Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the first experiments to manufacture self-healing carbon fiber reinforced panels (CFRPs) for the realization of structural aeronautic components in order to address their vulnerability to impact damage in the real service conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The developed self-healing system is based on ring-opening metathesis polymerizations reaction of microencapsulated 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene/dicyclopentadiene cyclic olefins using Hoveyda-Grubbs' first generation catalyst as initiator. In this work, the self-healing resin is infused into a carbon fiber dry preform using an unconventional bulk film infusion technique that has allowed to minimize the filtration effects via a better compaction and reduced resin flow paths. Infrared spectroscopy provides a useful way to identify metathesis products and therefore catalyst activity in the self-healing panel after damage. The damage resistance of the manufactured CFRPs is evaluated through hail and drop tests.

Findings

The self-healing manufactured panels show, after damage, catalyst activity with metathesis product formation, as evidenced by an infrared peak at 966 cm−1. The damage response of CFRPs, detected in accord to the requirements of hail impact for the design of a fuselage in composite material, is very good. The results are very encouraging and can constitute a solid basis for bringing this new technology to the self-healable fiber reinforced resins for aerospace applications.

Originality/value

In this paper, autonomically healing CFRPs with damage resistance and self-healing function are proposed. In the development of self-healing aeronautic materials it is critical that self-healing activity functions in adverse weather conditions and at low working temperatures which can reach values as low as −50°C.


Why fight secession? This paper is a case study on this question, asking why the North chose to fight the South in the American Civil War. It tests a theoretical prediction that economic motivations were important, using county-level presidential election data. If economic interests like manufacturing wished to keep the Union together, they should have generated votes to do so. That prediction is borne out by the data, and explanations other than Northern economic concerns about Southern secession appear unable to explain the results, suggesting that economic motivations were important to support for fighting the South.


Rocks mapped as Vaqueros Formation in the southeastern Cuyama Valley crop out in two separate belts: (1) north of the Ozena fault, near Santa Barbara Canyon, and (2) a more easterly sequence that extends to the San Andreas fault in the Pattiway Ridge area. The Vaqueros Formation is principally a marine clastic unit; in the Santa Barbara Canyon area, it conformably overlies the nonmarine Simmler Formation and is conformably overlain by the marine Saltos Member of the Monterey Formation. In the Pattiway Ridge area, it is unconformable on the Simmler Formation and is conformably overlain by the nonmarine Caliente Formation. In the Santa Barbara Canyon area, the Vaqueros Formation consists generally of light-brown, structureless to medium-bedded, fine to coarse sandstone, with local pebble- and Pecten miguelensis-filled channels and some interbedded reddish-brown mudstone. Chert and fossiliferous mudstone occur locally at the base of the unit. Rare cross-bedding indicates westward paleocurrents. Turritella inezana, Pecten miguelensis, Ostrea howelli, and Balanus sp. are common. Thickness averages 65 m and is fairly constant throughout the Santa Barbara Canyon area. In the Pattiway Ridge area, the Vaqueros Formation consists generally of laminated to thin-bedded, dark-gray to brown mudstone, which grades upward to light-brown to white, structureless more » to medium-bedded sandstone. Fossils are rare, but include Ostrea eldridgei and Isurus sp. Thickness (from east to west) ranges from 0 to 50 m along the San Andreas fault to over 240 m near Cuyama Valley. The marine to nonmarine transition represented by the Vaqueros and Caliente Formations in the Pattiway Ridge area is indicative of a near-shore (probably deltaic) environment of deposition. The nonmarine to marine transition represented by the Simmler and Vaqueros Formations in the Santa Barbara Canyon area is also attributed to a nearshore or deltaic environment. « less


Historians and sociologists of science take a lively interest in research styles as an analytical concept.' Using the concept of style is a way of emphasizing the role of continuity and tradition in the development of science. To quote Thomas Kuhn, "only investigations firmly rooted in the contemporary scientific tradition are likely to break that tradition and give rise to a new one."2 On the other hand, the concept of research style is used to argue that there are different and often competing approaches within disciplines, frequently based in research groups or research schools.3 The concept ofstyle, now in the form of"thought style", also came into vogue by the translation and republication of Ludwik Fleck's Entstehung und Entwicklung einer wissenschaftlichen Tatsache in which he argued that scientists' observations and their definitions of "facts" are shaped by the thought styles or assumptions shared by "thought collectives". Concepts are supposed to derive their meaning from the existence of a stylistic bond between them, so the thought style determines the formulation of every concept.4


Two minerals of the linnaeite series, A3S4, have been identified and examined in ores from two localities in the Alta district of Finnmark. Their compositions show them to be siegenite and carrollite, respectively. Associated minerals in each case are bornite, chalcopyrite, neodigenite, and a littlc covellite. Tennantite is also found in the siegenite-bearing ore. The properties, chemical compositions and modes of occurence of the minerals are discussed in this short note which appears to be the first published record of their occurence in Norwegian ores.


Planning of requirements changes is often inaccurate and implementation of changes is time consuming and error prone. One reason for these problems is imprecise and inefficient approaches to analyze the impact of changes. This thesis proposes a precise and efficient impact analysis approach that focuses on functional system requirements changes of embedded control systems. It consists of three parts: (1) a fine-grained conceptual trace model, (2) process descriptions of how to establish traces and how to analyze the impact of changes, and (3) supporting tools. Empirical investigation shows that the approach has a beneficial effect on the effectiveness and efficiency of impact analyses and that it supports a more consistent implementation of changes.


Pre-diagnostic deficits in social motivation are hypothesized to contribute to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a heritable neurodevelopmental condition. We evaluated psychometric properties of a social motivation index (SMI) using parent-report item-level data from 597 participants in a prospective cohort of infant siblings at high and low familial risk for ASD. We tested whether lower SMI scores at 6, 12, and 24 months were associated with a 24-month ASD diagnosis and whether social motivation's course differed relative to familial ASD liability. The SMI displayed good internal consistency and temporal stability. Children diagnosed with ASD displayed lower mean SMI T-scores at all ages and a decrease in mean T-scores across age. Lower group-level 6-month scores corresponded with higher familial ASD liability. Among high-risk infants, strong decline in SMI T-scores was associated with 10-fold odds of diagnosis. Infant social motivation is quantifiable by parental report, differentiates children with versus without later ASD by age 6 months, and tracks with familial ASD liability, consistent with a diagnostic and susceptibility marker of ASD. Early decrements and decline in social motivation indicate increased likelihood of ASD, highlighting social motivation's importance to risk assessment and clarification of the ontogeny of ASD.


In this paper, we introduce a technique to produce a new family of tempered stable distributions. We call this family asymmetrically tempered stable distributions.We provide two examples of this family named asymmetrically classical modified tempered stable ACMTS and asymmetrically modified classical tempered stable AMCTS distributions. Since the tempered stable distributions are infinitely divisible, Levy processes can be induced by the ACMTS and AMCTS distributions. The properties of these distributions will be discussed along with the advantages in applying them to financial modeling. Furthermore, we develop exponential Levy models for them. To demonstrate the advantages of the exponential Levy ACMTS and AMCTS models, we estimate parameters for the S&P 500 Index.


The current international trend in distribution networks is towards increased monitoring. This trend is being driven by distribution network operators (DNOs) who hope that through increased monitoring, they will be able to optimise capital and operational expenditure and thus operate a more efficient networks.One of the key areas of focus relating to the increased interest in distribution network monitoring is power quality. Power quality disturbances affect consumers by interrupting equipment or halting industrial processes and can result in very significant financial losses. DNOs are also financially impacted by power quality issues if they breach regulatory limits or contractual arrangements. To extract value from power quality monitoring, DNOs must process and then interpret data from a variety monitoring devices placed at different locations all potentially measuring different quantities. The challenge of how best to extract useful and practical power quality information from disparate monitoring devices is the subject of this thesis.This thesis describes and develops monitoring techniques for two power quality phenomena: voltage sags and unbalance. The research presents new techniques which can graphically identify the weakest areas and the worst served customers for voltage sags and unbalance. All the developed techniques utilise non-deterministic methods (such as statistics and artificial intelligence) to deal robustly with network and measurement uncertainties. This thesis can be dissected into four areas: voltage sag monitoring, optimal power quality monitor placement, voltage unbalance monitoring and identification of the weakest areas and worst served customers for both issues.The first section of this thesis is dedicated to voltage sags. This section introduces a multi-step process to identify and estimate the impacts of voltage sags within networks. The first stage in this process is classification and detection where several different classification methods (including immune inspired techniques) are compared to determine which algorithms work best under the context of limited monitoring. The research then proposes a novel robust method for performing fault location and voltage sag profile estimation using multiple monitors. The method pays particular attention to the errors in measurement inputs and identifies the most likely location for both the fault location and the voltage magnitude using statistical methods. The voltage sag monitoring research concludes by defining the probable impacts of voltage sags on customers, and by introducing a new measure known as the sag trip probability.The second major section covered by this thesis is optimal monitor placement. This thesis presents a comprehensive methodology which enables network operators to place monitors in locations best suited for voltage sag monitoring based on future likely topological and loading changes.The third major section covered by this thesis is unbalance monitoring. A three phase distribution system state estimation model is developed which can estimate the location and impact of unbalance within the network, without assuming the loading is balanced.The final section of this thesis shows how the worst served customers and the weakest areas of the network can be identified presents for both voltage sag and unbalance using limited monitoring and the developed techniques. The results are presented graphically using a series of topological heat maps, and these show visually how the techniques could work to monitor a distribution network.


1. Data Mining.- 2. Text and Web Mining.- 3. Decision Support.- 4. Integration of Data Mining and Decision Support.- 5 Collaboration in a Data Mining Virtual Organization.- 6. Data Mining Processes and Collaboration Principles.- 7. Decision Support for Data Mining: An Introduction to Roc Analysis and Its Applications.- 8. Data Mining for Decision Support: Supportingmarketing Decisions Through Subgroup Discovery.- 9. Preprocessing for Data Mining and Decision Support.- 10 Data Mining and Decision Support Integration Through the Predictive Model Markup Language Standard and Visualization.- 11 Analysis of Slovenian Media Space.- 12 On the Road to Knowledge: Mining 21 Years of UK Traffic Accident Reports.- 13 Analysis of a Database of Research Projects Using Text Mining and Link Analysis.- 14 Web Site Access Analysis for a National Statistical Agency.- 15 Five Decision Support Applications.- 16. Large and Tall Buildings: A Case Study in the Application of Decision Support and Data Mining.- 17 A Combined Data Mining and Decision Support Approach to Educational Planning.- 18 Collaborative Data Mining with Ramsys and Sumatra TT: prediction of Resources for a Health Farm.- 19 Collaborative Decision Making: An Environmental Case Study.- 20 Lessons Learned From Data Mining, Decision Support and Collaboration.- 21. Internet Support to Collaboration: A KnowledgeManagement and Organizational Memory View.- 22. Mind the Gap: Academia-Business Partnership Models and E-Collaboration Lessons Learned.


This research is conducted to improve the students reading comprehension ability in French Department of State University of Medan. The specific objective of this research is to improve the process as well as the result ability in reading French texts through the Linguistic Functional Systemic approach. The type of this research is action research, conducted on 48 students of French education in academic year 2014-2015. This action research refers to the cycle of action research of Kemmis and MC Taggart which consist of four steps, planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. The results indicate that the ability of reading comprehension of students for each cycle shows satisfaction. Cylce 1 refers to the aspect lexicogrammar in text, cycle 2 the aspect of discourse semantic, and cycle 3, the register. This research shows that the linguistic functional systemic approach can be applied as an alternative to improve the students French reading comprehension.


van Bommel EFH, Leunissen KML, Weimar W. Continuous renal replacement therapy for critically ill patients: an update. J Intensive Care Med 1994; 9: 265–280. Despite continuous progress in intensive care during the last decades, the outcome of critically ill patients in whom acute renal failure (ARF) develops is still poor. This outcome may be explained partially by the frequent occurrence of ARF as part of multiple organ systems failure (MOSF). In this complex and unstable patient population, the provision of adequate renal support with either intermittent hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis may pose major problems. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is now increasingly accepted as the preferred treatment modality in the management of ARF in these patients. The technique offers adequate control of biochemistry and fluid balance in hemodynamically unstable patients, thereby enabling aggressive nutritional and inotropic support without the risk of exacerbating azotemia or fluid overload. In addition, experimental and clinical data suggest that CRRT may have a beneficial influence on hemodynamics and gas exchange in patients with septic shock and (nonrenal) MOSF, independent of an impact on fluid balance. We review both technical and clinical aspects of various continuous therapies, including their impact on serum drug levels and nutrient balance. In addition, an attempt is made to clarify the possible beneficial role of CRRT in reducing patient morbidity and mortality in the ICU.


The main theme and motivation of Mongolian historiographical works of the seventeenth century onwards was the perpetuation and glorification of the Chinggisid lineage. The Mongol chroniclers presented the Chinggisid lineage as sacred and everlasting, like the flow of the sacred Ganges. This paper examines the significance of this perpetuation of the Chinggisid lineage in the construction and reconstruction of the Mongolian identity by examining the historiographical works of the seventeenth through early twentieth centuries.


We evaluate the influence of measurement error in analysts' forecasts on the accuracy of implied cost of capital estimates from various implementations of the 'implied cost of capital' approach, and develop corrections for the measurement error. The implied cost of capital approach relies on analysts' short- and long-term earnings forecasts as proxies for the market's expectation of future earnings, and solves for the implied discount rate that equates the present value of the expected future payoffs to the current stock price. We document predictable error in the implied cost of capital estimates resulting from analysts' forecasts that are sluggish with respect to information in past stock returns. We propose two methods to mitigate the influence of sluggish forecasts on the implied cost of capital estimates. These methods substantially improve the ability of the implied cost of capital estimates to explain cross-sectional variation in future stock returns, which is consistent with the corrections being effective in mitigating the error in the estimates due to analysts' sluggishness.


The performance of claw-pole stepping motors is significantly influenced by stator iron losses due to the flux-carrying nonlaminated construction. To obtain a suitable model of the magnetic circuit, the stator iron is modeled as a conducting slab of simple geometry; the analytical solution of the skin problem can be approximated by a half-order transfer function. The magnetic circuit consists of the conducting slab in series with the air gap; its dual electric circuit is a complex main field inductance, with its inductive and resistive components depending on frequency. This allows one to use a revised version of the conventional synchronous machine model circuit, the parameters of which are determined from tests. The model is used to simulate steady-state operation of the stepping motor when fed by symmetrical currents. Examples are presented of constant current and constant voltage operation. Attention is drawn to the torque curve in continuous operation. Simulations are shown of the current waveforms when the motor is supplied by rectangular voltage. The results are in acceptable agreement with measured values.


Autistic students benefit from child-centered goals that align with evidence-based practices (EBPs) that meet their individualized needs, however, most teachers are not trained in how to implement autism-specific EBPs. The challenges do not lie with teachers alone. Professional development (PD) providers, such as district or regional autism experts who train and coach teachers on how to implement autism-specific EBPs, face barriers accessing the needed supports to conduct high-quality PD and lack experience with individualizing their methods for training and coaching teachers. When PD providers have networks of professional support, they can potentially gain access to resources to provide successful individualized coaching for teachers. No research has measured the impact of the social networks of PD providers on their performance as coaches in classrooms for teachers of autistic students. To test the hypothesis that social network resources can impact the performance of PD providers who coach teachers how to use EBPs for their autistic students, we conducted social network analysis with PD providers. Findings suggest that network factors were associated with the self-reported performance for PD providers. PD providers who have more people in their networks who were autism EBP experts, as well as more people in their networks who supported them with how to individualize their PD efforts to specific teachers or districts, had higher performance as teacher coaches. We discuss future research about how to support network development for PD providers and policy implications.


Introduction An acute bout of strenuous exercise in humans results in transient impairment of nitric oxide (NO)–dependent function, but it remains unknown whether this phenomenon is associated with increased risk of thrombotic events after exercise. This study aimed to evaluate effects of a single bout of exhaustive running in mice on the balance of vascular NO/reactive oxygen species production, and on thrombogenicity. Methods At different time points (0, 2, and 4 h) after exercise and in sedentary C57BL/6 mice, the production of NO and superoxide (•O2−) in aorta was measured by electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping and by dihydroethidium/high-performance liquid chromatography–based method, respectively, whereas collagen-induced thrombus formation was analyzed in a microchip-based flow-chamber system (total thrombus-formation analysis system). We also measured pre- and postexercise plasma concentration of nitrite/nitrate and 6-keto-PGF1&agr;. Results An acute bout of exhaustive running in mice resulted in decreased production of NO and increased production of •O2− in aorta, with maximum changes 2 h after completion of exercise when compared with sedentary mice. However, platelet thrombus formation was not changed by exercise as evidenced by unaltered time to start of thrombus formation, capillary occlusion time, and total thrombogenicity (area under the flow pressure curve) as measured in a flow-chamber system. Strenuous exercise increased the plasma concentration of nitrite but did not affect nitrate and 6-keto-PGF1&agr; concentrations. Conclusion An acute bout of strenuous exercise in mice reduced NO and in parallel increased •O2− production in aorta. This response was most pronounced 2 h after exercise. Surprisingly, the reduced NO and increased •O2− production in mice after exercise did not result in increased platelet-dependent thrombogenicity. These results show that transient reduction in NO bioavailability does not modify thromboresistance in healthy mice after exercise.


The present study examined the magnitude of genetic variation, mode of inheritance and number of loci controlling major genetic differences in hormone-induced ovulation rate in mice. Mice were injected with 5 i.u. PMSG at 28 days of age and 5 i.u. hCG at 30 days, and hormone-induced ovulation rate was determined from counts of oviducal eggs in cumulus the next morning. Six-fold genetic differences in induced ovulation rate were detected amongst strains, ranging from a low mean (+/- s.e.) value of 8.8 (+/- 0.9) in A/J up to 53.5 (+/- 2.2) in C57BL/6J. The number of ova differed significantly amongst strains and amongst F1 crosses (P less than 0.0001): 70% of the variation in hormone-induced ovulation rate was amongst strains. Of 9 F1 crosses examined, 4 showed positive heterosis, 3 showed no heterosis and 2 showed negative heterosis for hormone-induced ovulation rate. Analysis of parental, F1 and F2 generations revealed that the induced ovulation rate of A/J and C57BL/6J mice differed due to the action of about 3 or 4 loci, and A.SW/SnJ and SJL/J mice differed due to the action of about 2 to 3 loci. Analysis of recombinant inbred strains formed from A/J and C57BL/6J confirmed that these strains differed due to the action of a small number of loci. This study demonstrates the existence of a small number of major genes controlling hormone-induced ovulation rate in young mice.


Express buses operating on freeways and arterials are an important part of many metropolitan area transit services. A regional express bus system plan for the San Francisco, California, Bay Area is presented; network, station and stop, operations, and user issues are addressed. Previous work had focused on high-occupancy vehicles on freeways; the current work expands the vision of the system to address the door-to-door trip and service on arterials. Gaps in the high-occupancy-vehicle network, priority treatment strategies, access modes and connections, station and stop design, park-and-ride lots, and public and private access services were analyzed, and other user and operator concerns were addressed. The plan was developed through a partnership that included the state transportation agency, the metropolitan planning organization, local transportation sales tax and congestion management agencies, and transit operators, with university researchers providing technical support and facilitation of meetings. On-board surveys and consumer focus groups were conducted along with stakeholder interviews, field studies, design evaluations, and simulation modeling. The plan not only produced valuable information for future improvements but also helped develop a high level of cooperation and consensus among the participating agencies. Both methods used and lessons learned from the Bay Area experience should be useful to other metropolitan areas and transit operators.


Study Design: Bibliometric analysis. Objective: With the increasing literature of spine surgery, some pioneering research studies have had a significant impact on the field of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). The objective of the authors was to identify and analyze the most frequently cited 100 articles in this field. Methods: Web of Science was searched to identify 100 top-cited articles related to LSS from 2000 to 2019. Articles on the final list were filtered based on their titles and abstracts. The following information were recorded and analyzed with bibliometric method: article title, first author, year of publication, journal of publication, total number of citations, country, institution, and study topic. Results: The citation count for final articles on the list ranged from 71 to 2162, with a mean number of 207.7. The journal Spine contributed the maximum number of articles (37), followed by European Spine Journal (9) and Pain Physician (8). There were collectively 80 first authors contributing to articles on the final list. Twelve authors were represented multiple times in the top 100 articles. The most prolific years were 2008 and 2009, each had 11 articles published. With regard to country and region of origin, most articles were from the United States (58). The most cited article was published in Spine in 2000 by Fairbank and Pynsent, who discussed the role of the Oswestry Disability Index as an evaluation standard in spinal disorders, including LSS. Conclusion: The current study analyzed the 100 most cited articles on LSS. It no doubt developed a useful resource with detailed information for many, particularly orthopedic and neurosurgery physicians who want to assimilate research focus and advance of LSS within a relatively short period. Researchers may benefit from emphasis on citation count while citing and evaluating articles and realize the deficiencies when high-level articles appear.


Vulnerability to climate change is the greatest challenge in the 21st century. Scientists agree with high confidence that global warming (+0.8-1.0 °C since 1900s) is directly linked to a fast acceleration of human activities in advanced nations and the increased burning of fossil fuels for energy and industrial processes, which resulted in a massive concentration of CO2 and other more potent GHGs in the atmosphere. As of 2017, China as the largest emitter released 10,877 MtCO₂e which was almost one-third of the world's total GHG emissions of 37,077 MtCO₂e; furthermore, China's emissions were more than the aggregate emissions of 185 countries. If the governments of industrialized economies and oil/gas producers put their political differences aside and agree on policy reforms to mitigate risks of global warming by 2030, climate change can cost economies worldwide up to $5 trillion by 2050 and $50 trillion by 2100. Rising sea levels, acceleration in melting of glaciers, thinning polar ice, shrinking and breaking off arctic ice, devastating massive floods, and the deadliest bushfires in recent memory are an incontrovertible evidence of a planetary-scale warming. There is enormous social injustice; while five largest GHG emitter countries (China, US, India, Russia, and Japan) account for 58.3% of the total global emissions and still enjoy high standards of living, the most vulnerable poor living in 200 countries bear the burden of climate change even though they contribute the least to its causes. To achieve win-win policies which are necessary for climate (carbon) stabilization as well as a sustainable global economic development path, governments collectively must do the following; phase out coal by no later than 2040; promote energy efficiency as top priority; remove all energy subsidies; establish new funds to assist the least developed and developing countries in their efforts to reduce GHG emissions; and achieve a systems approach to energy.


The waste from nuclear power plants has to be isolated from man and his environment for about 100,000 years to be considered safe. It has been suggested that if the long-lived actinides could be separated from the spent fuel and transmuted, the isolation time could be shortened to about 1,000 years. This, however, requires selective separation of parts of the waste. The partitioning for transmutation research in Europe has for the major part taken place within several European Union Framework Programmes. Within the projects NEWPART, PARTNEW and EUROPART a process scheme for the partitioning of nuclear waste from the PUREX process was developed. The scheme includes the DIAMEX, SANEX and SESAME-processes among which both the DIAMEX and SANEX process has been successfully tested on genuine spent fuel. However, in the latest EU Project ACSEPT, which started in 2008, another approach towards partitioning is being investigated. This is the so called GANEX (Group ActiNide EXtraction) process. In the GANEX process all the actinides in the dissolved spent fuel are extracted as a group and hence separated from the lanthanides as well as the rest of the fission and corrosion/activation products. A novel GANEX process has been developed at Chalmers university of Technology in Sweden. This new process utilizes the properties of already well known extractants by combining BTBP and TBP into one solvent. The system is able to extract U, Np, Pu and Am from strong nitric acid and simultaneously separate these elements from the lanthanides. This is done with sufficiently high distribution ratios and separation factors without the need for any redox control.


There are a large number of devices that conduct diagnosis for abnormality of vehicle in the market. However, those devices support only C-CAN signal among the vehicle signals; therefore, it is not possible to diagnose parts that use B-CAN signal. A majority of vehicle parts generate analog signal in order to operate sensor and actuator. On that account, it is essential to collect electric signal for an accurate diagnosis. However, it is required to connect a number of individual devices in order to diagnose by using the existing equipment; thus, the level of reliability of collected data will be reduced. Moreover, it is also required for an user to undergo data extraction process manually in order to extract valid data from the collected data. As a result, it takes a lot of time and the efficiency of overall inspection and verification will be reduced. Those conventional vehicle diagnostic devices are used when a vehicle is not running. However, the frequency of abnormal signal of an actual vehicle is high while a vehicle is running. The time of occurrence is not uniform either. In general, the critical part is to monitor multiple vehicles simultaneously and finding abnormality of vehicle in this situation in terms of improving the quality of vehicle substantially. This paper developed the dispersed remote vehicle diagnostic system that would collect and analyze CCAN, B-CAN and analog signal. Also, this study secured the reliability of vehicle data with the differentiated performance from the conventional equipment through the synchronization with CAN communication and analog signal. The developed diagnostic system is able to diagnose abnormality of parts and search the cause hereof through the linked analyzed of synchronized AI signal and the segmented diagnosis. It is also able to reduce the unit cost of a purchaser by integrating a large number of individual diagnostic devices. Moreover, it is installed in an actually running vehicle as a system allowing for a small-scale long-hour test. As a result, it is possible to identify the cause in a daily life. It is also believed that it can contribute to the development of vehicle and improvement in research reliability since it facilitates a remote test on vehicle status for a long time.


A new class of intercellular communication has recently emerged that involves transfer of exosomes, especially during the interactions between tumor and the immune system. However, the advantage of exosome-mediated cell-cell communication over direct cell to cell communication mechanisms or through soluble factors is unclear. We have performed mass spectrometry based proteomic profiling of exosomes isolated from pancreatic cancer cell lines, for the exosome cell surface and for the protein cargo. The resulting profiles were compared with proteomic profiles of corresponding cell lysates. We uncovered substantial enrichment in protein pairs in exosomes across cell lines but not in cell lysates, suggestive of a mechanism of exosome-based protein sorting and packaging that favor specific protein combinations. Stochastic simulations and analytical analysis provide supportive evidence that exosomes enable recipient cells to rewire gene regulatory networks to induce robust phenotypic transitions among different gene states. Moreover, from the simulation of two-way exosome-mediated communication of two cell types, we show that cells could achieve synchronized decision making through exosomes. Our integrative approach provides new insights into unique features of exosome-mediated cell-cell communication. Citation Format: Mingyang Lu, Michela Capello, Satyendra C. Tripathi, Herbert Levine, Eshel Ben-Jacob, Samir M. Hanash, Jose Onuchic. The role of exosome-mediated cell-cell communication in inducing phenotypic changes. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 779.


Amitav Ghosh's novel The Shadow Lines (1988) is probably the most important fictional work to have appeared in South Asian literature in the last quarter of a century: it sums up and fictionalises all the major issues of Postcolonial literature – the search for identity, the need for independence and the difficult relationship with colonial culture, the rewriting of colonial past, an attempt at creating a new language and a new narrative form and the use of personal memory to understand communal past. In this article I try to show how Ghosh manages to do so by continually transforming the title metaphor, thus ever changing its meaning. The first part of the essay is devoted to the use of the image of borders in Postcolonial theory, and especially in Salman Rushdie's critical essays, while the last section deals with a novel where the extreme possibilities of the same metaphor are exploited: Rayuela ( Hopscotch ) by Julio Cortazar.


Energy conservation is critical for third generation (3G) cellular systems. In particular, future high-speed packet data services are expected to exhaust the energy of a mobile station rapidly. In 3GPP systems, the radio resource is mainly controlled by the radio resource control (RRC). This paper quantifies the energy consumption and the reconnection ratio for 3GPP systems based on the RRC state machine. Bursty and streaming packet data services are investigated. Through analytic models and comprehensive simulation with various traffic models, the impacts of diverse timer values on the RRC state machine are illustrated. In addition to quantifying energy consumption, appropriate timer values are suggested.


The torque of magnetic coupling with different magnetic poles has been investigated by theoretical computations with both FEA and torque formula techniques. The torque of magnetic coupling is sensitive to the number of magnetic poles, and it decreases with increasing the distance between the magnetic rings. From our theoretical computations, we find that we can increase the torque by increasing the number of poles for magnetic coupling between magnetic rings with short distance; however, this is not true for magnetic rings with large separation. We also demonstrate that the theoretical computations of both MagNet software and torque formula established by Furlani (1993) are quite consistent and useful for computing the torque of various magnetic couplings. Finally, the theoretical calculation has been successfully tested by using an experimental data taken from a NdFeB magnetic coupling. >


Abstract The dependence of oxygen isotope fractionation on ice growth rate during the freezing of sea water is investigated based on laboratory experiments and field observations in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. The laboratory experiments were performed in a tank filled with sea water, with sea ice grown under calm conditions at various room temperatures ranging from −5°C to −20°C. In McMurdo Sound, the ice growth rate was monitored using thermistor probes for first-year landfast ice that grew to ∼2 m in thickness. Combining these datasets allows, for the first time, examination of fractionation at a wide range of growth rates from 0.8 × 10−7 to 9.3 × 10−7 m s−1. In the analysis a stagnant boundary-layer model is parameterized using these two independent datasets. As a result, the optimum values of equilibrium pure-ice fractionation factor and boundary-layer thickness are estimated. It is suggested that a regime shift may occur at a growth rate of ∼2.0 × 10−7 m s−1. A case study on sea ice in the Sea of Okhotsk, where the growth rate is modeled by coupling the thermodynamic properties of the sea ice with meteorological data, demonstrates the utility of the fitted models.


A carbon monoxide safety-shutoff system has been designed, utilizing a thin oxide sensor and modern microprocessor technology. It has been designed to meet the American Gas Association requirements, and its performance has been successfully demonstrated. The development of this device is described in detail, and a simplified schematic diagram of the basic system is shown. >


The purpose of this review is to describe some of our achievements in the total synthesis of the tricyclic marine alkaloids isolated from the ascidians such as fasicularin, lepadiformine, and cylindricine C. The first total synthesis of (±) -fasicularin and (±) -lepadiformine was accomplished employing a stereocontrolled intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of an N-acylnitroso moiety to an exocyclic diene. The synthesis of natural (-) -enantiomer of lepadiformine was then undertaken using a highly efficient protocol involving a new variant of an N-acyliminium ion-initiated intramolecular spirocyclization. These syntheses of lepadiformine led to revision of the published structure of the natural product, formerly assigned incorrectly, and established its absolute stereochemistry to be 2R, 5S, 10S, 13S. The developed strategy based on the spirocyclization was also applied to the total synthesis of (+) -cylindricine C and (-) -fasicularin. The ability of fasicularin to damage DNA by acting as an alkylating agent was investigated.


Understanding complex dynamics of two-sided online matching markets, where the demand-side agents compete to match with the supply-side (arms), has recently received substantial interest. To that end, in this paper, we introduce the framework of decentralized two-sided matching market under non stationary (dynamic) environments. We adhere to the serial dictatorship setting, where the demand-side agents have unknown and different preferences over the supply-side (arms), but the arms have fixed and known preference over the agents. We propose and analyze a decentralized and asynchronous learning algorithm, namely Decentralized Non-stationary Competing Bandits (\texttt{DNCB}), where the agents play (restrictive) successive elimination type learning algorithms to learn their preference over the arms. The complexity in understanding such a system stems from the fact that the competing bandits choose their actions in an asynchronous fashion, and the lower ranked agents only get to learn from a set of arms, not \emph{dominated} by the higher ranked agents, which leads to \emph{forced exploration}. With carefully defined complexity parameters, we characterize this \emph{forced exploration} and obtain sub-linear (logarithmic) regret of \texttt{DNCB}. Furthermore, we validate our theoretical findings via experiments.


In order to enable extensibility, modern query optimizers typically leverage a transformation rule based framework. Testing individual rule correctness as well as correctness of rule interactions is crucial in verifying the functionality of a query optimizer. While there has been a lot of work on how to architect optimizers for extensibility using a rule based framework, there has been relatively little work on how to test such optimizers. In this paper we present a framework for testing query transformation rules which enables: (a) efficient generation of queries that exercise a particular transformation rule or a set of rules and (b) efficient execution of corresponding test suites for correctness testing.


Urbanization has accelerated in the 20th century. This paper will try to examine the stages we have gone through in this past half century and where we seem to be going on infrastructure planning in this century. It will trace the history of infrastructure planning from the modernist period that began in the 1940's to the postmodernist period from the 1980's, followed by the emerging sustainability period in the early 2000's and now as we face an uncertain future, the disruptive innovation period. The paper emphasizes transport and land use planning along with some consideration of energy, water and waste and uses the dominant planning paradigm of the time to frame the discussion and observe how that has influenced the resulting infrastructure outcomes. Illustrations are used from the author's home town of Perth based on practical experience in the planning system.


Bank Muamalat Indonesia (BMI with) is the symbol of the birth of the new banking system (GLBT) which gives the alternative regarding financial management in accordance with the Islamic Sharia. The establishment of the theological orientation in addition to BMI, also can not be separated from the calculation (rationality) behavioral economics. In terms of BMI is as an expression of the orientation of worldliness that is powerful enough to provide a secure banking system options. Analysis using qualitative methods of descriptive-i.e. not limited to at the level of the collection and compiling of data only. But includes also interpretations as to the meaning of the data obtained in an effort to elucidate the socio historical theological against BMI. Thus, BMI as a manifestation of a very important theological orientation, just as important as when the Muslims consider the manifestation of religious orientation embodied in the form of ritual piety (eg: build the mosque, went on Hajj, and so forth). So, in this context the presence of BMI in sociological proves the existence of close relationships (positive correlation) between the doctrines of religion with the actions/behavior of the economic life of the Muslims.


The strategic communication problem consists of a joint source-channel coding problem in which the encoder and the decoder optimize two arbitrary distinct distortion functions. This problem lies on the bridge between Information Theory and Game Theory. As in the persuasion game of Kamenica and Gentzkow, we consider that the encoder commits to an encoding strategy, then the decoder selects the optimal output symbol based on its Bayesian posterior belief. The informational content of the source affects differently the two distinct distortion functions, therefore each symbol is encoded in a specific way. In this work, we consider that the decoder has side information. Accordingly, we reformulate the Bayesian update of the decoder posterior beliefs and the optimal information disclosure policy of the encoder. We provide four different expressions of the solution, in terms of the expected encoder distortion optimized under an information constraint, and it in terms of convex closures of auxiliary distortion functions. We compute the encoder optimal distortion for the doubly symmetric binary source example.


We propose a systematic method to derive the asymptotic behaviour of the persistence distribution, for a large class of stochastic processes described by a general Fokker-Planck equation in one dimension. Theoretical predictions are compared to simple solvable systems and to numerical calculations. The very good agreement attests the validity of this approach.


The Saxon property of Denison Coal Limited is located adjacent to the Alberta Provincial Boundary in the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains within the Peace River Coal Block of British Columbia. Exploration on the property was first carried out in 1970, at which time drill intersections of a high quality metallurgical coking coal were made. A long range plan of exploration commenced in 1975 with a program of detailed geological mapping being followed by intensive exploration aimed at completing a feasibility study towards the end of 1977. Long range planning has not only allowed the precise objectives of the exploration program to be determined, but also allowed strict measures for environmental protection to be imposed. Consequently, a significant reduction in the amount and cost of reclamation of disturbed surface area is anticipated. Hand trenching, helicopter drilling, bridge construction and other techniques have already made significant contributions to reduction of surface disturbance, and new techniques are currently being employed to further reduce surface disturbance and the cost of reclamation, as well as to reduce exploration costs in some instances. Proceedings of the 1 Annual British Columbia Mine Reclamation Symposium in Vernon, BC, 1977. The Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation


The decision making process in business is prone to risk because uncertainty is inherent in the expected outcomes of investments decisions which may lead to losses and business liquidation. The study being a desk research is a descriptive one that applied the Target MOTAD model. It examined the effect of investment decisions, identify inherent risks and suggest proactive measures of handling risk challenges using secondary data such as relevant journals, textbooks and statistical reports. The paper found that a major challenge of investors is recognizing and managing risk due to unstable investment climate. Also the apparent failure of regulatory bodies encouraged greed and dishonesty which informed sharp business practices. This paper thus, concludes that the effects of risk could be minimized, it recommends that regulatory bodies must take proactive measures that could minimize policy summersault and that managements must also be sincere and convinced in their investment decisions in order to minimize their investment portfolio risk.


The interferometric gravitational wave detector Virgo has successfully completed the first major step of its commissioning. It consists of a Michelson interferometer with 6 m arms with suspended mirrors. The interferometer is tuned to the dark fringe with a recycling mirror on the other port (bright fringe) to form an equivalent 12 m long Fabry–Perot cavity. This setup has allowed us to validate the major technology choices that have been made: passive seismic attenuators, a light source with a long mode cleaner, many analogue and digital servo loops, control software, high speed data acquisition system. A sensitivity of 8 × 10−17 m Hz−1/2 at 1 kHz together with a duty cycle of 80% has been attained during a 72 h engineering run. The data analysis allowed us to understand the noise contributions, and several improvements have been carried out while proceeding with the end of the installation of vacuum tubes and the remaining suspensions, and before starting the commissioning of the 3 km long Fabry–Perot cavities.


We have identified a novel 200 kDa nuclear protein that activates the proteasome. The protein, which we call PA200, has been purified to homogeneity from bovine testis and has been shown to activate proteasomal hydrolysis of peptides, but not proteins. Following γ‐irradiation of HeLa cells the uniform nuclear distribution of PA200 changes to a strikingly punctate pattern, a behavior characteristic of many DNA repair proteins. Homologs of PA200 are present in worms, plants and yeast. Others have shown that mutation of yeast PA200 results in hypersensitivity to bleomycin, and exposure of yeast to DNA damaging agents induces the PA200 message. Taken together, these findings implicate PA200 in DNA repair, possibly by recruiting proteasomes to double strand breaks.


This essay reflects upon how teaching with podcasts—as well as students' creation of audio self-portraits, audio character portraits, and digital presentations of Indigenous playwrights' work—directed both students and professor to consider identity and positionality in new ways. Riffing on rhetorics of the ocular vs the aural in discussions of identity, performance, and embodiment, here transcultural and transdisciplinary connections emerge to consider listening as a technology for relationality.


In this paper, we propose a test cases generation method for communication protocols modeled as finite-state machines (FSMs) with counters, which is a subclass of EFSM (extended finite-state machines). We also evaluate the fault coverage of the test suite generated by the proposed method. For evaluating the fault coverage, we suppose that the protocol specifications are implemented in C language and provide a restricted fault model in C language. We developed a mutant generator based on the fault models, and experimented with a sample protocol extracted from the OSI session protocol. An experiment shows that the test suite generated by our method detects faults of every mutant generated by the mutant generator.


Three-dimensional (3-D) geologic mapping using advanced graphics software was used on five horizontal well sites in the Appalachian basin to determine the optimum horizontal well locations and trajectories. This effort was applied in support of an active USDOE/METC program in drilling horizontal wells in the Devonian shales of the Appalachian basin. During preliminary assessments of the sites, a large quantity of geological, well log, and production data were acquired for the interpretation and graphical representation of the subsurface strata. The graphics provided a means of correlating the various reservoir parameters to determine the geologic conditions controlling the openness of the fractures and the best production fairways in a given area. The resulting models were used to determine the optimum location of the horizontal well with respect to the fractured reservoir orientation.


Online facilitation in a cross-cultural collaborative context is increasingly prevalent, but limited research has been conducted on the related issues, two of which are examined in this paper with reference to the empirical data of an exploratory user trial involving multinational facilitators, students and researchers. Results of our meticulous content analysis of online forum messages and videoconference protocols indicate that interpersonal relationships seem not necessary for realizing the task of online collaborative facilitation by a group of facilitators with salient group identity and fixed-term collaboration. The duration of the collaboration and the availability of social cues cannot consistently explain the group's heavy task-orientation. Sociograms illustrate the patterns of facilitator-student interactions. No consistent findings indicate that active facilitation could yield significantly higher students' performances.


Biotechn ology will play a vital role in the overall technological development of the 21st century. Given the rapid speed of globalization coupled with the continuous development of communication technology, small-to-medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) in a variety of high-tech industries in many countries, such as the agriculture biotechnology (agri-biotech) industry in Taiwan, now have a clear path to internationaliza tion. This work is a preliminary attempt to identify key drivers and their relationships in order for Taiwanese agri-biotech SMEs to better understand their internationaliza tion prospects. To do so, the Technology Organization-Env ironment (TOE) framework was used as a theoretical basis to, first specify the key drivers, and second to assess the factors that compose the value of internationaliza tion. This study utilized a survey approach to collect data from Taiwanese agri-biotech SMEs. To test hypothesized rel ationships a Partial Least Squaring (PLS) tool was employed. The results of the analyzed data show that organizational factors have the biggest impact on the value of internationaliza tion, followed by technology, and environmental factors which surprisingly had an insignificant influence. These results indicate that by placing a priority on having a Global Scope, developing adequate Financi al Resources, and improving Marketing Capability SMEs can improve their readiness for internationaliza tion. This study contributes in a more practical sense to an understanding by SMEs of where their efforts should be put in order to be more effective in their international endeavors, and to the government in developing policies that promote the organizational growth and development of its agri-biotech SMEs.


Over the past 12 years, since the inception of the Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) movement, there has been increasing concern that local communities have more input; in fact, that they actually have the opportunity to operate the mental health programs that they deem necessary for their communities.(1)Under the Amendments to the Community Mental Health Act (P.L.94-63) 1975, CMHCs were given such options as independence or governance. The whole process of governance presents numerous problems as well as opportunities. An overview of the vicissitudes of this process is presented in this paper.


We report on the low frequency noise in ballistic point-contacts between a silver tip and a niobium foil. The ballistic nature is confirmed by point-contact Andreev reflection (PCAR) spectroscopy. As has been found by others, a broadening parameter Γ needs to be introduced to fit the PCAR spectra. For contacts with higher resistance, a larger Γ is required to fit the PCAR spectra and we find that random two level fluctuations dominate the noise spectra. This finding suggests that two level fluctuations contribute to the broadening of the gap features.


In this paper, a new definition for Atanassov intuitionistic fuzzy metric space is presented using the concept of Atanassov intuitionistic fuzzy point and Atanassov intuitionistic fuzzy scalars. The distance metric introduced here is then applied to an interesting problem called the orienteering problem that finds application in several industries, such as the home delivery system, robot path planning, tourism industry etc., and in each of these practical applications, the two parameters involved, i.e., score and distance travelled as well as the position of locations cannot be predicted precisely. To tackle these uncertainties, we use trapezoidal Atanassov intuitionistic fuzzy numbers for representing the parameter score. The uniqueness of this paper is the consideration of uncertainty in the position of a city or a location and handling this type of uncertainty using the idea of Atanassov intuitionistic fuzzy points and the distance metric between Atanassov intuitionistic fuzzy points. Further, a method for ranking trapezoidal Atanassov intuitionistic fuzzy numbers has been presented and used for modeling the scores.


Crotonase superfamily enzymes catalyze a wide variety of reactions, including hydrolytic C–C bond cleavage in symmetrical β‐diketones by 6‐oxo camphor hydrolase (OCH) from Rhodococcus sp. The organic solvent tolerance and temperature stability of OCH and its structurally related ortholog Anabaena β‐diketone hydrolase have been investigated. Both enzymes showed excellent tolerance toward organic solvents; for instance, even in the presence of 80% (v/v) THF or dioxane, OCH was still active. In most solvent mixtures, except methanol, the stereospecificity was conserved (>99% e.e. of product), hence neither the type of solvent nor its concentration appeared to have an effect on the stereoselectivity of the enzyme. Attempts to correlate the observed activities with log P, functional solvent group or denaturing capacity (DC) of the solvent were only successful in the case of DC for water miscible solvents. This study represents the first investigation of organic solvent stability for members of the crotonase superfamily. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011;108: 2815–2822. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Ammonium sulfate (AS) provides critical plant nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) nutrients. Compared with other N fertilizers, such as urea and ammonium nitrate (AN), AS may have some potential agronomic and environmental benefits. These are (i) no potential toxicity of aqueous NH3 and nitrite to plants in alkaline soils; (ii) no N loss via NH3 volatilization when surface applied to acid or neutral soils; (iii) a better N source for saline soils by decreasing the negative specific effects of NaCl on plant growth and for saline sodic calcareous soils by improving soil structure; (iv) positive effects of soil acidification on increasing availability of soil phosphorus (P) and applied phosphate rock and soil and applied micronutrients; (v) no contribution of CO2 emission to greenhouse gases; (vi) a potential to use AS to reduce NH3 volatilization from urea and enhance N efficiency of urea; (vii) more acidic root rhizosphere via preference absorption of NH4-N of AS to NO3-N of AN that may increase availability of soil P, applied phosphate rock, and micronutrients; (viii) less NO3-N leaching from AS than AN can increase N efficiency and reduce NO3-N pollution in groundwater and eventually drinking water; and (ix) less denitrification with AS than AN that may increase N efficiency and minimize greenhouse gases (NO and N2O). Ammonium sulfate is more effective than granulated elemental S (ES) or ES-enriched NP fertilizers to provide S nutrient because AS is water soluble, whereas ES requires S oxidation to SO4-S. The possible negative effects of AS compared with other N and S fertilizers are high soil acidification may require more liming and a higher cost per unit of N applied. However, the N cost of AS includes free S nutrient.


This original study explores the difference that space and spatiality make to the understanding of power.

Explores the difference that space and spatiality makes to an understanding of power.

Moves forward the incorporation of ideas of space into social theory.

Presents a new understanding of the exercise, uses and manifestations of cultural, economic and political power in the second half of the twentieth century.

Illustrated with cases and examples.


Purpose The aim of the current study is to report the advantage and disadvantage of total hip arthroplasty performed in direct anterior approach (DAA) by comparing it to the posterolateral approach (PLA). Materials and Methods Twenty-five hip arthroplasty done in DAA (12 total hip arthroplasty [THA] and 13 bipolar hemiarthroplasty [BHA]) were compared with the same number done in PLA (13 THA and 12 BHA). Intraoperative assessments including operation time, anesthetic time, bleeding amount were recorded with intraoperative complications. Immediate postoperatively, position of the prosthesis and leg length discrepancy were measured and were compared between the two approaches. Results The operation time was 22 minutes and 19 minutes longer in DAA for THA and BHA respectively while the anesthetic time difference was 26 and 10 respectively. However, these parameters showed no statistical difference. No significance was found when bleeding amount was compared. For DAA, cup alignment was within safe zone in 100% both for inclination and for anteversion while this was 83.3% and 75.0% respectively in PLA. Leg length difference was 3 mm in DAA and 5 mm in PLA but had no significant difference. Tensor fascia lata tear was the most common complication occurring in 9 patients. Conclusion Although significant was not reached there was trend toward more operation time and anesthetic time when DAA was used. However, the trend also showed that cup and stem were likely to be in more accurate position and in adequate size which is likely due to the accurate use of fluoroscopy.


When there is publication bias, studies yielding large p values, and hence small effect estimates, are less likely to be published, which leads to biased estimates of effects in meta-analysis. We investigate a selection model based on one-tailed p values in the context of a random effects model. The procedure both models the selection process and corrects for the consequences of selection on estimates of the mean and variance of effect parameters. A test of the statistical significance of selection is also provided. The small sample properties of the method are evaluated by means of simulations, and the asymptotic theory is found to be reasonably accurate under correct model specification and plausible conditions. The method substantially reduces bias due to selection when model specification is correct, but the variance of estimates is increased; thus mean squared error is reduced only when selection produces substantial bias. The robustness of the method to violations of assumptions about the form of the distribution of the random effects is also investigated via simulation, and the model-corrected estimates of the mean effect are generally found to be much less biased than the uncorrected estimates. The significance test for selection bias, however, is found to be highly nonrobust, rejecting at up to 10 times the nominal rate when there is no selection but the distribution of the effects is incorrectly specified.


In this paper, we proposed an automatic facial caricaturing system based on multi-view Active Shape Model (ASM). The ASM is used for automatic extraction of feature points. But it is difficult to apply the conventional ASM to facial images with pose variations. We developed a multi-view ASM bank, which includes various ASMs corresponding to each pose. The multi-view ASMs can extract feature points correctly not only for the fontal facial images but also for pose variations. Moreover, we developed an automatic facial caricaturing system. This system consists two parts: automatic extraction of feature points based on multi-view ASMs, and B-spline based caricaturing.


The improvement of seismic performances and the enhancement of the energy efficiency of existing buildings have
nowadays become a priority. Indeed, much of the existing building stock is characterized by great structural,
architectural and thermal obsolescence. In addition to the renovation of existing buildings, a very important aspect
is the repair and upgrading of buildings recently damaged by the seismic events that hit the Italian territory.
In particular, this article takes into account a school located in the municipality of Pievebovigliana, province of
Macerata, which got damaged by the earthquakes that hit Central Italy on 24.08.2016 and 30.10.2016. In detail, the
article refers to a one-story building characterized by an irregular plan configuration. The gravity load resisting
system is made by masonry walls with regular blocks; in addition, few reinforced concrete columns embedded in
the masonry walls support the roof girders.
Different strategies of anti-seismic retrofit measures and thermal improvements are analyzed and dimensioned, assessing the potential environmental loads and potential future scenarios. In addition to the structural safety and to the enhancement of the energy performance, the environmental impact related to each retrofit action is assessed, therefore following a Life Cycle Thinking approach.


50 out of 657 stress-incontinent women were explored before and 19 months after vaginal hysterectomy with anterior and posterior colporrhapy as follows: 1) degree of incontinence, 2) lateral urethrocystography, 3) simultaneous pressure recordings of bladder urethra and rectum. Urodynamical investigations showed a continence zone in one third of the patients after surgery. The descensus was normalized in one third and improved in two third of the cases. The operation failed in 6%, 22% had an improvement, and 72% felt cured from their stress-incontinence. Our investigations show poor correlation between clinical symptoms, urodynamical, and radiological findings.


In ammonites, the time between two successive septal secretions is assumed to be almost stable during growth within homogeneous sets with regard to phylogeny and morphology. The number of septa (included in the adult phragmocone) is proposed as an alternative standard for age. At each moment of growth, the rate of shell secretion can be directly estimated by the measure of shell length between two septa. Equivalent results are obtained for ribs whose formation is also dependent on an almost stable rhythmical process. Results obtained from septa and size used as age standards are compared in the example of Liparoceratidae-Amaltheidae evolution. The two standards provide estimations of age which diverge from more than 1 to 2. For example, some small species previously seen as progenetic are now classified as dwarfed. These results emphasize the risk of using size as the only standard of age. Alternative standards not only in ammonites but also in other animal groups should be investigated.


PURPOSE
The PAX6 gene mutation in aniridia has been studied in various ethnic patients, but not well studied in the Chinese population. In the present study, we have investigated the PAX6 gene mutation in a Chinese family with congenital aniridia.

METHODS
Total genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood of three aniridia patients (who also suffered from bilateral congenital cataracts) and two non-carriers in a Chinese family. Fourteen exons of the PAX6 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products of each exon were analyzed by single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP). The PCR products with abnormal SSCP patterns were subcloned and sequenced to identify the mutation.

RESULTS
Abnormal SSCP patterns were found in all affected patients but not in non-carrier family members. A novel mutation (c.857delG) in exon 7 was detected by sequencing analysis. This frame shift mutation was predicted to lead to a pre-stop codon in exon 8, and generate a novel 40 amino acid peptide from codon 165.

CONCLUSIONS
A novel PAX6 gene mutation was identified in a Chinese aniridia family. This mutation may also contribute to congenital cataracts in these aniridia patients.


This volume is edited by five international authorities on the molecular biology of neurologic disease and includes chapters by many of the neuroscientists who have made major contributions to the field. A majority of the authors are clinicians, which make most chapters readable and useful for the neurologist. The 66 chapters begin with five introductory chapters that review general concepts of genetics with specific reference to neurologic diseases. Fifty subsequent chapters address specific diseases or groups of diseases. The final two chapters consider the prospects of gene therapy and the importance of the Human Genome Project for neurologic disease. Each chapter begins with a useful abstract, and each diseasefocused chapter begins with a clinical discussion. The various chapters by the five editors are particularly strong, representing summaries of their seminal contributions. The book cannot be viewed as a textbook, since some important neurologic diseases with a genetic basis or genetic


Current research on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients is reviewed, and some hypotheses to explain why anticipatory and post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting appear are suggested. Methodological problems are also discussed. It is suggested that future research should focus on post-chemotherapy nausea and emesis, rather than anticipatory nausea and emesis, in order to achieve a deeper understanding of the psychological factors involved in the development of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.


This article introduces two previously unstudied labouring class poems, and one example of labouring class poetry reading, from eighteenth-century Scotland. Alexander Bilsland, George Tassie and Ann Wylie were participants in the Cambuslang revival of 1741. In the revival's archive of spiritual narratives, compiled by the minister of Cambuslang, there is one poem by Bilsland, one by Tassie and an account of poetry reading by Wylie. In what follows, I situate these in the culture of popular religious reading and psalm singing at Cambuslang, and argue in favour of the case made by C.R.A. Gribben: that Scottish literary culture and Scottish religious culture were not necessarily in conflict and could be mutually supportive. This case has been successfully advanced in discussions of sixteenth-and seventeenth-century by Gribben, and other contributors to Literature and the Scottish Reformation among others. I aim to extend the case for Calvinism as a force that could, at least sometimes, nourish literature, to eighteenth-century Scotland.


We study the quantum scattering in two spatial dimensions (2D). Our computational scheme allows to quantitatively analyze the scattering parameters for the strong anisotropy of the interaction potential. High efficiency of the method is demonstrated for the 2D scattering on the cylindrical potential with the elliptical base and dipole-dipole collisions in the plane. We reproduce the result for the 2D scattering of polarized dipoles in binary collisions obtained recently by Ticknor [Phys. Rev. A {\bf 84}, 032702 (2011)] and explore the 2D collisions of unpolarized dipoles.


Transient voltages occur on the terminals of superconducting coils and may lead to internal over-voltages. The main objective of this work was to calculate the transient electrical behaviour and internal voltage distribution within the ITER poloidal field (PF) coils at four scenarios and was made using the PF 3 and PF 6 coils as examples. The calculated maximum voltages will be used for definition of amplitudes and voltage waveforms for the tests of the high-voltage insulation of the coils.


We present a new spectral method for the direct numerical simulation of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence at low magnetic Reynolds number. The originality of our approach is that instead of using traditional bases of functions, it relies on the basis of eigenmodes of the dissipation operator, which represents viscous and Joule dissipation. We apply this idea to the simple case of a periodic domain in the three directions of space, with a homogeneous magnetic field in the ez direction. The basis is then still a subset of the Fourier space, but ordered by growing linear decay rate |λ| (i.e. according to the least dissipative modes). We show that because the lines of constant energy tend to follow those of constant |λ| in the Fourier space, the scaling for the smallest scales |λmax| in a forced flow can be expressed, using this single parameter, as a function of the Reynolds number as $\(\sqrt{1\lambda^{max}|}/(2\upi k_f)\simeq 0.5\Rey^{1/2}\)$, where kf is the forcing wavelength, or as a function of the Grashof number Gf, which gives a non-dimensional measure of the forcing, as |λmax|1/2/(2πkf) ≃ 0.47Gf0.20. This scaling is also found to be consistent with heuristic scalings derived by Alemany et al. (J. Mec., vol. 18, 1979, pp. 277–313) and Pothérat & Alboussière (Phys. Fluids, vol. 15, 2003, pp. 3170–3180) for interaction parameter S ≳ 1, and which we are able to numerically quantify as k⊥max/kf ≃ 0.5Re1/2 and kzmax/kf ≃ 0.8kfRe/Ha. Finally, we show that the set of least dissipative modes gives a relevant prediction for the scale of the first three-dimensional structure to appear in a forced, initially two-dimensional turbulent flow. This completes our numerical demonstration that the least dissipative modes can be used to simulate both two- and three-dimensional low-Rm magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows.


Liriomyza sativae Blanchard and Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) are two highly polyphagous pests that successively invaded China in the 1990s and 2000s, respectively, threatening vegetable and horticultural plants. Competitive displacement of L. sativae by L. trifolii occurred during the expansion process of the latter in southern China. However, whether L. trifolii can expand their range to northern China and, if so, how they compete with L. sativae in northern China remains unclear. Overwintering and cold tolerance capacity largely determine the species distribution range and can affect species displacement through overwintering and phenology. In this study, we compared the overwintering potential, cold tolerance and supercooling point (SCP) between these two leafminer species. Our results showed that L. trifolii can overwinter at higher altitudes than L. sativae. In addition, we found that they can both successfully overwinter in greenhouses in northern China, and the overwintering capacity of L. trifolii was higher than that of L. sativae. Moreover, the extreme low-temperature survival of L. trifolii was significantly higher than that of L. sativae, and the SCP of the former was lower than that of the latter. We thus conclude that the overwintering and cold tolerance capacity of L. trifolii is much better than that of L. sativae. Our findings indicate that L. trifolii has the potential to displace L. sativae and expand its range to northern China. Moreover, our results have important implications for predicting overwinter ranges and developing management strategies for invasive leafminers in China.


A variable‐metric (V‐M) crystal is one in which the spacing between the crystalline planes changes with position in the crystal. This variation can be either parallel to the crystalline planes or perpendicular to the crystalline planes of interest and can be produced by either introducing a thermal gradient in the crystal or by growing a crystal made of two or more elements and changing the relative percentages of the two elements as the crystal is grown. A series of experiments was performed in the laboratory to demonstrate the principle of the variable‐metric crystal and its potential use in synchrotron beam lines. One of the most useful applications of the V‐M crystal is to increase the number of photons per unit bandwidth in a diffracted beam without losing any of the overall intensity. In a normal synchrotron beam line that uses a two‐crystal monochromator, the band width of the diffracted photon beam is determined by the vertical opening angle of the beam which is typically 0.10–0.30 mrad or 20–60 a...


This paper proposes a supervised change detection technique for multitemporal remote sensing images. The technique is presented after studying three different models for change detection using neural network and assimilating the unique feature of each of the model. The technique is based on Hopfield neural network modified to model spatial correlation between neighboring pixels of the difference image. Each pixel in the difference image is represented by a neuron in the Hopfield network that is connected to its neighbors. These connections to the neighboring units model the spatial correlation between pixels and are assigned weights according to their influence on each other with help of training sets. The information about the status of the network is rendered through an energy function allocated to the network. A threshold is defined for segmenting the pixels into two classes of pixel-changed and unchanged. Change detection map is obtained by iteratively updating the output status of the neurons until a minimum of the energy function is reached and the network assumes a stable state. Experimental results carried out on two multispectral multitemporal remote sensing images confirm the effectiveness of the proposed technique.


Summary In 1948 the famous French neurologist Théophile Alajouanine published the article "Aphasia and artistic realization", a landmark in the field of research about aphasia, which discussed the case of the composer Maurice Ravel (1875–1937). Since then, many researchers have explored the final illness of the composer. In 2003 Medical Science Monitor published 2 articles about the case. In this article we intend to present works published on the Ravel case, to discuss them, and to suggest a general overview on the topic. Many hypotheses have been proposed by researchers, but complete diagnosis is still an enigma, since no post-mortem was made. The most up-to-date perspective seems to point to comorbidity of superimposed elements, which might date back to the composer's fragile youth.


> Frequent fetal premature ventricular contractions were diagnosed at 39 weeks of gestation. To avoid unnecessary cesarean section, the mother was administered propranolol hydrochloride orally. The tococardiography became feasible and permitted us to evaluate fetal well-being. The patient successfully delivered transvaginally a male infant at 40 weeks of gestation.


Background and purpose: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder which is the most common cause of dementia in elderly. Fibroblast growth factor 1(FGF1) selectively protects neurons against neurotoxic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the G/A (rs34011) FGF1 gene polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease in southwest of Iran. Materials and methods: A case-control study was conducted in which 89 AD patients and 73 healthy subjects enrolled. Genotypes were determined by the PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) technique in two groups. Results: The АА genotype frequencies were 11% and 4.3% in patients and controls, respectively. The А allele frequencies in AD patients and controls were 38.8% and 30.1% respectively. Significant differences were seen in the frequencies of AA genotypes and A-alleles between the patients and control group (P=0.028 and P=0.015, respectively). Also, when the samples were classified according to gender, significant differences were found in the frequencies of AA genotypes (P=0.033) and A-alleles (P=0.008) between female subjects in patients with AD and controls. Conclusion: This study suggests that (G/A) (rs34011) FGF1 gene polymorphism could be associated with AD in southwest of Iran. Also, the FGF1 gene AA genotype frequency or A allele frequency might be a genetic risk factor for developing AD.


This manuscript discusses the application of chemometrics to the handling of capillary electrophoresis (CE) response data using the internal standard method. Derivative treatment (D method) of CE response data was used. Furthermore, convolution of the resulting derivative curves using discrete Fourier functions, the so-called D/FF method, was applied. This approach is extremely beneficial where ideal baseline separation of electrophoretic peaks cannot be achieved, as in the case of drug isomers, structural related impurities or degradation products. The potential of these methods for resolving overlapping peaks was evaluated using the hydrolysis of hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) as an illustrative model. CE analysis was performed using a deactivated fused silica capillary (55 cm effective length and 75 µm i.d.), and background electrolyte solution consisted of phosphate buffer (20 mm, pH 8.0). Both chemometric methods allowed the determination of the intact drug (HCT) and its degraded form with high a degree of accuracy and precision. This was found to be beneficial in studying the degradation kinetics of hydrolysis of HCT at different temperatures. The corresponding pseudo-first order rate constants and half-lives were calculated. Finally, the proposed method made use of diode array detection as a tool for peak identity and purity confirmation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The results of experience with cortisone and six other corticosteroids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been tabulated for comparison. The seven hormones all have potent ameliorating effects in that they permit increased function without greatly affecting the course of the disease. Some of the disagreeable systemic side-effects can be avoided by injecting the hormone into the inflamed joints, and few serious complications have been observed in more than 92,000 such injections in 3,000 patients. When side-effects occur, the hormone can be withdrawn provided this is done gradually over periods of at least several months. In 72 patients treated with dexamethasone increased appetite, weight gain, and mental stimulation were frequently encountered as side-effects. It is still not the ideal corticosteroid, but it is a useful addition to the list.


Despite extensive immunization with Salk vaccine in Seattle-King County since 1955 and the coincident rapid decrease in poliomyelitis,1some wariness existed (R.T.R.) concerning the possibility of an outbreak of poliomyelitis among the less-immunized lower socioeconomic groups—such as had occurred in Chicago2and Detroit.3 An attempt was therefore made during the spring of 1959 to improve the immunization status of the lower socioeconomic groups—by means of additional publicity urging immunization and by making free immunization more readily available. Immunization for poliomyelitis was made more readily available via district clinics and, during June, a door-to-door immunization program was performed in the High Point public housing project in Southwest Seattle which houses 1,200 families and has an annual turnover of 65%. Subsequently, increasing occurrence of poliomyelitis during June, July, and August, after such preventive measures, caused especial concern—particularly because most of the early cases occurred in and nearby the Reminding


Abstract Leaves of the giant leather-fern, Acrostichum danaeifolium, were infested by larvae of an unknown species of moth (microlepidoptera) at a mangrove site on the Gulf of Mexico. During a nine-month observation period these moths infested 87% of the ferns and 41% of their leaves. The damage caused by the moth larvae consisted of galleries bored into the petioles and rachis; however, this did not affect maximum leaf size. The galleries form a microhabitat that later can be colonized by ants. Among ten ant species found, two introduced tramp species, Tapinoma sessile and Wasmannia auropunctata were the most common ones. Because it does not produce domatia or extrafloral nectaries to attract ants directly, the giant leather-fern becomes an involuntary myrmecophyte by harboring ants in the moth-constructed galleries.


Despite the recommendation of the international BIM standard ISO 19650, the current scope management process and practice for a BIM-enabled project need to be improved for the full benefits of the BIM adoption. Due to a lack of clarity in BIM-enabled project scope definition and roles and responsibilities for project key participants, unnecessary reworks and various change orders are occurred in the project execution phase. To minimise reworks and improve productivity, it is essential to understand the status of BIM-enabled project scope management practice. However, the current practice of scope management in a BIM-enabled project environment has been rarely studied. Thus, the research aims to identify the current scope management practice for BIM-enabled construction projects via interviews. It is revealed that the current scope definition process fails to provide clear roles and responsibilities for a BIM manager and a project manager separately. Additionally, the disconnection between the PIM and AIM causes ineffectiveness of utilising lessons learned for scope definition. The research findings will contribute to providing insights to improve the current scope management practice more suitable for a BIM-enabled project.


In this Note, we discuss the Helmholtz spacing for a pair of thin rectangular coils of arbitrary aspect ratio and consider how best to use such coils to compensate for Earth's magnetic field along the coils' Cartesian symmetry axes. Such coils are frequently used in conjunction with charged-particle beam machines. The Helmholtz spacing varies non-monotonically between that for square coils and that for four optimally spaced infinite wires. We consider other coil spacings that extend the length over which the field varies by less than some tolerance along the Cartesian symmetry axes. The calculations also provide a convenient means to evaluate when the length of the coils is sufficiently long to be considered infinite at the center point within a fixed tolerance.


This work presents the development of the additive manufacturing process of large metal components based on concentric wire laser deposition technology. This technology is recognized as of great interest by the aeronautical sector as it would allow to reduce the cost of titanium components that currently require very expensive forging and machining operations.
Experimentally, the different types of failure of the deposition process are shown, as well as the different stages of the process, starting with single-weld deposition and ending with the construction of regular solid geometries. A priori, wire deposition has structural advantages compared to metal powder deposition. This work focuses on the adjustment of the process from a macroscopic and merely geometric point of view prior to the microstructural and properties analysis foreseen in future works.

Keywords: Laser Metal Deposition, Wire, Concentric, Cladding, Additive manufacturing, 3D printing


Schwannomas, also known as neurilemmomas, are benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Trigeminal schwannomas are rare intracranial tumors. Here, we report a 35-year-old female presenting with an axial proptosis of right eyeball with right-sided III, IV and VI cranial nerve palsy. Her best corrected visual acuity in the right eye was perception of light absent and in the left eye was 20/20. MRI scan revealed a large right-sided heterogeneous, extra-axial middle cranial fossa mass that extended to the intraconal space of right orbit. A diagnosis of intracranial trigeminal nerve schwannoma with right orbital extension was made. Successful surgical excision of the mass with preservation of the surrounding tissues and orbital exenteration was done. Post-operative period was uneventful.


Applicability of the vibration correlation technique (VCT) for nondestructive evaluation of the axial buckling load is considered. Thin-walled cylindrical shells with and without circular cutouts have been produced by adhesive overlap bonding from a sheet of aluminium alloy. Both mid-surface and bond-line imperfections of initial shell geometry have been characterized by a laser scanner. Vibration response of shells under axial compression has been monitored to experimentally determine the variation of the first eigenfrequency as a function of applied load. It is demonstrated that VCT provides reliable estimate of buckling load when structure has been loaded up to at least 60% of the critical load. This applies to uncut structures where global failure mode is governing collapse of the structure. By contrast, a local buckling in the vicinity of a cutout could not be predicted by VCT means. Nevertheless, it has been demonstrated that certain reinforcement around cutout may enable the global failure mode and corresponding reliability of VCT estimation.


Who is Uncle Albert? The figure at the centre of Russell Stannard's More Letters to Uncle Albert, as well as his earlier adventures in modern physics, is suitably enigmatic. Clearly the genial, white-headed old scientist on the book's cover owes much to the appearance and anecdotal personality of his more famous namesake. This collection of big questions from real children, however, sees some slipping of the authorial mask and it is often uncertain exactly how fictional our hero really is. This would not matter, except that the fact that the benevolent oracle is a physicist rather than a saint or a poet or Father Christmas says a good deal about the position of science at the centre of our modern culture. Most telling is the way in which Albert is called upon to answer questions that might normally be considered to lie far beyond his professional remit. So, after tackling the mysteries of space and time with familiar aplomb, and pausing only to encourage his young readers with the assurance that `the answers to the next questions will be easier', he brings us face to face with cosmic teasers like `Was there really an Adam or Eve?', `Why are we killing each other and not living happy and peacefully?' and `Is God left handed or right?' Albert is at his most revealing here. Fully aware that he is caught on the farthest parameters of his discipline, he retreats into a traditionally passive description of the scientist's role: `Scientists have the job of understanding and describing the world we live in. But that doesn't mean we can explain why the world is like it is'. One suspects that the subtlety of this distinction will be lost on most children, much as it was on the medieval church; its policy of non-engagement certainly leads to some of the least satisfactory responses in this book. Under its influence Albert resorts to a kind of biological determinism when trying to account for the existence of war. Unfortunately, shrugging references to our DNA codes, like other forms of determinism, cannot withstand the assault of a child's repeated `but why's', assiduously reductive as the best efforts of any particle physicist. Besides spells of detachment, and occasional wobbles brought on by his fictional/non-fictional identity crisis, Uncle Albert's tone is sometimes betrayed by uncertainty about his book's target audience. An answer will whistle over the head of a five year-old enquirer, perhaps reaching the ten and eleven year-olds who comprise the attentive audiences at his many school visits, or more likely end up in the laps of the well-meaning parents who will slip this volume discreetly into a Christmas stocking beside a copy of the latest Spice Girls CD. So much for negatives. Most of what has been said so far is by nature of a qualification to the courage, integrity and skill with which Uncle Albert negotiates the kinds of questions that the majority of adults are either too frightened or numb to face. At their best the replies show that scientific enquiry entails a disciplining rather than a repression of feeling; they are happy to convey vastness with the thrillingly cumulative `big, big, big' rather than a grown-up big to the power of three. The children, of course, know this already, and the other great pleasure of this peculiar book is their freshness of perception and the way it can startle us once again with the blueness of the sea or the whiteness of snow.


The authors present the architecture of a low-power system-on-chip (SoC) that implements baseband processing as well as the medium access control and data link control functionalities of a 5 GHz wireless system. The design is based on the HIPERLAN/2 wireless LAN standard, but it also covers critical processing requirements of the IEEE 802.11a standard. The options, constraints and motivations for the taken design decisions are presented, and the followed design steps, starting from the system specifications up to the architecture definition and the system implementation, are explained. The system's functionality covers both mobile terminal and access point devices. A critical design task in such systems is the assignment of the target system's tasks on the different types of processing elements available. Processor cores, dedicated hardware as well as memory elements and advanced bus architectures are used in order to achieve the target implementation. The architecture is targeted for a low-power SoC platform, due to the fact that power consumption is a critical parameter in electronic portable system design where excess power dissipation can lead to expensive and less reliable systems. A system prototype has been developed on a FPGA-based platform (including microprocessor modules). This FPGA-based prototype is currently being migrated to a SoC, which requires that the treatment of important issues such as clock handling, synthesis, testability and debugging is addressed.


We transfer the common notion of marketplaces as locations for trading to infrastructures for electronic commerce. Then, we argue that multi-agent systems are a promising technology to realise such electronic marketplaces because of the autonomous, task-oriented, and interactive capabilities of agents in dynamic and distributed environments. We present the agent toolkit JIAC IV and describe its special features that make it a suitable candidate for the realisation of electronic marketplaces. In more detail, we describe how interactions between agents are made more flexible and reliable by a service scheme, which covers generic aspects of interactions.


The author states that descriptions of the perception of figurative paintings and sculptures traditionally have been confused by the intrusion of interpretive explanations. Phenomenological description—that is, description as determined as much as possible by the phenomena (paintings and sculptures) rather than by theoretical considerations—indicates that sculptures are perceived in significantly different ways from paintings. He finds that failure to be clear about these differences not only confuses an understanding of these two art forms but, in turn, tends to confuse the perception of them. If painting is classified as a visual art, then sculpture is a visual-tactual art. If painting is classified as a 'static' art, then sculpture is a 'dynamic' art. Painting arrests the spectacle of the world, for painting is primarily about the patina of things, the surfaces of shapes that have already emerged. Figurative sculpture is more about things as they are emerging.


The location of wildlife is frequently determined using telemetry data gathered at short intervals. If radio transmissions are reflected, as often occurs in mountainous regions, then existing location estimation techniques re unreliable. We explore the effects of gross observation errors upon current analyses and suggest an alternative analysis based on robust state-space time-series modeling. We determine location estimates and their precisions, both for simulated and real mule-deer data, using current and robust procedures. Implementation and specification of filter parameters are also discussed. We conclude that the proposed filter-smoother is similar to the Gaussian filter-smoother when data are not greatly contaminated and that the robust version improves upon location estimates when contamination is large.


We propose a new Monte Carlo method for sampling from multimodal distributions. The idea of this technique is based on splitting the task into two: finding the modes of a target distribution $\pi$ and sampling, given the knowledge of the locations of the modes. The sampling algorithm relies on steps of two types: local ones, preserving the mode; and jumps to regions associated with different modes. Besides, the method learns the optimal parameters of the algorithm while it runs, without requiring user intervention. Our technique should be considered as a flexible framework, in which the design of moves can follow various strategies known from the broad MCMC literature.
In order to design an adaptive scheme that facilitates both local and jump moves, we introduce an auxiliary variable representing each mode and we define a new target distribution $\tilde{\pi}$ on an augmented state space $\mathcal{X}~\times~\mathcal{I}$, where $\mathcal{X}$ is the original state space of $\pi$ and $\mathcal{I}$ is the set of the modes. As the algorithm runs and updates its parameters, the target distribution $\tilde{\pi}$ also keeps being modified. This motivates a new class of algorithms, Auxiliary Variable Adaptive MCMC. We prove general ergodic results for the whole class before specialising to the case of our algorithm.