This paper provides evidence of rational inattention by experienced professionals in strategic interactions. We add rational inattention to a game of matching pennies with state-dependent payoffs. Unlike the full-information, mixed-strategy Nash equilibrium, payoffs of different actions need not be equated state by state. Moreover, players respond partially to payoff differences, this responsiveness is stronger when attention costs are lower, strategies converge to full-information Nash as stakes increase, and average payoffs across all states are approximately equal across actions. We test these predictions using data on millions of pitches from Major League Baseball, where we observe strategies, payoffs, and proxies for attention costs. (JEL C72, D83, D91, L83, Z21)


We have reviewed the incidence, type and site of microbiologically proven bacterial infection occurring in 52 patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who presented to Southmead Hospital, Bristol between 1990 and 1994. A total of 30 (58%) patients had significant bacterial isolates. The majority of infections were community acquired. Overall, more infections were caused by Gram-negative organisms but Gram-positive organisms predominated in bacteraemia. Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI) caused infection in the largest number of patients, followed by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas sp, and Campylobacter sp. When individual episodes of infection were considered, after MAI, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas sp were the organisms most frequently isolated; often these same organisms caused recurrent chest infection. Bacterial infections in AIDS patients are common and although they generally respond well to antimicrobial chemotherapy there is a high recurrence rate, particularly in the respiratory tract, which is the commonest site of infection.


This is a review of The Limits of Competition Law: Markets and Public Services (Oxford 2005), by Tony Prosser, a Professor of Public Law at the University of Bristol, England. When competition laws and other public service principles are in tension, can courts avoid a collision or will it be necessary to pick a winner? Prosser's analysis pays particular attention to public service obligations and their implications for the regulation of state monopoly in the European Union, drawing interesting and important connections between antitrust principles in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, specifically France and Italy. Although the notions of sovereignty that predominate in the EU differ fundamentally from those of federalism in the United States, Prosser's discussion parallels familiar American debates about the scope of defenses for regulated industries under antitrust laws. State-sponsored public service laws can serve important goals, as Prosser recognizes, but this review argues that an extension of his frame can also give courts grounds to recognize when state or industry claims of public service goals values are unjustified.


Polygonum is the largest genus of Polygonaceae and 5 species are reported in Tunisia. In order to characterized flower, seed, and fruit development in Polygonum, flower and fruit of Polygonium equisetiforme (var. graecum and peyerinhoffi), P. aviculare and P. maritimum, collected from Tunisia, were examined. Flowers are composed of five oblong tepals. P. equisetiforme and P. aviculare have whitish-pink distylous flowers with dimorphism of style, filament and anther height, pollen diameter and stigma size. In contrast, P. maritimum shows white homostylous flowers. The floral vasculature showed that the tepals are inserted in one whorl and their traces arise independently in 3+2 manner. The eight stamens are arranged in a 5+3 manner and the staminal bundles arise independently in the two whorls. The epidermis and endothecium cells width were higher in P. maritimum and the lowest endothecium width was observed in P. aviculare. Polygonum aviculare and P. equisetiforme showed circular pollen with shallow colpi and trilobite pollen shape with deep colpi, while P. maritimum rarely showed shallow colpi. The ovule is anatropous with basal placentation in P. equisetiforme and P. aviculare and apical placentation in P. maritimum. The young seed coat was formed by an endotesta with thick-walled cells, a mesotesta and exotesta with thin-walled cells and a tegmen composed of radially elongated cells. The fruits of the studied species are trigonous with ovate-lanceolate shape. In P. aviculare, the exocarp is thicker compared to the two other species, in P. equisetiforme, the mature exocarp consists of smaller rectangular cells with narrow cavities, and in P. maritimum showed a thinner exocarpIn conclusion, P. equisetiforme and P. aviculare are a typically distylous species from the morphological point of view and we discussed the significance of heterostyly in Polygonaceae. From this first morpho-anatomical study of Polygonum species in North Africa, we can conclude mainly that there is no significant difference between P. equisetiforme var. graecum and var. peyerinhoffi supporting a taxonomic grouping of these two varieties.


Abstract Large ice fields (>25 km2) formed over the Tazaghart and Iouzagner plateaus of the High Atlas, Morocco during the Late Pleistocene. The plateau ice fields were drained by large valley glaciers forming a series of moraine assemblages. Four moraine units have been mapped and subdivided on the basis of their morphostratigraphy and the degree of soil weathering. Soil profile development index values indicate that the moraine units are widely separated in time; the oldest moraines are deeply weathered and degraded, whereas soils are absent on the youngest moraines. The highest moraine unit was formed by a small niche glacier that was present as recently as the mid-twentieth century. The Pleistocene glaciers are likely to have been associated with wetter conditions than today and colder air temperatures. Combined with ice in neighbouring areas, such as the Toubkal massif, the SW High Atlas supported some of the largest glaciers in Africa during the Pleistocene. The extent of glaciation, with ice exploiting and breaching drainage divides, has major implications for landscape development. The evolution of the High Atlas has been strongly shaped by glaciation that was closely intertwined with tectonic, fluvial and slope processes.


STABLE FORMULATIONS PROVIDED AND OTHER FACTOR VIII PLASMA PROTEIN, LOW MEDIA ionic strength comprising: SODIUM CHLORIDE, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE OR MIXTURES; Lysine Hydrochloride and histidine as a buffering agent.


Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is central to embryonic development and carcinoma progression. The cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin critically maintains epithelial property and restricts epithelial cell proliferation and motility. The Snail family of transcription factors are core inducers of EMT in part through direct repression of E-cadherin transcription. The Snail factors are normally under tight control to safeguard epithelial identity and homeostasis. However, their physiological regulation remains largely elusive. In the present study, we show that the F-box protein FBXO11 binds to Snail in a phosphorylation-independent manner and targets it for ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation. FBXO11 promotes the degradation of other Snail family members Slug and SCRT1 as well. Overexpression of FBXO11 in mesenchymal cells reduces Snail protein abundance and activates E-cadherin transcription. Conversely, depletion of endogenous FBXO11 in epithelial cancer cells causes Snail protein accumulation, EMT, and tumor invasion. Human cancer-derived FBXO11 missense mutants are impaired to degrade Snail. In human cancer, FBXO11 expression correlates with E-cadherin, and decreased expression of FBXO11 is robustly associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Inactivation of FBXO11 in mice results in neonatal lethality, increased Snail and Slug protein levels, decreased E-cadherin expression, and epidermal hyperplasia, which phenotypically resemble epidermis-specific transgenic overexpression of Snail or deletion of E-cadherin. These findings establish FBXO11 as a physiological ubiquitin ligase of Snails that is indispensable for suppressing epithelial hyperproliferation and plasticity during embryonic development and carcinoma progression. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Jianrong Lu, Yue Jin, Anitha K. Shenoy, Hao Chen, Huacheng Luo,Lizi Wu, Kamal A. Mohammed. FBXO11 suppresses epithelial plasticity and proliferation by ubiquitinating the Snail family of transcription factors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1425. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1425


Abstract Using a simple separable model in which the mean wind U(y) is assumed to be a function of latitude only, those effects of latitudinal shear which do not depend on the vanishing of U(y) are examined for planetary waves in the middle atmosphere (the stratosphere and mesosphere). First, it is shown that for nonsingular wind profiles the WKB method and ray tracing may be inaccurate for meridional shear. It is both physically and mathematically preferable to interpret the results of more complex models in terms of vertically propagating modes since the amplitude of the waves as a function of latitude is determined primarily by the modal structure rather than by variations of the mean wind or the refractive index. Second, it is demonstrated that westerly planetary gravity waves, which are vertically trapped as shown by Charney and Drazin (1961), are also latitudinally trapped near the pole where the mean winds are easterly. In consequence, such waves, which form the quasi-stationary spectrum of the sum...


OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between hematocrit (Hct) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and LV hypertrophy (LVH) in subjects without known hypertension or cardiovascular disease in the Framingham Heart study. BACKGROUND Anemia may be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in the general population. One potential explanation for this finding could be an association between Hct with LVMI or LVH. METHODS Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between Hct with LVMI and LVH. All analyses were stratified by gender and further according to menopausal status in women. RESULTS There were 1,376 men and 1,769 women who met the inclusion criteria. The mean Hct and LVMI were 46.5% and 41.9%, and 127.3 and 95.8 g/m, respectively, in men and women. After adjustment for confounders, each 3% lower Hct was associated with a 2.6 g/m higher mean LVMI in men, and a 1.8 g/m higher mean LVMI in postmenopausal women (p 0.05). There was a significant quadratic relationship between Hct and LVMI in premenopausal women (p 0.01). Subjects in the lowest quartile of Hct (compared with the rest of the sample) had an adjusted odds ratio of LVH of 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3 to 3.0) in men and 1.4 (95% CI 0.8 to 2.4) in postmenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS In a sample without known hypertension or cardiovascular disease, a lower Hct is associated with echocardiographically determined LVH in men and a small but significantly higher LVMI in men and postmenopausal women. The clinical importance of these findings remains unknown. (J Am Coll Cardiol 2004;43:1276–82) © 2004 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation


Two models of group leadership are articulated: (1) a group leadership influence model, and (2) a leaderless group discussion model. A group leadership influence model assumes that leaders are more effective when they are active within the group and that this activity level is positively associated with group productivity. A leaderless group discussion model maintains that effective leadership is more docile and that the group's overall leadership activity versus the activity of an individual leader is a better predictor of group productivity. The assumptions of these two competing models of group leadership were tested in a laboratory descriptive study. The results suggest that a leaderless group discussion model provides a better understanding of the data. Implications for group leadership from a leaderless group discussion perspective are discussed.


AIM
To evaluate outcomes from the NHS leadership development programme Leading an Empowered Organisation (LEO).

METHOD
A prospective case study based on a pre- and post-course quantitative analysis with interpretative methodological support.

RESULTS
Role conflict, whether nurse or manager, was apparent in nurses' perceptions of their roles. Respondents claimed many positive leadership attributes but lacked assertiveness and the skills for handling conflict. The LEO programme had a statistically significant effect on workplace leadership performance and positive benefits related to communication competence, articulation of goals, networking, assertiveness, zones of responsibility and problem solving.

CONCLUSION
LEO is having an effect on workplace performance. However it could be improved by considering the package holistically, including not only the course content, but the entry level, pre-course preparation and post-course mentorship.


By using a high-intensity flying focus laser, the dephasingless [Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 134802 (2020)] or phase-locked [Nat. Photonics 14, 475 (2020)] laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) can be realized, which may overcome issues of laser diffraction, pump depletion and electron dephasing which are always suffered in usual LWFA. The scheme thus has the potentiality to accelerate electrons to TeV energy in a single acceleration stage. However, the controlled electron injection has not been self-consistently included in such schemes. Only external injection was suggested in previous theoretical studies, which requires other accelerators and is relatively difficulty to operate. Here, we numerically study the actively controlled density transition injection in phase-locked LWFA to get appropriate density profiles for amount of electron injection. The study shows that compared with LWFA driven by lasers with fixed focus, a larger plasma density gradient is necessary. Electrons experience both transverse and longitudinal loss during acceleration due to the superluminal group velocity of the driver and the variation of the wakefield structure. Furthermore, the periodic deformation and fracture of the flying focus laser in the high-density plasma plateau make the final injected charge also depend on the beginning position of the density downramp. Our studies show a possible way for amount of electron injection in LWFA driven by flying focus lasers.


This unique book describes the science and technology of silicon carbide (SiC) microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), from the creation of SiC material to the formation of final system, through various expert contributions by several leading key figures in the field. The book contains high-quality up-to-date scientific information concerning SiC MEMS for harsh environments summarized concisely for students, academics, engineers and researchers in the field of SiC MEMS. This is the only book that addresses in a comprehensive manner the main advantages of SiC as a MEMS material for applications in high temperature and harsh environments, as well as approaches to the relevant technologies, with a view progressing towards the final product.


Background: Patients with schizophrenia in rural areas of China face severe delays in getting appropriate treatment due to poverty, transportation, and limited availability of mental healthcare services. However, the experiences of care-seeking among patients with delayed diagnosis and treatment in rural areas remain poorly understood, and it remains unclear how these experiences influence patients' medical mistrust or expectations of care. This study aims to fill that void. Methods: We applied a qualitative phenomenological method. Patients were recruited through purposive sampling at a psychiatric hospital in Harbin, China. Semi-structured, one-to-one interviews were conducted, guided by an interview outline. Thematic analysis was performed using Colaizzi's seven-step method. Results: Data saturation was achieved after interviewing 13 participants aged 21 to 53 years. Three themes with eight subthemes were identified: (i) Barriers to seeking care, (ii) Feelings for psychiatric treatment, and (iii) Demand for mental healthcare. Several factors that may impede the timely diagnosis and treatment were identified, including patients, physicians, and institutions. The participants described their feelings of adverse treatment experiences, as well as expectations arising from this process. It predominantly covers awareness of the disease, supportive access to care, and geographic accessibility of services. Conclusion: Patients with delayed diagnosis and treatment in rural areas often have negative experiences and various needs for mental health services in the pursuit of effective treatments. Policymakers and health planners should seriously consider the current challenges in rural mental healthcare to develop comprehensive strategies for improving prehospital delays and medical experience for this group of patients.


AIM To study the relationship between major hemostasis parameters and hypertriglyceridemia with or without insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia in men suffering from mild or moderate arterial hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS Major hemostasis parameters including fibrinogen level, coagulation factor VII activity and fibrinolytic activity were analysed in groups of men with moderate or mild AH who had normal or elevated triglycerides level regarding presence or absence of insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia. RESULTS High factor VII activity was found in both groups with insulin resistance irrespective of their triglycerides level. Patients with insulin resistance combined with hypertriglyceridemia had low fibrinolytic activity. CONCLUSION In men with metabolic syndrome components insulin resistance is accompanied with activation of coagulation external pathway, whereas combination of insulin resistance with hypertriglyceridemia was associated with hypofibrinolysis.


Wooden biomass resources are in a situation of being seriously lavished at present in China; while at the same time, protein resources are seriously short for feed. Study on bioconversion of wooden biomass to single cell protein is becoming a task that scientific researchers are facing. This article summarizes the research situation, facing problems and developing tendency of bioconversion of agricultural and forestry residues, sugar cane bagasse and wood residues to single cell proteins (SCP), in order to offer the theoretical foundation for application.


The lifting scheme is a flexible method for the construction of linear and nonlinear wavelet transforms. In this paper, we propose a novel lossless high dynamic range (HDR) image coding method based on the lifting scheme using discrete-time cellular neural networks (DT-CNNs). In our proposed method, the image is interpolated by using the nonlinear interpolative dynamics of DT-CNN. Because the output function of DT-CNN works as a multi-level quantization function, our method adapts for the prediction of HDR image, and composes the integer lifting scheme for lossless coding. Moreover, our method makes good use of the nonlinear interpolative dynamics by A-template compared with conventional CNN image coding methods using only B-template. The experimental results show a better coding performance compared with the conventional lifting method using linear filters.


This study compared the intravenous fluid warming capabilities of three systems at different flow rates. The devices studied were a water-bath warmer, a dry-heat plate warmer, and an intravenous fluid tube warmer. Ambient temperature was controlled at 22° to 24°C. Normal saline (0.9% NaCl) at either room temperature (21° to 23°C) or at ice-cold temperature (3° to 5°C) was administered through each device at a range of flow rates (2 to 100 ml/min). To mimic clinical conditions, the temperature of the fluid was measured with thermocouples at the end of a one metre tube connected to the outflow of the warmer for the first two devices and at the end of the 1.2m warming tubing for the intravenous fluid tube warmer. The temperature of fluid delivered by the water bath warmer increased as the flow rate was increased up to 15 to 20 ml/min but decreased with greater flow rates. The temperature of the fluid delivered by the dry-heat plate warmer significantly increased as the flow rate was increased within the range tested (due to decreased cooling after leaving the device at higher flow rates). The temperature of fluid delivered by the intravenous fluid tube warmer did not depend on the flow rate up to 20 ml/min but significantly and fluid temperature-dependently decreased at higher flow rates (>30 ml/min). Under the conditions of our testing, the dry heat plate warmer delivered the highest temperature fluid at high flow rates.


Kenneth Burke's logology is a way of thinking about how to understand the use
of language—what he calls "symbolic action"—and how to use language to make
sense of various human practices, including interpretive acts. This is a dialectic in
thought between rhetoric as language-use and interpretation as making-sense. In
The Rhetoric of Religion Burke's theotropic logology uses theology to interpret
symbolic action and symbolic action to interpret theology. Burke extends to other
interpretive projects this same rhetorical-hermeneutic strategy of analogically
translating words from one domain into another, from one meaning into another.
This strategy is one way Burke thinks with other authors and their texts. The
present essay uses some of Burke's published and unpublished work to show how
he thinks with the Christian Existentialism of Nicholas Berdyaev and Fyodor
Dostoevsky, especially on the topic of freedom. In his thinking with Berdyaev,
Burke agrees with the Russian theo-philosopher about the importance of freedom.
Indeed, the act of freedom, dramatized in Dostoevsky and described by Berdyaev,
forms the very center of Burke's theory of symbolic action, his Dramatism and
ultimately his Logology. Freedom is the condition of possibility for human action
as opposed to mere motion, and free will is the necessary product of the cycle of
terms implicit in the idea of hierarchical order presented in Burke's The Rhetoric
of Religion.


The movement-related cortical potential (MRCP) is a brain signal related to planning and execution of motor tasks. From an MRCP, three notable features can be identified: the early Bereitschaftspotential (BP1), the late Bereitschaftspotential (BP2), and the negative peak (PN). These features have been used in past studies to quantify neurophysiological changes in response to motor training. Currently, either manual labeling or a priori specification of time points is used to extract these features. The limitation of these methods is the inability to fully model the features. This paper proposes the segmented regression along with a local peak method for automated labeling of the features. The proposed method derives the onsets, amplitudes at onsets, and slopes of BP1 and BP2 along with time and amplitude of the PN in a typical average MRCP. To choose the most suitable regression technique a bounded segmented regression method, a change point method and multivariate adaptive regression splines were evaluated using the root-mean-square error on a dataset of 6000 simulated MRCPs. The best-performing regression technique combined with the local peak method was then applied to a smaller set of 123 simulated MRCPs. Error in onsets of BP1 and BP2 and time of PN were compared with the errors in manual labeling by an expert. The performance of the proposed method was also evaluated on an experimental dataset of MRCPs derived from electroencephalography (EEG) recorded across two sessions from 22 healthy participants during a lower limb task. The Bland–Altman plots were used to evaluate the absolute reliability of the proposed method. On experimental data, the proposed method was also compared with manual labeling by an expert. Bounded segmented regression produced the smallest error on the simulation data. For the experimental data, our proposed method did not exhibit statistically significant bias in any of the modeled features. Furthermore, its performance was comparable to manual labeling by experts. We conclude that the proposed method can be used to automatically obtain robust estimates for the MRCP features with known measurement error.


In the last quarter of the 20th century, it became obvious that water resources within Australia's Murray–Darling Basin were significantly overcommitted. Existing patterns of water use were unsustainable and would have serious environmental, economic, and social repercussions throughout the region and beyond. Consequently, in 1994 a new National Water Reform Framework was introduced aimed at balancing the opposing demands of certainty for consumptive users with the need to allocate more water to the environment. This framework presented sweeping reforms of the water industry, including the introduction of water markets. Water markets operate through trading water entitlements on the assumption that water would be redirected towards the most efficient and productive users.

Earlier research indicated that water markets can lead to (1) a few producers accumulating water entitlements at the expense of smaller producers in a particular locality, and (2) significant export of water out of a locality. Both processes can have serious economic, social, and community repercussions for individuals, families, and entire communities. These include, for example, increased unemployment and out-migration, and reduced incomes, infrastructure investment resources, social capital, and community capacity in affected communities. Aims of this study were to investigate the social and economic community impacts of (1) major new corporate irrigation entities created by water markets and (2) exporting a large proportion of water entitlement out of a locality. Methodology involved interviews, focus groups, and secondary data analysis in communities in Australia's Murray-Darling Basin region. Results confirm that water entitlement accumulation and export are having significant economic and social impacts for individuals, families, business, and entire communities.


Objective of the study was retrospective assessment of the reasons of discontinuing the treatment of dyslipidaemias in patients with confirmed coronary heart disease. The study wa on 100 patients (70 M, 30 F, age 30-74 yrs) treated in the Cardiological Center of Ambulatory Diagnostics and Rehabilitation in Wrocław from 01.01.1995 to 01.03.1998. It was shown that the average period of the treatment in Cardiological Center lasted 17.9 months (in the patients who stopped the therapy 13.1 months) and it was not correlated with sex, type of the hyperlipidaemia, the severity of the disease and with type and dosage of the drugs. Cardiosurgical treatment of the coronary heart disease and the age of the patient were the factors correlated significantly with the average period of the lipid-lowering therapy. The absence of a strong (created by the physician) motivation in the patient, and also the deficiency of understanding and his aware agreement for the continuous therapy of the asymptomatic disease, was the main reason of the failure.


Some of the many statistical aspects of floods are discussed and some new results are given on a number of features. The probability theory of extreme values is briefly reviewed and its potential for applications outlined. The peaks–over–threshold method of estimation is compared with the direct use of annual maxima and some theoretical comparisons of efficiency are given. The effect of trend on the distribution of maxima is analysed in terms of a simple theoretical model distinguishing the effects of trend in mean level and of trend in dispersion. An empirical Bayes method for pooling information from a number of sources is described and illustrated, and related to the procedures recommended in the Flood estimation handbook. In the final section, a range of further issues is outlined.


Background and Objectives: The assumption of responsibility in dealing with chronic diseases is of relevance in a resource-oriented and not only deficit-oriented medicine, especially in dealing with chronic diseases, including patients with chronic heart failure. The aim of the present study is to examine, based on the model of "locus of control", whether there are different patterns that would be relevant for a more targeted education and support of self-management in dealing with heart failure. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, a sample (n = 758) from 11 Polish cardiology centers have been assessed using the standardized self-assessment scale Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC), consisting of three dimensions: (i) internal localization of health control; (ii) external control by powerful others; (iii) external control by chance. Results: Using these three criteria, nine different clusters were extracted (mean size: 84 ± 33 patients, min 31, max 129). Three clusters included over 100 patients, whereas only two included less than 50 people. Only one cluster gathered 42 patients who will be able to cooperate with professionals in the most fruitful way. There were two clusters, including patients with beliefs related to the risk of ignoring professional recommendations. Clusters where patients declared beliefs about others' control with low internal control should also be provided with specific help. Conclusions: The division into clusters revealed significant variability of belief structures about health locus of control within the analyzed group. The presented methodological approach may help adjust education and motivation to a selected constellation of beliefs as a compromise between group-oriented vs. individual approach.


Gravitational interactions in star-forming regions are capable of disrupting and destroying planetary systems, as well as creating new ones. In particular, a planet can be stolen, where it is directly exchanged between passing stars during an interaction; or captured, where a planet is first ejected from its birth system and is free-floating for a period of time, before being captured by a passing star. We perform sets of direct N-body simulations of young, substructured star-forming regions, and follow their evolution for 10 Myr in order to determine how many planets are stolen and captured, and their respective orbital properties. We show that in high density star-forming regions, stolen and captured planets have distinct properties. The semimajor axis distribution of captured planets is significantly skewed to wider orbits compared to the semimajor axis distribution of stolen planets and planets that are still orbiting their parent star (preserved planets). However, the eccentricity and inclination distributions of captured and stolen planets are similar, but in turn very different to the inclination and eccentricity distributions of preserved planets. In low-density star-forming regions these differences are not as distinct but could still, in principle, be used to determine whether observed exoplanets have likely formed in situ or have been stolen or captured. We find that the initial degree of spatial and kinematic substructure in a star-forming region is as important a factor as the stellar density in determining whether a planetary system will be altered, disrupted, captured or stolen.


What are the causes and consequences of commonality in liquidity? We examine this issue using a model of liquidity trading in which liquidity shocks are decomposed into common (systematic) and idiosyncratic components. We show that common liquidity shocks do not give rise to commonality in trading volume. Indeed, trading volume is independent of systematic liquidity risk, and this risk is always priced irrespective of market liquidity. In contrast, idiosyncratic liquidity shocks create liquidity demand and volume, and investors can diversify their risk by trading. Hence, pricing of the risk of idiosyncratic liquidity shocks depends on market liquidity, with idiosyncratic liquidity risk being fully priced only in perfectly illiquid markets. While trading volume increases with the variance of idiosyncratic liquidity shocks, price volatility increases with the variance of both idiosyncratic and systematic liquidity shocks. Surprisingly, our results are largely independent of the number of different securities traded in the market. When asset returns are uncorrelated, there is no transmission of liquidity across assets even when investors experience common liquidity shocks, suggesting that such liquidity shocks may not be the source of commonality in liquidity across assets detected in the literature. However, under limited conditions, more liquid securities can act as substitutes for less liquid securities. Overall, our findings suggest that common factors in liquidity may be the outcome of covariation in investor heterogeneity (e.g., as measured by co-movements in the volatility of idiosyncratic liquidity shocks) rather than of common liquidity shocks. Moreover, we find that different liquidity proxies measure different things, which has implications for future empirical analysis.


The emerging technology field called computational intelligence is described. Definitions of key terms are provided, followed by brief summaries of example applications, with an emphasis on those in the biomedical engineering field. Observations on the incorporation of computational intelligence methodologies into scientific areas are offered.


This article focuses on how the Court of Justice of the European Union addressed the question of whether a prohibition on selling contact lenses via the internet constitutes a restriction to the free movement of goods. It will be submitted that the Court's reasoning needlessly conflates the Keck typology with market access, and that this conflation is partially the result of both of these approaches being normatively under-theorised. It will be further submitted that an approach that acknowledges this under-theorisation as a characteristic of judicial tests, while recognising that each test has specific normative and institutional implications, will be better able to make sense of the law. Finally, it will be suggested how such an approach might look like in practice.


Study Design. Case report of two children sustaining venous air embolism (VAE) during posterior surgery for scoliosis. Objectives. To report 2 cases where visible bubbling at the operative site was the first clinical indication of VAE-induced cardiovascular collapse and to raise the level of consciousness that VAE in the prone position can occur, often with serious consequences. Summary of Background Data. Twenty-two cases of VAE during surgery for scoliosis in the prone position have been reported. Ten were fatal and ten were in children. Visible bubbling at the operative site was noted in two published cases. Methods. Retrospective study of 2 cases of VAE at one institution. Clinical, anesthetic, and radiographic features are presented. Details of previously published cases are reviewed and discussed. Results. Both patients were girls with adolescent scoliosis who underwent prone positioned posterior spinal fusion with instrumentation. Visible bubbling of air at the thoracic aspect of the surgical site was noted near the completion of instrumentation and was the first indication of VAE. In both cases, this was clinically recognized and promptly treated. One patient survived normally and the other died. Conclusions. Visible air bubbling at the operative site may herald the onset of massive VAE during multilevel posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation. A prospective multicenter study using precordial Doppler, central venous catheter, and end-tidal CO2 is recommended to determine the true incidence of VAE in spinal deformity surgery and to evaluate monitoring and treatment methods.


Insecurity has become an important challenge to global human development. While wars among countries have reduced in the 21st century compared to previous centuries, civil wars and other forms of internal violence and conflicts have continued to have devastating effects on human populations. This paper aims to examine the relationship between aspect of human security and socio-economic development in Ilorin metropolis. Primary data were sourced through structured questionnaire coupled with personal interviews to elicit responses to work on. Secondary data were sourced from published documents of the National Population Commission and the State Bureau of Statistics, journals, and other relevant literatures. Data collected were analysed using the Z-score, Lorenz curve, and Regression analyses. The study reveals that the present adaptive and institutional strategies aimed at mitigating human insecurity in the study area are rather insufficient. Using the widest bow of the Lorenz curve, the level of disparity is 18%, depicting a disparity in the pattern of socio-economic development. The conclusion from the study is that many of the sampled respondents still find it hard to satisfy their basic needs from the environment in socially acceptable standards. Given this, the following recommendations are made to improve the quality of human life in Ilorin. Policy makers should be committed to the task of advancing the socio-economic well-being of urban dwellers. Government should help by implementing policies addressing basic human security especially through the provision of infrastructural facilities, and employment opportunities thereby helping to shape the quality of life and income diversification.


BACKGROUND: The Apgar score is a method to quickly summarize the health of newborn children. It establishes a simple and clear classification of newborns, which could be used to predict survival and to compare methods of resuscitation and perinatal experience across hospitals and obstetric practices. Low Apgar score is associated with various immediate and long-term adverse health outcomes of newborns. Hence; in order to decrease the risk/complications, identifying the determinant factors of low Apgar is crucial to act on the modifiable risk factors. This study is aimed to investigate the determinant factors of a low Apgar score in newborn children.METHOD: The study was conducted in Lemelem Karl general hospital; northern Ethiopia. An institutional-based unmatched, case-control study was implemented. Data were retrieved from medical charts of 662 newborns' mothers who gave birth in the hospital from Sep 2014 to Sep 2017. Among these, 221 of them were cases (charts of mothers whose newborns' fifth minute Apgar score was <7) and 441 of them were controls (charts of mothers whose newborns' Apgar score was 7 and above). Data was collected using a pretested and structured checklist using systematic sampling and data was entered & analyzed using SPSS version 20. Binary and multivariable logistic regression was done to determine the association and statistical significance was declared at P-value of ≤0.05. RESULTS: This study revealed that low Apgar score was significantly associated with antepartum hemorrhage [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.509; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.526-8.067), P= 0.003], pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders [AOR 2.69; 95% CI (1.351-5.357), P= 0.005], prolonged second stage of labor [AOR 2.63; 95% CI (1.399-4.944), P= 0.003], Cesarean delivery [AOR 2.005; 95%CI (1.223-3.287), P= 0.006],meconium-stained liquor [AOR 6.955; 95% CI (3.721-13.001), P<0.001], and low birth weight [AOR 4.38; 95% CI (2.216-8.657), P<0.001].CONCLUSION: Result from this study showed a remarkable linkage of low Apgar score with antepartum hemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders, meconium-stained liquor, and low birth weight. Therefore, meticulous antenatal care and labour management service are recommended to prevent low Apgar score and the concomitant neonatal death.


We have developed a simple, low-cost, and innovative design — known as a "disc emulator" to mimic the mechanical response of a motion segment (vertebra - intervertebral disc-vertebra) of the human spinal column under axial compression loads. The disc emulator consists of upper and lower components that mimic the human vertebrae and a middle component that represents the annulus fibrosus (AF). This study aims to investigate the effects of changing the stiffness of artificial annulus fibrosus of the disc emulator on the bulging measurements while performing compression tests on the disc emulator. A non-contact measurement — digital image correlation (DIC) — was used for the bulging measurements. The results show that the bulging at the posterior region for the discs without nucleus pulposus (NP) bulged inwards, but the bulging at the posterolateral region was outwards, which accords with the reported behavior of the human disc, for the disc without and with NP regardless of the stiffness of the discs. Changing the stiffness of the artificial annulus fibrosus (AAF) alters the bulging magnitudes in the disc, which shows similar responses with respect to the available data on the human disc. The emulator provides a convenient experimental platform for evaluating normal and pathological disc states and assessing the biomechanics of potential therapeutic interventions.


The identification of physical parameters is crucial for control system designs, condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of industrial drive systems. The article brings multicore architecture based parallel computing technology and bioinspired intelligent optimisation algorithm insight into designing for system parameter estimation models.models. In this study, a parallel implementation using an immune-cooperative dynamic learning particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm with multicore computation architectures is presented for permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) parameter estimations. Three novel strategies are discussed, all with the purpose of enhancing the dynamic response and fast convergence performance of the designed parameter estimator. The strategies include a dynamic velocity modification strategy, an immune-memory-based searched information preservation mechanism, and an immune-network-based learning operator for PSO. Finally, a proposed method is applied to the parameter estimations of PMSMs as well as parallel running on multicore central processing units (CPU).


Identification of the different intracellular pathways that control phosphorylation/dephosphorylation process of ionic channels represents an exciting alternative approach for studying the ionic mechanisms underlying neuronal pacemaker activity. In the central nervous system of the cockroach Periplaneta americana, octopaminergic neurons, called dorsal unpaired median (DUM; DUM neurons), generate spontaneous repetitive action potentials. Short-term cultured adult DUM neurons isolated from the terminal abdominal ganglion (TAG) of the nerve cord were used to study the regulation of a tetrodotoxin-sensitive low-voltage-activated (LVA) channel permeable to sodium and calcium (Na/Ca), under whole cell voltage- and current-clamp conditions. A bell-shaped curve illustrating the regulation of the amplitude of the maintained current vs. [ATP]i was observed. This suggested the existence of phosphorylation mechanisms. The protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H89 and elevating [cyclic adenosine 3′, 5′ monophosphate, cAMP]i, increased and decreased the current amplitude, respectively. This indicated a regulation of the current via a cAMP/PKA cascade. Furthermore, intracellular application of PP2B inhibitors, cyclosporine A, FK506 and PP1/2A inhibitor, okadaic acid decreased the current amplitude. From these results and because octopamine (OA) regulates DUM neuron electrical activity via an elevation of [cAMP]i, we wanted to know if, like in vertebrate dopaminergic neurons, OA receptor (OAR) stimulation could indirectly affect the current via PKA-mediated phosphorylation of Dopamine- and cAMP-regulated Phosphoprotein-32 (DARPP-32) known to inhibit PP1/2A. Experiments were performed using intracellular application of phospho-DARPP-32 and non-phospho-DARPP-32. Phospho-DARPP-32 strongly reduced the current amplitude whereas non-phospho-DARPP-32 did not affect the current. All together, these results confirm that DARPP-32-mediated inhibition of PP1/2A regulates the maintained sodium/calcium current, which contributes to the development of the pre-depolarizing phase of the DUM neuron pacemaker activity.


Spontaneous lipolysis is the result of the activity of a native milk enzyme,
the lipoprotein lipase. Lipolysis leads to a release of free fatty acids
(FFA) that cause rancid flavor in milk products. A trial was carried out
to study the effects of breed, energy levels, and lactation stage on milk
spontaneous lipolysis in dairy cows. Sixty-four cows were used through a
year of lactation. Cows were divided into 4 homogenous groups according
to their breed [Holstein (HO) or Normande (NO)] and to their feeding
system: the intensive system, with a high energy diet (HED) (in winter,
corn silage with 30% concentrate; otherwise, pasture with 4 kg/d of
concentrate) and the grass system (GS) (in winter, conserved grass with
no concentrate; otherwise, pasture with no concentrate). The period of
calving was synchronized between January and March. Individual milk
samples were collected every month from both morning and evening
milkings. The FFA levels were determined by the difference between
the FFA levels after milking and the FFA after 24 h of storage at 4°C.
Data were analyzed using SAS mixed procedure. We showed that FFA
levels were higher in the evening milks (0.45 vs. 0.25 mEq/100 g of fat,
P < 0.001) and that evening milks were more susceptible to lipolysis
variations. HO cows were more susceptible to lipolysis than NO (0.34
vs. 0.20 mEq/100 g of fat, in morning milks; 0.62 vs. 0.33 mEq/100 g
of fat in evenings milks, P < 0.001). There was no effect of the feeding
system on morning milks lipolysis but GS had a tendency to increase
milk lipolysis in evening milks (0.41 vs. 0.55 mEq/100 g of fat, P =
0.06). Lipolysis was higher in early and late lactation stage, particularly
in the GS group. Conserved grass may also affect the lipolysis rate. The
energy status in early and late lactation stage is frequently negative so
the cows may be more susceptible to a low energy diet. No correlation
was found between lipolysis and milk fat content. Poor correlations (r
< 0.4, P < 0.001) were found between lipolysis and milk production,
fat globule size, proportion of fatty acid and protein composition, body
condition and weight.


Site-specific labeling of covalently closed circular DNA was achieved by using triple helix-forming oligonucleotides 10, 11 and 27 nt in length. The sequences consisted exclusively of pyrimidines (C and T) with a reactive psoralen at the 5'-end and a biotin at the 3'-end. The probes were directed to different target sites on the plasmids pUC18 (2686 bp), pUC18/4A (2799 bp) and pUC1 8/4A-H 1 (2530 bp). After triple helix formation at acid pH the oligonucleotides were photocrosslinked to the target DNAs via the psoralen moiety, endowing the covalent adduct with unconditional stability, e.g. under conditions unfavorable for preservation of the triplex, such as neutral pH. Complex formation was monitored after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis by streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase (SAP)-induced chemiluminescence. The yield of triple helix increased with the molar ratio of oligonucleotide to target and the length of the probe sequence (27mer > 11mer). The covalent adduct DNA were visualized by scanning force microscopy (SFM) using avidin or streptavidin as protein tags for the biotin group on the oligonucleotide probes. We discuss the versatility of triple helix DNA complexes for studying the conformation of superhelical DNA.


Background & Objective: It has been shown that glial activation has important role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. S100B is an astrocyte specific factor with deleterious effects on the neuronal and non-neuronal cells in the central nervous system. Arundic acid is an agent that inhibits the secretion and production of S100B in astrocytes. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the contribution of S100B in the cyto-protective effects of Arundic acid against beta-amyloid in 1321N1 astrocyte cell culture. Materials & Methods: Human astrocyte cells (1321N1) were treated with beta-amyloid (200 μM) and / or Arundic acid (50 μM) for 24 hours. Cell viability was measured using the MTT (3, 4, 5dimethylthiazole-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) method. The S100B protein level was measured by the ELISA method. Results: Beta-amyloid treatment reduced cell survival compared to the control-treated groups. In contrast, the addition of Arundic acid to beta-amyloid suppressed the beta-amyloid-induced cell death. Beta-amyloid also increased the S100B protein level. However, Arundic acid prevented the rise of S100B protein level induced by beta-amyloid. Conclusion: The reduction of S100B protein secretion may be involved in the protective effects of Arundic acid against the beta-amyloid induced Glio-toxicity in the astrocyte culture.


This paper investigates cross-sectoral productivity differentials in South African industry and their distributional consequences. The analysis shows that typically, traded sectors have experienced low productivity growth over the past decade, while skill intensive service sectors have had significant productivity growth. This is the inverse of the traditional Balassa-Samuelson sectoral transformation hypothesis, where high wages in high-productivity traded sectors increase wages throughout the economy, thus increasing prices on non-traded goods and revaluing the country's real exchange rate. Instead, the higher productivity of non-traded sectors experienced in South Africa induces a devaluation of the real exchange rate and a contraction of the traded sectors. The results of the estimation show evidence of this "inverse" Balassa-Samuelson effect for agriculture and manufacturing and in particular mining. This "inverse" Balassa-Samuelson effect has important distributional consequences: the high-productivity sectors are associated with cheaper goods and services for wealthy households. This in turn burdens poor households, which are more dependent on traded goods, with higher prices, which are a consequence of low productivity and high markups.


Elliptic flow (v(2)) values for identified particles at midrapidity in Au + Au collisions, measured by the STAR experiment in the beam energy scan at RHIC at sqrt[s(NN)] = 7.7-62.4 GeV, are presented. A beam-energy-dependent difference of the values of v(2) between particles and corresponding antiparticles was observed. The difference increases with decreasing beam energy and is larger for baryons compared to mesons. This implies that, at lower energies, particles and antiparticles are not consistent with the universal number-of-constituent-quark scaling of v(2) that was observed at sqrt[s(NN)] = 200 GeV.


Of 42 amber mutants of bacteriophage phi W-14, 6 were defective in DNA synthesis. Three of the mutants synthesized DNA in the nonpermissive host, but were defective in post-replicational modification of the DNA. The DNA synthesized by two of these mutants, am36 and am42, contained more thymine and less alpha-putrescinylthymine than did wild-type DNA; that synthesized by the third mutant, am37, contained the normal amount of thymine, no alpha-putrescinylthymine, and hydroxymethyluracil. The properties of these mutants suggested that the presence of the normal amount of alpha-putrescinylthymine in phi W-14 DNA was essential for the production of viable progeny. Three of the mutants, am6, am35, and am45, failed to synthesize DNA in the nonpermissive host. These mutants were analogous to the DNA off mutants of T4. Nonpermissive cells infected with DNA off mutants accumulated dATP, dGTP, dCTP, and hydroxymethyl dUTP, but not dTTP or alpha-putrescinyldeoxythymidine triphosphate, confirming that both thymine and alpha-putrescinylthymidine in phi W-14 DNA are formed from hydroxymethyluracil at the polynucleotide level. The synthesis of phi W-14 DNA is unusual because (i) thymine is formed from hydroxymethyluracil at the polynucleotide level, (ii) the hypermodification forming alpha-putrescinylthymine is essential, and (iii) thymine and alpha-putrescinylthymine must be made in the correct proportions. Complementation tests showed that the mutants defined three genes involved in DNA polymerization and two genes involved in post-replicational modification.


Asymmetrical periflexural exanthem is a rare clinical condition, seen almost exclusively in children. Very few adult cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of this rare eruption in an adult man showing characteristic clinical and histological features. Interestingly, this patient also exhibited a pseudoisomorphic Köebner response. Although an infective aetiology of viral origin has been suggested for this localized eruption, the aetiology remains unknown. We are of the opinion that the pseudoisomorphic Köebner response in this patient may support the inoculation hypothesis in the pathogenesis of this disorder.


Robustness against noise and interfering audio signals is one of the challenges in speech recognition and audio analysis technology. One avenue to approach this challenge is single-channel multiple-source modeling. Factorial hidden Markov models (FHMMs) are capable of modeling acoustic scenes with multiple sources interacting over time. While these models reach good performance on specific tasks, there are still serious limitations restricting the applicability in many domains. In this paper, we generalize these models and enhance their applicability. In particular, we develop an EM-like iterative adaptation framework which is capable to adapt the model parameters to the specific situation (e.g. actual speakers, gain, acoustic channel, etc.) using only speech mixture data. Currently, source-specific data is required to learn the model. Inference in FHMMs is an essential ingredient for adaptation. We develop efficient approaches based on observation likelihood pruning. Both adaptation and efficient inference are empirically evaluated for the task of multipitch tracking using the GRID corpus.


PURPOSE
To develop a novel strategy to extract the lung tumor motion from cone beam CT (CBCT) projections by an active contour model with interpolated respiration learned from diaphragm motion.

METHODS
Tumor tracking on CBCT projections was accomplished with the templates derived from planning CT (pCT). There are three major steps in the proposed algorithm: 1) The pCT was modified to form two CT sets: a tumor removed pCT and a tumor only pCT, the respective digitally reconstructed radiographs DRRtr and DRRto following the same geometry of the CBCT projections were generated correspondingly. 2) The DRRtr was rigidly registered with the CBCT projections on the frame-by-frame basis. Difference images between CBCT projections and the registered DRRtr were generated where the tumor visibility was appreciably enhanced. 3) An active contour method was applied to track the tumor motion on the tumor enhanced projections with DRRto as templates to initialize the tumor tracking while the respiratory motion was compensated for by interpolating the diaphragm motion estimated by our novel constrained linear regression approach. CBCT and pCT from five patients undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy were included in addition to scans from a Quasar phantom programmed with known motion. Manual tumor tracking was performed on CBCT projections and was compared to the automatic tracking to evaluate the algorithm accuracy.

RESULTS
The phantom study showed that the error between the automatic tracking and the ground truth was within 0.2mm. For the patients the discrepancy between the calculation and the manual tracking was between 1.4 and 2.2 mm depending on the location and shape of the lung tumor. Similar patterns were observed in the frequency domain.

CONCLUSION
The new algorithm demonstrated the feasibility to track the lung tumor from noisy CBCT projections, providing a potential solution to better motion management for lung radiation therapy.


Real-time embedded systems have to provide the highest Quality of Service despite possible processing overloads. In such systems, programs are characterized by upper bounds on finishing times and the QoS is assessed by the ratio of successful deadlines. In this article, we deal with this issue. We focus on single processor architectures in the framework of firm real-time applications that accept deadline missing under some specified limits. Tasks are assumed to be periodic. We present a novel model for tasks which is called BGW model. It is drawn from two approaches respectively known as the skip-over model and the Deadline Mechanism. We propose specific dynamic priority schedulers based on EDF (Earliest Deadline First) for BGW task sets and we briefly report the results of a simulation study.


• A thorough introduction to the German language, which can be used to fulfill the college language requirement. Multimedia materials, cultural experiences, and literary readings cultivate awareness of the differences in written and spoken German in various countries and highlight the impact of language and culture in European and global contexts. • A broad exposure to language, literature, culture, and history, with emphasis on the modern period from the 18th-century Enlightenment to the present. Majors and minors can pursue their interests in areas of concentration, that may include business German, history and culture, literature and media, German-Jewish studies, or critical theory. • Courses taught in English, giving those not proficient in German a basis for understanding the literary, philosophical, and cultural traditions of German-speaking countries. • Opportunities for students to enhance their command of German and to deepen their cultural awareness through study abroad in Berlin, Freiburg, Munich, Vienna, or Zurich.


ABSTRACT Objectives: This meta-analysis of randomized parallel controlled trials was designed to compare the efficacy of atenolol with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in changing pulse wave velocity (PWV), peripheral blood pressure and heart rate (HR) among patients with essential hypertension. Methods: This study was conducted according to the PRISMA guideline. Data collection was independently completed by two investigators. Statistical analyses were completed by Stata software (v12.0). Results: Eight clinical trials were meta-analyzed in this study. Overall changes in PWV (weighted mean difference or WMD = 0.068, 95% confidence interval or CI: −0.487 to –0.623, P = 0.811) and peripheral systolic blood pressure (PSBP) (WMD = −1.281 mmHg, 95% CI: −6.936 to 4.375, P = 0.657) did not differ significantly between atenolol and ACEIs treatment. Relative to ACEIs, atenolol had a more favorable impact on peripheral diastolic blood pressure (PDBP) (WMD = −1.912 mmHg, 95% CI: −3.732 to −0.091, P = 0.040) and HR (WMD = −9.23 bpm, 95% CI: −12.53 to −5.93, P < 0.001). In stratified analyses, particularly by follow-up period, atenolol was observed to be superior over ACEIs within early 3-month treatment in PSBP (WMD = −4.097 mmHg, 95% CI: −6.589 to −1.605, P = 0.001), PDBP (WMD = −6.802 mmHg, 95% CI: −8.517 to −5.087, P < 0.001) and HR (WMD = −14.242 bpm, 95% CI: −16.427 to −12.058, P = 0.028), without heterogeneity (I2 = 0.0%). There were low probabilities of publication bias for all comparisons. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that atenolol and ACEIs were equally effective in reducing PWV and PSBP, while atenolol was superior over ACEIs in improving PDBP and HR, especially within short-term treatment.


Background: In vivo tau positron emission tomography (PET) imaging could help clarify the spatial distribution of tau deposition in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and aid in the differential diagnosis of tauopathies. To date, there have been no in vivo 18 F-APN1607 tau PET studies in patients with AD.Methods: We applied tau tracer in twelve normal controls (NCs) and ten patients in the mild to moderate stage of probable AD. Detailed clinical information, cognitive measurements and disease severity were documented. Regional standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs) from 18 F-AV-45 (florbetapir), 18 F-APN1607 PET images and regional gray matter (GM) atrophic ratios were calculated for further analysis.Results: Quantitative analyses showed significantly elevated SUVRs in the frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital lobes, anterior and posterior cingulate gyri, precuneus, and parahippocampal region (all ps < 0.01) with medium to large effect sizes (0.44 - 0.75). The SUVRs from 18 F-APN1607 PET imaging showed significant correlations with the ADAS-cog scores (all ps < 0.01) and strong correlation coefficients (R squared ranged from 0.54 to 0.68), even adjusted for age and gender effects. Finally, the SUVRs from 18 F-APN1607 PET imaging of the parahippocampal region showed rapid saturation as the ADAS-cog scores increased, and the SUVRs of the posterior cingulate gyrus and the temporal, frontal, parietal and occipital regions slowly increased. The combined SUVRs from 18 F-AV-45 PET, 18 F-APN1607 PET and regional GM atrophic ratio showed that uptake associated with the amyloid burden rapidly increased and reach a plateau, whereas uptake associated with tau depositions increased slowly and finally followed by regional GM atrophic ratios in most regions as the ADAS-cog scores increased. However, different regions exhibited various combinations of these patterns.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the 18 F-APN1607 tau tracer showed a clear background without significant uptake in the basal ganglia or midbrain. Uptake of this tracer correlated well with cognitive changes and demonstrated the spatial pattern of amyloid, tau deposition and GM atrophy in the progression of AD. Thus, the regional base of dynamic biomarker changes was observed in the current study.Trial registration: registration number (NCT03625128), date of registration( August 10, 2018), retrospectively registered.


Image databases are now a subject of increasing attention in multimedia, for archiving and retrieval of images in the fields of art, history, medicine and industry, among others. From the psychological point of view, color perception is related to several factors including color features (brightness, chromaticity and saturation), surrounding colors, color spatial organization, observer memory/knowledge/experience etc. Paintings are an example where the message is contained more in the high-level color qualities and spatial arrangements than in the physical properties of colors. Starting from this observation, Johannes Itten (1961) introduced a formalism to analyze the use of color in art and the effects that this induces on the user's psyche. We present a system which translates the Itten theory into a formal language that allows to express the semantics associated with the combination of chromatic properties of color images. Fuzzy sets are used to represent low-level region properties. A formal language and a set of model checking rules are implemented that allow to define semantic clauses and verify the degree of truth by which they hold over an image.


Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis and composed of two subtypes, limited and diffuse cutaneous forms. Previous genetic studies including genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 12 susceptibility loci satisfying genome-wide significance. Objectives To expand the list of susceptibility genes and deepen biological insights for SSc. Methods We performed trans-ethnic meta-analysis of GWAS in the Japanese and European populations, followed by a two-staged replication study comprising a total of 4,436 cases and 14,751 controls. Associations between significant single nuclear polymorphisms (SNPs) and neighboring genes were evaluated. Enrichment analysis of H3K4Me3, a representative histone mark for active promoter was conducted with an expanded list of SSc susceptibility genes. Results We identified two significant SNP in two loci, GSDMA and PRDM1, both of which are related with immune functions and associated with other autoimmune diseases (p=1.4x10-10 and 6.6x10-10, respectively). GSDMA also showed a significant association with limited cutaneous SSc. We also replicated the associations of previously reported loci including a non-GWAS locus, TNFAIP3. PRDM1 encodes BLIMP1, a transcription factor regulating T cell proliferation and plasma cell differentiation. The top SNP in GSDMA was a missense variant and correlated with gene expression of neighboring genes, and this could explain the association in this locus. We found different HLA association patterns between the two populations or two subtypes. Enrichment analysis suggested the importance of CD4 naïve primary T cell. Conclusions GSDMA and PRDM1 are associated with SSc. These findings provide enhanced insight into the genetic and biological basis of SSc. Disclosure of Interest None declared


Recent studies suggest that the hemodynamic advantage of stentless bioprostheses over the stented type improves long-term survival after aortic valve replacement, but the more complex and time-consuming implantation technique may increase the risks of operative death and postoperative complications. Between April 1996 and June 2001, 519 patients with a mean age of 76 ± 5 years underwent aortic valve replacement using a stentless (Medtronic Freestyle, n = 277) or stented bioprosthesis (Medtronic Mosaic, n = 242). Multiple logistic regression analysis considering different patient populations revealed no increased risk of operative death, postoperative complications, or neurological impairment after implantation of a stentless bioprosthesis. Survival curves in respect of 367 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement up to September 2000 and were followed up for 3 years were not different (p = 0.98). As the patients were elderly, improved survival due to implantation of a stentless valve could not be demonstrated within this time span.


One of the largest private reserves in the Atlantic Forest is the RPPN Estacao Veracel, which along with the contiguous forested area of the Pau-Brasil Ecological Station, is an important part of the remaining Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia. We carried out an inventory of medium and large mammals in the Reserve during a 16-month camera trap survey, as well as conducted interviews with park rangers and searched for direct/indirect records, which revealed 33 species belonging to nine different Orders. Among the species recorded, six are categorized as threatened in the national list and four in the IUCN global list. The RPPN harbors species which are crucial to the ecosystem, many of which are in decline and threatened by high hunting pressure and reduction of habitat. The results confirm the relevance of the RPPN as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) for globally threatened species.


Multilingual large-scale Pretrained Language Models (PLMs) have been shown to store considerable amounts of factual knowledge, but large variations are observed across languages. With the ultimate goal of ensuring that users with different language backgrounds obtain consistent feedback from the same model, we study the cross-lingual consistency (CLC) of factual knowledge in various multilingual PLMs. To this end, we propose a Ranking-based Consistency (RankC) metric to evaluate knowledge consistency across languages independently from accuracy. Using this metric, we conduct an in-depth analysis of the determining factors for CLC, both at model level and at language-pair level. Among other results, we find that increasing model size leads to higher factual probing accuracy in most languages, but does not improve cross-lingual consistency. Finally, we conduct a case study on CLC when new factual associations are inserted in the PLMs via model editing. Results on a small sample of facts inserted in English reveal a clear pattern whereby the new piece of knowledge transfers only to languages with which English has a high RankC score.


Keyword search over relational databases has been widely studied for the exploration of structured data in a userfriendly way. However, users typically have limited domain knowledge or are unable to precisely specify their search intention. Existing methods find the minimal units that contain all the query keywords, and largely ignore the interpretation of possible users' search intentions. As a result, users are often overwhelmed with a lot of irrelevant answers. Moreover, without a visually pleasing way to present the answers, users often have difficulty understanding the answers because of their complex structures. Therefore, we design an interactive yet visually pleasing search paradigm called ExpressQ. ExpressQ extends the keyword query language to include keywords that match meta-data, e.g., names of relations and attributes. These keywords are utilized to infer users' search intention. Each possible search intention is represented as a query pattern, whose meaning is described in human natural language. Through a series of user interactions, ExpressQ can determine the search intention of the user, and translate the corresponding query patterns into SQLs to retrieve answers to the query. The ExpressQ prototype is available at http://expressq.comp.nus.edu.sg.


The systems used for rail traffic control are compared. Their advantages and disadvantages are analysed. The present and future development of rail traffic control systems in various countries is considered. The possibility of adapting these microprocessor-based traffic control systems to the conditions of Lithuania is ana-lysed. For this purpose, the analysis of goods transported by Lithuanian railways is made, and the non-uniform amount of goods transported on different road sections is evaluated. The number of the delayed trains due to the failure of traffic control systems in recent years is determined, the cost of installing a new microprocessor-based traffic control system at the railway station, as well as its repay time and the demand for employees are calculated.


Rainfall forecasting is a major issue for anticipating severe meteorological events and for agriculture management. Weather radar imaging has been identified in the literature as the best way to measure rainfall on a large domain, with a fine spatial and temporal resolution. This paper describes two methods allowing to improve rain nowcast from radar images at two different scales. These methods are further compared to an operational chain relying on only one type of radar observation. The comparison is led with regional and local criteria. For both, significant improvements are quantified compared to the original method.


We propose a system for magnetic recording, using a low density parity check (LDPC) code as the error-correcting-code, in conjunction with a rate 16/17 quasi-maximum-transition-run channel code and a modified E/sup 2/PR4-equalized channel. Iterative decoding between the partial response channel and the LDPC code is performed. Simulations show that this system can achieve a 5.9 dB gain over uncoded EPR4. The algorithms used to design this LDPC code are also discussed.


Frequent outbreaks of Salmonella Typhimurium infection, in both animal and human populations and with the potential for zoonotic transmission, pose a significant threat to the public health sector. The rapid emergence and spread of more invasive multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of Salmonella further highlight the need for the development of new drugs with effective broad-spectrum bactericidal activities. ABSTRACT Frequent outbreaks of Salmonella Typhimurium infection, in both animal and human populations and with the potential for zoonotic transmission, pose a significant threat to the public health sector. The rapid emergence and spread of more invasive multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of Salmonella further highlight the need for the development of new drugs with effective broad-spectrum bactericidal activities. The synthesis and evaluation of main-chain cationic polyimidazolium 1 (PIM1) against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria have previously demonstrated the efficacy profile of PIM1. The present study focuses on the antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities of PIM1 against Salmonella in both in vitro and in ovo settings. In vitro, PIM1 exhibited bactericidal activity against three strains of Salmonella at a low dosage of 8 μg/mL. The anti-biofilm activity of PIM1 was evident by its elimination of planktonic cells within preformed biofilms in a dose-dependent manner. During the host cell infection process, PIM1 reduces the extracellular bacterial load, which reduces adhesion and invasion to limit the establishment of infection. Once intracellular, Salmonella strains were tolerant and protected from PIM1 treatment. In a chicken egg infection model, PIM1 exhibited therapeutic activity for both Salmonella strains, using stationary-phase and exponential-phase inocula. Moreover, PIM1 showed a remarkable efficacy against the stationary-phase inocula of drug-resistant Salmonella by eliminating the bacterial burden in >50% of the infected chicken egg embryos. Collectively, our results highlight the potential for PIM1 as a replacement therapy for existing antibiotic applications on the poultry farm, given the efficiency and low toxicity profile demonstrated in our agriculturally relevant chicken embryo model.


Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, highly malignant, and aggressive dermal neuroendocrine neoplasm that rarely metastasizes to the central nervous system. Objective: To review the current literature regarding treatment of neurometastatic MCC. Methods: A case of a 78-year-old male with intracranial extra-axial metastatic MCC involving the left cerebellopontine angle is presented. Results: A retrosigmoid craniectomy was performed with complete resection of the metastatic focus. Adjuvant treatment included whole-brain radation therapy followed by etoposide and carboplatin chemotherapy. Seven months postoperatively, the patient was free of metastatic disease. Conclusion: Surgical resection should be performed when feasible to prevent local recurrence. This may be followed by early adjuvant fractionated whole-brain radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy; however, no clinical trials have been performed to demonstrate a survival benefit.


Summary. Several North Atlantic breeding seabirds, such as the Northern Gannet Morus bassanus, use Western Iberian Waters for wintering and migration. In this study, we aimed at producing absolute population estimates of post-breeding Gannets and evaluating the importance of the study area within the species' migration range. We performed six aerial surveys in September and/or October each year between 2010 and 2015, covering 74,840 km2 in total. Using line transect methodology, 3,672 Gannet sightings were recorded along 10,496.3 nautical miles (nm). Immature individuals and adults comprised approximately 87% of all sightings. Using Distance sampling, overall abundance was estimated at 89,930 birds, ranging from 58,010 individuals in 2014 to 128,140 in 2015. The highest densities per sector areas were recorded in the North and Centre sectors whereas the lowest densities were registered in the Galicia sector, the Spanish region within the study area. Gannets were mostly present in shallow shelf waters of the continental shelf, particularly between 3 and 20 nautical miles offshore. Habitat suitability models for Gannets in the study area were tested using several eco-geographical variables and chlorophyll concentrations were found to contribute most to explaining annual Gannet occurrence probabilities. A global interannual spatial analysis demonstrated the core areas for conservation of the Northern Gannet in Western Iberian Waters. Moreover, our results demonstrate that Western Iberian waters are used by almost 10% of the global Northern Gannet population, corroborating the existence of seabird hotspots during the non-breeding period, along migration corridors and at their wintering grounds.—Araújo, H., Correia Rodrigues, P., Bastos-Santos, J., Ferreira, M., Pereira, A., Martínez-Cedeira, J., Vingada, J. & Eira, C. (2022). Monitoring abundance and distribution of Northern Gannets Morus bassanus in Western Iberian Waters in autumn by aerial surveys. Ardeola, 69: 179-202.


This paper presents the results of an investigation into the sequence-dependent excess-electron transfer (EET) dynamics in DNA, which plays an important role in DNA damage/repair. There are many published studies on EET in consecutive adenine:thymine (A:T) sequences (Tn), but those in alternating A:T sequences (ATn) remain limited. Here, two series of functionalized DNA oligomers, Tn and ATn, were synthesized with a strongly electron-donating photosensitizer, a trimer of ethylenedioxythiophene (3 E), and an electron acceptor, diphenylacetylene (DPA). Laser flash photolysis experiments showed that the EET rate constant of AT3 is two times lower than that of T3 due to the lack of π-stacking of Ts in AT3. Thus, it was indicated that excess-electron hopping is affected by the interaction between LUMOs of nucleotides.


In this paper a new spherical actuator is designed and its advantages are compared to an existing spherical actuator,which function is limited by several design bottlenecks. First the output torque is too small.Second,the attitude is difficult to be accurately detected. The new three-dimensional magnetic pole array can solve these major problems. The new actuator features an outer rotor with multiple permanent magnet( PM)poles. Using an analytical solution and the finite element solution simulation,the feasibility of the approach is verified. A prototype was developed,tested,and experiments were conducted to obtain the practical value of the magnetic flux density.


A modular multilevel system was adapted for high‐resolution, depth‐discrete monitoring of hydraulic head and ground water quality in rotasonic boreholes or boreholes produced with similar dual‐casing drilling methods. The system accommodates up to 15 monitoring intervals within one hole and can be used to monitor overburden and/or bedrock to depths of 100 m (330 feet) or more. It is most effective where static water levels are shallower than 9 m (30 feet) below ground surface. Sand packs around each monitoring port define the monitoring interval, and bentonite seals placed above and below each sand pack isolate the intervals. Each sand and bentonite layer has a practical minimum length of 0.5 m (1.6 feet); therefore, a 15 port system can monitor, with maximum detail, a minimum vertical span of 15 m (50 feet). All system components, primarily flush joint polyvinyl chloride (PVC) casing segments, stainless steel ports, Teflon® tubing, and PVC centralizers, are commercially available and require little preconstruction. An open 6‐mm (¼‐inch) inner diameter tube is connected to each port for manual hydraulic head measurements and water sampling with a peristaltic pump. To assess installation and performance of the new system, nine rotasonic holes in overburden and bedrock between 20‐ and 30‐m (65‐ and 100‐feet) deep were monitored at two sites. This detailed vertical monitoring provided important information on hydraulic head and contaminant distributions that would have been missed with fewer monitoring intervals. The monitoring system offers unique advantages where detailed monitoring in heterogeneous settings is needed to understand ground water flow and contaminant migration or evaluate the performance of remediation efforts.


Objectives: We evaluated gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity in patients with calcific aortic stenosis (AS) and investigated the association between GGT levels and the maximum and mean aortic gradients. Study design: The study included 34 patients (5 women, 29 men; mean age 63±13 years) with calcific AS. Thirtyeight subjects (8 women, 30 men; mean age 57±10 years) with echocardiographically normal aortic valves constituted the control group. Echocardiographic evaluation was performed in all the subjects and venous blood samples were obtained to determine plasma glucose, fibrinogen, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, and GGT levels. The activity of GGT was determined by the kinetic method. Associations were sought between GGT levels and the maximum and mean aortic gradients. Results: In the AS group, the mean maximum and mean gradients of the aortic valve were 74±15 mmHg and 39±9 mmHg, respectively. Fibrinogen concentrations differed significantly between the patient and control groups (3.9±1.7 mg/dl and 2.9±0.9 mg/dl, respectively; p 0.05). Compared to controls (21±14 U/l), the mean GGT level was significantly higher in the AS group (39±13 U/l; p=0.005). In linear regression analysis, weak but significant sex- and ageadjusted correlations were found between the GGT level and the maximum (r=0.20, p<0.001) and mean (r=0.17, p<0.001) aortic gradients. Conclusion: Patients with calcific AS have higher GGT levels compared to controls, suggesting the presence of a common etiologic mechanism for both calcific AS and coronary artery disease.


The metabolism of high-energy phosphates in a muscle fiber preparation and diaphragm has been investigated. During dissection the creatine phosphate (CrP) level of fibers decreased but was reconstituted during soaking to 61% of the in situ value and remained uncharged during incubation. Dissection and soaking did not affect the adenosinetriphosphate + adenosinediphosphate (ATP + ADP) levels but incubation caused small decreases. Similar decreases in CrP and ATP levels of diaphragm occurred during incubation. The decreases in the ATP levels in fibers and diaphragm correlated with decreases in adenine absorption. A concomitant shift occurred in the absorption peak of fiber media toward the absorption maximum of hypoxanthine. In contrast, the curves for diaphragm media showed a progressive shift toward the absorption maximum for uric acid. Uricase analyses demonstrated uric acid in diaphragm media. The mesothelial covering of the diaphragm was shown to have a separate and distinct metabolism which converts hypoxanthine to uric acid. Soaking the fibers in iced buffer instead of buffer at room temperature decreased the CrP levels after incubation, ATP values were unaffected.


The posterior aspect of the normal sellar content usually displays high intensity signal on T1-weighted images. The shape, size, and location of this high intensity seem to be compatible with the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. But fatty tissues such as intrasellar fat pad or fatty marrow of the dorsum sellae or both must be excluded as other possible sources of this high intensity signal. Two sellar phantoms were prepared. Both included high intensity posterior parts, one due to high concentration of a paramagnetic ion and the other due to fat. Magnetic resonance imaging of these phantoms showed that the fatty component was accompanied by distinct chemical shift artifacts in a predictable way. The absence of chemical shift artifact in the sellar content of normal volunteers excluded the fatty tissue as representing the high intensity posterior part. The high intensity posterior part of the normal sellar content appears to represent the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland.


Polyester–cotton (PECO) blends are widely used in the apparel industry due to their desirable combination of comfort and durability, but their high flammability remains a safety concern. Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly has proven to be a powerful tool in reducing the flammability of textiles, although the high number of processing steps is a challenge. In an effort to produce nanocoatings similar to an existing LbL recipe, consisting of poly(allylamine) and a polyphosphate, deposition of a water-soluble polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) onto PECO fabric was investigated. Treatment of this one-step coating with an acidic buffer yields a water-insoluble nanocoating capable of extinguishing flames during vertical flame testing, outperforming a similar multilayer coating assembled layer-by-layer. Pyrolysis-combustion flow calorimetry revealed a total heat release reduction of 30% for PECO coated with 18 wt% PEC. The coated fabric also exhibited a 78% and 31% reduction in peak heat release for cotton and polyester, respectively. In addition to stopping fire, this coating is durable to five home laundering cycles (and eight hours in boiling water) without losing any flame retardant activity. Although microscopy revealed identical structures in LbL and PEC coatings, elemental analysis revealed a difference in composition. The PEC coating showed greater flame retardancy than layer-by-layer assembled coatings using the same ingredients, while also greatly reducing the number of processing steps, making this a promising treatment for large scale fabric protection.


Objectives Despite the fact that many children and adolescents are engaged in part-time work besides attending school, the working conditions for this population is poorly represented in the scientific literature. The aim of this study is to describe the work environment, health and wellbeing for youth between 13 and 17 years of age in Denmark. Methods The study is based on a sample of 545 youth 13–17 years of age. Data were collected in 2010 using questionnaires. The questionnaire included various aspects of work and health (general self-rated health, mental health, perceived stress, musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosomatic symptoms), using already developed and validated assessment tools. Results 64% were engaged in work besides school. Compared to those without work, there were no significant differences in scores on health measures. Among those with work, 6 work factors were associated with a low score on one or more health measures: High emotional demands, harassment, bullying, heat, use of maximum physical strength and repetitive monotonous work. Especially harassment, bullying and high emotional demands were strongly related to health and well-being. Compared to the adult working population, exposure levels were generally lower. However, 39% of the participants were exposed to at least one of these three esposures, and 6% were exposed to all three simultaneously. Conclusions Generally, children and adolescents are content with working. However, a significant proportion are part of work environments, that provide exposures to especially psychosocial work environment factors, that are significantly associated with more negative scores on measures of health and well-being.


Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate which resources and capabilities are most important to enable large manufacturers undergoing servitization to develop and deliver successful services. Design/methodology/approach – A survey of 100 respondents based on manufacturers provided the basis for the study. Data analysis was undertaken using confirmatory factor analysis and multiple regressions. Findings – In total, five constructs ("resource configurations") which enable the development and delivery of successful services and a construct to measure services performance ("Success of Services") were developed from the literature. A measurement model based on these constructs was empirically tested and verified. Two resource configurations; "Leaders and Services Personnel" and "Services Methods and Tools" were found to make a unique and statistically significant contribution to "Success of Services." Research limitations/implication – The study highlights the importance of corporates leaders and service employees in developing and delivery success. Service-specific methods and tools are important for developing compelling customer offerings. The study demonstrates the utility of a resource-based perspective in terms of understanding the factors that enable successful services, but also exposes the limitations of using such broad measures, with common lower order resources underpinning multiple resource configurations. The study was conducted from the manufacturer's perspective and future studies could also include the customer's perspective. Practical implications – The research identifies important factors in developing a greater service orientation in manufacturing companies. Originality/value – This is one of the first studies to develop and test a model of services success, generalizable to the population of large manufactures.


An improved signal processing algorithm for virtual reproducing 5.1 channel surround sound by headphone is proposed. Firstly, by analyzing current signal processing algorithm, it is pointed out that current algorithms will create unnatural subjective hearing effect. Then, by using the method of HRTF (Head-related transfer function) filtering and surround signal decorrelating, the improved algorithm is able to eliminate the defect of in-head-localization in headphone reproduction and simulate the subjective effect of multi surround loudspeakers while not to induce other unnatural effect. Therefore, the improved signal processing algorithm can increase envelopment and improve the subjective effect in headphone reproduction.


Creativeworks London's Place Work Knowledge (PWK) research strand is actively conducting research into London's fashion sector SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and MSEs (micro-sized enterprises). As part of this ongoing research, strand members Dr. Tarek Virani (Queen Mary / CWL) and Professor Mark Banks (University of Leicester / CWL) have put together a working paper that offers a profile of the business support landscape that exists for fashion SMEs and MSEs in London.


One major problem when dealing with thousands of images is finding the exact image that you want to use. All of the packages reviewed in this article come with a printed catalog of thumbnail sketches of the various individual images, as well as an electronic image browser that will call up on the screen selected images that fulfill specific search criteria.


In this report, we demonstrate that NADPH oxidase is activated by tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) plus interferon-g (IFN-g) in human monocytic cells (THP-1 cells) differentiated with phorbol ester (PMA) and that physiological concentration of 17h-estradiol inhibits NADPH oxidase activity in THP-1 cells stimulated with TNF-a plus IFN-g. This effect is mediated by estrogen receptor based on estrogen receptor antagonist (ICI 182, 780) that diminishes inhibition by 17h-estradiol. This inhibition is specific in 17h-estradiol because 17a-estradiol, testosterone and progesterone do not inhibit NADPH oxidase activity. Activation of NADPH oxidase induced by TNF-a plus IFN-g is caused by up-regulation of p47 (cytosolic component of NADPH oxidase) expression. 17h-Estradiol prevents the up-regulation of p47 mRNA and protein expression. This prevention of p47 expression depends on the inhibition of NF-nB activation. Our results implicate that 17h-estradiol has an anti-atherosclerotic effects through the improvement of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability caused by the regulation of superoxide (O2 ) production. D 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.


Key establishment between neighboring nodes is a fundamental issue for securing sensor networks deployed in unattended and hostile environments. Recent research often assumed a probabilistic approach by pre-distributing a random set of secrets to each node such that any two neighboring nodes can establish a direct key with a certain probability or negotiate an indirect key through multi-hop routing after deployment. The shortcomings include poor resilience against node compromise, low secure connectivity, etc. In this paper, we present a key establishment scheme based on a triangle grid deployment model. In contrast to previous proposals, our scheme have higher resilience to node compromise attacks with much smaller memory costs, while maintaining high secure connectivity so that much less energy needs to be consumed in establishing indirect keys through multi-hop or multi-path routing


Since
biology became secularised and the molecular scrutiny of life began,
the possibility of artificially synthesising living cells in a
laboratory became a tangible possibility. Contemporary synthetic
biology aspires to design and manufacture new forms of life to obtain
social and economic benefits. However, we cannot rule out the
possibility that the creation of synthetic life forms may also bring
scientific rewards in terms of a greater understanding of biological
complexity, which we would not be able to access through analytical
means. It is clear, therefore, that the term synthetic biology raises
expectations, but it is no less true that it also causes concern. This
article starts with a critique of the identification of cells as
machines and discusses the current scope of synthetic biology and
efforts to standardise it. We also outline some of the social
implications of attempts to manufacture
life.


This qualitative, narrative study examined the lived experiences of transgender students at four-year institutions in the South. The college transition process and academic and social integration for transgender students was explored through the frameworks of Transition Theory (Schlossberg, 1995), Minority Stress Theory (Meyer, 1995; Breslow, Brewster, Velez, Wong, Geiger, & Soderstrom, 2015), and Academic and Social Integration theories (Tinto, 1975; Braxton, Hirschy, & McClendon, 2004). College climates can be challenging for transgender students, especially when campus staff and faculty are not prepared and/or aware of transgender students' needs (Pryor, 2015). How students perceive their academic and social integration as well as how their integration was influenced by their gender identity was a key component of this study. Through a four-phase data collection process, transgender students had the opportunity to tell, share, and reflect on their experiences as transgender undergraduate students navigating the college transition, academic, and social integration processes. Through data collection and analysis, four categories emerged from participant responses: 1) Navigating Identity, 2) College Transition and Challenges, 3) Environment, Space, and Climate, and 4) Sympathizing with Others. Within each category, several sub-categories were identified as well. Institutions of higher education must recognize the ever-growing presence of transgender students on their campuses. Moreover, institutions have the opportunity and responsibility to create policies, spaces, and opportunities that allow transgender college students to have a supportive academic and social integration process.


The publish/subscribe (P/S) service on Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) servers of smart grid need to deal with huge amount of data, which may lead to data burst on AMI servers and serious server crash. Moreover, for protecting data security, sensitive data must be encrypted before being published. It obstacles traditional data utilisation based on plaintext P/S service. Thus, enabling an encrypted data-based P/S service is of paramount importance. Considering the huge amount of data and subscribers, it is necessary to allow conjunctive subscriptions containing mixtures of keywords, numeric data etc., and return data according to a reasonable access control mechanism (ACM). In this study, the authors propose a cloud-assisted secure conjunctive publish/subscribe protocol to challenge the encrypted data-based P/S service on AMI servers. To overcome the data burst, the P/S computation tasks are shifted from AMI servers to the cloud. To support conjunctive P/S operations in a reasonable ACM, a prefix-based membership verification algorithm combining with the ciphertext policy attribute-based encryption is explored. The proposed protocol is proved to be secure against chosen keyword/plaintext attacks under formally defined security models. Experiments on the real-world data set further show proposed protocol indeed introduce low overhead on computation and communication.


We have carried out a comparative high-pressure differential scanning calorimetry (HPDSC) investigation of bleached and permanent waved human hair, focusing on the way the denaturation reaction of the hair protein is affected by the two cosmetic treatments. We have measured the values of enthalpy, peak temperature and the height of the peak for all the samples and noticed how the values change with the type and duration of the treatment. The results show that the bleaching process affects both the amorphous matrix and the crystalline α-helix region quicker and to a larger extent than perm waving does. The process becomes severe after 2-3 times bleaching 10 minutes each. In all the cases we have been able to fit with simple equations the change of the values of the parameters with the duration of the treatment. The empirical relationships are semilogarithmic, in case of bleaching, and linear, for perm waving, respectively.