Context. In the disk-mediated accretion scenario for the formation of the most massive stars, high densities and accretion rates could induce gravitational instabilities in the disk, forcing it to fragment and produce companion objects. Aims. We investigate the e ff ects of inclination and spatial resolution on observable kinematics and stability of disks in high-mass star formation. Methods. We study a high-resolution 3D radiation-hydrodynamic simulation that leads to the fragmentation of a massive disk. Using RADMC-3D we produce 1.3 mm continuum and CH 3 CN line cubes at di ff erent inclinations. The model is set to di ff erent distances and synthetic observations are created for ALMA at ∼ 80 mas resolution and NOEMA at ∼ 0.3 (cid:48)(cid:48) . Results. The synthetic ALMA observations resolve all fragments and their kinematics well. The synthetic NOEMA observations at 800 pc with linear resolution of ∼ 300 au are able to resolve the fragments, while at 2000 pc with linear resolution of ∼ 800 au only a single structure slightly elongated towards the brightest fragment is observed. The position-velocity (PV) plots show the di ff erential rotation of material best in the edge-on views. A discontinuity is seen at a radius of ∼ 250 au, corresponding to the position of the centrifugal barrier. As the observations become less resolved, the inner high-velocity components of the disk become blended with the envelope and the PV plots resemble rigid-body-like rotation. Protostellar mass estimates from PV plots of poorly resolved observations are therefore overestimated. We fit the emission of CH 3 CN(12 K − 11 K ) lines and produce maps of gas temperature with values in the range of 100–300 K. Studying the Toomre stability of the disks, we find low Q values below the critical value for stability against gravitational collapse at the positions of the fragments and in the arms connecting the fragments for the resolved observations. For the poorly resolved observations we find low Q values in the outskirts of the disk. Therefore, despite not resolving any of the fragments, we are able to predict that the disk is unstable and fragmenting. This conclusion is true regardless of knowledge about the inclination of the disk. Conclusions. These synthetic observations reveal the potential and limitations to study disks in high-mass star formation with current (mm) interferometers. While the extremely high spatial resolution of ALMA reveals extraordinary details, rotational structures and instabilities within accretion disks can also be identified in poorly resolved observations.


We analyze the performance of analog-photonic links employing phase modulation with interferometric demodulation and compare it to intensity-modulation direct-detection links. We derive expressions for RF gain, RF noise figure, compression dynamic range, and spurious-free dynamic range for both architectures. We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that phase-modulated links can outperform intensity-modulated links over substantial frequency ranges.


The estimation of the epipolar geometry of two cameras from image matches is a fundamental problem of computer vision with many applications. While the closely related problem of estimating relative pose of two different uncalibrated cameras with radial distortion is of particular importance, none of the previously published methods is suitable for practical applications. These solutions are either numerically unstable, sensitive to noise, based on a large number of point correspondences, or simply too slow for real-time applications. In this paper, we present a new efficient solution to this problem that uses 10 image correspondences. By manipulating ten input polynomial equations, we derive a degree 10 polynomial equation in one variable. The solutions to this equation are efficiently found using the Sturm sequences method. In the experiments, we show that the proposed solution is stable, noise resistant, and fast, and as such efficiently usable in a practical Structure-from-Motion pipeline.


Every car manufacturer desires to reduce the new car development time spent in improving the safety, NVH, lightweight, reliability and environment friendly features of the car. Other considerations such as planning, exterior and interior styling, packaging, color, and material selection increase the complexity of the car design process. This paper proposes a personal DDP (Digital Design Process) to utilize the engineering analysis and design/styling software for car design. DDP can be efficiently used by a team of car research center or a studio with small number of engineers, helping ordinary engineers becoming ambidextrous in design as well as engineering applications. The concept model starts from idea sketch, rendering, and 3D surface model with CAS (Computer Aided Styling) to the final safety estimation by using proposed DDP based on engineering technology (CAD, CAE). The concept model proposed a hydrogen fuel cell sports coupe which could be available within next 10 years. The proposed DDP can not only reduce the new car development time but also be adapted into designing of varied products such as aircraft, yacht, electrical equipment and sports gear.


Granzymes play a central role in cytotoxic T lymphocyte and natural killer cell-mediated apoptosis of target cell. Multiple granzymes are found in effector cells, and their mechanisms to lead to apoptosis are different. Effector cells kill target cells via multiple pathways. At least three pathways of apoptosis mediated by granzymes have been found. Moreover, the abnormal activity of granzymes is related to many human diseases, such as autoimmune diseases. Granzymes play an important role in inflammatory response in vivo. The biological features and mechanisms of granzyme A, B, C, K, and M to induce cellular apoptosis are summarized.


Importance
The US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have implemented national value-based programs that incentivize hospitals to deliver better cardiovascular care. However, it is unclear how hospitals recognized for high-quality cardiovascular care by American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) national quality improvement initiatives (termed award hospitals) have performed under value-based programs.

Objective
To determine if hospitals that received awards for high-quality cardiovascular care from the AHA/ACC were less likely to be penalized under the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) and the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program (VBP) compared with other hospitals.

Design, Setting, and Participants
This national cross-sectional study included data from short-term acute care hospitals in the United States that were participating in the HRRP or VBP in fiscal year 2018.

Exposures
Recognition awards for high-quality care from the AHA's Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure and ACC's Chest Pain-MI (myocardial infarction) Registry national quality improvement initiatives.

Main Outcomes and Measures
Proportion of hospitals that received a financial penalty or financial reward under the HRRP or VBP, median payment adjustments, and hospital-level 30-day mortality rates.

Results
This study included 3175 hospitals participating in the HRRP and 2781 hospitals participating in the VBP in fiscal year 2018. Under the HRRP, a higher proportion of award hospitals received financial penalties compared with other hospitals (419 [85.5%] vs 2112 [78.7%]; P < .001), although payment reductions were similar (median, 0.39% [interquartile range (IQR), 0.08%-0.84%] vs 0.33% [IQR, 0.03%-0.89%]; P = .17). Under the VBP, a higher proportion of award hospitals received penalties compared with other hospitals (250 [51.7%] vs 950 [41.4%]; P < .001), and fewer award hospitals received financial rewards (234 [48.4%] vs 1347 [58.6%]; P < .001). Median payment reductions were higher for award hospitals than other hospitals (0.01% [IQR, 0.00%-0.38%] vs 0.0% [IQR, 0.00%-0.28%]; P < .001), and median payment increases were lower (0.0% [IQR, 0.00%-0.34%] vs 0.13% [IQR, 0.00%-0.60%]; P < .001). Thirty-day mortality at award hospitals was similar (acute myocardial infarction, 13.2% vs 13.2%; P = .76) or slightly lower (heart failure, 11.3% vs 11.7%; P = .001) compared with other hospitals.

Conclusions and Relevance
Hospitals that received awards for high-quality cardiovascular care from the AHA/ACC were more likely to be penalized and less likely to be financially rewarded by federal value-based programs. These findings highlight the potential need to standardize measurement of cardiovascular care quality.


Previous workers studied the release of transplant antigen from orthotopically placed skin Converse, Ballantyne, and Woiskyl reported that first-set grafts placed on a rabbit'? ear sensitized the host after the skin had been in place for two days. In these experiments, the ear which held the first graft was amputated before introduction of the second-set transplant. This work demonstrates that there is no need for the continued presence of donor tissue in order to sensitize a recipient. Henry and Dammin2 and McKhann and Berrian3 studied the secondary response of mice to short-term skin grafts and they found, as in the rabbit experiments, that the transplant must reside on an unrelated host for at least two days to produce a detectable sensitization. Preliminary studies from our laboratory have shown that a vascularized kidney transplant in the dog will sensitize a recipient in less than a day.4 The present report is an extension of this work. The experimental results support the thesis that the quantity of antigen released from a first-set donor kidney is proportional to the time during which it is perfused by the host circulation. This conclusion is substantiated by the observations that the per cent of test animals which give second-set responses to specific kidney transplants is roughly proportional to the length of time of their first-set perfusion. Control experiments show that donor blood cells trapped in the kidney vasculature do not account for the host sensitization.


Forest bathing practices benefit individuals' physical and mental health. A growing number of published studies provide evidence of such effects in diverse populations and contexts. However, no literature has been found that evaluates the effects of forest bathing on people with intellectual disabilities. In this paper, we present a quasi-experimental pre–post protocol for assessing the preliminary efficacy and feasibility of a forest bathing intervention in a group of adults with intellectual disability. An 11-weekly session program will be applied in the forests of the Ollo Valley, Navarre (Spain). The preliminary efficacy outcomes will be blood pressure, psycho-physiological coherence parameters and quality of life. The feasibility of the intervention will be assessed through data on barriers and facilitators of the implementation process and indicators of environmental comfort (physiological equivalent temperature and thermic perception). This study offers an opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities to benefit from a forest bathing intervention and explore its effects not only on their quality of life, but also on the improvement in their physiological and psychological state. This feasibility study is an essential step to explore crucial aspects for a future full-scale trial.


This thesis addresses the problem of ground collisions between an aircraft and obstacles (including other aircraft) on the ramp and taxiway regions of an airfield. A safety study is conducted by looking at current operating procedures and analysing accident statistics and reports. An onboard non-collaborative system for large transport aircraft is proposed and its main requirements and performance characteristics are discussed. The main requirement is to detect and track generic obstacles around an aircraft during taxi manoeuvres. The suitability of computer vision to the application of interest of this work is investigated through comparison with other candidate sensor technologies and computer vision, using visible cameras, is selected as the preferred technology. A study of different optical solutions is carried out and stereo vision is considered to be the most suitable choice. Two locations on the aircraft are considered for camera installation and the installation of a stereo vision system on each wingtip is chosen. Algorithms are implemented for the different processing blocks of the stereo vision system. These comprise calibration, rectification, correspondence, reconstruction, detection, clustering, and tracking algorithms. For each process, existing methods and techniques are reviewed and the most appropriate ones are selected, modified and improved in order to meet the specific requirements of this application. The values of several parameters of each algorithm are found experimentally using synthetic data and each algorithm is tested individually before being integrated with the rest of the system. Overall system performance is evaluated by testing for positional accuracy, generic obstacle detection and tracking capabilities, and sensitivity to calibration errors. Testing is conducted for a range of realistic conflict scenarios, under different illumination, visibility, and image noise conditions. Both synthetic images and real images are used. The results of both sets of images are compared and these suggest that the stereo vision system developed in this research has the potential to reduce wingtip collisions and can therefore improve safety and situational awareness in aerodrome areas.


Background: The burden of anemia in pregnancy is of global health importance. Tanzania is no exception. It varies from one region to another owing to the differences in causes, but overall causing a significant burden of maternal mortality. This study sought to assess the prevalence and factors associated with anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at Mkuranga district in Pwani region of TanzaniaMethods: This cross-sectional study design was conducted among 418 pregnant women aged 15-49 years attending the Mkuranga district hospital and Kilimahewa health centre. The outcome variable of interest was anemia in pregnancy defined as haemoglobin concentration of 13g/dl. Data was collected using face to face interviews with a standardized pretested questionnaire, and through blood samples collected for haemoglobin testing. Descriptive analysis was used to determine the prevalence of anemia while multiple logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with anemia in pregnancy. Results: Anemia was prevalent among 83.5% of pregnant women attending the two major antenatal clinics in Mkuranga district were anemic. Of them, 29% presented with mild anemia, while 62% had moderate anemia, and 0.09% succumbed to severe anemia. Factors associated with anemia included being in the third trimester [AOR=2.87, p=0.026]; not consuming vegetables (AOR=2.62, p=0.008), meat (AOR=2.71, p=0.003), eggs (AOR=2.98, p=0.002), and fish (AOR=2.38, p=0.005). Conclusion: More than eight in ten pregnant women attending ANC in Mkuranga districts were anemic. Such unprecedented burden of anemia is associated with a number of factors including feeding practices such as not consuming iron-rich foods like vegetables, meat, eggs, and fish. Women in their third trimester were also more likely to suffer from anemia. This unprecedented burden of anemia in pregnancy can be addressed if efforts to improve feeding practices and early monitoring at the antenatal clinics are sustained.


Summary. Nematode assemblages and the food web indices were studied in a Ramsar wetland, Keoladeo National Park (KNP), India, and Yuan Ming Yuan Park (YMP), China also referred to as an imperial garden. The diversity indices (Shannon diversity index, Simpson's index of dominance, Margalef and Pielou J indices) indicated high diversity in the two habitats. A total of 82 and 79 nematode genera were identified in KNP and YMP, respectively. However, the composition of nematode assemblages at different sampling stations fluctuated occasionally. The Maturity Index (MI) generally indicated stability of the ecosystems, with the exception of some sampling sites at KNP that were found to be disturbed. The indicator values of Structure Index (SI) and Enrichment Index (EI) revealed stable, structured and nutrient-rich substrata at YMP and stable, structured, occasionally nutrient-stressed substrata at KNP.


Summary.
 Based on 52 nesting attempts of Tengmalm's owl Aegolius funereus in the Šumava Mountains (South Bohemia, Czech Republic), in habitats comprised mainly of Norway spruce forests, we investigated the relationships between diet composition and fledgling productivity of this owl. We found that (i) owls feed mainly on Sorex shrews (39%), Microtus voles (19%), Apodemus mice (15%), bank voles Myodes glareolus (14%) and birds (6%), (ii) the percentage of Apodemus mice, as well as the percentage of Myodes glareolus, negatively correlated to the percentage of Sorex shrews and birds in the owls' diet, and (iii) the fledgling productivity of the owls positively correlated to the percentage of Apodemus mice in the diet. Finally, (iv) the percentage of Microtus voles, the second most common prey, exhibited no close relationships with other prey groups or fledgling productivity of the owls. These results suggest that Apodemus mice were an important prey in the diet of the Tengmalm's owl in our study area, and support the theory that, compared to their northern counterparts, nocturnal raptors in Central Europe may be less dependent on Microtus voles due to the increased diversity of available prey species.


This paper presents a broadband THz frequency-comb spectroscopic imager based on a fully-integrated 4×2 picosecond Direct Digital-to-Impulse (D2I) radiating array. By employing a novel trigger-based beamforming architecture, the chip performs coherent spatial combining of broadband radiated pulses and achieves an SNR>1 BW of 1.03THz (at the receiver) with a pulse peak EIRP of 30dBm. Time-domain radiation is characterized using a fsec-laser-based THz sampler and a pulse width of 5.4ps is measured. Spectroscopic imaging of metal, plastic, and cellulose capsules (empty and filled) are demonstrated. This chip achieves signal generation with an available full-spectrum of 0.03-1.03THz. The 8-element single-chip array is fabricated in a 90nm SiGe BiCMOS process.


We introduce concepts from optimal estimation to the stabilization of precision frequency standards limited by noisy local oscillators. We develop a theoretical framework casting various measures for frequency standard variance in terms of frequency-domain transfer functions, capturing the effects of feedback stabilization via a time series of Ramsey measurements. Using this framework, we introduce an optimized hybrid predictive feedforward measurement protocol that employs results from multiple past measurements and transfer-function-based calculations of measurement covariance to improve the accuracy of corrections within the feedback loop. In the presence of common non-Markovian noise processes these measurements will be correlated in a calculable manner, providing a means to capture the stochastic evolution of the local oscillator frequency during the measurement cycle. We present analytic calculations and numerical simulations of oscillator performance under competing feedback schemes and demonstrate benefits in both correction accuracy and long-term oscillator stability using hybrid feedforward. Simulations verify that in the presence of uncompensated dead time and noise with significant spectral weight near the inverse cycle time predictive feedforward outperforms traditional feedback, providing a path towards developing a class of stabilization software routines for frequency standards limited by noisy local oscillators.


The Ethiopian Orthodox monastery of Santo Stefano degli Abissini in Rome was one of four diasporic Ethiopian communities around the Mediterranean and played a central role in disseminating knowledge about Ethiopian language, culture, and religion in sixteenth-century Europe. Yet apart from its most famous member, Täsfa Ṣǝyon, very little is known about the identities and careers of its monks. This article draws on the surviving Geez manuscripts of Santo Stefano's own library, as well as European correspondence and archival documents, to reconstruct the biographies of two influential denizens of Santo Stefano. Hitherto believed to be a single person, Yoḥannǝs of Qänṭorare and Giovanni Battista "the Indian" (whom we identify instead as Yoḥannǝs of Cyprus) in fact followed quite different career trajectories, and illustrate the variety of ways in which Ethiopian Orthodox identity could be negotiated in a Catholic European setting.


We consider a class of particle systems generalizing the β-Ensembles from random matrix theory. In these new ensembles, particles experience repulsion of power β > 0 when getting close, which is the same as in the β-Ensembles. For distances larger than zero, the interaction is allowed to differ from those present for random eigenvalues. We show that the local bulk correlations of the β-Ensembles, universal in random matrix theory, also appear in these new ensembles. This result extends the bulk universality classes of random matrix theory and may lead to a better understanding of the occurrences of random matrix bulk statistics in several observations which have no obvious connection to random matrices. The present work is a generalization of [GV12] where a similar result was proved for β = 2.


ABSTRACT Although seminal research on counterproductive work behavior (CWB) included a seriousness dimension, there has been little investigation of the factors that determine seriousness perceptions and on the relevance of seriousness perceptions for responses to CWB (e.g., sanctions). Study 1 showed that organizationally-targeted CWBs were rated as more serious than interpersonally-targeted CWBs. Degree of harm and CWB motive (personal gain vs. prosocial) were not significantly related to seriousness ratings. In Study 2, minor CWBs resulted in less severe sanctions than more serious CWBs; this effect was greater for informal sanctions than for formal sanctions. Identifying the factors that determine perceptions of seriousness can develop our understanding of the nature of CWB, inform CWB prevention initiatives, and help prevent discriminatory application of sanctions.


Some nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs) indirectly detect pathogen effectors by monitoring their host targets. In Arabidopsis thaliana, RIN4 is targeted by multiple sequence-unrelated effectors and activates immune responses mediated by RPM1 and RPS2. These effectors trigger cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana, but the corresponding NLRs have yet not been identified. To identify N. benthamiana NLRs (NbNLRs) that recognize Arabidopsis RIN4-targeting effectors, we conducted a rapid reverse genetic screen using an NbNLR VIGS library. We identified that the N. benthamiana homolog of Ptr1 (Pseudomonas tomato race 1) recognizes the Pseudomonas effectors AvrRpt2, AvrRpm1, and AvrB. We demonstrated that recognition of the Xanthomonas effector AvrBsT and the Pseudomonas effector HopZ5 is conferred independently by the N. benthamiana homolog of Ptr1 and ZAR1. Interestingly, the recognition of HopZ5 and AvrBsT is contributed unequally by Ptr1 and ZAR1 in N. benthamiana and Capsicum annuum. In addition, we showed that the RLCK XII family protein JIM2 is required for the NbZAR1-dependent recognition of AvrBsT and HopZ5. The recognition of sequence-unrelated effectors by NbPtr1 and NbZAR1 provides an additional example of convergently evolved effector recognition. Identification of key components involved in Ptr1 and ZAR1-mediated immunity could reveal unique mechanisms of expanded effector recognition.


Retinoids are commonly used for the treatment of nonmalignant skin disorders and occasionally for the treatment of various neoplasms including epidemic Kaposi sarcoma (KS). Dry skin and mucus membranes, muscle and joint aches, alopecia, headaches, and liver and lipid abnormalities are the most frequent medication-related side effects. Very rarely, this class of drugs is associated with the development of hypercalcemia. The authors report the case of a man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated KS who, while participating in a phase II clinical trial of LGD 1057 (9-cis-retinoic acid) for treatment of epidemic KS, developed hypercalcemia, mental status changes, and renal insufficiency. The etiologic factors of retinoid-induced hypercalcemia are imperfectly understood, but with drug withdrawal his serum calcium, mental acuity, and renal function quickly normalized. Hypercalcemia occurs infrequently in the setting of AIDS and when present, is usually mediated by opportunistic infections. Clinicians should be alert to this potentially life-threatening iatrogenic complication that responds favorably to drug withdrawal.


It is shown that in Israeli Hebrew, as well as in biblical Hebrew, the location of stress may have a "phonemic" function, in that it distinguishes between otherwise identical morpho-phonological patterns. Stress location can determine syntactic, temporal, and similar categorial differences as well as semantic nuances.This study presents a general description of 'mobile' versus 'fixed' stress in Israeli Hebrew followed by a brief discussion of stress as tense marker in biblical Hebrew, and by a more detailed examination of three instances in Israeli Hebrew in which stress has a phonemic function: the maCCuC pattern versus the identical native Hebrew pattern; the non-ultimately-stressed 'Yiddish/ English type' +er versus ultimately-stressed 'French type' +ér/ +(y)onér; and +i versus related +ai among gentilic nouns and residents of geographical places.


Civil executions in Imperial Russia were punitive ceremonies that were staged before crowds and presaged a sentence of penal labour and lifelong exile in Siberia. Intended to underline the absolute supremacy of the autocracy, they choreographed the public humiliation of the criminal and collective condemnation from the crowds who gathered to witness the stripping away of the rights and entitlements that gave civil life in the autocracy its meaning. Many took place without incident, and followed the ritual of debasement and expulsion endorsed by the state. Yet when at the civil executions of revolutionaries during the reign of Alexander II both convicts and spectators departed from the state's script of public humiliation and orderly opprobrium, the performance of monarchical power and autocratic justice proved liable to subversion. Russian radicals sometimes succeeded in hijacking the ceremony to denounce despotism and proclaim an alternative vision of activism, solidarity, and revolution. In so doing, they contested the autocrat's position as the source of status, rights and, ultimately, of sovereignty. Building on studies of law, punishment, performance, and the revolutionary movement, this article demonstrates how radicals and their supporters recast "scenarios of power" as "scenarios of rebellion".


To improve the flexibility and adaptability of the automatic service composition, this paper proposed a goal-oriented service refinement approach to transform the high-level abstract service into a number of service operators to meet a specific request. First, a goal-oriented abstract service model is presented to describe the most relevant solution corresponding to the consumer's profile and the request context. Second, the mechanism of service refinement was provided to realize data-gathering, service generation and service late binding. Meanwhile, the dynamic planning algorithm was designed to generate abstract services and to select concrete services corresponding to the current environment. Finally, an online shopping case study was used to show that the proposed method can be effectively utilized in practice. The result indicated that this method enabled users to operate it more easily and more dynamically.


Abnormalities of both structure and function have been described in the erythrocyte membrane of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In order to elucidate the molecular basis of these abnormalities we have carried out differential scanning microcalorimetry of the erythrocyte membrane and gel electrophoresis of membrane polypeptides. The partial enthalpy of so-called 'C-transition' (at 63 degrees C) was found to be increased. This may be explained by increased content of band 3 protein in SHR erythrocyte membrane.


With increasing interest in displacement spectra and long‐period motions, it is important to check the sensitivity of both elastic and inelastic response spectra to the filtering that is often necessary to remove long period artifacts, even from many modern digital recordings. Using two records of very different character from the M=7.1, 1999 Hector Mine, California, earthquake, we find that the response spectra can be sensitive to the corner periods used in causal filtering, even for oscillator periods much less than the filter corner periods. The effect is most pronounced for inelastic response spectra, where the ratio of response spectra computed from accelerations filtered at 25 and 200 sec can be close to a factor of 2 for oscillator periods less than 5 sec. Published in 2003 by John Wiley Sons, Ltd.


Farmers' household in the village involve in many activities both farming and non-farming activities. This involvement affect the time allocation for farming, which in turn will have impacts to the household income. Therefore, there is a need to study the time allocation pattern of farmers, non-farming job opportunities and other factors that affect the working time allocation, income and farmers' household expenditures. The research question are: (1) how the work flow patterns in the allocation of household farmers in rice production area and why rice productivity is low? (2) whether job opportunities in non farm business influence the flow of work in farming and what factors affect the flow of work, household income and farmers expenditure?. The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors that affect the working time allocation, income, and expenditure of farmers in the rice production area. The research was conducted in Sigi, Central Sulawesi Province on December 2015 – Pebruary 2016, using cross sectional data in the household based economic approach applying a model of simultaneous equations. The results showed that non-farm activities have played important roles in the rural economy, especially domestic rice farmer household. They are not only contribute to household income but also in to working time allocation. In terms of the working time allocation, farmesr do more non-farm activities than paddy farming activities. Male household members'working time allocation is the highest activities compared to the female household members in the farm or non farm. Meanwhile, in terms of income, the contribution to farmers' income from non-farm is greater than from farm. Food consumption is the highest expenditure in the farmer household.


The problem studied in this paper is the design of an electromagnetic target classifier for small-scale aircraft targets by using a natural resonance based feature extraction technique supported by feature fusion. The aircraft targets are modeled by perfectly conducting straight thin wire structures and the electromagnetic fields back-scattered from targets are numerically generated. This technique uses the Wigner-Ville distribution (WD) and the principal component analysis (PCA). The technique is applied to perfectly conducting targets of moderately complicated geometries for the first time. The resulting classifier is successfully demonstrated to recognize five wire-modeled aircraft targets based on a reference database that is constructed at only three different aspect angles.


*Resume This paper deals with examination of fatigue properties of AISI 316Ti stainless steel before and after shot peening including analysis of residual stress relaxation during rotating bending fatigue tests (f = 50 Hz, T = 20 ± 3 °C, R = - 1) with use of X - ray diffractometer. Obtained experimental results show increase of fatigue properties in the high – cycle region including fatigue limit and show the behavior of residual stress at cyclic loading in the region from N = 10 3 cycles to N = 10 7 cycles of loading.


The aim of this study was to estimate tobacco smoking prevalence among psychiatric patients attended in care facilities in Brazil and assess associated factors. A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted of psychiatric patients (N = 2,475) selected from 26 care facilities. Current and ex-smokers were compared to those who had never smoked. Odds ratios were estimated using logistic regression. The current and past smoking prevalence rates were 52.7% and 18.9%, respectively. Being male, aged 40 years or over, drug and alcohol use, unprotected sex and a history of physical violence were factors associated with both current and past smoking, while a low education level (≤ 8 years of schooling), history of homelessness, not practicing a religion, current or previous psychiatric hospitalization, and main psychiatric diagnosis substance use disorders, were factors only associated with current smoking. Tobacco smoking prevalence among this population was high and was higher than the rate in the general population. Appropriate interventions and smoking prevention policies should be incorporated into mental health services.


After implementation of river measures in sub-critical flow, the water level upstream of the measure
decreases. However, at the downstream boundary of these measures the water level tends to increase.
This is observed as a local peak. In this research the existence of this peak is investigated.
This is undertaken by introducing two schematized river measures: a widening measure and a deepening
measure. The focus was mainly on the downstream side of these measures.
It is shown that the flow processes that cause the peak at the downstream boundary of the both measures
can be explained by the Bernoulli equation. Bernoulli states that when the flow decelerates, the water level
increases. In sub-critical flow, the effects of the river measures are only experienced upstream.
Implementing the deepening measure, no changes thus occur far downstream of this measure. When
going from that point in upstream direction, the flow decelerates since the river profile expands. Bernoulli
explains that due to this deceleration the water level increases in upstream direction.
A similar process occurs at the downstream side of the schematized widening measure. However, at the
downstream boundary of the measure, the lateral change of the river profile causes lateral flow velocities
towards the axis of the river. This has a significant influence on the shape of the peak. Furthermore,
turbulence tends to be an important flow process and has an increasing effect on the peak.
There is also an analysis undertaken on the used grid size in flow models. Regarding the deepening
measure, using a smaller grid size then length of the step in the bed, no significant changes occur.
However, using a larger grid than this length results in a smaller peak and should therefore not be used.
Regarding the lateral flow constriction, when a grid size is used that is smaller than 1 * db/dx, no
significant change occurs. When using a larger grid size the peak is overestimated.
Besides the schematized flow constrictions, the real world case 'Scheller- and Oldeneler Buitenwaarden'
near Zwolle is used. This project concerns the construction of a side-channel. Using the analysis of the
schematized flow constrictions, it is attempted to reduce the peak downstream of the side channel. It is
shown that adapting the mouth of the side channel such that the lateral flow velocities are reduced also
reduces the size of the peak. It is furthermore shown that increasing the roughness that causes a local
decrease of the water (the Bernoulli effect in opposite direction) only has an enlarging effect on the peak.


Radio-frequency wireless energy transfer (WET) is a promising technology to realize wireless-powered underground sensor networks (WPUSNs) and enable sustainable underground monitoring. However, due to the severe attenuation in harsh underground soil and the tight energy budget of the underground sensors, traditional WPUSNs relying on the channel state information (CSI) are highly inefficient, especially in massive WET scenarios. To address this challenge, we comparatively assess the feasibility of several state-of-the-art CSI-free multiantenna WET schemes for WPUSNs, under a given power budget. Moreover, to overcome the extremely low WET efficiency in underground channels, we propose a distributed CSI-free system, where multiple power beacons (PBs) simultaneously charge a large set of underground sensors without any CSI. We consider the position-aware $K$ -Means and the position-agnostic equally far-from-center (EFFC) approaches for the optimal deployment of the PBs. Our results evince that the performance of the proposed distributed CSI-free system can approach or even surpass that of a traditional full-CSI WET strategy, especially when adopting an appropriate CSI-free scheme, applying the advisable PBs deployment approach, and equipping the PBs with an appropriate number of antennas. Finally, we discuss the impact of underground parameters, i.e., the burial depth of devices and the volumetric water content of soil, on the system's performance, and identify potential challenges and research opportunities for practical distributed CSI-free WPUSNs deployment.


BACKGROUND: It is not established whether the risk of anaphylaxis induced by peanuts or tree nuts in children increases at specific times of the year. We aimed to evaluate the risk of peanut-and tree-nut–induced anaphylaxis during certain cultural holidays in Canadian children. METHODS: We collected data on confirmed pediatric cases of anaphylaxis presenting to emergency departments in 4 Canadian provinces as part of the Cross-Canada Anaphylaxis Registry. We assessed the mean number of cases per day and incidence rate ratio (IRR) of anaphylaxis induced by unknown nuts, peanuts and tree nuts presenting during each of 6 holidays (Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Diwali, Chinese New Year and Eid al-Adha) versus the rest of the year. We estimated IRRs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Poisson regression. RESULTS: Data were collected for 1390 pediatric cases of anaphylaxis between 2011 and 2020. Their median age was 5.4 years, and 864 (62.2%) of the children were boys. During Halloween and Easter, there were higher rates of anaphylaxis to unknown nuts (IRR 1.66, 95% CI 1.13–2.43 and IRR 1.71, 95% CI 1.21–2.42, respectively) and peanuts (IRR 1.86, 95% CI 1.12–3.11 and IRR 1.57, 95% CI 0.94–2.63, respectively) compared to the rest of the year. No increased risk of peanut- or tree-nut–induced anaphylaxis was observed during Christmas, Diwali, Chinese New Year or Eid al-Adha. Anaphylaxis induced by unknown nuts, peanuts and tree nuts was more likely in children aged 6 years or older than in younger children. INTERPRETATION: We found an increased risk of anaphylaxis induced by unknown nuts and peanuts during Halloween and Easter among Canadian children. Educational tools are needed to increase awareness and vigilance in order to decrease the risk of anaphylaxis induced by peanuts and tree nuts in children during these holidays.


Abstract PURPOSE: To study whether and under what circumstances HIV can be controlled in chronically infected patients. METHOD: Nine patients treated with hydroxyurea and didanosine (PANDAs) were compared with 7 patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) during an 8-week treatment interruption. Both groups had similar baseline viral load, CD4 count, and length of treatment. Treatment was resumed if viral rebound >10,000 copies/mL (virological failure) or CD4 count decrease below 200 cells/mm3 (immunological failure) occurred in two consecutive measurements. RESULTS: None of the PANDAs failed. Viral rebound was spontaneously contained, and CD4 count remained stable. Four out of 7 patients in the HAART group failed to control HIV by week 6 and had to restart therapy due to either viremia rebound or CD4 decrease. Before therapy interruption, the PANDAs had a vigorous HIV-specific T cell immune response (median CD4VIR 1.2%), while the HAART-treated patients did not (median CD4VIR 0.2%) (CD4VIR represents the percentage of HIV-specific CD4 subpopulation expressing IFN-γ within the total CD4 population [CD3+, CD4+, IFN-γ+]). This difference was statistically significant (p = .002). CONCLUSION: This study shows that HIV can be controlled during therapy interruption in patients with established infection, and that control of viral replication correlates with vigorous anti-HIV specific immune responses.


In a dual-channel SAR (synthetic aperture radar) system, two different approaches have been proposed in order to obtain at the same time wide range swath and high spatial azimuth resolution. The first one, based on the classical DPC (displaced phase centers) technique (Currie and Brown, 1992), requires a rigid selection of the PRF (pulse repetition frequency) value in order to guarantee uniform sampling of the SAR signal from the two receiving channels. The second approach, proposed in the work of Krieger et al. (2004) and Gebert et al. (2005) permits to correctly reconstruct the SAR signal even for nonuniform sampling. However the two approaches are able to completely suppress the signal of an ambiguous target having a Doppler centroid equal to PRF only if working with "uniform" PRF. This results in a degradation of the focused image quality that gets higher as the PRF moves away from its uniform value. This paper, starting from the approach proposed in the work of Krieger et al. (2004), describes how, in addition to a correct signal reconstruction, it is possible to make available different uniform PRFs for a complete suppression of the azimuth ambiguity. Through an adaptive selection of the dual-receive antenna configuration, it is possible to vary the phase centers displacement and, consequently, to vary the correspondent uniform PRF value. Using a phased array, the adaptive selection of the antenna configuration of either receiving channels, obtainable through a proper amplitude tapering, directly determines the level of accuracy achievable in the choice of the PRF. Such an antenna configuration adaptivity can be simply realized on board, hence permitting to real time reconfigure the system. This is particularly suitable in those SAR which need to operate with different PRF values. In this paper, for a given physical antenna, the performances of several tapering configurations are evaluated in terms of achievable uniform PRF and azimuth ambiguity level.


A novel method for locking the frequency spacing between semiconductor lasers electrically is presented. The method is a modification of the offset frequency master-slave principle. The method allows the frequency spacing between optical channels to be chosen independently, with an accuracy determined by the selectivity of the electronics, and it improves the frequency stability of the locked lasers. A rigorous analytical model of the locking configuration is presented. This model is used to investigate how laser frequency noise and electrical noise from the locking circuit affect the frequency stability of the locked lasers. It is found that the improvements in frequency stability can be achieved for up to 350 lasers, each having a linewidth of 1 MHz. Consequently, the method is suited to lock the transmitters in a coherent optical FDM system. >


The development of screening approaches to identify novel affinity ligands has paved the way for a new generation of molecular targeted nanomedicines. Conventional methods typically bias the display of the target protein to ligands during the screening process. We have developed an unbiased multiplex "beads on a bead" strategy to isolate, characterize, and validate high affinity ligands from OBOC libraries. Novel non-RGD peptides that target α(v)β(3) integrin were discovered that do not affect cancer or endothelial cell biology. The peptides identified here represent novel integrin-targeted agents that can be used to develop targeted nanomedicines without the risk of increased tumor invasion and metastasis.


The authors describe a pilot prospective investigation of the effects of ECT on brain structure using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In nine patients with major depression, a course of ECT produced no acute changes in brain structure according to blind raters' assessments of cortical atrophy and global comparison of pre- and post-ECT studies. There were also no significant changes in the ventricle-brain ratios. Pre-ECT brain abnormalities were common in these patients yet were also unaffected by ECT. Future MRI studies of ECT should include more subjects and should address long-term changes and subtle brain abnormalities.


Across the K-16 system of primary, secondary, and post-secondary education, the need for interdisciplinary resources is widespread. Resources are dispersed, however, across disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and professional forums, as well as the "gray" or "fugitive" literature of conference papers, teaching materials, program reports, working papers, and other unpublished work. We enlarge the conventional notion of "resources" by defining six major areas and activities that will yield a portfolio of materials and strategies for teaching, curriculum planning, and administration. They encompass (1) primary literatures, (2) professional organizations and related publications, (3) specialized literatures, (4) networking, (5) electronic database searching, and (6) professional development.


The tectonics of the southwestern Kuril arc are a result of the oblique subduction of the Pacific plate at the Kuril Trench. In association with forearc sliver migration caused by the oblique subduction, collision tectonics occur at the leading margin of the sliver and tensional tectonics take place at the tapering margin. As a result of the collision, a deep crustal section of island arc is observed at the leading margin of the forearc sliver. Tectonics of the Kuril arc related to oblique subduction are different from those of the western Sunda arc, where backarc spreading occurs at the leading margin. This difference is due to margin morphology of the oblique subduction zone.


This essay attempts to read biblical wisdom literature in relation to modern women entrepreneurship. Whereas traditionally in the Setswana culture and many other cultures women are often perceived as sluggish when it comes to doing business, there is reference in the Bible to hardworking women engaging in mercantile or entrepreneurial pursuits for family and society. The paper uses a biblical text namely Proverbs chapter 31 verses 10-31 to encourage Batswana women to work hard and to go beyond small scale to international businesses capable of improving their lives and their communities as well as the nation at large. The paper demonstrates that while previous studies indicate that Batswana women (like many of their African counterparts) take the Bible as an authentic document capable of providing answers to pertinent existential questions, not much has been done with regard to women and entrepreneurship in the Bible. Women's involvement in business is critical in the creation of wealth and employment as Botswana, like many countries in the world, is grappling with serious issues of unemployment.


Chinese commentators assessing the 2010 US Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) acknowledged a number of ways in which they felt it was "better" than the 2001 NPR but still found much to criticize and many reasons for concern regarding the review's implications for China and for strategic stability. They welcomed the reduction of US nuclear inventories and reliance on nuclear weapons, the commitments to seek ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and to not conduct nuclear tests, the declaration that the United States would continue to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in deterring non-nuclear attacks, and a number of other points. Commentators generally devoted more attention to issues that were seen to have negative implications for China's deterrent (e.g., continued development of missile defense capabilities and advanced conventional weapons). Their assessments of the NPR were initially colored by the downturn in Sino-US relations in the months prior to the review's release but became more positive as the overall bilateral relationship improved.


reporting problems related to personal computer (PC) damage, intranet or internet network troubles, requesting data on databases, and developing information systems. reporting of problems is still conventional by using the telephone for complaints or coming directly to the puskom/ukisi unit (main computer unit and information system) to provide information on problems or problems, if there is no urgent work, the carving team can immediately solve the problem, so there is no recording of damage or trouble reporting or data requests. The helpdesk ticket system for the stmik Bani Saleh uses method stages starting from requirements, design, implementation, and testing. It is hoped that the implementation of the helpdesk ticket system can make it easier to recap reports on repair work that has been carried out by the carving team, and can be analyzed for damage or problems that often occur


A sum divisor cordial labeling of a graph G with vertex set V (G) is a bijection f : V (G) → {1, 2, ..., |V (G)|} such that an edge uv assigned the label 1 if 2 divides f(u)+f(v) and 0 otherwise. Further the number of edges labeled with 0 and the the number of edges labeled with 1 differ by atmost 1. A graph with sum divisor cordial labeling is called a sum divisor cordial graph. In this paper we prove that the graphs Pn + Pn (n is odd), Pn@K1,m, Cn@K1,m (n is odd), Wn ∗ K1,m (n is even), , are sum divisor cordial graphs.


Luminescent liquid crystalline polymers (LLCPs) show extensive application potentials, such as liquid crystal displays and circularly polarized luminescence. In this work, we employ a hydrogen-bonding strategy different from the traditional covalent-bonding method to fabricate LLCPs. First, the acceptor and donor of hydrogen bonding, (4,4'-dibutanoxy tetraphenylethylene)-1-pyridine (PTPEC4) and poly(2-vinyl terephthalic acid) (PPA), respectively, are successfully synthesized. Then, mixtures with different molar ratios ( x's) of PTPEC4 to PPA are used to prepare a series of LLCPs [denoted as PPA(PTPEC4) x]. The resultant LLCPs show a smectic A phase ( x ≥ 0.8), a columnar nematic phase (0.6 ≤ x ≤ 0.05), and an amorphous state ( x = 0.025), depending on the x value. Meanwhile, all polymers exhibit typical aggregation-induced emission behavior. More interestingly, with the variation of the PTPEC4 content, the series of LLCPs show different colors, that is, the emission peak red shifts from 510 nm ( x = 1.0) to 551 nm ( x = 0.025). Furthermore, because of the reversible protonation effect of the N atom of pyridine in PTPEC4 by the strong proton acid, PPA(PTPEC4) x shows reversible color transformation. This work provides a new method to construct LLCPs with different emission colors and reversible color transformation.


In this article, we report on a study evaluating the effectiveness of a digital game-based learning (DGBL) tool for beginning readers of Dutch, employing active (math game) and passive (no game) control conditions. This classroom-level randomized controlled trial included 247 first graders from 16 classrooms in the Netherlands and the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. The intervention consisted of 10 to 15 min of daily playing during school time for a period of up to 7 weeks. Our outcome measures included reading fluency, phonological skills, as well as purpose built in-game proficiency levels to measure written lexical decision and letter speech sound association. After an average of 28 playing sessions, the literacy game improved letter knowledge at a scale generalizable for all children in the classroom compared to the two control conditions. In addition to a small classroom wide benefit in terms of reading fluency, we furthermore discovered that children who scored high on phonological awareness prior to training were more fluent readers after extensive exposure to the reading game. This study is among the first to exploit game generated data for the evaluation of DGBL for literacy interventions.


The entomopathogenic nematodes belonging to Heterorhabditis and Steinernema genera are efficient biological control agents for insects. Several strains of Heterorhabditis spp. have been studied and developed in Cuba, and they have been used successfully in pest management. In 2005, specialists from the National Center for Animal and Plant Health (CENSA) transferred the technology for mass rearing of entomopathogenic nematodes on Galleria mellonella to the National Phytosanitary Reference Center for the Mountain (CNRFM), and the native strain HC1 of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora was used to be evaluated in coffee berry borer (Hypotenemus hampei Ferrari) management. Seven batches of entomopathogenic nematodes were produced in the first three months and mean yields of 190 000 IJ larvae-1 were obtained since batch No. 4, a value very close to the real productive potential of the strain. In relation to the viability (% of live juveniles), it was close to 90% since batch No. 2. As an indicator of a successful technology transfer, the specialists from CNRFM produced more than 291 millions of infestive juveniles (lJ) of the strain HC1 of H. bacteriophora. The lJ produced showed to be pathogenic to larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), Diaphania hyalinata (L.) and Manduca sexta (L.) with 100% mortality at 48 hours. (


The diagnostic and therapeutic application of radionuclides in oncology has led to an increased efficiency in the treatment of malignant tumors. Regarding diagnosis, measuring metabolic reactions in tumor tissue, especially by positron emission tomography, opened the potential for assaying tumor response to different treatment modalities and thus eventually for tailoring effective treatment of a given tumor in the individual patient. Regarding treatment, attention is given to the choice of the radionuclide for optimal deposition of the desired radiation in tumor cells avoiding exposure of normal cells; in this context microdosimetric considerations are essential with respect to beta-emitters, alpha-emitters, the Auger-effect and neutron capture therapy. Examples of therapeutic uses of radionuclides in the inorganic form are 131-I for thyroid cancer and 32-P for polycythemia vera; organically bound radionuclides are employed with precursors for tumor cell metabolism or with receptor seeking agents, such as MIBG and monoclonal antibodies which presently enjoy a particular interest and bear great promise. Stable nuclides, if properly accumulated within tumors, may be activated for therapy in situ, for example by thermal neutrons, as in neutron capture therapy using the 10-B (n, alpha)7-Li reaction. Treatment planning and execution with radionuclides have gained momentum over the past decade, yet much more needs to be done.


Manageability, reactivity and learning ability of horses are three essential characteristics for the rider-horse relationship. In comparison to routine handling, extra handling may reduce fear of humans and general reactivity and thereby improve manageability and learning ability in a variety of farm animal species, including horses. The purpose of this paper is to review the experiments which have studied the effects of handling on manageability, reactivity and learning ability of foals. Many authors have studied the period during which the handling is performed, and particularly the periods following birth and weaning. Even if it has become fashionable to handle foals immediately after birth, experiments which tested the effects of neonatal handling found either short-term effects or no effect. On the other hand, the time of weaning appears to be a favourable period to handle foals, since handling performed at this time provides long term effects on manageability and reactivity. The type of handling and how it is perceived by the animal could also influence the effectiveness of the handling treatment. Many studies have investigated this aspect on other farm animal species. For example, 'forced human handling' of sheep has been compared to 'gentle handling', and only the gentle handling was found to affect approachability. However, to our knowledge, no study on horses has examined the effect of the type of handling and how it is perceived by the animal. Finally, it is also important to consider the duration of the handling treatment and the necessity to maintain its effect over time with additional handling. Until now it has not been proved that handling horses for less than 5 days is effective, on the contrary, two weeks is sufficient to induce some effects and is generally the most common duration used. Handling procedures that use the optimal type, length and period may have durable effects on manageability, reactivity and learning ability of foals. Nevertheless, other approaches such as indirectly approaching the foal through the mother may also have beneficial effects on horse behaviour.


The minimum size of metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors assessed in terms of their circuit performance, the possibility of quantum-mechanical engineering of the electronic properties of silicon through the modification of the energy band with mechanical stress, Brillouin zone folding, and artificially built-in nanometer-scale potential as well as through the utilization of low dimensional electrons, and single electronics as a quantum limit of nano-power electronics are reviewed. Furthermore, effects of the statistical fluctuation of device edge definition in fabrication and dopant distribution on the minimum size of silicon devices are discussed and the importance of dopant location control is emphasized.


This work is concerned with the effect of anti-browning compounds (other than sulfites) on the preservation of minimally processed avocados. Ten different anti-browning agents were tested. After 5 days of storage results showed that cystein and tetrasodium pyrophosphate preserved better the original colour than the other agents used. Surface response analysis was used to monitor the effects of different mixtures of tetrasodium pyrophosphate/cystein, water activity, and pH of the immersing solution. It was found that one of the best combinations consisted of treatment with 1% tetrasodium pyrophosphate, 0.2% cystein at a water activity (a w) of 0.80 and pH 5.5. Selected formulations gave acceptable results for colour, flavour and strength of three minimally processed avocado slices samples, after 8 days of storage


Curcumin (Cur) has various biological effects, including anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Cur exerts these effects remain unclear. In addition, high doses of Cur have been administered in most animal and human trials to date, due mainly to the poor water solubility of native Cur and its low oral bioavailability. In our previous study, we demonstrated that a highly bioavailable Cur formulation (4.5 mg/kg) induces the formation of beige adipocytes in inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) in mice. In the present study, to enhance Cur-mediated beige adipocyte formation and reduce the required functional Cur dose, we investigated whether a low dose of Cur combined with exercise synergistically induced beige adipocyte formation. Cur (1.5 mg Cur/kg, daily) combined with exercise for 4 wk significantly induced beige adipocyte formation in iWAT in mice. This effect was associated with the elevation of interleukin-6 level following subsequent Cur administration combined with exercise. These results indicate that exercise combined with Cur synergistically enhances biological activity and reduces the required Cur dose. These findings suggest that Cur could be used as a dietary supplement during exercise to enhance exercise-mediated health benefits.


The Sibudan is a technocomplex within the cultural stratigraphy of the southern African Middle Stone Age (MSA), first formulated in 2012. The term was introduced as a working concept to organize the spatio-temporal variability in material culture among the archaeological record following the Howiesons Poort during Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3; ~59–24 ka). In contrast to the more widely used name "post-Howiesons Poort" ("post-HP")—an umbrella term resting primarily upon temporal aspects—the Sibudan possesses a formal definition based on characteristic elements of its lithic technology. The site of Sibudu, located in the eastern part of southern Africa (KwaZulu-Natal), serves as type locality since it has yielded a rich and high-resolution record of modern human occupations during MIS 3.
 The Sibudan type sequence at Sibudu, dated to ~58 ka and encompassing twenty-three layers, features both characteristic traits and diachronic variability. The consistent techno-typological elements include predominantly local raw material procurement, concomitant use of multiple core reduction methods (Levallois, discoid, platform, and bipolar), manufacture of flake and blade assemblages, as well as soft stone hammer percussion for blades. Temporal variability exists in the proportions and morphologies of tools and unifacial points in particular—including Tongati, Ndwedwe, and asymmetric convergent tools—the presence of bifacial points, as well as the frequency of blank types and different core reduction methods.
 Comparative studies since 2014 suggest a spatio-temporal extension of the Sibudan in the eastern part of southern Africa during early MIS 3 (~58–50 ka), with marked differences to assemblages of similar ages along the southern coast and Western Cape. The concept is thus not a direct substitute or congruent with the "post-HP" and "Sibudu technocomplex." On a more interpretive level, the Sibudan has featured in discussions on the trajectory of cultural evolution among early modern humans, the scale and mechanisms of behavioral change during the MSA, and theoretical debate on the relevance of technocomplexes.


The proportion of low-income single mothers who are disconnected, or not receiving public cash assistance or employment earnings, has increased since the 1996 US welfare reform legislation. Using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation and the Welfare Rules Database, we use multilevel and multinomial logit models to examine the relationship between state welfare rules and the risk of disconnection. We find that women in states with lifetime limits of less than 60 months are more likely to be disconnected. More generous welfare benefits are associated with a lesser risk of disconnection, while diversion programs are associated with a greater risk of disconnection compared to welfare receipt but are not significant in comparison to employment. Our findings indicate that state rules matter and should be considered as a potential mechanism to change the dynamics of economic disconnection.


Ozonation of leachate effluent obtained from a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) process treating a medium-aged landfill leachate was investigated. The sequence of ammonia stripping, membrane bioreactor, and ozonation was used in the experiment. Ozonation of the MBR effluent showed reduction in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) with an increase in five days Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) concentration. About 73% of COD could be removed at an ozone (O3) dosage of 4.2 mg O3 mg COD-1. The biodegradability indicated by BOD5 /COD ratio increased from 0.03 to 0.08 after ozonation at optimum ozone condition. While analyzing the molecular weight distribution, the fraction of molecular weight (MW) greater than 50 kDa of MBR effluent was transferred to MW 10-50 kDa (38%) at an ozone dosage of 810 mg O3. When O3 dosage was increased to 2,025 mg O3, a rapid change occurred in MW > 50 kDa fraction. This fraction was completely broken down into lower molecular weight fractions. This indicates partial degradation of landfill leachate by ozonation. The colour removal from the leachate was found to be greater than 95%. When the ozonated leachate was recirculated into the MBR system, along with an improvement in the performance of MBR, overall COD removal increased from 78% to 83%. Further, the ozone consumption decreased from 6.1 to 3.4 mg O3 mg COD-1 removed, thus reducing the ozone requirement.


A conceptual framework of measurement bias in cross-cultural comparisons, distinguishing between construct, method, and item bias (differential item functioning), is used to describe a methodological framework addressing assessment of noncognitive variables in international large-scale studies. It is argued that the treatment of bias, coming from constructs, measurement procedures, items, or any combination, is often piecemeal and that the quality of studies would be enhanced by an integrated approach to all kinds of bias in all stages of a study. The extensive preparations of data collections involving feedback from all participating countries make it likely that constructs to be measured apply in most or all of the participating countries (thereby reducing the likelihood of construct bias). Large-scale studies tend to use up-to-date procedures for item bias (differential item functioning). Sources of method bias are examined much less. Particular attention is paid to response styles and possible ways to address such styles in large-scale studies. Finally, ways to enhance the integrated treatment of bias are described.


Purpose: Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is a lethal but clinically heterogeneous disease, with patients having variable benefit from endocrine and cytotoxic treatments. Intrapatient genomic heterogeneity could be a contributing factor to this clinical heterogeneity. Here, we used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to investigate genomic heterogeneity in 21 previously treated CRPC metastases from 10 patients to investigate intrapatient molecular heterogeneity (IPMH). Experimental Design: WGS was performed on topographically separate metastases from patients with advanced metastatic prostate cancer. IPMH of the RB1 gene was identified and further evaluated by FISH and IHC assays. Results: WGS identified limited IPMH for putative driver events. However, heterogeneous genomic aberrations of RB1 were detected. We confirmed the presence of these RB1 somatic copy-number aberrations, initially identified by WGS, with FISH, and identified novel structural variants involving RB1 in 6 samples from 3 of these 10 patients (30%; 3/10). WGS uncovered a novel deleterious RB1 structural lesion constituted of an intragenic tandem duplication involving multiple exons and associating with protein loss. Using RB1 IHC in a large series of mCRPC biopsies, we identified heterogeneous expression in approximately 28% of mCRPCs. Conclusions: mCRPCs have a high prevalence of RB1 genomic aberrations, with structural variants, including rearrangements, being common. Intrapatient genomic and expression heterogeneity favors RB1 aberrations as late, subclonal events that increase in prevalence due to treatment-selective pressures.


Radiotherapy prescription can now be customized to target the major mechanism(s) of resistance of individual tumors. In that regard, functional imaging techniques should be exploited to identify the dominant mechanism(s). Tumor biology research has identified several mechanisms of tumor resistance that may be unique to radiation treatments. These fall into 3 broad areas associated with (1) tumor hypoxic fraction, (2) tumor growth rate, (3) and the intrinsic radiosensitivity of tumor clonogens. Imaging research has markers in various stages of development for quantifying relevant information about each of these mechanisms, and those that measure tumor oxygenation and predict for radioresistance are the most advanced. Positron-emission tomography (PET) measurement of oxygen 15 has yielded important information, particularly about brain tissue perfusion, metabolism, and function. Indirect markers of tumor hypoxia have exploited the covalent binding of bioreductive intermediates of azomycin-containing compounds whose uptakes are inversely proportional to intracellular oxygen concentrations. Pilot clinical studies with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and PET detection of radiolabeled markers to tumor hypoxia have been reported. Recently, other studies have attempted to exploit the reduction properties of both technetium and copper chelates for the selective deposition of radioactive metals in hypoxic tissues. A growing number of potentially useful isotopes are now available for labeling several novel chemicals that could have the appropriate specificity and sensitivity. Preclinical studies with "microSPECT" and "microPET" will be important to define the optimal radiodiagnostic(s) for measuring tissue oxygenation and for determining the time after their administration for optimal hypoxic signal acquisition. Radiolabeled markers of growth kinetics and intrinsic radiosensitivity of cells in solid tumors are also being developed. We conclude that radiation oncology is uniquely positioned to benefit from functional imaging markers that identify important mechanisms of tumor radioresistance, since several strategies for overcoming these individual mechanisms have already been identified.


Complete mitochondrial DNA sequences have been used successfully to estimate phylogenetic relationships among animal taxa, and for studies of population genetics and molecular evolution. We made phylogenetic analyses of 22 species of Galliformes, with two species of Anseriformes as outgroups, using maximum likelihood (ML), maximum parsimony (MP) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods based on the nucleotide dataset and the corresponding amino acid dataset of 13 concatenated protein-coding genes. The consensus phylogenetic trees supported monophyly of Galliformes, Phasianidae (nucleotide and amino acid: posterior probabilities 1.00 in BI, bootstrap value > 99% in ML and MP), Coturnicinae, and Gallininae (nucleotide and amino acid: posterior probabilities 1.00 in BI, bootstrap value > 85% in ML and MP), but failed to demonstrate monophyly of Pavoninae and Phasianinae. Our results also support a sister-group relationship between megapodes and all other galliforms. We found that Arborophilinae is basal to the balance of the Phasianidae. Moreover, we suggest that the turkey should be classified in the Phasianinae of Phasianidae. Although the relationships among the various lineages of the Galliformes remain controversial, these results should be useful for further study.


In this paper, a 2-D noncausal Markov model is proposed for passive digital image-splicing detection. Different from the traditional Markov model, the proposed approach models an image as a 2-D noncausal signal and captures the underlying dependencies between the current node and its neighbors. The model parameters are treated as the discriminative features to differentiate the spliced images from the natural ones. We apply the model in the block discrete cosine transformation domain and the discrete Meyer wavelet transform domain, and the cross-domain features are treated as the final discriminative features for classification. The support vector machine which is the most popular classifier used in the image-splicing detection is exploited in our paper for classification. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, all the experiments are conducted on public image-splicing detection evaluation data sets, and the experimental results have shown that the proposed approach outperforms some state-of-the-art methods.


Sustainable cropping systems require efficient usage of fossil energy. This study performed on a longterm field experiment in the Pannonian Basis investigated the energy efficiency of four tillage systems (mouldboard plough (MP), deep conservation tillage (CTd), shallow conservation tillage (CTs) and no-tillage (NT)) for sugar beet and soybean production, taking fuel consumption, total energy input (made up of both direct and indirect inputs), crop yield, energy output, net-energy output, energy intensity and energy use efficiency into account. The input rates of fertiliser, chemical plant protection, and seeds were set constant across years; whereas measured values of fuel consumption were used for all tillage treatments. NT required a considerably lower energy input than MP and CTd as no fuel is needed for tillage and just slightly more fuel for additional spraying of glyphosate. Anyhow, the energy efficiency parameters did not differ between tillage treatments, as theses parameters were mainly determined by energy output, which was considerably higher than the energy input. However, year effects on the energy efficiency were observed for both crops. Nitrogen fertilisation and diesel fuel consumption were identified as the most energyintensive inputs. Consequently, the energy input for sugar beet was higher than that for soybean, which was identified as a low-input crop. But sugar beet attained a more than 4 times higher net-energy output, a 2.5 times higher energy use efficiency, and an energy intensity for yield production of less than 3 times those of soybean.


With the rapid development of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS), we enter a field in which the surface effects have dominated many of the micro-scale phenomena, and the adhesive contact is one of the focuses. In this paper, a feasible model for finite element computation is presented via a macroscopic and microscopic combination approach, in which the adhesive forces are simulated by some non-linear spring elements considering the softening stage. Two basic problems concerning the adhesion effect were considered; through specific quantitative analysis, the results show a consistency with the current elastic continuum theories of adhesion and a brief investigation into the effects of adhesion on plastic deformation and tangential contact will be carried out as well.


In this review the author describes how the simple Ginzburg-Landau approach lies in the heart of the general theory of superconductors. The reader is introduced to the handling of the theory and to the numerous possibilities of applications. A general free energy functional for a superconductor is given and the different cases where it can be reduced to a Ginzburg-Landau form or to a simple generalization of this form is studied. It is emphasized that applications are not restricted to thermo-dynamical ones as the Ginzburg-Landau approach can be used in the calculation of dissipative phenomena. The possibility of an extension to the time-dependent phenomena is discussed in detail to present the difficult problems which arise in that case. The gapless regime of type II superconductors is given as an example.


Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has caused widespread mortality in both wild and domestic birds in Europe during 2020-2022. Virus types H5N8 and H5N1 have dominated the epidemic. Isolated spill-over infections in mammals started to emerge as the epidemic continued. In autumn 2021, HPAI H5N1 caused a series of mass mortality events in farmed and released pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in a restricted area in southern Finland. Later, in the same area, an otter (Lutra lutra), two red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and a lynx (Lynx lynx) were found moribund or dead and infected with H5N1 HPAI virus. Phylogenetically, H5N1 strains from pheasants and mammals clustered together. Molecular analyses of the four mammalian virus strains revealed mutations in the PB2 gene segment (PB2-E627K and PB2-D701N) that are known to facilitate viral replication in mammals. This study revealed that avian influenza cases in mammals were spatially and temporally connected with avian mass mortalities suggesting increased infection pressure from birds to mammals.


This paper presents a model for gesture controlled user interface (GCUI),and identifies trends in technology ,application and usability. We present an integrated approach is real time detections ,gesture based data which control vehicle movement and manipulation on gesture of the user using hand movements. A three axis accelerometer is adaption. As the person moves their hand, the accelerometer also moves accordingly. The gesture is capture by accelerometer and processed by gesture. Today human machine interactions is moving away from mouse and pen and is becoming pervasive and much mouse compatible with the physical world . With each passing day the gap between machines and human is being reduced with the introduction of new technology is easy the standard of living. Its having future scope of advanced robotic arms that are designed like the human hand itself can easily controlled using hand gesture only. It also having proposed utility in field of construction, medical science, hazardous waste disposal etc.


The ICD-10 field trial of section F1 (mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use) shows comparatively high acceptance of the new classification in German-speaking countries. Goodness of fit and subjective confidence of the main diagnosis are above average. Analysis of interrater reliability with regard to main diagnostic categories reveal certain problems. The reliability values are flow average within the ICD-10 field study. Possible causes for low interrater reliability are inadequate differentiation from section F0 (organic disorders) and uncertainties in the differential assessment of psychopathological symptoms between F1 and F2, as also between F1 and F4. Interrater reliability could be improved by introducing "psychoactive substance use" as a separate axis in a forthcoming multiaxial scheme for ICD-10.


Macroalgal assemblages of Posidonia oceanica rhizomes of the western Mediterranean have been studied, in order to describe the structure of this community and to evaluate changes due to recent macroalgal invasions. To achieve these objectives, P. oceanica rhizomes were sampled from 21 beds distributed throughout the western Mediterranean Sea and macroalgal assemblages were studied using both species and functional groups as descriptors. Moreover, modifications linked to temporal fluctuations and depth were evaluated in an insular and in a continental bed. A total of 74 macroalgal species were found, among them 7 Chlorophyta, 8 Fucophyceae and 59 Rhodophyta. The species number varied from 5±0 at Vada to 18±0.58 at Panarea Island. The total percentage cover ranged from 19.5±1.8 at Cabo de Creus to 77.2±13.3 at La Maddalena Island. Filamentous species were dominant in the localities colonized by Acrothamnion preissii or Womersleyella setacea, while a high functional diversity occurred where the two introduced species were not present or they did not constitute dense turfs; the importance of crustose and foliose species was remarkable, while low cover of articulate and corticated-terete species was found at all localities. Localities where turfs were not developed were grouped together, even if they appeared more dispersed than those dominated by filamentous algae. The two beds studied over a 1 year period showed higher values of macroalgal cover in March and December, although significant differences were not detected with ANOVA in relation to either depth or season. The development of turfs, which occurs widely in western Mediterranean seagrass beds, seems to modify strongly the structure of macroalgal assemblages of rhizomes, mostly via the decrease in species and functional diversity.


Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has led to a temporary suspension of liver transplant activity across the world and the remodeling of care for patients on the waiting list and transplant recipients with the increasing use of remote consultations. Emerging evidence shows that patients with more advanced liver disease are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 and death, whereas transplant recipients have similar risk with the general population which is mainly driven by age and metabolic comorbidities. Tacrolimus immunosuppression might have a protective role in the post-transplant population. Vaccines that have become rapidly available seem to be safe in liver patients, but the antibody response in transplant patients is likely suboptimal. Most transplant centers were gradually able to resume activity soon after the onset of the pandemic and after modifying their pathways to optimize safety for patients and workforce. Preliminary evidence regarding utilizing grafts from positive donors and/or transplanting recently recovered or infected recipients under certain circumstances is encou raging and may allow offering life-saving transplant to patients at the greatest need. This review summarizes the currently available data on liver trans plantation in the context of a major pandemic and discusses areas of uncertainty and future challenges. Lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic might provide invaluable guidance for future pandemics.


Objective
To analyze nurses' knowledge of blood transfusion in neonates in a neonatal intensive unit care.

Methods
A descriptive and exploratory qualitative study conducted in two hospitals in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. The participants were 15 nurses who performed their activities in the neonatal intensive unit care, from August to December 2014. Data was subjected to thematic content analysis.

Results
The category created was divided into the following sub-categories, namely: nurses' care during blood transfusion: care during blood transfusion monitoring; a different perception of nurses regarding responses to blood transfusion and notification: the essence of care.

Conclusion
The identification of nurses' knowledge of blood transfusion, it is possible to promote their capacity for quality and safety of care related to the transfusion process in newborns.


In a fermentor, a Mycobacterium sp. was grown on pyrene at defined oxygen concentrations in a range from 11.4 to 227 microM. The maximal growth rate (mumax = 0.057 h-1) and the dissolved oxygen half-saturation constant (KDO = 5.9 microM) were calculated. At 3.4 microM, the growth rate (mu = 0.011 h-1) was only half of what was expected from the kinetic data. Apparently, this was due to limitation of an oxygenase of pyrene degradation.


Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL

Development of primary resistance to carboplatin and paclitaxel pose a major challenge in the management of ovarian cancer. To identify the molecular mechanisms underlying this process, we used microarrays to profile the 1) copy number alteration and SNP, 2) mRNA, 3) miRNA and 4) methylation signatures in 11 chemoresistant and 13 sensitive tumour samples, as defined by the RECIST criteria. The profiles are analyzed by Bayes statistics, based on R/Bioconductor packages, and the relevant pathways determined using the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. The data from each array platforms are integrated using bioinformatic analytical and visual tools developed in house to not only decipher the most critical biological pathways, but also to identify the molecular mechanisms driving the pathways. Analysis to date identified the metabolic network involving HNRNPC, JAK1, Erbb2, ARF1, among others, which converge to deregulate the PI3K pathway. Interestingly, this is consistent with PTEN loss which is frequently observed in serous low grade tumours. The complexity of this pathway is reflected by its implication in multiple biological functions including growth promoting pathways, proliferation, differentiation, anti-apoptosis, tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. The integrated analysis will dissect and elucidate the roles that the CNA, SNP, methylation and miRNA play in the deregulation of this and other pathways involved in primary chemoresistance. Our research findings will yield diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers that will lead to development of specific treatment regimens for the improved control of serous epithelial ovarian cancer.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3155. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3155


A phase change material (PCM) is used as a substance filling in a heat store, due to the possibility of accumulating a significant amount of latent heat—the heat of phase transformation. Knowledge about the practical use of the working fluid, with the addition of a phase change substance, in heat exchange systems is limited The paper presents the results of preliminary research aimed at determining the possibility of using microencapsulated phase change material slurry (mPCM) as a working fluid in installations with a flat liquid solar collector, and the potential benefits as a result. The following were used as the working fluid during the tests: water (reference liquid), and a slurry of microencapsulated PCM. The mass fraction of mPCM in the working liquids is 4.3% and 8.6%, respectively. The research was carried out in laboratory conditions, in the range of radiation intensity G = 270–880 W/m2. The mass flux of each of the three working fluids in the collector is 30 kg/h, 40, kg/h, 60 kg/h, and 80 kg/h. Two main advantages of using mPCM as an additive to the working liquid are found: 1. in the entire range of thermal radiation intensity, the increase in the thermal efficiency of the collector fed with slurries is 4% with 4.3% mPCM in the slurry, and 6% with 8.6% mPCM in the slurry (for m˙ = 80 kg/h); 2. the slurry is characterized by a lower temperature at the outlet from the collector as compared to the water with the same thermal and flow parameters, which reduces heat losses to the environment both from the collector and other elements of the installation, as a result of excessive heating of the working liquid.


OBJECTIVE
We developed a scale on opioid addicts' sensitivity to drug-related environments for assessing addicts sensitivity and influential factors, which could provide evidence for psychological interventions on detoxification.

METHODS
The survey on opioid addicts' sensitivity was administered to 1096 opioid addicts through stratified random cluster sampling in mandatory detoxification centers from 5 cities in China.

RESULTS
Patients were more sensitive to environments directly related to drug abuse, social and family environments, especially in those cases that lack of love from family or watching drug use from others, with percentages of persons having strong response reaching 59.40% and 59.05%, respectively. The risk factors of patients' sensitivity to environments directly related to drug abuse would include long period of drug use, high frequency of drug abuse, drug abuse in family members and negative family attitudes (F = 17.10, P < 0.0001). Being female,younger of age, long period of drug use and negative family attitudes increased the extent of patients' sensitivity to social and family environments (F = 8.52, P < 0.0001) while long period of drug use, high frequency of drug abuse, and negative family attitudes increased the extent of patients' sensitivity to environments indirectly related to drug abuse (F = 10.08, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION
Patients were very sensitive to drug-related environments. The extent of patients' sensitivity was influenced by sex, age, years of drug use, the frequency of drug abuse, having drug user in family and the family attitudes towards them.


Abstract Objective To undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the satisfaction of patients receiving nonvitamin K anticoagulants (NOACs), compared with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). Methods We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and Clinicaltrials.gov for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. Two reviewers screened, extracted, and appraised data independently. We pooled data using a random-effects model. Outcome included treatment satisfaction, which was assessed by scores of Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Scale (DASS), Anticlot Treatment Scale (ACTS), Perception of Anticoagulant Treatment Questionnaire 2 (PACT-Q2), or Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication version II (TSQM-VII) and their domains reported with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). We followed MOOSE and PRISMA guidelines. Results We included four RCTs and 16 observational studies, enrolling 18,684 participants overall. Compared with VKAs, treatment with NOACs improved the ACTS Burdens score by 4.21 points (95% CI: 2.99–5.43, I 2 = 95%, combined n = 6,180), and ACTS Benefits by 0.49 points (95% CI: 0.18–0.81, I 2 = 85%, combined n = 6,171). Switching from VKAs to NOACs improved the ACTS Burdens score by 5.33 points (95% CI: 3.53–7.14, combined n = 3,097). Compared with VKAs, treatment with NOACs improved the TSQM-VII Global Satisfaction score by 6.86 points (95% CI: 3.00–10.73, combined n = 5,535). Conclusion In patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism, NOAC treatment is associated with greater satisfaction compared with VKAs. The switch from VKAs to NOACs was associated with improved patients' satisfaction. These effects were largely due to a lower degree of treatment burden with NOAC treatment.


OBJECTIVES
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most prevalent secondary complications associated with diabetes mellitus. Decades of research have implicated multiple pathways in the etiology and pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy. There has been no reliable predictive biomarkers for the onset or progression of DN and no successful treatments are available.

METHODS
In the present study, we explored the datasets of RNA sequencing data from patients with Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-induced nephropathy to identify a novel gene signature. We explored the target bioactive compounds identified from Azanza garckeana, a medicinal plant commonly used by the traditional treatment of diabetes nephropathy.

RESULTS
Our analysis identified lymphotoxin beta (LTB), SRY-box transcription factor 4 (SOX4), SOX9, and WAP four-disulfide core domain protein 2 (WFDC2) as novel signatures of T2DM-induced nephropathy. Additional analysis revealed the pathological involvement of the signature in cell-cell adhesion, immune, and inflammatory responses during diabetic nephropathy. Molecular docking and dynamic simulation at 100 ns conducted studies revealed that among the three compounds, Terpinen-4-ol exhibited higher binding efficacies (binding energies (ΔG) = -3.9~5.5 kcal/mol) against the targets. The targets, SOX4, and SOX9 demonstrated higher druggability towards the three compounds. WFDC2 was the least attractive target for the compounds.

CONCLUSION
The present study was relevant in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment follow up of patients with diabetes induced nephropathy. The study provided an insight into the therapeutic application of the bioactive principles from Azanza garckeana. Continued follow-up invitro validations study are ongoing in our laboratory.


The Danish naturalist Peter Wilhelm Lund (1801-1880), regarded as the father of Brazilian palaeontology and archaeology, is known mainly for his work with fossil mammals of Quaternary age from the limestone caves of the Lagoa Santa region in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. However, during one decade of fieldwork (1835-1844), he also collected a large number of remains of other animal groups from these caves. Birds were well represented and, following assessment by the Danish ornithologist Oluf Winge (1855-1889), most of the specimens collected by Lund belong to species still living in the area. Here we present an overview of the bird remains (fossil and recent), found by Lund and others in the region, we update their taxonomic attributions, and comment on the history of the material, making information previously published only in Danish available in English.


Interactions of MinK and e-NOS Gene Polymorphisms Appear to Be Inconsistent Predictors of Atrial Fibrillation Propensity, but Long Alleles of ESR1 Promoter TA Repeat May Be a Promising Marker. We analyzed minK, e-NOS and ESR1 gene polymorphisms in 40 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) without major structural heart disease compared to 35 healthy controls. A missense polymorphism in the minK gene with A/G substitution at nucleotide 112 causing serine (S) to glycine (G) change, 786 T/C polymorphism in the 5' flanking region of e-NOS gene and TA polymorphism in the regulatory region of estrogen receptor ESR1 gene with long (> or = 19 TA repeats) and short alleles were examined. Only a slight increase in minK G allele frequency, but with marked excess in AG/TT combination of minK and e-NOS polymorphisms was found in the AF group. The interpretation remains tentative due to small groups precluding statistical significance of differences, possible lab flaws and inconsistencies with earlier data. However, ESR1 long allele homozygotes were strikingly more frequent in the AF than in control group, reaching statistical significance surprisingly in males (p < 0.02). Functional activity of estrogen receptors may be more critical in males than in females with abundance of circulating estrogen. Contrasting the intricate complexity of genetic polymorphisms influencing cardiac rhythm with our modest research, we would limit the conclusion to the plea for further research of ESR1 role in AF.


Thackeray's use of extreme specificity and sensory images enact the narrator reliving the experience through the conjuring of the image in the readers' mind. The polysyndetic listing of auditory imagery in 'the voices of the women', visual imagery in 'the red-calico canopy' and tactile imagery in 'the tiled floor' create the sense that the account is entirely factual, as does the assertion that 'I am seeing there'. The use of 'seeing' rather than 'remembering' again creates the sense that the narrator is experiencing exactly what factually happened, with his confidence in this shown by 'perfect clearness'. Conversely, the use of rhetorical questions in 'Ancient Light' suggests uncertainty of the narrator, with 'what, eighty-three, eighty-four?' showing the narrator's lack of conviction on the time, which contrasts to the specific use of '1828'. Similarly, 'what do I recall of her,' conveys a struggle for memory on the part of the narrator, whereas Thackeray's narrator has so great a memory he is able to recall more than 'merely' the place, but also sensations. Banville's narrator portrays memory in a more negative light, as both inaccurate and misleading. The metaphor of a shipwreck is used to this end, thus evoking ideas of chaos and disorganisation. The act of remembering is described as much more deliberate in 'Ancient Light', with the narrator taking action shown by the use of verbs and the personal pronoun in 'I choose' and 'I put them'. Conversely, in Thackeray's piece the memories themselves appear to be taking action through 'all return'; it is the memories choosing themselves in effect, and therefore there is little need for effort on the narrator's part. 'Roundabout Papers' therefore shows memory as innate and uncorruptible, accessed with ease, whereas 'Ancient Light' portrays memory as unreliable and transient, and therefore something that must be acted upon.


Physical activity has been shown to effectively aid multiple sclerosis symptom management; however, individuals with multiple sclerosis tend to be inactive physically. Developing effective, sustainable, physical activity interventions involves first understanding motivators for physical activity. Open-ended surveys exploring physical activity motivators were collected from 215 individuals with multiple sclerosis. Responses indicate that self-efficacy and internalized motivation derived from physical activity outcomes were motivators for physical activity, and physical activity was cited as increasing overall quality of life. Future physical activity interventions should incorporate methods for building self-efficacy for physical activity and focus on increasing awareness of the long-term physical benefits derived from physical activity.


In 2007, the state of Tennessee opened a trade office in Beijing to facilitate increased trade and investment between Tennessee and China, which has already grown by over 1,000 percent in the past five years. This paper begins by tracing a brief history of U.S.-China trade and economic relations, focusing on the period from the 1978 economic reforms to the present, as well as looking at some of the issues affecting U.S.-based entities exporting to China. Tennessee's trade relationship with China is analyzed within this context, focusing on Tennessee exports to China and using both state trade data and case studies of Tennessee companies doing business in China. This data is then compared to trade data from the twelve states that have a higher dollar amount of exports to China per year than Tennessee. The paper concludes by looking at what overarching conclusions can be drawn about states successfully exporting to and investing in China and makes recommendations on how Tennessee's state government and The Tennessee-China Development Center (Tennessee's trade office in Beijing) can grow Tennessee's overall trade volume with China and assist individual Tennessee businesses in trading with and investing in the Chinese market.