The ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase (CD73) is glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchored cell surface protein that is involved in switching on adenosinergic signaling. Its enzymatic and nonenzymatic activities (via its interaction with extracellular matrix components) are involved in cancer associated processes and not completely independent of each other. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of AMP into adenosine and phosphate, where adenosine plays important role in tumor immune escape. It is overexpressed in many types of cancer cell lines and patient's biopsies including breast, colon, ovarian, gastric, ovarian, etc. In addition to being important as clinical and prognostic marker in cancer patients, overexpression of CD73 is associated with resistance to antitumor agents, and inhibition of CD73 activity or knocking it down by SiRNA reversed chemoresistant phenotype of glioblastoma multiforme cells. Because of the significant role of CD73, it is of importance to develop an assay that monitor the activity of CD73 in order to develop modulators of its activity. Towards this goal, we have developed a bioluminescent assay to monitor the activity of the enzyme in biochemically pure as well cellular anchored enzyme forms. The assay is homogenous and formatted for HTS screening research, very sensitive, and robust as indicated by the high Z'. We also show that the use of inhibitors such as adenosine 5′‐(a‐b‐methylene) diphosphate (APCP) generates data with biochemically pure enzyme similar to the cellular bound form. We also demonstrate that cells that are enriched in CD73 can be easily identified from those that have low CD73. Thus, the current assay is robust, sensitive, and easy to use making it an ideal assay for HTS screening for new modulators of CD73 and generation of potential novel cancer therapeutics.


Objectives:We evaluated the precision of multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) for the quantification of aortic valve stenosis in comparison with echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Materials and Methods:An electrocardiogram-gated MSCT scan (detector collimation 40 × 6.25 mm, gantry rotation time 420 milliseconds, pitch 0.2, tube voltage 120 KV, tube current 333 mA) was performed in 32 patients with known aortic valve stenosis. In each patient the aortic valve orifice area (AVA) was determined by planimetry on MSCT and compared with the results obtained from transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (using the continuity equation) and cardiac catheterization (using the Gorlin formula). Results:Planimetry of the AVA on MSCT was feasible in all cases. The AVA on MSCT (1.11 ± 0.49 cm2) was significantly larger compared with echocardiography (0.81 ± 0.37 cm2, P < 0.001) and cardiac catheterization (0.87 ± 0.45 cm2, P < 0.001). The correlations between MSCT and echocardiography (r = 0.86, limits of agreement ±0.52 cm2) and also between MSCT and cardiac catheterization (r = 0.90, limits of agreement ±0.44 cm2) were good, but inferior to the correlation between echocardiography and cardiac catheterization (r = 0.94, limits of agreement ±0.32 cm2). Using an AVA of 1.0 cm2 at cardiac catheterization as reference standard, the best cut-off level for detecting severe-to-critical stenosis at MSCT was an AVA of 1.20 cm2, resulting in a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 91%, 100%, and 94%, respectively. Conclusions:AVA determined by MSCT correlates well with echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. However, AVA derived from MSCT is consistently larger, requiring an adjustment of cut-off values for the classification of stenosis severity and therapeutic decision making.


Abstract One of the main difficulties in micromagnetics simulation is the severe time step constraint introduced by the exchange field. Using standard explicit integrators leads to a physical time step of sub-pico seconds, which is often two orders of magnitude smaller than the fastest physical time scales. Direct implicit integrators require solving complicated, coupled systems. In this paper, we introduce an implicit method whose complexity is comparable to solving the scalar heat equation implicitly. This method is based on a combination of a Gauss–Seidel implementation of a fractional step implicit solver for the gyromagnetic term, and the projection method for the heat flow of harmonic maps. This method allows us to carry out fully resolved calculations for the switching of the magnetization in micron-sized elements.


The advent of community psychiatry has tended to blur the interface between primary and secondary psychiatric care. We used a postal questionnaire to investigate each new referral from general practice to the public outpatient clinics of three West Dublin Psychiatric Sectors. 70 referrals, from 35 general practitioners, over a four month period in 1991 were analysed, regarding reason for referral and prior management in general practice. On average patients had seen their GP six times over a period of ten months. Mixed anxiety/depression was the most common diagnosis (23%). Medication had been prescribed for 61% of patients and 67% had counselling before referral. Common reasons for referral were: Access to therapies not available directly to the GP (30%); Failure of treatment (20%); To share the burden of chronic care (14%). In only 13% of referrals did the GP wish the psychiatrist to take over care. We conclude that the GPs surveyed undertake extensive pre-referral management of patients with psychological illness. They have well defined expectations of referral and are keen to follow up patients themselves. Future plans for community psychiatric services should take account of this pattern of care.


AIM
This article presents findings from a participatory action research study into the experience and use of occupation, theory and evidence in the everyday practice of a group of occupational therapists working in a large metropolitan hospital delivering a range of acute services, in Melbourne, Australia.

METHODS AND FINDINGS
Narrative data gathered from 11 individual interviews and 10 group discussions were analysed through numerous iterative cycles to explore research issues and evaluate research actions. This article discusses why the participating occupational therapists chose to change the language they used to describe their practice from a focus on 'function' to a focus on 'occupation'. This change improved the therapists' levels of confidence, strengthened their professional identities and provided for a sense of renewed empowerment within the organisation.

CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that occupational therapists in acute settings can utilise language more effectively to augment their ability to promote the vital and unique contribution that occupational therapy has to make. Such small, yet powerful changes can empower occupational therapists to address long-standing dilemmas of representation and enable transformative practices.


Concepts about the production, absorption, dynamics, and physiological roles of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have dramatically changed over the recent decades. This article will review these new concepts and detail how they must be used for a better assessment and a better understanding of the various aspects of hydrocephalus by using neuroradiological tools.


Retrievals of trace gas columns from the measurements of backscattered radiation by GOME (Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment) show that enhanced tropospheric columns of ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and formaldehyde (HCHO), over the African continent occur frequently. This study focuses on the behaviour of trace gases over Africa in September 1997, a period impacted by the strongest known El Niño phase of the ENSO. It investigates our qualitative and quantitative understanding of the retrieved tropospheric trace gas column densities. The emissions of NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOC) from biomass burning, biogenic sources and lightning and their photochemical transformation have been investigated. By performing a trajectory analysis, the transport of air masses from the different emission regions was analysed and the potential atmospheric spatial distribution determined. BRemen's Atmospheric PHOtochemical model (BRAPHO) was applied to compute the chemistry along a large number of trajectories. From these results, tropospheric column amounts of O3, NO2 and HCHO were derived. Tropospheric trace gas columns retrieved from GOME measurements and those calculated are in reasonable agreement. Their general spatial extent was similar in the lower troposphere but the modeled trace gas columns in the upper troposphere were located south of the retrieved columns. We attribute this behaviour to uncertainties in the ERA-40 meteorological data in the upper troposphere. The significance of biomass burning and of biogenic emissions with respect to HCHO columns over Africa was investigated. The analysis reveals that the total amounts of HCHO generated over Africa during September 1997 as a result of biomass burning and biogenic emissions are similar. However the HCHO from biogenic sources has the highest specific columns and these are located close to their source. In comparison the HCHO from biomass burning is predicted to be produced and transported over a much wider area. Overall all the emission processes mix together to produce the plume of O3.


This article presents the results of an exploratory study which assesses the machine translation of audio descriptions as offering a possible solution to increase accessibility in multilingual environments. Accessibility is understood to encompass two different categories: sensorial accessibility (in this specific case, for the blind and visually impaired, who cannot access the visual content of audiovisual productions), and linguistic accessibility (for those who want to access this content in their own language). The article presents some thoughts on translation as a means of promoting multilingualism, on the feasibility of translating audio descriptions, and on machine translation as applied to this audiovisual translation mode, before summarising the findings of the present study and, most importantly, opening up new potential avenues for research.


: This article presents a novel broadband H-plane rectangular waveguide T-junction structure for unequal power dividers at Ka-band. Inspired by H-plane waveguide bend structure and directional coupler, T-junctions with high power splitting ratio are invented. Compared with the conventional T-junction structures, their bandwidths are obviously broad-ened. Two in-phase power dividers at Ka-band with different power division ratios (1:4 and 1:8) are designed and fabricated to verify the practicability of the proposed structure. The measured results agree well with the simulations and the broadband characteristics are obtained. The bandwidth of unequal power divider is 44.06% for the 1:4 power divider and 38.9% for the 1:8 power divider, respectively.


Concepts from theories of motivation are used to suggest methods for improving the motivational environment of hospital pharmacy departments. Motivation--the state of being stimulated to take action to achieve a goal or to satisfy a need--comes from within individuals, but hospital pharmacy managers can facilitate motivation by structuring the work environment so that it satisfies employees' needs. Concepts from several theories of motivation are discussed, including McGregor's theory X and theory Y assumptions, Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, Herzberg's motivation hygiene theory, and Massey's value system theory. Concepts from the Japanese style of management that can be used to facilitate motivation, such as quality circles, also are described. The autocratic, participative, and laissez faire styles of leadership are discussed in the context of the motivation theories, and suggested applications of theoretical concepts to practice are presented.


The development of safe and efficient H2 generation/storage materials toward a fuel-cell-based H2 economy as a long-term solution has recently received much attention. Herein we report the development of preformed Pd nanoparticles supported on carbon nanofibers (CNFs) via sol-immobilisation and impregnation techniques as efficient catalysts for the liquid phase decomposition of formic acid to H2. We used CNFs as the preferred choice of support and treated at three different temperatures for the deposition of Pd nanoparticles. They were thoroughly characterised using XRD, XPS, SEM-EDX, TEM, Raman spectroscopy and BET. We observed that the Pd particle size, metal exposure and CNF graphitisation grade play an important role in catalytic performance. We found that Pd/CNFs prepared by the sol-immobilisation method displayed higher catalytic performance than those prepared by the impregnation method, due to the smaller Pd particles and high Pd exposure of the catalysts prepared by the first method. Moreover, we have shown that the best results have been obtained using CNFs with a high graphitisation degree (HHT). DFT studies have been performed to gain insights into the reactivity and decomposition of formic acid along two-reaction pathways on Pd(111), Pd(011) and Pd(001) surfaces.


Introduction Lymphocytes are recruited via the unique hepatic sinusoidal channels during chronic inflammatory liver diseases. This low shear vascular bed is lined by hepatic sinusoidal endothelium (HSEC) which lacks certain conventional adhesion molecules leading us to look for novel receptors involved in lymphocytes recruitment. HSEC express several receptors found on lymphatic endothelium including the scavenger receptor CLEVER-1 which has been implicated in lymphocyte migration to lymph nodes. Aim We now show that CLEVER-1 is upregulated on human hepatic sinusoidal endothelium where it is involved in lymphocyte transendothelial migration. Method We studied the expression of CLEVER-1 in normal and diseased human liver tissue and on isolated human sinusoidal endothelial cells. We used isolated HSEC in flow adhesion assays to study the functional role of CLEVER-1 in lymphocyte subset recruitment. Immunofluorescent staining and confocal microscopy were used to characterise the transmigration of lymphocytes across HSEC under conditions of flow. Results CLEVER-1 was expressed at high levels within the sinusoids of chronically inflamed livers and hepatocellular carcinomas as well as at other sites of lymphocyte recruitment including neo-vessels and portal associated lymphoid tissue. Flow-based adhesion assays using human HSEC demonstrated that CLEVER-1 mediates transmigration of CD4 but not CD8T cells with strong preferential activity for FoxP3+regulatory T cells. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that a large proportion of CD4 Treg transmigrated via the transcellular route through CLEVER-1 lined channels within the endothelial cell. Conclusion This is the first report to implicate a specific adhesion molecule in the recruitment of T regulatory cells to tissue. CLEVER-1 appears to mediate the transcellular migration of Tregs through hepatic sinsuoids and is an organ specific target for therapy aimed at modulating Treg recruitment to the liver.


Recent advancements in wireless communications technologies bring us one step closer to provide reliable Telecare services as an alternative to patients staying in a hospital mainly for monitoring purposes. In this research we investigate the efficiency of IEEE 802.15.4 in a simple scenario where a patient is being monitored using an ECG and a blood analysis module. This approach binds well with assisted living solutions, by sharing the network infrastructure for both monitoring and control while taking advantage of the low power features of the protocol. Such applications are becoming more and more realistic to implement as IEEE 802.15.4 compatible hardware becomes increasingly available. Our aim is to examine the impact of Beacon and Superframe Order in the medium access delay, dropped packets, end to end delay, average retransmission attempts and consumed power focusing on this bandwidth demanding situation where the network load does not allow low duty cycles, in order to draw some conclusions on the effect that this will have to telemonitoring applications.


Pet is a loyal companion animal that always give accompany and entertainment to people especially pet lovers. Pet lovers treat their pet as one of their family members and always record their every moment in photo and post to the social media as a memory. This is because pet can give the advantage in both emotional and physical to pet lovers, for example, pet plays the role as a loyal companion to pet lovers especially for those are alone and feel lonely. The objective of this project is to develop Petmily application in mobile based android platform. The Petmily application is a social and lifestyle application for pet lovers. It is developed in English version. This application serves as a pet social media platform, and at the same time provides pet information platform regarding to common pet emergency and basic obedience pet training. Task recording platform development like a to-do list also included. The methodology used in this development of this Petmily application is Agile model. Generally, the satisfying results with 93.33% positive feedbacks have been obtained from the testing and it can be concluded that Petmily application is accepted by the target users based on the system usability scale. This application will be monitored from time to time to improve the performance and it is hoped that benefits its target users.


Restriction endonuclease analysis of chloroplast (ct) DNA variation in two cultivated rice species, Oryza sativa and 0. glaberrima, using three endonucleases, EcoRI, HindIII and PstI, indicated the differentiation of their chloroplast genome into three types. 0. sativa differed from 0. glaberrima in its EcoRI restriction pattern, whereas both 0. sativa ecospecies Japonica and ecosp. Javanica were differentiated from ecosp. Indica by their HindIII and PstI restriction patterns. In contrast, no ctDNA variation was revealed in 0, sativa ecosp. Japonica, Javanica, or Indica, or 0. glaberrima (11, 4, 7 and 8 accessions, respectively). These findings demonstrated, for the first time, the existence of chloroplast genome diversity among cultivated rice species and ecospecies.


This paper applies recent cointegration techniques to analyse whether the forward market for the peseta/US dollar is efficient in both the one-month and the three-month segments of the market. Under the assumption of rationality, the premiums are small and they suggest a possible linear relationship between the premium and the expiry date of the contract. As a by-product of the analysis, an explanation is offered for the conflicting results which have been obtained in testing forward market efficiency, when such efficiency is tested with series in levels or with the deviations thereof in relation to the current spot rates.


The 13C(α,n)16O reaction is considered to be the most important neutron source for producing the main component of the s-process in low mass stars. In this paper we focus our attention on two of the main open problems concerning its operation as a driver for the slow neutron captures. Recently, a new measurement of the 13C(α,n)16O reaction rate was performed via the Trojan Horse Method greatly increasing the accuracy. Contemporarily, on the modelling side, magnetic mechanisms were suggested to justify the production of the 13C pocket, thus putting the s-process in stars on safe physical ground. These inputs allow us to reproduce satisfactorily the solar distribution of elements.


Purpose – This study explores optimal pricing strategies for innovations with direct network externalities. The utility of these innovations increases with the number of adopters and thus the innovation takeoff requires a certain number of adopters. Design/methodology/approach – Agent-based Modeling and Simulation. Findings – The relationship between price and NPV of revenue resembles an asymmetric inverse U-shape. Low-pricing strategy outperforms high-pricing, while a moderate pricing strategy outperforms both low- and high-pricing strategies. Moreover, heterogeneity of consumer price sensitivity positively affects NPV of sales. Practical implications – Pricing durable new products with network externalities are more challenging than other types of innovations. The price pattern of most new durable products are out of the control of firms and historical data indicates that the price of such innovations drops over time which further highlights the importance of their introductory pricing. The results indicate that firms can maximize their NPV by adopting a moderate pricing strategy. Moreover, firms must consider heterogeneity of consumer price sensitivity along with the market price elasticity when making pricing decisions. Detailed strategic implications and recommendations are discussed. Originality/value – Several recent studies have called for studying pricing strategies for new products with network externalities. The study findings challenge the common wisdom that a penetration pricing strategy is an optimal approach for durable products with network externalities. Moreover, while other studies have highlighted the importance of market price elasticity, extensive simulation experiments conducted in this study shows that heterogeneity of consumer price sensitivity is an important factor that must be considered. Finally, the study presents an agent-based modeling approach for exploring optimal pricing innovations with network externalities.


Wellens' syndrome is characterized by an electrocardiographic pattern of T-wave changes associated with a critical stenosis of the left anterior descending artery (LAD), which progresses to an extensive anterior myocardial infarction in the majority of cases. For this reason, its recognition and early treatment are extremely important. We report 2 cases of Wellens' syndrome: an 83-year-old male presenting with ill-characterized chest pain, biphasic T waves in V1-V3 during an asymptomatic period, negative cardiac biomarkers, and a 64% stenosis in LAD with a fractional flow reserve of 0.96 who fared well on medical therapy, and an 67-year-old male with typical angina pain, biphasic T waves in V2-V4 during asymptomatic periods, anterior ST-segment elevation at 2 min of effort during an exercise stress test, positive high-sensitivity cardiac troponin, and an 80% stenosis in the proximal LAD who was submitted to percutaneous coronary intervention which rendered him asymptomatic. The spectrum of Wellens' syndrome is very wide, and knowledge and high clinical suspicion for its diagnosis, especially in its rarest presentation of biphasic T waves, is key to avoiding catastrophic consequences.


A unique color interpolation approach for digital still cameras is introduced and described in terms of color vectors. A new difference plane model is introduced and used in conjunction with the proposed here correction process. This avoids edge blurring while improving on the color appearance of previous methods. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method exhibits superior performance over state of-the-art color interpolation methods.


The aim of this study was to assess agreement in the diagnosis of dental fluorosis performed by a standardized digital photographic method and a clinical examination (gold standard). 49 children (aged 7-9 years) were clinically evaluated by a trained examiner for the assessment of dental fluorosis. Central incisors were evaluated for the presence or absence of dental fluorosis and were photographed with a digital camera. Photographs were presented to three pediatric dentists, who examined the images. Data were analyzed using Cohen's kappa and validity values. Agreement in the diagnosis performed by the photographic method and clinical examination was good (0.67) and accuracy was 83.7%. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was reported to be higher in the clinical examination (49%) compared with the photographic method (36.7%). The photographic method presented higher specificity (96%) than sensitivity (70.8%), a positive predictive value (PPV) of 94.4% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 77.4%. The diagnosis of dental fluorosis performed using the photographic method presented high specificity and PPV, which indicates that the method is reproducible and reliable for recording dental fluorosis.


To the Editor: Dengue viruses (DENVs) belong to the genus Flavivirus (family Flaviviridae) and exist as 4 antigenic types, serotypes 1–4, each with well-defined genotypes. Dengue virus is associated with clinical manifestations that range from asymptomatic infections and relatively mild disease (classic dengue fever) to more severe forms of dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. Dengue has become one of the most serious vector-borne diseases in humans. The World Health Organization estimates that 2.5 billion persons live in dengue-endemic areas and >50 million are infected annually (1).

In 1986, dengue virus type 1 (DENV-1) caused an outbreak in the state of Rio de Janeiro and has since become a public health concern and threat in Brazil. (2). In 1990, DENV-2 was reported in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where the first severe forms of dengue hemorrhagic fever and fatal cases of dengue shock syndrome were documented. The disease gradually spread to other regions of the country (3). In 2002, DENV-3 caused the most severe dengue outbreak in the country and sporadic outbreaks continued to be documented through 2005 (4).

Since 1990, two additional epidemics caused by DENV-2 have occurred (1998 and 2007–2008) in Brazil. A severe DENV-2 epidemic in the state of Rio de Janeiro began in 2007 and continued in 2008; a total of 255,818 cases and 252 deaths were reported (5). This epidemic prompted us to investigate the genetic relatedness of DENV-2 for all of these epidemics.

DENV-2 isolates from these epidemic periods were subjected to sequencing and comparison. Gross sequences of DENV-2 isolates from all epidemic periods grouped with sequences from DENV-2 American/Asian genotype; this finding was expected because this genotype is circulating in the Americas (6,7). Sequences of DENV-2 isolates from the 1998 epidemic grouped with sequences of DENV-2 isolates from the 1990 epidemic (data not shown) suggesting that viruses circulating during these 2 epidemic periods belong to the same lineage of the DENV-2 strain originally found in the state of Rio de Janeiro. However, sequences of DENV-2 isolates from 2007/2008 epidemics grouped separately and distinctly from the 1990 and 1998 DENV-2 isolates and represented a monophyletic group in the phylogenetic tree with bootstraps of 98% (Figure). This result shows a temporal circulation of genetically different viruses in Rio de Janeiro that could be a result of local evolution of DENV-2 since its introduction in 1990, or even an introduction of a new lineage of DENV-2 in the region.

Figure

Neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree of 68 complete envelope (E) gene sequences of dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2). Only bootstrap values >80% are shown. DENV-2 sequences obtained from 21 patients infected during the 1990, 1998, and 2007–2008 ...

A study conducted by Aquino et al. (7) showed that Paraguayan DENV-2 strains could be grouped as 2 distinct variants within the American/Asian genotype, thus further supporting that the introduction of new DENV-2 variants may likely associate with the shift of dominant serotypes from DENV-3 to DENV-2 in 2005 and might have caused an outbreak of DENV-2. Our results are consistent with this scenario because was a shift of a dominant serotype from DENV-3 to DENV-2 that was observed in 2008 in Rio de Janeiro. However, other factors, such as immunity level to DENV-3 and DENV-2, could explain the shift of dominant serotype besides the circulation of a new viral variant.

Because the dengue outbreaks of 2007 and 2008 were the most severe of the dengue infections in Brazil in terms of number of cases and deaths, this genetically distinct DENV-2 could have contributed to this pathogenic profile. Additionally, these samples came from disperse locations in Rio de Janeiro and we do not believe that there is a clustering issue in our sampling. However, again, other factors must be considered as contributors to this scenario because of the intrinsic properties of this distinct virus, host susceptibility, and secondary cases of infection.

In addition, detailed examination of amino acid sequences of Brazilian DENV-2 strains isolated in 1998 and 2008 showed 6 aa substitutions in the envelope gene: V129I, L131Q, I170T, E203D, M340T, and I380V. Our results support the notion that aa positions at 129 and 131 in the envelope gene are critical genetic markers for phylogenetic classification of DENV-2 (7–9).

Notably, residue 131 in the envelope gene is located within a pH-dependent hinge region at the interface between domains I and II of the envelope protein. Mutations at this region may affect the pH threshold of fusion and the process of conformational changes (10).

Our results suggest the circulation of genetically different DENV-2 in Brazil and that these viruses may have a role in severity of dengue diseases. These findings can help to further understand the complex dynamic pathogenic profile of dengue viruses and their circulation in dengue-endemic regions.


Clustering protocol for data gathering is one of the effective ways to solve the energy hole problem in wireless sensor networks. However, most of the existing clustering protocols focus on the network model with uniform node distribution. They cannot effectively apply to the real network where the sensor nodes are randomly non-uniformly deployed. In this paper, we propose an energy-balanced clustering routing protocol (EBCRP) based on task separation. In this scheme, the network is firstly divided into clusters by using global information. And each of them has the same number of sensor nodes in order to balance the energy consumption of intra-cluster. In succession, task separation, the tasks of traditional single cluster head are separated and achieved by two cluster heads respectively, is proposed to reduce the traffic burden for single cluster head. Then, we explore an energy-efficient and reliable inter-cluster routing algorithm, which considers comprehensively three factors: residual energy, distance and available buffer space of nodes. Simulation results and performance evaluation of EBCRP show significant improvement in network lifetime and energy balance.


AIM
To address the special considerations that need to be taken into account when collecting data from older people in healthcare research.

BACKGROUND
An objective of all research studies is to ensure there is an adequate sample size. The final sample size will be influenced by methods of recruitment and data collection, among other factors. There are some special considerations that need to be addressed when collecting data among older people.

DATA SOURCES
Quantitative surveys of people aged 60 or over in 2009-2014 were analysed using statistical methods. A quantitative study of patients aged 75 or over in an emergency department was used as an example.

REVIEW METHODS
A methodological approach to analysing quantitative studies concerned with older people.

CONCLUSION
The best way to ensure high response rates in surveys involving people aged 60 or over is to collect data in the presence of the researcher; response rates are lowest in posted surveys and settings where the researcher is not present when data are collected. Response rates do not seem to vary according to the database from which information about the study participants is obtained or according to who is responsible for recruitment to the survey. Implications for research/practice To conduct coherent studies with older people, the data collection process should be carefully considered.


Microbial communities exchange molecules with their environment that play a major role in global biogeochemical cycles and climate. While extracellular metabolites are commonly measured in terrestrial and limnic ecosystems, the presence of salt in marine habitats has hampered non-targeted analyses of the ocean exo-metabolome. To overcome these limitations, we developed SeaMet, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method that detects at minimum 107 metabolites down to nano-molar concentrations in less than one milliliter of seawater, and improves signal detection by 324 fold compared to standard methods for marine samples. To showcase the strengths of SeaMet, we used it to explore marine metabolomes in vitro and in vivo. For the former, we measured the production and consumption of metabolites during culture of a heterotrophic bacterium that is widespread in the North Sea. Our approach revealed successional uptake of amino acids, while sugars were not consumed, and highlight the power of exocellular metabolomics in providing insights into nutrient uptake and energy conservation in marine microorganisms. For in vivo analyses, we applied SeaMet to explore the in situ metabolome of coral reef and mangrove sediment porewaters. Despite the fact that these ecosystems occur in nutrient-poor waters, we uncovered high concentrations of many different sugars and fatty acids, compounds predicted to play a key role for the abundant and diverse microbial communities in coral-reef and mangrove sediments. Our data demonstrate that SeaMet advances marine metabolomics by enabling a non-targeted and quantitative analysis of marine metabolites, thus providing new insights into nutrient cycles in the oceans. Importance The non-targeted, hypothesis-free approach using metabolomics to analyzing metabolites that occur in the oceans is less developed than for terrestrial and limnic ecosystems. The central challenge in marine metabolomics is that salt prevents the comprehensive analysis of metabolites in seawater. Building on previous sample preparation methods for metabolomics, we developed SeaMet, which overcomes the limitations of salt on metabolite detection. Considering the oceans contain the largest organic carbon pool on Earth, describing the marine metabolome using non-targeted approaches is critical for understanding the drivers behind element cycles, biotic interactions, ecosystem function, and atmospheric CO2 storage. Our method complements both targeted marine metabolomic investigations as well as other 'omics' (e.g., genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics) level approaches by providing an avenue for studying the chemical interaction between marine microbes and their habitats.


Background

A reduction of energy used during walking could present a significant advantage for both healthy individuals and those with reduced mobility. Current unpowered exoskeletons have shown a net reduction in energy consumption for walking, but commonly with a clutch and assist on the heel. This paper presents the development of a lightweight energy recycling exoskeleton without a clutch and assists on the forefoot.
Methods

Eight healthy participants were tested during walking at 1.25 m/s on a treadmill wearing exoskeletons of four kinds of conditions. Electromyography (EMG) of the soleus muscle and gastrocnemius muscle were collected.
Results

Our results showed that the novel exoskeleton could make the peak and average EMG-values of soleus muscles drop about 13% and 8% respectively, and that of gastrocnemius muscles drop about 12% and 13% respectively.
Conclusions

The results of the present work demonstrate for the first time that the novel energy recycling exoskeleton can improve the walking economy, and this device could be feasibly worn for a broad range of individuals.


Abstract Objectives. Emotional dysregulation in bipolar disorder is thought to arise from dysfunction within prefrontal cortical regions involved in cognitive control coupled with increased or aberrant activation within regions engaged in emotional processing. The aim of this study was to determine the common and distinct patterns of functional brain abnormalities during reward and working memory processing in patients with bipolar disorder. Methods. Participants were 36 euthymic bipolar disorder patients and 37 healthy comparison subjects matched for age, sex and IQ. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was conducted during the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the n-back working memory task. Results. During both tasks, patients with bipolar disorder demonstrated a pattern of inefficient engagement within the ventral frontopolar prefrontal cortex with evidence of segregation along the medial-lateral dimension for reward and working memory processing, respectively. Moreover, patients also showed greater activation in the anterior cingulate cortex during the Iowa Gambling Task and in the insula during the n-back task. Conclusions. Our data implicate ventral frontopolar dysfunction as a core abnormality underpinning bipolar disorder and confirm that overactivation in regions involved in emotional arousal is present even in tasks that do not typically engage emotional systems.


Background: The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in many studies is associated with a better prognosis in melanoma patients. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression has a significant value in predicting several cancers, but its role in melanoma remains ambiguous. The study aims to report a comprehensive analysis of TILs characteristics and their impact on survival in primary acral melanoma (AM). Methods: Clinical and pathological features and survival outcomes were investigated in 70 patients with AM. Immunohistochemical quantitative analysis of TILs, including expression of CD4, CD8, FOXP3, PD-1, and PD-L1, on melanoma cells was performed. Results: Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significant differences in overall survival (OS) for CD4+ (p = 0.021), CD8+ (p = 0.037), FOXP3+ (p = 0.007), and TILs density (p = 0.043). In univariate analysis of immunohistochemical features, FOXP3, CD4, CD8, PD-1, and Melanoma Institute of Australia (MIA) grading TILs (grade, density, and distribution) were correlated with survival. The higher density of FOXP3-positive cells was an independent factor associated with better survival. Conclusions: High TILs content (classed as brisk Clark scale and marked/diffuse TILs MIA grade) regardless of its immunophenotype was associated with better survival outcomes in AM. PD-L1 expression on tumor cells did not influence OS and was independent of clinical and pathological characteristics. We demonstrated that TILs are significant biomarkers in sentinel lymph node status prediction.


A discussion is provided of policy developments and policy debate for the sugar and wool industries in 1992 and the first half of l993. The discussion is set against a characterisation of the longer-term economic situations of the two industries. It is suggested, perhaps controversially, that government failure has been a longstanding feature of both industries. Understanding of the policy reform needed to remove economic inefficiency is better for sugar than for wool. However, the decisions taken on sugar policy in February, 1993 mean that incentives for wasteful use of resources are maintained. In the case of wool, the Gamaut inquiry faces a challenge in trying to come to grips, in a period of three months, with the major short- to medium-term problems of debt repayment and disposal of the stockpile, as well as the apparent longer-term problem of creating incentives to restrict wool exports to the optimal level.


The statement occurs in some of the standard textbooks of pediatrics and in reports of surveys of amebic dysentery that amebiasis in infants and children is exceedingly rare, except in the tropics. That this belief is current in children's hospitals is manifested by the surprise and incredulity frequently expressed when the presence of Endamoeba histolytica in a patient's stools is reported by the laboratory and by the pediatrician's questioning attitude as to its significance. We were cognizant of this statement in the literature and of its rather general acceptance. We remembered that since the Chicago epidemic of amebic dysentery Spector1had made several surveys of amebiasis in children's institutions, and Nichamin and his associates2had made one. Knowing that there had been a few patients with amebiasis in Sarah Morris Hospital in recent years, we became interested in compiling the references on surveys of amebiasis in infants and


Predictors of communication impairment in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using tracheostomy-invasive ventilation (TIV) were investigated. Seventy-six ALS patients using TIV were enrolled and classified into three subgroups of communication ability: patients who could communicate with communication devices (Stage I), patients who had difficulty with communication (Stage II, III, or IV), and patients who could not communicate by any means (Stage V). Predictors of communication impairment were analysed by the Cox proportional hazard model. Results demonstrated that there were no significant differences in disease duration between subgroups. Within 24 months after disease onset, patients who needed TIV and tube feeding, developed oculomotor impairment or became totally quadriplegic and progressed from Stage I to II and V significantly earlier. Multivariate analyses revealed that within 24 months from onset, the need for TIV and progression to total quadriplegia were significant events in patients who progressed to Stage II, whereas the development of oculomotor limitation was significant in patients who progressed to Stage V. In conclusion, TIV, impaired oculomotor movement and total quadriplegia are predictors of severe communication impairment. Rapid disease progression might indicate future communication impairment after the use of TIV. We highly recommend early detection of impaired communication and identification of the best methods of communication.


The Dam1 complex is essential for mitotic progression across evolutionarily divergent fungi. Upon analyzing amino acid (aa) sequences of Dad2, a Dam1 complex subunit, we identified a conserved 10-aa-long Dad2 signature sequence (DSS). An arginine residue (R126) in the DSS is essential for viability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that possesses point centromeres. The corresponding arginine residues are functionally important but not essential for viability in Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, both carry several kilobases long regional centromeres. The purified recombinant Dam1 complex containing either Dad2ΔDSS or Dad2R126A failed to bind microtubules (MTs) or form any visible rings like the wild-type complex. Intriguingly, functional analysis revealed that the requirement of the conserved arginine residue for chromosome biorientation and mitotic progression reduced with increasing centromere length. We propose that plasticity of the invariant arginine of Dad2 in organisms with regional centromeres is achieved by conditional elevation of the kinetochore protein(s) to enable multiple kinetochore MTs (kMTs) to bind to each chromosome. The capacity of a chromosome to bind multiple kMTs may mask deleterious effects of such lethal mutations.


Hypoxia, and hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), can induce tumor resistance to radiation therapy. To overcome hypoxia-induced radiation resistance, recent studies have described nanosystems to improve tumor oxygenation for immobilizing DNA damage and simultaneously initiate oxygen-dependent HIF-1α degradation. However, HIF-1α degradation is incomplete during tumor oxygenation treatment alone. Therefore, tumor oxygenation combined with residual HIF-1 functional inhibition is crucial to optimizing therapeutic outcomes of radiotherapy. Here, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsive nanoplatform is reported to successfully add up tumor oxygenation and HIF-1 functional inhibition. This ROS responsive nanoplatform, based on manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanoparticles, delivers the HIF-1 inhibitor acriflavine and other hydrophilic cationic drugs to tumor tissues. After reacting with overexpressed hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) within tumor tissues, Mn2+ and oxygen molecules are released for magnetic resonance imaging and tumor oxygenation, respectively. Cooperating with the HIF-1 functional inhibition, the expression of tumor invasion-related signaling molecules (VEGF, MMP-9) is obviously decreased to reduce the risk of metastasis. Furthermore, the nanoplatform could relieve T-cell exhaustion via downregulation of PD-L1, whose effects are similar to the checkpoint inhibitor PD-L1 antibody, and subsequently activates tumor-specific immune responses against abscopal tumors. These therapeutic benefits including increased X-ray-induced damage, downregulated resistance, and T-cell exhaustion related proteins expression achieved synergistically the optimal inhibition of tumor growth. Overall, this designed ROS responsive nanoplatform is of great potential in the sensitization of radiation for combating primary and metastatic tumors.


The local development of atherosclerotic lesions may, at least partly, be associated with the specific cellular composition of atherosclerosis-prone regions. Previously, it was demonstrated that a small population of immature vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) expressing both CD146 and neuron-glial antigen 2 is postnatally sustained in atherosclerosis-prone sites. We supposed that these cells may be involved in atherogenesis and can continuously respond to angiotensin II, which is an atherogenic factor. Using immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, wound migration assay xCELLigence system, and calcium imaging, we studied the functional activities of immature VSMCs in vitro and in vivo. According to our data, these cells do not express nestin, CD105, and the leptin receptor. They are localized in atherosclerosis-prone regions, and their number increases with age, from 5.7% to 23%. Immature VSMCs do not migrate to low shear stress areas and atherosclerotic lesions. They also do not have any unique response to angiotensin II. Thus, despite the localization of immature VSMCs and the presence of the link between their number and age, our study did not support the hypothesis that immature VSMCs are directly involved in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. Additional lineage tracing studies can clarify the fate of these cells during atherogenesis.


We derive exact solutions to the sine-Gordon equation describing localized structures on the background of librational and rotational travelling waves. In the case of librational waves, the exact solution represents a localized spike in space-time coordinates (a rogue wave) that decays to the periodic background algebraically fast. In the case of rotational waves, the exact solution represents a kink propagating on the periodic background and decaying algebraically in the transverse direction to its propagation. These solutions model the universal patterns in the dynamics of fluxon condensates in the semi-classical limit. The different dynamics are related to modulational instability of the librational waves and modulational stability of the rotational waves.


The racemic 3-(4-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-2-yl)-N-[1-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl]propanamide, 1, has previously been identified as a potent but unselective inhibitor of diphtheria toxin-like ADP-ribosyltransferase 3 (ARTD3). Herein we describe synthesis and evaluation of 55 compounds in this class. It was found that the stereochemistry is of great importance for both selectivity and potency and that substituents on the phenyl ring resulted in poor solubility. Certain variations at the meso position were tolerated and caused a large shift in the binding pose. Changes to the ethylene linker that connects the quinazolinone to the amide were also investigated but proved detrimental to binding. By combination of synthetic organic chemistry and structure-based design, two selective inhibitors of ARTD3 were discovered.


This paper aims to reflect about how Cultural Heritage museums have been affected by the introduction of the concept of Virtual Museum, and are in turn affecting its development. To that end, it will firstly examine its philosophical roots and summarize how the museum's concept and its relationship with audiences have been modified by it. Then, it will review previous characterizations and current uses in order to suggest a new, more comprehensive definition of it. Finally, it will consider different theoretical frameworks that have been recently proposed for its definitive integration. The idea behind this paper is that the definition and implementation of the Virtual Museum revolves around its conceptual distance to the physical visit, which is ultimately determined by the museological tradition of each country. As a consequence, the real potential of Information and Communication Technologies for museum communication and learning online has not been completely unfolded. The solution may be found between a shift in mentalities and the limits of technological flexibility.


Crack cocaine use carries high costs for society, particularly in terms of increased crime. The tools of modern neuroscience may be able to reduce demand by addressing altered brain circuitry of individuals suffering from severe cocaine use disorder. Here, we review several rehabilitative strategies, including pharmacotherapies targeting neurotransmitter systems, immunotherapies that block cocaine from entering the central nervous system, brain stimulation to disrupt abnormal circuit function, and real-time feedback in neuroimaging to allow the strengthening of impulse control. These experimental treatments hold promise for treating severe cocaine use disorder, and such approaches could be employed as an alternative to widespread incarceration. View the complete article in .pdf form here .


Analysis of x-ray diagrams of oriented hydrated cytoplasmic microtubules shows that the tubule wall extends from about 70 to 150 A radially. The central region of the wall appears homogeneous, but the outside surface is subdivided by vertical grooves separating the 13 protofilaments and by a steep 10-fold family of grooves. The inside surface is dominated by the 10-start grooves with no clear subdivision between the protofilaments.


We study the effects of disorder on a Kitaev chain with longer-range hopping and pairing terms which is capable of forming local zero energy excitations and, hence, serves as a minimal model for localization-protected edge qubits. The clean phase diagram hosts regions with 0, 1, and 2 Majorana zero-modes (MZMs) per edge. Using a semianalytic approach corroborated by numerical calculations of the entanglement degeneracy, we show how phase boundaries evolve under the influence of disorder. While in general the 2 MZM region is stable with respect to moderate disorder, stronger values drive transition towards the topologically trivial phase. We uncover regions where the addition of disorder induces local zero-modes absent for the corresponding clean system. Interestingly, we discover that disorder destroys any direct transition between phases with zero and two MZMs by creating a tricritical point at the 2-0 MZM boundary of the clean system. Finally, motivated by recent experiments, we calculate the characteristic signatures of the disorder phase diagram as measured in dynamical local and nonlocal ``qubit'' correlation functions. Our work provides a minimal starting point to investigate the coherence properties of local qubits in the presence of disorder.


Introduction Faecal Calprotectin (FCP) is a widely used biomarker of gastrointestinal (GI) mucosal inflammation. Many capsule enteroscopy (CE) services are receiving increased referrals of patients with abdominal symptoms combined with an elevated FCP (>50 µg/g) but normal gastroscopy, colonoscopy or radiology. There is little data on using FCP levels as a screening tool for selecting patients in whom CE will lead to a definitive diagnosis. Elevated FCP levels may indiscriminately drive investigations in endoscopy and imaging-negative patients who subsequently have normal findings at CE. We aimed to determine the incidence of inflammatory pathology on CE in patients with a raised FCP, and if a suitable concentration of the biomarker could be identified as a screening tool to avoid unnecessary CE. Method A single centre retrospective review of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals CE database was conducted (Feb 2012–Feb 2015). Patients with GI symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhoea, bloating, vomiting, weight loss) and a raised FCP (>50 µg/g) were identified. Findings at CE considered to be inflammatory were: erythema, ulceration, erosions and fissuring. Results 35 patients were identified with elevated FCP and GI symptoms. 45.7% (n = 16) had inflammation identified by CE and in 54.3% (n = 19) no inflammatory pathology was identified. The mean (+/-SE) FCP was higher in patients with evidence of inflammation at CE in comparison to those with no inflammation: 452.1 (95.8) µg/g vs. 206 (20.8) µg/g; p = 0.01. Stratifying patients according to FCP revealed that only 8.3% of patients (n = 1/12) with a FCP of 50–200 µg/g had inflammatory findings at CE. This rose to 58.3% of patients (n = 7/12) with a FCP of 201–300 µg/g, and 72.7% of patients (n = 8/11) with a FCP >300 µg/g. A threshold of 200 µg/g FCP revealed a sensitivity of 94.1% to predict inflammation at CE, with a specificity of 55.6%. This FCP threshold had a negative predictive value of 90.9%, and positive predictive value of 66.7% for CE inflammation. Conclusion In this small retrospective analysis of a sub-group of patients referred for CE with a FCP of >50 μg/g the likelihood of identifying inflammatory pathology at CE increased with rising FCP concentrations above 200 μg/g. A threshold of 200 μg/g provided a high negative predictive value for CE inflammation and may be a useful screening tool to reduce the requirement for CE in select patient groups. This retrospective analysis should be confirmed in a larger prospective cohort. Disclosure of interest None Declared.


AIM To establish the Karnofsky performance status (KPS) categories which would facilitate the interconversion of the KPS scale to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) scale. METHODS This was a retrospective analysis of all patients attending the lung cancer clinic at a tertiary care center over a 5-year period (September 2009 to August 2014). All patients were assessed with both KPS and ECOG PS scales at each visit. Correlation between KPS and ECOG PS was assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient. KPS categories equivalent to ECOG PS scores were compared using hit rate and weighted kappa (κw). RESULTS A total of 1501 patients were assessed over the study period, providing 5844 paired KPS and ECOG PS assessments. The study cohort had a mean (standard deviation; SD) age of 58.4 (10.8) years, with the majority being current or ex-smokers (76.9%) and males (82.3%). Non-small cell lung cancer was the most common histological type (n = 1196, 79.7%) with the majority having advanced (stage IIIB/IV) disease (83.4%). Mean baseline KPS and ECOG PS scores were 77.6 (SD = 14.4) and 1.5 (SD = 1) respectively. The most frequent KPS score was 80 (29%), and the most frequent ECOG PS score was 1 (43%). The overall correlation between KPS and ECOG PS was good (Spearman r = -0.84, P < 0.0001) but ranged from -0.727 to -0.972 between visits. KPS categories derived from our cohort [10-40 (ECOG 4), 50-60 (ECOG 3), 70 (ECOG 2), 80-90 (ECOG 1), 100 (ECOG 0)] performed better [hit rate 78.1%, κw = 0.749 (0.736-0.762) P < 0.0001] than those suggested in the past literature. CONCLUSION The current study provides the largest set of paired KPS-ECOG assessments to date. We suggest that the KPS categories 10-40, 50-60, 70, 80-90, and 100 are equivalent to ECOG PS categories of 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0 respectively.


The development of new functional ingredients is important for future food products. This PhD research aimed at the development of protein based structuring agents. Structuring agents are ingredrients that can be used to tailor the texture (and the mouth-feel) of products. Proteins were transferred into protein fibres (fibrils) that are long (1 micrometer) and very thin (few nanometers). Due to their special properties, protein fibrils offer unique possibilities to mimick meat structures and make products like yoghurt more creamy. This research shows that protein fibrils can be made from different protein sources (whey protein of milk, soy protein, potato protein) by heating an acidic protein solution. Furthermore, the mechanism of fibril formation was clarified. As a result, it was possible to optimize the fibril production and control the fibril properties. Finally, an important step was made towards the application of these fibrils in food products by studying the behaviour of fibrils in a model system for food products.


This study was designed to clarify the relationship between pancreatic B-cell polyploidization and the progress of the diabetic syndrome in genetically diabetic (C57BL/Ks-db/db) and normal control mice (C57BL/KsJ) of matched age groups. Nuclear volume was confirmed to be a proper index of the polyploid class of the B-cell by correlation with Feulgen-DNA content as measured by microdensitometry. Nuclei of B-cells, identified by aldehyde fuchsin positive cytoplasmic granules, were traced by camera lucida and their volumes determined by semiautomatic particle size analysis. Six age groups were studied: 4.5, 7, 9.5, 12, 14.5 and 17 weeks. The major conclusions are: 1) The percentage of tetraploid nuclei in normal mice is consistently between 1.0 and 2.0% from 4.5 to 14.5 weeks of age and increases to approximately 3.0% at 17 weeks of age; however, further studies are required to determined the significance of this increase; 2) in all age groups studied, percentages of polyploid nuclei are significantly greater in diabetic than in control mice; 3) the percentage of tetraploid nuclei in diabetic animals is elevated 220% over controls at 4.5 weeks of age, remains constant until 12 weeks (while other parameters such as blood glucose level and body weight continue to rise) and increases significantly between 12 and 14.5 weeks of age. Implications of both the increased polyploidy observed at the onset of disease symptoms, and the dramatic increase occurring during the later stages of the disease, are discussed.


Recently, according to the total quality management environment, the necessity of the systematic administration about the quality information is gradually enlarged as to vehicle related company. Accordingly, related companies require the operation of the information management system matched with the quality administration task level. And through the storage and share of the efficient quality information, they try to solve the customer claim about the quality and prevent the quality problem recurrence of product. This research suggests the standard business process of the auto part supplier for the efficient management of the quality information and the quick correspondence of the quality problem. In addition, by building and managing the quality information management system will be able to expect the more efficient quality management and the product reliability insurance.


Analyses of the anisotropic behavior of a fiber composite plate from the laser-generated ultrasonic Lamb waveforms propagating in different directions are presented by employing wavelet transform techniques. The time-frequency representation plots of the waveforms clearly exhibit the anisotropic behavior of the composite plate. The plots also indicate that the waveform mainly consists of three or four lower-order Lamb wave modes, and other higher-order modes can be neglected in extracting elastic stiffness properties by comparison of theory with experimental waveforms. The group velocity of each mode is calculated according to the group delay and the source-receiver distance.


Historically it has been difficult to combine transmitters which are closely spaced in frequency onto the same omnidirectional antenna. Two principal techniques have been used: cavity combining and transmission line hybrid combining. When using cavities, the minimum separation is limited by the amount of insertion loss that is acceptable and by the frequency stability of the cavities. In the 800 MHz land mobile frequency band, cavity combining has been used to combine transmitters as closely spaced as 0.5 MHz with 3 dB in insertion loss. When combining transmitters separated less than 0.5 MHz, hybrid combining has been used. When two transmitters are combined using this technique, half of the power of each is dissipated into a matched load. Further, each time the number of transmitters being combined is doubled, an additional 3 dB is added to the insertion loss. A new technique has been developed which utilizes transmission line hybrids to combine the transmitters, but which does not suffer from larqe insertion loss. The power that was previously dissipated in the resistive load is radiated in a manner that produces an omnidirectional pattern. The antenna and network that accomplish this combine signals with 90 degree phase shifts. Measurements show that it is possible to combine eight transmitters arbitrarily close in frequency with 35 dB of isolation between adjacent channels, less than 0.5 dB insertion loss, and with horizontal pattern circularity better than ±3 dB. Additionally, this technique can be combined with cavity combining to maintain high isolation between all transmitters.


The contribution presents the results of a research project carried out within the main framework of the "Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan" for the Ravenna Municipality, one of the signatories of the "Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy". The project goal is to provide decision makers and city planners with landscape-oriented strategies capable of improving the territorial resilience vis-a-vis climate change impacts in the next decades. The research focuses on the construction of future alternative scenarios on a 2100 horizon. From their comparison, a short-term vision (2050) open to alternative developments has been designed. The study provides an overall view, on a municipal scale, of the main adaptation actions that can be implemented; then, it tests their potential effectiveness on smaller case-studies illustrating some recurring landscape units of the territory.


Six nursery reefs of ca. 20m were installed off Shiraishi Island, central Seto Inland Sea, Japan in July 2000. Juvenile red spotted grouper were released into the reefs on October 2001. The densities of released juveniles were arranged at three levels, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 fish per reef. Part of the reef was salvaged from each reef three times to estimate the number of residual fish. The numbers of residual fish were directly proportional to the numbers of released fish until one month after release; however they were nearly even among the three levels at four months after release. Retention rates were inversely proportional to the released number. Release experiments into a fishing port were carried out in Ishima West Port located in central Seto Inland Sea, Japan. A total number of 15,000 and 1,500 juveniles were released into the port on October 1998 and November 1999, respectively. Respective recapture operation took place 16 and 28 days after the release using 16 and 20 fishing traps in the port. CPUE were 0.38 and 0.05 directly proportional to the number of released juveniles.


E‐Business channels are presenting novel opportunities for small vineyards to target new online market segments, to communicate directly with the customer and side‐step the main wine distributors who have traditionally blocked access to substantially wider markets. In the UK, where the majority of wine producers is heavily reliant on direct sales, understanding the role that eBusiness channels can play in the buyer behaviour process could be critical for building effective customer relationships and sales. This paper investigates how competitive advantage can be achieved through B2C channels.


Abstract:  Introduction of artificial light into wildlife habitat represents a rapidly expanding form of human encroachment, particularly in coastal systems. Light pollution alters the behavior of sea turtles during nesting; therefore, long‐wavelength lights—low‐pressure sodium vapor and bug lights—that minimize impacts on turtles are required for beach lighting in Florida (U.S.A.). We investigated the effects of these two kinds of lights on the foraging behavior of Santa Rosa beach mice ( Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus). We compared patch use and giving‐up densities of mice for experimental food patches established along a gradient of artificial light in the field. Mice exploited fewer food patches near both types of artificial light than in areas with little light and harvested fewer seeds within patches near bug lights. Our results show that artificial light affects the behavior of terrestrial species in coastal areas and that light pollution deserves greater consideration in conservation planning.


The experimental research on figurative language comprehension is often difficult to categorize because of the diverse ways scholars describe their work and its theoretical implications. Several researchers clearly aim to present broad models of figurative language comprehension and attempt to show how their specific theories can possibly explain understanding of many different kinds of tropes. Even if these research programs do not always provide empirical evidence related to each kind of figurative speech typically studied in the field, there is still an overt attempt to apply the findings of various empirical tests to broader conceptions of how figurative language, and language in general, is comprehended. There are other researchers, however, who typically focus on one or two tropes in their empirical studies. Although this latter group of psycholinguists does not usually provide full-scale models of figurative language comprehension, they sometimes suggest how their empirical findings bear on enduring issues in the study of figurative language processing. Finally, there are scholars, and their empirical studies, that focus exclusively on specific tropes and aim only to construct theories appropriate for understanding those figures. It should also come as no surprise that some psycholinguists flow back and forth among these various research strategies, and summarizing these scholars' contributions can be challenging. Our aim in this chapter is to evaluate different traditional and contemporary models of figurative language comprehension. The emphasis here is on research that bears on general issues related to the ease or difficulty of comprehending figurative language as a general form of linguistic meaning. Following the traditional belief about differences between literal and figurative language (see Chapter 2), psycholinguists have focused a great deal on examining the possibility that figurative language is understood after some sort of preliminary, default analysis of an expression's literal meaning. Psycholinguistic research over the past 40 years, however, has struggled to create adequate accounts of sentence parsing, and discourse processing, even for so-called literal language. Although there has been significant progress in the study of different aspects of online sentence processing in regard to specific topics (e.g., the interaction of syntax and semantics in sentence parsing, reference assignment, ambiguity resolution, establishing coherence relations in text), there is no single, coherent agreed-on position as to what people ordinarily do when they encounter language word-by-word in speech and reading. Thus, there is not one single position on so-called literal meaning processing, even among scholars who embrace traditional views of literal meaning. This state of affairs highlights some of the problems with theories of interpreting figurative meaning that are based on unverified assumptions as to how so-called literal language is usually understood.


A laboratory‐generated hierarchical, fully heterogeneous aquifer model (FHM) provides a reference for developing and testing an upscaling approach that integrates large‐scale connectivity mapping with flow and transport modeling. Based on the FHM, three hydrostratigraphic models (HSMs) that capture lithological (static) connectivity at different resolutions are created, each corresponding to a sedimentary hierarchy. Under increasing system lnK variances (0.1, 1.0, 4.5), flow upscaling is first conducted to calculate equivalent hydraulic conductivity for individual connectivity (or unit) of the HSMs. Given the computed flow fields, an instantaneous, conservative tracer test is simulated by all models. For the HSMs, two upscaling formulations are tested based on the advection‐dispersion equation (ADE), implementing space versus time‐dependent macrodispersivity. Comparing flow and transport predictions of the HSMs against those of the reference model, HSMs capturing connectivity at increasing resolutions are more accurate, although upscaling errors increase with system variance. Results suggest: (1) by explicitly modeling connectivity, an enhanced degree of freedom in representing dispersion can improve the ADE‐based upscaled models by capturing non‐Fickian transport of the FHM; (2) when connectivity is sufficiently resolved, the type of data conditioning used to model transport becomes less critical. Data conditioning, however, is influenced by the prediction goal; (3) when aquifer is weakly‐to‐moderately heterogeneous, the upscaled models adequately capture the transport simulation of the FHM, despite the existence of hierarchical heterogeneity at smaller scales. When aquifer is strongly heterogeneous, the upscaled models become less accurate because lithological connectivity cannot adequately capture preferential flows; (4) three‐dimensional transport connectivities of the hierarchical aquifer differ quantitatively from those analyzed for two‐dimensional systems.


Several commercial processors, including the Motorola 88110 and the DEC Alpha, are capable of issuing multiple operations per clock cycle. Optimization of the pipeline depth and number of function units in these processors has been largely ignored due to limited semiconductor resources. Recently, advances in feature size and packaging technologies have removed these limitations. It is possible that next-generation processor designs may benefit from multiple function unit copies and optimize pipeline depths. The paper investigates the feasibility of performing synthesis at the architectural specification level. The design space is optimized for performance constrained by a hardware model of silicon area. The results of this study indicate that cost-effective high performance can be achieved with the addition of small amounts of function unit duplication. These results are also used to comment on the validity of the "benchmark suite" approach to performance evaluation and machine design.<<ETX>>


Modern representation learning methods perform well on offline tasks and primarily revolve around batch updates. However, batch updates preclude those methods from focusing on new experience, which is essential for fast online adaptation. In this thesis, we study an online and incremental representation search algorithm called Generate and Test, which continually replaces the least useful features with newly generated features. In this algorithm, the utility of features is estimated by a heuristic tester based on the magnitude of their corresponding outgoing weights; the least useful features are those with the smallest weight magnitudes. Generate and Test was developed and evaluated only on single-output regression problems. However, it has not been investigated in multi-output regression problems. Moreover, it is not clear that magnitude-based testers are appropriate for other outputs such as softmax. In this thesis, we investigate Generate and Test in these new cases and introduce testbeds for online representation learning in multi-output regression, classification, and reinforcement learning environments with discrete action spaces. We show that magnitude-based feature utility may give wrong estimates of the utility when softmax outputs are used, for example, in classification and discrete control tasks. We propose a new tester to extend the scope of the Generate and Test algorithm to these cases. We empirically show that this new tester can improve representations better than the magnitude-based tester. Thus, ours is the first work to make the Generate and Test algorithm applicable beyond supervised regression tasks. ii


This paper introduces a comparative analytical system that seeks to document the evolution of the game experience in the history of video games. Following an overview of formal and ontological inspections of games, ten interactive figures – domains of human agency typically modelled by game systems – are presented. The study of figures in art history traces the emergence and resurgence of different types of characters, poses or scenes, and indeed this is the meaning that is ascribed to the term here; games propose different "roles" depending on the specific ways they model this agency. These concepts are ideal to segment any game experience, and each of these segments are then analyzed with four conceptual categories: three layers of interface (the manipulation, mapping and feedback layers), and the ludic modes of engagement associated with each figure. The presentation of the system is encapsulated in an argument about the recurring fascination for VR technology in the world of video game; the analytical system will be able to document the actual integration of such elements along with other important parts of the ludic mediation.


REII is a Schizosaccharomyces pombe repression element located at the centromere-proximal end of the mat silent domain. Here we show that inversion of REII enhances silencing on its centromere-proximal side while suppressing silencing on its centromere-distal side. Transplacement of REII to a position 2.5 kb from its native locus extends the region of stringent repression to the new REII site. These results suggest that REII defines a mat silent domain boundary by acting preferentially toward its centromere-distal side. To investigate cooperation between REII and a K-region sequence that shares homology with the centromeric dg dh repeats (cen2 homology), we targeted combinations of these elements to an ectopic site and monitored expression of an adjacent reporter gene. Centromeric dh-like sequences conferred low-level silencing on the adjacent reporter gene, and REII, which did not display silencing activity on its own, enhanced cen2 homology-mediated silencing. Cooperation was also apparent at the mat locus, where deletion of REII impaired repression stability. We propose that REII and the cen2 homology play different yet complementary roles in silencing establishment and inheritance at the mat locus.


An approximate analytical formulation of the packet level and link layer qualities of service (QoS) for variable bit rate multiclass services in a cellular random carrier-hopping multirate multi-carrier (MC) DS-CDMA system is presented. The novelty of this paper is that the packet buffers for each subcarrier at the mobiles in the uplink of this system are viewed and modeled as leaky buckets. A leaky bucket is a policing device commonly used to regulate and enforce traffic agreements. The relationship for the packet loss probability in a subcarrier in terms of its outage probability in the subcarrier, and the relationship for the outage probability in the subcarrier in terms of the number of connections, the mean subcarrier on/off periods and packet level QoS metrics, like the mean packet buffering delay in each subcarrier, are explicitly derived. Numerical results illustrate that the packet loss probability and outage probability in an MC-DS-CDMA subcarrier channel can be lowered by having a smaller number of subcarriers.


Margaret River and the Cape to Cape region in the extreme south-western tip of Australia are located between Cape Naturaliste in the north and Cape Leeuwin in the south and encompass all intervening catchments that drain westward to the Indian Ocean. The region has a Mediterranean climate and houses 13 native, obligate freshwater macrofauna species (i.e. fishes, decapod crustaceans and bivalve mollusc), four of which are listed as threatened under State and/or Commonwealth legislation. The most imperiled species are the Margaret River Burrowing Crayfish (Engaewa pseudoreducta) and Hairy Marron (Cherax tenuimanus), both of which are endemic to the Margaret River catchment and listed as critically endangered (also by the IUCN), and Balston's Pygmy Perch (Nannatherina balstoni) which is vulnerable. The region also houses several fishes that may represent new, endemic taxa based on preliminary molecular evidence. Freshwater ecosystems in the region face numerous threats including global climate change, a growing human population, introduced species, destructive land uses, riparian degradation, water abstraction, declining environmental flows, instream barriers, and fire. Here we review the current knowledge of the considerable aquatic biodiversity values of the region to provide a contemporary checklist, and to highlight actions that may be considered to protect these values in the face of both current and future conservation threats.


The dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) is a G protein‐coupled receptor which regulates key brain functions including voluntary movement, memory, attention, and reward. Selective agonist activation of the D1R may also provide novel neurotherapeutics for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. The D1R canonically activates the heterotrimeric G proteins Gαs, and possibly Gαolf, which activate adenylyl cyclase (AC) to increase cAMP/PKA signaling. The D1R also engages β‐arrestin proteins which may transduce β‐arrestin dependent signaling by scaffolding and activating kinases. However, the distinct roles of Gαs, Gαolf versus β‐arrestins 1 and 2 for D1R signaling remains largely undefined. Here we utilize CRISPR/Cas9 engineered HEK293 cells in which Gαs, Gαolf, β‐arrestin1 and β‐arrestin2 are stably knocked out (KO) to delineate D1R pharmacology and signaling mechanisms. Western blots confirmed a complete loss of Gαs, Gαolf, β‐arrestin1 or β‐arrestin2 proteins in KO cells versus parental wildtype cells. Dose responses with the D1R agonist SKF‐81297 or β2AR agonist isoproterenol induced robust cAMP production in wildtype cells that was eliminated in Gαs/olf KO cells. Re‐expression of Gαs or Gαolf in KO cells rescued D1R‐mediated cAMP signaling similar to wildtype cells. Interestingly, the D1R had significantly higher cAMP signaling when coupling via Gαs as compared to Gαolf, while the β2AR only coupled with Gαs to stimulate cAMP signaling. Western blotting indicated Gαs/olf KO completely blocked agonist induced CREB phosphorylation by both D1R and β2AR agonists, indicating a strict dependence on Gαs/olf and cAMP/PKA signaling to activate CREB. In major contrast, β‐arrestin1/2 KO significantly increased the intensity and duration of cAMP signaling and CREB phosphorylation by the β2AR. β‐arrestin1/2 KO also entirely blocked agonist‐induced D1R internalization and impaired D1R desensitization while Gαs/olf KO had no effect on D1R internalization. Key controls of re‐expressing Gαs, Gαolf, β‐arrestin1 or β‐arrestin2 in KO cells completely restored signaling or internalization similar to wildtype cells, indicating CRISPR/Cas9 targeting did not result in non‐specific or compensatory effects in the pathways under study. Notably, β‐arrestin1/2 KO also potentiated and prolonged D1R or β2AR‐induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. D1R‐induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation in β‐arrestin1/2 KO cells was eliminated by the SRC inhibitor SU6656 or the MEK inhibitor U0126, suggesting that D1R signaling via a Gαs/SRC/MEK pathway is essential for ERK1/2 activation. Taken together, our studies indicate that Gαs is the dominant transducer for D1R cAMP, CREB and ERK1/2 signaling and that β‐arrestins provide distinctly interdependent roles with G proteins in modulating the duration and intensity of D1R and β2AR signaling cascades. Using CRISPR/Cas9 KO model cells, future studies will examine the distinct contributions of β‐arrestins 1 and 2 and Gαs/olf for D1R pharmacology, which will be useful in the development of novel D1R biased agonists.


Weaning is a stressful event for pigs and induces changes in the gut integrity of pigs. Feed intake is a very important determinant for gut integrity. In this thesis the effect of nutritional strategies (with regard to feed intake level and physical structure of the feed) on changes in gut morphology, barrier function and inflammatory response were investigated. In the experiments individually housed piglets were fed diets at different intake levels with different physical forms and compositions during 4 to 14 days post weaning. The working hypotheses were that high feed intake minimizes the degeneration of the gut integrity and stimulates the regeneration of a compromised integrity. Weaning induced changes in gut integrity. Overall, feed intake level modulated parameters related to gut integrity like morphology, in vitro barrier function and inflammatory response. The effects found depended on sampling site in the gut and sampling day post weaning. Only the supply of reconstituted milk resulted in voluntary feed intake level sufficiently high to maintain gut integrity. In vitro paracellular permeability for small molecules was transiently increased after weaning, while permeability for large molecules was decreased. High intake feed (milk) resulted in lower permeability values compared to a low intake level. Changes in gut morphology and permeability were related to feed intake level. In most experiments, individual feed intake was also correlated with body weight gain and in some experiments with inflammatory response parameters. At a low feed intake level, gut barrier function was already affected at day 1 post weaning, followed by changes in gut morphology. Variation in parameters related to gut integrity between piglets within trials and between experiments was high making it very difficult to compare data of different experiments.


The properties of the low frequency shear Alfven and acoustic wave spectra in toroidal geometry are examined analytically and numerically considering wave particle interactions with magnetically trapped and circulating particles, using the theoretical model described in [I. Chavdarovski and F. Zonca, Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 51, 115001 (2009)] and following the framework of the generalized fishbone-like dispersion relation. Effects of trapped particles as well as diamagnetic effects on the frequencies and damping rates of the beta-induced Alfven eigenmodes, kinetic ballooning modes and beta-induced Alfven-acoustic eigenmodes are discussed and shown to be crucial to give a proper assessment of mode structure and stability conditions. Present results also demonstrate the mutual coupling of these various branches and suggest that frequency as well as mode polarization are crucial for their identification on the basis of experimental evidence.


The reactions of tert-butyl-, sec-butyl-, and n-butyllithium with dimethylfluorovinylsilane include addition to the double bond to give both silene and silenoid intermediates, fluorine substitution, and a novel vinyl substitution. For the tert-butyllithium reaction, product stereochemistry and trapping experiments using both cyclopentadiene and methoxytrimethylsilane show that silenes are not formed in THF. In hexane about 67% of the 1,3-disilacyclobutanes obtained arise from silene dimerization while 33% are formed by silenoid coupling. In hexane the order of reactivity for addition, t-Bu > sec-Bu > n-Bu, is opposite that for fluorine substitution. The vinyl substitution is most significant with secondary alkyllithium reagents including the tert-butyllithium adduct to dimethylfluorovinylsilane and with sec-butyllithium itself. Evidence for the formation of vinyllithium or ethylene in the process could not be obtained.


Shear modulus and damping ratio are two well-known dynamic properties of soil when subjected to cyclic loading. These values are influenced by several things, including groundwater level and soil stiffness. Since soil dynamic properties value varies by liquefaction, there is a need for laboratory research to specifically investigate the effect of degree of saturation and number of loads on shear modulus and damping ratio of sand. Cyclic Triaxial and Centrifuge tests were conducted to determine shear modulus and damping ratio under cyclic loading. For the Cyclic Triaxial test, Sekarsuli sand with 49,20% density, 50%, 75%, 100% degree of saturation, and two types of loading (10 and 20 cyclic) were used. Centrifuge test was conducted using 4 layers of Toyoura sand with 60% density, fully saturated, and two types of shaking (24 Hz and 30 Hz). The results revealed that shear modulus value increased as depth increased. The greater the number of cyclic applied, the shear modulus value increased, while the value of the damping ratio decreased. Centrifuge test also showed that, under fully saturated condition, the greater load applied, soil stiffness gradually decreased and shear strain increased. This resulted in the decrease in shear modulus and increase damping ratio value.


Hybrid systems are known to be potential sources of electromagnetic interference due to their principle of recurrently switching voltages and currents. In this paper, we demonstrate different periodic modulation techniques and propose corresponding electromagnetic compatibility optimization methods. A systematic way to optimize finite length modulation sequences is proposed. We prepare mathematical expressions of performance indexes as a base for optimization algorithms. The performance of the different waveform generation methods is verified using a dc-dc converter example. It points out that the optimized waveforms are a powerful tool to shape the power spectrum


Introduction Treatment fidelity is an important and often neglected component of complex behaviour change research. It is central to understanding treatment effects, especially for evaluations conducted outside of highly controlled research settings. Ensuring that promising interventions can be delivered adequately (ie, with fidelity) by real-world clinicians within real-world settings is an essential step in developing interventions that are both effective and 'implementable'. Whether this is the case for behaviour change counselling, a complex intervention developed specifically for maximising the effectiveness of real-world consultations about health behaviour change, remains unclear. To improve our understanding of treatment effects, best practice guidelines recommend the use of strategies to enhance, monitor and evaluate what clinicians deliver during patient consultations. There has yet to be a systematic evaluation of whether and how these recommendations have been employed within evaluations of behaviour change counselling, nor the impact on patient health behaviour and/or outcome. We seek to address this gap. Methods and analysis Methods are informed by published guidelines. Ten electronic databases (Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL Complete, ScienceDirect, Taylor and Francis; Wiley, ProQuest and Open Grey) will be searched for published and unpublished articles that evaluate behaviour change counselling within real-world clinical settings (randomised and non-randomised). Eligible papers will be rated against the National Institute of Health fidelity framework. A synthesis, evaluation and critical overview of fidelity practices will be reported and linear regression used to explore change across time. Random-effect meta-regression is planned to explore whether fidelity (outcomes reported and methods used) is associated with the impact of behaviour change counselling. Standardised effect sizes will be calculated using Hedges' g (continuous outcomes) and ORs (binary/dichotomous outcomes). Ethics and dissemination No ethical issues are foreseen. Findings will be disseminated via journal publication and conference presentation(s). PROSPERO registration number CRD42019131169


This research aims at revealing the extent of possibility to employ the typical sidewalks and Pedestrian paths in Aqaba city- Jordan.
The researcher used the descriptive and case study methods, referring to a number of resources like the photos and special data concerning the roads and streets in the city to find out extent of employing these sidewalks and pedestrian paths in order to guarantee safe and smooth movement in consistency with the general plan components, including pedestrian paths for these with special needs and cyclists to keep abreast with the urban development and reducing the traffic as much as possible.
The study reached solutions regarding development and enhancing the functions of the sidewalks and pedestrian paths in the city to reduce accidents by applying the higher standards of quality in the design and the implementation


The objective of the paper presented here is to determine the relationships for describing the bending and torsional vibrations of long cardan drivelines and to compare the calculated results to the experimental results. The problem of the resonance of cardan shaft drivelines means a considerable difficulty in the field of designing. Dynamic modelling could solve the problem by determining the natural frequency of the system. The load is dependent on the ratio of the natural frequency to the excitation frequency. Furthermore, the dynamic model is suitable for tuning/detuning the natural frequency. The parameters of the driveline (moment of inertia, bearing stiffness, shaft length, etc.) are the input data of the simulation model developed and the effects of changes can be determined. The driveline can be designed according to the results of the simulation of a flywheel location, bearing stiffness and cardan shaft length. Location of the safety clutch, location and number of cardan shaft bearings and the stiffness of bearings can be found out by the simulation model, as well. The results of the measurements performed with a test stand proved that resonance phenomenon did not occur with the Wuhlmaus 2733 potato harvester during operating conditions. Therefore, the possible breakdown of some parts of the machine was caused probably by overloading and not by resonance.


The present investigation describes the preparation of chitosan/2-hydroxy-5-(4-nitrophenylazo)-benzaldehyde (CHNAB) and chitosan/2-hydroxy-5-(4-tolylazo)-benzaldehyde (CHMAB) derivatives (in 4 : 5 molar ratio) under mild conditions. These derivatives were synthesized by 79% and ≤90% deacetylated chitosan in an isopropyl alcohol/water mixture and dimethyl sulfoxide. The thermal properties of the derivatives were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). CHNAB shows an endothermic peak at 212 °C and exothermic peak at 231 °C due to phase change for cis–trans isomerisation, whereas, in CHMAB, only the endothermic peak at 222 °C is seen due to the absence of cis–trans isomerisation. Toxicity has been reduced in chitosan based azo derivatives, as compared to the corresponding azo compounds, as seen by the antibacterial results where S. aureus (Gram positive) shows ZOI 26 mm for CHNAB and 38 mm for CHMAB. The transmitted signal intensity induced by the birefringence as shown by CHNAB as πdΔn/λ is much less than 1. The transmitted signal is effectively proportional to (Δn)2 because of the nitro group behaving like an auxochrome. The study on the optical birefringence properties of the azo-based chitosan derivatives indicates that the prepared derivatives may be used as bio-optical devices for biomedical applications.


Undernotification of SARS-CoV-2 infections has been a major obstacle to the tracking of critical quantities such as infection attack rates and the probability of severe and lethal outcomes. We use a model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and vaccination informed by epidemiological and genomic surveillance data to estimate the number of daily infections occurred in Italy in the first two years of pandemic. We estimate that the attack rate of ancestral lineages, Alpha, and Delta were in a similar range (10-17%, range of 95% CI: 7-23%), while that of Omicron until February 20, 2022, was remarkably higher (51%, 95%CI: 33-70%). The combined effect of vaccination, immunity from natural infection, change in variant features, and improved patient management massively reduced the probabilities of hospitalization, admission to intensive care, and death given infection, with 20 to 40-fold reductions during the period of dominance of Omicron compared to the initial acute phase.


Axisymmetric stress wave transmission through the leading layers of layered structures of infinite radial but finite axial extent is numerically studied by employing two different computational approaches: a technique based on the numerical inversion of Double Integral Transformations (DIT), and a Finite Element (FE) analysis. Considering the first approach, careful selections of the limits of the numerical inversions and the sampling rates are required in order to overcome inherent numerical instabilities associated with exponential dichotomy. This type of numerical instability is more evident in layered media with weak coupling. In such systems, direct multiplications of layer transfer matrices are avoided by employing a global scheme to assemble well-conditioned global transfer matrices. Moreover, the specific structure of the propagation and attenuation zones of the structure are taken into account for increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the transfer matrix manipulations. Satisfactory agreement between the DIT and FE numerical results is observed, at least for early times. Close to the region of application of the external pressure, the FE simulations suffer from the discretization of the applied load, node-to-node oscillations and reflections from 'infinite' elements ('silent boundaries'). Using the aforementioned numerical techniques, transient wave transmission in two-layered systems (one with weak and one with strong interlayer coupling) is considered, and the effects of weak coupling on the wave transmission is studied. We show that at early times, weak coupling results in stress localization in the region close to the applied pressure, a result which can have potential application in the use of layered media as shock isolators. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


. The paper proposes a study of molecular interactions using the planetary model of the atomic structure. The description refers to transfer of the interactions by electrons bonded with an atom in a planetary system. In molecules we refer to analysis of electrons that remain unpaired during the formation of chemical compounds. The planetary electronic state of molecular interactions is defined by considering the action arm for interatomic forces. Then the interaction torque is defined. The problem is studied in a collection of atoms forming a nanoparticle and then analysis is carried on in the entire volume of the nanocomposite, which is defined as a set of the nanoparticles in a field of matrix-nanofiller interactions. As a result, new mechanical, magnetic, and optical properties of the nanocomposite arise and are described herein. The atomic-scale phenomena are described by both classical and quantum mechanics and are then transferred to the nanoparticle scale by applying statistical mechanics. The quantum solutions for the optically active electrons form the basis for the optical properties of the nanocomposite using forced gyrobirefringence and Maxwell equations. The results of the theoretical analysis are confirmed by experiment using an electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer.


This paper explores the idea that a competitive seed system may systematically underserve farmers in small, agro-ecological niches, leaving potential yield gains on the table and farmers in these areas less productive and poorer than they need be. We develop a simple theoretical model that illustrates how a confluence of demand and supply factors can result in such an underserviced equilibrium. To study the empirical veracity of this model, we study the disruption of the maize seed market in Western Kenya that took place when a combination of public sector foundation breeding and social impact investment capital allowed a local seed company to expand and target a niche agro-ecological zone with adaptively-bred maize varieties. A three-year randomized controlled trial reveals that the impacts of these seed varieties on farmer yields and revenues in the niche market were substantial, both for better-resourced farmers (who used nonadapted hybrids and fertilizer prior to the intervention) as well less well-resourced farmers (who did not). Taken together, this theoretical and empirical evidence suggests news ways for thinking about seeds systems in areas typified by the high levels of agro-ecological heterogeneity found in important parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Samuel S. Bird Department of Economics, Accounting, and Management Luther College Decorah, IA 52101 email@example.com Michael R. Carter Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics University of California, Davis One Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616 and NBER firstname.lastname@example.com Travis J. Lybbert Agricultural and Resources Economics University of California, Davis 1 Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616 firstname.lastname@example.com Mary W. K. Mathenge Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management Egerton University Njoro, Naku Kenya email@example.com Timothy Njagi Njeru Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development Egerton University Kenya email@example.com Emilia Tjernström School of Economics University of Sydney A02 Social Sciences Building NSW 2006 Australia firstname.lastname@example.com