. The influence of different technological processes of juice production on their composition modification is described.


Gene expression reprogramming is the base of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure (HF). Mechanisms similar to those that govern gene expression in heart development are at the root of those that occur in hypertrophy and HF. For example, pathological cardiac hypertrophy is associated with upregulation of certain fetal genes on the one hand and downregulation of several adult genes on the other, causing the often inevitable deterioration in heart function. Historically, proteins were thought to be the main players in gene expression regulation, but with the development of new, high-resolution technologies for the analysis of the transcriptome, this paradigm has fallen. In fact, it has now been determined that although about three-quarters of the mammalian genome is transcribed, <2% is ultimately translated into protein. These non–protein-coding transcripts form a vast non–protein-coding RNA (ncRNA) world that we have only recently started to study (Figure 1). The fundamental importance of this ncRNA world is inferred from the fact that the degree of complexity of a species correlates better with the amount of DNA that is transcribed into ncRNA than with the number of protein-coding genes. Many ncRNAs with a gene regulatory function have been identified to date and, similarly to proteins, found to act at various steps along the protein biosynthetic process, including transcription, RNA maturation, translation, and protein degradation. This discovery is fueling a new era in pathophysiology. Review


1 Superoxide has been reported to be involved in vascular dysfunction in diabetes. The Ins2Akita mouse is an autosomal dominant mutant diabetic model that can serve as an excellent substitute for the Type 1 diabetic mouse model induced by chemical diabetogens. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of superoxide on vascular dysfunction using this new diabetic model. 2 Compared with age‐matched normal C57BL/6 mice, in Ins2Akita diabetic mice arterial superoxide, lipid peroxidation production (1.2 ± 0.1 vs 17.4 ± 1.9 mmol/mg tissue, respectively; P < 0.01) and plasma lipid peroxidation production (0.08 ± 0.02 vs 0.40 ± 0.03 mmol/L, respectively; P < 0.01) were increased. Meanwhile, expression of vascular adhesion molecule‐1, E‐selectin and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 in the aorta and/or plasma was elevated. 3 The contraction of carotid arteries to U46619 in Ins2Akita diabetic mice was significantly enhanced compared with control mice (P < 0.05). Tempol (a scavenger of superoxide), apocynin (an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase) and allopurinol (an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase) all not only decreased superoxide in carotid arteries, but also suppressed arterial contractions to U46619 in Ins2Akita diabetic mice. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclo‐oxygenase, and chelerythrine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, also suppressed the enhanced vascular contraction. 4 These results suggest that increased arterial superoxide generated from diverse sources may potentiate the contractions of carotid arteries in Ins2Akita diabetic mice.


Gene arrays provide a powerful method to examine changes in gene expression in fish due to chemical exposures in the environment. In this study, we expanded an existing gene array for sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) (SHM) and used it to examine temporal changes in gene expression for male SHM exposed to 100 ng 17beta-estradiol (E(2))/L for five time points between 0 and 48 hr. We found that in addition to the induction of genes involved in oocyte development (vitellogenin [VTG], zona radiata [ZRP]), other genes involved in metabolism and the inflammatory response are also affected. We identified five patterns of temporal induction in genes whose expression was modified due to E(2) exposure. We validated the gene array data for the expression of VTG 1, VTG 2, ZRP 2 and ZRP 3 and found that with low levels of exogenous E(2) (100 ng E(2)/L) exposure, ZRP expression precedes VTG expression. However, at higher concentrations of E(2) (500 ng E(2)/L), the difference in temporal expression appears to be lost. Exposure to high levels of environmental contaminants may affect the normal ordered expression of genes required for reproduction. Gene expression profiling using arrays promises to be a valuable tool in the field of environmental toxicology. As more genes are identified for species used in toxicological testing, researchers will be better able to predict adverse effects to chemical exposures and to understand the relationships between changes in gene expression and changes in phenotype.


Leukoedema is a white or whitish-gray edematous lesion of the buccal and labial oral mucosa. Leukoedema is relatively frequent in Negro people, but it is rare in Koreans. A 14-year-old Korean woman presented with a 2-year-history of asymptomatic whitish-gray plaques on both the buccal and labial mucosae. The histopathological examination revealed acanthosis and intracellular edema without atypical cells. Herein we report on a rare case of leukoedema of the oral mucosa in a Korean woman. (Korean J Dermatol 2010;48(10):909~911)


Martian caves are regarded as one of the most interesting locations in which to search for life on the planet. Data obtained during the MARS2013 expedition at Hamar Laghdad Ridge in the Tafilalt region of Morocco indicate that even small cavities can display thermal behavior that is characteristic for caves. For example, temperature in a cavity equaled 14°C±0.1°C before sunrise, which was higher than the temperature of the ambient air (10°C±0.1°C) and proximate rocks (9°C±0.1°C) at the same time. Within 30 min after sunrise, when the temperature of surrounding rocks corresponded to 15°C, this thermal relationship reversed. Measurements were conducted under simulated spaceflight conditions, including near-real-time interpretation of data that were acquired in a complex flight planning environment. We conclude that using ground-based thermal contrast measurements, in 7-14 μm band before and after sunset, is an effective method for Mars astronauts to identify caves, possibly superior to usage of space-based or ground-penetrating data.


The solution of Helmholtz integral equation for acoustic scattering is confronted with a nonuniquness issue at the characteristic wave numbers. In this paper, a neural network-based solution to this problem is proposed. To start with, the moment matrix resulting from the discretized Helmholtz integral equation is sparsified using appropriate wavelet techniques. This sparse matrix is, further, analyzed to obtain unique patterns that characterize its structure. As a result, a proper training set of these patterns is constructed and utilized to train a back propagation neural network. The trained network is capable of predicting the scattered acoustic field for the wave numbers at which the problem doesn't suffer any nonuniqueness. Moreover, the network can also be used to obtain the scattered field even for such wavenumbers at which the nonuniqueness occurs. Comparing the neural network outputs with the exact solutions demonstrates the validity and efficiency of the proposed method.


This paper is aimed at proposing an alternative for cognitive enhancement in the elderly, based on contributions and evidence presented by experts in the field.  Scientific positions for and against the use of brain training are analyzed.  The viability of this proposal is argued based on empirical evidence presented by theorists and researchers in the field of neuroscience, supported by modern brain scanning technologies.  It is concluded that, despite the natural vulnerability during aging, this proposal makes cognitive improvement possible as alternative brain training.


Seven years ago, Adam Tooze's comprehensive study of the Nazi economy found a vast and predominantly favourable resonance in the media and the historiographical community of the anglophone and German-speaking worlds. There are indeed many merits to Tooze's study that deserve to be emphasised. But there are also some astonishing deficiencies and shortcomings. The gravest is Tooze's failure to offer any argument whatsoever regarding the widening rift between the corporate business community and the cadres of the political-military institutions. The growing distance between the two precedes the terminal stage of the Nazi dictatorship, which began in the last quarter of 1943. If Tooze had addressed the well-established facts on this issue, he would likely not have been able to conclude on such an affirmative note and insist on the transatlantic happy end that supposedly put paid to the German elites' adventures between 1931 and 1948.


We propose a video signature based on an ordinal measure of resampled video frames, which is robust to changing compression formats, compression ratios, frame sizes and frame rates. For effective localization of a short query video clip in a long target video through the proposed video signature, we developed a coarse-to-fine signature comparison scheme. In the coarse searching step, roughly matched positions are determined based on sequence shape similarity, while in the fine searching step, dynamic programming is applied to handle similarity matching in the case of losing frames, and temporal editing processes are employed on the target video. Experiments show that the proposed video signature has good robustness and uniqueness, which are the two essential properties of video signatures.


An attempt has been made to improve the electrical and metallurgical stability of Au - Be alloyed contacts to moderately doped p-type InP by minimizing the thickness of the Au - Be contact layer and using an Ru layer as a new, more effective diffusion barrier between the Au - Be and a thick Au top layer. It was found that the Au - Be contact layer only 40 - 50 nm thick is sufficient to give excellent ohmic contacts with specific contact resistance values as low as and (for and respectively). When subjected to an aging test at for 50 h in gas, the 50 nm Au - Be/50 nm Ru/300 nm Au contacts alloyed at an optimum temperature of about exhibit good thermal stability and no substantial increase in the specific contact resistance. The remarkable metallurgical stability of such contacts was confirmed by secondary neutral mass spectroscopy (SNMS) in-depth profile measurements. A comparison with the previously investigated diffusion barrier metals (such as Cr, Ti, Pt, etc) shows that the Ru layer is a much better barrier against the migration of Au into the InP substrate and, at the same time, it suppresses the out-diffusion of In and P from the semiconductor.


The pin overhead problem of nonscan design for testability (DFT) and built-in self-test design has been an unsolved problem for a long time. A new algorithm is proposed to connect extra pins of control test points with primary inputs. An economical test point structure is introduced, in which only one gate delay is added to the corresponding functional paths inserted into a control test point. Unlike almost all of the previous nonscan DFT methods which do not handle pin overhead well, this method allows at most three extra pins. Techniques are presented to connect an extra input of a control test point to a primary input in order to avoid conflicts produced by the newly generated reconvergent fanouts. Similar techniques are proposed to connect more than one control input with the same PI. Sufficient experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.


The mAb BD6 is a monoclonal IgM that binds to the surface of RBL-2H3 cells and inhibits the binding of IgE to FcεRI, without reacting with this receptor. By cloning, mAb BD6 binding was resulted by the expression of the alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase gene. In binding assays on RBL-2H3 and alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase transfected PEAK cells there was partial competition between mAb BD6 and IB4, a galactose binding lectin. Both galactose and melibiose decreased the binding of mAb BD6 in a dose dependent manner on RBL-2H3 cells and abolished its binding on alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase transfected PEAK cells. MAb BD6 recognized a low molecular weight band by immunoblotting suggesting that it may be binding a lipid. This was confirmed by blotting lipids from RBL-2H3 cells separated by thin layer chromatography. By sucrose gradient analysis mAb BD6 bound to the lipid rafts fractions. RBL-2H3 variants were isolated completely deficient in mAb BD6 binding; these cells were also deficient in the ganglioside GD1b and had low expression of ganglioside GM1. However, these cells deficient in mAb BD6 binding and GD1b ganglioside still had normal FceRI induced degranulation. These results demonstrate that mAb BD6 inhibits IgE binding and reacts with a glycolipid present in lipid rafts; furthermore the ganglioside GD1b is not essential for degranulation.
 Supported by the Intramural Research Program, NIDCR, NIH.


We consider the following two problems to enable a quadrotor to operate a mechanical tool (e.g., screwdriver, vertical jack, etc), which is rigidly-attached on the quadrotor and whose control, different to other quadrotor motion control results, demands an integrated and simultaneous control of the quadrotor's translation and rotation: 1) tool-tip position trajectory tracking control; and 2) tool rotating operation control with the tool-tip position regulated. We characterize some structural conditions for generating any arbitrary desired control for the tool-tip position and also for avoiding internal dynamics instability (with possible finite-time escape). Simulations are performed to support the theory.Copyright © 2012 by ASME


The doubly fed induction machine has been traditionally adopted in adjustable-speed ac power generation drives in order to take advantage of the reduced rating for the power electronic interface. Aside this well-established application where the doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) is controlled by a back-to-back converter, recent literature records a growing interest toward un-conventional DFIG drives for dc power generation, combining DFIG high control freedom with simplified power electronic interfaces to achieve an overall cheap and fully controllable system. Despite several concepts have been demonstrated on small-scale rigs, there is a lack of systematic comparison among different topologies and control solutions. This paper bridges this gap by providing a review of recent topologies, their control, design and performance, and operation issues. As major novelties, this paper includes off-spec performance comparison of different torque-ripple mitigation strategies, discussion of sizing requirements for generator and power electronics, fundamental aspects of the behavior under voltage dips, and priorities and challenges for future research on the subject.


Numerical simulation of cable systems remain delicate due to their geometrical nonlinearity and also to their intrinsic unilateral constitutive law. Indeed Finite Element approaches (if not implemented carefully) fail to predict accurate equilibrium for cable structures. The major issue to be addressed is the ill‐conditioning, starting configuration and wrong choice of descent direction during iterative methods. An iterative scheme based on Finite Element Method is presented to overcome this issue, even with large number of elements.


Networks are very evident in the physical world and particularly in social structures. One focus of research is on investigating the development and maintenance of social network structures. Social networks may be typically categorised as random, scale-free or hierarchical structures. A key research question is how the structure and parameters of a network affect the stability of opinion within the network. In a previous study, we examined the case for random network structures. In this work, we show how complex systems models can be used to investigate the effects of various parameters (including the number of layers and the number of links per node) in hierarchical and scale-free network structures. The models are used to investigate whether the network reaches a stable collective state, where the opinions of individuals remain constant, or an unstable state, where the opinions of individuals continue to change. Several important results emerge. One is that flat hierarchies, which possess few layers and many links per node, are more likely to be unstable than deeper hierarchies. Another is that regardless of the network topology, the number individuals whose opinion continues to change settles to a relatively stable level. We also demonstrate the inherent stability of scale-free networks. This work has implications for how network structures should be organized, in order to exploit stability or dynamic behaviour, in particular for political, organisational, social and educational contexts.


Langmuir circulation that has been disturbed by a perturbed source in a horizontal Couette flow with a vertical density gradient ( i.e. , the effective Rayleigh number R ) and horizontal Couette flow is investigated. The evolution of instability developing in the presence of a vertical density gradient influenced by the disturbance at various depths and the horizontal Couette flow is considered near the onset of convection under a moderate rate of shear. We use velocity as the basic variable and solve the pressure Poisson equation in terms of the associated Green function. Growth competition between the longitudinal vortices (Lv) and the transverse vortices (Tv), whose axes are respectively in the direction parallel to and perpendicular to the Couette flow, is investigated by the weakly nonlinear analysis of coupled-mode equations. The results show that the Tv mode is characterized in some range of the effective Rayleigh number, and that the stability is dominated by the Lv mode in the system.


Abstract Scholars in international relations have long known that ideas matter in matters of international politics, yet theories of the discipline have failed to capture their impact either in the making of foreign policy or the nature of the international system. Recent reengagement with the insights of classical realists has pointed to the possibility of a neoclassical realist approach that can take into account the impact of ideas. This article will suggest that the study of grand strategy can enlighten the intervening ideational variables between the distribution of power in the international system and the foreign policy behaviour of states, and thus constitute the key element in a neoclassical realist research agenda.


Abstract Placental growth factor (PlGF) is an angiogenic molecule produced by the placenta and implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). We have evaluated utility and applicability of the PlGF test in a clinical setting of pregnancies at risk of PE or complicated by IUGR in order to assess its relationship with pregnancy outcomes. Seventy-three pregnancies were enrolled between 19 and 35 weeks: 57 pregnancies at risk of PE and 16 at diagnosis of IUGR. Maternal circulating PlGF levels were measured by the Triage PlGF test (Alere, San Diego, CA). Pregnancy outcomes were evaluated in relation to three categories of plasma PlGF levels: very low (<12 pg/ml), low (12–100 pg/ml) and normal (≥100 pg/ml). Uterine artery Doppler velocimetry (UADV) pulsatility index (PI) was measured in the same patients on the day of maternal sampling. Pregnancies at risk with very low plasma PlGF levels had significantly lower gestational age at delivery than patients with low or normal PlGF. The rate of emergency C-section was significantly higher in the group with PlGF <12 pg/ml. IUGR pregnancies with very low and low PlGF delivered earlier than patients with normal PlGF. All IUGR with very low and low PlGF had UADV PI > 95th percentile. Our data indicate that PlGF may provide useful information to identify fetuses requiring increased surveillance and possibly urgent delivery in pregnancies at risk of adverse outcomes. Furthermore, in IUGR, PlGF can predict adverse pregnancy outcomes that may be secondary to placental insufficiency.


This paper summarizes results from a collaborative industry study involving seven operators and ten pad-scale datasets across four different shale plays (Delaware, Midland, Bakken, and Montney). This paper specifically focuses on a subset of the datasets from the Midland and Delaware Basins. The project had three main objectives: (a) compare/contrast observations between datasets and basins, (b) develop general insights into parent/child interactions and techniques for mitigating impact, and (c) provide customized economic optimization recommendations for each individual operator and dataset. Each dataset was a high quality 'science pad,' involving a full suite of high-quality diagnostics. For each dataset, the observations were synthesized into lists of 'key observations' that describe key properties, such as: (a) fracture length and height, (b) productive/drained length and height, (c) GOR, water cut, and RTA trends, (d) production allocations by layer, (e) parent well response to the frac hits, (f) relative performance of the wells, and (g) perforation efficiency and erosion. Next, using an integrated hydraulic fracturing and reservoir simulator, numerical models were constructed to match the key observations of each dataset. The history matching process involved varying formation properties such as permeability, relative permeability, and fracture toughness. After all the models were calibrated, a set of roughly 120 sensitivity analysis simulations was performed on each model. The results were interrogated to identify trends – similarities and differences between the datasets – and to explain 'what happened and why.' Finally, the calibrated models were utilized by an automated economic optimization algorithm to provide recommendations for future operations. The simulations do not reveal a 'silver bullet' for avoiding parent/child effects. However, they do identify specific changes that could improve performance. Economic performance can be optimized with customized selection of well spacing, job size, and landing depth, based on each company's objectives and price-deck.


The supply chain of both manufacturing and commercial enterprises comprises a highly distributed environment, in which complex processes evolve in a network of companies (see Figure 1). Such processes include materials procurement and storage, production of intermediate and final products, warehousing, sales, customer service, and distribution. The role of the supply chain in a company's competitiveness is critical, since the supply chain affects directly customer satisfaction, inventory and distribution costs, and responsiveness to the ever changing markets. This role becomes more critical in today's distributed manufacturing environment, in which companies focus on core competencies and outsource supportive tasks, thus creating large supply networks. Within this environment, there are strong interactions of multiple entities, processes, and data. For each process in isolation, it is usually feasible to identify those decisions that are locally optimal, especially in a deterministic setting. However, decision making in supply chain systems should consider intrinsic uncertainties, while coordinating the interests and goals of the multitude of processes involved. Operational Research-based Management Science (OR/MS) methods as well as Computational Intelligence (i.e. nature inspired techniques), offer effective techniques for modelling, analyzing and


Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most frequent types of food allergy. The aim of the study was to investigate whether IL-13 R130Q and IL-4 T589C polymorphisms are associated with the risk of CMA in young Ukrainian children. A total of 120 children (age range: 1–3 years) participated in the study and were divided into two groups: CMA (n = 60) and healthy controls (CNT, n = 60). The CMA group had two subgroups: specific oral tolerance induction (SOTI, n = 30) and milk elimination diet (MED, n = 30). The CNT group had two subgroups: positive family history of allergy (+FHA, n = 24) and negative family history of allergy (−FHA, n = 36). In the CMA group, molecular genetic testing of CC, CT, and TT genotypes of single nucleotide IL-4 T589C gene polymorphisms showed significantly higher rates of the CC genotype compared to healthy controls (92.2% vs. 58.8%; p < 0.01). In the CMA group, molecular genetic testing of GG, GA, and AA genotypes of single nucleotide IL-13 R130Q gene polymorphisms showed significantly higher rates of GA and AA polymorphic locus genotypes compared to healthy controls (43.5% vs. 22.4%, p < 0.05 and 8.7% vs. 0%, p < 0.05, respectively). In future studies, the genotypic and allelic distribution of these polymorphic variants will be determined in children with CMA and healthy children.


A C-doped GaInP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) with a selective buried sub-collector has been fabricated by two growth steps. The active HBT region was made on the selective buried sub-collector layer with minimum overlap of the extrinsic base and the sub-collector region resulting in substantial reduction of the base-collector capacitance. The experiment shows that the base-collector capacitance is reduced to about half of that of a conventional HBT while the base resistance remains unchanged resulting in a 40-50% increase in the maximum oscillation frequency. Both DC and RF characteristics are investigated and compared with a conventional HBT. A current gain of 40, cutoff frequency of 50 GHz and maximum oscillation frequency of 140 GHz were obtained for the GaInP/GaAs HBT. It is demonstrated that the selective buried sub-collector provides an effective means for enhancing RF performance of an HBT.


Internet has significantly reduced the costs of information dissemination and acquisition and influenced the information asymmetry. In this paper, we use the method of contrastive analysis to explore the four produce markets. Through the analysis and compare of the four markets, we draw two conclusions. The first one is that the asymmetry information decreased and the consumers got lower prices in short term B to C market. The other is that the asymmetry information disappeared and the market changed into a competitive market in the long run B to C market. Accordingly we give the making price policies. Much attention was given to free charge.


Proceedings: AACR 107th Annual Meeting 2016; April 16-20, 2016; New Orleans, LA

Background:

Head and Neck Squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Late diagnosis, metastasis and therapeutic resistance are major confounders for the poor 5 year survival rate and are attributed to the existence of Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs). Several evidences have demonstrated the key role of nicotine in Tobacco related Cancers; however, the plausibility of nicotine modulating CSC markers still needs to be elucidated. Propelling evidences strongly suggest that HNSCC is a genetic disease, regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. Thus, understanding the role of miRNAs in regulation of CSCs and its contributions to improvise the prognostic and therapeutic implications is of great importance.

Methodology:

Orosphere was generated from primary habituated and non-habituated HNSCC tumors using CD44+ immunomagnetic cell separation and ex-vivo expansion. Characterization of these in-vitro models to evaluate spheroid formation ability and expression profile of CSC markers (CD44v3, CD44v6, BMI1 and Nanog) was carried out using quantitative Real Time PCR. Further, miRNA profiling of the upstream regulators (miR5423p, miR34a and miR21) was conducted in order to understand the miRNA mediated pathway that regulate these CSC features in tumor development, metastasis and response to chemotherapy. Correlation analysis of these miRNA profile along with the expression levels of its CSC target gene, were analyzed in specimens from patients with HNSCC.

Result:

Orosphere assay facilitated the propagation of CD44+ cells that retained CSC phenotype and self-renewal property. In-vitro model of habituated tumor showed an increased spheroid forming efficiency as compared to non-habituated models. In addition, these models showed higher expressions of CSC markers (CD44v3, CD44v6, Nanog & BMI1) and a significantly reduced expression of PTEN and ATM as compared to the healthy individual; however the habituated and non-habituated were found to have a trivial difference in their behavioral patterns. Furthermore, a significantly increased expression of upstream miRNA was observed which eventually leads to the modulation CD44 interaction with Nanog/PTEN, thus forming an unexplored axis which can have prognostic and therapeutic implications. Clinically, altered miRNA expression not only positively correlated with CSC expression patterns but also associated with increased progression of the disease.

Conclusion:

Collectively, this study indicates that miR5423p and miR34a targets the HA-induced CD44v6 -Nanog-PTEN axis playing a vital role in regulating the CSC properties comprising of self renewal, clonal proliferation and resistance to chemotherapy in Head and Neck Cancers. Furthermore, our results depict an undisputable role of these miRNA mediated pathways in the development of tobacco related carcinogenesis

Citation Format: Shanaya Patel, Dr. Rakesh Rawal. Role of miRNA dynamics in governing cancer stem cell properties via CD44v6/Nanog/ PTEN axis in head and neck cancer: Modulating the master regulators. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3357.


A trial was conducted to determine to what extent the frequency of supplementary feeding would affect the production of sheep while grazing wheat stubble in the winter rainfall region of South Africa. One hundred and sixty SA Mutton Merino ewes were randomly divided into two groups that consisted of four camps each. They grazed eight camps of wheat stubble for a period of 138 days during which parturition occurred. One hundred ewes (four groups of 25 each) grazed a 17 ha camp at a stocking density of 5.8 sheep/ha and 60 ewes (four groups of 15 each) grazed a 12 ha camp at a stocking density of 5.0 sheep/ha. A weekly rotation within each of the two camps was followed to eliminate the camp effect. An energy and protein combination supplement was made available to the ewes as a lick. Two groups received no supplementary feed, two groups received 200 g/ewe/day, two groups received 400 g/ewe every second day, and two groups received 600 g/ewe every third day. During the feeding period, the smallest decrease in the weight of the ewes was observed in the groups that received supplementary feed every day as well as every second day, while no significant differences were observed between these two groups. Over the total feeding period, the smallest decrease in weight was observed in the groups that received supplementary feed in comparison with the control groups. Lambing percentage, weaning percentage, birth weight, 42-day weight and survival rate of the lambs were not affected significantly. This implies that supplying this type of supplementary feed to ewes only every third day or at least every second day is a viable option, whereby production is not harmed, and a reduction in labour and transport costs may be established.


Fluid-fluid immiscibility in the water-carbon dioxide binary system has been measured to a pressure of 7 GPa and temperature of 450 °C, providing the first such data under conditions overlapping those found in subduction zones and the icy worlds of the outer solar system. Water and carbon dioxide were loaded as inhomogeneous mixtures in externally-heated diamond-anvil cells. Mole fractions were determined by isotopic doping of the initial constituents followed by measurement of the equilibrated isotopic content of the decanted samples. Homogenization and de-homogenization of fluids were observed visually for mole fractions of carbon dioxide from 20 to 90 percent. The recorded pressure-temperature points of homogenization were inverted to give a miscibility surface. The path of the critical curve continues to the highest pressures measured, with no indication of an upper critical endpoint. For mole fractions of carbon dioxide less than 40 percent, the minimum temperature necessary to form a homogeneous solution decreases sharply above a compositionally-dependent pressure. Based on measured intensities of Raman lines, this behavior is linked to a change in speciation as the equilibrium shifts from dissolved carbon dioxide to, presumably, either bicarbonate ion or carbonic acid. Published equations of state give poor representations of the miscibility surface, neither the abrupt behavior due to speciation nor the critical curves being correctly predicted. The experimental constraints provided by the current data should allow useful refinements of equations of state over a wide pressure-temperature-compositional space where only extrapolations and molecular dynamic simulations were previously available. Improved equations of state are a prerequisite for better geochemical models for Earth and extraterrestrial ocean worlds.


In the current practice, an essential element of safety management systems, Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), is performed manually, relying on the safety personnel's experiential knowledge and observations. This research was conducted to create a new ontology that comprehensively represents the JHA knowledge domain, including the implicit knowledge. Specifically, 115 actual JHA documents and interviews with 18 JHA domain experts were analyzed and used as the source of knowledge for creating a new JHA knowledge base, namely the Job Hazard Analysis Knowledge Graph (JHAKG). To ensure the quality of the developed ontology, a systematic approach to ontology development called METHONTOLOGY was used in this process. The case study performed for validation purposes demonstrates that a JHAKG can operate as a knowledge base that answers queries regarding hazards, external factors, level of risks, and appropriate control measures to mitigate risks. As the JHAKG is a database of knowledge representing a large number of actual JHA cases previously developed and also implicit knowledge that has not been formalized in any explicit forms yet, the quality of JHA documents produced from queries to the database is expectedly higher than the ones produced by an individual safety manager in terms of completeness and comprehensiveness.


This article discusses short-comings of commitment space semantics as introduced in Krifka (2015) with respect to assertions, confirmations, and contradictions. It proposes to transform commitment space semantics to a modal logical framework which allows not only for an elegant solution of these issues, but also for the accommodation of other phenomena central to any comprehensive model of human communication (this really being the main point behind going modal).


In this paper, we have exploited the mean field theory combined with the Bean-Rodbell model to justify the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in Nd0.67Ba0.33Mn0.98Fe0.02O3 sample. The simulation of some magnetic properties has been investigated. Modeling magnetization curves have been successfully achieved using this model. The second-order ferromagnetic-paramagnetic (FM-PM) phase transition of our system has been verified through the value of the parameter which controls the transition nature in the Bean-Rodbell model. Theoretical and experimental expressions, which have rated the magnetic entropy change (

−
∆

S
M

) under various magnetic fields, have been derived. Theoretical (

−
∆

S
M

) curves have been compared to the experimental ones.


togenous metastases, most often in lungs, brain, and bones. We describe a patient with metastases of endometrial cancer in the small bowel. An 85−year−old female patient was ad− mitted with severe anemia and melena. She had endometrial cancer (Figo stage IIIB), 2 years previously, for which she un− derwent an operation and received adju− vant radiotherapy. She was admitted with severe anemia (Hb 3.8 mmol/L) and melena. Upper endoscopy did not reveal any abnormalities. Colonoscopy was nor− mal. Video capsule endoscopy was carried out. With this examination, two tumors were discovered with signs of recent hemor− rhage (adherent clot) (l" Figure 1). Dur− ing laparotomy, a large tumor in the small bowel was encountered. A large part of the small bowel was resected. An end−to− end enteroenterostomy was carried out. Histological examination showed a carci− nosarcoma with extensive angioinvasive growth. The immunohistochemical pic− ture was identical to the endometrial tu− mor, which was removed in 2004. As well as features of a carcinoma, signs of a sarcoma were also seen, compatible with tumor differentiation (l" Figure 2 a and l" 2 b). On the basis of the initial stage of the en− dometrial carcinoma (Figo IIIB), this pa− tient was at risk for developing metasta− ses. In this group of patients, the majority develops metastases within 3 years, most often in the peritoneal cavity, lungs, liver, bones, or brain. Intestinal metastases of endometrial can− cer have been described in the literature, but are rarely seen. Biegel et al. describe bleeding colonic metastases in a patient with endometrial cancer [1]. Metastases in the small bowel have also been de− scribed [2], sometimes requiring segmen− tal small−bowel resection because of bleeding complications [3]. The small−bowel metastases caused mas− sive bleeding and were diagnosed by means of videocapsule endoscopy. With the introduction of this diagnostic tool, access to the small bowel and diagnostic yield have improved significantly.


The exercise of party autonomy through careful contractual drafting allows parties contracting across borders to stipulate the applicable law and dispute resolution process most appropriate to the transaction at hand. This paper reflects on empirical and legal research to consider the perceptions and experiences of small businesses in New Zealand in relation to the legal framework for international commercial contracts. The inclusion of choice of law and dispute resolution provisions can greatly increase certainty in relation to the applicable legal framework. However, the introduction of more suitable default positions for international transactions is warranted to more adequately meet the needs of New Zealand's SMEs and provide more meaningful access to justice.


OBJECTIVE
To establish reference intervals for whole blood and plasma colloid osmotic pressure (COP) in healthy cats between the ages of 1 and 10 years using a cage-side colloid osmometer.

DESIGN
Prospective, observational study.

SETTINGS
University veterinary teaching hospital.

ANIMALS
Sixty-three healthy cats.

INTERVENTIONS
Phlebotomy.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
Whole blood COP mean was 24.4 (±2.78) mmHg and plasma COP mean was 24.3 (±2.59) mmHg. Reference interval for our study population of feline whole blood COP was 18.9 to 30.4 mmHg, and for our study population of feline plasma COP was 18.3 to 30.8 mmHg. Difference of paired whole blood COP and plasma COP was +0.23 ± 1.68 mmHg (P = 0.32). There was no significant difference when comparing COP from neutered male and neutered female cats. Total protein and albumin were significantly correlated with whole blood COP (total protein to whole blood COP P < 0.0001, r = 0.53; albumin to whole blood COP P <0.0001, r = 0.68) and plasma COP (total protein to plasma COP P = 0.0025, r = 0.41; albumin to plasma COP P < 0.0001, r = 0.66).

CONCLUSIONS
No significant difference was found between mean whole blood and plasma COP in this study population of cats. Even though not statistically significant, evaluation of paired whole blood COP and plasma COP did reveal a slight difference; therefore, it seems prudent to maintain sample consistency for serial evaluations in cats.


People show different purchasing behavior during travel than in their daily lives. During vacation, due to time limitations tourists tend to purchase local products impulsively. The current study aimed to incorporate impulsiveness in the Theory of Reasoned Action in a tourism context. The conceptual model assumes the direct influence of impulsiveness on the intention to eat local food and the food related behavior. We have also tested the moderating impact of impulsiveness on the relationship between affective attitude and intention. We have collected 380 questionnaires among visitors in South Carolina, USA and analyzed the results with Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). While the impact of impulsiveness on intention and behavior was not significant, the indirect influence of impulsiveness on the relationship between positive attitude and intention was. Current study showed the importance of positive attitude on the local food consumption among tourists. Study also revealed that impulsive people tend to act on positive thoughts and emotions. The promotional efforts to sell local food in the region should aim to strengthen positive emotions and encourage impulse purchase among tourists.


To bridge the gap between high level semantic concepts and low level visual features in content-based image retrieval (CBIR), online feature selection is really required. An effective similarity-based online feature selection algorithm in region-based image retrieval (RBIR) systems was proposed by W. Jiang etc., but some parts of the algorithm need to be improved. In this paper, the above algorithm is modified in two aspects: (1) Adaptive mixture models based on mutual information theory are adopted to determine the codebook size. (2) A new method is proposed, which can select not only feature axes parallel to the original ones, but also combined feature axes. Experimental results on 10000 images show that the proposed method can improve the retrieval performance, and save the computational time


A bed mat having a sensor for detecting abnormally high temperatures and for detecting when the occupant of the bed is not in it is connected to a control console which has circuits for producing a first electrical signal having a first characteristic in response to the detection of an abnormally high bed temperature and a second signal having a second characteristic in response to the detection of the absence of the bed occupant. In one form of the invention, these signals are applied to the conventional nurse call system to produce sensory sig nals at the nurses' station, for example, indicative of the detection of high temperature or absence in a way such that they can each be distinguished from the the signal produced at the nurse's station by the use of the nurse call button by the patient. Provision is also made for coupling of a smoke detector into the system for actuat ing the high temperature alarm signaller if smoke is detected.


The micromechanic analysis of a fatigue band in the most favorably oriented crystal at the free surface of a polycrystal is reviewed. The localization of plastic strain in thin slip bands under monotonic loadings and the ratchet mechanism of fatigue bands provided by the stress fields of two closely located parallel thin slices sliding in opposite directions are shown. Each of these two thin slices slides monotonically. The alternate sliding of the two thin slices results in the macroscopic forward and backward plastic strain in cyclic loading.
 Single crystals are used in turbine engine parts. The fatigue band analysis of polycrystals is extended to analyze the fatigue band in single crystals. Hysteresis loops of a single crystal under constant stress amplitudes and under constant plastic strain amplitudes are shown. Two sets of these hysteresis loops, one with small initial stress and one with large initial stress, are presented. These calculated hysteresis loops explains the two diagonal sharp corners in each loop to be due to reversals of loadings.


This paper presents a new approach to the solution of nonsymmetric linear systems that uses hybrid techniques based on both direct and iterative methods. An implicitly preconditioned modified system is obtained by applying projections onto block rows of the original system. Our technique provides the flexibility of using either direct or iterative methods for the solution of the preconditioned system. The resulting algorithms are robust, and can be implemented with high efficiency on a variety of parallel architectures. The algorithms are used to solve linear systems arising from the discretization of convection-diffusion equations as well as those systems that arise from the simulation of particulate flows. Experiments are presented to illustrate the robustness and parallel efficiency of these methods.


General Observations/Contract Formation and Terms/Taking Instructions Letter Before Action/Interim Preservation of Assets/Matters Common to All Proceedings/High Court Procedure/County Court Procedure/Claims/Interest and Costs The Strategy of Enforcement/Execution Against Goods/Garnishee Proceedings Charging Orders/Attachment of Earnings/Other Relevant Methods of Enforcement Insolvency and Receivership/Administration Orders/Foreign Element Cases within the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 Cases outside the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982 Office Systems and Computer Support/Appendices


ABSTRACT On the one hand, the paper describes and analyzes the results of the first nation-wide measurement of student academic workload at universities that are part of the Council of Chilean University Presidents (CRUCH), based on a select sample of academic programs. On the other hand, the paper describes the Transferable Credit System (known as SCT in Chile) established by CRUCH in late August 2006.


Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and feasibility of nHFOV as initial respiratory support in preterm infants with RDS. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 244 premature infants with RDS who were treated in our hospital from January 2016 to January 2019 and divided into the nHFOV group (n = 115) and the BiPAP group (n = 129) based on the initial respiratory support method. Results: Respiratory outcomes showed that the rate of NIV failure during the first 72 hours of life in the nHFOV group was significantly lower than that in the BiPAP group. The time of NIV in the nHFOV group was significantly shorter than that in the BiPAP group. The time of supplemental oxygen in the nHFOV group was significantly shorter than that in the BiPAP group. The incidence of air leakage syndrome in the nHFOV group was significantly lower than that in the BiPAP group, and the length of hospital stay of the nHFOV group was also significantly shorter than that in the BiPAP group. Although the rate of infants diagnosed with BPD was similar between the two groups, the rate of severe BPD in the nHFOV group was significantly lower than that in the BiPAP group. Conclusion: This study showed that nHFOV as initial respiratory support for preterm infants with RDS was feasible and safe compared to BiPAP. Furthermore, nHFOV can reduce the need for IMV and reduce the incidence of severe BPD and air leak syndrome.


One hundred and nine leprosy cases have been recorded by the service of dermatology in Sfax (the only specialised centre in the south of Tunisia) during the last decade. These cases have been essentially assembled in two regions: Sfax and Malloulech. The lag of their finding and the ignorance of some other new cases are due to several factors.


For the first time, we present a lattice QCD determination of Mellin moments of unpolarized generalized parton distributions (GPDs) of the proton from an analysis of the quasi-GPD matrix elements within the short-distance factorization framework. We perform our calculation on an $N_f$=2+1+1 twisted mass fermions ensemble with a clover improvement at lattice spacing $a=0.093$ fm and a pion mass of $m_\pi=260$ MeV. Focusing on the zero-skewness case, the iso-vector and iso-scalar quasi-GPDs are calculated from the $\gamma_0$ definition, as well as a recently proposed Lorentz-invariant definition. We utilize data on both symmetric and asymmetric kinematic frames, which allows us to obtain the Mellin moments for several values of the momentum transfer, $-t$, in the range 0.17 to $2.77~\rm{GeV}^2$. We use the ratio scheme for GPDs, i.e. renormalization group invariant ratios with leading-twist factorization formula and perturbatively calculated matching coefficients up to the next-next-to-leading order (NNLO) to extract Mellin moments of GPDs, which are consistent with renormalization-group improved results. We compare our determination from quasi-GPDs with the results extracted using standard calculations of Mellin moments of local operators, specifically those related to the electromagnetic and gravitational form factors. We estimated the moments of GPDs up to the fifth ones for the first time. By extrapolating the Mellin moments to $-t=0$, we obtained the quark charges, momentum fraction, as well as the angular momentum contributions to the proton spin. The impact parameter space interpretation of the GPD moments is discussed, which provides insights into the spatial distribution of unpolarized quarks and their correlations in the transverse plane of an unpolarized or transversely polarized proton.


Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL

DNA repair genes are important for maintaining genomic stability and limiting carcinogenesis. We analyzed all single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 125 DNA repair genes covered by the Illumina HumamHap300 (v1.1) BeadChips in a previously conducted genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 1,154 lung cancer cases and 1,137 controls and replicated the top-hits of XRCC4 SNPs in an independent set of 597 cases and 611 controls in Texas populations. We found that six of 20 XRCC4 SNPs were associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer with a P value of 0.01 or lower in the discovery dataset, of which the most significant SNP was rs10040363 (P for allelic test = 4.89 ×10−4). Moreover, the data in this region allowed us to impute a potentially functional SNP rs2075685 (imputed P for allelic test = 1.3 ×10−3). A luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that the rs2075685G>T change in the XRCC4 promoter increased expression of the gene. In the replication study of rs10040363, rs1478486, rs9293329, and rs2075685, however, only rs10040363 achieved a borderline association with a decreased risk of lung cancer in a dominant model (adjusted OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.62-1.03, P = 0.079). In the final combined analysis of both the Texas GWAS discovery and replication datasets, the strength of the association was increased for rs10040363 (adjusted OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.66-0.89, Pdominant = 5×10−4 and P for trend = 5×10−4) and rs1478486 (adjusted OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.71 -0.94, Pdominant = 6×10−3 and P for trend = 3.5×10−3). Finally, we conducted a meta-analysis of these XRCC4 SNPs with available data from published GWA studies of lung cancer with a total of 12,312 cases and 47,921 controls, in which none of these XRCC4 SNPs was associated with lung cancer risk. It appeared that rs2075685, although associated with increased expression of a reporter gene and lung cancer risk in the Texas populations, did not have an effect on lung cancer risk in other populations. This study underscores the importance of replication using published data in larger populations.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 889. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-889


I examine the slope of the demand curve for stocks by analyzing the transition of the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, and S&P SmallCap 600 from market capitalization to free float weighting, which occurred in 2005. This unique information-free event allows isolating the effect of the decrease in demand for stocks from other possible competing effects offered in the literature. This decrease in demand produces a stock price decline, which is accompanied by significant abnormal trading volume. My main finding is that the slope of the demand curve is related to a stock's beta. Small beta stocks show a permanent decline in stock value, which is consistent with a downward sloping demand curve. In contrast, large beta stocks exhibit a transitory stock price reaction, which supports a flat long-run demand curve for stocks.


Climbing robots offer advanced motion capabilities to perform inspection, manufacturing, or rescue tasks. Climbing requires the robot to generate adhering forces with the climbing surface. Dry adhesives present a category of adhesion that could be advantageous for climbing a variety of surfaces. Current literature shows climbing robots using dry adhesives typically exhibit minimal payloads and are considered useful for tasks involving lightweight sensors, such as surveillance. However, dry adhesives routinely demonstrate adhering pressures in the range of 20–50 kPa, suggesting that a small robot (3 × 30 cm footprint, for example) could theoretically have a significant payload (in the order of 18–45 kg). Existing designs demonstrate small payloads primarily because they fail to distribute the adhesion forces over the entire adhering region available to these robots. Further, existing design methods do not demonstrate scalability of payload-to-vehicle size but, in fact, indicate such robots are not scalable (Gorb et al., 2007, "Insects Did It First: A Micropatterned Adhesive Tape for Robotic Applications," Bioinspir. Biomim., 2(4), pp. 117–125.). This paper presents a design procedure for track-type climbing robots that use dry adhesives to generate tractive forces and a passive suspension that distributes the climbing loads over the track in a preferred manner. This procedure simultaneously considers the behavior of both the adhesive material at the track-surface interface and the distribution of the adhesive forces over the full contact surface. The paper will demonstrate that dry-adhesive-based climbing robots can be designed to achieve high payloads and are scalable, thus enabling them to be used in applications previously thought to be impossible with dry adhesives.


Initiation of and progression through chondrogenesis is driven by changes in the cellular microenvironment. At the onset of chondrogenesis, resting mesenchymal stem cells are mobilized in vivo and a complex, step-wise chondrogenic differentiation program is initiated. Differentiation requires coordinated transcriptomic reprogramming and increased progenitor proliferation; both processes require chromatin remodeling. The nature of early molecular responses that relay differentiation signals to chromatin is poorly understood. We here show that immediate early genes are rapidly and transiently induced in response to differentiation stimuli in vitro. Functional ablation of the immediate early factor EGR1 severely deregulates expression of key chondrogenic control genes at the onset of differentiation. In addition, differentiating cells accumulate DNA damage, activate a DNA damage response and undergo a cell cycle arrest and prevent differentiation associated hyper-proliferation. Failed differentiation in the absence of EGR1 affects global acetylation and terminates in overall histone hypermethylation. We report novel molecular connections between EGR1 and Polycomb Group function: Polycomb associated histone H3 lysine27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) blocks chromatin access of EGR1. In addition, EGR1 ablation results in abnormal Ezh2 and Bmi1 expression. Consistent with this functional interaction, we identify a number of co-regulated targets genes in a chondrogenic gene network. We here describe an important role for EGR1 in early chondrogenic epigenetic programming to accommodate early gene-environment interactions in chondrogenesis.


Transaction logging is an essential constituent to guarantee the atomicity and durability in online transaction processing (OLTP) systems. It always has a considerable impact on performance, especially in an in-memory database system. Conventional implementations of logging rely heavily on a centralized design, which guarantees the correctness of recovery by enforcing a total order of all operations such as log sequence number (LSN) allocation, log persistence, transaction committing and recovering. This strict sequential constraint seriously limits the scalability and parallelism of transaction logging and recovery, especially in the multi-core hardware environment.
In this paper, we define recoverability for transaction logging and demonstrate its correctness for crash recovery. Based on recoverability, we propose a recoverable logging scheme named Poplar, which enables scalable and parallel log processing by easing the restrictions. Its main advantages are that (1) Poplar enables the parallel log persistence on multiple storage devices; (2) it replaces the centralized LSN allocation by calculating a partially ordered sequence number in a distributed manner, which allows log records to only track RAW and WAW dependencies among transactions; (3) it only demands transactions with RAW dependencies to be committed in serial order; (4) Poplar can concurrently restore a consistent database state based on the partially constrained logs after a crash. Experimental results show that Poplar scales well with the increase of IO devices and outperforms other logging approaches on both SSDs and emulated non-volatile memory.


A computer-microscope system is described for use in capturing accurate, quantitative schematic (map) information from anatomical tissue sections. The system provides a rapid and convenient environment for acquisition and analysis of complex structures spread over large 3-D regions of the tissue. As a consequence of the complexity and subtlety of tissue analysis, most of the data acquisition functions of the system involve tight coupling between the hardware and the microscopist to preserve access to human judgment and intelligence. The instrument profoundly affects the ease and accuracy of neurobiological data analysis, making it practical to address previously inaccessible problems. Examples of data analyzed using the system are shown.


Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant disease with poor prognosis. To improve the clinical outcome, early diagnosis of HCC arising from nonviral agents and hepatitis virus is important. Among several etiological factors, mycotoxins defined as carcinogens by the International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC) might be one of the critical risk factors for nonviral HCC. Aflatoxin B1 is the most well-known carcinogenic mycotoxin for HCC, but the role of the other types of mycotoxin remains unclear. Several studies have reported that a chromatographic separation technique based on high-performance liquid chromatography can successfully detect the concentration of mycotoxins in plasma. Recently, serum level of ochratoxin A (OTA), a widely distributed mycotoxin classified as Group 2B by IARC, was evaluated in HCC patients in Egypt. The results suggested that serum OTA levels might be a good biomarker for HCC. In this article, we review recent studies of OTA, and discuss its possible significance as a biomarker of HCC.


Augmented reality head-worn computers often feature small-sized touch interfaces that complicate interaction with content, provide insufficient space for comfortable text input, and can be awkward to use in social situations. This paper presents a novel one-handed thumb-to-finger text entry solution for augmented reality head-worn computers. We design a glove composed of 12 force-sensitive nodes featuring an ambiguous keyboard layout. We first explore the viability of force disambiguation to evaluate the force division within the force spectrum. We select a 3-level force division as it allows to considerably reduce the number of keys while featuring a high (83.9%) accuracy. Following this pilot study, we map the 26 English characters onto the 9 nodes located on the index, middle and ring fingers in a 3-3-3 configuration, and attribute the space, enter and backspace keys to the remaining three nodes. We consider text entry performance as a quadmetric optimization problem considering the following criteria: goodness of character pairs, layout similarity to the QWERTY keyboard, easiness of force interaction, and comfort level of thumb reach. The resulting layout strikes a balance between performance and usability. We finally evaluate the quadmetric optimized layout over 6 sessions with 12 participants. The participants achieve an average text entry rate of 6.47 WPM with 6.85% error rate in the final session, which is significantly faster than existing thumb-to-finger solutions. In addition, our one-handed text entry system enhances the user mobility compared to other state-of-the-art solutions by freeing one hand, while allowing the user to direct his visual attention to other activities.


A LiAl2(OH)6+ intercalated montmorillonite was prepared from a montmorillonite by using a hydrothermal soft chemical process. As a first step, lithium aluminium hydroxide complex ions (LixAln(OH)mz+) were inserted into the interlayer space of the montmorillonite by an ion-exchange reaction. In the second step, the ion-exchanged montmorillonite was hydrothermally treated to polymerize the complex ions in the interlayer space, forming a sandwich-like layered compound. The mechanism of formation of the sandwich layered structure was investigated by XRD, TG–DTA, chemical analyses and FTIR spectroscopy. Na+ and Ca2+ ions in the interlayer space of the montmorillonite were first exchanged with LixAln(OH)mz+ complex ions, and during this process the basal spacing of the montmorillonite increased from 1.6 to 2.0 nm after the ion-exchange. Two types of reactions of the ion-exchanged montmorillonite were observed under the hydrothermal conditions. In the temperature range 100–150°C, the basal spacing changed from 2.0 to 1.7 nm, corresponding to polymerization of LixAln(OH)mz+ complex ions to LiAl2(OH)6+ layers between the silicate layers. At temperatures over 200°C, Li+ ions of LiAl2(OH)6+ layers probably migrated into the octahedral sheets of silicate layers, accompanied by a decrease of the basal spacing from 1.7 to 1.4 nm. The LixAln(OH)mz+ complex ion was also used for pillaring montmorillonite, and a pillared montmorillonite with a basal spacing of 1.5 nm was obtained by heat treatment of this LixAln(OH)mz+ ion-exchanged montmorillonite in air at 500°C.


BACKGROUND
Coronary saphenous vein bypass graft (SVG) stenting has been associated with up to a 30% rate of no-reflow or myocardial infarction (MI) when performed without distal protection.

METHODS
We evaluated the technique using prophylactic pharmacologic arteriolar vasodilatation with intracoronary nicardipine followed by immediate direct stenting for the treatment of degenerated coronary SVGs without mechanical distal protection. Data were collected from 83 consecutive elective SVG interventions in 68 patients. Quantitative coronary angiographic measurements were performed by the Borgess angiographic core lab. Electrocardiograms (ECGs), CPKs, and CPK-MBs were obtained preprocedure and at 12 to 18 hours after the intervention. Follow-up data at 30 days were obtained in 67/68 (98%) patients.

RESULTS
The average graft age was 11.9 +/- 6.6 years with thrombus in 26/83 vessels (31%). The primary adverse endpoint of total CPK >3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), or CPK-MB >3 times the ULN were seen in 1/68 (1.5%) and 3/68 (4.4%) patients, respectively. No-/slow-reflow was observed transiently in 2/83 SVG interventions (2.4%). Of the patients, 1/68 had persistent, minor ECG changes after stenting (1.4%). No patient had a Q-wave MI. Inhospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (death, MI, repeat TLR) were observed in only 3/68 patients (CPK-MB elevation). There were no additional MACE events (0/68) from hospital discharge to 30 days.

CONCLUSIONS
(1) Prophylactic vasodilatation with intragraft nicardipine followed by direct stenting appears to be a safe and effective means of performing elective SVG revascularization; (2) this approach may provide a simple and time- and cost-effective alternative or adjunct to mechanical distal protection for elective SVG interventions.


Purpose : To determine the role of embryonal transcription factor OCT4 in cisplatin treatment of testicular embryonal carcinoma. Methods : In vitro assays were employed to assess the effect of cisplatin treatment on testicular embryonal carcinoma cell lines under OCT4 silencing. Following treatment with 500 ng/μL cisplatin, MTT assay was used to examine cell proliferation of 2012-EP and 833K-E cells with or without OCT silencing, while wound healing assay was used to examine cell migration ability. Transwell assay and crystal violet staining were employed to measure cell invasive capacity, whereas the distribution pattern of cell cycle was assessed by flow cytometry. The expression levels of several critical components in tumorigenicity related pathways with or without OCT silencing were determined by Western-blot analysis. Results : Cisplatin enhanced OCT4-silenced cell viability at all concentration (p < 0.01) when compared to control cells. Upon treatment with 500 ng/μL cisplatin, OCT4-silenced cells showed 2- to 3-fold enhancement in cell proliferation (p < 0.001), 2-fold increase in cell migration capacity (p < 0.001), and about 1.5-fold enhancement in invasive capacity (p < 0.001) when compared to control cells. In addition, OCT4 silencing upregulated the expression level of the proteins involved in cell proliferation, cell mobility, cancer metastasis and cell cycle control. Conclusion : The results suggest that OCT4 may serve as a therapeutic target for testicular embryonal carcinoma treatment in combination with cisplatin by modulating OCT4 expression level. This physiological evidence indicates that OCT4 downregulation contributes to cisplatin resistance in chemotherapy and subsequent disease relapse. Keywords : OCT4, Cisplatin resistance, Testicular embryonal carcinoma, Chemotherapy


Background Osteofibrous dysplasia (OFD) is a proliferative fibro-osseous condition affecting bone with an onset in early childhood. Affected individuals develop tibial bowing and spontaneous non-healing fractures. Objectives The purpose of this study was to identify the genetic cause of OFD and clarify how the mutation causes the phenotype. Design/methods Exome sequencing was performed on individuals diagnosed with bilateral OFD. Cell culture and mouse studies were utilised to study disease mechanism. Results We identified mutations in a gene encoding a receptor tyrosine kinase, in three families segregating an autosomal dominant form of OFD and in a fourth sporadic case. All mutations abolished the splice inclusion of an exon in transcripts resulting in receptors lacking a juxtamembrane cytoplasmic domain. Our mouse data indicate that exclusion of this domain is a physiologically regulated event in the periosteum, which is spatially partitioned during development. Abnormal fibro-osseous bone cells from the patient tibial fracture site were compared to the cells obtained from unaffected proximal tibial bone. When cultured in osteogenic differentiation media, fracture site-derived osteoblasts displayed considerably higher levels of mineralization compared to the cells from the unaffected tibial bone. Moreover, the fracture site osteoblasts proliferated more rapidly compared to the control cells. Mutant osteoclasts showed decreased bone resorption. Conclusions Together these data indicate that the production of this mutant receptor isoform is a developmentally regulated event during mammalian embryonic development and mutations which render this alternative splice event constitutional subvert core functions of this receptor that regulate osteogenic functions within the periosteum.


It is a pleasure to read a book that summarizes a well-respected scientist's lifetime experience with a subject. In this particular case the subject involves pre-Mesozoic glaciations, and the author, John Crowell, has played a key role over the last few decades in both fundamental research and synthesizing our understanding of this interesting and important topic.

Crowell's book, which is a monograph in the true sense of the word, summarizes in considerable detail the various types of geologic evidence for glaciations in the Late Paleozoic (256–338 Ma), Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous (353–363 Ma), Late Ordovician-Early Silurian (429–445 Ma), Early Cambrian/Neoproterozoic (∼520–950 Ma), Early Proterozoic (2200–2400 Ma), and the earliest glaciation recognized so far, in the Archean of South Africa (∼2950 Ma). There is also a brief but valuable discussion of the nature of evidence for cooling in the Cretaceous.


ABSTRACT Tolerance is a central concept for a society's democratic foundations. Many forms of populism threaten tolerance and are a growing concern for consolidated liberal democracies as well developing ones. Right-wing ideology, heightened nationalism, and xenophobic rhetoric toward minorities are threatening social cohesion, public unity, and liberal values. Turkey, subject to various destabilizing recent events, faces specific challenges amid political, social, and economic uncertainties. Using two waves of a nationally representative survey, conducted after each of two general elections in 2015, we studied changes in the behavioral indicators of intolerance in the Turkish electorate. We found that perceived threat and prejudice explain changes in public intolerance during this period. We discuss the implications of our results for the standing of democracy in Turkey.


A self-sealing furring nail has a nail and a furring wad assembly. The furring wad assembly includes a plunger friction fit on the nail and a housing friction fit on a shaft of the plunger at one end of the housing, and at the other end of the housing there is a gap between the housing and the nail. The activating surface of the plunger is located within the housing, and the plunger's shaft extends from within the housing outside of the housing towards the nail head. The housing has a package of sealant material inside. The package has a sealant encased within a burstable bag. When the furring nail is driven through building paper into a frame of a building, the head of the nail contacts the plunger's shaft causing the plunger's activating surface to compress the bag of sealant. The bag bursts and the sealant passes through the gap between the nail and housing and seals the penetration hole between the nail and the building paper. Instead of a bag of sealant, the sealant may be a tar-like substance preferably formed in a cone-shape. The nail may also be provided with a hook affixed thereto proximate the head of the nail for use in catching and holding corner reinforcing wire.


The Precambrian Malvernian complex of the Malvern Hills and the Johnston complex of south Pembrokeshire contain basic to acid igneous rock of similar chemical composition and of calc-alkaline type. Both complexes contain minor rock types of hybrid origin and rock which is enriched in potash. The most important difference between the two complexes is the potash-poor nature of the Johnston and the potash-rich nature of the Malvernian igneous rock. This difference may be explained by the position of the complexes in relation to the contemporaneous orogenic activity suggestive of Precambrian subduction.


Abstract This commentary paper draws on Swanton et al.'s (2020) paper "Problematic risk-taking involving emerging technologies: A stakeholder framework to minimize harms" to discuss issues pertaining to the challenges and possible risks emerging technologies may pose for the users. It acknowledges technology use is not problematic per se, but for some users, it can be associated with preventable harms. Corporate social responsibility is called for to protect consumers. It is argued that there exists a collective responsibility to ensure technology can be used in a healthy and beneficial way, risk is reduced and harm is prevented.


Transmission congestion cost represents the costs associated with re-dispatching of schedules to avoid transmission line limit constraints violations. Re-dispatching of units cause the increase of total generation cost. The increase of cost for congestion alleviation required to be born by lines or loads responsible for it. This paper is an effort to rationalize and systematize the procedures for calculation of transmission congestion cost, based on security constrained optimal power flow. Subsequently, total congestion cost is distributed among the congested lines. Proposed method assumes that initial base case network solution, which is input to optimal power flow, is determined by the state estimator from the real time measurements of SCADA.


Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous disorder that includes individuals with manifestations ranging from primary amenorrhea to loss of menstrual function prior to age 40. POF presents as hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and can be part of a syndrome or occur in isolation. Here, we studied 3 sisters with primary amenorrhea, hypothyroidism, and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. The sisters were born to parents who are first cousins. SNP analysis and whole-exome sequencing revealed the presence of a pathogenic variant of the minichromosome maintenance 8 gene (MCM8, c.446C>G; p.P149R) located within a region of homozygosity that was present in the affected daughters but not in their unaffected sisters. Because MCM8 participates in homologous recombination and dsDNA break repair, we tested fibroblasts from the affected sisters for hypersensitivity to chromosomal breaks. Compared with fibroblasts from unaffected daughters, chromosomal break repair was deficient in fibroblasts from the affected individuals, likely due to inhibited recruitment of MCM8 p.P149R to sites of DNA damage. Our study identifies an autosomal recessive disorder caused by an MCM8 mutation that manifests with endocrine dysfunction and genomic instability.


Distributed generations (DGs) in the distribution systems are connected into the buses using power electronic converters. During fault, it is challenging to provide a constant impedance model for DGs in the system frequency due to the variable converter control strategies. System frequency impedance measurement based fault locations can be influenced by the converters' fault behaviour. This study addresses this problem by proposing a wide-area high-frequency impedance comparison based fault location technique. The high-frequency impedance model of DG is provided. Based on the constant DG impedance model in high-frequency range, the faulted line sections can be distinguished by comparing the measured impedance differences without requiring the exact distribution system parameters. Simulation results show that the proposed wide-area transient measurements based fault location method can provide accurate faulted sections in the distribution systems with DGs regardless of the load and DG output variations, measurement noise, unbalanced loads and islanding operations.


The paper discusses an intelligent vision-based control solution for autonomous tracking and landing of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on ships without utilizing GPS signals. The central idea involves automating the Navy helicopter ship landing procedure where the pilot utilizes the ship as the visual reference for long-range tracking; however, it refers to a standardized visual cue installed on most Navy ships called the "horizon bar" for the final approach and landing phases. This idea is implemented using a uniquely designed nonlinear controller integrated with machine vision. The vision system utilizes machine learning based object detection for long-range ship tracking and classical computer vision for the estimation of aircraft relative position and orientation utilizing the horizon bar during the final approach and landing phases. The nonlinear controller operates based on the information estimated by the vision system and has demonstrated robust tracking performance even in the presence of uncertainties. The developed autonomous ship landing system was implemented on a quad-rotor UAV equipped with an onboard camera, and approach and landing were successfully demonstrated on a moving deck, which imitates realistic ship deck motions. Extensive simulations and flight tests were conducted to demonstrate vertical landing safety, tracking capability, and landing accuracy.


To investigate the effects of sand blasting on high-cycle fatigue properties of Type 316L austenitic stainless steel, rotating bending fatigue tests were conducted on sand blasted specimens by varying sand blasting parameters. The benefit expected from using sand blasting process is to introduce residual compressive stresses that lead to an improvement in material's properties such as fatigue strength and hardness by a cheap and rather quick treatment. This paper aimed to estimate the effect of varying the sand grain size employed in sand blasting process and treatment duration and blasting distance on fatigue strength of austenitic stainless steel grade 316L, and comparing the results of different cases. Since fatigue strength strongly depends on surface properties, surface roughness and hardness tests were conducted as well. Results revealed a considerable enhancement in fatigue strength for all cases and a good reduction in surface roughness (34-74) %, but a slight increase in hardness (6.5-10) %.


HARNESSING THE POWER OF GRAPHICS PROCESSING UNITS TO ACCELERATE COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY By Yipu Miao Electron Repulsion Integral (ERI) and its derivative evaluation is the limiting factor for self-consistent-field (SCF) and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Therefore, calculation of these quantities on graphical processing Units (GPUs) can significantly accelerate quantum chemical calculations. Recurrence relations, one of the fastest ERI evaluation algorithms currently available, are used to compute ERIs. A direct-SCF scheme to assemble the Fock matrix and gradient efficiently is presented, wherein ERIs are evaluated on-the-fly to avoid CPU-GPU data transfer, a well known architectural bottleneck in GPU specific computation. A machine-generated code is utilized to calculate different ERI types efficiently. However, only s, p and d ERIs and s, p derivatives can be executed on GPUs using the current version of CUDA and NVidia GPUs. Hence, we developed an algorithm to compute f type ERIs and d type ERI derivatives on GPUs. Our benchmarks shows the performance GPU enable ERI and ERI derivative computation yielded speedups of 10~100 times relative to traditional CPU execution. An accuracy analysis using double-precision calculations demonstrates the accuracy is satisfactory for most applications. Besides ab inito quantum chemistry methods, GPU programming can be applied to a number of computational chemistry applications, for example, The Weighted Histogram Analysis Method (WHAM), a technique to compute potentials of mean force. We present an implementation of multidimensional WHAM on Graphical Processing Units (GPUs), which significantly accelerates its computational performance. Our test cases, that simulate two-dimensional free energy surfaces, yielded speedups up to 1000 times in double precision. Moreover, speedups of 2100 times can be achieved when single precision is used whose use introduces errors of less than 0.2 kcal/mol. These applications of GPU computing in computational chemistry can significantly benefit the whole computational chemistry community.


We propose the study of the relevant factors for the survival of Russian commercial banks during the transition period. The accelerated development of the Russian commercial banking industry after the banking reform caused high rates of entry followed by a period of high rates of exit. As a consequence, many banks had to exit the market without refunding their deposits. Therefore, both for the banks and for the banks' depositors, it is of interest to identify the relevant factors that motivate the exit or the closing of the bank. We propose a different methodology based on penalized weighted least squares that represents a very general, flexible and innovative approach for this type of analysis. That is, the proposed methodology does not require the assumptions of a probability distribution for the variable under study or of any covariate parametric functional form for the covariate whose effect on the survival variable we wish to address. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.