This paper presents implementation of Generalized Regression Neural Network to establish a relation between vibration parameters and properties of vibration welded joints. During the welding of metals along with mechanical vibrations, uniform and finer grain structures can be produced. This increases the toughness and hardness of the metals, because of solidification effects at the weld pool surface. So, physical experiments have been conducted on the homogeneous welded joints by providing vibrations during the welding period. The voltage used to generate the vibration and the time of vibration are used as vibration parameters. Hardness of the welded joint is considered as one of the mechanical properties of the welded joint.


How It's Grown, What It Means Robin Jeffrey This paper identifies trends in daily newspaper circulations among the 13 major languages in India and speculates about how these trends relate to political activity and social change. Malayalam, it turns out, is the language in which the daily newspaper culture is most elaborately developed and so the first section of the paper focuses on Kerala to identify the characteristics of daily newspaper culture. The second section analyses daily newspaper circulations in the major languages from 1971 to 1983 and makes tentative suggestions about the significance of the growing daily newspaper culture.


We have shown previously that LPPs (lipid phosphate phosphatases) reduce the stimulation of the p42/p44 MAPK (p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway by the GPCR (G-protein-coupled receptor) agonists S1P (sphingosine 1-phosphate) and LPA (lysophosphatidic acid) in serum-deprived HEK-293 cells [Alderton, Darroch, Sambi, McKie, Ahmed, N. J. Pyne and S. Pyne (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 13452-13460]. In the present study, we now show that this can be blocked by pretreating HEK-293 cells with the caspase 3/7 inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-CHO [N-acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-CHO (aldehyde)]. Therefore LPP2 and LPP3 appear to regulate the apoptotic status of serum-deprived HEK-293 cells. This was supported further by: (i) caspase 3/7-catalysed cleavage of PARP [poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase] was increased in serum-deprived LPP2-overexpressing compared with vector-transfected HEK-293 cells; and (ii) serum-deprived LPP2- and LPP3-overexpressing cells exhibited limited intranucleosomal DNA laddering, which was absent in vector-transfected cells. Moreover, LPP2 reduced basal intracellular phosphatidic acid levels, whereas LPP3 decreased intracellular S1P in serum-deprived HEK-293 cells. LPP2 and LPP3 are constitutively co-localized with SK1 (sphingosine kinase 1) in cytoplasmic vesicles in HEK-293 cells. Moreover, LPP2 but not LPP3 prevents SK1 from being recruited to a perinuclear compartment upon induction of PLD1 (phospholipase D1) in CHO (Chinese-hamster ovary) cells. Taken together, these data are consistent with an important role for LPP2 and LPP3 in regulating an intracellular pool of PA and S1P respectively, that may govern the apoptotic status of the cell upon serum deprivation.


Cell surface adenosine receptors mediate either stimulation or inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 18.104.22.168], and the receptors that mediate these different responses can be discriminated with selected adenosine analogs. 5'-N-Ethylcarboxamide-adenosine is a more potent agonist at stimulatory receptors (Ra) than is N6-phenylisopropyladenosine, whereas the reverse potency order is seen with inhibitory receptors (Ri). The potency of adenosine is intermediate between the potencies of these two analogs. The relative potencies of adenosine receptor agonists are maintained in physiological responses in intact cells, such as steroidogenesis and inhibition of lipolysis. As with adrenergic receptors, subclasses of adenosine receptors differ functionally and pharmacologically.


Hunger or malnutrition is not only a historical issue but also a current problem worldwide. Biological responses to hunger are evolutionary prepared in our body, including energy generation by degradation of body proteins. Extreme weight loss (malnutrition) can cause air space enlargement in human and rodents. However, the changes in rodents could be reversible, since refeeding could repair the pathology. On the other hand, weight loss is a common feature in patients with more severe COPD. Complex factors, such as increased energy consumption, decreased food uptake by low grade inflammation, socio-economic factors and so on, are involved in weight loss. Weight loss in patients with COPD also increases the risk of exacerbation, hospitalization, and death.


Abstract Background: Glioma is the most common malignant tumor in the human central nervous system. Long noncoding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) promotes oncogenesis in various tumors. In the present study, we aimed to examine the role of NEAT1 in altering the properties of gliomas. Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR technology was used to determine the expression levels of relevant genes in tumor tissues and cell lines. The protein expression levels were validated by Western blotting. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays were used to test the cell proliferation ability. A luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the interactions of the genes. Tumor xenografts were used to detect the role of NEAT1 in gliomas in vivo. Results: We demonstrated that NEAT1 up-regulated glioma cells and negatively correlated with miR-98-5p in glioma tissues. A potential binding region between NEAT1 and miR-98-5p was confirmed by dual-luciferase assays. NEAT1 knockdown inhibited glioma cell proliferation. The inhibition of miR-98-5p rescued the knockdown of NEAT1 in glioma cells. Basic leucine zipper and W2 domain containing protein 1 (BZW1) was identified as a direct target of miR-98-5p. We also identified that BZW1 was positively correlated with NEAT1 in glioma tissues. NEAT1 knockdown inhibited glioma cell proliferation in vivo via miR-98-5p/BZW1. Conclusion: Our results suggest that NEAT1 plays an oncogenic function in glioma progression. Targeting NEAT1/miR-98-5p/BZW1 may be a novel therapeutic treatment approach for glioma patients.


The CAHPS Health Plan Survey (CAHPS 5.0) collects invaluable information regarding consumer experiences with their health plans, and these data inform healthcare policies at both the state and federal levels. The purpose of this paper was to explore unsolicited comments provided on the CAHPS 5.0 survey of one state's Medicaid program. Secondary data analysis was conducted of unsolicited, written comments received from Medicaid recipients who completed the CAHPS 5.0 adult or child postal survey between 2016 and 2018. The majority of unsolicited comments were moderately or very negative in attitude (or tone) for adult and child surveys. Analysis of unsolicited comments yielded 3 themes: positive experiences with Medicaid, limitations of coverage, and direct requests for assistance. Providing space for Medicaid patients to share comments and receiving further guidance for content analysis would provide valuable context for interpreting overall survey results. Comments may also help Medicaid program administrators respond to the frequently complex and challenging experiences of navigating a continually evolving state health insurance program by the most vulnerable populations.


Molybdenum disulfide one of the graphene analogs and a typical representative of transition metal dichalcogenides, has recently received great attention due to its outstanding electrical and optical properties, such as the bandgap tuning, high carrier mobility and efficient optical absorption. Nanostructured Molybdenum disulfide for instance with single and few layers having respectively direct and indirect bandgaps are considered as a promising material for optoelectronic applications. In this work, we present both theoretical and experimental investigations on the elaboration and characterization of Molybdenum disulfide to be used to engineer light emitting diodes with tunable wavelengths and to be integrated into light emitting diode devices.


The effects of various inhibitors of platelet function have been compared with respect to the minimal effective concentration required to inhibit platelet aggregation and the thromboxane (TXA2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) synthesis in washed platelets. The potencies of the agents in the different platelet function tests showed no consistent correlation. The most striking difference was found between the prostaglandins and the adenine nucleotides. The prostaglandins PGE1 and PGI2 inhibited all platelet reactions (10(-7) - 10(-8) g/ml) which may be explained by their stimulation of adenylcyclase. In contrast, the adenine nucleotides adenosine and AMP which are supposed to raise cAMP platelets via the same mechanism and strongly inhibited primary and secondary platelet aggregation (3 x 10(-6) - 3 x 10(-7) g/ml) had no effect on TXA2 and MDA synthesis. The results suggest that the pharmacological inhibition of platelet function may not act via a uniform mechanism controlled by the arachidonate pathway.


Abstract While research exists on how political parties use political marketing instruments, there is a lack of emphasis on strategic marketing, especially with regard to theoretical frameworks of political marketing orientation. This can be seen as problematic in the development of political marketing research as a subdiscipline of marketing and political science. A concept is suggested that defines a party's orientation towards political marketing management using two crucial elements of strategic marketing theory regarding customer orientation: leading and following. Three generic types of political parties are characterised by their strategic postures using their stance on these two elements. The implications of strategic postures for the fulfilment of certain political marketing functions and organisational issues are briefly discussed. While traditional parties with a rigid content-based approach towards policy-making can be characterised as Convinced Ideologists, contemporary catch-all parties have moved towards being Tactical Populists. Whilst both these postures are prone to being perceived as dogmatic or untrustworthy and fickle, a third posture, that of Relationship Builder, is proposed. This integrates leading and following, by using a relational approach towards marketing, as suggested in the evolving literature on strategic marketing and marketing orientation. This Relationship Builder stance constitutes a theoretical posture that needs to be clarified by empirical research in the political arena. Thus, to foster further empirical and theoretical research, several propositions have been derived in a process that is in line with the demands of theory-building and hypothesis-driven exploration as suggested for this comparatively new discipline of political marketing.


Finite-element formulations have been derived for the large-deflection elastic-plastic dynamic responses of arbitrarily curved two-dimensional beam structures which may consist of hard-boned, multilayer, geometrically stiffened configurations. Experiments have been conducted for structural responses of geometrically stiffened, freely suspended, circular rings of 6061-T6511 aluminum alloy to intense explosive loading which induces large-deflection elastic-plastic transient and permanent deformations of the structure. Very good correlation of the measured permanent deformation and transient strain with theoretical predictions is demonstrated.


ABSTRACT COVID shelter-in-place directives have increased stress families of kids who are alternative learners–those with ADHD, ASD and LD. Already struggling to manage emotions, to begin and finish home and school tasks and maintain social connections, these kids have lost critical in-person academic, therapeutic and peer support systems. Meanwhile, tension at home has increased as parents, untrained in special education and often dealing with their own attention and learning challenges, have to deal with work, financial and housing responsibilities while tutoring their children without necessary training. Increased anxiety, higher levels of reactivity and persistent disappointment further complicate family relationships. Interventions to help families of kids who are neurodiverse, alternative learners are most effective when they rely on the 5 C's method of successful ADHD parenting. Working together for effective solutions based on meaningful incentives reduces family conflict, improves kids' participation and fosters parent-child cooperation. When therapists apply this model and assist families in using it, they strengthen emotional attunement and shift the family narrative away from problem-saturated thinking toward resilience and thriving.


In the early 20th century, there were few therapeutic options for mental illness and asylum numbers were rising. This pessimistic outlook favoured the rise of the eugenics movement. Heredity was assumed to be the principal cause of mental illness. Politicians, scientists and clinicians in North America and Europe called for compulsory sterilisation of the mentally ill. Psychiatric genetic research aimed to prove a Mendelian mode of inheritance as a scientific justification for these measures. Ernst Rüdin's seminal 1916 epidemiological study on inheritance of dementia praecox featured large, systematically ascertained samples and statistical analyses. Rüdin's 1922–1925 study on the inheritance of "manic-depressive insanity" was completed in manuscript form, but never published. It failed to prove a pattern of Mendelian inheritance, counter to the tenets of eugenics of which Rüdin was a prominent proponent. It appears he withheld the study from publication, unable to reconcile this contradiction, thus subordinating his carefully derived scientific findings to his ideological preoccupations. Instead, Rüdin continued to promote prevention of assumed hereditary mental illnesses by prohibition of marriage or sterilisation and was influential in the introduction by the National Socialist regime of the 1933 "Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring" (Gesetz zur Verhütung erbkranken Nachwuchses).


Multiclass classification has always been challenging in the area of machine learning algorithms. Different publicly available software applications offer various learning algorithms' implementations. This paper uses leaf dataset with 30 different plant species with simple leaf types prepared by Silva et al (2014), and classification is performed using Multilayer Perceptron, Naive Bayes and Support Vector Machine classifiers. Performance of classifiers is compared based on time needed for building the model and classification accuracy.


Hsp90 is an abundant and ubiquitous protein involved in a diverse array of cellular processes. Mechanistically we understand little of the apparently complex interactions of this molecular chaperone. Recently, progress has been made in assigning some of the known functions of hsp90, such as nucleotide binding and peptide binding, to particular domains within the protein. We used fragments of hsp90 and chimeric proteins containing functional domains from hsp90 or its mitochondrial homolog, TRAP1, to study the requirements for this protein in the folding of firefly luciferase as well as in the prevention of citrate synthase aggregation. In agreement with others who have found peptide binding and limited chaperone ability in fragments of hsp90, we see that multiple fragments from hsp90 can prevent the aggregation of thermally denatured citrate synthase, a measure of passive chaperoning activity. However, in contrast to these results, the luciferase folding assay was found to be much more demanding. Here, folding is mediated by hsp70 and hsp40, requires ATP, and thus is a measure of active chaperoning. Hsp90 and the co-chaperone, Hop, enhance this process. This hsp90 activity was only observed using full-length hsp90 indicating that the cooperation of multiple functional domains is essential for active, chaperone-mediated folding.


The addition of pulverized grape pruning wood to grape soils has a positive effect on fruit quality. However, its effects on the soil microecology of the root zone and the growth of the grape plants are not fully understood. To address this, 'Shine Muscat' grapes were cultivated in media consisting of garden soil and crushed grape pruning material at different mass ratios [100:1 (T1), 50:1 (T2), 30:1 (T3), 20:1 (T4), and 10:1 (T5)] and in garden soil without the pruning material, as a control. The changes in the plant fresh weight, leaf area, soil and plant analyzer development (SPAD) value, root development, soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, and soil enzyme activity were determined over time. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to determine the soil bacterial community structures. The pruning supplementation increased the grape plants fresh weight, leaf area, and SPAD values. The T2 and T3 treatments increased the grape root length, surface area, and the projected area and number of the root tips; the soil organic carbon content, microbial biomass carbon content, soil invertase activity, amylase activity, and β-glucosidase activity were also significantly increased. The addition of the grape pruning material was found to increase the bacterial diversity and richness 60 and 150 days after treatment. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the dominant groups, and the grape pruning material increased the relative abundance of the Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria after 60 and 150 days. The relative abundance of the Actinobacteria in the T2 treatment was 1.7, 1.3, 1.5, and 1.3 times that of the control, after 60, 90, 120, and 150 days, respectively. The T2 treatment was identified as the optimal treatment for grapes in the field because it improved the soil microecology and promoted root and tree development the most compared with the other treatments tested.


A benchmark survey of engineering employment shows the picture to be brighter than supposed-but still sobering. Results confirm many past conclusions concerning the geographic nature of the problem and highlight the degree of severity existing in mid-1971. Overall unemployment for U.S. engineering professionals who are members of engineering societies is 3.0 percent. One significant fact to emerge is that electronics engineers have an unemployment rate equivalent to that of engineers in the aerospace field; both are the highest among all engineering disciplines -more than 5 percent.


There has much interest in the fiber cement industry in improving binder composition in order to achieve better economic, technical and environmental results. In this context, cements with lower clinker content are an attractive alternative and have already been used by the industry. However, fibercement sheets reinforced with organic fibers frequently present edge cracks resulting from drying the components in stockpiles. This study evaluates the impact of partially replacing clinker by blast furnace slag activated with sodium silicate on the mechanical properties, porosity, hydrated phases, and drying shrinkage of fiber cement reinforced with organic fibers. Samples were produced with commercial Brazilian CPII F-32 cement and also with a mixture of CPII F-32 with granulated blast furnace slag activated by sodium silicate. The results show that replacing clinker by slag activated by sodium silicates increases the amount of pores smaller than 0.003 μm, due to an increase in the amount of CSH formed in hydration. Consequently, samples produced with CPII F-32 mixed with slag and sodium silicate present much higher drying shrinkage.


As conservation increasingly recognizes the importance of species' functional roles in ecosystem processes, studies are shifting away from measuring species richness towards measures that account for the functional differences between species in a community. These functional diversity (FD) indices have received much recent attention and refinement, but their greatest limitation remains their inability to incorporate information about intraspecific trait variation (ITV). We use an individual‐based model to account for ITV when calculating the functional diversity of two avian communities in Borneo; one in primary (unlogged) forest and one in selectively logged forest. We deal with the scarcity of trait data for individual species by developing a simulation approach, taking data from the literature where necessary. Using a bootstrapping procedure, we produce a range of ecologically feasible FD values taking account of ITV for five commonly used FD indices, and we quantify the confidence that can be placed in these values, using a newly developed bootstrapping method: btFD. We find that incorporating ITV significantly alters the FD values of all indices used in our models. The rank order of FD for the two communities, indicating whether diversity was higher in primary or selectively logged forest, is largely unchanged by the inclusion of ITV. However, by accounting for ITV, we are able to reveal previously unrecognized impacts of selective logging on avian functional diversity through a narrower dispersion of individuals in functional trait space in logged forest. Our results highlight the importance of incorporating ITV into measures of functional diversity, whilst our simulation approach addresses the frequently encountered difficulty of working with sparse trait data and quantifies the confidence that should be placed in such findings.


This research study aims to contribute to the discussion around Information Systems, more precisely on Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) software Based Systems, as a Business Process and as a Supply-Chain enabler tool, within the construction industry in Portugal. Concerned with efficiency improvement of management theory in the construction arena, central discussions of this study are about developing a methodology for demand-supply selection of COTS-Based Systems for leading contractors in Portugal and analysing market offerings of COTS-Based Systems covering Operations Management functional needs of leading contractors in Portugal.

Demand-side and supply-side research is undertaken, eliciting contractors' needs and analysing market offerings of COTS-Based Systems at Operations Management-level from a functional perspective. A multicompany informing case study approach contributes to a better understanding of COTS-Based Systems selection practice, within the demand-supply context of leading contractors in Portugal. Several other appropriate research methods and techniques are employed to collect rich field data.

A specific Demand-Supply Selection (DSS) Methodology of COTS-Based Systems is developed, based on methods and techniques in use by practitioners and on review of literature, considering context/stakeholders interaction of leading contractors in Portugal. A systematised list of functional high-level requirements for COTS-Based Systems evaluation is obtained to produce a comprehensive Requirements Reference (RR) Model, so that the effort to elicit the (functional) needs of leading contractors' Operations Management through further development of requirements models from scratch is reduced. A benchmarking report of leading contractors systems in use and a demand-supply cross analysis delivered on a COTS-Based Systems Market Offerings (MO) Report, answers the question about 'which are the actual market offerings of COTS-Based Systems supporting Operations Management functional needs of leading contractors in Portugal'.

Based on these three perspectives, the research study aims to provide an original contribution to knowledge, developing a comprehensive study covering supply and demand viewpoints. In this respect, the direct and practical purpose of this study is to facilitate the planning phase at the beginning of a project and offer comprehensive information to construction industry players (e.g. consultants, COTS-Based Systems providers) that could lead to better products (e.g. changes in functions of COTS-Based Systems) and services (e.g. Requirements Engineering services, COTS-Based Systems selection services) for leading contractors in Portugal.


Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) are robust stochastic optimisers that perform well over a wide range of problems. Their robustness, however, may be affected by several adjustable parameters, such as mutation rate, crossover rate, and population size. Algorithm parameters are usually problem-specific, and often have to be tuned not only to the problem but even the problem instance at hand to achieve ideal performance. In addition, research has shown that different parameter values may be optimal at different stages of the optimisation process. To address these issues, researchers have shifted their focus to adaptive parameter control, in which parameter values are adjusted during the optimisation process based on the performance of the algorithm. These methods redefine parameter values repeatedly based on implicit or explicit rules that decide how to make the best use of feedback from the optimisation algorithm. In this survey, we systematically investigate the state of the art in adaptive parameter control. The approaches are classified using a new conceptual model that subdivides the process of adapting parameter values into four steps that are present explicitly or implicitly in all existing approaches that tune parameters dynamically during the optimisation process. The analysis reveals the major focus areas of adaptive parameter control research as well as gaps and potential directions for further development in this area.


Within the last 20 years, advances in characterization methods, particularly in the field of high–resolution electron microscopy, have made it possible to probe the surface and internal structure of sub–100 nm particles, or nanoparticles. Such studies have indicated conclusively that surface–energy considerations in metal nanoparticles cause these particles to adopt structures which only approximate to close packing but are terminated by close–packed faces. In oxides, where stoichiometry must be maintained, the adoption of low–index crystallographic faces almost invariably necessitates the introduction of cation or anion vacancies, and both have been observed. In such cases, the structure at the edges of the particles differs greatly from that of bulk phases, and it seems highly probable that the physical and chemical properties of these particles are also different. In certain cases it appears that new structural types, found only in nanoparticulate form, may exist. The significance of these findings, particularly as regards their relevance to particulate pollutants in the atmosphere, may be of great interest.


The ALI domestic partnership proposal would partially assimilate cohabitation to marriage: based on a finding of domestic partnership, it would impose on the cohabiting couple who have chosen to avoid marriage personal obligations identical to those the couple would have incurred had they elected to marry. The ALI proposal rests on the claims the absence of formal marriage may have little or no bearing on the character of the parties' domestic relationship and on the equitable considerations that underlie claims between lawful spouses at the dissolution of a marriage. However, the research evidence demonstrates that, in the United States, cohabitation usually functions as a substitute for being single, not for being married; cohabitants thus tend to behave and view their relationships very differently than married couples. Adoption of the ALI proposal would also produce negative effects. The proposal requires individualized fact finding and thus would necessitate time-consuming and expensive litigation that would almost certainly produce inconsistent status determinations. The proposal would introduce discordant values into the law of relational obligation and diminish personal autonomy. Because marriage is associated with significant advantages to both marriage partners and adults, the proposal also risks harm to individual interests and the public good. For all these reasons, the ALI domestic partnership proposal should be rejected.


Original scientific paper Abstract: In this study, dc-dc boost converter circuit is described as transformer circuit for direct form of energy in the electrical machine driver system of electrical and electronic engineering. First, mathematical equations of the converter circuit are created when circuit switch opened and closed controlling two states. Then, the equations are resolved for common equation so that the state space equation is formed in matrix form. A mathematical model of the converter circuit is performed at the Matlab Simulink.


In this paper, the impact of school leadership on the learners' academic performance is considered in the South African context. School leadership is a systemic concept that cannot be analysed out of its context and thus we develop a simulation model to investigate the effect of various school leadership and management intervention programs on the principals themselves, and on the schools which they lead. The model is initiated with a mix of narrative and qualitative data. Interventions on the basis of what-if scenarios are modelled to illustrate the systemic nature of the education environment. The model can also assist school leaders to visualise the nonlinearity, time dependence and interdependence of the impact of their decisions. We show that interventions have to be made early and consistently to improve and maintain the system and that there is no immediate silver bullet solution.


Background Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a potentially severe complication of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). However, the relationship between the incidence and severity of ICH and vascular occlusion location is not well described. Objective To present a comprehensive analysis of subtypes of ICHs and their relationship to the occlusion site following EVT in the anterior circulation. Methods All patients with anterior circulation vessel occlusion stroke (internal carotid (ICA) and middle cerebral artery's first (M1) and later segments (M2 and beyond)) registered in the two Swedish national quality registers for stroke care and endovascular therapy during 2015–2020 were included. Hemorrhagic complications identified on imaging within 36 hours post-EVT were classified according to Heidelberg Bleeding Classification and further divided into symptomatic (sICH) or non-symptomatic (non-sICH). Results Of the 3077 patients, ICH frequency was 24.2%, which included 4.5% sICH. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was the most frequent subtype of hemorrhage (10.9%). The hemorrhagic subtypes differed significantly by occlusion site, but the frequency of any bleed did not. EVT performed in and beyond the M2 more often resulted in SAH, frequently classified as non-sICH. EVT performed in the ICA was associated with more severe hemorrhages, such as intraventricular and large parenchymal hematomas, that were more often classified as sICH. Conclusion In this nationwide unselected EVT cohort we found that ICH severity significantly differed between different vessel occlusion sites.


This paper presents a projection based on the true three-dimensional imaging display system. The system employs self-made high-speed rotating screen projector in the projection point as a unit consisting of voxel point light field. We discussed of true three-dimensional image display system imaging space construction, and also proposed a light emitting structure of the new method of volume pixels, and then analyzed feasibility of characterization and computational employing local state-space model - Givone-Roessor model for voxel variables. The mechanical structure is simple, lightweight, low cost, low power; the field angle is larger except the zenith point, which can be displayed in the whole above x-y plane; and luminous voxels constructor intuitive, it is easy to implement by micro controller due to the intuitive voxel method and the small amount of calculation of GR model.


Abstract A promising approach for supplementing petroleum-derived fuels to support reductions in green-house gas emissions is to convert abundant biomass feedstocks into renewable carbon-rich oils using pyrolysis. However, the resultant bio-oils contain various oxygenated compounds that can impart acidity, chemical and thermal instability, and immiscibility with petroleum derived fuels, necessitating further upgrading to derive fuel blendstocks. Co-processing bio-oils and petroleum-derived liquids in existing refineries is a potentially near-term, cost-effective approach for upgrading bio-oils while reducing refinery carbon intensities. However, one cause for hesitation in co-processing bio-oils is limited comprehensive characterization and speciation of the bio-oil components. Advanced analytical techniques are currently under investigation to enable identification of elusive species in bio-oils, enabling researchers to develop strategies to mitigate catalyst deactivation agents and contaminants. This review provides a brief overview of several analytical methods commonly used to analyze bio-oils and their limitations. In addition, advanced techniques currently under development are discussed to further elucidate bio-oil components that may limit its end use. This will help inform the technical and economic feasibility of co-processing bio-oils with petroleum-derived liquids, therefore, improving the overall downstream processes for biofuels blendstock production.


This study aimed to phenotypically characterize indigenous Tswana sheep under its natural environment and develop prediction equations for body weight using linear body measurements in Kgatleng, Kweneng, Southern and South-East districts of Botswana. Multistage purposive sampling was used for selection of districts. Data on qualitative characters and quantitative measurements were made on 665 sheep stratified by dentition into four age categories (0PPI, 1PPI, 2PPI and ≥3PPI). Both qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical Analysis System. Most Tswana sheep were characterized by plain coat color pattern with white dominating and plain white colors, short-fat tails with a straight tip, horizontal ears, no horns and wattles. District, sex and age had a significant influence on body weight and most linear body measurements. The highest correlation between body weight and heart girth for both sexes indicate that heart girth explained more variation than other measurements thus is the best variable for predicting body weight in both sexes. The best predicted body weight model for males is y=-64.15+1.28x and y=-53.47+1.14x for females where x and y are heart girth and body weight, respectively. This study reveals existence of diversity of sheep genetic resources across districts, indicating their potential response to selection.


ABSTRACT Purpose: To compare keratocyte activation, cellular morphologic changes and wound healing after SMILE and PRK procedures using transmission electron microscope (TEM).Methods: In this study, 22 New Zealand white rabbits (10- to 15-week old) were used. The right eyes of all animals underwent SMILE procedure and the left eyes underwent PRK procedure. Cornea samples taken 1 day and 1 week postoperatively were examined using TEM.Results: Using TEM 1 day after SMILE procedure, the organization of collagen fibers seemed to have been preserved without thermal alterations. Keratocyte activation was observed in the anterior stroma. Disrupted collagen arrangement and debris of cells are visible in the area of damage, and some phagocytic cells and a large number of secondary lysosomes are visible in those cells. At the perimeter zone of the interface, many coenocytes and collagen fragments could be found within the phagocytic cell. One week after SMILE procedure, potential lacuna could be discerned. A large part of the interface of the lenticule extracted had an appearance of clearly being adhered to some mucus secretions. One day after PRK procedure, an irregular epithelial surface was visible using TEM. Keratocytes had been activated and the rough endoplasmic reticulum in those cells had expanded. One week after PRK procedure, the epithelial surface still was irregular and keratinization of the epithelium was still visible in some areas. Corneal endothelium cells were mildly damaged and some vacuoles within the cytoplasm could be discerned. In the anterior stroma, some unhealthy activated keratocytes could still be observed. New collagen fibrils were found present near the activated keratocytes.Conclusion: Using TEM, keratocyte activation could still be observed after SMILE compared to after PRK procedure. Fewer cellular ultrastructural changes were seen after SMILE procedure. Unlike in PRK procedure, no damaged epithelium and endothelium were found after SMILE.


Introduction Integra dermal matrix (Integra Life Sciences Corp., Plainsboro, NJ), introduced by Burke and Yannas in 1981, has been well established as an efficacious treatment option in the management of burn injuries. Its use has expanded beyond burn surgery to include other situations where full-thickness skin coverage is necessary. The acceptable cosmetic results commonly obtained through the use of Integra have prompted research into additional areas where minimal scarring is a priority. Case Description A 47-year-old African American male with a large recurrent keloid of the upper chest and lower neck region underwent surgical excision of the keloid and placement of Integra without the need for subsequent skin grafting after multiple other treatment modalities had failed. At 1 year postoperatively there were no indications of keloid recurrence and the regenerated dermal tissue demonstrated smoothness, pliability, and other acceptable cosmetic features characteristic of the use of Integra. Discussion Integra is produced as a type I collagen and chondroitin-6-sulfate matrix, which plays a significant role in reducing the inflammatory response to the wound. This prevents fibroblast activity from accelerating beyond the control of the wound repair mechanisms and in turn prevents the formation of excessive scar tissue. Immunologic studies have shown that the specific combination of collagen and chondroitin-6-sulfate results in a dampened immune response, thereby lowering the inflammatory drive. In addition, histologic studies have shown that chondroitin-6-sulfate prevents platelet aggregation and degranulation by blocking the platelet binding sites on the collagen fibers. Without this important first step in the inflammatory response the wound healing process can proceed at a self-regulating pace without the resulting hypertrophic scarring or keloid formation.


Joint entity and relation extraction is an essential task in natural language processing and knowledge graph construction. Existing approaches usually decompose the joint extraction task into several basic modules or processing steps to make it easy to conduct. However, such a paradigm ignores the fact that the three elements of a triple are interdependent and indivisible. Therefore, previous joint methods suffer from the problems of cascading errors and redundant information. To address these issues, in this paper, we propose a novel joint entity and relation extraction model, named OneRel, which casts joint extraction as a fine-grained triple classification problem. Specifically, our model consists of a scoring-based classifier and a relation-specific horns tagging strategy. The former evaluates whether a token pair and a relation belong to a factual triple. The latter ensures a simple but effective decoding process. Extensive experimental results on two widely used datasets demonstrate that the proposed method performs better than the state-of-the-art baselines, and delivers consistent performance gain on complex scenarios of various overlapping patterns and multiple triples.


Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate levels of vitamin D, bone mineral density (BMD), and radiograph features at diagnosis and after 6 months of chemotherapy in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Vitamin D levels were also correlated with BMD and radiograph features. Materials and Methods: 25-Hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, BMD, and radiograph features were assessed in 50 newly diagnosed patients of ALL in the age group of 2 to 14 years. A total of 30 age-matched and sex-matched children were recruited as controls. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as 25(OH)D <10 ng/mL, Vitamin D insufficiency as 10 to 29 ng/mL, and Vitamin D sufficiency as ≥30 ng/mL. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used for the quantitative measurement of 25(OH)D levels in plasma and a LUNAR DPX NT bone densitometer was used for the assessment of BMD. Results: The mean age of the patients was 6.3 years, with a male:female ratio of 1.38:1. The mean 25(OH)D levels were 31.90±16.90 ng/mL in patients at diagnosis against 41.63±20.50 ng/mL in controls (P=0.02). Levels were 18.50±11.10 ng/mL postchemotherapy (P=0.00). Female sex was a risk factor for deficient 25(OH)D levels. There was a significant decrease in BMD postchemotherapy in the age groups of 5 to 10 and above 10 years at the femoral neck. Osteopenic changes were observed in more number of patients after 6 months of chemotherapy. There was a significant correlation between vitamin D levels, BMD, and osteopenic changes. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency was common among ALL patients, which worsened after chemotherapy. This had a significant correlation with BMD and osteopenic changes in radiograph.


Polymers bearing phosphonic acid groups have been proposed as anhydrous proton-conducting membranes at elevated operating temperatures for applications in fuel cells. However, the synthesis of phosphonated polymers and the control over the nanostructure of such polymers is challenging. Here, we report the straightforward synthesis of phosphonic acid-terminated, long-chain aliphatic materials with precisely 26 and 48 carbon atoms (C26PA2 and C48PA2). These materials combine the structuring ability of monodisperse polyethylenes with the ability of phosphonic acid groups to form strong hydrogen-bonding networks. Anhydride formation is absent so that charge carrier loss by a condensation reaction is avoided even at elevated temperatures. Below the melting temperature (Tm), both materials exhibit a crystalline polyethylene backbone and a layered morphology with planar phosphonic acid aggregates separated by 29 and 55 Å for C26PA2 and C48PA2, respectively. Above Tm, the amorphous polyethylene (PE) segments coexist with the layered aggregates. This phenomenon is especially pronounced for the C26PA2 and is identified as a thermotropic smectic liquid crystalline phase. Under these conditions, an extraordinarily high correlation length (940 Å) along the layer normal is observed, demonstrating the strength of the hydrogen bond network formed by the phosphonic acid groups. The proton conductivity in both materials in the absence of water reaches 10-4 S/cm at 150 °C. These new precise phosphonic acid-based materials illustrate the importance of controlling the chemistry to form self-assembled nanoscale aggregates that facilitate rapid proton conductivity.


The object of considerations is a thin linear-elastic cylindrical
shell having a periodic structure along one direction tangent to
the shell midsurface. The aim of this paper is to propose a new
averaged nonasymptotic model of such shells, which makes it
possible to investigate free and forced vibrations, parametric
vibrations, and dynamical stability of the shells under
consideration. As a tool of modeling we will apply the
tolerance averaging technique. The resulting equations have
constant coefficients in the periodicity direction. Moreover, in
contrast with models obtained by the known asymptotic
homogenization technique, the proposed one makes it possible to
describe the effect of the period length on the overall shell
behavior, called a length-scale effect.


The benefits of close collaboration with industry for undergraduate design students have been repeatedly emphasised in the literature. This paper describes the operation of a design competition as a collaborative project between the DIT School of Manufacturing and Design Engineering and an external company. Small groups of design students were set a design brief and guided through the year by company representatives and by their academic supervisors. Along with giving an example of problem-based learning and showing how academic projects can remain relevant to the commercial design field, this paper gives an example of what approaches can be taken to ensure that the industryinstitute collaboration proceeds smoothly and produces effective learning and results for all concerned.


The testis and epididymis of gerbil, guinea pig, nutria, and mouse were studied after staining with seven rhodamine-conjugated lectins to disclose the distribution of glycoproteins with different sugar residues. In the testis, the lectins showed a variable affinity for Leydig cells, tubular basement membrane, cytoplasm, acrosome, and plasma membrane of maturing spermatids as well as for Sertoli cell extensions. During acrosomal development, the staining pattern showed characteristic changes with different lectins indicating a gradual processing of the glycoprotein components. The staining in the Sertoli cell extensions displayed a cyclic change linked with the release of spermatozoa. A nuclear staining was prominent in zygotene and pachytene spermatocytes in the mouse, weak in the nutria, but absent in gerbil and guinea pig. The principal cells of epididymis showed a lectin-stained Golgi region as well as a similar staining in the apical surface, microvilli, and tubular contents. This staining was most prominent in the caput/corpus regions with some interspecies differences indicating the epididymal areas active in secretion. Narrow cells active in absorption of testis-derived material were lectin-positive in the initial segment of mouse, gerbil, and nutria epididymis. Large light cells with a strong affinity for some lectins were found in the proximal cauda of gerbil and guinea-pig epididymis. In the nutria, corresponding cells were arranged as islands within the low epithelium. The distal cauda of mouse, gerbil, and nutria was the site for lectin-stained light cells interspersed among the low principal cells. It is concluded that the high and low light cells may be active in the absorption and phagocytosis of residual bodies/cytoplasmic droplets and surplus epididymal secretory material, respectively. Thus, labeled lectins formed a useful tool in the analysis of glycoprotein distribution, processing, secretion, absorption, and degradation in the male reproductive tissues.


The Botanical Society's Conservation Unit was established in 2000. Our work is organized into five interlinked focus areas: Biodiversity planning, Integrating biodiversity in land-use planning and environmental assessment, Conservation stewardship, Business and biodiversity, Policy and legislation. Our approach is strategic, catalytic, and collaborative, and emphasizes partnerships with a focus on linking research and action, mainstreaming and building capacity. We have a staff of eight and generate most of our own funding. For more information visit www.botanicalsociety.org.za/ccu. Feel free to contact us for more information at email@example.com, tel: 021 799 8824.


In the present study, the F0 contours of continuing and terminating prosodic phrases of 4 Swiss German dialects are analyzed by means of the command-response model. In every model parameter, the two prosodic phrase types show significant differences: continuing prosodic phrases indicate higher phrase command magnitude and shorter durations. Locally, they demonstrate more distinct accent command amplitudes as well as durations. In addition, continuing prosodic phrases have later rises relative to segment onset than terminating prosodic phrases. In the same context, fine phonetic differences between the dialects are highlighted.


For the last thirty years, the mean net balance of two glaciers, Austre Broggerbreen and Midre Lovenbreen, has been -0.43 and -0.34 m of water equivalent (w.e.). respectively. The mean net balance of Kongsvegen, a tidewater glacier that has been measured since 1987, is 0.11 m w.e. The negative balances of the two first glaciers are driven by the increase in atmospheric temperature which occurred at the end of the Little Ice Age at the beginning of the century. The positive balance of Kongsvegen is due to its higher elevation and larger accumulation area. There is no significant trend in the net balances and no increase of the melting has been detected during the last thirty years. A correlation coefficient of R = 0.83 has been obtained between the net balance of Lovenbreen and the winter precipitation, together with the summer temperature recorded at the neighbouring station of Ny-Alesund since 1969. With 14 years of data, the correlation coefficient between the net balance and climatic parameters does not increase consistently by introducing any radiation component, but the coefficient correlation between the summer balance of Austre Broggerbreen and summer temperature increases from 0.68 to 0.77 when introducing global and long-wave radiation for July and August. Weather conditions and the frequency of their changes influence the balance between global and long-wave radiation and changes in albedo values.


An ageing European population and, therefore, a rising dependency ratio of retirees to the working population, strongly suggests that a pension funding gap will be a key social issue in future. Yet many older people have significant real estate assets that they could access using equity release products. They could sell their assets in exchange for lifelong or temporary monthly payments. Equity release products are relatively new to Poland, but are not yet offered by commercial banks in Czechia and Slovakia. This paper estimates the potential benefits of marriage reverse annuity, and reverse mortgage contracts, using the Svensson model function, and empirical property data from selected Czech, Slovak and Polish cities. The results are also compared to the average pension of inhabitants in the selected cities. It is shown that there is substantial scope for boosting retirement income in all the cases considered, though the precise size of the increase depends on factors such as contract buyers' age and life expectancy, the value of their assets, the payment consequences of a spouse's death, and contract suppliers' pricing policies.


Distributed generation systems and microgrids are instrumental for a greater penetration of renewables to achieve a substantial reduction on carbon emissions. However, microgrids performances and reliability strongly depend on the continuous interaction between power generation, storage and load requirements, highlighting the importance in developing a proper energy management strategy and the relative control system. In this work a Model predictive Control (MPC) strategy, based on a Mixed Linear Integer Programming framework, has been applied to a residential microgrid case. Theoretical results obtained confirm that grid connected microgrids have potential capabilities in grid balancing allowing for a larger penetration of fluctuating renewable energy sources and thus producing economic benefits for both end-user and grid operators. A microgrid test bench to reproduce previous microgrid model is also presented in the paper. The experimental setup has been used to validate results obtained from simulation. Results obtained confirm the potential of this solution and its real applicability.


We studied epitaxial growth and structures of Al/Ag superlattices prepared using molecular beam epitaxy. Samples were grown at temperatures of 20, 50, 70 and 100°C, at a growth rate of 0.1 monolayers per second, on 50-nm-thick (100) Ag buffer layers preformed on (100) MgO substrates. In situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) during growth and ex situ X-ray diffraction were performed to analyze the growth behavior and the structures. In all samples, (100) epitaxial growth was confirmed at early stages. Moreover, RHEED intensity oscillations were observed when Al layers were grown on Ag buffer layers. However, (111)-grown domains subsequently appeared and gradually became dominant upon prolonged growth. After sixty Al/Ag bilayer depositions, all surface areas were occupied by (111)-grown domains. Persistence of (100) epitaxial growth was strongly temperature dependent; (100) growth persisted during a few tens of bilayer depositions at 50°C, while at 20 and 70°C the growth orientation changed to (111) much faster. Other features, including the structures, are also described.


Abstract During the June-August 1976 Quelccaya ice cap expedition, global, SW↓, and net long-wave radiation, LW↑↓, were measured through several complete day-night cycles, and for a wide range of cloudiness conditions. Field work further included albedo measurements along representative transects across the ice cap and lysimeter-type estimates of ablation. Automatic stations recording wind, temperature and sunshine duration were also installed. Daily totals of SW↓ and LW↑↓ representative of completely clear and overcast days are derived. On this basis, empirical relationships allow the computation of monthly totals of radiation fluxes for an entire year from records of sunshine duration and temperature expected from the automatic stations. The larger part of the plateau is situated above 5400 m and has an albedo mostly in excess of 80%. Sub-freezing temperatures essentially limit ablation to the energetically expensive sublimation. For clear sky, daily totals of SW↓and LW↑↓ are of the order of 312 and 53 W m–2, respectively. With the albedo found, net short-wave radiation SW↑↓ becomes of the same general magnitude as LW↑↓, and the energy left for ablation is near to nil. Cloudiness would reduce both SW↑↓ and LW↑↓, thus largely compensating the effect on the residual net radiation, SWLW↑↓. This is consistent with ablation measurements. Over the larger area of the ice plateau, ablation may be close to zero in a first approximation; some ablation, including melting, takes place near the lower-lying rim of the ice cap, and calving off steep cliffs seems to provide a major mechanism for the disposal of the ice mass.


We introduce a fixed-point 16-bit 64-point FFT processor for OFDM-based wireless applications. The processor is based on decimation-in-time (DIT) radix-2 butterfly FFT algorithm. The canonical signed digit is used to implement constant complex multiplications with carry save add (CSA) tree for lower power and cost. The simulation shows the module can reach low cost/power and high speed for OFDM-based high-speed wireless applications.


Introduction We performed a cross-sectional study of HIV-uninfected men and women who inject drugs from the ALIVE cohort to examine if black men and women who inject drugs have higher levels of CD4+ T cells expressing the integrin heterodimer α4β7 compared to white men and women. Materials and methods Flow cytometry was used to examine expression of α4β7 and other markers associated with different functional CD4+ T cell subsets in both men and women who inject drugs. Results Higher levels of α4β7, CCR5, and CCR6 were observed on CD4+ T cells from black participants compared with white participants. In a multivariable model, α4β7 expression differed by race, but not sex, age, or other factors. Discussion Black men and women express higher percentages of α4β7 expressing CD4+ T cells, which may play a role in HIV disease.


Cystic fibrosis commonly occurs as a consequence of the DeltaF508 mutation in the first nucleotide binding fold domain (NBF-1) of CFTR. The mutation causes retention of the mutant CFTR molecule in the endoplasmic reticulum, and this aberrant trafficking event is believed to be due to defective interactions between the mutant NBF-1 domain and other cellular factors in the endoplasmic reticulum. Since the NBF-1 domain has been shown to interact with membranes, we wanted to investigate whether NBF-1 and CFTR interactions with specific phospholipid chaperones might play a role in trafficking. We have found that the recombinant wild-type NBF-1 interacts selectively with phosphatidylserine (PS) rather than phosphatidylcholine (PC). By contrast, NBF-1 carrying the DeltaF508 mutation loses the ability to discriminate between these two phospholipids. In cells expressing DeltaF508-CFTR, replacement of PC by noncharged analogues results in an absolute increase in CFTR expression. In addition, we detected progressive expression of higher molecular weight CFTR forms. Thus, phospholipid chaperones may be important for CFTR trafficking, and contribute to the pathology of cystic fibrosis.


Teacher Professional Development (TPD) has become a major policy priority within education systems worldwide. But keeping teachers professionally up-to-date and providing them professional development opportunities on continuing basis is a big challenge. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) can be a cost and resource effective means to complement the traditional methods of professional development of teachers. This optimism is based on the assumption that use of MOOCs will facilitate mass training of teachers as per their convenience and ease. The other assumption is that being MOOCs-based training, it will be easy to adapt it to different cultures and languages. Considering these assumptions, this concept paper which is based on reviews of different reports, documents and research papers - discusses the challenges of TPD, reflects upon promises of using MOOCs for TPD; details initiatives and experiences of using MOOCs for TPD; and suggests actions for promoting the use of MOOCs for TPD.


A coherent optical RF channelizer has been constructed and characterized. The optical channelizer is based on a free-space optical diffraction grating, and utilizes coherent optical heterodyne detection to translate all of the frequency channels to a common intermediate frequency (IF). The designed optical channelizer has a 1-GHz channel spacing, and a nominal 5-GHz IF and can offer an instantaneous bandwidth greater than 100 GHz. The channelizing receiver has been characterized for its frequency response, crosstalk, and spur-free dynamic range, and the results are in a good agreement with the theoretical values.


Precision genome editing by homology directed repair has tremendous potential for crop improvement. This study describes in planta homologous recombination mediated by CRISPR/Cas9 induced DNA double strand break in proximity to a single short (∼30 nt) homology arm. The efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated recombination between two loxP sites was compared with Cre (Cyclization recombination enzyme) and codon‐optimized Cre‐mediated site‐specific recombination in sugarcane. A transgenic locus was generated with a selectable nptII coding sequence with terminator between two loxP sites located downstream of a constitutive promoter and acting as transcription block for the downstream promoter‐less gusA coding sequence with terminator. Recombination between the two loxP sites resulted in deletion of the transcription block and restored gus activity. This transgenic locus provided an efficient screen for identification of recombination events in sugarcane callus following biolistic delivery of Cre, codon‐optimized Cre, or the combination of sgRNA and Cas9 targeting the 5′ loxP site. The Cre codon optimized for sugarcane displayed the highest efficiency in mediating the recombination that restored gus activity followed by cre and CRISPR/Cas9. Remarkably the short region of homology of the loxP site cleaved by Cas9 (30 nt)‐mediated error‐free recombination in all 21 events from three different experiments that were analyzed by Sanger sequencing consistent with homology directed repair. These findings will inform rational design of strategies for precision genome editing in plants.


7YSZ (yttria stabilized zirconia) was co-doped with metal oxides of different valence, ionic radius and mass in order to investigate microstructural and property changes as a result of co-doping. Mechanical alloying process was used to produce the powder blends which were subsequently sintered at 1500°C for 120 hours. The results from SEM, XRD and DSC showed that the microstructures of the co-doped ternary oxides were affected by the amount of oxygen vacancies in the system, the co-dopant cation radius and mass. Increasing the number of oxygen vacancies by the addition of trivalent co-dopant (Yb2 O3 and Sc2 O3 ) as well as the use of larger cations promoted the stabilization of cubic phase. The tetravalent co-dopant (CeO2 ), on the other hand, had the effect of stabilizing tetragonal phase which may transform into monoclinic phase during cooling, depending on the concentration of tetravalent co-dopant and the mass. Smaller cation mass had the effect of reducing the transformation temperature from tetragonal to monoclinic phase. Pentavalent co-dopants (Nb2 O5 and Ta2 O5 ) were found to stabilize the tetragonal phase at high temperature; however, the stability of the tetragonal phase upon cooling was determined by the mass and ionic radius of the co-dopants. Cation clustering was observed during cooling in trivalent oxide co-doped 7YSZ while clustering of trivalent and pentavalent cations in pentavalent co-doped 7YSZ was not detected. Additionally, from the thermal conductivity measurement results, it was found that trivalent oxides exhibited the most significant effect on reducing the thermal conductivity of ternary oxides; this trend was followed by pentavalent co-doping oxides whereas the tetravalent CeO2 co-doped 7YSZ showed marginal effect. A semi-empirical thermal conductivity model was established based on defect cluster model and the predicted room temperature thermal conductivity values were found to be consistent with that measured experimentally. Furthermore, the incorporation of co-dopant oxide in 7YSZ was observed to substantially modify the elastic modulus of the ternary oxides. More specifically, the addition of co-dopant with larger cation radius was found to reduce the elastic modulus of 7YSZ due to the increase in lattice parameter(s).Copyright © 2009 by ASME


C60-molecules are multi-ionised by Xe25+ projectiles at collision energies of 280 keV. The produced ions and fragments are analysed in coincidence with the charge state of the outgoing projectile ion. Intact molecular ions are formed in charge states at least up to q = 10; they are stable on a time scale of several µs. From the time-of-flight spectra, average fragment sizes and average kinetic energies are determined as a function of the number of electrons stabilised by the projectile. The kinetic energies of the atomic fragments are used to estimate the charge state of the parent ion C60q+. In the case of 11 stabilised electrons (Xe25+ → Xe14+), about 50 electrons are removed from the fullerene cage, which is in agreement with recent experimental results (Bernard et al, this volume).


Background: Recent research points towards age- and sex-specific transmission of COVID-19 infections and their outcomes. The effect of sex, however, has been overlooked in past modelling approaches of COVID-19 infections. Aim: The aim of our study is to develop an age- and sex-specific model of COVID-19 transmission and to explore how contact changes effect COVID-19 infection and death rates. Method: We consider a compartment model to establish forecasts of the COVID-19 epidemic, in which the compartments are subdivided into different age groups and genders. Estimated contact patterns, based on other studies, are incorporated to account for age- and sex-specific social behaviour. The model is fitted to real data and used for assessing hypothetical scenarios with regard to lockdown measures. Results: Under current mitigation measures as of mid-August, active COVID-19 cases will double by the end of October 2020. Infection rates will be highest among the young and working ages, but will also rise among the old. Sex ratios reveal higher infection risks among women than men at working ages; the opposite holds true at old age. Death rates in all age groups are twice as high among men as women. Small changes in contact rates at working and young ages may have a considerable effect on infections and mortality at old age, with elderly men being always at higher risk of infection and mortality. Discussion: Our results underline the high importance of the non-pharmaceutical mitigation measures in the current phase of the pandemic to prevent that an increase in contact rates leads to higher mortality among the elderly. Gender differences in contact rates, in addition to biological mechanisms related to the immune system, may contribute to sex-specific infection rates and their mortality outcome. To further explore possible pathways, more data on COVID-19 transmission is needed which includes socio-demographic information.


Abstract. The meridional motions of the CUTLASS HF and STARE VHF coherent echoes, IMAGE equivalent electrojet currents, and IRIS absorption patches during the postnoon/early-evening event of 14 February 2000 are presented. The motions were found to be synchronous, to a first approximation, for all instruments. The temporal correlation between motions in the radar and magnetometer data was exceptionally good, although spatially the areas with the E-region backscatter and most intense equivalent currents were not coincident, with the HF (VHF) echoes being shifted 100–200km (20–50km) equatorward (poleward). The meridional motions of the radar echoes and electrojet currents appeared to be controlled by the IMF B z changes; the meridional propagation direction was equatorward (poleward) during the intervals when the IMF was southward (northward), with one exception when the poleward progression continued after the IMF southward turning. We relate the observed meridional motion patterns to the polar cap expansion/contraction during variable IMF conditions and discuss the relative importance of two types of processes: the dayside reconnection and IMF-triggered substorms. We also investigate the irregularity Doppler velocity for the STARE (144MHz) and CUTLASS (12MHz) observations at large flow angles in the context of the eastward and westward electrojet systems. We show that the 144-MHz Doppler velocity is determined by a combination of two factors: the sense of electrojet currents and the aspect angle conditions within the STARE field of view. Finally, the behavior of small dayside enhancements of the IRIS absorption (up to 0.5dB at 38.2MHz) accompanying the radar echoes and electrojet currents is examined. Since the velocity of the meridional displacements was close to that of the poleward/equatorward progressing intense currents, it is suggested that the absorption patches observed during the event were related to the heating of the E-region plasma by the unstable plasma waves in the regions of enhanced electric fields. Key words. Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; electric fields and currents; plasma convection)


Abstract Introduction Understanding patient and caregiver experience is key to providing person-centered care. The palliative care approach includes holistic assessment and whole-person care at the end of life, that also involves the patient's family and loved ones. The aim of this study was to describe the way that family caregivers experienced patients' deaths during their loved ones' last hospital admission, comparing inpatient palliative care (PCU) and non-palliative care (Non-PCU) units. Methods A qualitative case study approach was implemented. Family caregivers of terminally ill patients admitted to the Infanta Elena Hospital (Madrid, Spain) between 2016 and 2018 were included using purposeful sampling. Eligible caregivers were first-degree relatives or spouses present during the patient's last hospital admission. Data were collected via in-depth interviews and researchers' field notes. Semi-structured interviews with a question guide were used. A thematic inductive analysis was performed. The group of caregivers of patients admitted to the PCU unit and the group of caregivers of patients admitted to Non-PCU were analyzed separately, through a matrix. Results In total 24 caregivers (12 from the PCU and 12 from Non-PCU units) were included. Two main themes were identified: caregivers' perception of scientific and technical appropriateness of care, and perception of person-centred care. Scientific appropriateness of care was subdivided into two categories: diagnostic tests and treatment, and symptom control. Perception of person-centred care was subdivided as: communication, emotional support, and facilitating the farewell process. Caregivers of patients admitted to a PCU unit described their experience of end-of-life care as positive, while their Non-PCU unit counterparts described largely negative experiences. Conclusions PCU provides a person-centered approach to care at the end of life, optimizing treatment for patients with advanced disease, ensuring effective communication, establishing a satisfactory professional relationship with both patients and their loved ones, and facilitating the farewell process for family caregivers.


Abstract The present paper deals with the interest and tax burden of corporations in the Czech industrial and banking sector as well as with the identification of the differences between the two sectors, including the evaluation of their developmental trends in the period after the economic and financial crisis of 2008. The interest and tax burden on business entities is determined by negative cash flows that reduce the value of their assets and equity. The basis of the research is the analysis of both components of the financial burden on corporations in these sectors over the past eight years and the identification of factors influencing their capital structure and performance. According to DuPont's equation, the burden is expressed by interest and the tax reduction of corporation's earnings before interest and taxes. The amount of the financial burden depends on the macroeconomic environment where the corporations operate. Our analysis identified an asynchronous dependence between the real payments and changes in the interest and tax rates. The reduction of both rates has had a positive effect on the performance of Czech corporations and increased their capital resources. They became more attractive to foreign investors, and the return on invested capital improved. Based on the results of the analysis, we evaluated the differences in the performance of the average corporation in the banking and industrial sectors.


Prosodic structure in sign languages is encoded by articulations of the hands, face, and body. Despite the different physical system, there are many similarities to prosody of spoken language, such as the existence of a prosodic hierarchy, alignment of intonational elements (conveyed by the face) with temporally marked prosodic constituents (conveyed by the hands), and a close relation between prosody and syntax. The latter relation is indirect, however, and does not imply isomorphism. As such, the distribution of intonational elements cannot reliably be used as a diagnostic for syntactic structure, nor can their occurrence be predicted by syntax alone. While the existence of prosody in sign languages underscores the 'naturalness' of prosody in human language, the prosodic system emerges gradually, both in children acquiring established sign languages and in new sign languages, underscoring both its complexity and its grammatical character.


Though appendicitis is common many important questions remain unanswered. When is the appendix normal and when is it the cause of abdominal pain? Why does appendicitis primarily affect older children and young adults? Why is appendicitis uncommon in those under five years of age and in those over sixty years of age? Why are boys affected more often than girls? Why does appendicitis appear to run in some families? Why is appendicitis more common in affluent parts of the world and rare in parts where poverty and poor hygiene are prevalent? The epidemiology of appendicitis is complex and its cause is not explained by any single factor. The peak incidence of appendicitis coincides with the age when the immune system is most efficient and the lymphoid follicles are at their maximum development. Could this implicate immunological factors in the pathogenesis and, therefore, the epidemiology of appendicitis? Obstruction of the lumen of the appendix is believed to be the trigger initiating the processes that culminate in inflammation of the appendix. Fecaliths are a specific cause of appendicitis in about one-third of specimens (Mitros & Rubin, 2009) and are composed of fats (coprosterols), inorganic salts (calcium phosphate) and organic residue (vegetable fibres) in a proportion of 50%, 25% and 20%, respectively (Berg, RM., & Berg, HM., 1957). Their physical consistency varies from soft to hard concretions. The reported incidence of fecaliths depends on whether the data was obtained from intraoperative palpation of the organ, from histological analysis of operative specimens or from autopsy reports. It is suggested that vegetable matter entering the lumen of the appendix forms the nucleus around which glandular secretions in the lumen desicate to form the calculi (Lowenberg, 1949). In the other two-thirds of instances where fecaliths are absent, the obstruction is thought to be caused by hypertrophy of mural lymphoid follicles in response to a host of causes that are discussed elsewhere in this book. This chapter aims to understand the environmental, demographic, cultural and genetic factors that make the appendix susceptible to obstruction and inflammation. To understand the epidemiology of appendicitis is to look at the possibility of moving beyond treating it operatively to entertaining non-operative treatments and to foresee a future when some cases of appendicitis can be prevented.


The feasibility of a dose mapping system using optically stimulated luminescent (OSL) phosphors is demonstrated. The OSL technique is briefly reviewed as well as its interest for calculation code calibration. The sensors and the reading apparatus are presented. An example of attenuation dose map obtained for a dual in line plastic package (DIL) is given and the results compared to calculations with the code EGS4 PRESTA. Results obtained by experiment and simulation are discussed as well as the potentialities of the method.


The possibilities for predicting the pure tone threshold on the basis of the acoustic stapedius reflex threshold are improved by using two stimuli, e.g., white noise and pure tone, or two pure tones according to Sesterhenn and Breuninger. The principle of the monaural loudness summation with regard to the stapedius reflex was systematically examined with the aim to obtain the best suited range for clinical use with a double tone stimulus. The following procedure proved to be the most reliable one for an objective audiometry: A distinct reflex is produced by a basic pure tone of 4 kHz, 10 dB above its reflex threshold. The tone to be examined (1 kHz) was added with a delay of 0.5 s. A 1 kHz tone 28 dB below the reflex threshold (median) produced a clear re-inforcement of the basic reflex. Objective extrapolation possibilities from stapedius reflex threshold to pure tone threshold are thereby improved.


The p53 tumor suppressor gene is frequently mutated in human cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma of the skin, but is rarely mutated in skin melanoma. The p53 mutation spectrum provides insight into both the etiology of human cancer and the functional regions of the encoded protein that lead to clonal expansion of the p53 mutant cell.


We provide a simple example of dilaton stabilization in the framework of heterotic string theory. It requires a gaugino condensate and an uplifting sector similar to the one postulated in type IIB string theory. Its signature is a hybrid mediation of supersymmetry breakdown with a variant of a mirage pattern for the soft breaking terms. The setup is suited for the discussion of heterotic minimal supersymmetric standard model candidates.


This paper presents the histological characterisation of a selection of worked bone artefacts from Middle Stone Age layers at Sibudu cave, South Africa. Histographic rendering is achieved using high-resolution Computed Tomography, which is non-destructive and facilitates three-dimensional histologic analysis. Excellent congruency in image quality was achieved with previous studies using this method. The results show that most of the artefact fragments contain mostly primary lamellar tissue, which is the bone tissue best adapted to withstand impact stresses. This indicates that bone with greater elastic properties was chosen. Histological characterisation allows the identification of animal taxa. Based on the sample analysed in this paper, Perissodactyla bone was used predominantly in the older layers at the site. Artiodactyla are represented throughout but appear far more frequently in the later (post-Howiesons Poort onwards) layers. Some of the Artiodactyla specimens have high proportions of Haversian tissue, reducing elasticity. The higher percentages of Haversian tissue in the post-Howiesons Poort artefacts relative to Holocene examples from southern Africa suggests that people may have started experimenting with bone from different animal taxa at this time and had not yet learned to eliminate the mechanically weaker secondary tissue. Apart from mechanical considerations, possible cultural constraints governing raw material selection is also explored.


Epithelial ovarian cancer belongs to the most common and most deadly of all types of ovarian carcinomas. Ovarian cancer affects women in the age group 65 years and older more frequently than younger women. Approximately 75% of cases will have spread beyond the ovaries at the time of diagnosis. Twenty-two year old patient was treated at the Institute of Oncology Sremska Kamenica, in the period from 1998 until 2000. In 1993, she underwent left salphingo-oopherectomy; histopathological finding was mucinous cystadenoma of the ovaries. In 1994, mucinous papillary cystadenoma with borderline malignancy confirmed by histopathological findings was found after abdominal hysterectomy with right salpingo-oopherectomy and total omentectomy. The patient was well until 1998 when she palpated a tumor mass in the front abdominal wall with pain in that region. Tumor was extirpated and final histopathological finding was mucinous adenocarcinoma in fibrous tissue. The patient received with chemotherapy (carboplatin and cyclophosphamide) and external-beam radiotherapy. Recurrence free survival rate was 20 months but in April 2000, patient came back with recurrence of the disease. It was the same spread into abdominal wall. Rectus abdominis muscle was resected and plastic surgery of abdominal wall was performed. After operation patient received second line chemotherapy according to the same protocol. However, during the treatment the disease spread into abdominal cavity and affected small intestine and liver.


The Turkish offensive in the Balkans often determined various human groups to search for a new life outside the borders of the Ottoman Empire. In the Dalmatian hinterland, administrated by Venice since the beginning of 16th century, the Morlachs are those who, together with Serbians, Croatians, Bosnians, etc. chose to accept the Venetian protection against the non-Christian danger. On its side, St. Mark′s Republic needed more and more new people to repopulate various regions that had hardly been affected by wars, plagues and drought. During the 16th century Serenissima established the rules of internal migrations (from one region to another of Stato da Mar) and its settlement policy for the poorly habited areas and their new colonists. The encouragement and the development of the population transfer from Dalmatia to Istria represented an aspect of the Venetian policy in balancing the demography of the state. Arrived from the inner Balkans, the Morlachs accepted quite often to settle in south – western Istria, because the benefits and the exemptions offered by the Republic were not to be ignored: exemptions from fees for using public pasturelands, the right to build settlements in empty spaces, exemptions from fees for transport or reductions from some of the administrative taxes. Even if these benefits were temporary or permanent, they used to increase the number of Morlach migrations from Dalmatia in Istria. In effect, as the documents attest, during the 16th century plenty of Morlach settlements appeared in the hinterland of the Istrian cities, like: Rovigno, Umago, Pinguente, Montona, Cittanova, Villanova, Raspo, Parenzo etc. Despite the fact that sometimes the Morlachs chose to leave the new settlements and turn back in Turchia, the numerous settlements colonized and inhabited by them justify, up to some extent, the existence of an Istrian Morlacchia. Dana Caciur, PhD student, University of Bucharest, Faculty of History, B-dul Regina Elisabeta 4-12, sector 5, cod 030018, Bucureşti, Romania, e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


Intellectual relationships and domicile can influence shaping a person's mindset. Including Said bin Umar is a scholar who concentrates on Sufism or tarekat. Therefore, it is essential to explore its interpretation when interpreting Q.S. al-Fatihah, because there could be nuances of the esoteric-Sufistic interpretation carried out by Said bin Umar. This research is a type of library research with the formal object of Tafsir Nurul Ihsan by Said bin Umar, and the material object is the interpretation of Q.S. al Fatihah. The conclusion of this article explains that Said bin Umar internalized his esoteric-Sufistic interpretation when interpreting verse 1 (basmalah) and verse 5 of Surah al-Fatihah. As for the factors that shape the emergence of esoteric-Sufistic reasoning, Said bin Umar when interpreting Q.S. al-Fatihah, are 1) The intellectual relationship of his teachers, 2) Anthropic-social configuration before and during comment writing, and 3) Relationships and tendencies of other literary with a written interpretation.


Polysaccharide (PS)- and protein-specific murine IgG responses to intact Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pn) are both dependent on CD4+ T cell help, B7-dependent costimulation, and CD40/CD40 ligand interactions. However, the primary PS-specific, relative to protein-specific, IgG response terminates more rapidly, requires a shorter period of T cell help and B7-dependent costimulation, and fails to generate memory. In light of the critical role for ICOS/ICOS ligand interactions in sustaining T cell-dependent Ig responses and promoting germinal center reactions, we hypothesized that this interaction was nonessential for PS-specific IgG responses to Pn. We now demonstrate that ICOS−/−, relative to wild-type, mice elicit a normal PS-specific IgG isotype response to Pn, despite marked inhibition of both the primary and secondary IgG anti-protein (i.e., PspA, PspC, and PsaA) response. A blocking anti-ICOS ligand mAb injected during primary Pn immunization inhibits both the primary anti-protein response and the generation of protein-specific memory, but has no effect when injected during secondary immunization. In contrast to Pn, both PS- and protein-specific IgG responses to a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine are inhibited in ICOS−/− mice. ICOS−/− mice immunized with intact Pn or conjugate exhibit nearly complete abrogation in germinal center formation. Finally, although mice that lack the adaptor molecule SAP (SLAM-associated protein) resemble ICOS−/− mice (and can exhibit decreased ICOS expression), we observe that the PS-specific, as well as protein-specific, IgG responses to both Pn and conjugate are markedly defective in SAP−/− mice. These data define a novel T cell-, SAP-, and B7-dependent, but ICOS-independent, extrafollicular pathway of Ig induction.


Abies semenovii B. Fedtsch. (Pinaceae) is an extremely rare flora species of the Central Asia (Kirghizia); it has been cultivated at the Peter the Great Botanical Garden of the Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) since 1949, where it was first introduced into general cultivation. Since 2000, upon reaching the age of 43 years, the seed reproduction of the plants is being marked. An X-ray test proved seeds, collected in 2014, to be filled and full. In spring 2015, first time in the 67 years of cultivating this specie in St. Petersburg area, first young crops were received. Abies semenovii – a cold hard and decorative tree – has to be introduced into the gardening of St. Petersburg and shall be promoted into the Karelia and further to the northern regions of the European part of the Russian Federation.


Two patients with acute intestinal obstruction underwent exploratory laparotomy after adequate fluid resuscitation and radiological imaging. A preoperative diagnosis of sigmoid volvulus and an operative diagnosis of ileosigmoid knotting or compound volvulus were established.


Asymmetric hydrogenation plays an important role in organic synthesis, but that of the challenging substrates such as N-unprotected imines, enamines, and N-heteroaromatic compounds (1H-indoles, 1H-pyrroles, pyridines, quinolines, and quinoxalines) has only received increased attention in the past three years. Considering the interaction modes of a Brønsted acid with a Lewis base, Brønsted acids may be used as the ideal activators of C=N bonds. This Minireview summarizes the recent advances in transition-metal-catalyzed, Brønsted acid activated asymmetric hydrogenation of these challenging substrates, thus offering a promising substrate activation strategy for transformations involving C=N bonds.


Bacillus species are among the most investigated beneficial bacteria and widely used in agricultural systems as biological control agents. Its biocontrol efficacy is controlled by diverse regulators. Cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) is a nearly universal second messenger in bacteria and modulates various important physiological processes, including motility, biofilm formation, antifungal antibiotic production and host colonization. However, the impact of c-di-GMP on biocontrol efficacy of beneficial bacteria is unknown. Bacillus velezensis PG12 is an effective biocontrol strain against apple ring rot disease caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea. In this study, the contribution of c-di-GMP to biocontrol efficacy of B. velezensis PG12 was investigated. Deletion of single gene encoding diguanylate cyclase or phosphodiesterase did not affect its biocontrol efficacy against apple ring rot. However, artificial modulation of c-di-GMP level in the cells leads to a significant change of biocontrol efficacy, suggesting that c-di-GMP positively regulates biocontrol efficacy of B. velezensis PG12 against apple ring rot disease. More evidences indicate that c-di-GMP does not affect the antagonistic activity of B. velezensis PG12 against B. dothidea in vitro and in vivo, but positively regulates biofilm formation of B. velezensis PG12 and its colonization on apple fruits. Importantly, deletion of ydaK could rescue the inhibition of biofilm formation, bacterial colonization and biocontrol efficacy caused by low c-di-GMP level, indicating that YdaK is the potential c-di-GMP receptor to regulate biofilm formation, colonization and effective biological control. However, YdaK did not affect the antagonistic activity of B. velezensis PG12 against B. dothidea. Based on these findings, we propose that c-di-GMP regulates biofilm formation, subsequently the bacterial colonization on apple fruits and thus biocontrol efficacy of B. velezensis through its receptor YdaK. This is the first report showing that c-di-GMP plays a role in biocontrol efficacy of beneficial bacteria.


We exploit historical differences in foral law to consistently estimate the contribution of the quality of enforcement institutions to economic specialization across Spanish provinces in the period 1999-2014. The distribution of economic activity in Spain as of today shows a strong pattern of geographical specialization. Regions less specialized in manufacturing (industry) and oriented to services sectors (Andalusia, Extremadura) in the south are compared with industrialized/manufacturing regions in the north such as the Basque Country, Navarre or Aragon. We construct province-level congestion rates across three different jurisdictions (civil, labor and administrative) from real judicial data measuring the performance of the Spanish judicial system over time, and estimate the effect of judicial efficacy on the share of manufacturing and services in the total output. Using a variety of estimation techniques, the evidence unveils strong and persistent effects of judicial efficacy on province-level economic specialization with notable distributional differences. The provinces with a historical experience of foral law are significantly more likely to have more efficient enforcement institutions at the present day. In turn, greater judicial efficacy facilitates specialization in high-productivity manufacturing while greater judicial inefficacy encourages service-intensive specialization. The effect of judicial efficacy on economic specialization does not depend on confounders, holds across a number of specification checks and appears to be causal. Lastly, the three jurisdictions seem relevant to explain specialization, although the administrative jurisdiction appears to have a more pronounced impact than the labor or civil jurisdictions.


AIMS
To investigate whether recorded alcohol per capita consumption of adults could be linked with alcohol drinking and smoking among adolescents.

METHODS
Adult alcohol per capita has been plotted graphically together with the prevalence of current drinking and smoking among adolescents.

RESULTS
Across all 68 countries, a highly statistically significant correlation was detected, indicating a linear relationship.

CONCLUSION
Countries which are high in alcohol per capita consumption among adults need to pay heightened attention to alcohol and tobacco use among the younger population.


This paper quantifies the value of importer-exporter relationships. We show that almost 80 percent of U.S. imports take place in pre-existing relationships, with sizable heterogeneity across countries, and show that traded quantities and survival increase as relationships age. We develop a two-country general equilibrium trade model with learning that is consistent with these facts. A model-based measure of relationship value explains survival during the 2008-09 crisis. Knowledge accumulated within long-term relationships is quantitatively important: wiping out all memory from previous interactions, on average, reduces consumption by 5 percent on impact and by 48 percent over the transition back to steady state.


Seniors with dementia who enter long-term care facilities are at greater risk of death than are similar individuals that remain in the community. Previous research has focused primarily on social selection factors such as health status to explain mortality in this population. This study seeks to determine whether resident mortality within 12 months of admission to a facility can be explained by post-admission social causative factors, that is, by institutional quality of care. Logistic regression results are based on the study of 402 residents in 73 long-term care facilities throughout British Columbia, Canada. Mortality data were obtained from Vital Statistics. Although social selection factors (e.g., physical dependency) emerge as the strongest predictors, one social causative factor – facility level restraint use – also predicts mortality. This study provides some evidence that social causative factors play a role in determining mortality among long-term care residents with dementia. Further research on the social causative factors is needed to understand the degree to which they affect mortality, and the way in which they do so.


The purpose of this literature research is to explore the effectiveness of social inclusion programmes for people with disability from Culturally and Linguistically Backgrounds (CaLD) living in Australia. This is done by exploring definitions of social inclusion and social exclusion and then looking at current issues affecting people with disability from CaLD backgrounds. The research then looks at programmes that facilitate social inclusion to determine if this is an effective way to improve community integration and participation.

The literature highlights that getting people with disability from CaLD backgrounds participating in community activities can lead to very positive outcomes. Participation can lead to better mental and physical well-being, develop new skills and improve lifestyle issues such as meeting new people and finding employment. A common theme from the literature was the importance of involving people with disability from CaLD backgrounds in all planning and decision making in programme development to ensure that cultural needs as well as disability requirements are addressed. Evaluation is also considered crucial to long term effectiveness and sustainability of programmes.


Technological change and other challenges have inspired many countries to seek new approaches to funding and financing post-compulsory education and there is a growing body of evidence on the efficacy of specific approaches in particular circumstances. It is not easy for policymakers to learn from the experience of other countries however and a risk that mistakes will be expensively and wastefully repeated. This paper proposes a way to develop a trans-national resource that would enable those responsible for this sector rapidly to identify those approaches to funding and financing that might be most appropriate to their circumstances.


In assessing environmental change, butterflies have been proven as replicable indicators of biodiversity and functional integrity that can be monitored at a range of scales. Butterflies have been identified as important bio-indicators for assessing biodiversity and monitoring ecosystem responses to environmental perturbations. The objectives of this study were to determine changes in the butterfly fauna of differing sites in the Sango Bay Area (SBA) and Iriiri (Karamoja) in comparison with data collected 10 years ago, and to investigate the impact of different degrees of habitat disturbance on butterflies. The general butterfly diversity was determined by trapping and sweep netting along transect lines and by random sweeping. The impact of human-induced disturbance was assessed by comparing species richness and composition between the sites and regressing the weighted disturbances against species diversity per site. There was a marked decrease in species diversity and varied species composition between the two studies and between the habitat types. Charcoal burning and grazing had significant negative correlations with diversity within forest sites (r2 = 0.825, P < 0.05), whereas cultivation and tree cutting/logging had significant negative correlations with diversity of open savannas (r2 = 0.718, P < 0.05 and r2 = 0.999, P < 0.05, respectively).


As the success of new products is essential for firm performance and economic growth, a broad research stream focuses on consumer decision making for new products. While the majority of existing research concentrates on the reasons why individuals adopt technologies, a growing number of scholars realize the need to look at factors that explain why individuals resist innovations to fully understand consumer behaviour. The existing literature provides a general model of consumer resistance but fails to empirically validate antecedents of resistance with regard to different forms of resistance. This study differentiates between rejection and opposition as the strongest form of resistance in the context of mobile health applications. The quantitative analysis of survey data derived from 752 respondents reveals that the antecedents of rejection are different from the antecedents of opposition. While the usage barrier, the value barrier and performance risk predominantly predict the rejection of mobile health applications, physical risk and performance risk cause active opposition. The results also differ for two subgroups of mobile health applications, indicating contextual factors that need to be taken into account. This study contributes to the understanding of individual resistance behaviour and assists product developers of mobile health applications to design their products.


The possibility of a kind of industrial-grade X7R type multilayer ceramic capacitor used as an actuator is studied. By applying a DC bias voltage, the ceramic capacitors exhibit a large converse piezoelectric effect which can be used for actuating applications. The experiments show that the capacitor's thickness changes rather linearly with a voltage applied on it. Three multilayer ceramic capacitors were selected to be studied. A hysteresis <1.8% and a nonlinearity <2.0% between the displacement and the driving voltage were observed for a 10 μF capacitor over a frequency range of 0.1–20 Hz and a temperature range of 15–35°C.