The objective of this article is to shed light on the potential benefits of asset-liability management techniques, originally developed for institutional money management, in a private wealth management context. The authors show that much of the complexity of optimal asset allocation decisions for private investors can be captured through the addition of a single state variable—liability value—which accounts in a parsimonious way for investors' specific constraints and objectives. An asset-liability management approach to private wealth management has a direct impact on the selection of asset classes because it requires a consideration of the liability-hedging properties of various asset classes, that would, by definition, be absent from an asset-only perspective. An asset-liability perspective also leads to the use of the liability portfolio as a benchmark, or numeraire, acknowledging that, for private investors, terminal wealth per se is not as important as the investor's ability to achieve goals, such as preparing for retirement or buying property.


Metastatic malignant melanoma is a disease with a long time survival rate of only 5%. Since there is no effective treatment for advanced melanoma, detection of molecular markers involved in tumor progression and drug resistance can hopefully provide new insight in therapeutically aspects of this disease. We have been studying B7-H3 – a glycosylated transmembrane protein which has been shown to play a role in cancer progression through its immunoregulatory properties. B7-H3 is highly expressed in melanoma cell lines as well as in clinical melanoma specimens, and we have previously demonstrated a role of the protein in chemoresistance. Thus, in this study, we wanted to investigate the possible function of B7-H3 in melanoma metastasis development. We found that short hairpin RNA silencing of B7-H3 reduced the migratory potential as well as the matrigel-invasiveness of the malignant melanoma cells in vitro. In an in vivo experimental metastasis model, silencing of B7-H3 increased the symptom-free survival of nude mice and rats significantly, this in parallel with a lower fraction mice having microscopically detectable metastasis compared to control mice. The brain was the predominant organ with metastases and a clear difference between the nude mice injected with B7-H3 expressing cells and B7-H3 knock down cells was observed, with 10/14 and 6/17 mice having brain tumors, respectively. Furthermore, we found the expression of several metastasis-associated proteins, such as MMP-2, TIMP1 and TIMP2 to be regulated by B7-H3. In addition, the secretion of IL-8 was markedly reduced in the B7-H3 knock down cells as well as the phosphorylation of Stat3. Interestingly, activated Stat3 is known to play a role in brain metastasis. Taken together, our findings suggest that B7-H3 might be a potential therapeutic target for anti-metastasis therapy in human melanoma. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2423. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2423


We consider the form of a breaking wave dissipation term for use in spectral or stochastic wave evolution models. A time-domain Boussinesq model is tested for accuracy in modelling evolution of second and third moment statistics in shoaling and breaking waves. The structure of the dissipation term in the time domain is then used to infer the corresponding structure of the term in the frequency domain. In general, we find that the dissipation coefficient is distributed like 1/Sη(f), where Sη(f) is the spectral density of the surface displacement η. This implies an f2 dependence for the coefficient in the inner surfzone, as opposed to a constant distribution over frequency as suggested by Eldeberky and Battjes (1996).


We theoretically study sedimentation-diffusion equilibrium of dilute binary, ternary, and polydisperse mixtures of colloidal particles with different buoyant masses and/or charges. We focus on the low-salt regime, where the entropy of the screening ions drives spontaneous charge separation and the formation of an inhomogeneous macroscopic electric field. The resulting electric force lifts the colloids against gravity, yielding highly nonbarometric and even nonmonotonic colloidal density profiles. The most profound effect is the phenomenon of segregation into layers of colloids with equal mass-per-charge, including the possibility that heavy colloidal species float onto lighter ones.


The survival of patients with favorable lymphoma entered on various Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) studies was analyzed according to the degree of nodularity. A pure nodular pattern (NN), defined as nodularity involving 75% or more of the cross-sectional area, was found to be an important favorable prognostic indicator as compared with a nodular-diffuse pattern (ND). The median survival in 336 patients with NN of 68.2 months was significantly better than the 39.6 months in 87 patients with ND (P less than .003). The median survival in NN-lymphocytic poorly differentiated (LPD) was 77.2 months v 44.3 months for ND-LPD. NN-M median survival of 56.4 months contrasted with only 25.5 months for ND-mixed lymphocytic and histiocytic (M). The degree of nodularity as defined in this study appears to have significant prognostic implication and should be more widely used by pathologists.


Improvements to reduce chemical waste and environmental pollution for variable-rate sprayers used in orchards and ornamental nurseries require inline injection techniques. A microprocessor controlled premixing inline injection system implementing a ceramic piston chemical metering pump and two small transition tanks was developed for air-assisted variable-rate sprayers. Unlike conventional direct inline injection systems that inject chemical concentrates into the delivery lines, this system first dispensed specific amounts of water and chemical concentrates into an injection chamber and then agitated the mixture in a transition (or premixing) tank. The mixture was then transferred into a second transition (or buffer) tank for discharge from the spray pump. This process was repeated when the buffer tank neared empty. The mixture in the buffer tank was maintained at a constant concentration that allowed the sprayer to discharge a wide dynamic range of variable-rate outputs with a consistent concentration for every nozzle. A touch screen monitor with an embedded computer allowed operators to interface with the injection system. The metering pump accuracy was verified with three simulated pesticides (water, prime oil, and milk). Mixture uniformity consistency was tested with six different viscous simulated pesticides (sucrose solutions) at viscosities ranging from 0.9 to 31.3 mPa-s. Test results confirmed that the metering pump accurately dispensed the simulated pesticides at different pump speeds, and the premixing inline injection system provided consistent concentrations of spray mixtures at the spray pump outlet. The new system avoided lag time, inconsistent spray mixture concentrations and inaccurate metering of chemical concentrates at low flow rates associated with conventional direct inline injection systems, and can further improve spray application efficiencies for variable-rate precision sprayers.


The potential of ligninases as a green tool for effective valorization of lignin can be shown through enzymatic cocktails containing different lignin degrading enzymes. The present study deals with the screening of potential fungal strains useful for the liquefaction of bark containing lignin. Three different local isolates (Pleurotus ostreatus POS97/14, Pycnoporus sanguineus and the local isolated fungal strain) were selected out of ten different strains for ligninases production. Maximum production of enzymes was observed in the local isolated fungal strain after ten days in submerged fermentation.The isolated fungal strain produces ligninases mainly for manganese peroxidase (MnP). The enzyme oxidized a variety of the usual MnP substrates, including lignin related phenols. Furthermore, the partial purification for MnP was determined by FPLC and the molecular weight was evaluated by SDS-PAGE.


Bitcoins have emerged as a possible competitor to usual currencies, but other crypto-currencies have likewise appeared as competitors to the Bitcoin currency. The expanding market of crypto-currencies now involves capital equivalent to $10^{10}$ US Dollars, providing academia with an unusual opportunity to study the emergence of value. Here we show that the Bitcoin currency in itself is not special, but may rather be understood as the contemporary dominating crypto-currency that may well be replaced by other currencies. We suggest that perception of value in a social system is generated by a voter-like dynamics, where fashions form and disperse even in the case where information is only exchanged on a pairwise basis between agents.


Concentrically Braced Frames (CBFs) are among the most commonly used lateral resisting systems utilized in the construction of steel structures due to their rigidity, low lateral displacement and ease of implementation. However, the lack of ductility due to the buckling that occurs in the bracing elements before yielding is their main disadvantage. This study presents an innovative Composite Buckling Restrained Fuse (CBRF) to be used as a bracing segment in concentrically braced frames that improves the ductility and eliminates premature buckling. The proposed CBRF with relatively small dimensions is a hysteretic damper consisting of thin steel plate core and extra tensile elements embedded in a composite encasement. Two CBRF samples are designed and tested experimentally. The results indicate that the proposed structural fuse has a ductile behaviour with high energy absorption and sufficient strength along with a reasonably stable hysteretic response under cyclic load.


Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni is the causal agent of bacterial spot disease of stone fruits and almond. The bacterium is distributed throughout the major stone-fruit-producing areas of the World and is considered a quarantine organism in the European Union according to the Council Directive 2000/29/EC, and by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization. The effect of leaf wetness duration and temperature on infection of Prunus by X. arboricola pv. pruni was determined in controlled environment experiments. Potted plants of the peach-almond hybrid GF-677 were inoculated with bacterial suspensions and exposed to combinations of six leaf wetness durations (from 0 to 24 h) and seven fixed temperatures (from 5 to 35°C) during the infection period. Then, plants were transferred to a biosafety greenhouse, removed from bags, and incubated at optimal conditions for disease development. Although leaf wetness was required for infection of Prunus by X. arboricola pv. pruni, temperature had a greater effect than leaf wetness duration on disease severity. The combined effect of wetness duration and temperature on disease severity was quantified using a modification of the Weibull equation proposed by Duthie. The reduced-form of Duthie's model obtained by nonlinear regression analysis fitted well to data (R = 0.87 and R2adj = 0.85), and all parameters were significantly different from 0. The estimated optimal temperature for infection by X. arboricola pv. pruni was 28.9°C. Wetness periods longer than 10 h at temperatures close to 20°C, or 5 h at temperatures between 25 and 35°C were necessary to cause high disease severity. The predictive capacity of the model was evaluated using an additional set of data obtained from new wetness duration-temperature combinations. In 92% of the events the observed severity agreed with the predicted level of infection risk. The risk chart derived from the reduced form of Duthie's model can be used to estimate the potential risk for infection of Prunus by X. arboricola pv. pruni based on observed or forecasted temperature and wetness duration.


ABSTRACT Introduction Chronic Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection is a global disease leading to rapidly progressive liver disease with increased liver-related mortality and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therapies are minimally effective; however, an increased understanding of the HDV lifecycle has provided new potential drug targets. Thus, there is a growing number of investigational therapeutics under exploration for HDV with the potential for successful viral eradication. Areas covered This review discusses the clinical impact of HDV infection and offers an in-depth look at the HDV life cycle. The authors examine current and new drug targets and the investigational therapies in clinical trials. The search strategy was based on PubMed database and clinicaltrials.gov which highlight the most up-to-date aspects of investigational therapies for chronic HDV infection.


With the emergence of outbound sales philosophies taking hold in sport organizations, sales managers are seeking talent to fill sales positions with candidates launching their careers in the sport industry. However, observers have noted that the infusion of sport ticket sales personnel has not been accompanied by an appropriate professional development and evaluation protocol, which has contributed to high turnover rates. As sport management education programs modernize their curriculum to meet industry needs and sales managers attempt to reduce turnover, a better understanding of the competencies required of entry-level sport ticket sales professionals is required. The purpose of this research was to identify the competencies required for success in an entry-level sport ticket sales position and the extent to which sales managers find it difficult to train salespeople on those competencies. Nineteen sport sales managers served as expert panelists on a study that employed the Delphi method. The result of the study is a 40-item competency model comprised of the following eight global competency areas: knowledge and skill development, relationship building, communication skills, opening the sale, consultative or adaptive sales, closing, maximizing each call, and service and education. Implications for sales managers, human resource managers, sport sales educators, and academic scholarship in sport sales are discussed.


A preparation of autologous tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), with potential antineoplastic activity. TILs are isolated from a patient's tumor tissue, cultured in vitro with high-dose interleukin-2 (lL-2), further selected based on antigen specificity and tumor reactivity, and the selected TILs are subsequently expanded. Upon re-introduction of LN-144 into the patient, the TILs re-infiltrate the tumor, specifically recognize the tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), and initiate tumor cell lysis. IL-2 induces the proliferation and expansion of TILs in vitro.


This research explores the reasons why electronic commerce practices have diffused around the world at the national level of analysis, due to forces that are both internal and external to the countries in which diffusion is observed to occur. We propose two related growth theories that contribute contrasting viewpoints about the origins of the drivers of diffusion: endogenous growth theory and exogenous growth theory. We use the former theory to argue that the primary drivers of diffusion stem from economic forces that are internal to a country, including its government policies (e.g., tax on online stores), wealth, infrastructure, readiness, education levels, and so on. The latter theory suggests that the primary drivers are external to the economy, and may reflect the forces present in the regional economy, international drivers of technological change, trade flows and so on. We explore the efficacy of these alternative perspectives in a set of propositions for the drivers of national-level diffusion of e-commerce that spans developed and developing nations.


Sub-ridge, core, anterior and posterior borders of mesoderm were dissected from stages 22-24 chick wing buds to investigate whether structures for intercellular coupling develop between mesenchymal cells. Fine structure was examined using techniques of transmission electron microscopy, freeze-fracture and scanning electron microscopy. Gap (communicating) junctions which were observed between mesenchymal cells of all limb bud regions were distributed between apposed cell bodies, points of contact between cell processes and other cell bodies, and between contacting tips of slender cell projections. In addition particularly in the the subridge region, filopodia were observed to extend through the intercellular matrix to contact other cells several micrometers distant. The observations reported in this paper show that mesodermal cells throughout the limb have the structural capability for electrotonic and metabolic coupling during a critical period of morphogenesis in the avian limb. Whether intercellular signals which are thought to be transmitted through gap junctions are active in normal limb development remains to be investigated.


We report ferromagnetic resonance measurements of magnetic anisotropy and damping in epitaxial La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) and Pt capped LSMO thin films on SrTiO3 (001) substrates. The measurements reveal large negative perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and a weaker uniaxial in-plane anisotropy that are unaffected by the Pt cap. The Gilbert damping of the bare LSMO films is found to be low α = 1.9(1) × 10−3, and two-magnon scattering is determined to be significant and strongly anisotropic. The Pt cap increases the damping by 50% due to spin pumping, which is also directly detected via inverse spin Hall effect in Pt. Our work demonstrates efficient spin transport across the Pt/LSMO interface.


Stride lengths and stride frequencies of primates have been observed or collected from the literature. Data for Galago, various monkeys and apes, and man have been collected. The quadrupedal primates take longer strides, at any particular speed, than would be predicted for non-primates. When they gallop they use lower stride frequencies than non-primates of equal mass.


The business meeting of Division X in the IAU 2009GA took place in three sessions during the day of August 6, 2009. The meeting, being well attended, started with the approval for the meeting agenda. Then the triennium reports were made in the first session by the president of Division X, Ren-Dong Nan, and by the chairs of three working groups: "Historic Radio Astronomy WG" by Wayne Orchiston, "Astrophysically Important Lines WG" by Masatoshi Ohishi, and "Global VLBI WG" by Tasso Tzioumis (proxy chair appointed by Steven Tingay). Afterwards, a dozen reports from observatories and worldwide significant projects have been presented in the second session. Business meeting of "Interference Mitigation WG" was located in the third session.


"An interdisciplinary study of student knowledge of accounting/finance principles in concert with their application in a marketing simulation game was undertaken in three sections of an Introduction to Marketing. The subjects were 454 second year marketing students who took an accounting/finance knowledge test composed of 14 multiple choice questions focused on understanding definitions and making calculations for selected concepts including unit contribution margin, inventory carrying costs, working capital, gross margins, return on sales, straightforward breakeven calculation, current ratio and mark-ups. A total of 368 students agreed to participate in the study from which 308 usable responses were collected, a 67.8% response rate. The study employed a simple pretest-posttest design resulting in a pretest average score of 42.4% (32.7% corrected for guessing) and a posttest average score of 55.5% (43.7% corrected for guessing) for the accounting/finance test. Paired t-test comparisons of pretest versus posttest scores for both uncorrected and corrected for guessing results were significantly different at the .000 level. The overall conclusion was that the marketing simulation experience led to an improvement in knowledge and application of accounting/finance principles. This study provides further evidence for the external validity of business simulation games. Acknowledgements: The research undertaken in this paper was funded by a grant from the Certified Management Accountants of Ontario "


Service Science has slowly been coming into focus in the last few years as a multidisciplinary approach to more effective management in the service industry. It is a new and highly relevant branch of knowledge for information professionals. This article explains what it is, how it has arisen and how important it could be for information service management, development and innovation. Service Science already features in the curricula of business schools and merits introduction into Library and Information Science courses and the practice of service provision.


Lipopolysaccharides from Pseudomonas syringae pvs atrofaciens 2399. phaseolicola 120a and Pseudomonas holci 8299, belonging to serogroup VI. possess an identical polysaccharide chain composed of D-rhamnose and D-fucose. On the hasis of methylation, partial acid hydrolysis, 1H- and 13C-NMR data, it was concluded that the backbone of the polysaccharide represents D-rhamnan built up of tetrasaccharide repeating units and alpha-D-fucofuranose residues are attached to the backbone as the monosaccharide branches. The following structure of the repeating unit is established: (Formula: see text).


A case of HIV-1 infection, presumably acquired through unsafe blood transfusion in an acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) patient, is reported here in whom the two rapid HIV antibody detection kits (HIV-spot and HIV-Scan) failed to diagnose the infection while the sample was strongly positive in microwell ELISA (detect- HIV) on the same day and was confirmed by western blot assay (NEW LAV BLOT-1). However, repeat sample after 15 days was found positive in all the tests. Though the rapid tests are preferred over microwell ELISA because of ease of performance and rapid availability of results, this report confirms low sensitivity of the two rapid tests. This suboptimal sensitivity, particularly in cases of early seroconversion, therefore, must be borne in mind for screening the blood and organ donors under strategy-I.


Negative consequences of treatment are observed at least in 16% patients at multidisciplinary hospitals and may result from the causes that are independent of medical staff, but more frequently from errors and inadequate treatment standards due to human factors. Systematic improvement of professionalism, which should be started from some educational reforms at medical institutes, is needed.


Let E be an arbitrary graph, K be any field and A be the endomorphism ring of L := LK(E) considered as a right L-module. Among the other results, we prove that: (1) if A is a von Neumann regular ring, then A is dependent if and only if for any two paths in L satisfying some conditions are initial of each other, (2) if A is dependent then LK(E) is morphic, (3) L is morphic and von Neumann regular if and only if L is semisimple and every homogeneous component is artinian.


This study is a replication and extension of previous studies investigating the relationship between secondary and post-secondary students' thoughts about achievement and their study habits (Jones, Slate, Marini, & DeWater, 1993; Kovach, Wil gosh, & Stewin, 1999). The methodology is replicated, and the findings are extended to high school students enrolled in an urban Western Canadian setting. As well, focus group interviews were conducted to further explore student perceptions. The findings indicate that students with a more incremental view of intelligence reported better study habits. Similarly, students who reported liking school more or who considered themselves to be good students all reported better study habits. High school students, however, indicated that they perform less than 50% of the study ha bits identified in the Study Habits Inventory-High School (SHI-HS). A positive correlation was observed between students' reported grades, their study habits, and their thoughts about achievement. These findings are consistent with previous re search by Jones and his associates as well as the present research team.


Using carbon adsorbents is the most common method of removing waste organics from water. However, the question remains of what to do with the carbon after adsorption. Landfill or incineration come with the obvious environmental consequences, and thermal regeneration is energetically costly and can be wasteful. The wastewater management company Arvia have developed a process for using electrochemical regeneration as an alternative. This thesis has examined that process in detail, in particular the role of the specific granular activated carbon used (Nyex).

Nyex was characterised using a range of microscopic and spectroscopic methods. It is a highly crystalline graphite material which has been intercalated with bisulphate ions and water. It has an accessible surface area of 2.04 m2/g and a classic platy morphology with oxygen surface functionality. Additionally, the intercalation process has not changed the inter-layer distance.

It is known that graphite intercalation compounds can expand upon thermal treatment. Upon heating using either an oven or a domestic microwave, Nyex expanded rapidly, resulting in an expanded carbon with a very typical vermiform morphology. The maximum expansion volume recorded for Nyex was 394 mL g 1, for microwave expanded Nyex. Surface area analysis confirmed that this volume expansion had not introduced porosity into the structure. The structure was damaged by the expansion but the overall number of defects has decreased.

Analytical electrochemistry has been carried out, using Nyex as a working electrode and four test materials. Phenol can be irreversibly oxidised at a Nyex working electrode, and the build-up of breakdown products on the surface can be prevented by the application of 1.85 V for 7 s between each cyclic voltammogram. The increased surface area of expanded Nyex led currents to flow at an order of magnitude higher (approximately 40 µA compared to 5 µA for unexpanded Nyex) meaning more phenol could be oxidised at the same potentials. Humic acid and hydroquinone both showed no electrochemical activity at Nyex. Additionally, repeated cycling of potentials in hydroquinone led to the build-up of carbonaceous material on the surface of the electrode which passivated it. The industry provided test material, Tellus oil, passivated both Nyex and platinum electrodes.

Two extraction methods to analyse the quantity of oil left on the Nyex after the Arvia process were developed. Using supercritical CO2 (scCO2) an extraction efficiency of 63% was achieved using 1 hour of extraction. Using acetone extraction, efficiencies in the region of 80 – 90% could be achieved in 10 min. The scCO2 extraction was complex, and required specialist equipment and training. In contrast the acetone extraction was simple and gave more reproducible results.

Samples provided by Arvia from their pilot plant trial were extracted using the acetone extraction method. The concentration of oil on the samples was approximately 50 wt.% and did not decrease after 1100 hours of regeneration. A trial was run at Nottingham using 25 wt.% of oil which also did not decrease after 8 hours of regeneration.

In summary, the combination of analytical electrochemistry and solvent extraction has shown Nyex is able to absorb up to 50 wt.% of oil from water, but the Arvia process does not destroy complex oily wastes. It is effective at oxidising phenol from water, with cycles of regeneration ensuring the Nyex surface is not passivated by the build-up of breakdown products. Nyex expanded in either the microwave or an oven is capable of oxidising much higher quantities of phenol because of its higher surface area.


To characterize the cell(s) responsible for the suppressor-cell dysfunction in active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we fractionated blood mononuclear cells into thymus-derived (T), bone marrow-derived (B), and monocyte-depleted populations. Various cell populations from active SLE, inactive SLE, or normals, were activated with Concanavalin A, washed, and then co-cultured with active SLE cells. Soluble immune response suppressor (SIRS) from culture supernates of the activated cells was also used for the possible correction of the suppressor-cell dysfunction. Suppression was tested by enumerating DNA-binding cells by radioautography and by quantitating anti-DNA antibody in culture supernates by radioimmunoassay; and immunoglobulin was tested in cells and supernates by the immunofluorescence and the immunofluor techniques, respectively. Except for the numbers of DNA-binding cells, which were not suppressed, all the other three parameters in co-cultures with cells from active SLE patients were suppressed by Concanavalin A-activated cells (P < 0.001), or by SIRS (P < 0.05) from normals or inactive SLE patients. Concanavalin A-activated autologous or allogeneic active SLE cells and nonactivated cells from active or inactive SLE failed to suppress the various B-cell functions. Nonactivated normal cells suppressed levels of anti-DNA and immunoglobulin in supernates (P < 0.05). In characterizing the cells responsible for the suppressor dysfunction, it was clear from the results that T cells responsive to Concanavalin A activation are deficient in active SLE and fail to generate SIRS. On the other hand, monocytes from active SLE patients are responsive to signals from the activated T cells of normals or inactive SLE donors. Because SIRS suppresses active SLE cells in vitro, it might be considered therapeutically for the in vivo modulation of SLE.


In the last decade, the transmission system operator (TSO) in Great Britain has seen an acute declining trend of reactive power demand during periods of minimum load. Reactive power traditionally being absorbed by distribution networks is now in many cases injected to transmission. This not only results in significant voltage regulation challenges to the TSO but may also trigger future requirements for distribution network operators (DNOs) to manage these reactive power exchanges. Nonetheless, for the TSO and DNOs to adopt suitable investment strategies, it is crucial to first quantify the extent of this decline in the near future. This study proposes a methodology to identify trends of reactive power demand using historical DNO monitoring and network data. Multiple scenarios are also considered to cater for potential changes in demand, generation, and networks. The methodology is demonstrated on real British distribution networks, from the transmission–distribution interface to primary substations. The assessment reveals the significant effect of demand trends in primary substations on the overall transmission–distribution exchanges. It was also found that the potential use of shunt reactors in distribution networks would require significant investment, highlighting the importance of understanding reactive demand trends in planning cost-effective solutions.


Virtually all work on topic modeling has assumed that the topics are to be learned over a text-based document corpus. However, there exist important applications where topic models must be learned over an audio corpus of spoken language. Unfortunately, speech-to-text programs can have very low accuracy. We therefore propose a novel topic model for spoken language that incorporates a statistical model of speech-to-text software behavior. Crucially, our model exploits the uncertainty numbers returned by the software. Our ideas apply to any domain in which it would be useful to build a topic model over data in which uncertainties are explicitly represented.


The Internet of Things (IoT) is a very fast-growing technology and has a huge impact on our daily life, including military performance. In the military, IoT known as the Internet of Military Things (IoMT) or Internet of Battlefield Things (IoBT) has the function create network communication to increase readiness in the military and can apply to all aspects of military asset management and uses the interconnection, real-time, and intelligent innovation of the IoT technology to build a military asset management system. The research purpose is to analyze the Military Asset Management System (MAMs) in Indonesian National Armed Forces. The research applies a qualitative research methodology. The literature review method and the interviews were used to obtain data and analyze to describe or explain the phenomenon of problems with the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) and Military Asset Management system (MAMs) in supporting the operation of the Alutsista Indonesian National Armed Forces. The research result shows that the integration of asset management in the Indonesian National Armed Forces is still not centralized, which it means needs more time to collect material asset data and of course, will impact the readiness of the military. In this case, Complex Aerial Mission Simulation (CAMS) can be a reference for Indonesian National Armed Forces to develop a Military Asset Management System (MAMs).


The present study was undertaken within a year from January 2012 to December 2012 in different localities of coniferous forests of Rajouri Dist. of J&K, India to collect the samples of macro fungi. The vegetation and climatic conditions of state Jammu and Kashmir in India possessed a prime location in the world for the hot spot and biodiversity of macro-fungi. Although this region is still unexplored due to unawareness and less attention towards this subject. The study was therefore done to explore the variable and diverse species of macrofungi which have socio-economic and medicinal importance. The present study is describing the systemic position and taxonomic identification of five new genera of macrofungi which were not explored previously. The five new species of macrofungi that were explored and taxonomically identified are Scleroderma citrinum, Psilocybe subtropicalis, Ganoderma applanatum, Cyptotrama asprata and Entoloma serrulatum. The voucher specimens after taxonomic identification were deposited in NCFT, New Delhi, India and were assigned axccession numbers.


This empirical field study describes the wearable system, the study method used, and summarizes the experiences of aircraft maintenance specialists who participated in a field usability evaluation conducted at their United States Air Force Reserve facility in the summer of 1996. This usability evaluation aimed at collecting accurate, detailed information for use in the evolutionary design and development of wearable systems for vehicle maintenance workers. All participants were able to complete their tasks using the wearable prototype and they expressed willingness to use such a system in the future. Also, we report on future requirements for wearable maintenance aids elicited from these users.


The purpose of this study is to investigate the speech rate of an esophageal speech group that is capable of vocalization after surgery. The subjects in this experiment were 10 male esophageal speakers and 10 male laryngeal speakers. Each group read a reading passage that was recorded by a DAT recorder (Rolando, EDIROL R-09). These records were analyzed by using CSL (Computerized Speech Lab, model 4150). The results were as follows: (1) the overall speech rate of esophageal speech was 2.50 SPS (syllable per second) while the overall speech rate of laryngeal speech was 4.23 SPS. (2) The articulatory rate of esophageal speech was 3.14 SPS (syllable per second) while the articulatory rate of laryngeal speech was 4.75 SPS. Speech rates as well as articulatory rates of esophageal speech were significantly lower than laryngeal speech. These differences between the two groups may be due to reduced efficiency of airflows across the pharyngeal-esophageal segment for esophageal speakers when compared to airflow through the glottis for laryngeal speakers. These results would provide a guideline in speech rates for esophageal speakers in clinical settings.


The crystallography of the bcc-hcp martensitic transformation in the Zr-2.5% Nb alloy has been analyzed on the basis of the invariant plane strain (IPS) criterion. The Wechsler, Lieberman and Read (W-L-R theory) matrix method of the phenomenological theory of martensitic transformations has been used for computing the crystallographic features such as: orientation relationships, transformation shape strains, the magnitudes and the directions of shape strain shears and the habit planes. The calculated thickness ratio of the two twin fraction of the internally twinned martensite in the Zr-2.5 Nb alloy has been found to be 4.12 and 7.83 for {#101} H H and {01#2} H H twinning modes respectively. The habit plane for {#101} H H shear system and {#101} H H twinning mode has been computed to be {4.34, 3.16, 3} C and {4.67, 4.87, 3} respectively. The crystallographic parameters have been computed for the internally slipped martensite for most extensively reported {#011} H H shear system as well as for two other frequently reported shear systems, {2##2} H H . In the case of {#011} H H shear system the computed magnitude of the inhomogenous shear and habit plane has been found to be .0288 and {4.2,4,3} respectively. The crystallographic parameters computed for the martensite of the Zr-2.5%Nb alloy remain the same for other dilute zirconium base binary alloys, as the lattice parameters and the lattice correspondences do not vary substantially. The predicted crystallographic paramaterers in the present study has been compared with the expermerimentally-determined values.


This study aimed to evaluate the ion extraction capacity of two plant species, the vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), grown in experimental hydroponic units simulating a Floating System. The hydroponic system used nutrient solutions (A1 and A2) composed of fixed concentrations of macro and micronutrients that had been added to two different concentrations of sodium chloride, resulting in initial electrical conductivities of 1.89 and 5.12 dS m, respectively. Physicochemical and quantitative changes in the salinized solutions, as well as visual symptoms of stress were compared in the plants, after experimental treatments. Despite the significant volume reduction in solution A1 (31.5%), the water hyacinth was distinct in its estimated extraction of calcium (52.2%), magnesium (47.6%), sodium (16.5%) and cloride (14.1%) meanwhile, at the same conditions, the vetiver grass and control group had similar performance. The increasing salinity of the A2 solution only promoted significant removal of calcium and magnesium (on average, the water hyacinth reached 27.7 and 26.2% of estimated extraction and the vetiver grass, 13.0 and 11.9%, respectively).


To analyze the factors which affecting transient stability of power system, the dynamic model of doubly-fed induction generator and direct-drive PM synchronous generator has been built using PSCAD. Impact of different wind farm integration on grid typically in China has been presented. The influence of the variations of transient reactance, negative sequence reactance and rotary inertia on critical clearing time of power system transient stability is analyzed by time-domain simulation. Mixture operation of DFIG and PMSG to optimize the stability of system has been analyzed firstly. The digital simulation results show that doubly-fed induction wind turbines is a better choice to meet the requirement of system instability due to large wind farm integration in comparison with direct-drive PM synchronous wind turbines. With a rather large rotary inertia, the proper ratio of direct-drive PM synchronous wind turbines used in wind farm could be comprehensive planning by optimized the stability of system. Analysis of this paper should be provided as academic reference for improving design of wind farm system. Keyw


Abstract #1042 Background: In a major proportion of breast cancer patients with a strong familial cancer history no BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are detected which prompted us to explore other proteins on the BRCA1/2 pathway. Previously we have identified BARD1 (De Brakeleer et al, SABC 2006) as a rare high penetrance breast cancer predisposing gene. Nucleophosmin (NPM1) is a multifunctional protein that is ubiquitylated and stabilized by the BRCA1-BARD1 complex and thus is part of the BRCA1 pathway. Somatic protein truncating mutations in NPM1 are frequent events in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
 Aim: This study was aimed at determining whether NPM1 germline mutations may contribute to the breast cancer predisposition in families where no BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation is found.
 Methods: NPM1 mutation analysis was performed on genomic DNA extracted from blood of 198 breast cancer patients with strong indications for a hereditary form of the disease and 110 controls. All the 11 exons of the NPM1 gene were separately amplified by PCR. Since a high number of processed NPM1 pseudogenes are dispersed throughout the human genome, PCR primers had to be designed carefully. The PCR products were subsequently analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and when an abnormal migration pattern occurred, sequencing analysis was performed to determine the exact nucleotide-sequence alteration which was verified against the pseudogene sequences.
 Results: Out of the six novel sequence variations, only one occurred in an exon: a duplication of thymidine located in the 39 non-coding sequence of exon 12 (c.1042dupT). The remaining 5 variants were located in intron sequences close to the exon borders. Two variants flanking exon7 (c.460-31G>A and c.524+42G>A) were always linked, and occurred at the same high frequency in breast cancer patients and controls. Two intron sequence variants were only found in one patient. One was a duplication of a sequence in intron 8 (c.582+52dupT) and the other a sequence deletion in intron 3 (c.139-9delT). One sequence variation located close to exon 11 (c.771-46C>A) was found in 7 familial breast cancer patients in 4 high incidence families but not in unaffected family members and in none of the control samples. This mutation leads to an alternative splicing of the NPM1 mRNA and is predicted to modify the carboxyterminal end of the protein, removing a nucleolar locating signal.
 Discussion: A germline mutation in NPM1 was found only in familial breast cancer cases. This mutation may result in the synthesis of a C-terminal truncated NPM1 protein conferring high susceptibility to breast cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 1042.


The purpose of this study was to examine the potential of asynchronous discussion forums (ADFs) as a medium to facilitate reflective thinking among preservice teachers. Of particular interest was the extent and manner in which this potential varies with respect to (a) the structure of the ADF, (b) the focus of the ADF, and (c) group dynamics. Quantitative and qualitative research methods revealed findings that support the potential of this medium as a means to facilitate reflective thinking. Importantly, however, the findings presented here bring to light several additional important considerations for both practice (e.g., strategic student placement within groups to facilitate higher levels of learning) and research (e.g., relationships between social dialogue, group membership, and demonstrated levels of learning) involving the use of asynchronous discussion forums.


A digital data acquisition systems has been designed to meet the need for a long duration noise analysis capability. By sampling the DC outputs from sound level meters, it has been possible to make twenty-four hour or longer recordings, in contrast to the one-hour recordings on seven-inch analog tap reels. The system is made up of a digital tape recorder, an analog-to-digital converter, an outdoor microphone unit, a weatherproofed microphone, two B&K sound level meters, and other miscellaneous equipment. It has the capability of recording and analyzing data from up to eight channels in linear or decibel format. The operation of the system in terms of its setup, calibration, and the recording of digitized signals, as well as the computer programs used to analyze the signals, are described in this report. Listings of computer programs and of a sample problem are supplied in the appendixes. /FHWA/


LORENTZ-covariant theories of gravitation which fulfil EINSTEIN's weak principle of equivalence and which contain a pure Newtonian theory as an approximation are tensortheories with the linear approximative form

for the field equations. In the case of EINSTEIN's strong principle of equivalence the exact field equations must be the general relativistic EINSTEIN-equations (or the bimetrical EINSTEIN-ROSEN-equations). This follows from the dynamical equations and the BIANCHI identity according to JANOSSY and TREDER.

However, from NEWTON's axiom of reaction together with the weak principle of equivalence results that the strong principle of equivalence must be valid for the linear approximation of the field equations with sources. Therefore, the linear approximation of all physically meaningful Lorentz-covariant theories of gravitation is given by the linearized EINSTEIN-equations (with HILBERT-conditions):

, that is by the ansatz α = 2.

The main point of our arguments is LAUE's postulate of the self-consistency of perfect static systems of isolated gravitational masses. In the lowest order of approximation this self-consistency is only possible if the gravitational matter-tensor is identical with the special-relativistic energy-momentum-tensor Tμv. LAUE's postulate is fulfilled exactly for the general relativistic field equations according to the theorems of BIRKHOFF, TOLMAN and EINSTEIN and PAULI.


There is an increasing trend towards using the concept of risk assessment as an important tool in distribution system asset management. In an ongoing R&D project (RISK DSAM), the main objective is to investigate how information about risk exposure can improve maintenance and reinvestment decisions in an electrical distribution company. As the popularity of Bayesian networks (BN) is increasing, the capacity of this methodology is being explored in the project. The paper presents the BN framework and the link to risk based asset management of electrical distribution systems. Examples are included to illustrate the concept as well as a case study evaluating the risk of failure of an overhead line and its dependence of risk influencing factors such as maintenance intensity and environment.


Privacy is a concept which received relatively little attention during the rapid growth and spread of information technology through the 1980's and 1990's. Design to make information easily accessible, without particular attention to issues such as whether an individual had a desire or right to control access to and use of particular information was seen as the more pressing goal. We believe that there will be an increasing awareness of a fundamental need to address privacy concerns in information technology, and that doing so will require an understanding of policies that govern information use as well as the development of technologies that can implement such policies. The research reported here describes our efforts to design a privacy management workbench which facilitates privacy policy authoring, implementation, and compliance monitoring. This case study highlights the work of identifying organizational privacy requirements, analyzing existing technology, on-going research to identify approaches that address these requirements, and iteratively designing and validating a prototype with target users for flexible privacy technologies.


The main objective is to assist practitioners in managing men and women diagnosed with Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infection. This guideline offers recommendations on the diagnostic tests, treatment regimens and health promotion principles needed for the effective management of TV, covering the management of the initial presentation, as well as how to prevent transmission and future infection.


In this case report, we preserved human livers for up to 13 days under normothermic conditions using a modified commercial perfusion system. Two whole livers were split into two left lateral segment grafts and two extended right grafts without interruption to blood flow and then perfused on separate machines. Not only does this provide the basis for a meaningful study of liver function in the long term, but this could also facilitate the development of a model of ex situ liver regeneration.


This paper provides an in-depth review of the agricultural extension system of DRC including an analysis of its policies and legal framework, organization, and management; links to critical institutions; and capacity and incentive of different actors in the system. This review involved document analyses, interviews with key informants, and surveys of 107 extension organizations and 162 extension agents in 156 randomly selected villages in western DRC. This review suggests serious funding constraints, human resource management problems, no linkage and coordination within the extension system and with research and education systems, and a majority of underserved communities and farmers. This review also highlights a good opportunity given the huge human resources (more than 11,000 agents) deployed into the sectors and territories as part of the Ministry's agricultural inspection system.


Alterations of coagulation, fibrinolysis, platelets and low grade inflammation are causal pathophysiological factors in atherosclerosis. Considerable activation of several involved pathways occurs during the acute progression of atherosclerotic lesions, which is characterized by an occluding thrombus, and local and systemic inflammatory reactions as in patients with acute coronary syndromes. These patients become clinically compromised due to the reduction in coronary flow. Furthermore, a frequent occurrence of non-occluding thrombi may be assumed as a progression factor in atherosclerotic diseases. Both the extrinsic and the intrinsic pathway of coagulation are involved, resulting in a hypercoagulative state. Furthermore, an inflammatory acute phase reaction occurs in addition to the activation of several other inflammatory pathways in patients with unstable angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction. Exposure of tissue factor by the ruptured plaque together with a systemic hypercoagulative state, local and systemic inflammation as well as stimulated platelets and endothelial dysfunction are involved in the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndromes. In the following paper the current knowledge on activation of these pathways and on the various complex interactions is discussed.


Fitbit wearable devices provide users with objective data on their physical activity and sleep habits. However, little is known about how users develop their usage patterns and the key mechanisms underlying the development of such patterns. In this article, we report results from a longitudinal analysis of Fitbit usage behavior among a sample of college students. Survey and Fitbit data were collected from 692 undergraduates at the University of Notre Dame across two waves. We use a structural equation modeling strategy to examine the relationships among three dimensions of Fitbit usage behavior corresponding to three elements of the habit loop model: trust in the accuracy of Fitbit physical activity and sleep data (cue), intensity of Fitbit device use (routine), and adjustment of physical activity and sleep behaviors based on Fitbit data (reward). More than 75 percent of participants trusted the accuracy of Fitbit data and nearly half of the participants reported they adjusted their physical activities based on the data reported by their devices. Participants who trusted the Fitbit physical activity data also tended to trust the sleep data, and those who intensively used Fitbit devices tended to adjust both their physical activities and then sleep habits. Psychological states and traits such as depression, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism help predict multiple dimensions of Fitbit usage behaviors. However, we find little evidence that trust, Fitbit usage, or perceived adjustment of activity or sleep were associated with actual changes in levels of sleep and activity. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding when and how this new monitoring technology results in changes in people's behavior.


Background and Objectives Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic, rheumatic and inflammatory disease with a generally progressive course. The pain and stiffness are the main symptoms that cause the individual less mobility and changes in the sleep cycle producing fatigue, anxiety, stress and depression. This group of symptoms changes the well-being and quality of life of individuals. It is important to follow the recommendations of the physiotherapist about duration and frequency to ensure their effectiveness and improve the quality of life of individuals. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based exercise program in quality of life of people with ankylosing spondylitis. Material and Methods This is a randomised controlled trial. 24 elements had the inclusion criteria and were randomised into control and experimental group. The experimental group performed a home-based exercise program for 5 days a week during 30 minutes each one for 10 weeks, which included straight postural, muscle strength, stretching and respiratory exercises. The evaluation of the individuals performed at baseline and after 10 weeks to carry out the home-based exercise program, follow through WHOQOL-Bref to evaluate the quality of life of individuals, BASDAI, BASFI and BASMI. Results The experimental group after the program improved the levels of WHOQOL-Bref (p = 0.027 for domain 1, p = 0.008 for domain 2 and p = 0.020 for domain 4), BASDAI (p = 0.044), BASFI (p = 0.049) and BASMI (p = 0.002). No statistically significant difference was found in initial time and the end of the study of all scales in control group. Also, there were correlations between all ranges and areas of WHOQOL-Bref, except between BASFI and BASDAI (r = 0). The most relevant correlations are between BASFI and domain 3 (r = -0.643; p = 0.024), domain 1 and domain 2 (r = 0.712; p = 0.009, domain 1 and domain 4 (r = 0.642; p = 0.025) domain 2 and domain 3 (r = 0.711; p = 0.010), domain 2 and domain 4 (r = 0.665; p = 0.018), domain 3 and domain 4 (r = 0.779; p = 0.003), well as represent meaning for the population. Conclusion The home-based exercise program is an effective therapy in increasing quality of life of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Psychological distress and fatigue was improved through better well being and quality of life.


Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood neurological disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate ADHD in children with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE) and compare it with healthy children. A total of 100 five to 16-year-old children with PMNE and 100 healthy children without NE were included in this case-control study as the cases and control groups, respectively. Subjects were selected from children who were referred to the pediatric clinic of the Amir Kabir Hospital of Arak, Iran, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. ADHD was diagnosed by Conner's Parent Rating Scale-48 and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria and was confirmed by consultation with a psychiatrist. Data were analyzed by binomial test using SPSS18. ADHD inattentive type was observed in 16 cases (16%) with PMNE and five controls (5%) (P=0.01). Despite these significant differences in the case and control groups, 25 (25%) and 16 (16%) children were affected by ADHD hyperactive-impulsive type (P=0.08) and 15 (15%) and 16 (16%) children were affected by ADHD mixed type (P=0.84), respectively. ADHD inattentive type in children with PMNE was significantly more common than that in healthy children. The observed correlation between ADHD inattentive type and PMNE makes psychological counseling mandatory in children with PMNE.


Shadows in remotely sensed images create difficulties in many applications; thus, they should be effectively detected prior to further processing. This paper presents a novel semiautomatic shadow detection method that meets the requirements of both high accuracy and wide practicability in remote sensing applications. The proposed method uses only the properties derived from the shadow samples to dynamically generate a feature space and calculate decision parameters; then, it employs a series of transformations to separate shadow and nonshadow regions. The proposed method can detect shadows from both color and gray images. If the chromatic properties of color images do not agree with the defined rules through the shadow samples, then the shadow detection process will automatically reduce to the process for gray images. As the shadow samples are manually selected from the input image by the user, the derived parameters conform well to the characteristics of the input image. Experiments and comparisons indicate that the proposed self-adaptive feature selection algorithm is accurate, effective, and widely applicable to shadow detection in practical applications.


Deficiency of decay-accelerating factor (DAF) occurs in blood cells in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), characterized by an unusual susceptibility to hemolysis by complement activation. This study examined DAF expression on hematopoietic progenitors from normal individuals and PNH patients using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) with monoclonal antibodies to DAF. Nonphagocytic mononuclear marrow cells expressing different density distributions of DAF were sorted into DAF-, DAF+/-, DAF+, and DAF++ fractions. The cells from each fraction were cultured in methylcellulose and assayed for CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-GM, and CFU-Mix. The percentages of distribution of DAF-negative normal progenitors increased in the order of CFU-E, CFU-GM, BFU-E, and CFU-Mix, whereas those of DAF-positive cells inversely decreased in this order. These results indicate that DAF expression may accompany differentiation from CFU-Mix to CFU-E. On the other hand, most progenitors in PNH patients had little, if any, expression of DAF on their cell surfaces. These findings were supported by another approach using a complement-dependent cytotoxicity method with the anti-DAF monoclonal antibodies. Abnormal expression of DAF was found on the progenitors in the bone marrow as well as on mature cells circulating in the blood in PNH.


HTU-5 Figure 1 The median interval from triage to endoscopy was: 12 days (IQR 8-18) for 2WW; 14 days (10-26) for urgent (non-2WW); and 17 days (9-38) for routine endoscopy Abstracts Gut 2021;70(Suppl 4):A1–A220 A29 on S etem er 0, 2023 by gest. P rocted by coright. http/gut.bm jcom / G t: frst pulished as 10.113utjnl-2021-B S G 51 on 7 N ovem er 221. D ow nladed fom


Authentication continues to be a challenge for legacy real-time communications networks involving low-speed buses interconnecting resource-limited devices. A commercial vehicle network is such a network which does not change much over the years due to safety standards and regulations in the transportation domain. The SAE J1939 incorporating the ISO 118981 specification for the data link and physical layers of the standard CAN and CAN-flexible data rate (CAN-FD) handles communication among electronic control units (ECUs). The SAE J1939 is susceptible to attacks such as replay, masquerading and man-in-the-middle. This paper presents a formal analysis of the existing authentication protocols for the SAE J1939 and identifies limitation, especially man-in-the-middle attack. To mitigate the attack, we propose two new authentication protocols. One pass authentication protocol is proposed for computationally restricted nodes, and for the nodes that support public key operations, a certificateless signature-based authentication protocol is proposed which is based on certificateless key insulated manageable signature scheme (CL-KIMS). The security of the new protocol suite and the signature scheme is formally analysed in the random oracle model. We use the Tamarin tool to verify mutual authentication, session key security, known key secrecy and forward security of the proposed protocols. Performance comparison shows that compared with the existing protocol suite, the new protocol suite is computation and communication efficient with robust security. Our simulation study in Matlab 2018a reveals that the key exchange protocols in the new protocol suite are efficient regarding consumption of lesser total message delay than its counterpart.


Farming communities in the hills and mountains of the Himalayan region are some of the most vulnerable to the changing climate, owing to their specific biophysical and socioeconomic conditions. Understanding the observed parameters of the changing climate and the farmers' perceptions of it, together with their coping approaches, is an important asset to making farming communities resilient. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the observed change in climatic variables; understand farmers' perceptions of the changing climate; and document their adaptation approaches in farming systems in the mid-hills of the central Himalayas. Data on the observed change in climatic variables were obtained from the nearby meteorological stations and gridded regional products, and farmers' perceptions and their adaptation practices were collected from household surveys and from the interviews of key informants. The analysis of temperature data revealed that there has been a clear warming trend. Winter temperatures are increasing faster than summer and annual temperatures, indicating a narrowing temperature range. Results on precipitation did not show a clear trend but exhibited large inter-annual variability. The standardized precipitation index (SPI) showed an increased frequency of droughts in recent years. Farmers' perceptions of the changing climate are coherent with the observed changes in climatic parameters. These changes may have a substantial impact on agriculture and the livelihood of the people in the study area. The farmers are adapting to climate change by altering their farming systems and practices. Location-specific adaptation approaches used by farmers are valuable assets for community resilience.


Calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is thought to increase synaptic strength by phosphorylating postsynaptic density (PSD) ion channels and signaling proteins. It is shown that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor stimulation reversibly translocates green fluorescent protein-tagged CaMKII from an F-actin-bound to a PSD-bound state. The translocation time was controlled by the ratio of expressed beta-CaMKII to alpha-CaMKII isoforms. Although F-actin dissociation into the cytosol required autophosphorylation of or calcium-calmodulin binding to beta-CaMKII, PSD translocation required binding of calcium-calmodulin to either the alpha- or beta-CaMKII subunits. Autophosphorylation of CaMKII indirectly prolongs its PSD localization by increasing the calmodulin-binding affinity.


In this paper, a framework for conducting Sensitivity Analysis (SA) on large and complex simulation models is introduced. The framework consists of components that are designed to make the SA a systematic process that is easy to manage and follow by simulation analysts and practitioners. Unlike local SA (one-variable-at-a-time SA), the method presented here is variance-based and it is rooted in the field of Design of Experiments (DoE) where Input Variables are varied and Output Variables are measured. Based on the DoE results, a risk scoring system is developed to identify the sensitivity of the Input Variables, and as a result classify them into High, Medium, and Low risk variables. As such, decision makers can be aware of the most sensitive high-risk input variables in a simulation model to ensure they understand the value of data reliability in their model inputs.


Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have been generated from bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic progenitor cells by ectopic expression of Sox-2, Oct-4, and Klf-4 with the hope that they may differentiate more efficiently than embryonic stem (ES) cells in vitro into hematopoietic cell lineages because of their epigenetic memory. An in vitro culture system has been standardized to allow a quantitative assessment of the capacities of different ES, BM-derived iPS, and fibroblast-derived iPS cell lines developing to erythroid, myeloid, and lymphoid cell lineages. Surprisingly, the efficiency to differentiate BM-derived iPS cells to hematopoietic cells in vitro is severely reduced compared with ES cells and fibroblast-derived iPS cells. Undifferentiated as well as differentiated stages of the BM-derived iPS lines express elevated mRNA levels of the transcription factors Sox-2, Oct-4, and Klf-4 with which the iPS cells have been transduced. Overexpression of the transcription factors inhibits development of Flk-1(+) mesodermal to CD45(+) hematopoietic progenitors. The overexpression of Sox-2 appears to be inversely related to hematogenic potency. These results suggest that iPS cell generation with the aim of developing hematopoietic cells should be controlled and selected for low levels of transduced Sox-2, Oct-4, and Kfl-4 expression.


This study aims to measure and analyze the effect of managerial ownership, institutional ownership, profitability, leverage and audit quality. This study uses a quantitative approach. In this study, sampling was carried out using a purposive sampling technique. The type of data used in this study is secondary data, namely data obtained indirectly through intermediary media. The secondary data used in this study is in the form of annual financial reports or annual reports of manufacturing companies listed on the IDX for the 2018-2020 period. The sample criteria set by the author are 223 companies with a number of years of observation for 3 years, then outliers are carried out so as to produce a research sample of 180 companies. The results of this study are managerial ownership and audit quality have no effect on earnings management, institutional ownership and profitability have a positive effect on earnings management, while leverage has a negative effect on earnings management.


Patterns of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mh) infections were investigated in five clinically infected herds and in five herds subclinically infected with Mh. In the clinically infected herds, housing and management conditions were good whereas these conditions were poor in the subclinically infected herds. In each herd, serum antibodies against Mh were detected in pigs of different ages and nasal swabs were taken for Mh detection using nested PCR (nPCR). The percentage of seropositive pigs in the clinically infected herds increased from 8% in pigs of 9 weeks to 52% in pigs of 18 weeks and seroconversion was most shown between 12 and 15 weeks. In the subclinically infected herds, the percentages increased from 2 to 24% and most of the pigs became seropositive between 15 and 18 weeks. The percentage of nPCR positive pigs at 6 weeks was 16 and 0% in the clinically and subclinically infected herds, respectively. The results demonstrate that the seroprevalences were higher in the clinically infected herds and that most of the pigs became infected with Mh at a younger age. It can be concluded that additional factors different from housing and management, like differences among Mh strains, may determine the infection pattern of Mh and the clinical course of the infection.


This study is one element of a government-sponsored evaluation into the introduction of interactive whiteboards (IWBs) to Years 5 and 6 in English primary schools. This element of the research aimed to gather information regarding pupil views of IWBs and the impact these tools can have on teaching and learning. To extend current literature, the method targeted pupils' views of how IWBs can impact on metacognition: thinking about learning. Using a template that has been developed by the Centre for Learning and Teaching at Newcastle University, pupils were encouraged to talk about learning in different contexts: this methodology and its rationale are described. The results show that overall comments from the pupils are positive, with the resulting themes encompassing how the IWB can facilitate and initiate learning and impact on preferred approaches to learning. The pupils describe how different elements of software and hardware can motivate, aid concentration, and keep their attention. On the negative side, pupils candidly describe their frustration when there are technical difficulties, their desire to use the board themselves and their perceptions of teacher and pupil effects. As IWBs are becoming more and more prevalent in schools, we discuss implications and make re-commendations for teachers and manufacturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]


—Massive Distributed Antenna System (DAS) with energy harvesting can promisingly satisfy the ever-growing wireless transmission requirements while providing sustainable power supply to the User Equipment (UE). In this paper, we propose a massive DAS with multiple-circle layout, where a large number of Remote Antenna Units (RAUs) are evenly distributed across these circles. Based on the instantaneous channel quality, a RAU is selected for the downlink wireless energy transfer to the UE. Using the harvested energy, the UE transmits information to all the RAUs according to the "harvestthen-transmit" protocol over the uplink. The closed-form asymptotic throughput for an arbitrary UE is derived over composite fading channels, which include the shadowing, fading, and path-loss effects. Subsequently, we analyze the average throughput when the UEs are uniformly distributed in the cell. Performance results are provided to validate our theoretical analysis and reveal the impacts of time allocation, UE locations, and RAU deployment on the system throughput.


Restoration of the Everglades and other ecosystems will require a coordinated, integrated approach to addressing management issues using the best available scientific information. USGS is in an ideal position to provide the scientific information necessary for managers and decision makers. Recent reviews of two science focused programs, the Critical Ecosystems Study Initiative (CESI), and Science Coordination in South Florida, conducted by the National Academy of Science (2003) and the General Accounting Office (2003), respectively have identified improving science coordination, synthesis and integration of research data, and communication of research findings as high priority tasks that are necessary for Everglades Restoration. In addition, the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and United States Geological Survey have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Integration of Research, Planning and Interagency Coordination which was established to "...integrate and facilitate coordination among the Parties for all ongoing and future monitoring, research, planning, and interagency coordination activities supporting Everglades Restoration".


The modern roles of computer labs are vital to boost up productivity, tackle performance, enhance knowledge and skills, and contribute to the success of the higher organizations. The effect of proper modern role is the same as the basic principle of management or put the right man on the right job which the can be positively related to employees' highly focus, high job satisfaction, and high morale. However, the diversity information or demographic of employees, such as gender, age, education level, income, religion, and regional origin can also be the factors contributing to the level of satisfaction of staff in Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University. This study has been conducted with a view of ascertaining the level of satisfaction of the proper roles of computer labs' staff of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand.The objectives of this study were to survey the level of satisfaction of computer staff of the university based on their roles contributing to the success of the university and to investigate the level of satisfaction by evaluating at their different demographic backgrounds such as gender, age, education level, income, religion, and regional origins. The questionnaire survey was designed specifically for this survey. The questionnaires were distributed to target group which were all campus employees who were working on computer labs based on the method of convenience sampling. Fortunately, about 85 respondents were received with proper answers and format. Data analysis and statistical evaluation were conducted with SPSS. The significant findings from with study revealed that the majority of the respondents rated that they had high level of satisfaction in three major roles: first was to provide training programs of knowledge and skills of information technology regularly, second was to provide modern computer equipment and state of art facilities to students, staff, and faculty members, and third was to help the university increase the academic performance as well as boost up productivity. In addition, it found that male respondents significantly reported higher satisfied and comfortable with their roles than female respondent. More importantly, as the age increases, the level of roles satisfaction increased. In other words, the older the employees became, the more experiences with their roles and more satisfaction they became. Also, the higher education level implies higher income, the more employees would have higher job satisfaction. Finally


WV Public School Music Teachers' Use of Digital Audio Technologies for Teaching and Learning Mark R. Williams The wealth of new digital audio technologies, when implemented in classroom music instruction, has the potential to support increased student engagement and enhancement of the musical experience more than in any other time in the 100 year history of public school music education. The purpose of this study was to identify if digital audio technologies are currently being used by WV music teachers, their skill levels, what decisions are made when using the technology, what was the effect on learning, and to gauge whether teaching practices were changed. It is a picture of what teachers are currently doing as well as the barriers they have faced. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. The quantitative instrument used was an on-line survey titled Use of Digital Audio Technologies in Teaching Environments. The qualitative component was interviews of K-12 music teachers who rated their digital audio technology use as high and experienced. Classroom observations also contributed to the study. The main elements characterized the current status of digital audio use and its' implications. While migration to Compact Disc as a source of audio is the accepted norm in West Virginia, very few teachers currently utilize other sources of digital audio formats. Similarly, while electronic keyboards are commonplace in classrooms, a significant number of teachers do not use MIDI applications or functions. Skill attainment and decisions to integrate digital audio technologies face three barriers. Teachers believe a lack of significant funding and content appropriate training has equally served as obstacles towards their adoption and integration of many audio technologies. Existing infrastructure has contributed to this challenge. Decisions to use digital audio technologies in teaching are met proactively with the teachers embracing the wealth of new content, the positive and immediate receptiveness with their students, and the assistance gained in meeting both state and national content objectives. Music teachers in West Virginia are cognizant that there is a different type of student learner and are beginning to modify their delivery methodology and teaching strategies appropriately. This study shows the current applications of digital audio technologies in WV music classrooms as a snapshot of what is currently being used. It illustrates that WV music teachers, while aware of the changes in type of learner and learning style, as well as the benefit of audio technology use, are not using, as a collective, digital audio technologies in many contemporary ways.


Guanethidine, a chemical that selectively blocks sympathetic noradrenergic neurons, was used to investigate the role of sympathetic innervation in the fertility of rat epididymal sperm, using both natural mating and in utero insemination protocols. This animal model correlates, at least in part, with spinal cord injury (SCI) in men. Adult male rats were treated daily by i.p. injections, for 21 or 42 days, with 0 or 6.25 mg/kg guanethidine. To compare the effects of guanethidine-induced sympathectomy with those following surgically induced sympathectomy, the inferior mesenteric ganglion and the proximal hypogastric nerves were removed in another group of rats. Both chemically and surgically induced sympathectomy increased the weight of the epididymis and seminal vesicles/coagulating glands as well as the number and the transit time of cauda epididymal sperm. Neither serum testosterone levels nor LH was affected by treatment with guanethidine. Using natural mating, no litters were produced by guanethidine-treated rats. Chemically denervated rats failed to produce copulatory plugs or ejaculate into the uterus. However, distal cauda epididymal sperm from chemically or surgically denervated rats displayed normal fertilization ability (80%) using in utero inseminations. In addition, the sperm of denervated rats did not show abnormal sperm chromatin structure using an assay that detects DNA damage. We conclude that sympathectomy delays the transit of sperm through the cauda epididymidis and produces ejaculatory dysfunction but does not compromise sperm quality in the distal cauda epididymidis. Moreover, these data provide compelling evidence that there is no association between the prolonged transit time of sperm within the epididymis, i.e., pre-ejaculatory sperm aging, and the fertility of those sperm, which has important implications for artificial insemination using sperm from men with SCI.


Here we consider two hypotheses to explain the open-circuit voltage (VOC) degradation observed in thin-film vapor-liquid-solid (TF-VLS) grown p-type InP photovoltaic cells: bandgap narrowing and local shunting. First, a bandgap (Eg) narrowing effect is hypothesized, based on the surface inhomogeneity of VLS InP captured by the photoluminescence (PL) image. The PL data was used to estimate a spatially-resolved active VOC across surface of the InP sample. Combining this data with the effective Jsc allowed an assessment of the I-V characteristics of individual unit cells. Next, an H-SPICE diode compact model was utilized to reproduce the I-V characteristics of the whole sample. We find a good fit to the I-V performance of TF-VLS grown InP solar cell. Second, a local shunting effect was also considered as an alternative explanation of the VOC degradation effect. Again, PL image data was used, and small local shunt resistance was added in arbitrary elementary unit cells to represent certain dark spots seen in the PL image and dictate the VOC degradation occurred in the sample.


Crop variety mixtures (different varieties of a crop grown together in a single plot) have been successfully deployed in pathogen and pest management for several crops including wheat, common bean and rice. Despite the available evidence, promotion of this approach has remained limited in many countries, including Uganda. The factors that influence farmers' adoption of varietal mixtures for common bean and banana were assessed, as well as the perceptions of farmers on the effects of mixtures on yields, through household surveys and statistical modelling. A three-year yield increase in both common bean and banana varietal mixtures in farmer fields, of 5.2% and 28.6%, respectively, is realized using robust OLS estimates. The study reveals that accessing knowledge on the importance of crop varietal mixtures and the skills relating to the approach are crucial for their adoption. Location of the farm significantly determined the perceived yield change, which calls for more research into mixtures' suitability under particular contexts in respect to compatibility of genotypes, management practices and appropriate acreage for maximum impact. The positive effects of mixtures on yields make it an effective bioeconomy strategy. Policies that minimize the adoption barriers could improve the adoption of crop varietal mixtures on a wider scale.


Liberibacter asiaticus is an unculturable parasitic bacterium of the alphaproteobacteria group hosted by both citrus plants and a psyllid insect vector (Diaphorina citri). In the citrus tree, the bacteria thrive only inside the phloem, causing a systemically incurable and deadly plant disease named citrus greening or Huanglongbing. Currently, all commercial citrus cultivars in production are susceptible to L. asiaticus, representing a serious threat to the citrus industry worldwide. The technical inability to isolate and culture L. asiaticus has hindered progress in understanding the biology of this bacterium directly. Consequently, a deep understanding of the biological pathways involved in the regulation of host–pathogen interactions becomes critical to rationally design future and necessary strategies of control. In this work, we used surrogate strains to evaluate the biochemical characteristics and biological significance of CLIBASIA_03135. This gene, highly induced during early stages of plant infection, encodes a 23 kDa protein and was renamed in this work as LotP. This protein belongs to an uncharacterized family of proteins with an overall structure resembling the LON protease N‐terminus. Co‐immunoprecipitation assays allowed us to identify the Liberibacter chaperonin GroEL as the main LotP‐interacting protein. The specific interaction between LotP and GroEL was reconstructed and confirmed using a two‐hybrid system in Escherichia coli. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that LotP has a native molecular weight of 44 kDa, corresponding to a dimer in solution with ATPase activity in vitro. In Liberibacter crescens, LotP is strongly induced in response to conditions with high osmolarity but repressed at high temperatures. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) results suggest that LotP is a member of the LdtR regulon and could play an important role in tolerance to osmotic stress.


Chinese herbal tea, also known as Liang Cha or cooling beverage, is popular in South China. It is regarded as a quick-fix remedy to relieve minor health problems. Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (colloquially Baihuasheshecao) is a common ingredient of cooling beverages. H. diffusa is also used to treat cancer and bacterial infections. Owing to the high demand for H. diffusa, two common adulterants, Hedyotis brachypoda (DC.) Sivar and Biju (colloquially Nidingjingcao) and Hedyotis corymbosa (L.) Lam. (colloquially Shuixiancao), are commonly encountered in the market. Owing to the close similarity of their morphological characteristics, it is difficult to differentiate them. Here, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genomes of the three species of Hedyotis using next-generation sequencing (NGS). By comparing the complete chloroplast genomes, we found that they are closely related in the subfamily Rubioideae. We also discovered that there are significant differences in the number and repeating motifs of microsatellites and complex repeats and revealed three divergent hotspots, rps16-trnQ intergenic spacer, ndhD and ycf1. By using these species-specific sequences, we propose new DNA barcoding markers for the authentication of H. diffusa and its two common adulterants.


Objective: to study the possibilities of ultrasound using modern technologies in monitoring the effectiveness of radiation therapy of cervical cancer.Materials and methods. The results of observations of 96 patients were analyzed.Results. Thirty-seven patients were diagnosed with recurrences and metastases of cervical cancer, and 59 patients were determined the criteria of full therapeutic effect.Conclusions. Multiparametric ultrasound is a highly informative method that allows diagnosing both the progression of the disease and the full therapeutic effect after radiation therapy of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer.


It is essential to investigate the structure and the main charactelistic of Home USN (Ubiquitous Sensor Network) technologies in built ubiquitous environment while designing bio-sensors. For this study, Thermistor elements and Thermopile black body have been selected to implement ubiquitous technolobries for bio-sensors and wireless network such as WiBro has been used to transfer sensing data to the BSN (Bio-Sensor Network) gateway. It is certain that efficiency of ubiquitous space design is improved if main components of each specific sensor network are analyzed precisely in digital way and corresponding communication modules are prepared accordingly. Ubiquitous technology, in conclusion, has to be applied not only with systematical mechanism or electronic setting but in human-centered atmosphere as well, keeping with deep consideration for bio-housing service factors in eco-frienclly surrounding.


We combine the Lanczos algorithm with both the smooth-external-complex-scaling method and the absorbing-potential method, implemented in the discrete variable representation to calculate the photodissociation cross sections. The method is iterative, based on a continued fraction representation of the Green function and avoids any matrix diagonalization. The problems of the stability and convergence of the method are studied using a model calculation as well as calculating the photodissociation cross sections of the CO molecule involving non-adiabatic coupling of two states.


Common sense has always been of interest in AI, but has rarely taken center stage. Despite its mention in one of John McCarthy's earliest papers and years of work by dedicated researchers, arguably no AI system with a serious amount of general common sense has ever emerged. Why is that? What's missing? Examples of AI systems' failures of common sense abound, and they point to AI's frequent focus on expertise as the cause. Those attempting to break the brittleness barrier, even in the context of modern deep learning, have tended to invest their energy in large numbers of small bits of commonsense knowledge. But all the commonsense knowledge fragments in the world don't add up to a system that actually demonstrates common sense in a human-like way. We advocate examining common sense from a broader perspective than in the past. Common sense is more complex than it has been taken to be and is worthy of its own scientific exploration.


Floral extracts (FEs) can influence the infectivity and epidemiology of fruit infecting Colletotrichum species. In this study, C. fioriniae responded to cranberry FEs with an increased rate and magnitude of secondary conidiation and appressorium formation. Four other cranberry fruit rotting species also showed an increased rate of germination in the presence of FEs. However, increased appressorium formation was observed only in the latent pathogens Coleophoma cylindrospora, Colletotrichum fructivorum, and C. fioriniae. Two other fruit rotting species, Phyllosticta vaccinii and Allantophomopsis lycopodina did not form appressoria while secondary conidiation was only seen with the Colletotrichum spp. When conidia of C. fioriniae were inoculated in the presence of FE, the incidence of disease was greater on cranberry fruit. Conidia of this species also formed appressoria at lower than expected temperatures in the presence of FE. Dissection of the flowers revealed that the corolla (with stamens and stigma) was the most stimulatory part of the inflorescence. These observations suggest an important and ephemeral role of flowers in the epidemiology of fruit rot. Stimulatory floral signals were readily detected using a conidial germination bioassay and rainwater samples collected from the plant canopy throughout the growing season confirmed that bioactivity was highest during the bloom period, and declined as the fruit developed. The data presented show that floral signals can alter the growth patterns of a larger than previously observed range of fungi and the mobility of floral signals within the canopy implicates these phenology-specific cues in modifying the disease cycles of numerous plant pathogens.


The production of microsclerotia by Purpureocillium lilacinum in liquid culture for use as a biocontrol agent for management of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita , has not been described. To investigate the potential for microsclerotia production, P. lilacinum strain CQPL01 was cultured in liquid media containing various concentrations of ferrous sulphate. Under these conditions mycelia began to form microsclerotia. The maximum yield (11.8 × 10 4 microsclerotia ml −1 ) was obtained in medium containing 0.2 g l −1 ferrous sulphate and the greatest production of conidia (1.3 × 10 8  conidia g −1 ) was obtained by the culture of air-dried microsclerotia in aqueous agar medium. Subsequently, the viability of microsclerotia, including stress resistance, storage stability and pathogenicity against M. incognita , was investigated. The microsclerotia exhibited excellent nematophagous ability and greater thermotolerance and UV-B radiation tolerance compared to conidia. These results suggested that microsclerotia propagules might be superior to the use of conidia in P. lilacinum biocontrol products.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the postulated causal association between measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

STUDY DESIGN
Active retrospective study based on linkage of the nationwide hospital discharge register with individual vaccination records. All patients hospitalized for treatment of GBS in Finland between November 1982 and December 1986 were included in the study.

RESULTS
During the study period, 189 patients were hospitalized for treatment of GBS, and approximately 630,000 vaccine recipients received 900,000 doses of MMR vaccine; 24 of the 189 patients represented the prevailing target population for MMR vaccination, of whom 20 were vaccinated. MMR vaccination did not cause any increase over the background incidence of GBS, and no clustering of cases of GBS occurred at any time point after administration of MMR vaccine. The interval between vaccination and onset of symptoms of GBS exceeded the designated risk period of 6 weeks in all cases, varying from 80 days to years. MMR vaccination after recovery from GBS did not cause relapses of the illness. Respiratory or gastrointestinal tract infection predated the onset of GBS by 3 to 30 days in 20 (83%) of the 24 patients.

CONCLUSIONS
No causal association seems to prevail between MMR vaccination and GBS.


Stoma siting is often regarded as the most important aspect of pre-operative stoma preparation (Readding, 2003; Rutledge et al, 2003), however, time spent with the patient discussing the finer points of surgery and what can be expected throughout the process is also crucial. Having the opportunity to meet with individual patients prior to surgery allows for the advanced exchange of information and the ability to discuss stoma formation from conception to ultimate patient management in its entirety. This arms the patient with the relevant information before surgery ever takes place, and prepares him or her for the time ahead. This article looks at the steps taken by the stoma care nurse (SCN) in preparing the patient for such surgery.


We describe two patients in whom acute colitis developed during etodolac treatment. Symptoms resolved when etodolac was stopped. In one, symptoms of colitis recurred with reexposure to the drug. The clinical and pathologic findings were consistent with de novo colitis from etodolac.


Background 10 month old previously healthy boy of Phillipino origin presented with a one week history of high grade fever associated with diarrohoea and two day history of chicken pox. Presentation He was noted to be irritable with a hoarse voice and neck extension. He was noted to have high infection markers and was commenced on Ceftriaxone. He deteriorated over the next 24 h and his blood cultures were positive for S Aureus. On further testing the organism was identified as a PVL producing MRSA. Due to persistent fever and neck extension, a CT neck and thorax was performed which revealed an extensive retropharyngeal abscess extending into the mediastinum (Figure 1). An echocardiogram additionally showed a small tricuspid vegetation.Abstract G72(P) Figure 1 Extensive retropharyngeal abscess extending into the mediastinum Management The abscess was surgically drained and the patient was treated with 6 weeks of Vancomycin and 2 weeks of oral Linezolid following IV therapy, after initial emperical therapy with Ceftriaxone. He required intensive care support following drainage and subsequently was managed on the paediatric infectious diseases unit. Follow-up scans showed a resolving infection. Pus culture from drainage grew the same organism. Further history form mother revealed that she had worked in the radiology department in an overseas hospital in the Phillipines previously. Immunology work up did not reveal evidence of an underlying primary immunodeficiency. Conclusion Severe staphylococcal infections due to resistant or toxin producing organisms should be considered in children with predisposing risk factors and require care by a multidisciplinary team in a tertiary unit.


Time-domain induced polarization (TDIP) measurements are based on the recording of remnant voltages after current switch off and thus typically suffer from low signal-to-noise ratios. The analysis of the discrepancy between normal and reciprocal measurements has demonstrated to be a suitable method to quantify the data error in TDIP data sets, permitting to compute images with enhanced resolution. However, due to time constraints, it is not always possible to collect reciprocal measurements. Hence, we propose an alternative methodology to quantify data error in TDIP, which is based on fitting model curves to the measured IP decay. Based on the goodness of the fit, we can identify outliers and derive error parameters for the inversion of the tomographic TDIP data. In order to assess the practicability of our approach, we present a comparison of imaging results obtained based on the fitting of decay curves with those obtained based on the analysis of repeated measurements and normal-reciprocal measurements. Inversion results presented here were computed for extensive field data sets collected at the Rifle (CO) and Shiprock (NM) test sites. These data sets include TDIP data collected with different devices and using different IP windows.


An overview of ongoing activities on heavy ion fusion (HIF) in Russia, Europe, the USA and Japan is presented. In this phase, the activities are oriented towards theoretical and experimental investigations of the state of matter under extreme conditions, experimental and theoretical study on heavy ion beam-plasma interaction, powerful driver issues and development of computer codes for comprehensive numerical simulations of heavy ion driven inertial fusion. In the context of the new-generation facilities at GSI-Darmstadt and ITEP-Moscow, considerations are focused on large synchrotron rings and high current accumulator rings which would be important tools for investigations in the physics of dense plasmas and inertial fusion. Numerous national and international collaborations on HIF research are proceeding effectively towards development of a new energy source that is abundant, safe, environmentally acceptable and economical.


In recent years, the reported incidence of brucellosis continued to rise and the epidemic spread kept, which has become an important public health problem in China. Continuous improvement of the surveillance system is important for effective control and prevention of brucellosis. This article systematically summarizes the construction and development of the brucellosis surveillance system, analyzes the main characteristics of the current brucellosis surveillance system and evaluates the surveillance system in China, and it also put forward suggestions for the further improvement of the surveillance system to meet the new requirement for brucellosis surveillance, control and prevention.


As we saw in these three novels rewriting history may bring change of perspective, ideology and moral awakening for the reader. Linearity of history is challenged through depicting fragmented and multi-voiced personal histories. Historical traumas, although painful, bring an opportunity for revision and correction of our deeds. Without them human beings become complacent and immoral. For McEwan, writing about historical traumas is a solution to make historical traumas unforgettable and reminded to help us deal with our present situation which is vulnerable, violent and traumalogical. In these novels, self-reflection and self-transformation happens through writing about history.


In their foundational paper, 'Constructing Commons in the Cultural Environment', Madison, Frischmann and Strandburg develop a theoretical framework for analyzing and systematizing constructed cultural commons, thereby tilting the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework approach, originally developed by Ostrom and her colleagues for natural resource commons, in a new direction. The present paper explores how genomics research may be understood looking through their analytical lens. Based on their adapted framework, and insightful views of other authors, the paper takes the view that the optimal design for protecting, sharing and managing genomic data is an 'Open Commons' approach.