Abstract Fast ignition fusion targets require a uniform cryogenic D-T fuel layer for efficient fuel assembly. Uniform beta layering of solid D-T fuel within a fast ignition capsule will be complicated by the presence of a reentrant cone for short-pulse laser access. We discuss an alternative approach to cryogenic fast ignition targets currently being developed at Sandia National Laboratories in which a liquid cryogenic fuel layer is condensed from a low-pressure external gas supply and confined between concentric plastic shells. This concentric-shell cryogenic liquid fuel target concept is particularly well adapted to a hemispherical capsule configuration for single-sided X-ray drive. Liquid cryogenic D-T targets have a number of potential advantages, including greatly reduced system cost, temperature control, fill time, and cryogenic handling requirements, compared to beta-layered D-T targets. The shape and surface quality of the liquid fuel layer is determined entirely by the bounding shells, opening the possibility for simplified fast ignition fusion energy targets. Technology issues for target fabrication are discussed, and radiation-hydrodynamics simulations of liquid fuel capsule performance are presented.


The additional fee must be paid to ACM. This text field is large enough to hold the appropriate release statement assuming it is single spaced in a sans-serif 7 point font. Every submission will be assigned their own unique DOI string to be included here. Abstract Research on the design of assistive educational technologies rarely explicitly address the implications of children's sociodemographic characteristics, such as class, race and gender. Through a field-study with children with visual impairments , we investigated how their experiences of the classroom and of disability varied depending on their socioeconomic contexts. Children whose families were of lower socioeconomic status were more likely to report feeling excluded, and to refer to school as a "hardship" with "little purpose." We reflect here on the extent to which design interventions can contribute to (re)shape these experiences , and on the position of the researcher as an ally.


Could a computer have a mind? What kind of machine would this be? Exactly what do we mean by 'mind' anyway? The notion of the 'intelligent' machine, whilst continuing to feature in numerous entertaining and frightening fictions, has also been the focus of a serious and dedicated research tradition. Reflecting on these fictions, and on the research tradition that pursues 'Artificial Intelligence', raises a number of vexing philosophical issues. Minds and Computers introduces readers to these issues by offering an engaging, coherent, and highly approachable interdisciplinary introduction to the Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence. Readers are presented with introductory material from each of the disciplines which constitute Cognitive Science: Philosophy, Neuroscience, Psychology, Computer Science, and Linguistics. Throughout, readers are encouraged to consider the implications of this disparate and wide-ranging material for the possibility of developing machines with minds. And they can expect to develop a foundation for philosophically responsible engagement with A.I., a sound understanding of Philosophy of Mind and of computational theory, and a good feel for cross-disciplinary analysis. Features: *A solid foundation in the Philosophy of Mind *A broadly interdisciplinary purview *A directed philosophical focus *A clear and accessible explanation of technical material with abundant exercises *A glossary of terms


Introduction Type 1 diabetes is characterized by pancreatic islet inflammation and autoimmune-driven pancreatic β-cell destruction. Interferon-α (IFNα) is a key player in early human type 1 diabetes pathogenesis. IFNα activates the tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway, leading to inflammation, HLA class I overexpression, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and β-cell apoptosis (in synergy with IL-1β). As TYK2 inhibition has raised as a potential therapeutic target for the prevention or treatment of type 1 diabetes, we investigated whether the selective TYK2 inhibitor deucravacitinib could protect β-cells from the effects of IFNα and other proinflammatory cytokines (i.e., IFNγ and IL-1β). Methods All experiments were performed in the human EndoC-βH1 β-cell line. HLA class I expression, inflammation, and ER stress were evaluated by real-time PCR, immunoblotting, and/or immunofluorescence. Apoptosis was assessed by the DNA-binding dyes Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide or caspase 3/7 activity. The promoter activity was assessed by luciferase assay. Results Deucravacitinib prevented IFNα effects, such as STAT1 and STAT2 activation and MHC class I hyperexpression, in a dose-dependent manner without affecting β-cell survival and function. A comparison between deucravacitinib and two Janus kinase inhibitors, ruxolitinib and baricitinib, showed that deucravacitinib blocked IFNα- but not IFNγ-induced signaling pathway. Deucravacitinib protected β-cells from the effects of two different combinations of cytokines: IFNα + IL-1β and IFNγ + IL-1β. Moreover, this TYK2 inhibitor could partially reduce apoptosis and inflammation in cells pre-treated with IFNα + IL-1β or IFNγ + IL-1β. Discussion Our findings suggest that, by protecting β-cells against the deleterious effects of proinflammatory cytokines without affecting β-cell function and survival, deucravacitinib could be repurposed for the prevention or treatment of early type 1 diabetes.


This lead exposure study was conducted in a total of 452 school children in the age group of 9–14 years. Two hundred and ninety-eight exposed children came from the villages situated within a 2.5 km radius of the lead–zinc mine whereas the comparative group children were selected from the villages at least 10 km away from mine. Environmental monitoring study suggested that lead levels in air and water samples near the mining areas were within the Central Pollution Control Board prescribed standards. Lead levels in about 80% of the children were less than 10 μg/dl. Medical examination of all children did not show any signs related to lead toxicity but central nervous system-related symptoms, as reported by the subjects during medical examination, were found to be higher in the exposed group when compared with the comparative group. The values of physical growth parameters of the exposed group were comparable with that of the comparative group for both girls and boys. Hence, the physical growth of children was found to be unaffected by the observed level of lead exposure. To safeguard the health of the children residing near the mining area, various preventive and control measures were suggested.


B. brevis 47 secretes a vast amount of protein consisting mainly of two kinds with approximate molecular weights of 130,000 and 150,000. The two major extracellular proteins were indistinguishable from those of cell wall protein by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Based on the results of analysis of amino acid composition, limited proteolysis followed by electrophoresis, and the cross-reactivity of antisera, we conclude that the 130K and 150K extracellular proteins are derived from the respective cell wall proteins. Furthermore, the NH2-terminal amino acid analysis suggests that the two major extracellular proteins are released from the cell wall without any modification of the NH2-terminal portion.


In this Letter, we give new constraints on planet migration. They were obtained under the assumption that Saturn's current obliquity is due to a capture in resonance with Neptune's ascending node. If planet migration is too fast, then Saturn crosses the resonance without being captured and it keeps a small obliquity. This scenario thus gives a lower limit on the migration timescale τ. We found that this boundary depends strongly on Neptune's initial inclination. For two different migration types, we found that τ should be at least greater than 7 Myr. This limit increases rapidly as Neptune's initial inclination decreases from 10° to 1°. We also give an algorithm to know if Saturn can be tilted for any migration law.


Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is an acute, highly contagious, and febrile viral disease that affects both domestic and wild small ruminants. The disease has become a major obstacle to the development of sustainable Agriculture. Hemagglutinin (H), the envelope glycoprotein of Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus (PPRV), plays a crucial role in regulating viral adsorption and entry, thus determining pathogenicity, and release of newly produced viral particles. In order to accurately understand the epidemic of the disease and the interactions between the virus and host, we launch the work. Here, we examined H gene from all four lineages of the PPRV to investigate evolutionary and epidemiologic dynamics of PPRV by the Bayesian method. In addition, we predicted positive selection sites due to selective pressures. Finally, we studied the interaction between H protein and SLAM receptor based on homology model of the complex. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that H gene can also be used to investigate evolutionary and epidemiologic dynamics of PPRV. Positive selection analysis identified four positive selection sites in H gene, in which only one common site (aa246) was detected by two methods, suggesting strong operation structural and/or functional constraint of changes on the H protein. This target site may be of interest for future mutagenesis studies. The results of homology modeling showed PPRVHv-shSLAM binding interface and MVH-maSLAM binding interface were consistent, wherein the groove in the B4 blade and B5 of the head domain of PPRVHv bound to the AGFCC′ β-sheets of the membrane-distal ectodomain of shSLAM. The binding regions could provide insight on the nature of the protein for epitope vaccine design, novel drug discovery, and rational drug design against PPRV.


Real-Time Euclid, a language designed specifically to address reliability and guaranteed schedulability issues in real-time systems, is introduced. Real-Time Euclid uses exception handlers and import/export lists to provide comprehensive error detection, isolation, and recovery. The philosophy of the language is that every exception detectable by the hardware or the software must have an exception-handler clause associated with it. Moreover, the language definition forces every construct in the language to be time- and space-bounded. Consequently, Real-Time Euclid programs can always be analyzed for guaranteed schedulability of their processes. Thus, it is felt that Real-Time Euclid is well-suited for writing reliable real-time software.


AIM
To investigate junior doctors' knowledge of how to conduct the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

METHODS
A two-part questionnaire was administered to junior doctors at teaching sessions across three New Zealand district health boards. Part 1 investigated prior experience and knowledge of the MoCA. Part 2 tested junior doctors' ability to identify errors in administration and how to score the test. Several weeks later a brief MoCA teaching session was given followed immediately by a repeat questionnaire.

RESULTS
Seventy-one individuals completed the initial audit and 46 did the follow-up audit. The majority of junior doctors carried out the MoCA on a monthly basis. Prior to our teaching session, only 23% of participants had received formal teaching on how to administer and score the MoCA. The majority (89%) of participants thought that the teaching session had improved their ability to conduct the MoCA. Statistically significant changes were seen in participants' ability to administer the trail-making question and to score the example questions of clock faces, naming animals, serial seven subtractions, verbal fluency testing, abstraction and the awareness about the effect of years of education on the MoCA score.

CONCLUSION
Junior doctors administer and score the MoCA but many have not received formal teaching on how to do so. A short teaching session improved their ability to conduct the MoCA and identify errors in administration and scoring.


The visual SLAM method is widely used for self-localization and mapping in complex environments. Visual-inertia SLAM, which combines a camera with IMU, can significantly improve the robustness and enable scale weak-visibility, whereas monocular visual SLAM is scale-invisible. For ground mobile robots, the introduction of a wheel speed sensor can solve the scale weak-visible problem and improve the robustness under abnormal conditions. In this thesis, a multi-sensor fusion SLAM algorithm using monocular vision, inertia, and wheel speed measurements is proposed. The sensor measurements are combined in a tightly coupled manner, and a nonlinear optimization method is used to maximize the posterior probability to solve the optimal state estimation. Loop detection and back-end optimization are added to help reduce or even eliminate the cumulative error of the estimated poses, thus ensuring global consistency of the trajectory and map. The wheel odometer pre-integration algorithm, which combines the chassis speed and IMU angular speed, can avoid repeated integration caused by linearization point changes during iterative optimization; state initialization based on the wheel odometer and IMU enables a quick and reliable calculation of the initial state values required by the state estimator in both stationary and moving states. Comparative experiments were carried out in room-scale scenes, building scale scenes, and visual loss scenarios. The results showed that the proposed algorithm has high accuracy, 2.2 m of cumulative error after moving 812 m (0.28%, loopback optimization disabled), strong robustness, and effective localization capability even in the event of sensor loss such as visual loss. The accuracy and robustness of the proposed method are superior to those of monocular visual inertia SLAM and traditional wheel odometers.


In recent years, biomedical research efforts aimed to unravel the mechanisms involved in motor neuron death that occurs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). While the main causes of disease progression were first sought in the motor neurons, more recent studies highlight the gliocentric theory demonstrating the pivotal role of microglia and astrocyte, but also of infiltrating immune cells, in the pathological processes that take place in the central nervous system microenvironment. From this point of view, microglia-astrocytes-lymphocytes crosstalk is fundamental to shape the microenvironment toward a pro-inflammatory one, enhancing neuronal damage. In this review, we dissect the current state-of-the-art knowledge of the microglial dialogue with other cell populations as one of the principal hallmarks of ALS progression. Particularly, we deeply investigate the microglia crosstalk with astrocytes and immune cells reporting in vitro and in vivo studies related to ALS mouse models and human patients. At last, we highlight the current experimental therapeutic approaches that aim to modulate microglial phenotype to revert the microenvironment, thus counteracting ALS progression.


The process of DNA donation for natural transformation of bacteria is poorly understood and has been assumed to involve bacterial cell death. Recently in Neisseria gonorrhoeae we found that mutations in three genes in the gonococcal genetic island (GGI) reduced the ability of a strain to act as a donor in transformation and to release DNA into the culture. To better characterize the GGI and the process of DNA donation, the 57 kb genetic island was cloned, sequenced and subjected to insertional mutagenesis. DNA sequencing revealed that the GGI has characteristics of a horizontally acquired genomic island and encodes homologues of type IV secretion system proteins. The GGI was found to be incorporated near the chromosomal replication terminus at the dif site, a sequence targeted by the site‐specific recombinase XerCD. Using a plasmid carrying a small region of the GGI and the associated dif site, we demonstrated that this model island could be integrated at the dif site in strains not carrying the GGI and was spontaneously excised from that site. Also, we were able to delete the entire 57 kb region by transformation with DNA from a strain lacking the GGI. Thus the GGI was likely acquired and integrated into the gonococcal chromosome by site‐specific recombination and may be lost by site‐specific recombination or natural transformation. We made mutations in six putative type IV secretion system genes and assayed these strains for the ability to secrete DNA. Five of the mutations greatly reduced or completely eliminated DNA secretion. Our data indicate that N. gonorrhoeae secretes DNA via a specific process. Donated DNA may be used in natural transformation, contributing to antigenic variation and the spread of antibiotic resistance, and it may modulate the host immune response.


Background: Cervical cancer is a public health problem and one of the leading causes of death in women worldwide. In Ethiopia, the government expands cervical cancer screening centers and recommends services to age-eligible and high-risk groups of women. However, evidence indicates that the utilization of services among eligible and high-risk women in the country has remained very low, and data are scarce in Dire Dawa. Therefore, this study aimed to assess cervical cancer screening service utilization and associated factors among women aged 30 to 49 years in Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in Dire Dawa from February 01 to March 01, 2017. Only two facilities provided the screening service in Dire Dawa Administration. Six- hundred and one women aged 30 to 49 years were selected using a systematic sampling method. Data were collected using a pretested face-to-face interview administered questionnaire. Data were entered using EpiData 3.1, and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science Version 21. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with cervical cancer screening utilization. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In this study, the magnitude of cervical cancer screening service utilization was 4.0% (95% CI: 2.5-5.7). The factors associated with cervical cancer screening service utilization were older age (AOR = 4.2; 95% CI:1.3-13.8), attending private health facilities (AOR = 8.9; 95% CI: 2.8-28.0), being employed (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.3-8.8), visiting the gynecology departments (AOR = 3.8; 95% CI: 1.5-9.8), being knowledgeable (AOR = 4.8; 95% CI: 1.5-15.5), being counseled by health professionals (AOR = 4.1; 95% CI: 1.5-11.3), and user's of family planning (AOR = 4.9; 95% CI: 1.2-20.0). Conclusion: The magnitude of cervical cancer screening utilization was very low. Hence, to improve the screening service utilization of cervical cancer, a campaign on community awareness, strengthening service linkage among departments, expansion of the centers for cervical cancer screening, and promotion of family planning method utilization are recommended.


RUSSIASAROV AND SNEZHINSK, RUSSIA-- As Russia's economy deteriorates, the danger grows that the country's once-privileged "nuclear cities" will hemorrhage the talent and materials that rogue nations crave for making nuclear bombs. Reassuringly, nuclear physicists appear to be resisting overtures from countries such as India, Pakistan, and Iran, according to several dozen scientists and government officials interviewed by Science during a recent visit behind the barbed wire fences that still surround Russia's 10 nuclear cities. But lucrative job offers from abroad could become more and more tempting: Russia's Ministry of Atomic Energy now says that as many as 50,000 of the 130,000 weapons specialists in its nuclear cities may have to find new work in the next several years, a figure which some say could be an underestimate.


Coherent Gradients (CGH) is a recently proposed hypothesis to explain why over-parameterized neural networks trained with gradient descent generalize well even though they have sufficient capacity to memorize the training set. The key insight of CGH is that, since the overall gradient for a single step of SGD is the sum of the per-example gradients, it is strongest in directions that reduce the loss on multiple examples if such directions exist. In this paper, we validate CGH on ResNet, Inception, and VGG models on ImageNet. Since the techniques presented in the original paper do not scale beyond toy models and datasets, we propose new methods. By posing the problem of suppressing weak gradient directions as a problem of robust mean estimation, we develop a coordinate-based median of means approach. We present two versions of this algorithm, M3, which partitions a mini-batch into 3 groups and computes the median, and a more efficient version RM3, which reuses gradients from previous two time steps to compute the median. Since they suppress weak gradient directions without requiring per-example gradients, they can be used to train models at scale. Experimentally, we find that they indeed greatly reduce overfitting (and memorization) and thus provide the first convincing evidence that CGH holds at scale. We also propose a new test of CGH that does not depend on adding noise to training labels or on suppressing weak gradient directions. Using the intuition behind CGH, we posit that the examples learned early in the training process (i.e., "easy" examples) are precisely those that have more in common with other training examples. Therefore, as per CGH, the easy examples should generalize better amongst themselves than the hard examples amongst themselves. We validate this hypothesis with detailed experiments, and believe that it provides further orthogonal evidence for CGH.


Phthalate esters are commonly used as plasticizers to improve the durability and workability of polymeric materials, locating and identifying them in various contexts has become a major challenge. Because of their ubiquitous use in plastic packaging and personal care items, as well as their tendency to leach out of these materials, phthalates have been detected in a variety of aquatic situations, including surface water, groundwater, drinking water, and wastewater. Phthalate esters have been shown to affect reproductive health and physical growth by disrupting the endocrine system. As a result, developing energy-efficient and effective technologies to eliminate these harmful substances from the atmosphere has become more important and urgent. This paper examines the existing techniques for treating phthalates and degradation mechanisms, as well as knowledge gaps and future research directions. These technologies include adsorption, electrochemical, photocatalysis, membrane filtration and microbial degradation. Adsorption and photo catalysis are the most widely used techniques for phthalate removal, according to the literature survey papers.


Sub-parsec binary massive black holes (BBHs) have long been thought to exist in many QSOs but remain observationally elusive. In this paper, we propose a novel method to probe sub-parsec BBHs through microlensing of lensed QSOs. If a QSO hosts a sub-parsec BBH in its center, it is expected that the BBH is surrounded by a circumbinary disk, each component of the BBH is surrounded by a small accretion disk, and a gap is opened by the secondary component in between the circumbinary disk and the two small disks. Assuming such a BBH structure, we generate mock microlensing light curves for some QSO systems that host BBHs with typical physical parameters. We show that microlensing light curves of a BBH QSO system at the infrared–optical–UV bands can be significantly different from those of corresponding QSO system with a single massive black hole (MBH), mainly because of the existence of the gap and the rotation of the BBH (and its associated small disks) around the center of mass. We estimate the half-light radii of the emission region at different wavelengths from mock light curves and find that the obtained half-light radius versus wavelength relations of BBH QSO systems can be much flatter than those of single MBH QSO systems at a wavelength range determined by the BBH parameters, such as the total mass, mass ratio, separation, accretion rates, etc. The difference is primarily due to the existence of the gap. Such unique features on the light curves and half-light radius–wavelength relations of BBH QSO systems can be used to select and probe sub-parsec BBHs in a large number of lensed QSOs to be discovered by current and future surveys, including the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System, the Large Synoptic Survey telescope, and Euclid.


Smart Learning Environment (SLE) is the hourly need to satisfy the urge generated by the new knowledge society. This includes a focus on learning methods to yield a required blend of learning environment that supports experience of effective and engaged learning. The essence of 'SLE' is to create a condition that can enhance the learners' personalized and adaptive learning experience. For the Architecture and Design students, Studio- a physical space that allows students to accomplish their design learning in an innovative and creative manner, plays an integral role in their learning. The main objective of the paper is to redefine the concept of 'Smart Learning Environment' in the context of Design education and suggest a model for the 'Smart Design Studio' based on the perception of learners. The methodology includes surveys and group discussion at the University of Bahrain (UoB), to receive opinions on smart teaching-learning spaces and methods. A short experimental study was done to measure the impact on the design learning as a result of modifications done in the Design Studio. The experiment was centered on the theory of 'Identity Development' and 'Personalization of spaces'. Finally, the paper concludes a new vision on SLE as a learner-centered-environment that allows multiple ways of learning to support all-round development of the learners. As a recommendation, authors suggest a model for the Design Studio to achieve effective, engaged and efficient learning. The key elements of the model are the disseminator and recipient of knowledge, learning methods, modes, tools and resources.


The authors report a clinical and echographic correlation of a retinal vasoproliferative tumor that assumed a mushroom shape. A 64-year-old man with a history of retinal detachment repair presented with vitreous hemorrhage. A clinical examination including standardized ultrasound was performed, which revealed a mushroom-shaped tumor with high reflectivity. The patient underwent pars plana vitrectomy with fine needle aspiration biopsy. Histopathology of the biopsy specimen demonstrated vascular proliferation. The lesion was diagnosed to be a retinal vasoproliferative tumor. Clinicians should be aware that a mushroom-shaped configuration can be seen in such cases, although it is common for uveal melanoma.


Distribution transformer adds power factor correction capacitor in the secondary side to collect compensate, so as to advance power factor and augment the load capacity of transformer. The article discusses the transformer allowance to increase the load capacity after reactive compensation and some correlative questions.


Explores the linkage between performance benchmarking and strategic homogeneity of Indian commercial banks. Devises a method of benchmarking performance of Indian commercial banks using their published financial information. Defines performance by how a bank is able to utilize its resources to generate business transactions and is measured by their ratio, which is then called the efficiency. The concept of efficiency is critical from a marketing perspective. Methodologically, in order to overcome some of the shortcomings of simple efficiencies obtained through self‐appraisal of individual banks, a more "democratic" concept of cross‐efficiency evaluated with the process of peer‐appraisal has been brought in to benchmark the banks. Clusters banks based on similarity in business policy which offers a framework for competitive positioning in the target market and serves as a basis for long‐term strategic focus. Finds that the public sector banks generally outperform the private and foreign banks in this rapidly evolving and liberalizing sector.


Background It is estimated there are 2.9 million diabetic patients in the United Kingdom, and around 5%-7% of patients have diabetic ulcers. This number will continue to increase globally. Diabetic ulcers are a major economic burden on the healthcare system. More than £650 million is spent on foot ulcers or amputations each year, and up to 100 people a week have a limb amputated due to diabetes. In T1DM, the level of IL-2 is reduced, and hence, wound healing is in a prolonged inflammatory phase. It is not known if IL-2 topical cream can shorten the healing process in T1DM patients. Objective The objective of this study is to understand the pathophysiology in type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and investigate possible future treatment based on its clinical features. The hypothesis is that IL-2 cream can speed up wound healing in NOD mice and that this can be demonstrated in a ten-week study. An experiment protocol is designed in a mouse model for others to conduct the experiment. The discussion is purely based on diabetic conditions; lifestyle influences like smoking and drinking are not considered. Methods Skin incisions will be created on 20 nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, and IL-2 topical cream will be applied in a 10-week study to prove the hypothesis. Mice will be randomly and equally divide into two groups with one being the control group. Results T1DM patients have a decreased number of T regulatory (Treg) cells and interleukin 2 (IL-2). These are the keys to the disease progression and delay in wound healing. Diabetic ulcer is a chronic wound and characterized by a prolonged inflammatory phase. Conclusions If the experiment is successful, T1DM patients will have an alternative, noninvasive treatment of foot ulcers. In theory, patients with other autoimmune diseases could also use IL-2 topical cream for treatment.


ANP infusion increased hematocrit and decreased plasma volume (PV) by inducing a shift of plasma fluid from the vascular towards the interstitial compartment. Rats with experimental diabetes mellitus resulting from streptozotocin (STZ) treatment exhibit renal resistance to infused ANP. To determine if resistance to the extrarenal actions of ANP also occurs in these conditions, changes in arterial pressure and hematocrit were measured during infusion of ANP (1 microgram/kg/min for 45 min) in anesthetized binephrectomized rats 2-3 weeks after induction of diabetes. Blood glucose was significantly elevated in diabetic when compared to control and insulin-treated diabetic rats. Arterial pressure decreased similarly in control, diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic rats (by 7.6 +/- 1.6, 9.6 +/- 1.9 and 8.2 +/- 2% respectively; all p < 0.0002). In control rats, hematocrit increased progressively to a maximal value of 9.5 +/- 0.9% corresponding to a decrease in PV of 16 +/- 1%. In contrast, the ANP-induced increase in hematocrit was markedly blunted in diabetic rats (1.6 +/- 0.8%; p < 0.0001 vs ANP infusion in control rats), corresponding to a decrease in PV of only 2.2 +/- 1%. In addition, reducing the hyperglycemia in diabetic rats by insulin therapy restored the increase in hematocrit to ANP (8.5 +/- 1.1%; p < 0.0001 and p = NS vs ANP infusion in diabetic and control rats respectively). PV, measured at the end of the infusion period, did not differ between control and insulin-treated diabetic rats infused with ANP (21.3 +/- 1.4 and 22.5 +/- 1.4 ml/kg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


In this report we examine a range of employee information and consultation mechanisms in 15 organisations in the Republic of Ireland. The research was conducted specifically in relation to the European Employee Information and Consultation Directive. While we note that many managerial respondents identified a positive link between employee consultation and organisational performance, the efficacy and interpretations of how these mechanisms operate in practice differed quite substantially according to employees. The evidence suggests that regulations contained in the European Directive provide the opportunities for more effective employee voice systems and the platform to extend representational rights at workplace level.


.......................................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENT ......................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................. xi LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................. xii LIST OF APPENDICES ...................................................................................................... xiii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................. xiv CHAPTER ONE .....................................................................................................................


The process of waste decomposition in landfills is a process that converts waste into organic fertilizer due to percolating rainwater from biochemical waste processes and wastewater content. range of pollutants may affect public health and the ecosystem around the landfill loca This process also dissolves heavy metals in the form of a leachate byproduct. The high tion. Therefore, it is crucial to treat leachate before discharge to water bodies. Landfill leachate processing can be carried out through 3 processes, consisted of physicochemical, biological, and the combination of physicochemical and biological. Currently, constructed wetlands as natural treatment are considered environmentally friendly to deal with water pollution. This writing aimed to determine the differences in the leachate landfill characteristics, drainage system, and plant species used in the constructed wetland. This writing is based on a literature review of experimental research on water treatment carried out with the same parameters as leachate and leachate treatment. The literature review results show that leachate landfill processing depends on leachate characteristics and is influenced by age, type of waste, region, and climate.


Transportation of Oil and Gas from the production site to the terminal or refinery requires the use of long pipelines which procure to develop slug flow regime. This slug may cause cyclic stresses leading to fatigue and results in damaging the pipelines. This paper aims to utilize that design guide and calculate the total fatigue life for the pipeline due to internal slug flow by performing evaluation of the stress range and fatigue life span of the pipeBeam 3element with moving loads in ANSYS commercial software have been used to simulate the slug flow across the pipeline and assess the dynamic response. The total fatigue life for different selected slug parametrs was calculated. The model was validated by comparing with analytical solution in a previous published research and reasonable agreement was revealed. The results show that increasing the slug to pipe weight ratio resulting in higher dynamic stresses and reduction in the fatigue life of the pipe. This model can be utilized for the offshore pipeline if the external environmental effects are considered.


The Brazilian oil industry has gained new momentum after the discovery of large oil reserves in deep under-water. Numerous investments in the oil production chain are expected to support the scale of this operation. Given this context, the use of a decision support system (DSS), which encompasses the complexity of the oil supply chain to support investment decisions, becomes crucial. This paper proposes a DSS that is based on a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model that allows the evaluation of different investment alternatives in logistics networks, such as expanding the capacity for transport, handling, and/or storage. Additionally, the DSS is composed of a database structure, business intelligence environment, and graphical visualization tool. The features of the proposed system were evaluated in two case studies. The first case study assesses the synergies between two projects: specifically the expansion of the berthing capacity of vessels in a marine terminal, and the increase in the transport capacity of the pipeline that connects the marine terminal to a distribution base. The second case study evaluates the dependency of the investment in sections of a pipeline that connects a refinery to several distribution bases. These case studies demonstrate the potential use of a DSS that currently optimizes investments in the Brazilian petroleum supply chain.


With the advent of modern chemotherapy and subsequent alteration of the natural course of acute lymphocytic leukemia over the last decade, central nervous system (CNS) leukemia has emerged as a significant therapeutic problem. 1 We have recently treated a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia who had tremor, ataxia, and transient hemiparesis without classic signs of meningeal irritation. A diagnosis of multifocal leukoencephalopathy was entertained, but lumbar puncture revealed the true nature of the disease to be leukemic involvement of the CNS. A complete response to intrathecal methotrexate was obtained. Report of a Case A 4-year-old white boy was examined, and acute lymphocytic leukemia was diagnosed in June of 1966. He had obtained his fourth complete remission on vincristine sulfate, prednisone, and daunomycin in August 1968 and was being maintained on once-monthly doses of these drugs. Two weeks prior to admission in association with an upper respiratory infection, the parents


PurposeThe aim of this research is to analyze the success of digital transformation (DT) in the management and performance of organizations. To do so, the role of IT and its ability to integrate in organizations that provide professional services with high added value for their clients are investigated. These services require highly developed skills as they solve complex problems for the clients and this means that success depends on gathering knowledge from different sources (customers, public administrations and competitors). This study analyses the decisive and complementary role of IT in this process.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis combines quantitative and qualitative methods. After questioning managers of Spanish KIBS companies about certain components of DT, the gathered data are subsequently processed with PLS-SEM to establish causal relationships.FindingsThe results show that digital capability is the determinant of DT. It has a positive effect on the digital resources integrated in KIBS companies and on their organizational performances.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research should continue to analyze other components of TD that drive the organizational performance of KIBS firms, such as technological culture or government policies that encourage digital transactions. The present study analyzes data from companies that are part of a single economic sector in Spain which may limit the conclusions drawn. It would be particularly useful to confirm the applicability of the results in companies operating in different markets to explore the direct relationship between digital capability and organizational performance.Practical implicationsThis research has implications for managers of KIBS companies, as it shows the high potential of the ability of IT to implement and manage a TD process. Managers can benefit from IT management practices using the appropriate tools (ERP, CRM and management software) to gain more knowledge of customer behavior with the possibility of easily codifying and analyzing the data, which significantly influences innovation activities. The objective is to develop a strong internal capability to absorb knowledge from day-to-day interactions with customers by using IT effectively. This process leads to an improvement in the organizational performance of KIBS companies, as they become more effective in decision making with improved internal communication, generate greater employee satisfaction and reach new customers. Following strategies aimed at the implementation and use of the technological resources studied creates more agile firms and helps to close the production gap between SMEs and large companies.Social implicationsThe results obtained can help create sustainable businesses through cloud-based technology tools. It can provide insights for policy makers to implement economic policies that help SMEs to become more competitive and sustainable.Originality/valueThe development of digital technologies and the ability to manage them is one of the decisive factors that conceptualizes DT and improves organizational performance. This research contributes to the understanding of the need for managers of KIBS companies to follow strategies oriented towards the digitization of their organizations and for the collaborators to have a high level of IT training, especially in the use of cloud technology.


Spasticity is one component of the upper motor neurone syndrome. Unlike motor deficit and co-contraction, spasticity is responsive to treatment. Thus it receives more attention than the other features of the upper motor neuron syndrome. In order to treat correctly the patients, we need to know expectations of the patient and family. Detailed clinical evaluation including functional analysis is necessary to determine whether the objectives are reasonable. This evaluation is not always very easy because of complex clinical features. Simply aiming to reduce spasticity is not a final treatment goal. There must be a purpose behind it. It is actually very difficult to evaluate functional effect of spasticity treatments. Few studies show a real functional improvement. Yet patients are satisfied with the results and the goals are often achieved. One explanation is that functional scales usually used do not fit to the spasticity problem.


Replacing tooth structure that is lost due to trauma to the anterior teeth remains a challenge to the restorative dentist. The restorations must not only be able to withstand masticatory forces and stress but also be esthetically pleasing and acceptable. Materials and techniques have been developed and continue to be developed to improve the outcomes of our services. Although there is still no restorative material available that fulfills all requirements, recent advancements in resin technology provide some improvement in treatment outcomes. In terms of esthetic dentistry, direct composite resins offer many advantages such as treatment in a single visit, not requiring preliminary models or wax-ups, not involving laboratory fees, cause less stress on the opposing dentition, and able to be repaired easily. However these materials have less color stability, less resistance to fracture and less shear and compressive strength. They are contraindicated for the patients with parafunctional forces and habits, Class III end-to-end occlusion, or with large diastemas. We report on a patient with dental aesthetic problems due to crown fractures on maxillary anterior teeth and treated with direct aesthetic composite resin restorations. Direct composite resin restorations, with proper case selection, using appropriate technique and aesthetic materials, can yield highly aesthetic and long lasting results. Case Study Korkut; BJMMR, 17(10): 1-5, 2016; Article no.BJMMR.28268 2


The solvent-free reaction between 5-amino-1H-pyrazoles and  -triketones (2-acetyldimedone and 2- acetylindandione) leads to the formation of new fused pyrazolo(1,5-a)pyrimidines in good yields. A possible mechanistic route is postulated on the basis of the isolation of the cyclization intermediate. The structures and regiospecificity of the reaction were determined on the basis of nmr measurements and X-ray diffraction.


Abstract Not Available – First paragraph follows:
Bulk bins are adaptable to transporting a wide range of shipping fruits from the field to the packing house. Much of the citrus industry's fruit handling has changed from field boxes to bulk bins. Pears and apples are being handled by this method for both fresh shipment and processing. Some other processing fruits, such as prunes and cling peaches are also being frequently handled in bins. Picking directly into bins allows better field supervision and control of the pickers, easier and faster field handling of fruit, and reduced container replacement costs over a period of years. Factors to be balanced against these advantages include the initial cost of conversion, investment in new equipment, disposal of existing materials, and interim system complications.


This article discusses some difficulties in the implementation of combinatorial algorithms associated with the choice of all elements with certain properties among the elements of a set with great cardinality.The problem has been resolved by using multidimensional arrays. Illustration of the method is a solution of the problem of obtaining one representative from each equivalence class with respect to the described in the article equivalence relation in the set of all $m\sim n$ binary matrices. This equivalence relation has an application in the mathematical modeling in the textile industry.


PKU Muhammadiyah Karanganyar is one of the private hospitals in
Karanganyar regency that have to pay more attention to the determination of
hospitalization service tariff, so that they can compete with the other hospitals.
Activity Based Costing (ABC) method is one of the methods to calculate the
resources of the consumption in each activity.
The purpose of the final project is to do evaluation on determining of
hospitalization service tariff based on the ABC method, find the strenghts and the
weakness of determination hospitalization service tariff in PKU Muhammadiyah
Karanganyar.
In this research, the writer compare the hospitalization service tariff based
on the ABC method with the tariff that has been implemented in PKU
Muhammadiyah Karanganyar.
The conclusion of this study are, ABC method used for the determination of
hospitalization service tariff, cost of hospitalization service adjusted by the
comparison hospital, result of the cost of hospitalization service smaller than
applicable tariff except at class III, PKU Muhammadiyah do not fix on the profit
and make cost efficiency for adjusting tariff, surplus of income relatively small,
whereas there are many cost not charge to the cost of hospitalization service, so
the tariff currently applies is irrelevant in use.
Based on this research, the writer suggest to PKU Muhammadiyah
Karanganyar hospital to charging the cost of hospitalization service in each class
not in each ward, fix on profit in determination of hospitalization tariff, not too
much make adjustment with the others, charging all the cost required on
hospitalization service and increase the tariff for class III in order to grow up and
innovate as with continous business competition and technological progress.
Keyword: Activity-Based Costing Method, Tariff, PKU Muhammadiyah
Karanganyar Hospital


: As shown by a 6-month follow-up of anginal patients exposed to a single 10-day course of infrared laser radiation, the antianginal effect of this laser treatment manifested 1 month after the end of the radiation, was registered in 80-82% of the patients and persisted after 6-month follow-up in 62.5% of the patients. The therapeutic effect was the highest in patients with severe coronary insufficiency.


MR angiography (MRA) was performed in 50 consecutive subjects (mean age, 59 years), who had been referred for abdominal MRA, on a 1.5‐T superconductive unit that used a body phased‐array coil. Three breath‐hold three‐dimensional sequences were evaluated both in phantom and clinical studies: (a) standard fast three‐dimensional gradient‐echo sequence (TR = 15, TE = 6; imaging time, 32 seconds), (b) ultrafast three‐dimensional gradient‐echo sequence (TR = 8.2, TE = 3; imaging time, 18 seconds), and (c) ultrafast magnetization‐prepared (MP) rapid acquisition gradient echo (RAGE) (TR = 5.8, TE = 2.9, inversion time [TI] = 20; imaging time, 15 seconds). The initial 30 patients were randomized into three groups by three separate sequences. For the remaining 20 patients, ultrafast‐gradient‐echo and ultrafast MP‐RAGE sequences were performed. Conventional angiography was performed on 36 patients. Signal measurements of the phantom and clinical images of the aorta, visceral branches of the aorta, iliac arteries, inferior vena cavae, and portal veins were performed. The overall image quality and background fatty tissue contrast of the vessels were rated subjectively. Comparison of images between MRA and conventional angiography also was performed. The contrast between the vessels and background fatty tissue was significantly higher in the ultrafast MP‐RAGE sequence in both quantitative and qualitative analysis, and image‐quality ultrafast MP‐RAGE was superior to the other two sequences (P < .01). The aorta and iliac arteries could be visualized in all pulse sequences, and abnormalities of these vessels were diagnosed correctly. The renal artery was visualized more clearly with the two ultrafast sequences.


Pastoralists' perceptions and indigenous ecological knowledge of vegetation changes are often ignored despite the debate about their role in rangeland management. Yet, pastoralists are known to have extensive ecological knowledge which could complement scientific knowledge and contribute to improved understanding and sustainable management of savanna Ecosystems. This study was aimed at exploring pastoralists' perceptions regarding rangeland degradation in the Adamawa highland plateau. More specifically, it was geared to examine their awareness of rangeland degradation, the current status/condition of the rangelands, the drivers and major root causes of degradation, negative consequences, existing management practices, and a methodological framework to make these measures more resilient. The study applied a descriptive statistics method. Focus group discussions, field observations and structured/semi-structured survey questionnaires, were used for data collection, where 240 pastoralists were targeted. The study covered 4 sub-divisions within Faro & Deo District of the plateau based on the intensity of degradation (high, medium and less). The major findings indicate that, the main livelihood activity is cattle rearing and crop cultivation (86.43%) with a certain degree of sedentarization. The major livestock production constraint proved to be insufficient and poor pasture available for cattle (65.71%). A great majority (93.6%) also confirmed that the present rangeland state/condition has become poor and non-conducive for cattle production. This is clearly interpreted in the drastic drop of the 'cheptel' (average holdings) and a decline in the quality of pastoral resources/outputs offered to the communities. The major root causes of degradation were overgrazing, bush encroachment, uncontrolled bush fires, soil erosion, population pressure and limited care/attention paid to rangelands. The major socio-economic consequences were poverty, food insecurity, conflicts, loss of cultural heritage, rural exodus and high crime waves. Through their indigenous ecological knowledge pastoralists conserve their rangelands through: mechanical and chemical fight against bush encroachment (Bush clearing and use of selective herbicide respectively), seasonal herd mobility/transhumance, use of paddocking systems, destocking of herds, adoption of improved pastures, and improvement on pastoral hydraulics. Government and NGOs' supports to rangeland management, proved to be limited in the study area. The degradation of rangelands in the study area is progressing at an alarming rate which gives the impression of difficulty to restore it in the future if proper measures are not taken by stakeholders.


Based on an earlier study by Kuhn and Ibrahim (see IEEE J. Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. 49, no. 1, p. 31-38, 2001) on current crowding, an improved expression incorporating the skin effect for the prediction of series resistance in spiral inductor modeling has been derived. A modified model for the spiral inductor, which accounts for the eddy-current effect, is thus proposed. Relatively good agreements between the measured data and the results generated from the model are obtained.


ABSTRACT Objective: We studied the correlation between airbag deployment and eye injuries using 2 different data sets. Methods: The registry of the Finnish Road Accident (FRA) Investigation Teams was analyzed to study severe head- and eyewear-related injuries. All fatal passenger car or van accidents that occurred during the years 2009–2012 (4 years) were included (n = 734). Cases in which the driver's front airbag was deployed were subjected to analysis (n = 409). To determine the proportion of minor, potentially airbag-related eye injuries, the results were compared to the data for all new eye injury patients (n = 1,151) recorded at the Emergency Clinic of the Helsinki University Eye Hospital (HUEH) during one year, from May 1, 2011, to April 30, 2012. Results: In the FRA data set, the unbelted drivers showed a significantly higher risk of death (odds ratio [OR] = 5.89, 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.33–10.9, P = 2.6E-12) or of sustaining head injuries (OR = 2.50, 95% CI, 1.59–3.97, P = 3.8E-5). Only 4 of the 1,151 HUEH patients were involved in a passenger car accident. In one of the crashes, the airbag operated, and the belted driver received 2 sutured eye lid wounds and showed conjunctival sugillation. No permanent eye injuries were recorded during the follow-up. The calculated annual airbag-related eye injury incidence was less than 1/1,000,000 people, 4/100,000 accidents, and 4/10,000 injured occupants. Conclusions: Airbag-related eye injuries occurred very rarely in car accidents in cases where the occupant survived and the restraint system was appropriately used. Spectacle use did not appear to increase the risk of eye injury in restrained occupants.


Telehealth has seen rapid adoption in the past three years as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conventional methods for measurement of vital signs are neither optimized for remote care nor highly scalable. Blood pressure is a critical vital parameter that currently cannot be measured remotely. Cameras are versatile and capable sensors that can be repurposed to measure vital signs. In this article, we review the use of cameras for remote photoplethysmography and assessment of blood pressure. We discuss the principles behind this technology and the current evidence for blood pressure measurement. We also explore future applications and potential challenges to provide a roadmap for researchers, clinicians, and regulators who are considering this new technology.


The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of self help program on patients with chronic arthritis. This study was performed from 13th of August to 29th of October 2002. 30 arthritis patients with an average age, of 56 years were participated in the self-help program. At the completion of 6 weeks. 23 patients completed both pretest and posttest, overall dropout rate was 23%. Outcome measures were status of daily living, self-care activities, flexibility, grip strength and depression. Data were analysed by percentage, paired t-test, Pearson' s correlation coefficient.
There were statistically significant in self-care activities, flexibility, grip strength after the self- help program. However no significant differences were found in daily living and depression. There were significant relationships between daily living and depression. There were significant relationships between right flexibility & left flexibility and right and left grip strength.
In conclusion self-help program was proved to be an effective nursing intervention to increase the self-care activities, flexibility and grip strength. These results of this study suggested that the follow-up program after the self-help program should be run to help the physical psychological wellbeing of arthritis patients.


The deadly COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately presented new opportunities for perpetrators to exploit. As such, hefty amounts of economic crimes such as money laundering and money laundering threats were committed from the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic, up to date of publication of this article. This criminal activity is highly likely to continue unless proficient solutions are efficiently activated and essentially carried out. This article sets out the ML and ML threat findings in South Africa as well as internationally during the pandemic, the South African anti-money laundering (AML) framework status quo, and what the way forward could be.


Central hemodynamic responses evoked by standardized hemorrhage (exsanguination of 20 ml x kg bwt-1) were followed during 2 h in cats with intact and blocked vascular beta 2-adrenoceptors using the 'selective' beta 2-blocker, ICI 118, 551. In the first 10 min after bleeding blood pressure and cardiac output (CO) decreased and total peripheral resistance (TPR) increased by the same amount in the 'intact' and beta 2-blocked animals. Whereas blood pressure later on reached approximately the same hypotension level in both groups, other hemodynamic variables were distinctly different. In the 'intact' animals there was a gradual, partial recovery of stroke volume (SV) and CO in the face of a restoration to control of TPR. In the beta 2-blocked animals TPR continued to increase in the face of a maintained low CO and declining SV. The lower SV in the latter group was ascribed to abolition of beta 2-adrenergic restoration of plasma volume via absorption of tissue fluid into the circulation. The gradual decline of TPR in the 'intact' animals was attributed to beta 2-adrenergic dilator interaction with constrictor influences on the resistance vessels. It is concluded that beta-adrenergic vascular control mechanisms help to improve nutritional tissue blood flow during hemorrhage by increasing plasma volume, and hence venous return and CO, and by decreasing TPR. These reflex, beta 2-adrenergic circulatory events are similar to those aimed at in current shock therapy by transfusion and vasodilator treatment.


The scientific report examines the relationship of investment in education, increasing human capital and accelerating economic growth. At the center of the analysis are the situation in the Russian education and those changes in this area that affect the accumulation of human capital. The institutional problems that have accumulated in the education system, which reduce its effectiveness, and the forks of educational policy related to solving these problems are considered in detail. It justifies the need for a much larger budget maneuver than provided for in the national project "Education". On the basis of theoretical and empirical models, as well as world experience, a system of measures has been considered, which, by increasing human capital, can have a positive effect on Russia's economic growth rates.


with built-in mobile management APIs, more frequent cloud updates, modern apps, and more. These changes open up opportunities for cloud-based, modern management of enterprise endpoints at scale, similar to what organizations have done for many years for their mobile device deployments. Instituting modern management is one of the ways many organizations can overcome their constant struggle today to keep up with operating system upgrades, security patches, and configurations for their desktop PC users.


Purpose Discovery of models predicting the exact prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is necessary as the first step of implementation of individualized treatment. This study aimed to develop nomograms predicting treatment response and prognosis in EOC. Materials and Methods We comprehensively reviewed medical records of 866 patients diagnosed with and treated for EOC at two tertiary institutional hospitals between 2007 and 2016. Patients' clinico-pathologic characteristics, details of primary treatment, intra-operative surgical findings, and survival outcomes were collected. To construct predictive nomograms for platinum sensitivity, 3-year progression-free survival (PFS), and 5-year overall survival (OS), we performed stepwise variable selection by measuring the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) with leave-one-out cross-validation. For model validation, 10-fold cross-validation was applied. Results The median length of observation was 42.4 months (interquartile range, 25.7 to 69.9 months), during which 441 patients (50.9%) experienced disease recurrence. The median value of PFS was 32.6 months and 3-year PFS rate was 47.8% while 5-year OS rate was 68.4%. The AUCs of the newly developed nomograms predicting platinum sensitivity, 3-year PFS, and 5-year OS were 0.758, 0.841, and 0.805, respectively. We also developed predictive nomograms confined to the patients who underwent primary debulking surgery. The AUCs for platinum sensitivity, 3-year PFS, and 5-year OS were 0.713, 0.839, and 0.803, respectively. Conclusion We successfully developed nomograms predicting treatment response and prognosis of patients with EOC. These nomograms are expected to be useful in clinical practice and designing clinical trials.


Digital technologies for identifying and linking to resources on the internet promise to make connections between scholarly publications and their underlying data more transparent and traceable. "Data citations" are formal citations included in reference lists of published articles to data resources that led to a given research result. The workshop "Bridging Data Lifecycles: Tracking Data Use via Data Citations," held by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in April, 2012, brought together 80 people from 30+ organizations to discuss many aspects of data citations. This report outlines the important activities, tools, challenges, and impediments to data citation initiatives that were identified during the workshop. The report also outlines a set of recommendations on how to get started on the processes of assigning citations and actionable identifiers to data sets without having solved every issue. By making it easy for users, providing openness and transparency in how data citation tools are being applied, and leveraging the interest and expertise of the multiple communities of stakeholders, organizations can promote, enable, and embed data citations as regular components of the scholarly communication infrastructure.


Two patients with Goldenhar syndrome developed corneal ulcers. Previous acid burn of the cornea and prolonged topical corticosteroid administration occurred in Patient 1. Predisposing ocular anomalies in patients with Goldenhar syndrome include corneal hypesthesia; keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and exposure secondary to eyelid colobomas, lacrimal gland and duct anomalies, dermoids and lipodermoids, and neurologic deficits. Serious ocular morbidity may be prevented by searching for and adequately treating these predisposing factors. It is possible that embryonic events contribute to ocular complications in Goldenhar syndrome, in part, by causing hypoplasia or abnormal function of the trigeminal and facial nerves.


Heterogeneity is the essence of the IoT paradigm. There is heterogeneity in communication and transport protocols, in network infrastructure, and even among the interacting devices themselves. Managing discovery of the different devices in such a paradigm is an extremely complex task. The typical solutions include an abstraction layer, commonly known as the middleware layer, that handles this complexity for the devices, thereby, allowing them to interact with one another. One major limitation of the existing middleware solutions is in their ability to allow for an easily configurable approach required to handle the tremendous scale of heterogeneous components in the IoT. The objective of this thesis is to develop such a highly configurable discovery middleware approach. The proposed approach aims to discover a variety of heterogeneous devices and services depending on a multi-level plugin layer, consisting of independent plugins that interact with each other based on the pipes and filters architectural pattern. To allow for the dynamic configuration of the middleware, a discovery configuration is developed. The output from the middleware includes a list of devices and their capabilities and is accessible via a web interface which can interact with a range of different clients. The proposed approach is validated on a scenario in a real-life environment.


The article reflects on Peter Mair's work in addressing the claims of the decline of party thesis. The cartel party model is discussed, the relationship between parties and the state, the collusion of parties, the quality of representation provided by them, their organizational responses to environmental change, and their patterns of competition. Critical assessment of the theoretical arguments and a review of the relevant empirical evidence indicate that parties possess more autonomy and influence than suggested by the decline of party thesis and its attendant components, such as the dealignment model. Some of the commonly cited symptoms of party decline are corroborated, but the article highlights the adaptive organizational and social strategies of parties. These strategies, together with the success of parties in maintaining an essentially bipolar pattern of competition, contribute to the resilience of party politics.


The global demand for oil and its derivatives such as petrochemicals has enabled companies providing these products to reach more customers and increase their market share and profitability. Supply Chain Management in petroleum industry contains various challenges in logistics area as an opportunity for cost saving by swap practice which is referred as 'Systematic cooperative reciprocal barter'. The unpredictability in oil prices, refining margins and the long lead times associated with vital functions like crude buying and product trading make the entire process challenging. The objective of this paper is to shed some light on the supply chain challenges and opportunities in the petroleum industry and on swap practices that have been employed as excellent supply chain practice by petroleum industry. The major segments are upstream and downstream supply chains. The upstream supply chain involves the acquisition of crude oil which is the specialty of the oil companies. The upstream process includes exploration, forecasting, production and logistics management of delivering crude oil manufactured into consumable products that are the specialty of refineries and petrochemical companies. The downstream supply chain involves the process of forecasting, production and the logistics management of delivering the crude oil derivatives to customers around the globe.


Part 1 Myth and history: the Norman Yoke King Arthur - lost again? Glastonbury, the grail and the Isle of Avalon merrie Englande - the legend of Robin Hood when was England England?. Part 2 Manuscripts and mysteries: heritage and destructions - the troublesome journey and laborious search of John Leland Alfred the Great - the case of the fenland forger the lost life of King Athelstan the story of a book. Part 3 Landscapes and people: the last bowl-turner of England Tinsley Wood a Devon house - to Domesday and beyond Peatling Magna - August 1265 Jarrow and English history epilogue - an English family.


clear from Fig. 1 that X = 1 is optimal only if C = 0. However, found to be preferable and a numerical example, begun in [I], is values of X near unity may be desirable. (For example, if M = continued to give some insight into the determination of optimal 10 000 and w = 0.1 so that M$ = 100, then f is approximately 3.9 monitor parameters. and 6 is 0.0027. If each false alarm results in the loss of C units, [II IV. SUMMARY As a previously published paper [l] had suggested, the per-PI formance of a simple, but reasonably efficient, monitor could be improved by some alteration of the reset procedure. The extreme 131 procedure, i.e., to reset the monitor statistic G, to its threshold I41 value, appears to be optimal only if no cost is incurred by the occurrence of false alarms (as opposed to their duration). In the more realistic nonzero cost situation, less drastic procedures are [51 REFERENCES W. G. S. Hines, " A simple monitor of a system with sudden parameter changes, " IEEE Trans. Point processes are sequences of times or places at which events of interest occur. They may be marked, meaning that an ancillary variable is recorded with each event; they may be vector valued , as in the case that more than one sort of event is possible; or they may be multidimensional, as in the case that the time parameter is multidimensional. An example of a marked vector-valued multidimensional point process is the series of seismic disturbances occurring throughout the world specified as to magnitude, character, time, and location. The study of stochastic point processes is currently one of the most lively areas of quantitative research with work ranging from mathematical foundations to routine data analysis. Several books on the topic have appeared recently. Still this book by Snyder is a welcome addition being directed towards quite different aspects than the others. This book is intended as ". .. an ideal text for graduate students in engineering, system science, statistics and operations analysis, and a valuable reference for communication systems engineers and radiation and nuclear physicists. " " An elementary course in probability and random processes is a prerequisite. .. ". Point Processes. " There are exercises at the ends of Chapters 2 through 6, and early drafts of the work were used for a one-semester graduate …


This thesis involved a longitudinal study of 30 healthy infants from 6 weeks to 15 months to investigate the relationship between feeding behaviour and weight gain in infancy. Poor infant weight gain is associated with adverse outcomes in childhood (e.g. Skuse, Pickles, Wolke, et al 1994) and adulthood (e.g. Fall, Vijayakumar, Barker, et al 1995). Previous research has investigated the relationship between feeding behaviour and concurrent weight, but with a few exceptions there has been little previous work on the relationship between feeding behaviour and weight gain in infants. Feeding behaviour was measured at four breastfeeds in 32 infants at six weeks and later in 30 of the same infants at 12 months during solids feeding. Birthweight was obtained from parents' child health records and weight was measured at 6 weeks, 3 months and thereafter every 3 months until 15 months. Sucking patterns during milk feeding were found to be independently associated with infant weight gain, but there was no independent association between solids feeding behaviour and weight gain. Other independent predictors of weight gain were; infant sex, milk intake during breastfeeding and age of introduction of solids. An analysis of associations between milk and solids feeding behaviour found some evidence of parallels within infants across the two different types of feeding and the implications of this are discussed. A new method for the analysis of breastfed infants' sucking patterns which resolves the serious problems of the already published methods was developed during die course of the study and an outline of this is provided. Previously unavailable data on (1) the behaviour of one year olds during solids feeding and (2) the components of variation in milk and solids feeding behaviour are discussed.


Background Interferon-α-kinoid (IFN-K) elicits a polyclonal antibody response against IFNα in humans. In a previously reported study, we found that administration of IFN-K to SLE patients induces significant changes in biological markers of disease activity (IFN signature score, serum C3), which correlate with the anti-IFNα antibody (Ab) response. In the present study, we wanted to further explore the connections between serum type I IFN concentrations, IFN signature score and disease activity in IFN-K-treated patients. Methods 28 patients (SLEDAI between 4 and 10) were included in the IFN-K trial, and received IFN-K or placebo. Whole blood transcriptome (GeneChip HGU133Plus 2.0 chips) and serum IFNα, IFNβ and IFNω concentrations (ELISA) were determined at day 0, 112 and 168. Whole blood transcriptomic profiles were also obtained in 46 healthy individuals, and in 18 of them after stimulation with IFNα. The IFN signature score was calculated according to the method described by Yao et al. Results IFNα was detected in the serum of 10 out of 28 patients. IFNβ and IFNω were detected in 18 and 26 different patients, respectively. Serum IFNβ and IFNω concentrations displayed a strong correlation (r =0.88, p<0.0001), indicating that the production of both cytokines is regulated by the same mechanisms in SLE. By contrast, there was no correlation between serum IFNα and serum IFNβ or IFNω concentrations. Interestingly, a mucocutaneous BILAG A/B was more frequently reported at times of positive serum IFNβ detection (p =0.006 by Chi-Square test). There was a significant, albeit weak, correlation between serum IFNα and SLEDAI scores (Spearman r =0.26, p =0.02). Strikingly, the IFN signature score displayed a strong and significant correlation with serum IFNα concentrations (Spearman r =0.54, p <0.0001), but not with serum IFNβ or IFNω. Out of the 54.675 probe sets analyzed in the whole blood transcriptomic studies, 349 correlated (r >0.4) with serum IFNα (including 19 out of the 21 probe sets included in the IFN signature score). By contrast, only 7 and 11 probe sets correlated with serum IFNβ and IFNω respectively. We finally calculated an IFNα score including probe sets up-regulated by IFNα in control whole blood cells, and up-regulated in SLE compared to controls. Not surprisingly, this new IFNα score strongly correlates with the IFN signature score by Yao et al. Re-analysis of the IFN-K trial data using the new score confirmed the initial observations: higher production of anti-IFNα Ab in patients with a positive score, diminution of the IFNα score after administration of IFN-K, correlating with anti-IFNα Ab titers. Conclusions IFNα, IFNβ and IFNω are detected in the sera of patients with SLE. IFNα and IFNβ/ω are not regulated similarly. Serum IFNβ is significantly associated with mucocutaneous involvement, while serum IFNα is higher in more active disease. The IFN signature score observed in SLE whole blood cells is driven by IFNα. Disclosure of Interest : B. Lauwerys Consultant for: Neovacs, F. Houssiau Consultant for: Neovacs, P. Vandepapeliere Shareholder of: Neovacs, Employee of: Neovacs, F. Colaone Shareholder of: Neovacs, Employee of: Neovacs, P. Blanco Consultant for: Neovacs, T. Defrance Consultant for: Neovacs, G. Grouard-Vogel Shareholder of: Neovacs, Employee of: Neovacs DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.3713


Over the past decade, most studies in corporate governance and audit market have emphasised the importance of monitoring mechanisms (MM), especially after the global economic meltdown resulting from the Enron saga. The literature on MM continues growing as many countries especially the Sub-Saharan Africa are still struggling to come out of the effect of the economic meltdown and businesses continues to fail or merge. This paper, therefore, examines the relationship between Managerial Ownership (MO) and MMs with quality-differentiated auditors (QDA) as the channel for the relationship. The study used data from non-financial listed companies in Nigeria providing empirical supports that MO significantly associates with MMs in the right direction. Likewise, QDA also influences the MMs in the right direction suggesting that QDA is necessarily required to enhance adequate MMs. The findings of this study provide support for the association of MO and MMs with the intervention of QDA for solutions to agency problems. Companies should, therefore, motivate the management to own shares within the reasonable range that aligns the interest of the management with that of the shareholders. This paper adds to knowledge especially in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa by examining a mediating effect to depict the relationship between MO and MM, which are not evident in prior studies.


With the advent of new video standards such as MPEG-4 part-10 and H.264/H.26L, demands for advanced video coding (AVC), particularly in area of variable block searching motion estimation (VBSME), are increasing. This has led to research into suitable flexible hardware architectures to perform the various types of VBSME. We propose a new 1-D VLSI architecture for full search variable block size motion estimation (FSVBSME). The variable block size, sum of absolute differences (SAD) computation is performed by reusing the results of smaller subblock computations. These are permuted and combined by incorporating a shuffling mechanism within each processing element (PE). Whereas a conventional 1-D architecture can process only one motion vector, this architecture can process up to 41 motion vector (MV) subblocks (within a macroblock) in a comparable number of clock cycles.


Due to the new treaty provisions of the Lisbon Treaty and the economic crises the enlarged EU of 27 member states is on the search for a new modus operandi while also continuing membership talks with candidate countries. The EU-27 Watch project is mapping out discourses on these and more issues in European policies all over Europe. Research institutes from all 27 member states and the four candidate countries give overviews on the discourses in their respective countries. The reports focus on a reporting period from December 2009 until May 2010. This survey was conducted on the basis of a questionnaire that has been elaborated in March and April 2010. Most of the 31 reports were delivered in May 2010. This issue and all previous issues are available on the EU-27 Watch website.


A new direct-lift control carrier landing mode is advanced, and it is proved to be very effective to keep the attitude angle and path angle constant when the aircraft is in the blind area of tracking radar and the guidance system is shut off. The direct-lift control mode is achieved with the symmetric deflection of the flaps and dynamic decoupling for minor disturbance of the angle of attack. This mode changes an aircraft's model from a short-period oscillation model to a non-oscillation one, which could evidently increase the gust-rejection capability of the aircraft.


Moving Beyond Sectarianism is a major six-year research project of the Irish School of Ecumenics focusing on the role of Christian religion in sectarianism in Northern Ireland. It offers a new definition of the phenomenon, a detailed analysis of sectarian dynamics, and a series of models for helping people to transform such dynamics. In a refreshing way, this book avoids demonising the more violent, bigoted, and overt expressions of sectarianism, choosing instead to highlight the subtle, polite forms. This understated sectarianism seems comparatively innocuous, and yet it serves as essential underpinning for the ethos of antagonised division that allows the more blatant expressions to flourish. This book casts a sceptical eye on all claims of innocence, instead encouraging every person and group to take responsibility to help transform sectarianism. It presents a particular and timely challenge to Christian churches, showing how the work of moving beyond sectarianism provides an opportunity for churches to re-imagine their role and ministry in society.


The prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is expressed by approximately 90% of prostate carcinomas. The expression correlates with unfavorable prognostic factors, such as a high Gleason score, infiltrative growth, metastasis, and hormone-independence. The high specificity, especially in the undifferentiated stage, makes it an excellent target for diagnosis and therapy. Therefore, antibodies and small molecule inhibitors have been developed for imaging and therapy. In 2011 PSMA-11, a ligand that consists of the Glu-urea-motif and the chelator HBED-CC, which can be exclusively radiolabeled with (68)Ga for PET imaging, presented the clinical breakthrough for prostate cancer diagnostics. In two large diagnostic studies (n = 319 and n = 248) PET/CT with PSMA-11 successfully localized the recurrent tumor in approximately 90% of patients with biochemical relapse. Integrating PSMA-PET/CT into the planning phase of radiotherapy, the treatment concept is changed in 30%-50% of the patients. The combination of the Glu-urea-motif with DOTA, which can be labeled with several diagnostic and therapeutic radionuclides, opened new avenues for therapeutic usage of the small-molecule PSMA ligands. In the beginning of 2016, there are four confirmative reports (n = 19, n = 24, n = 30, and n = 56) from four different centers reporting a PSA response in approximately 70% of patients treated with (177)Lu-labeled PSMA ligands. In conclusion, the data available up to now indicate a widespread use of PSMA ligands for diagnostic applications with respect to staging, detection of recurrence, or metastases in patients with rising tumor markers and for therapy in case of failure of guideline-compliant treatment.


The problem of producing portable high-performance computing (HPC) software that is cheap to develop and maintain is called the P3 (performance, portability, productivity) problem. Good solutions to the P3 problem have been achieved when the performance profiles of the target machines have been similar. The variety of HPC architectures is, however, large and can be expected to grow larger. Software for HPC therefore needs to be highly adaptable, and there is a pressing need to provide developers with tools to produce software that can target machines with vastly different profiles. Multi-dimensional array manipulation constitutes a core component of numerous numerical methods, such as finite difference solvers of Partial Differential Equations (PDEs). The efficiency of these computations is tightly connected to traversing and distributing array data in a hardware-friendly way. The Mathematics of Arrays (MoA) allows for formally reasoning about array computations and enables systematic transformations of array-based programs, e.g., to use data layouts that fit to a specific architecture. This paper presents a programming methodology aimed for tackling the P3 problem in domains that are well-explored using Magnolia, a language designed to embody generic programming. The Magnolia programmer can restrict the semantic properties of abstract generic types and operations by defining so-called axioms. Axioms can be used to produce tests for concrete implementations of specifications, for formal verification, or to perform semantics-preserving program transformations. We leverage Magnolia's semantic specification facilities to extend the Magnolia compiler with a term rewriting system. We implement MoA's transformation rules in Magnolia, and demonstrate through a case study on a finite difference solver of PDEs how our rewriting system allows exploring the space of possible optimizations.


Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. Despite current treatments that include aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, antimetabolites and TNF antagonists, many patients fail to respond to conventional medical management and undergo colectomy. Thus, new approaches to treatment are needed. This review discusses the emerging role of vedolizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively blocks lymphocyte trafficking to the gut, for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.


The northern Kontum massif in central Vietnam, one of the most key tectonic and metallogenic terranes of the Indochina block, consists of numerous volcano–plutonic complexes including the Dai Loc granitic complex that formed an essential part of the early Paleozoic batholith of the massif. Rocks of the Dai Loc complex are granodiorite and granite in composition. Geochemically, the rocks are of sub–alkaline affinity and belong to high–potassium series. These rocks have moderate Aluminum Saturation Index (ASI) values of 0.76–1.19 and low Mg# values of 23–39. Zircon grains separated from the rocks have high εHf(t) values and old Hf model ages (TDM) which varying from −0.7 to +4.8 and 0.9 to 1.1 Ga, respectively. All these characteristics, in conjunction with trace element features, suggest generation by partial melting of crustal source rocks with additional input of mantle–derived material. Laser Ablation–Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) zircon U–Pb analytical results from two samples revealed emplacement ages of the granite at 423 ± 2.2 and 427 ± 9.9 Ma. Our geochronological data provide evidence for early Paleozoic crustal evolution in Central Vietnam.


A 3 yr old spayed female French bulldog was evaluated for a progressive regenerative anemia of unknown origin that was unresponsive to empiric immunosuppressive and gastroprotective therapy. The patient had a history of previous resection and anastomosis of a small intestinal diverticulum ∼2 yr prior to evaluation for her anemia. Capsule endoscopy revealed a focal abnormality in the distal jejunum at the site of a previous bowel resection and anastomosis. This lesion was suspected to be the cause of ongoing gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia. Exploratory laparotomy combined with endoscopy was performed to further investigate and localize the jejunal lesion. The lesion was resected, and a primary end-to-end jejunal anastomosis was performed. Histopathology of the specimen revealed jejunal suture granulomas with focal ulceration. The patient recovered well from surgery with significant improvement of the anemia and resolution of clinical signs at recheck examinations 1 and 2 wk postoperatively. Complete resolution of the anemia was noted at a 6 wk follow-up. The case report demonstrates how, in cases of unknown causes of anemia, capsule endoscopy is a noninvasive method of identifying the presence of gastrointestinal bleeding as a result of lesions that might otherwise not be detectable with abdominal ultrasound or conventional endoscopy. The report also documents a long-term complication to a resection and anastomosis surgery.


AIMS
Improving hospital nutrition and mealtime care is complex and often requires multifaceted interventions and implementation strategies to change how staff, wards and systems operate. This study aimed to develop and validate a staff questionnaire to identify multilevel barriers and enablers to optimal nutrition and mealtime care on hospital wards, to inform and evaluate local quality improvement.

METHODS
Literature review, multidisciplinary focus groups and end-user testing informed questionnaire development and establishment of content and face validity. To determine the construct validity, the questionnaire was administered to ward staff working in five wards across two facilities (acute hospital, rehabilitation unit). Exploratory factor analysis was used to estimate the number of factors and to guide decisions about whether to retain or reject individual items. Scale reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha.

RESULTS
The questionnaire was completed by 138 staff, with most respondents being nurses (57%) and working in the acute care facility (76%). Exploratory factor analysis supported construct validity of four of the original seven subscales. The final questionnaire consisted of 17 items and 4 sub sub-scales related to (1) Personal Staff Role; (2) Food Service; (3) Organisational Support, and (4) Family Involvement; each sub-scale demonstrated good reliability with Cronbach's alpha values all >0.70.

CONCLUSION
This novel and brief questionnaire shows good reliability and preliminary evidence of construct validity in this small sample. It provides a potentially useful instrument to identify barriers and enablers to nutrition and mealtime care from the staff perspective and inform where improvement efforts should be focused.


This is the first comprehensive research study on the parasites of Mytilus galloprovincialis collected from the Sinop coasts of the Black Sea and their relationships with several environmental and biotic factors. A total of 1740 mussels were collected monthly at three sampling localities representing different ecosystems in the period between August 2012 and July 2013 and examined for parasites. Identified parasites were Nematopsis legeri, Peniculistoma mytili, Urastoma cyprinae, Parvatrema duboisi and Polydora ciliata. Infection prevalence (%), mean intensity and mean abundance values of each parasite species were calculated according to season, sampling localities and length classes of mussel. Nematopsis legeri was the most prevalent species (32.5%), followed by Pe. mytili (6.70%), U. cyprinae (6.30%), Pa. duboisi (4.50%) and Po. ciliata (2.20%). Nematopsis legeri and Parvatrema duboisi had their highest infection prevalence and intensity values in sampling locality III where secondary hosts present to complete their life cycle and larger sized mussels had higher parasite loads. Statistically significant differences were determined in the prevalence of infection and intensity values among seasons, length classes of mussel and sampling localities of each parasite species. The present study provided valuable information on mussel parasites and their relationships with host length, seasons and ecology.


In this paper we evaluate the effect of applying peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) reduction and digital pre-distortion (DPD) on radio frequency power amplifiers when an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal is used. The PAPR reduction method, presented as a convex problem, is based on reshaping the time domain signal by redistributing its energy in the frequency domain, with respect to constraints on in-band and out-of-band errors. The DPD method consists of modeling the behavior of the power amplifier using a parallel Hammerstein model, and then extracting its inverse parameters based on the indirect learning approach. The cases where PAPR and DPD are applied separately and combined, are studied and investigated. Power amplifier figures of merit are evaluated. A good performance is shown when combining both pre-processing techniques up to a certain operating point where DPD performance deteriorates. Solutions to improve the DPD performance at strong compression are suggested.


Approximately 40% of earth's carbon (C) stored in land vegetation and soil is within the boreal region. This large C pool is subjected to substantial removals and transformations during periodic wildfire. Fire‐altered C, commonly known as pyrogenic carbon (PyC), plays a significant role in forest ecosystem functioning and composes a considerable fraction of C transport to limnic and oceanic sediments. While PyC stores are beginning to be quantified globally, knowledge is lacking regarding the drivers of their production and transport across ecosystems. This study used the chemo‐thermal oxidation at 375°C (CTO‐375) method to isolate a particularly refractory subset of PyC compounds, here called black carbon (BC), finding an average increase of 11.6 g BC m−2 at 1 year postfire in 50 separate wildfires occurring in Sweden during 2018. These increases could not be linked to proposed drivers, however BC storage in 50 additional nearby unburnt soils related strongly to soil mass while its proportion of the larger C pool related negatively to soil C:N. Fire approximately doubled BC stocks in the mineral layer but had no significant effect on BC in the organic layer where it was likely produced. Suppressed decomposition rates and low heating during fire in mineral subsoil relative to upper layers suggests potential removals of the doubled mineral layer BC are more likely transported out of the soil system than degraded in situ. Therefore, mineral soils are suggested to be an important storage pool for BC that can buffer short‐term (production in fire) and long‐term (cross‐ecosystem transport) BC cycling.


Coffee is one of the most consumed and commercialized crops in the world, which is why there is a potential risk to find arabica coffee (an expensive variety) adulterated with robusta coffee (a cheaper variety). The currently used technique for certifying coffee, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), requires the sample to be subjected to a chemical treatment prior to analysis; in addition, the equipment is bulky and can not be moved easily. Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a technique which does not require that samples be subjected to a chemical pretreatment, and equipment is small and portable, this can save valuable time in coffee trading. The purpose of this research was to demonstrate that LIBS can be applied to solve various problems related with the coffee authentication. Green coffee pills with different concentrations of arabica and robusta varieties were analyzed by LIBS, the results were used in the construction of calibration curves for the detection of the degree of simulated adulteration in coffee. It was found that the relative intensities of Ca (392.4 nm), Sr (407.1 nm), N (500.5 nm) and Na (588.7 nm), as well as the intensity ratios of Ca II (392.4 nm)/N I (500.5 nm), Sr I (407.1 nm)/N I (500.5 nm)and N I (500.5 nm)/Na I (588.7 nm) can be used for this purpose. It is concluded that the differentiation of coffee and the detection of its adulteration is possible with the use of LIBS. Further, with the use of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) of type Multilayer Perceptron, it was possible to correctly classify the spectra of arabica and robusta roasted coffee.


Plasma etch is a semiconductor manufacturing process during which material is removed from the surface of semiconducting wafers, typically made of silicon, using gases in plasma form. A host of chemical and electrical complexities make the etch process notoriously difficult to model and troublesome to control. This work demonstrates the use of a real-time model predictive control scheme to control plasma etch rate in the presence of disturbances to the ground path of the chamber, which are representative of maintenance events. Virtual metrology (VM) models, using plasma impedance measurements, are used to estimate the plasma etch rate in real time for control, with a view to eliminating the requirement for invasive measurements. The VM and control schemes exhibit fast set-point tracking and disturbance rejection capabilities. Etch rate can be controlled to within 1% of the desired value. Such control represents a significant improvement over open-loop operation of etch tools, where variances in etch rate of up to 5% can be observed during production processes due to disturbances in tool state and material properties.


The paper presents a participatory research model based on two case studies, involving the making of the research and the making of the clothing. In recent years, there has been growing interest in participatory design research, especially in relation to textiles and clothing. Various practice-based initiatives focused around the role, value and use of clothing have demonstrated success in developing and applying research methodologies aimed at activating or recording creative outcomes while staying attuned to participants' experiential knowledge and feedback. Researchers working across social and design innovation contexts point to the urgent need for new cultures of sustainable practice that challenge the growth model through the sharing of expert and amateur knowledge and skills. Consequently, an important opportunity now exists to more formally explicate a transferable model of principles for participatory engagement through making together.

Based on critical analysis of two consecutive collaborative research inquiries, this article posits a working model of 'participatory research through clothing design'. The authors suggest that the model, consisting of five stages of participation: (I) communicating and listening, (II) involving, (III) activating and responding, (IV) consulting, and (V) sharing, offers a useful pathway when considering craft-based research aspirations and goals. The authors seek to highlight some of the practical opportunities and ethical responsibilities faced by researchers when making with others, while delineating some of the challenges and potential pitfalls raised by both case studies.


Genome synthesis in paramyxoviruses, including Nipah virus (NiV), is controlled by sequence elements that reside in the non-coding nucleotides at the 5'-trailer (3'-antigenomic) end that make up the antigenomic promoter (AGP). Using a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase-based plasmid-driven minigenome system, the terminal 96 nt of NiV AGP were first mutagenized in blocks of three hexamers to enable broad mapping of the minigenome functional regions. This was followed by further dissection of these functional regions to define the cis-acting elements contained therein. Results based on RNA analysis and reporter gene activity identified a bipartite promoter structure similar to that seen in related viruses, but with some distinct differences: in NiV, each of the two discrete replication control elements was bimodal, characterized by a critical conserved region (nt 1-12 and 79-91) and a contiguous non-conserved region (nt 13-36 and 73-78), which appeared less important. The regulatory role of these less critical regions was underscored by the use of a two-step mutation strategy, which revealed the additive detrimental effect of substitutions in this part of the terminal element. The structure and sequence characteristics of the internal control element was also different: it involved four contiguous hexamers, and the region encompassing three of these (nt 79-96, corresponding to hexamers 14, 15 and 16), although analogous in position to the equivalent element in the Sendai virus AGP, was characterized by the distinct 5'-(GNNNUG)(14-15)(GNNNNN)(16) motif.