The Arctic is projected to warm by 2 to 5°C by the end of the century. Warming causes melting of glaciers, shrinking of the areas covered by sea ice, and increased terrestrial runoff from snowfields and permafrost thawing. Warming, decreasing coastal underwater irradiance, and lower salinity are potentially threatening polar marine organisms, including kelps, that are key species of hard-bottom shallow communities. The present 15 study investigates the physiological responses of four kelp species ( Alaria esculenta , Laminaria digitata, Saccharina latissima, and Hedophyllum nigripes ) to warming, low irradiance, and low salinity through a perturbation experiment conducted in ex situ mesocosms. Kelps were exposed during six weeks to four experimental treatments: an unmanipulated control, a warming condition mimicking future coastlines unimpacted by glacier melting under the CO 2 emission scenario SSP5-8.5 , and two multifactorial conditions 20 combining warming, low salinity, and low irradiance reproducing the future coastal Arctic exposed to terrestrial runoff following two CO 2 emission scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). The physiological effects on A. esculenta , L. digitata and S. latissima were investigated and gene expression patterns of S. latissima and H. nigripes were analyzed. Specimens of A. esculenta increased their chlorophyll a content when exposed to low irradiance conditions, suggesting that they may be resilient to an increase in glacier and river runoff and 25 become more dominant at greater depths. S. latissima showed a lower carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio at higher nitrate concentrations, suggesting coastal erosion and permafrost thawing could benefit the organism in the future Arctic . In contrast, L. digitata showed no responses to the conditions tested on any of the investigated physiological parameters . The gene expressions of H. nigripes and S. latissima underscores their ability and underline temperature as a key influencing factor. Based on these results, it is expected that kelp communities 30 will undergo changes in species composition that will vary at local scale as a function of the changes in environmental drivers. For future research, potential cascading effects on the associated fauna and the whole ecosystem are important to anticipate the ecological, cultural, and economic impacts of climate change in the Arctic.


Several standards such as IEEE 802.11a/g, IEEE 802.16, and the European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA) multiband orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) for high data-rate ultra-wideband employ bit-interleaved convolutionally coded multicarrier modulation over quasi-static fading channels. Motivated by the lack of appropriate error rate analysis techniques for this popular type of system and channel model, we present two novel analytical methods for bit error rate (BER) estimation of coded multicarrier systems operating over frequency-selective quasi-static channels with nonideal interleaving. In the first method, the approximate performance of the system is calculated for each realization of the channel, which is suitable for obtaining the outage BER performance (a common performance measure for, e.g., MB-OFDM systems). The second method assumes Rayleigh distributed frequency-domain subcarrier channel gains and knowledge of their correlation matrix, and can be used to directly obtain the average BER performance. Both methods are applicable to convolutionally coded interleaved multicarrier systems employing quadrature amplitude modulation, and are also able to account for narrowband interference (modeled as a sum of tone interferers). To illustrate the application of the proposed analysis, both methods are used to study the performance of a tone-interference-impaired MB-OFDM system.


Follistatin (FS) is an important regulator of pituitary FSH secretion through its potent ability to bind and bioneutralize activin. It also represents a prototype for binding proteins that control bioavailability of other TGFbeta-related growth factors such as the bone morphogenetic proteins. The 288-residue FS molecule has a distinctive structure comprised principally of three 10-cysteine FS domains. These are preceded by an N-terminal segment shown by us previously to contain hydrophobic residues essential for activin binding. To establish the contribution of the FS domains themselves to FS's bioactivity, we prepared mutants with deleted or exchanged domains and intradomain point mutations. Mutants were expressed from mammalian (Chinese hamster ovary) cells and evaluated for activin binding and for biological activity in assays measuring differing aspects of FS bioactivity: activin-mediated transcriptional activity and suppression of FSH secretion in primary pituitary cell cultures. The N-terminal domain (residues 1-63) alone could not bind activin or suppress activin-mediated transcription, either alone or combined in solution with the FS domain region (residues 64-288). Deletion of FS domains 1 or 2 abolished activin binding and biological activity in both assays, whereas deletion of domain 3 was tolerated. Bioactivity was also reduced or eliminated after exchange of domains (FS 2/1/3 and FS 3/1/2) or doubling of domain 1 (FS 1/1/3) or domain 2 (FS 2/2/3). Several hydrophobic residues clustered within the C-terminal region of FS domains 1 and 2 are highly conserved among all FS domains. Mutation of any of these to Asp or Ala either reduced or eliminated FS bioactivity and disrupted distant epitopes for heparin binding (FS domain 1) or antibody recognition (FS domain 2), suggesting their role in maintaining the conformational integrity of the domain and possibly the FS molecule as a whole. These results are consistent with the importance of domain conformation as well as the overall order of the domains in FS function. A continuous sequence comprising the N-terminal domain and followed by FS domains 1 and 2 fulfills the minimum structural requirement for activin binding and FS bioactivity.


AIMS
To compare the improvement of quality of life (QoL) in cardiac resynchronization therapy plus implantable cardioverter defibrillator (CRT-D) therapy with that in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy alone for patients with heart failure.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and US Food and Drug Administration website were searched for published studies up to 31 December 2011. Studies were considered for inclusion if they were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the efficacy of CRT-D therapy with ICD therapy in patients with heart failure. The primary outcome of this study was improvement in QoL. Four RCTs with 1655 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, the QoL score of patients in CRT-D group significantly improved [weighted mean difference (WMD): -6.02; 95% confidence interval (CI): -10.56 to -1.48] compared with that in the ICD only group. However, the benefit with respect to QoL in CRT-D group was not maintained when subset meta-analysis was performed in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I-II (WMD: 0.19; 95% CI: -3.89 to 4.72), whereas the patients with NYHA class III-IV in CRT-D group still experienced a significant improvement of QoL score compared with ICD group (WMD: -8.49; 95% CI: -13.39 to -3.59).

CONCLUSIONS
CRT-D therapy improves the QoL compared with ICD therapy alone, especially in patients with moderate to severe heart failure.


Levodopa‐induced dyskinesias represent disabling complications from long‐term therapy with dopaminergic drugs for treating Parkinson's disease (PD). Although several neuroimaging studies have reported altered striatofrontal function that contributes to the emergence of these motor complications, the neuroanatomical correlates of this disorder are still unknown. Optimized voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) was applied to the MRI brain images of 36 PD patients with levodopa‐induced dyskinesias, 36 PD patients without levodopa‐induced dyskinesias, and 32 age‐ and sex‐matched controls. The VBM analysis comparing dyskinetic and nondyskinetic groups provided evidence of increased gray matter volume of the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus in dyskinetic patients, a finding that was more evident in patients with early‐onset PD. No significant differences were detected in the dyskinetic and nondyskinetic groups when compared with the controls. Our findings suggest that the presence of dyskinesias in patients with PD is characterized by an aberrant neural plasticity that could play a role in the pathophysiology of these motor complications. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society


Overliming is an economical practice aimed at increasing cation exchange capacity (CEC) and soil base saturation (V%), in addition to increasing grain and dry matter yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of overliming on the agronomic characteristics of maize. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design (RBD), with four replications, where five treatments corresponded to the dosages (1.9; 2.5; 3.2; 3.8 and 4.4 tons ha-1) that simulated the increase in base saturation to (60, 70, 80, 90 and 100%), respectively. Plant height was evaluated, besides ear height, number of ears per plant, number of viable ears per plant, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, stem diameter, shoot dry matter, root dry matter, grain weight, weight of 100 grains, shoot dry weight and root dry weight. There was a significant variation for three of the evaluated characteristics. Under the studied conditions, overliming increased some agronomic characteristics of maize, such as shoot dry matter, root dry matter and shoot dry weight, emphasizing the dosages of 2.5 t ha-1 and 3.8 t ha-1 limestone.


Experiments were done on 23 pentobarbital anesthetized adult cats. 67 units recorded from the parabrachial and Kölliker-Fuse nuclear complex (NPBM-KF) could be antidromically activated by electrical stimulation of nucleus raphe magnus (NRM). Of the 67 units, 7 were respiratory related units (6 inspiratory, 1 expiratory). These comprise 8% of the 87 respiratory units examined. The antidromic latencies ranged from 0.4 to 2.5 ms. After injection of WGA-HRP (wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase) into the NRM, many retrogradely labelled neurons were observed in the NPBM-KF. These results showed that neurons in the NPBM-KF sent axonal projections to the NRM, which may be involved in the control of respiration as well as nociception.


The current article presents a systematic approach to theory pruning (defined here as hypothesis specification and study design intended to bound and reduce theory). First, we argue that research that limits theory is underrepresented in the organizational sciences, erring overwhelmingly on the side of confirmatory null hypothesis testing. Second, we propose criteria for determining comparability, deciding when it is appropriate to test theories or parts of theories against one another. Third, we suggest hypotheses or questions for testing competing theories. Finally, we revisit the spirit of ''strong inference.'' We present reductionist strategies appropriate for the organizational sciences, which extend beyond traditional approaches of ''critical'' comparisons between whole theories. We conclude with a discussion of strong inference in organizational science and how theory pruning can help in that pursuit.


During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, cancer screening decreased precipitously; home screening for colorectal cancer diminished less than that for colonoscopy and breast and cervical cancer screening. The authors have highlighted approaches for home cancer screening in addition to telemedicine.


In the Canadian Prairies, many soils on organic farms are low in available P, and the only alternative is to use external sources to prevent P nutrient deficiency on these soils. A 3-year (2012 to 2014) field experiment was established in spring 2012 on a P-deficient soil near Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Canada, to determine the potential of organic amendments (alfalfa pellets, compost manure, thin stillage and distiller grain dry of wheat), inorganic amendments (rock phosphate granular, rock phosphate fine, wood ash and bone meal ash) and microbial inoculants/products (JumpStart® and MYKE®PRO), applied alone or in a combination with N and/or P commercial fertilizers, in preventing P deficiency and increasing seed yield, N and P uptake of barley. Compared to unfertilized control, N only treatment did not result in any significant increase in seed yield, while application of P alone increased seed yield significantly but to a lesser degree than when both N and P fertilizers were applied together in all 3 years. Rock phosphate did not result in any seed yield benefit, even when applied along with N fertilizer. Wood ash fine increased seed yield of barley significantly only in the presence of N fertilizer, with highest seed yield in the presence of both N + P fertilizers. Seed yield of barley increased moderately with alfalfa pellets, significantly with compost manure, and considerably with distiller grain dry of wheat, but highest seed yield was obtained from thin stillage, which was essentially similar to that obtained from the N + P fertilizer combination. There was no yield benefit from JumpStart or MykePro in any year and only slight benefit from bone meal ash in 2013. The addition of N fertilizer to MykePro or bone meal ash treatments increased seed yield, but highest yield was obtained when both N and P fertilizers were added, suggesting a lack of available P for optimum seed yield. With few exceptions, the response trends of total N and P uptake in seed + straw to the amendments studied were generally similar to those of seed yield. In conclusion, the organic amendment "thin stillage" provided balanced nutrition and produced yield and nutrient uptake of barley similar to balanced N + P fertilizer treatment, and it was closely followed by "distiller grain dry of wheat", with moderate benefit from compost manure and some benefit from alfalfa pellets. In this extremely P-deficient soil, rock phosphate was not found effective in preventing P deficiency in barley, while wood ash and bone meal ash provided moderate increase in barley yield, with little yield benefit from JumpStart and MykePro, when other nutrients were not limiting in the soil.


Background and Objectives:Curcumin, a yellow pigment of turmeric in curry, has been reported to interfere with nuclear factor (NF)-κB. This study was designed to investigate the underlying pathway of the anti-inflammation effect of curcumin on endothelial cells. Materials and Methods:Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (10 ng/mL). The levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined using a fluorescent dye DCFH-DA, and the adhesion of U-937 monocytes to the HUVECs was then examined. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B) activation was determined by the NF-κB p65 translocation to the nucleus via immunocytochemistry. The expression of the NF-κB dependent pro-inflammatory molecules were measured by RT-PCR and ELISA. The phosphorylations of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK), p38 and STAT-3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription-3) were measured by Western blotting. Results:Curcumin blocked the activation of NF-κB by TNF-α, and it also reduced the ROS, monocyte adhesion and the phosphorylation of JNK, p38 and STAT-3 in the TNF-α-stimulated HUVECs. The expression of intracellular cell adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and interleukin (IL)-8 were attenuated by curcumin at both the transcription and translation levels. Conclusion:We suggest that curcumin could contribute to protection against the adverse vascular effects of the pro-inflammatory response through the modulation of NF-κB, JNK, p38 and STAT-3, and this is in addition to its antioxidant effect in endothelial cells. (Korean Circulation J 2006;36:482-489)


In this study, the mechanical behavior of the sand and shredded tire mixtures is studied by using direct shear box test. The aim of this research is to understand the effect of size effect of shredded tire particles on the mechanical behavior of the mixtures. Three different sizes of shredded tires are used in this study. First, the compressibility of the mixtures under consolidation pressure is studied and then, the mechanical behavior is investigated during the shear load. Under the compression stage, it is seen that the compressibility of shredded tires are much bigger than the sand alone. Also, it is seen that the compressibility is reduced as the size increases. During the shear loading stage, it is found out that the internal friction angle of the mixtures reduces as the percentage of the shredded tire increases. In addition, the friction angle is obtained larger as the size increases. As obvious, the compressibility of the mixtures increases with the increase in the percentage of shredded tire content. This is more effective until 20% content of shredded tire. The size of the shredded tire is not so effective on the compressibility, since the volumetric variation of medium to coarse shredded tire was almost equal. It is noted that in this paper, the variation of the friction angle and volumetric behavior of mixtures were investigated for different levels of specimen deformations.


Background: Epidural administration of opioids and a2-adrenergic agonists allows the use of smaller doses when administered by other routes, providing analgesia during trans and post-anesthetic periods, reducing side effects and postoperative stress. Sufentanil in higher doses caused minimal hemodynamic changes in dogs. When given epidurally, clonidine produces analgesia without motor block by a non-opioid mechanism of action. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and duration of analgesia as well the cardiorespiratory changes resulting from administration of epidural clonidine or sufentanil in dogs anesthetized with halothane. Materials, Methods & Results: Twenty adult health dogs were used divided into two groups, clonidine (CLO) group and sufentanil (SUF) receiving 150 μg and 50 μg respectively epidural. After induction with thiopental and propofol in a mixture of equal parts (0.8 mg/kg), general anesthesia was maintained with halothane in a Bain circuit for further epidural administration of drugs. Heart rate and cardiac rhythm, respiratory rate, tidal volume, min volume, systolic arterial pressure, body temperature, oxygen saturation of oxyhemoglobin, halothane vaporization were evaluated at times T0 (baseline) and every 15 min until the end of the procedure (T1, T2, T3, T4). The arterial blood gas analysis was performed at T0G (baseline) and 30 min and 2 h after epidural (T1G, T2G) evaluating pH, PaO 2 , PaCO 2 , BE, HCO 3 and TCO 2 . Postoperative analgesia was assessed by the scale of Firth & Haldane (1999) every hour for five hours, starting one hour after the surgery. All parametric variables were analyzed by use of a 1-way ANOVA for repeated measures, followed by a Dunnet test to compare all sample collection times with baseline data (0 min). For comparisons among groups, for each time, test t was used. Differences were considered significant when P < 0.05. The results showed a significant reduction in heart rate after 15 min lasting for 60 min with a reduction in SAP, but no signs of hypotension. A reduction in respiratory rate was also observed in the SUF group and vaporization of halothane in both groups with increase in SpO 2 . There was no difference in cardiac rhythm and tidal volume, there was only an increase in minute volume at 60 min in the SUF group. Body temperature also decreases at all times. Discussion: The reduction in heart rate was observed since sufentanil have discrete sympatholytic and vagotonic activity and a2-adrenergic agonists may also cause bradycardia by vagomimetic effect. The drugs used can also cause a reduction in blood pressure, but hypotension was not observed in this study, corroborating with several authors. The lipophilic opioids suffer greater absorption by the blood vessels in the epidural region resulting in peak plasma concentration and early respiratory depression, while the a2-adrenergic agonists cause respiratory depression secondary to central nervous system depression. The observed reduction in vaporization is due to potentiation of drugs used. Analgesia in the intraoperative period can be proved since tachycardia, tachypnea, or hypertension during clamping of the ovarian pedicles was not observed and in the immediate postoperative period, both drugs proved effective with Firth & Haldane numerical scale. The doses employed by epidural reduced the need for halothane demonstrating intra-operative analgesic effect. Furthermore, sufentanil caused severe respiratory depression, however it is suggested greater efficacy when compared to clonidine in the immediate postoperative period.


This study was designed to evaluate prey selection (type and size) by the octocoral Carijoa riisei at Porto de Galinhas beach, Northeast Brazil, relating prey availability in plankton with the content inside polyps. Diatoms and cyanophytes were the predominant items found in both polyp gastric cavity and plankton. A correlation between prey abundance in the plankton and in the gastric cavity of C. riisei polyps was observed. Mastogloia sp. showed the highest positive electivity index (0.99). Benthonic items were found, with 0.51% of total consumed preys. The size amplitude of prey items in the plankton was similar to those found inside the polyps, although the mean prey size in the polyps (112.7 µm) was significantly lower than the value found in the plankton (240.5 µm). Thus, the study indicates some size selectivity in this species or at least size limitation. From the results, we concluded that the octocoral C. riisei is an opportunistic polyphagous species in the Brazilian northeast coast, showing suspensivorous passive filtering feeding habit with a preference for small prey items and evidencing its important ecological role in the reefal ecosystem as responsible for bidirectional energy transference between pelagic zones and the benthos.


A method for the optical data encryption and decryption based on the sweeping computational ghost imaging is proposed. This method is governed on reconstructing the ghost imaging by one-by-one sweeping of rows or columns of the random generated matrices. Proposed encryption in this paper is defined by these sweeping row and column matrices and basic mathematical operators between them. Introduced encryption can be employed as symmetric and asymmetric encryptions. In the symmetric system, cross-operator and the row and column matrices were assumed as private keys, defining the four basic operators as decryption keys. Whereas, in the asymmetric system, permutation of three possible cases was considered as private keys, leaving cross-operator and row and column selection sequence as public keys. The number of pixel changing Rate (NPCR) as a parameter that evaluates the strength of image encryption versus differential attacks was calculated for each case which show high security data transfer to the user. In the asymmetric systems, even with eavesdropping 50% of data, no useful information was obtained from the image or data. In the symmetric systems, with eavesdropping 100% of data, no useful information was obtained by multiple attacking the encrypted data. Offered high security along with achievable high speeds and compact data packages classify sweeping computational ghost imaging among the best applicable methods for optical data encryption.


Th e Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) was the dangerous infectious disease because it could cause fatality. Kediri City was the DHF endemic area. The Incident Rate in 2013 was about 99,28 per 100.000 population and CFR 0,73%. Effort to overcome DHF in Kediri City was implementing the better epidemiology surveillance system that able to monitor the desease regularly and continuously. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the implementation of DHF surveillance in Health Department of Kediri City. This research used the descriptive method with cross sectional design. Respondent was the functionary of DHF surveillance programme in Health Departement. Data resources consist of primer data and secondary data. The result of the research shown that data collection of DHF surveillance were routine and non-routine data, manpower and tools were sufficient, data collection method were active and passive, the frequency of data collection were monthly, quarterly, and incidentally. Punctuality was uncountable, the completeness of data were 47,9%, and the DHF form were sufficient. Data compilation based on people, time, place, and endemic area. Data analysis based on morbidity, mortality, and area stratification. Data interpretation consist of comparative analysis, coverage analysis, and kecenderungan analysis. The epidemiology information were the general information of DHF. Information dissemination were reporting of the DHF data to Health Department of East Java province and feedback to the public health center. Keywords: DHF, evaluation, surveillance, Kediri City


Voluntary disclosure literature suggests that in evidence games, where the informed sender chooses which pieces of evidence to disclose to the uninformed receiver who determines his payoff, commitment has no value, as there is a theoretical equivalence of the optimal mechanism and the game equilibrium outcomes. In this paper, we experimentally investigate whether the optimal mechanism and the game equilibrium outcomes coincide in a simple evidence game. Contrary to the theoretical equivalence, our results indicate that outcomes diverge and that commitment has value. We also theoretically show that our experimental results are explained by accounting for lying averse agents.


The present study investigated the accumulation of selected HMs by Chromolaena odorata and the concomitant effects on leaf anatomical features. Top soils were collected from a marked plot and pooled together to obtain a composite sample. The soil was sun-dried to constant weight and measured into experimental pots at 20kg each). The pots were divided into 5 metal groups with 3 sub-groups each. Each group was polluted with Manganese (Mn), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) in their respective chloride forms. Concentrations of the metals in the soil were initially based on their respective ecological screening value/benchmark (ESV). The ESV values for the 5 HMs were 50, 4, 100, 50 and 50 mg/kg respectively. Within each group, the respective HMs was applied in 3 concentrations of 1ESV, 3ESV and 5ESV. The control experiment consisted of plants grown in soils with no exogenous application of the test metals. The experiment was triplicated. Twenty hours later, equal sized stem cuttings of C. odorata (2.0 – 2.3cm in thickness, 30 cm in length) were planted per experimental pot. Six months later, results showed significant accumulation of metals in plant stem, leaves, and most especially the root. Mn was the most accumulated HM in all plant parts (9.22 – 17.86 mg/kg), compared to Cd (0.85 – 1.66 mg/kg).Significant changes in folial anatomy were reported in HM-impacted plants compared to the control. There were more upper epidermal stomata (270 – 353 mm2) in Mn-exposed plants compared to the others. Increase in vascular bundle thickness (p<0.01) was reported in HM-exposed plants compared to control. Highly significant decrease in stem parenchyma thickness (p<0.01) never the less parenchyma thickness of HM-exposed plants ranged from 46.37 – 49.53 µm in Zn and Pb-exposed plants compared to 79.23 µm in the control.


Alveolar macrophages (AM) represent a lung border system bringing about the protection of the organ from the environmental hazards, regulating cell and humoral response in the lungs, and eliminating endogenous toxic substances. However, in some situations AM are involved in the pathologic processes and even may serve as an initiating factor in the development of lung pathology. They realize their pathogenic effect in the bronchial asthma, acute respiratory distress-syndrome, pneumoconiosis releasing various biologically active compounds which take part in the formation of bronchial hyperreactivity, chemotaxis disturbances, haemostasis pathology. Particularly interesting is the possibility of lung tissue damage by AM when they interact with endotoxin-positive granulocytes.


DNA sequences of high guanine (G) content have the potential to form G quadruplex (G4) structures. A more complete understanding about the biological functions of G4 DNA requires the investigation about how these structures are recognized by proteins. Here, we conducted exhaustive quantitative proteomic experiments to profile the interaction proteomes of G4 structures by employing different sequences of G4 DNA derived from the human telomere and the promoters of c-MYC and c-KIT genes. Our results led to the identification of a number of candidate G4-interacting proteins, many of which were discovered here for the first time. These included three proteins that can bind to all three DNA G4 structures and 78 other proteins that can bind selectively to one or two of the three DNA G4 structure(s). We also validated that GRSF1 can bind directly and selectively toward G4 structure derived from the c-MYC promoter. Our quantitative proteomic screening also led to the identification of a number of candidate "antireader" proteins of G4 DNA. Together, we uncovered a number of cellular proteins that exhibit general and selective recognitions of G4 folding patterns, which underscore the complexity of G4 DNA in biology and the importance of understanding fully the G4-interaction proteome.


In this study no one of our 85 patients of Serbian origin with young‐onset (≤ 45 years) dopa‐responsive parkinsonism (YOP), previously proved negative for PARK1 and PARK2 mutations, had either spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) or SCA3 mutation. These data do not prove the significance of these two mutations in either sporadic or familial YOP suggestive of Parkinson's disease.


Abstract Teachers must gauge students' understandings and confusions. Yet most research about teacher thinking neglects teachers' ideas about confusion and students' perspectives about their interactions with their teacher when they are confused. This study examines two high school English teachers' and six of their students' thinking about confusion, addressing two research questions: What sources of information do participants rely on to identify student confusion when students are learning to write about literature? And what do participants' interpretations of that information reveal about their conceptions of confusion, and of teaching and learning? The author used Stimulated Recall Interview method—videotaping two interactive writing lessons and then interviewing each participant about video segments. Analysis involved grounded theory to develop a two-part theoretical framework. Part I examines information sources participants rely on to identify student confusion (including students' unconscious nonverbal cues, intentional signals, written work, and private thoughts). Part II examines four interrelated facets of confusion: the nature of confusion (participants' metaphorical models), types, causes of, and responses to confusion (including who participants felt had agency). Using this framework, the author presents case studies to depict eight participants' unique conceptions of confusion. Two findings emerged: (1) Participants' interpretations of confusion revealed their underlying conceptions of understanding, teaching, and learning; (2) Some students' conceptions of confusion matched their teacher's conception; others mismatched or were in conflict. Implications for teaching practice and student learning are discussed, including the need for teachers to understand how students understand the role confusion plays in learning.


The rise of populist political rhetoric signals a departure from accepted models of democratic representation. Nowadays, in Israel and in other democratic countries, many elected officials purport to give effect to the raw convictions of their constituents. We contend that calls for elected officials to mirror popular views undermine democratic representation. In addition to the theoretical challenges it faces, the narrative of mirroring public sentiment has the potential to disguise what might be the underlying intent of populist politicians—to actively manipulate the political agenda and reshape popular preferences, while passing these off as reflecting the public's authentic convictions. We call this "false mirroring." Populist rhetoric has also spilled over into the judiciary. Some judges embrace public opinion, incorporate it into their decision-making and, in doing so, generate populist courts. This article examines Israeli case studies in order to expose the unsettling role of populist rhetoric in both political and judicial contexts. Judges, we suggest, must continue developing tools to resist judicial populism and maintain robust and independent courts.


We describe and operate a novel spin-magnetometer based on the phase modulation of cavity magnon polaritons. In this scheme a rf magnetic field is detected through the sidebands it induces on a pump, and the experimental configuration allows for a negligible pump noise and a high frequency readout. The demonstrator setup, based on a copper cavity coupled to an yttrium iron garnet sphere hybrid system, reached a sensitivity of $2.0\,\mathrm{pT/\sqrt{Hz}}$, evading the pump noise and matching the theoretical previsions. An optimized setup can attain a rf magnetic field sensitivity of about $8\,\mathrm{fT/\sqrt{Hz}}$ at room temperature. An orders of magnitude improvement is expected at lower temperatures, making this instrument one of the few magnetometers accessing the sub-fT limit. Due to its natural applications, miniaturization and multiplexing are eventually discussed.


Assuming the density function is of the form and the sinogram is known for all and , we give methods for finding and . First we consider the case where the locations , are known. The value of is estimated from , where h is a function and is a non-degenerated projection direction such that for . Then we derive a method for the general case: the number m of functions, their localization and their intensity are estimated from the data . We show that this new method is more efficient than the filtered backprojection when the resolution in the variable p of the sinogram is high.


The purpose of this study was to characterize a soil sample obtained from an active bioremediation system and determine the capacity of the bacterial community for biodegrading petroleum and its distilled products, and identify the main microorganisms involved in the process. For this object a soil sample was taken with the lanfarming technique and its physical chemical and microbiological characteristics were characterized, as well as the type of hydrocarbons it contained by Soxhlet extraction and silica gel column chromatography. From this sample we also extracted the bacterial community and determined its potential for degrading petroleum, its different fractions and the commercial distilled products obtained from it. We used indirect measurement methods for determining bacterial growth by counting the microorganisms and measuring optical densities. Through these methods we isolated 42 strains and identified them by FAME. The principal results indicated that the soil bacterial community has the capacity for degrading the hydrocarbons in it, mainly the aliphatic fraction as well as the distilled products such as gasoil, kerosene and lubricant oil, while the aromatic and polar fractions and the naphtha distilled product are non degradable. This community is mainly constituted by Rhodococcus erythropolis, Achromobacter xylosoxidans and Brevundimonas diminuta, showing the greatest diversity when the hydrocarbons used as carbon source belong to the aliphatic group. The physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of the soil indicated that it is possible that an efficient bioremediation of the hydrocarbons present occurs.


The Akit community have localized knowledge and accumulated wisdom that is brought to bear in addressing health problems. Bedekeh treatment is a tradition that stems from the teachings of the ancestors and it is implemented when the Akit community was in need of treatment services for diseases. This study outlines the empirical evidence concerning the problems associated with the globalization of culture. There is conflict between the values of local and global culture. The data in this study was collected through observational techniques, in-depth interviews, literature studies, and documentation. The batin and bomoh both play an integral role in the Akit tribal life cycle. The influence of globalization have influenced the use of the traditional rituals of the Akit. This has accelerated the loss of Akit oral traditions. The existence of the Akit tribal has recently been impacted by marginalization due to a number of internal and external factors. There are a number of factors affecting the growing marginalization of ritual treatment by bomoh of the Akit in tribe situated in the village of Hutan Panjang on Rupat Island. Firstly, is the effect of religious conversions by some members of the Akit. Secondly, there is the negative stigma that people from other communities associated with witchcraft. And thirdly, the development of science and technology in the treatment of health issues; including the influence of formal and informal education on Akit community and those they come into contact with. The existence of the bedekeh ritual in the Akit is viewed essential to public service in a scientific research as a form of defence of a group of local traditions and the preservation of the culture of the nation.


but he had something to say about its place in the community. He pointed out that no other university has been developed on quite the same lines as those planned for the National University. He said that it was essential that a university community should be established and that this community should not only have a vigorous internal life, but that it should be integrated with the life of the wider Australian community in which it was to be established. He referred to universities as providing


【Thin-walled die casting of aluminum notebook computer housing with less than 1mm thickness was investigated by using computational solidification simulation and actual casting experiment. Three different types of gate design, finger, tangential and split type, were used and the results showed that sound thin-walled die casting was possible with tangential and split type gating design because those gates allowed aluminum melt flowed into the thin-wall cavity uniformly and split type gating system was preferable gating design than tangential type at the point of view of soundness of casting and distortion generated after solidification. Also, solidification simulation agreed well with the actual die-casting and the casting showed no casting defect and distortion.】


Serum phosphorus (P) concentration is associated with coronary artery calcification (CAC) as well as cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease. It has been suggested that this relationship is extended to subjects without renal dysfunction, but further explorations in diverse races and regions are still needed. We performed a cross-sectional study of 2,509 Korean subjects (Far Eastern Asian) with an estimated glomerular filtration rate of ≥60 ml/min/1.73m2 and who underwent coronary computerized tomography. Serum P concentration was divided into pre-determined 4 categories: ≤3.2, 3.2< to ≤3.6, 3.6< to ≤4.0 and >4.0 mg/dL. Agatston score (AS), an index of CAC, was divided into 3 categories: 0, 0< to ≤100, and >100. A multinomial logit model (baseline outcome: AS = 0) was applied to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for each serum P category (reference: ≤3.2mg/dL). Mean age of subjects was 53.5±9.1 years and 36.9% were female. In the adjusted model, serum P concentration of 3.6< to ≤4.0 mg/dL and >4.0 mg/dL showed high ORs for AS of >100 [OR: 1.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–2.40 and OR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.34–3.32, respectively]. A unit (mg/dL) increase in serum P concentration was associated with 50% increase in risk of AS >100 (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.16–1.94). A higher serum P concentration, even within a normal range, may be associated with a higher CAC in subjects with normal renal function.


The main objective of this book is to provide step by step guidance in statistical analysis. It starts from explanation on type of statistical analysis, steps, results, interpretation and reporting. This book will improve statistical analysis understanding among students and researchers. This book contains twelve chapters. In each chapter, examples of the statistical analysis are provided for better understanding using SPSS. Furthermore, the interpretations of statistical result are explained in details for each of the examples. Hopefully this book will provide useful reference towards a better understanding in statistical analysis which shall lead to implementing successful research for students and researchers.


Background Coronary flow reserve (CFR) and microvascular resistance reserve (MRR) are physiological parameters to assess coronary microvascular dysfunction. CFR and MRR can be assessed using bolus or continuous thermodilution, and the correlation between these methods has not been clarified. Furthermore, their association with angina and quality of life is unknown. Methods and Results In total, 246 consecutive patients with angina and nonobstructive coronary arteries from the multicenter Netherlands Registry of Invasive Coronary Vasomotor Function Testing (NL‐CFT) were investigated. The 36‐item Short Form Health Survey Quality of Life and Seattle Angina questionnaires were completed by 153 patients before the invasive measurements. CFR and MRR were measured consecutively with bolus and continuous thermodilution. Mean continuous thermodilution‐derived coronary flow reserve (CFRabs) was significantly lower than mean bolus thermodilution‐derived coronary flow reserve (CFRbolus) (2.6±1.0 versus 3.5±1.8; P<0.001), with a modest correlation (ρ=0.305; P<0.001). Mean continuous thermodilution‐derived microvascular resistance reserve (MRRabs) was also significantly lower than mean bolus thermodilution‐derived MRR (MRRbolus) (3.1±1.1 versus 4.2±2.5; P<0.001), with a weak correlation (ρ=0.280; P<0.001). CFRbolus and MRRbolus showed no correlation with any of the angina and quality of life domains, whereas CFRabs and MRRabs showed a significant correlation with physical limitation (P=0.005, P=0.009, respectively) and health (P=0.026, P=0.012). In a subanalysis in patients in whom spasm was excluded, the correlation further improved (MRRabs versus physical limitation: ρ=0.363; P=0.041, MRRabs versus physical health: ρ=0.482; P=0.004). No association with angina frequency and stability was found. Conclusions Absolute flow measurements using continuous thermodilution to calculate CFRabs and MRRabs weakly correlate with, and are lower than, the surrogates CFRbolus and MRRbolus. Absolute flow parameters showed a relationship with physical complaints. No relationship with angina frequency and stability was found.


This scientific opinion of EFSA deals with the risk assessment of the substance titanium dioxide reacted with octyltriethoxysilane, CAS No. not assigned, REF. No. 93460 for which the CEF Panel concluded that there is no safety concern for the consumer if the substance is the reaction product of titanium dioxide with up to 2% w/w surface treatment substance octyltriethoxysilane processed at high temperature. This evaluation does not cover titanium dioxide nanoparticles.


Women in their middle age hold different challenging roles as a mother, a wife, a daughter, a grandmother, and career-wise, as a worker or an employee. They encounter a diversity of expectations and burdens, while their psychological and physical health is at risk because of the hormonal changes and aging process that they have to go through. Social support, coping strategies, and self-esteem may equip middle-aged women to face changes and challenges in this phase of life, and thus achieving life satisfaction. This study presents the preliminary study of the relation between self-esteem, coping strategy, social support, and life satisfaction among middle-aged Malay women in Kuala Lumpur. By employing the purposive sampling, 38 working and non-working women were selected to participate in this study. This study utilizes the MOS Social Support Survey, The Rosenberg SelfEsteem Scale, Coping Strategies Inventory Short-Form, and Life Satisfaction Index (z). The analysis of the Pearson Correlation showed that self-esteem correlated at r = 0.667, p<0.001, coping strategy at r = .562, p < 0.001, and social support at r = 0.341, p < 0.05 with life satisfaction. Therefore, we have been able to gather that high self-esteem, good social support and positive coping strategy are the elements which promote life satisfaction. Once all of these elements are in excellent condition, life satisfaction is also at its peak. Women can gain life satisfaction by improving these three important aspects of their lives. Social workers, counselors, and policy makers can benefit in planning programs which can enhance the life quality of middle-aged women.


Elastomers have been an active field of research during the past years for their extensive use in the industry. They are characterized by their unique hyper-elastic behavior, which can recover from a large amount of deformation. Constitutive models in rubber-like elasticity are essentially classified into 1) phenomenological and 2) physical-based models. The phenomenological models are based on direct experimental observation. Contrarily, Physical-based models come with a mathematical origin and employ physical hypotheses to describe a network of polymeric chains. As outlined in the literature, the accuracy of structure-based models has fallen behind the phenomenological models, despite their physical justification. The reasons for this unexpected fact lie in the simplified and superfluous assumptions that exist in the derivation of a closed-form expression for formulating material behavior. Moreover, physical-based models are calibrated through a nonlinear optimization schemes that, in essence, come with uncertainty. This uncertainty can be more affected by the complexity of the model. In this paper, we exploit an inverse approach to improve the accuracy of physically motivated models. To this end, We hold the virgin postulation in these models by considering the strain energy function in terms of two state variables that have been hypothesized to correspond to the kinetics of polymeric chains. Accordingly, we utilize B-spline interpolation to shift the unknown core functions of the strain energy potential to the macro-scale. Following this, we define a loss function based on the experimental data which is the macroscopic stress and use the simple linear least-square technique to determine these functions. In this way, we converge to a linear system of equations that is easy to solve and gives the best possible fit with data. Hence, In this numerical framework, we avoid unnecessary assumptions as far as possible and also nonlinear optimization for constitutive modeling. Finally, we compare the performance of the proposed methods with well-known models in the literature.


We propose a chaotic neurodynamical searching method for the Quadratic Assignment Problems (QAPs). First, we construct a neural network whose behavior is the same as that of the conventional tabu search. Using the dynamics of the tabu search neural network, we realize the exponential tabu search, whose tabu effect decreases exponentially with time, and we show the effective ness of this type of exponential tabu search. Next, we extend this novel tabu search to a chaotic version. This chaotic method includes both effects of the chaotic dynamical search and the exponential tabu search, and exhibits better performance than the conventional and exponential tabu searches. Last, we propose an automatic parameter tuning method and show that the proposed method exhibits high performance even on large QAPs. K eywords: neural networks, chaos, combinatorial ootimizatio n


The nature of invariant cross-sections and multiplicities in some 208Pb-induced reactions and some important ratio-behaviours of the invariant multiplicities for various centralities of the collision will here here be dealt with in the light of a combinational approach which has been built up in the recent past by the present authors. Next, the results would be compared with the outcome of the some of the simulation-based standard models for multiple production in nuclear collisions at high energies. Finally, the implications of all this would be discussed.


Background Ectopic parat hyroid glands result from aberrant migration during early stages of development. They constitute a common etiology of persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism when they are missed at initial diagnosis. Ectopic inferior parathyroid glands are most frequently found in the anterior mediastinum, in association with the thymus or the thyroid gland. Patients and methods and results Eight cases of ectopic parathyroid in the mediastinum underwent surgery with different methods of surgical management. Hyperparathyroidism diagnosis is usually assisted by parathyroid hormone (PTH) measurement in peripheral blood after resection of a suspected adenoma and by frozen section histology. Intraoperative PTH levels are reduced within 10 min. The PTH levels should fall to at least 50% of the preoperative level or time of gland removal concentrations and should be measured at least for 15 min after excision. If they persist, the ectopic gland or multiple-gland disease is suspected. Seven patients with hyperparathyroidism and ectopic parathyroid glands were identified from a parathyroid database. Laboratory data, gland weights, and surgical outcomes were obtained. The locations of the ectopic glands were correlated with results of technetium-99-m-sestamibi-imaging. Of the operated eight patients with ectopic parathyroid glad, 50% in the anterior mediastinum were treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, 12.5% in middle mediastinum treated by mediastinoscopy, and 37.5% treated by neck exploration. Conclusion All glands were successfully identified preoperatively and subsequently resected. Ectopic mediastinal parathyroid glands may be safely and accurately resected using VATS, and mediastinoscopy, to avoid open approaches.


This paper examines the devastating impact of post British colonialism upon the Australian Aborigines and the substantial issue of the Stolen Generation. It explores the significance of land for the Aboriginal people, in relation to their cultural and religious beliefs, and the meaning of The Dreaming, before considering the effect of racist evolutionary theory on the Aborigines as individuals as well as a community. The paper also assesses contemporary issues for the Aborigines and the effectiveness of government policies that were introduced in the hope of reconciling the indigenous people for the years of loss and suffering.


The absorption, distribution and excretion of netilmicin (NTL) in rats were examined by the microbiological assay method. Plasma level and urinary excretion of NTL in rats after intramuscular administration were compared with those of 5 other aminoglycoside antibiotics, gentamicin, sisomicin, dibekacin, amikacin and tobramycin. 1. After intravenous administration, plasma level of NTL declined rapidly with a half-life of about 18 minutes. In the cases of intramuscular, intraperitoneal and subcutaneous administrations, plasma levels reached maximum at 15 minutes and declined with similar half-life as intravenous administration. 2. When 20 mg/kg of NTL was administered intramuscularly, NTL was highly distributed into the kidney, while poorly into the brain. The disappearance rates of NTL from the tissues except the kidney were almost same as that from the plasma. Concentration of NTL in kidney was about 3 times higher than that in plasma at 15 minutes after administration and declined with a half-life of about 7 days. 3. NTL excreted in the bile within 24 hours was only 0.2% of the dose administered (20 mg/kg, i.m.). An average concentration of bile during the first 2 hours was 3 mcg/ml. 4. Irrespective of the route of administration (i.v., i.m., i.p. and s.c.), NTL was excreted rapidly in the urine and 70.0 approximately 81.0% of the dose was recovered within 6 hours. 5. Plasma level and urinary excretion of NTL after intramuscular administration (20 mg/kg) were almost similar to those of 5 other aminoglycoside antibiotics. 6. There was no difference between NTL and GM in plasma level after high dose (100 mg/kg, i.m).


In vitro degradation behavior of dry-jet-wet spun poly(lactic acid) (PLA) monofilament and knitted scaffold were studied at three different pH i.e., at 4.6, 7.4, and 8.0 at 37°C for 20 weeks. Characterization of PLA by intrinsic viscosity, thermal properties, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out. It is observed that the pH of the medium has significant role on degradation behavior of PLA. The degradation at pH 4.6 is observed to be maximum, which is confirmed by the drop of 52% in intrinsic viscosity. The degradation process has effect on the hydrophobicity of the PLA. The decrease in contact angle from 73° to 48° indicates that the PLA surface tends to become more hydrophilic as the degradation proceeds. The SEM analysis showed that with the degradation, surface deterioration takes place.


This technical report summarizes the GLOBE Observer data set from 1 April 2016 to 1 December 2019. GLOBE Observer is an ongoing NASA‐sponsored international citizen science project that is part of the larger Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program, which has been in operation since 1995. GLOBE Observer has the greatest number of participants and geographic coverage of the citizen science projects in the Earth Science Division at NASA. Participants use the GLOBE Observer mobile app (launched in 2016) to collect atmospheric, hydrologic, and terrestrial observations. The app connects participants to satellite observations from Aqua, Terra, CALIPSO, GOES, Himawari, and Meteosat. Thirty‐eight thousand participants have contributed 320,000 observations worldwide, including 1,000,000 georeferenced photographs. It would take an individual more than 13 years to replicate this effort. The GLOBE Observer app has substantially increased the spatial extent and sampling density of GLOBE measurements and more than doubled the number of measurements collected through the GLOBE Program. GLOBE Observer data are publicly available (at observer.globe.gov).


Diadema setosum is an ecologically important sea urchin which is exists on Bama Coast, but there is no report about the presence of D. setosum in Bama Coast yet. This study was done in order to know the habitat type occurs in Bama Coast, the presence status of D. setosum, distribution pattern, the habitat preference and the character of habitat which is preferred by D. setosum in Bama Coast. Quadrate transect method was used to collect the data. Eight line transect was positioned parallel to the shore line. The transect line was 160 m in length and placed 30 m distance between transects. Quadrate plots of 1 × 1 m2 placed 4 m distance from each plot along the transect. The habitat type was defi ned by estimated the dominant benthic cover of each plot. Measurement of physical and chemical factor of water includes sea water temperature and salinity. The Distribution pattern was determined by Poisson distribution and Chi-square simultaneously, then continued using Green coeffi cient, the habitat preference was analyzed by Chi-square and the character of habitat which is preferred by D. setosum was analyzed by selection index. The result of this study shows that there are fi ve habitat types in Bama Coast, which are sand, rubble, seagrass, live coral and dead coral. The distribution pattern of D. setosum in Bama Coast is clumped and only presence in three habitat types, which are seagrass, live coral and dead coral. Dadema setosum prefers several habitat type, which are dead coral and live coral and the character of habitat which is preferred by D. setosum is hard and solid substratum with simple architecturally structure.


Ergot is commonly supposed to produce a powerful and persistent contraction of blood vessels. This belief rests mainly on clinical evidence, which is not conclusive; even when the observations are correct, they generally admit of other explanations. For instance, the hemostatic action of ergot in postpartum hemorrhage is now referred to the contraction of the uterine muscle, rather than to a vasoconstriction. It is also generally assumed that the vasoconstriction has been firmly established by experimental evidence. An inspection of any of the critical text-books of pharmacology, however, will suffice to show that different investigators have obtained variable results on mammals. This caused us to undertake the present investigation, the original object of which was to determine, on dogs, the circulatory effects of the ergot preparations as found on the market, in therapeutic doses, normally and in the pathologic conditions in which the drug is recommended. We intended to use


Orthopedic surgery is one of most blood-consuming surgical specialties since it is associated with a significant preoperative hemorrhage requiring frequent allogeneic blood transfusions. A special mention needs to be done to hip and knee arthroplasty, complex rachis arthrodesis and tumor-pathology removal. The intervention on older and higher-risk patients has raised the demand on allogeneic blood to such levels that even Blood Banks are unable to attend. Besides the high cost, using allogeneic blood has its risks, such as immunosuppression, patient's wrong identification, transfusion reactions or the possibility of infectious disease transmission. This imbalance between blood demand and availability, together with the awareness about potential risks of blood transfusions and the continuous advances both in technology and pharmaceutics, should lead us to extreme changes in transfusion politics; developing a series of therapeutic measures to reduce blood transfusion to minimum, leaving its use only when it is strictly necessary, especially in scheduled surgery.


This contribution is a brief review of the status of hybrid baryons, which are hypothetical baryons that incorporate a gluonic excitation. We first summarize the status of hybrid mesons, since this closely related topic has seen considerable recent activity with the identification of two exotic candidates. Next we review theoretical expectations for the masses and quantum numbers of hybrid baryons, which have come from studies of the bag model, QCD sum rules and the flux tube model. Finally hybrid baryon experiment is discussed, including suggestions for experimenters at COSY.


In the debate about filter bubbles caused by algorithmic news recommendation, the conceptualization of the two core concepts in this debate, diversity and algorithms, has received little attention in social scientific research. This paper examines the effect of multiple recommender systems on different diversity dimensions. To this end, it maps different values that diversity can serve, and a respective set of criteria that characterizes a diverse information offer in this particular conception of diversity. We make use of a data set of simulated article recommendations based on actual content of one of the major Dutch broadsheet newspapers and its users (N=21,973 articles, N=500 users). We find that all of the recommendation logics under study proved to lead to a rather diverse set of recommendations that are on par with human editors and that basing recommendations on user histories can substantially increase topic diversity within a recommendation set. ARTICLE HISTORY Received 30 October 2017 Accepted 20 February 2018


The range of compositions and temperatures at which single-phase tetragonal and monoclinic Fe-containing zirconia nanoparticles are stable is reported. Both types of iron-doped zirconia particles were synthesized by annealing dried gels FexZr1-xO2, with nominal compositions in the range 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15, over the range of temperatures between 400 °C and 1300 °C. Monophasic crystalline specimens of Fe-ZrO2 solid solutions were characterized by different techniques including X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), infrared and Raman spectroscopies (IR and Raman), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Energy gaps were estimated from diffuse reflectance ultraviolet-visible spectra (DRUV-Vis) and compared with those obtained from electrochemical data. Upon increasing the amount of iron in both types of iron-containing zirconia-based structures the energy gaps slightly lowered. The electrochemical properties of those solid solutions obtained using the voltammetry of microparticles (VPM) technique indicated the presence of a small portion of iron as Fe(2+) in both types of crystalline Fe-doped ZrO2. Electrochemical data suggest that the monoclinic solid solutions provide a particularly high accessibility for promoting catalytic processes such as electrochemical oxygen reduction.


We consider an authentication process that makes use of biometric data or the output of a physical unclonable function (PUF), respectively, from an information theoretical point of view. We analyse different definitions of achievability for the authentication model. For the secrecy of the key generated for authentication, these definitions differ in their requirements. In the first work on PUF based authentication, weak secrecy has been used and the corresponding capacity regions have been characterized. The disadvantages of weak secrecy are well known. The ultimate performance criteria for the key are perfect secrecy together with uniform distribution of the key. We derive the corresponding capacity region. We show that, for perfect secrecy and uniform distribution of the key, we can achieve the same rates as for weak secrecy together with a weaker requirement on the distribution of the key. In the classical works on PUF based authentication, it is assumed that the source statistics are known perfectly. This requirement is rarely met in applications. That is why the model is generalized to a compound model, taking into account source uncertainty. We also derive the capacity region for the compound model requiring perfect secrecy. Additionally, we consider results for secure storage using a biometric or PUF source that follow directly from the results for authentication. We also generalize known results for this problem by weakening the assumption concerning the distribution of the data that shall be stored. This allows us to combine source compression and secure storage.


Various imaging modalities are available for the diagnosis, staging and response evaluation of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). While contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) is used as the standard of imaging for size, morphological evaluation and response assessment in RCC, a new functional imaging technique like perfusion CT (pCT), goes down to the molecular level and provides new perspectives in imaging of RCC. pCT depicts regional tumor perfusion and vascular permeability which are indirect parameters of tumor angiogenesis and thereby provides vital information regarding tumor microenvironment. Also response evaluation using pCT may predate the size criteria used in Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, as changes in the perfusion occurs earlier following tissue kinase inhibitors before any actual change in size. This may potentially help in predicting prognosis, better selection of therapy and more accurate and better response evaluation in patients with RCC. This article describes the techniques and role of pCT in staging and response assessment in patients with RCCs.


In this study, the skills of middle school teachers to write open-ended questions that measure higher-order mental skills were examined. For this purpose, 18 middle school teachers who worked in Artvin, Turkey and volunteered to participate in the study were asked to write questions. Teachers wrote open-ended questions for a total of 4 courses (Sciences, Mathematics, Turkish, and Social Studies) in accordance with the specified outcomes. In the study designed in the document review pattern of qualitative research methods, questions were analyzed using an evaluation form. As a result of the evaluations, it was observed that teachers were more concerned with the content dimension of the outcomes while writing questions but disregarded the cognitive level of the outcome. It was also found that teachers were inadequate in terms of language and expression in all branches, showed a tendency to copy questions from a source, or could not move away from the question writing style they adopted. However, it was determined that there were especially expression errors, subject-verb agreement problems, and punctuation marks were not used correctly in the questions written.


With the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, it has promoted the upgrading and development of the industry. However, AI also brings intangible impact to the actual survival of human beings. Stephen·Hawking, the renowned physicist, has repeatedly warned, making it all the more urgent to reflect on the negative effects of artificial intelligence. Therefore, the review of AI should consider from the perspective of historical development, scientifically explain its changes in the way of human labor and social life, as well as the great significance of such changes to the liberation of human labor.


Background: India is fast becoming world diabetes capital. Complications are a cause of hospitalization in patients with diabetes mellitus especially foot complications. Gauze moistened with saline has been the standard method. Methods: The study was done from June 2015 to June 2016. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of topical phenytoin compared to standard and conventional methods of wound care in improving the healing process. In this randomised control trial, the data from 70 patients with diabetic ulcers was collected, 35 patients underwent topical phenytoin dressing while remaining 35 underwent conventional wound care. Histopathological and Clinical examination were done and the following parameters were calculated: Granulation tissue formation in 2 weeks and Mean duration of hospital stay. Results: In this study, Mean hospital stay in days was 33.4 in Phenytoin treated group and in other group with use conventional materials, the mean hospital stay in days was 39.7 days. Granulation tissue formation was faster as compared to conventional materials of Dressings. Conclusions: In this study we conclude Topical phenytoin helps in faster healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers and it also reduces the mean hospital stay of the patients.


The paper describes composition of stock ownership in Russian companies with particular attention to its concentration and effects on corporate control. Special attention is paid to business integration as important background for ownership consolidation. The paper analyzes intra-corporate relations among main actors of corporate governance and functioning of its internal tools with special focus on Board of Directors' composition and role. The correlation between the degree of concentration and companies' performance and modernization activities is also discussed. The research is based on large-scale survey of 822 joint-stock companies in industry and communications conducted in 2005 in 64 regions of the Russian Federation. The survey was organized within the joint Japanese-Russian project that is being implemented by scholars from the State University — Higher School of Economics and Hitotsubashi University.


The chapter presents the possibility of applying high-energy ball milling techniques to car‐ ry out the synthesis of ceramics with perovskite structure, thereby eliminating prolonged use of high temperatures in their preparation. On the examples of alkaline-earth metal perovskites, an influence of the most significant parameters of mechanochemical treatment on their forming process and product quality was illustrated. For the first time, it was done that the contamination of the product de‐ rived from the attrition of the grinding media and internal parts of the vial can constitute modifiers of the functional properties of produced electroceramics. Dielectric characteristics of mechanochemically produced materials as well as using high- temperature solid synthesis were compared.


Catheterization of central veins is a routine technique which is widely used in emergency department, operation theater, and intensive care units. Seldinger technique is widely used to place central venous and arterial catheters and is generally considered safe. The technique does have multiple potential risks. We describe a case of hemothorax following internal jugular venous cannulation. Measures which can be taken to prevent such complications are explained in detail as well as recommended steps to remedy errors should they occur.


This paper is aimed at developing a rail transit route optimization model (RTROM) for cost-effective and sustainable rail infrastructure planning and design. Locations of rail transit routes and stations depend on many factors, including potential ridership, costs of land, construction and operation, land use, connecting routes, passenger travel times, and environmental impacts. Suitably located rail transit routes effectively serve the potential demand while also minimizing costs and environmental impacts. Thus, a common problem in all rail infrastructure planning and design projects is to identify the best possible route that satisfies design constraints (such as minimum radius, maximum gradient, and vertical clearance), geographical considerations (such as demand generators and socio-economically sensitive areas) and objectives (such as minimization of associated costs and environmental impacts, or maximization of net benefits). The developed RTROM uses a genetic algorithm for performing optimization, which is integrated to a geographic information system for seamless transfer of land-use, environmental, and topographic data during the optimal search process. The model is tested in a real-world case study from Saint Andrews, Scotland. The lessons learned from the real-world application of the model are discussed. Many extensions of the model remain to be tested in future works.


In privacy-preserving machine learning, differentially private stochastic gradient descent (DP-SGD) performs worse than SGD due to per-sample gradient clipping and noise addition. A recent focus in private learning research is improving the performance of DP-SGD on private data by incorporating priors that are learned on real-world public data. In this work, we explore how we can improve the privacy-utility tradeoff of DP-SGD by learning priors from images generated by random processes and transferring these priors to private data. We propose DP-RandP, a three-phase approach. We attain new state-of-the-art accuracy when training from scratch on CIFAR10, CIFAR100, MedMNIST and ImageNet for a range of privacy budgets $\varepsilon \in [1, 8]$. In particular, we improve the previous best reported accuracy on CIFAR10 from $60.6 \%$ to $72.3 \%$ for $\varepsilon=1$.


Simplified modeling and analyses methods for aerospace connectors have been around for the better part of 30 years, but continue to evolve with technology. For the preliminary design process, the modeling of individual fasteners is time consuming and unforgiving, as the fastener sizes and locations often change during the process, necessitating a new model each iteration. Further simplifying the design process introduces a so called connector pad, which acts as a representative for entire groups of fasteners within a finite element model. Expanding upon previous developments from the last quarter century, this new method creates small groups of solid elements that are able to accurately represent any number of fasteners that exist within that region. Using FEMAP and NX NASTRAN to validate extensive linear displacement test data, this connector pad can be seen as another successful way to model mechanical connectors in flight structures. The success of the model lies strictly in linear displacements, however. Stresses, strengths, and margins of safety are not considered in this Thesis, though it is possible to extract such data. A group of specimens, consisting of varying state of the art connector types such as Hi-Lok fasteners, and ranging in connection density from two to eight fasteners, was tested axially within the linear elastic range. This data was compared to several different computer based fastener modeling techniques, such as using springs, beams, solids, or the new connector pad to represent the fastener. Not only does this study work to further validate the established techniques, but it also gives rise to the possibilities and advantages of a new, more simplified approach to modeling mechanical fasteners in aircraft


Isoniazid® (INH), being the first line drug used as anti-tuberculosis drugs, is known to be associated with physiological deteriorations including hematological disturbances. The objective of this study was to explore the protective effect of rosemary and parsley aqueous extracts against INH-induced hematological disturbances. Adult rats (120-150g) were randomly divided into six groups (10 rats each): first group administrated with saline and served as control, second group ingested rosemary extract (440mg/kg/day), third group ingested parsley extract (250 mg/kg/day), fourth group received Isoniazid® (50mg/kg/day), fifth group received Isoniazid® and rosemary extract together, and sixth group received Isoniazid® in combination with parsley extract. After eight weeks, the results revealed that administration of either rosemary or parsley extract in combination with Isoniazid® ameliorated the Isoniazid®-induced hemato-deterioration; this was evidenced by the significant improvement of blood Hb, RBCs, HCt, blood indices, TLC, platelets and oxyhemoglobin (Hb-O2, functional Hb derivative) levels and met-Hbr activity coupled with a reduction in the level of nonfunctional Hb derivatives (metHb, Hb-CO and Hb-S), auto-oxidation rate of oxyhemoglobin and hemolysis of RBCs. In conclusion, both rosemary and parsley extract could play a beneficial role in prevention of Isoniazid®-induced hematological disturbances, consequently reducing both physiological and functional anemia. This effect could be through their anti-oxidative and anti-nitrosative voltage.


The physician determines that a murmur is innocent by evaluating it on its own merits. The information should be assessed in a logical and orderly fashion, and the possibilities are considered based on the information that is obtained. All of this information is processed through the physician's knowledge and experience base, and then a decision is made. One cannot increase one's skill as a cardiac auscultator by reading articles such as this-one can only learn what is abnormal by being completely comfortable with what is normal. There is no substitution for listening to many hearts, but the physician must listen to normal hearts thoughtfully and analytically. What makes a heart murmur innocent? The answer to this question includes the characteristics of the murmur in the context of the patient's total cardiovascular examination. How are these characteristics determined? They are determined the same way as any other technical skill is accomplished-with practice.


Occupational safety and health training remains a fundamental element in the workplace. Citizen's complaints of poor service delivery in government offices has been underscored and highlighted in the media on several occasions in Kenya. The density of these complaints has raised a lot of concern till the Kenyan government has moved to counties as a form of devolution for example the 2002 Constitutional Referendum which in part called for an overhaul of the civil service structure through various civil service Reform Programmes and major reshuffles. This paper therefore highlights the effects of health and safety on service delivery within Civil Servants in public offices in Trans-Zoia Kenya due to the inguaration of the new constitution in 2010: The study therefore adopted an explanatory research design giving a case of Trans-Zoia county public office. Stratified random sampling techniques were used to select 350 employees of Trans-Zoia county public offices. Data was collected through the use of questionnaires which were analyzed using both descriptive and regression analysis. Descriptive findings revealed that there was a low level of safety and health on service delivery for the employees of Trans-Zoia County. Further analysis indicated that safety and health had significant effect on Service delivery, thus the need for this study to address health and safety issues. Keywords: Safety and Health and Service Delivery.


The monoclonal antibody anti-APO-1 induces apoptosis upon triggering the cell surface molecule APO-1 (CD95), a novel member of the tumor necrosis factor/nerve growth factor receptor superfamily. We tested the efficacy of APO-1 mediated apoptosis in a model system of human leukemia in SCID mice. T-ALL cells recovered from SCID mice were sensitive towards anti-APO-1 mediated apoptosis when tested in vitro. In vivo, treatment of leukemia-bearing SCID mice with anti-APO-1 induced programmed cell death in a substantial fraction of T-ALL cells, thus leading to significantly prolonged survival. Anti-APO-1 treatment, however, failed to completely eliminate all leukemic cells. This may be due to resistance towards anti-APO-1 mediated apoptosis in a fraction of T-ALL cells. Thus, identification of cellular programs which determine sensitivity and resistance towards apoptosis may provide new perspectives for rational therapeutic interventions.


This paper is presented to further the understanding of the physics of programming polysilicon fuses. One and two dimensional models have been developed to understand the fusing event and predict the fusing time and power relationship. The predicted fusibility (fusing time and power dependence) is shown to be in good agreement with the experimental data.


It is the responsibility of schools and educators to utilize appropriate assistive technology to meet the educational needs of students with disabilities within the least restrictive environment. The use of assistive technology enables educators to adapt content and activities within the curriculum to meet the specific needs of students, and it promotes learning, self-confidence, independence, and a higher quality of life for students with special needs. This chapter explores how educators can utilize assistive technology in the general education classroom setting to support students with disabilities, specifically those with sensory, motor, and cognitive limitations. Diverse types of assistive technology devices that students with disabilities can use to overcome barriers to written language, reading, listening, memory, and mathematics are discussed.


Reoviruses are potential anticancer agents due to their ability to induce cell death in tumor cells. Grass carp reovirus (GCRV) is one of the best characterized models on reovirus pathogenesis in vitro. However, there is little known about how SUMOylation affects reovirus pathogenesis. The SUMO conjugating enzyme 9 (Ubc9) determines the targets of SUMOylation. Here, the protein interactions between reovirus outer fiber proteins, specifically GCRV-104 VP55, and Ubc9 were probed using a yeast two-hybrid system. The N-terminal coiled-coil domain of VP55, containing a single lysine residue, was responsible for the interaction between VP55 and Ubc9 in yeast. In solid phase binding assays, a single amino acid mutation (K87R) prevented Ubc9 from binding to VP55. Overexpression of Ubc9 enhanced GCRV-104 infection efficiency, and knockdown of Ubc9 in CIK cells inhibited viral replication, which suggested that Ubc9 was a proviral factor. Furthermore, Ubc9 was shown to bind outer fiber proteins from type II GCRV, avian reovirus and mammalian reovirus in yeast. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that Ubc9 binds to reovirus outer-fiber proteins and likely contributes to efficient orthoreovirus replication. These results suggest that SUMOylation modifications could be targeted to improve the therapeutic efficacy of oncolytic reovirus.


A prototype urine evaporation unit (UEU) that removes water from human urine produced from a urine-diverting dry toilet using passive solar evaporation was designed and field-tested at a meteorological station. Municipal water was evaporated on vertically stacked plastic cafeteria-style trays that create a large evaporation surface with a small land-area footprint. The trays were located inside a Plexiglas ® enclosure exposed to UV light while passively heating the UEU like a solar oven. A metal black chimney also heated up in the sun, causing air to enter the UEU at the front of the UEU through a louvered vent, flow across each tray, and then exit at the back up through the chimney. The UEU was field-tested in a semi-arid temperate climate (Calgary, Canada) from 22 August to 5 November 2013. The average UEU evaporation rate was 3.2 L/day (0.66 mm), varying from 0.4 L/day (0.08 mm/day) on a cloudy day to 8.8 L/day (1.82 mm) on a sunny day. A multiple-regression analysis indicates that 63% of the UEU evaporation rate can be explained by changes in air temperature, wind speed and incoming solar radiation, thus allowing for predictions of the UEU9s relative evaporation potential in other climates.


Glass is used as an emerging structural member in the civil engineering construction industry. Fear and unconsciousness are the main hindrance to apply glass structure practically. Some safety glasses with the elastic interlayer material have the ability to carry higher loads than steel. So, it is high time to adopt this as a major load carrying structural member. At the beginning of this inspection elaborately presents the manufacturing process, basic properties and classification of glass for structural use. Reviewed portion of this work includes the recent research on the basic components of glass structure such as glass beam, glass column, glass slab or pavilion, glass walkway, glass panel, glass façade, curtain wall and glass frame under static or dynamic performances. The specific connection between glass with other materials and special types of different glass related composite structures like glass-concrete, glass-timber, glass-steel and glassfiber are discussed. Special features of dynamic responses like effect of blast loading, wind born debris attack or cyclic loading and fire hazards of glass structure are also attached. Design guidelines and some practical applications are included to create interest, attention and courage for both structural engineer and architect. In recent years, a large number of glass related sophisticated developments have occurred in Europe. Since, an attempt has been taken to find out the huge research gaps in this sector so that this could fill in the future in order to spread glass design industry all over the world.


In this work, for the first time, we introduce a highly selective and sensitive praseodymium(III) microsensor. Npsila-(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)benzohydrazide (PBH) was used as a membrane-active component to prepare a highly sensitive Pr(III)-selective polymeric membrane microelectrode. The electrode exhibits a Nernstian response toward Pr(III) ions over a very wide concentration range (1.0 times 10-3 -1.0 times 10-8 M), with a detection limit of 7.0 times 10-9 M (~1 ng/ml). It has a very fast response time in the whole concentration range (~10 s). The proposed microelectrode can be used for at least six weeks without any considerable divergence in potentials. The proposed membrane sensor revealed very good selectivity toward Pr(III) ions over a wide variety of other metal ions including common alkali, alkaline earth and, specially, lanthanide ions. It could be used in the pH range of 3.0-8.5. The Pr(III) microelectrode was used as an indicator electrode for the titration of 20 ml of a 1.0 times 10-6 M Pr(III) ions with a 1.0 times 10-4 M EDTA.


Predicated on the assumption of certain normal conditions for engine and propeller, simple expressions for the static and dynamic stresses of propeller blade roots are evolved. They, in combination with the fatigue strength diagram of the employed material, afford for each engine power one certain operating point by which the state of stress serving as a basis for the design of the root is defined. Different stress cases must be analyzed, depending on the vibration tendency of engine and use of propeller. The solution affords an insight into the possible introduction of different size classes of propeller.


In this work, we investigate the influence of substrate temperature on the surface morphology for substrate coverage below one monolayer. The model of film growth is based on random deposition enriched by limited surface diffusion. Also, anisotropy in the growth is involved. We found from computer simulations for the simple cubic lattice and solid-on-solid model that the surface morphology changes with increasing temperature from isotropically distributed isolated small islands through anisotropic 1D stripes to larger 2D anisotropic islands and again randomly distributed single atoms. The transition is also marked in height–height correlation function dependence on temperature as directly seen by snapshots from simulations. The results are in good qualitative agreement with already published results of kinetic Monte Carlo simulations as well as with some experimental data.


Empirical Modelling (EM) is a new appro~h for software system development (SSO) that is particularly suitable for ill-defined, open systems. By regarding a software system as a computer model, EM aims to acquire and construct the knowledge associated with the intended system by situated modelling in which the modeller interacts with the computer model through continuous observations and experiments in an open-ended manner. In this way, a software system can be constructed that takes account of its context and is adaptable to the rapidly changing environment in which the system is developed and used.

This thesis develops principles and tools for distributed Empirical Modelling (OEM). It proposes a framework for OEM by drawing on two crucial theories in social science: distributed cognition and ethnomethodology. This framework integrates cognitive and social processes, allowing multiple modellers to work collaboratively to explore, expand, experience and communicate their knowledge through interaction with their networked computer models. The concept of pretend play is proposed, whereby modellers as internal observers can interact with each other by acting in the role of agents within the intended system in order to shape the agency of such agents.

The author has developed a tool called dtkeden to support the proposed OEM framework. Technical issues arising from the implementation dtkeden and case-studies in its use are discussed. The popular star-type logical configuration network and the client/server· communication technique are exploited to construct the network environment of this tool. A protocol has been devised and embedded into their communication mechanism to achieve synchronisation of computer models. Four interaction modes have been implemented into dtkeden to provide modellers with different forms of interpersonal interaction. In addition, using a virtual agent concept that was initially devised to allow definitions of different contexts to co-exist in a computer model, a definitive script can be interpreted as a generic observable that can serve as a reusable definitive pattern. Like experience in everyday life, this definitive pattern can be reused by particularising and adapting it to a specific context. A comparison between generic observables and abstract data types for reuse is given.

The application of the framework for OEM to requirements engineering is proposed. The requirements engineering process (REP) - currently poorly understood - is reviewed. To integrate requirements engineering with SSD, this thesis suggests reengineering the REP by taking the context into account. On the basis of OEM, a framework (called SPORE) for the REP is established to guide the process of cultivating requirements in a situated manner. Examples of the use of this framework are presented, and comparisons with other approaches to RE are made.


To generate a more effective and safer anti-adhesive material, we have developed a new type of thermally cross-linked gelatin film. In this study, we preclinically examined the anti-adhesive efficacy of this film and evaluated the possibility applying the film safely onto fresh intestinal anastomoses, compared with hyaluronate and carboxymethyl-cellulose (HA/CMC) film. Using a canine adhesion model, the degree of adhesion for each film was evaluated by adhesion scoring systems and histological observation. Three weeks after surgery, only the gelatin film showed significantly superior anti-adhesive effects compared to the control (no treatment), in particular, exhibiting excellent re-peritonization. Next, in a canine anastomosis model, the anastomoses were wrapped directly by each film and the bursting pressures of the anastomoses were examined 3 and 7 days after surgery. The gelatin film did not significantly affect either the bursting pressures or the healing process, compared with the control. However, the HA/CMC film significantly decreased the bursting pressures measured at 3 days after surgery. In conclusion, the thermally cross-linked gelatin film had satisfactory anti-adhesive effects with excellent re-peritonization. It could be safely applied to intestinal anastomoses without decreasing the bursting pressures. The gelatin film is considered to be quite favorable as an anti-adhesive material.


Abstract This study describes metonymic argument alternations, in which a constructional slot can be filled by any of a set of semantic roles that index one another, and provides a diachronic corpus analysis of two such alternations in French. In the Reveal secret frame and other communication frames, the Medium can indexically replace the Speaker and the Topic can indexically replace the Information. A regression analysis shows that while topic for information metonymy is more syntactically and pragmatically restricted, medium for speaker metonymy has seen an increase in usage over time across the frame. This change is related to sociocultural developments and has implications for the study of figurative language and lexical semantic change. While it is well understood that figurative mechanisms such as metonymy affect language change, here it is demonstrated that cultural shifts drive changes in metonymies themselves, with corresponding impacts for linguistic structure.


STUDY OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to examine the influence of sleep-related breathing disorders (SBDs) on the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias treated with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

PATIENTS
Thirty-eight patients with LVEF of 36 +/- 13% (mean +/- SD) underwent a sleep study. When an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > 10/h occurred, SBD was diagnosed.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS
In patients with SBDs, ventricular arrhythmias (couplets, triplets, short runs) were recorded simultaneously by Holter ECG and differentiated in episodes with and without disordered breathing. An apnea-associated arrhythmia index (AI) was defined as the number of ventricular arrhythmias occurring simultaneous to disordered breathing. Accordingly, a nonapnea-associated arrhythmia index (NAI) was calculated as the number of ventricular arrhythmias during normal breathing. SBDs were diagnosed in 14 patients: Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) [n = 8; AHI, 32.1 +/- 25.0/h], and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) [n = 6; AHI, 34.1 +/- 14.6/h]. Four patients in the OSA group and four patients in the CSR group had ventricular arrhythmias during sleep, revealed by Holter ECG. In these eight patients, the AI was significantly higher than the NAI (20.9 +/- 18.8/h vs 4.9 +/- 3.3/h, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
These data show that ventricular arrhythmias occurred significantly more often in association with disordered breathing in patients at high risk for arrhythmias and reduced LVEF.


The initial generation of the pattern of mystacial vibrissae (whiskers) in the mouse is described. The maxillary process is present in 10-day embryos but has a relatively flat surface. Beginning at approximately 11.5 days, the first sign of vibrissal development is the formation of ridges and grooves on the maxillary and lateral nasal processes. The first vibrissal rudiment to form subsequently appears posterior to the most ventral groove on the maxillary process. It is the most ventral whisker of the posterior, vertical row. The next few rudiments appear: dorsal to the first, also in the vertical row; and anterior to the first, on the ventral-most ridge and in the groove beneath it. Formation of vibrissal rudiments continues in a dorsal and anterior progression usually by an apparent partitioning of the ridges into vibrissal units. The hypothesis that this patterning of mystacial vibrissae might be determined by the pattern of innervation in the early mouse snout was investigated. Nerve trunks and branches are present in the maxillary process well before any sign of vibrissal formation. Because innervation is so widespread there appears to be no immediate temporal correlation between the outgrowth of a nerve branch to a site and the generation of a vibrissa there. Furthermore, at the time just prior to the formation of the first follicle rudiment, there is little or no nerve branching to the presumptive site of that first follicle while branches are found more dorsally where vibrissae will not form until later. Thus, a one-to-one spatial correlation between nerve and follicle sites also appears to be lacking. The developmental changes in ultrastructure within the neurites of the trunks and branches as well as the apparent rearrangements of the nerve trunks suggest that early innervation of the snout is a labile phenomenon and that the vibrissal pattern begins to be established before the neural pattern is completely developed. The results indicate that vibrissal pattern formation is likely to be a complex process relying on the interplay of the cells and tissues involved, rather than on unidirectional instructions from neurons to other cell types.


A low leakage power, 180-nm 1K-b SRAM was fabricated. The stand-by leakage power of a 1K-bit memory cell array incorporating a newly-developed leakage current reduction circuit called a "self-controllable voltage level (SVL)" circuit was only 3.7 nW, which is 5.4% that of an equivalent conventional memory-cell array at a VDD of 1.8 V. On the other hand, the speed remained almost constant with a minimal overhead in terms of the memory cell array area.


OF THE THESIS A Flexible Test Interface and Grading Service for an AJAX Based Course Management System by Yunita Master of Science in Computer Science San Diego State University, 2012 The aim of this project is to build a flexible test interface and grading service module for ClassTA Course Management System (CMS). Most CMS has similar features in their test interface and grading module. However, most of them also shared common issues such as how to design a responsive yet easy to use test interface and grading service, how to minimizing the possibility of cheating, and how to enhance students' learning experience. The newly test interface and grading service are built with consideration to tackle the known issues above. AJAX is used as a based technology for this project. It is chosen because of its capability to communicate with the server asynchronously and allowing part of the web page to be updated without having to reload the entire page, thus creating a fast and responsive test interface and grading services. Moreover, to make it easy to use, the basic interface uses icons and simple drag and drop feature. New test interface is developed for students to take the different types of available tests such as In-Class Test, Online Test, and Self-Graded Test. In-Class test is unique feature developed to minimize cheating possibility. It is a type of hybrid test where students take the test in the class and later on submit their answers online. New test interface has options for teacher to display one question in one page or display all questions in a page. To provide a better learning experience for students, it also has features that allowing students to check their grades, review test result and solution, and submit difficulty rating of a question in the test. The grading service is built for faculties to provide an advance and flexible grading system. With the new grading service, faculties can perform manual grading or automatic regrading process in many different ways, including options to use or ignore manual changes in re-grading process. New statistics, histogram, and comments for survey and regular test also provided for faculties to track the class performance.