We present a method to learn maximal generalized decision rules from databases by integrating discretization, generalization and rough set feature selection. Our method reduces the data horizontally and vertically. In the first phase, discretization and generalization are integrated and the numeric attributes are discretized into a few intervals. The primitive values of symbolic attributes are replaced by high level concepts and some obvious superfluous or irrelevant symbolic attributes are also eliminated. Horizontal reduction is accomplished by merging identical tuples after the substitution of an attribute value by its higher level value in a pre‐defined concept hierarchy for symbolic attributes, or the discretization of continuous (or numeric) attributes. This phase greatly decreases the number of tuples in the database. In the second phase, a novel context‐sensitive feature merit measure is used to rank the features, a subset of relevant attributes is chosen based on rough set theory and the merit values of the features. A reduced table is obtained by removing those attributes which are not in the relevant attributes subset and the data set is further reduced vertically without destroying the interdependence relationships between classes and the attributes. Then rough set‐based value reduction is further performed on the reduced table and all redundant condition values are dropped. Finally, tuples in the reduced table are transformed into a set of maximal generalized decision rules. The experimental results on UCI data sets and a real market database demonstrate that our method can dramatically reduce the feature space and improve learning accuracy.


Summary: This paper attempts to develop a simple, stronger and safer cryptographic algorithm which would not only be a secure one, but also reduces total time taken for encryption and decryption. The result of such an attempt is "Blow-CAST-Fish", a new secret-key block cipher that uses good features of CAST128 and Blowfish algorithms. An effort is made to enhance performance of the resulting algorithm by parallel evaluation of some operations within the round function. In order to show the reduction in execution time, VHDL implementation is used and tested to show percentage improvement in the performance of the modified Blow-CAST-Fish.


The effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on the three-dimensional structure of newborn rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, in vitro, were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Throughout the culture in both NGF treated and control groups, two types of structures of the surface were recognized, smooth surfaced and rough surfaced neurons. Growth cones and varicosities of the processes were observed after 12 hours of culture in NGF-treated groups, in contrast they were observed after 24 hours in control groups. The size and number of growth cone and varicosity was greater in NGF-treated groups than in control groups. NGF elongated the processes of DRG neurons after 24 hours of culture. NGF also significantly increased the number of surviving neurons after 48-72 hours of culture. Rough surfaced neurons were more sensitive than smooth surfaced neurons to NGF in enhancing survival. These results suggest that NGF may induce maturation of DRG neurons through elongation of its processes and the formation of growth cones and varicosities. Furthermore, the perikaryal projections of DRG neurons may be related to neuron survival after NGF treatment.


We studied the newly synthesized quasi-one-dimensional compound . Resistivity measurements confirmed its pseudo-one-dimensional character and photoemission spectroscopy clarified the nature of its valence band states. This polytelluride is a narrow-gap semiconductor at room temperature, with a forbidden gap width of 0.34 eV.


Abstract Eilers J, Miller R, Loomis D, Vogel A. 2023. Effects of cyprinid removal and reintroduction: Diamond Lake, Oregon. Lake Reserv Manage. 39:156–173. Diamond Lake, located in the Oregon Cascade Range, was treated with rotenone in 2006 to remove invasive populations of cyprinids, Gila bicolor and Notemigonus crysoleucas. The treatment successfully removed all fish, and the lake was restocked in 2007 with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The treatment resulted in large increases in transparency, large cladocerans (Daphnia pulicaria), and benthic invertebrates. The previous cyanobacterial blooms were comprised almost exclusively of Anabaena [Dolichospermum], whereas the current populations of cyanophytes include Gloeotrichia. Cyprinids were reintroduced into the lake and documented in 2008 (Notemigonus crysoleucas) and 2015 (Gila bicolor), likely contributing to a decline of several metrics of water quality. Piscivorous trout (Salmo trutta and Salmo trutta x Salvelinus fontinalis) were introduced into the lake starting in 2016 to control the introduced cyprinids. The cyprinid populations have stabilized, and most metrics of lake status (Secchi disk transparency, phytoplankton biovolume, abundance of large cladocerans, zoobenthic biomass, trout condition factor) indicate that the lake has improved substantially since the treatment and introduction of piscivorous trout. It is unclear whether the cyprinid populations are constrained by behavioral mechanisms associated with the introduction of the piscivorous trout or whether other factors currently keep the cyprinids in check. The success of this biomanipulation project requires continued monitoring and use of adaptive management strategies to respond to changes in fish composition.


Abstract Snow accumulation and its variability on the East Antarctic plateau are poorly understood due to sparse and regionally confined measurements. We present a 5.3 GHz (C-band) ground-penetrating radar (GPR) profile with a total length of 860 km recovered during the joint Norwegian–US International Polar Year traverse 2007/08. Mean surface mass balance (SMB) over the last 200 years was derived from the GPR data by identifying the volcanic deposition of the Tambora eruption in 1815. It varies between 9.1 and 37.7 kg m−2 a−1 over the profile, with a mean of 23.7 kg m−2 a−1 and a standard deviation of 4.7 kg m−2 a−1. The 200 year SMB estimated is significantly lower than most of the SMB estimates over shorter time periods in this region. This can be partly explained by a SMB minimum in the vicinity of the ice divide. However, it is more likely that a recent increase in SMB observed by several studies is largely responsible for the observed discrepancy.


Traditionally many fabless companies outsource the fabrication of IC design to the foundries, which may not be trusted always. In order to ensure trusted IC's it is more significant to develop an efficient technique that detects the presence of hardware Trojan. This malicious insertion causes the logic variation in the nets or leaks some sensitive information from the chip, which reduces the reliability of the system. The conventional testing algorithm for generating test vectors reduces the detection sensitivity due to high process variations. In this work, we present a compressive sensing approach, which can significantly generate optimal test patterns compared to the ATPG vectors. This approach maximizes the probability of Trojan circuit activation, with a high level of Trojan detection rate. The side channel analysis such as power signatures are measured at different time stamps to isolate the Trojan effects. The effect of process noise is minimized by this power profile comparison approach, which provides high detection sensitivity for varying Trojan size and eliminates the requirement of golden chip. The proposed test generation approach is validated on ISCAS benchmark circuits, which achieves Trojan detection coverage on an average of 88.6% reduction in test length when compared to random pattern.


Osteoclast-mediated excessive bone resorption was highly related to diverse bone diseases including osteoporosis. BRISC and BRCA1-A complex member 2 (Babam2) was an evolutionarily conserved protein that is highly expressed in bone tissues. However, whether Babam2 is involved in osteoclast formation is still unclear. In this study, we identify Babam2 as an essential negative regulator of osteoclast formation. We demonstrate that Babam2 knockdown significantly accelerated osteoclast formation and activity, while Babam2 overexpression blocked osteoclast formation and activity. Moreover, we demonstrate that the bone resorption activity was significantly downregulated in Babam2-transgenic mice as compared with wild-type littermates. Consistently, the bone mass of the Babam2-transgenic mice was increased. Furthermore, we found that Babam2-transgenic mice were protected from LPS-induced bone resorption activation and thus reduced the calvarial bone lesions. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that the inhibitory effects of Babam2 on osteoclast differentiation were dependent on Hey1. As silencing Hey1 largely diminished the effects of Babam2 on osteoclastogenesis. Finally, we show that Babam2 interacts with Hey1 to inhibit Nfatc1 transcription. In sum, our results suggested that Babam2 negatively regulates osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption by interacting with Hey1 to inhibit Nfatc1 transcription. Therefore, targeting Babam2 may be a novel therapeutic approach for osteoclast-related bone diseases.


OBJECT
Double-door laminoplasty using hydroxyapatite (HA) spacers has been widely performed for compressive cervical myelopathy and has provided good neurological outcome. Although HA spacers are used for preventing reclosure of the opened laminae, they are often displaced or dislocated from their original position. The authors investigated the incidence and patterns of postoperative HA spacer displacement to determine the reasons for this unfavorable event.

METHODS
Eighty-six patients with compressive myelopathy underwent double-door laminoplasty in which a total of 278 HA spacers were used. The displacement of HA spacers and opened laminae were assessed using postoperative lateral radiographs and CT scans.

RESULTS
Postoperative dorsal migration > 2 mm was found in 116 (42%) of 278 implanted HA spacers. In addition, 33 (38%) of 86 HA spacers rotated > 10 degrees and 29 (34%) of the 86 opened laminae tilted > 10 degrees. Moreover, deformation of the newly formed spinal canal was observed in 51 (59%) of 86 cases, and bone fusion between the HA spacer and spinous process was achieved in only 15 (8.7%) of 172 cases. Neurological worsening and neck pain, however, were not associated with displacement of HA spacers or deformation of the spinal canal.

CONCLUSIONS
In double-door laminoplasty, postoperative displacement of the HA spacer with deformation of the enlarged spinal canal occurred frequently. Hydroxyapatite spacers tend to become displaced after surgery. Placing the HA spacer at the base of the spinous process close to the dura mater may prevent postoperative displacement.


Protein amyloids are ubiquitous in natural environments. They typically originate from microbial secretions or spillages from mammals infected by prions, currently raising concerns about their infectivity and toxicity in contexts such as gut microbiota or soils. Exploiting the self-assembly potential of amyloids for their scavenging, here, we report the insertion of an amyloidogenic sequence stretch from a bacterial prion-like protein (RepA-WH1) in one of the extracellular loops (L5) of the abundant Escherichia coli outer membrane porin OmpF. The expression of this grafted porin enables bacterial cells to trap on their envelopes the same amyloidogenic sequence when provided as an extracellular free peptide. Conversely, when immobilized on a surface as bait, the full-length prion-like protein including the amyloidogenic peptide can catch bacteria displaying the L5-grafted OmpF. Polyphenolic molecules known to inhibit amyloid assembly interfere with peptide recognition by the engineered OmpF, indicating that this is compatible with the kind of homotypic interactions expected for amyloid assembly. Our study suggests that synthetic porins may provide suitable scaffolds for engineering biosensor and clearance devices to tackle the threat posed by pathogenic amyloids.


Cancer treatments based on the administration of medicines at different times of the day have been shown to be more efficient against malign cells and less damaging towards healthy ones. These results might be related to the recent discovery of links between the circadian clock, (controlled by the light/dark cycle of a day), and the cell cycle. However, if many models have been developed to describe both of these cycles, to our knowledge none has described a real interaction between them. We will try to establish a relation at a molecular level and we will then study the conditions of entrainment in period of these cycles with the modeling environment BIOCHAM. In other words, we will search how and where in the parameter space of our model the two cycles get synchronized. This technical report will insist on the conditions of entrainment of the cell cycle by the circadian cycle via a common protein kinase WEE1.


This paper develops and applies a methodology for measuring human recognition, which is defined as the acknowledgement provided to an individual by other individuals, groups, or organizations that he is of inherent value with intrinsic qualities in common with the recognizer. A framework is developed that organizes the sources of human recognition into various domains of an individual's life. The framework is used to develop an index of indicators that measures human recognition received in each of the domains and combines these domain-specific measures into a single overall measure of human recognition received. Two empirical applications of the index are presented with cross-sectional survey data from India and Kenya. Exploratory factor analysis is used to generate measures of human recognition with the index, and the resulting measures are used in multivariate regression models of nutritional status. Results from both datasets provide evidence that human recognition is a significant, independent, positive determinant of nutritional status, controlling for socio-economic characteristics. The method and applications demonstrate how latent, intangible aspects of development such as human recognition can be measured and indicate that further empirical work on the determinants and effects of human recognition is both feasible and needed.


Abstract Background Progressive loss of kidney function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to altered mineral homeostasis, reflected by the imbalance in calcium and phosphorus, and has been associated with progression of renal failure. Aims The aim of this study was to investigate CKD-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD)-associated candidate variables and its relationship with parathyroid hormone (PTH), as well as to quantify the prevalence of CKD-associated mineral disturbances in nondialyzed CKD patients. Study Design, Materials, and Methods This cross-sectional analytical study included 124 CKD patients and 157 control participants. Blood samples were analyzed for serum total calcium, phosphorus, PTH, electrolytes, and other hematological/hemodynamic parameters by standard methods. Suitable descriptive statistics was used for different variables. Results The 124 patients had a mean age of 50.2 ± 7.8 years with male to female ratio of 1.58; majority of patients had stage 3 CKD (40.32%), and the most common comorbid conditions were diabetes mellitus ( n = 78 [62.9%]) and hypertension ( n = 63 [50.8%]). A high prevalence of mineral metabolite abnormalities was observed in a patient cohort; overall prevalence of hyperparathyroidism was found in 57.25% patients, hypocalcemia in 61.29%, and hyperphosphatemia in 82.25% patients. Prevalence of abnormal homeostasis (with regard to total calcium, phosphate, and PTH) increased progressively with the severity of disease (analysis of variance; p < 0.05). Significant differences in the mean values of total calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and PTH were seen compared with healthy participants ( p < 0.0001). Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between serum PTH with serum phosphorous ( R 2: 0.33; p < 0.0001), serum creatinine ( R 2: 0.084; p < 0.0259), serum potassium ( R 2: 0.068; p < 0.0467), and a significant negative correlation with serum total calcium ( R 2: 0.37; p < 0.0001). Conclusions CKD patients are at risk of or may already have developed secondary hyperparathyroidism apparent from PTH-linked derangements in mineral metabolism in predialysis CKD patients. These abnormalities start in early stages of CKD and worsen with disease progression. This accentuates the significance of early recognition of mineral bone disorder, understanding its pathophysiological consequences and scheduling necessary interventions/management strategies to protect the CKD patients from a plethora of complications.


Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) has been the major device for integrated circuits over the past two decades. With technology advancement, there have been numerous MOSFET structures for channel length of 0.1 /spl mu/m and below reported in industrial research. A side-by-side comparison of these advanced device structures can provide useful understanding in device physics and the design tradeoffs among MOSFET's parameters. In this work we employ experimental data, device simulation, and analytical modeling for device comparison. The devices were developed at several different research laboratories. Guided by experimental data and simulations, analytical models for topics such as threshold voltage, short-channel effect, and saturation current for these different MOSFET structures are developed. These analytical models are then used for optimizing each device structure and comparing the devices under the same set of constraints for a fair comparison. The key design parameters are highlighted and the strength and weakness of each device structure in various performance categories are discussed.


Spain, the economy of the European Union closer geographically to North Africa, drives since 1995 the Euromediterranean Project in which other countries involved are Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt, which have experienced an important economic growth in the last decade. This paper analyzes how this reality is conditioning the intensity and nature of the relations between the Spanish economy and those countries. First of all, data confirm some asymmetry in the trade and investment flows between Spain and the economies of North Africa, they corroborate the role of Morocco as the main trading partner of the region and they also confirm the need to promote broader interregional cooperation agreements specific for each country. These agreements would contribute to take advantage of the benefits derived from the real integration of the geographically closer markets.


The 'intersectionality' approach in feminist theory postulates that differences between women, such as age, ethnicity, class, nationality, sexuality, etc. do intersect. However, intersectionality starts to get blurred when examined concretely because the list of differences is always endless. There is frequently silence about concrete questions such as: who defines when, where and which of these differences are rendered important in particular conceptions, and which are not? This article examines how categories of difference and identity interplay and intersect by analysing a narrative life-interview with a female migrant to Vienna. It aims to make visible some of her specific identifications and differentiations and how these are located in time and space, by focusing on her self-presentation and the categories of difference such as gender, class and ethnicity that she introduces. Through this the article aims to contribute to discussions of the dynamism of subjectivities and power relations.


Thirteen soils representing a wide range of physical and chemical properties were used in this study. Four herbicides including Atrazine, Ametryne, Prometryne, and Diuron were applied at a concentration series from 0.5 to 32 p.p.m. to each soil, with the exception of Cano Tiburones soil. Kanota oat ( Avena sativa L.) was chosen as an indicator plant. ED 50   values were obtained for the various soil types. The result indicated that ED 50   values varied greatly with different soil types. Simple, partial, and multiple correlations were made among ED 50   values and different soil properties. It was found that the organic matter was the major soil property which contributed chiefly to the phytotoxicity of herbicides. A theoretical relationship between percent soil organic matter and p.p.m.w. of herbicides required for 50-percent fresh-weight reduction of oat was obtained for herbicide dosage-prediction purpose.


This research paper provides a diagnosis of characteristics and weaknesses of the structure of existing information security infrastructure, and recommends an improved protection infrastructure as a measure for correcting weaknesses. The non-clustering security systems environments and latent risk exit at the time of operating the general architecture infrastructure. The active-active high availability on the protection infrastructure is assured by letting the failover mechanism operate upon the entire structure through the structural design and the implementation of functions. The proposed method reduces the system overload rating due to trouble packets and improves the status of connection by polling trap and the transport


We present the demonstration of phase-dependent laser acceleration and deflection of electrons using a symmetrically driven silicon dual pillar grating structure. We show that exciting an evanescent inverse Smith-Purcell mode on each side of a dual pillar grating can produce hyperbolic cosine acceleration and hyperbolic sine deflection modes, depending on the relative excitation phase of each side. Our devices accelerate sub-relativistic 99.0 keV kinetic energy electrons by 3.0 keV over a 15 μm distance with accelerating gradients of 200 MeV/m with 40 nJ, 300 fs, 1940 nm pulses from an optical parametric amplifier. These results represent a significant step towards making practical dielectric laser accelerators for ultrafast, medical, and high-energy applications.


The purpose of this study is to establish a new method to develop the textile pattern design using Saengbul flower in Seo-cheon flower garden of Jeju Myth, in other words, to create mythic textile patterns by borrowing effectively from the mythic image of Saengbul flower. Seo-cheon flower garden is an incantation space and Saengbul flower means pregnance. Therefore, we drew Camellia flower motifs from a mythic image based on archetypal symbols about the Saengbul flower, and created mythic patterns. In order to achieve this textile pattern design, Adobe CS5(Photoshop, Illustrator) and Texpro were used to design the motifs of Saengbul flower, and then they were arranged in a square pattern and diamond pattern of Richard M. Proctor' set layout. And to conclude, development of the creative textile pattern design using the mythic contents of the Jeju Myth contribute to invigoration the fashion industry and regional culture contents projects in Jeju, and also become the basis of creating added valued to it.


The purpose of this study is to examine the productivity of distant instructor training program for musical instrument education. Music education, especially on playing musical instruments, has been one of the major topics of general education. Today, formal musical instrument education is available in conservatories and music departments of fine arts and education colleges, and informal or non-formal musical instrument education is available in private music schools and courses in Turkey. Recorder or melodica is taught in public schools as part of the general music education. There are number of different platforms to teach musical instruments where there is need to train teachers to do that in the needed quality. There are various applications of online teacher training for instrument education. For example, Northwestern University and University of North Carolina have been offering courses over Coursera (a major MOOCs provider), such as Teaching Violin and Viola, Fundamentals of Rehearsing Music Ensembles. Different from our program they do not provide direct contact with the instructor for feedback. A group of well-experienced instructor trainers of the Anadolu University including myself established a distant instructor-training program for musical instruments. This paper will explain and explore the stages of the program's creation and its effectiveness.


Two thyroidectomized patients with a history of differentiated thyroid carcinoma are presented who had nonmetastatic mediastinal 131I uptake following therapeutic doses of 131I. Chest CT scans in both patients demonstrated an anterior mediastinal mass. Surgical excision in one patient and a percutaneous CT-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in the other disclosed normal thymus tissue. Iodine-131 uptake in the anterior mediastinum in patients thyroidectomized for follicular or papillary thyroid carcinoma may represent the thymus.


Abstract This paper proposes nonlinear operator of extreme doubly stochastic quadratic operator (EDSQO) for convergence algorithm aimed at solving consensus problem (CP) of discrete-time for multi-agent systems (MAS) on n-dimensional simplex. The first part undertakes systematic review of consensus problems. Convergence was generated via extreme doubly stochastic quadratic operators (EDSQOs) in the other part. However, this work was able to formulate convergence algorithms from doubly stochastic matrices, majorization theory, graph theory and stochastic analysis. We develop two algorithms: 1) the nonlinear algorithm of extreme doubly stochastic quadratic operator (NLAEDSQO) to generate all the convergent EDSQOs and 2) the nonlinear convergence algorithm (NLCA) of EDSQOs to investigate the optimal consensus for MAS. Experimental evaluation on convergent of EDSQOs yielded an optimal consensus for MAS. Comparative analysis with the convergence of EDSQOs and DeGroot model were carried out. The comparison was based on the complexity of operators, number of iterations to converge and the time required for convergences. This research proposed algorithm on convergence which is faster than the DeGroot linear model.


why paradigms would differ In their paper, Bracken et al have cogently put forth the limitations of psychiatry comparing its differences with the 'rest of medicine'. They turn our attention to some moral and ethical notions viz relationships, meanings and values, which not only have therapeutic scope but also humanistic importance. Applying evidence-based logic, they show the inadequacy of technological interventions (psychopharmacotherapeutics or therapy-specific aspects of psychotherapies), and at the same time cite evidence of effectiveness of 'non-technical' aspects of care. Considering some of these aspects and the online response it generated, it is important that we refocus our attention to a central and some associated issues. First, unlike what Bracken et al propose, medicine's assumptions on causal mechanisms are still a hotly debated issue. Medicine's apparent authority over human health was convincingly questioned in a historical analysis by Thomas McKeown and his arguments much advanced by Simon Szreter. In short, rather than technical innovations in medicine (such as the advent of antibiotics or immunisation), social and political interventions had a decisive role in advancing human health. Second, as the field of epidemiology progressively advances and uses newer analytic techniques, monocausal explanations (as the germ theory of disease propounded) gave way to multicausal (as in the case of chronic disease epidemiology) and finally to complex eco-epidemiological causal explanations. In fact, an active engagement with the notion of embodiment that explains how biological processes are influenced profoundly by environmental determinants (e.g. social, cultural, economic, political) lies at the heart of social epidemiology. And biological outcomes are not often mediated by our psyche, although the latter may be similarly affected. Third, an attempt to compare the effect sizes of pharmacological interventions in both general medical disorders and psychiatric disorders show, barring a few exceptions, that effect sizes of psychiatric drugs are in the same range (i.e. small to medium) as most other pharmacotherapeutics. Moreover, the oft referred crisis in psychiatry also bothers the 'rest of medicine' and healthcare. Some features of this crisis are the increasing difficulty of grappling with the explosive boom in health-related technologies (consequently increasing the cost of healthcare), the challenge produced by the epidemiological shift in disease prevalence and the marked social inequalities in health. In addition, the notions of 'medicalisation of everyday life'/overmedicalisation, healthism, biomedicalisation and the dominance of the technological paradigm in medicine have also drawn wide criticism. In not considering these as entirely good or bad, the problem is the undue attention to individualised solutions and personalised/customised technologies, transforming health to individual moral responsibility. On the other hand, under the foregoing transformations in healthcare, medical training instils qualities such as objectivity and emotional distancing to maintain clinical neutrality, concepts partly counterposed to values, narratives and meanings. Similarly, clinicians have come to associate professional status and power with increasing technological involvement in clinical practice, rather than with being sensitive to the patient's distress and life story. Although clinical knowledge is based on biological understanding and scientific methods, it is also interpretive and narrative. Thus to paraphrase Bracken et al, it is not just mental health problems but all health problems in general that undoubtedly have a biological dimension, and that by their very nature can reach beyond the body to involve social, cultural and psychological dimensions.


The research described in this abstract focusses on modeling of the sheet flow through the paper path of multifunctional printers/copiers. As both continuous dynamics (motion of sheets) and discrete dynamics (the driving pinch of a particular sheet changes over time) can be observed, a hybrid formalism is needed to describe the sheet flow behavior. In this abstract we will compare three modeling formalisms for a simplified paper path case-study: hybrid automata (HA), piecewise linear (PWL) systems, and mixed logical dynamical (MLD) systems (see e.g. [1] for an exposition).


We present a finite element scheme for nonlinear fourth-order diffusion equations that arise for example in lubrication theory for the time evolution of thin films of viscous fluids. The equations are in general fourth-order degenerate parabolic, but in addition singular terms of second order may occur which model the effects of intermolecular forces or thermocapillarity. Discretizing the arising nonlinearities in a subtle way allows us to establish discrete counterparts of the essential integral estimates found in the continuous setting. As a consequence, the algorithm is efficient, and results on convergence, nonnegativity or even strict positivity of discrete solutions follow in a natural way. Applying this scheme to the numerical simulation of different models shows various interesting qualitative effects, which turn out to be in good agreement with physical experiments.


For the reduction of the cogging torque of permanent-magnet synchronous machines several approaches are known. But cogging torque predictions for arbitrary types of machines using the same approach are still troublesome and imprecise. Therefore, a fast optimization process is developed and presented in this paper. Here, the combination of both numerical and analytical simulation results in such a fast method


Atomic force microscopy and immunomagnetic separation techniques were combined in order to characterize Salmonella enteritidis isolated from saline solution by using Dynabeads® anti-Salmonella. After the isolation procedure, S. enteritidis, anti-Salmonella beads and the bead-bacteria complexes were imaged and measured by AFM. The dimensions were compatible with the literature and the interaction between bead and the bacteria was clearly demonstrated.


Sam Foster, Executive Director of Professional Practice, Nursing and Midwifery Council, considers the issues faced by internationally recruited nurses and areas where retention strategies could be focused.


Newborn screening is one of public health concerns designed to screen infants shortly after birth. Prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke such as nicotine has been reported to affect babies. Levels of nicotine and cotinine in meconium were widely used to evaluate the tobacco exposure of foetuses during pregnancy in a polluted environment. In this study, medical swabs were applied by using touch spray-mass spectrometry (TS-MS) to collect meconium from newborn infants for detection of nicotine and cotinine. Parameters such as choice of spray solvents, solvent volume and collision energy for screening of nicotine and cotinine were optimized. The limits of detection, reproducibility and matrix effect for analysis of meconium were also investigated. In this study, the levels of nicotine and cotinine in 54 puerpera volunteers were screened by TS-MS and were validated by using traditional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. These results showed that medical swab TS-MS would be useful for newborn screening of nicotine and cotinine in meconium with high reproducibility, speed, sensitivity and specificity. The use of disposable medical swabs involves no sample preparation and no chromatographic separation, significantly reducing the cost and time required for screening a large number of clinical sample. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


This article examines Brazil's position in multilateral trade negotiations from 1946 to 1960. It is an original contribution, as the focus only on developed countries in the literature on the creation of the multilateral trading system portrays developing countries as a monolithic bloc and does not use non-English primary sources. It is argued that Brazil was far from being a free rider in tariff negotiations and the position the country had on this issue can be explained by domestic rather than international constraints. This period also shaped Brazil's belief about the international trade order, something that had great relevance in later periods.


This paper describes an analysis of the first cell cycle of mouse oocytes aged postovulation and fertilized in vivo. For this purpose, we developed a procedure for inducing ovulation in vivo that allows accurate timing of ovulation. The method is based on a luteinizing hormone (LH)‐releasing hormone (LHRH) administration at prcestrus. This ovulation procedure had no detectable effect on the rate of ovulation or postimplantation embryonic death. We used this method of ovulation induction in an analysis of the separate stages of the first cell cycle of in vivo fertilized postovulation aged oocytes. All stages assessed were shorter in aged oocytes (12 hr postovulation) than in zygotes from unaged oocytes (1 hr postovulation): (1) the time interval between insemination and penetration of the aged oocytes was 1.5 hr shorter than the time interval of the unaged oocytes; (2) pronuclear formation in the fertilized aged oocytes was somewhat quicker than pronuclear formation in fertilized unaged oocytes; (3) in zygotes from aged oocytes, the time between formation of pronuclei and the pronuclear membrane breakdown was 1 hr shorter than in zygotes from unaged oocytes; (4) the first cleavage division was 3 hr advanced in zygotes from aged oocytes compared with the moment of the first cleavage division in zygotes from unaged oocytes. We also determined the glutathione (GSH) content of unaged and aged oocytes to investigate a possible relationship between the rate of pronuclear formation and GSH. The level of GSH was two times lower in oocytes aged postovulation for 12 hr than in unaged oocytes. The level of GSH in fertilized, unaged oocytes was half that in unfertilized, unaged oocytes; this decline was not observed after fertilization of aged oocytes, however. In summary, we developed a procedure that allows in vivo fertilization at defined points of time after LHRH‐induced ovulation. Under the conditions used in this procedure, we could detect several differences between zygotes derived from unaged and postovulation aged oocytes.


The protein kinase activity of the cell cycle regulator p34cdc2 is inactivated when the mitotic cyclin to which it is bound is degraded. The amino (N)-terminus of mitotic cyclins includes a conserved "destruction box" sequence that is essential for degradation. Although the N-terminus of sea urchin cyclin B confer cell cycle-regulated degradation to a fusion protein, a truncated protein containing only the N-terminus of Xenopus cyclin B2, including the destruction box, is stable under conditions where full length molecules are degraded. In an attempt to identify regions of cyclin B2, other than the destruction box, involved in degradation, the stability of proteins encoded by C-terminal deletion mutants of cyclin B2 was examined in Xenopus egg extracts. Truncated cyclin with only the first 90 amino acids was stable, but other C-terminal deletions lacking between 14 and 187 amino acids were unstable and were degraded by a mechanism that was neither cell cycle regulated nor dependent upon the destruction box. None of the C-terminal deletion mutants bound p34cdc2. To investigate whether the binding of p34cdc2 is required for cell cycle-regulated degradation, the behavior of proteins encoded by a series of full length Xenopus cyclin B2 cDNA with point mutations in conserved amino acids in the p34cdc2-binding domain was examined. All of the point mutants failed to form stable complexes with p34cdc, and their degradation was markedly reduced compared to wild-type cyclin. Similar results were obtained when the mutant cyclins were synthesized in reticulocyte lysates and when cyclin mRNA was translated directly in a Xenopus egg extract. These results indicate that mutations that interfere with p34cdc2 binding also interfere with cyclin destruction, suggesting that p34cdc2 binding is required for the cell cycle-regulated destruction of Xenopus cyclin B2.


A growing body of literature shows that child health has substantial long-term economic impacts. This study examines whether, and to what extent, increased access to health infrastructure leads to better child health status as measured by weight-for-age z-scores. To assess the causal relationship, I exploit plausibly exogenous variation in access induced by the dramatic change in health policy in South Africa immediately after the end of apartheid. Using longitudinal household data, health services are found to improve the nutritional status of not only newly born babies but also children who were already born at low health status. Yet, the effects are significant only for boys.


The recovery of lower-urinary-tract activity is a top priority for patients with spinal-cord injury. Historically, locomotor training improved micturition function in both patients with spinal cord injury and animal models. We explore whether training augments such as the supraspinal control of the external urethral sphincter results in enhanced coordination in detrusor-sphincter activity. We implemented a clinically relevant contusive spinal-cord injury at the 12th thoracic level in rats and administered forced wheel running exercise for 11 weeks. Awake rats then underwent bladder cystometrogram and sphincter electromyography recordings to examine the micturition reflex. Subsequently, pseudorabies-virus-encoding red fluorescent protein was injected into the sphincter to trans-synaptically trace the supraspinal innervation of Onuf's motoneurons. Training in the injury group reduced the occurrence of bladder nonvoiding contractions, decreased the voiding threshold and peak intravesical pressure, and shortened the latency of sphincter bursting during voiding, leading to enhanced voiding efficiency. Histological analysis demonstrated that the training increased the extent of spared spinal-cord tissue around the epicenter of lesions. Compared to the group of injury without exercise, training elicited denser 5-hydroxytryptamine-positive axon terminals in the vicinity of Onuf's motoneurons in the cord; more pseudorabies virus-labeled or c-fos expressing neurons were detected in the brainstem, suggesting the enhanced supraspinal control of sphincter activity. Thus, locomotor training promotes tissue sparing and axon innervation of spinal motoneurons to improve voiding function following contusive spinal-cord injury.


Background: Safe storage of oral methadone at home is an important issue given the risk of accidental paediatric consumption. Pharmacy protocols centre on provision of information to patients relating to general and paediatric dangers of methadone and safe storage of methadone in the home.
Aim: The study aimed to audit the effectiveness of pharmacy provision of information on safety of methadone consumption and storage in the home.
Methods: The study involved an audit of five criteria relating to patient awareness of general dangers of methadone use and paediatric risks, patient information recall on safe storage of methadone in the home; take home methadone dispensing in child resistant containers and safe and secured storage of methadone. Audit information was collected using a survey with consecutive adult patients attending a specialist methadone clinic over the course of four weeks (n=94), and telephone interviews with dispensing pharmacists recorded in the specialist clinic register (n=43).
Results: None of the criteria reached a 100% standard. 51% reported never being provided with safety information. 97% of patients were aware of the dangers of methadone use, with females significantly more aware of dangers of methadone to users. 86% did not place their take-home methadone in a locked place. 90% reported they would seek medical help if a child had accidentally consumed methadone. 58% of pharmacists never questioned patients around storage, but 58% reported counselling patients on safe storage.
Conclusions: Safe storage of methadone warrants regular and proactive pharmacy provision of information around harms associated with methadone.


Although the fact that stereotype threat impacts performance is well established, the underlying process(es) is(are) not clear. Recently, T. Schmader and M. Johns (2003) argued for a working memory interference account, which proposes that performance suffers because cognitive resources are expended on processing information associated with negative stereotypes. The antisaccade task provides a vehicle to test this account because optimal performance requires working memory resources to inhibit the tendency to look at an irrelevant, peripheral cue (the prepotent response) and to generate volitional saccades to the target. If stereotype threat occupies working memory resources, then the ability to inhibit the prepotent response and to launch volitional saccades will be impaired, and performance will suffer. In contrast, S. Harkins's (2006) mere effort account argues that stereotype threat participants are motivated to perform well, which potentiates the prepotent response, but also leads to efforts to counter this tendency if participants recognize that the response is incorrect, know the correct response, and have the opportunity to make it. Results from 4 experiments support the mere effort but not the working memory interference account.


Cord blood samples were obtained at delivery from women at gestational periods of 30 to 36 weeks (preterm) and from a control group at 40 weeks of gestational age (term). Total glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) was determined by affinity chromatography and the percentages of the minor Hbs FIa+b and FIc (of total Hb F) were determined by Bio-Rex 70 chromatography in whole blood samples and in red cell populations separated by Dextran 40 density gradient centrifugation. The absolute levels and the increase due to red cell aging of GHb, Hb FIa+b and Hb FIc were significantly reduced in the preterm samples compared to the term samples indicating decreased glycosylation in preterm fetus. When the nonglycosylated Hbs from term and preterm newborns were separated by Bio-Rex 70 chromatography after removal of the GHb by affinity chromatography, the acetylated form of Hb FIc also showed an increase with red cell aging indicating posttranslational enzymatic or nonenzymatic acetylation of Hb F during the entire life span of red cells. Moreover, as with GHb, the acetylated Hb was also decreased in the preterm newborns.


Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from colorectal cancers were separated from tumor cells by enzymatic and mechanical tissue disaggregation and discontinuous density gradients. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were isolated using the same procedure. The freshly separated TILs and PBLs were analyzed phenotypically by flow cytometry. The CD4+/CD8+ ratios of the freshly isolated TILs and PBLs were comparable (> 1 in both lymphocyte populations). CD25+, HLA-DR+ and CD56+ cells were significantly more frequent in the TIL than in the PBL population. However, the number of CD45RA+ cells was lower in the TILs as compared to PBLs, while CD29+ accumulated by about 90% in TILs. TILs and autologous PBLs were expanded in vitro with rIL-2. The mean rate of proliferation after 4 weeks was 642-fold in TIL cultures and 335-fold in PBLs. More than 90% of the rIL-2-expanded lymphocytes expressed CD2 and the great majority was CD29+. Stimulation with rIL-2 in vitro induced an outgrowth of CD56+ cells mainly in the TILs. Accordingly the expression of CD3+ and alpha/beta receptor in the TILs was low. Those cells which phenotypically represented lymphokine-activated killer cells displayed a lytic activity against the autologous tumor as well as against allogeneic K562 and Daudi targets. In accordance with the better proliferative response of TILs in long-term cultures with rIL-2, the lytic activity of TILs against autologous and allogeneic tumor targets was significantly higher as compared to PBLs.


Although many adults retain good hearing as they age, hearing loss associated with ageing is common among elderly persons. There are a number of pathophysiolological processes underlying age‐related changes to functional components in the inner ear. Genetic factors determine the ageing process but are under the influence of intrinsic and environmental factors. It is difficult to distinguish changes of normal ageing from those of other contributing factors. The effects of age‐related deafness can have significant physical, functional and mental health consequences. Although a deficit in hearing can be corrected to some degree by a hearing aid or other appropriate amplification devices, hearing‐related rehabilitative needs are much more than simply amplifying external sound. Only by better understanding the process of ageing and its effect on the auditory function can we better accommodate elderly people in our day‐to‐day interactions. We review here the structure and function of the inner ear, pathophysiology associated with age‐related hearing loss (ARHL), heritability, allelism and modifier genes of ARHL, and evaluate the genetic analyses for identification of genetic factors that are involved. Copyright © 2007 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Abstract Background and Goal: The article is aimed at conducting an empirical analysis of the value and significance of coopetitors' attributes thanks to which coopetition, which is a combination of cooperation and competition between competitors, generates a substantial corporate profit. Four major competitors' attributes have been analysed: its size, geographical scope, market and technological position. The research also includes the Porter's value chain. Design/ Methodology/Approach: The survey has been conducted on a sample of 235 high- tech companies operating in Poland and involved in coopetition. The sample is representative. The data have been collected at interviews with company top executives or owners. The research applies the method of classification trees, which, thanks to diagrams, sequentially divides the examined data space into classes (spaces) of similar properties. The assessment of the effect of coopetition, including its variants, made by the examined company served as a dependent qualitative variable. Four coopetitor's attributes and their variants were assumed as explanatory variables (predictors) affecting the assessment of cooperation. Results: The results of research indicated the necessity for an accurate competitor's profile selection. The significance of each of the four attributes may be different depending on the undertaken areas of cooperation with a competitor. The value of all the attributes of competitors is also diverse depending on the area of cooperation. A selected competitor's profile with regard to the four analysed attributes may become a stimulant to generate benefits in one area, while in another area it may become an inhibitor. Conclusions: So far, the selection of a coopetition partner has been treated universally, without scrutinizing on some specific needs in relation to the area of cooperation. The selection of an appropriate coopetitor's profile will allow for the cost reduction in search of appropriate candidates for cooperation and in relations management.


Objective To examine the prevalence of diabetic neuropathy and its relationship with other chronic diabetic complications in patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods 308 patients with diabetes mellitus (162 men, 146 women; mean age of 49 years, mean diabetes duration of 14 years, mean HbA1c of 9.8%) were observed. Tests assessing cardiovascular autonomic functions and peripheral nerve functions and retinograph were performed in each patient. Urine albumin excretion was determined. Results The prevalence was 47.1% for diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and 54.2% for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. There was significant correlation between diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and peripheral neuropathy ( P 0.01). The diabetic neuropathy was associated significantly with duration of diabetes and quality of glycaemic control ( P 0.05,0.01). There were significant high prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy in patients with diabetic neuropathy compared with that without diabetic neuropathy ( P 0.01). Conclusion There is high prevalence of diabetic neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetic neuropathy is related to other diabetic chronic complications.


This study was designed to test the concept that a shallow vertebral canal in the adult may act as a marker of impaired development in early life. If that same impaired development also affected the immune and central nervous systems, there could be a relationship between the vertebral canal size, health, and academic status. A retrospective analysis was made of the general practitioner records of 94 patients, some with very narrow canals and some with wide canals. There were significantly more episodes and total attendances with infections, more episodes of low-back pain, and more attendances with trauma in those with small canals. A prospective study compared the GCE examination results of 331 children whose canals had been measured by ultrasound 3 years previously. The children in the highest three deciles for canal size performed significantly better than those in the lowest decile (P < 0.01). There is evidence that a relation may exist between the sagittal diameter of the lumbar vertebral canal and health and academic status.


India is known for its rich flora and fauna, diverse climatic areas and wealth of living ethno medicinal plant using the tradition. The paper enumerates medicinal plants used by Irula tribes Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu. The traditional practises of three medicinal plants belonging to three families are obtainable with botanical name, family, local name, parts used, method of groundwork and ethno pharmaceutical uses. Medicinal plants were the richest source of India with many traditional uses. Numerous of the pharmacological and pharmacognostical studies of the medicinal plants shown their active application in the field of medicine as they possess certain nutrient and non-nutrient substances that protects and precludes the body from many diseases. They attain a great helpfulness in the present world due to the side effects of the manmade drugs on the human life. Dodonaea viscosa Linn. is an evergreen woody perennial shrub with a native of Australia, indigenous and was later wide spread throughout the region of tropics. Various plant parts such as stem, leaves, seeds, roots, bark and aerial parts were used as the antibacterial, analgesic antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer and antioxidant agent in traditional system of medicine.


A simple expression is derived for the velocity of motion of a `head-on boundary` in a thin magnetic layer subjected to a uniform applied magnetic field. Its relevance to magnetization reversal in thin films and transition motion in magnetic recording media is discussed. The expression is modified to apply to non-uniform fields produced by recording heads to define the limiting velocities of recorded transitions before distortions occur to their profiles.


Owner-managers of small businesses are in dire need of competent and skillful employees. Besides, owner managers need to acquire specific competencies including personal, opportunity and strategic to sustain the day-to-day operations of firms. This study seeks to determine the impact of the three competencies to understand their impact on small business performance. The study put forward the argument that opportunity, personal and strategic competencies impact on SMEs performance. To evaluate the impact of the three variables of exogenous and endogenous on SMEs performance, three hypotheses were formulated. Empirical data was collected from 248 owner-managers of SMEs chosen from database through the Durban Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DCCI). For two weeks, the authors used the DCCI as the empirical context for the study where data was sourced. Being quantitative study, a self-designed 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire was applied to solicit empirical data. The outcomes of the study showed that entrepreneurial competencies such as personal, opportunity and strategic are crucial for small business performance. The findings also provide rich insights to some of the reasons for the rampant small business failures country-wide including eThekweni regions of South Africa. Further, the study unearths useful implications for ownermangers to ensure that in general competencies is critical for small business survival and growth.


The present investigationon evaluation of provenance variations in seed morphometric, germination and seedling growth attributes of Neem was conducted at Division of Genetics and Tree Improvement at Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India with an aim to study the variation in different provenances of Azadirachta indicafor seed morphometry, germination and seedling traits,to identify superior provenances of Azadirachta indica to produce quality planting stocks, during monsoon of 2021 and 2022. Extensive surveys were conducted in 6 different agro-climatic zones in Tamil Nadu and selected 30 Candidate Plus Trees (CPT's) based on growth superiority and higher fruit yield. The significant differences were recorded on seed length (cm), seed width (cm), seed perimeter (cm), seed area, and 100 seed  kernel weight (g), germination percentage, mean daily germination, germination value, germination time, peak value, time spread of germination and germination index and seedling characters such as shoot length, root length, color diameter, leaf numbers, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, shoot and root vigorous index among the provenances and seed lots. Southern Zone and Rainfall Zone provenances recorded higher values on seed length and breadth, seed weight and seedling parameters and lower values of seed parameters were observed in the Western Zone and seedling parameters in North Eastern Zone. Seed length, seed area, seed perimeter and germination percentage had a significant strong positive correlation with the shoot vigour index. Southern Zone and Rainfall Zone provenances can be recommended for establishing large-scale plantation in the Tree Outside Forest (ToF).


In a previous paper, the authors investigated the lowersemicontinu-ity properties of two generalizations of the classical Preisach operator; the smoothed Preisach operator and the Krasnoselskii / Pokrovskii (KP) integral hysteresis operators. In particular, it was demonstrated that the output least squares identiication problem for the KP operator is well-posed over compact subsets of the Preisach plane. The identiication of the hysteretic control innuence operator was shown to be equivalent to the identiication of a measure in the space of probability measures taken with the weak-topology. In this paper, a consistent and convergent approximation scheme is introduced for this class of integral hysteresis operator. The Galerkin approximation scheme is shown to be function space parameter convergent. A numerical example is presented that illustrates aspects of the theory derived in this paper.


Many methods of securing skin grafts to their recipient beds have been described. A review of the senior author's experience with facial skin cancers over a two-year period revealed that reconstruction with full-thickness skin grafts was employed in 60 of more than 500 cases. This series of 60 cases was reviewed. Use of foam as a bolster has proven to be a simple, time-conserving and reliable technique that produces consistently excellent results with a low complication rate. The technique is reviewed, along with its advantages and disadvantages.


Introduction: AMT-060 consists of an adeno-associated virus serotype 5 (AAV5) vector containing a codon-optimized wildtype human factor IX (FIX) gene under control of a liver-specific promoter. We have previously reported on the safety and efficacy of AMT-060 gene therapy at 2 dose levels in adults with moderate-severe or severe hemophilia B with up to 1-year follow-up. Here we present longer-term follow-up data on reductions in annualized bleed rates and FIX consumption up to 2.5 years post-treatment.
 Methods: Multi-national, open-label, dose-escalating study in participants (pts) with FIX activity ≤2 % of normal, and a severe bleeding phenotype (NCT02396342). Pts received either 5x1012 gc/kg (Cohort 1, n=5) or 2×1013 gc/kg (Cohort 2, n=5) of AMT-060 iv. Duration of follow-up was 2.5 and 2 years in Cohort 1 and Cohort 2, respectively. Efficacy assessments include FIX activity (measured ≥10 days after use of exogenous FIX), reduction of FIX use, and annualized total bleeding rates. Bleeds were counted for each individual patient starting after discontinuation of prophylaxis post-AMT-060. For Cohort 1, exogenous FIX use and bleeds for "year 3" are presented as a calculated annualized mean using data captured between 2 and 2.5 years. Safety assessments include treatment-related adverse events, immunological and inflammatory biomarkers.
 Results: Nine pts with severe (FIX <1 %) and 1 with moderate-severe (FIX 1.5 %) hemophilia B were enrolled and received AMT-060. Nine were receiving exogenous FIX prophylaxis and one was receiving on-demand exogenous FIX. Mean FIX activity over the course of follow up was 4.9 % in Cohort 1 and 7.4% in Cohort 2. Disease severity improved in all pts: from severe to mild (n=6), severe to moderate (n=3), and moderate to mild (n=1). Eight of nine pts on FIX prophylaxis at study entry discontinued use after AMT-060 infusion. In Cohort 1, annualized exogenous FIX use (excluding use for surgeries) decreased from a pre-treatment cumulative total of 1,562,000 IU by 85%, 96% and 93% for years 1, 2 and 3 of follow-up (n=4, excluding patient who remained on prophylaxis post-treatment). In Cohort 2, exogenous FIX use was reduced from a pre-treatment cumulative total of 866,000 IU by 78% and 93% for years 1 and 2 of follow-up (n=5). Mean annualized total bleeds decreased from 14.4 in the year prior to AMT-060 to 7.6, 2.8 and 7.8, in years 1, 2, and 3 of follow-up in Cohort 1. Among the three patients with FIX activity >5% in Cohort 1, a single bleed was reported in year 2 and no bleeds were reported to data cut-off in year 3. For the two patients with FIX activity <5%, one patient with mean FIX activity of 4-4.3% reported 4 bleeds for year 2 and 4 bleeds to data cutoff in year 3, while the patient remaining on prophylaxis reported 8 and 9 bleeds during the same period. In Cohort 2, mean annualized total bleeds were reduced from a pre-therapy mean of 4.0 to 1.5 and 0.5 in years 1 and 2, respectively. One pt in Cohort 2 was not included in the calculation as historical bleed data was not available; he experienced one traumatic bleed approximately 7.5 months after the discontinuation of prophylaxis. No pts developed inhibitors to FIX and there were no detectable signs of sustained AAV5 capsid-specific T-cell activation. Fourteen treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in the first 3.5 months after treatment, including three patients who experienced transient mild elevations in alanine aminotransferase as previously disclosed. There were no additional treatment-related adverse events reported during this additional follow-up period up to 2.5 years post-treatment.
 Conclusions: Stable endogenous FIX concentrations >4% have now been observed out to 2.5 years post-treatment with AMT-060. In addition, we have observed continued reductions in annualized bleeds to near zero with the higher dose of AMT-060, and a 78-93% reduction in exogenous FIX use. The lack of additional safety concerns or treatment-related adverse events over the longer study period, including no recurring changes in ALT, support the continued development and transition of AMT-060 to AMT-061, which will use the same AAV5 vector to deliver the 2×1013 gc/kg dose with the enhanced Padua transgene, which is anticipated to increase FIX activity 6-8 fold.

 Leebeek: CSL Behring: Research Funding; Uniqure: Research Funding; Baxalta/Shire: Research Funding. Meijer:BMS: Honoraria; Aspen: Honoraria; Boehringer Ingelheim: Honoraria; Pfizer: Research Funding; Sanquin: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bayer: Honoraria, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; UniQure: Research Funding. Coppens:Bayer: Honoraria, Other: Non-financial support, Research Funding; CSL Behring: Honoraria, Other: non-financial support, Research Funding; Uniqure BV: Research Funding. Kampmann:Uniqure BV: Research Funding. Klamroth:Baxalta (Shire), Bayer, CSL Behring, Novo Nordisk, Octapharma, Pfizer, Shire, and SOBI: Consultancy; Baxalta (Shire), Bayer, CSL Behring, Novo Nordisk, Octapharma, Pfizer, Shire, and SOBI: Research Funding. Schutgens:Baxalta/Shire: Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; CSL Behring: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Uniqure BV: Research Funding. Seifried:Medac: Other: BSD owns IP and is contract manufacturer; Uniqure BV: Research Funding. Schwaeble:UniQure BV: Research Funding. Bonig:Kiadis Pharma: Consultancy. Sawyer:Uniqure BV: Employment. Miesbach:Bayer, Shire, Biotest, pfizer, Octapharma, LFB, CSL Behring, SOBI, Biogen, BPL: Consultancy; UniQure BV: Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy, Research Funding.


Tensiomyography (TMG) is a relatively new technique to assess the muscles mechanical properties in response to a single electrical stimulus. The purpose of the present study was to assess the acute effect of a foam roller (FR) in the rectus femoris muscle using TMG. Seventeen male professional soccer players (age 21.4 ± 3.8 years, height 180.5 ± 7.7 cm, and mass 73.6 ± 10.7 kg) performed 4 sets of with a duration of 15s using the foam roller (FR) on the dominant leg with 2 min of rest at 30 beats per minute. TMG measurements were performed at rest after the second and fourth sets for both the dominant and non-dominant leg (control). The TMG parameters analysed included stiffness (Dm), and contraction time (Tc). Substantial differences were not found between the legs at rest. For the non-dominant leg, substantial differences in Dm were found after the second and the fourth sets. For the dominant leg, substantial differences in Dm were not observed after the FR was applied. No differences in Tc were found for any of the measurements. Our results suggest that the use of a foam roller in slowly executed small sets maintains the muscle stiffness and the contraction time of the RF.


We describe how the simple planar quadrangulations with vertices of degree 3 and 4, whose duals are known as octahedrites, can all be obtained from an elementary family of starting graphs by repeatedly applying two expansion operations. This allows for construction of a linear time generator of all graphs in the class with at most a given order, up to isomorphism.


A novel test device that has the potential to facilitate day-to-day maintenance and quality assurance of ultrasonic medical imaging systems was developed and tested. The device consists of small echogenic particles deposited on a thin film substrate in patterns similar to those found on conventional eye charts, which can be scanned to produce recognizable images that can be quantitatively evaluated in a quick and repeatable fashion. An evaluation system consisting of this device and a related assessment methodology was tested at several locations by both physicians and sonographers. The results of the testing and responses of the users were both encouraging and insightful.


Artificial neural networks (ANN) have been employed successfully because of their high modeling capability. Many versions of the ANN have been proposed to increase the modeling ability. Since ANN based on the biological neural network system, the only mathematical operation is summation or subtraction (while the coefficients are negative). This research was done to investigate the application of other mathematical operations, which are multiplication, division, logarithm, and exponential, in nodes. Based on this fact, a novel a single hidden layer feed-forward artificial neural network (SLFN) model, which was called was algebraic learning machine (ALM), was proposed. The proposed ALM was evaluated and validated with 60 different benchmark datasets. Obtained results were compared with results obtained by each of the extreme learning machine (ELM), randomized artificial neural network, and random vector functional link, and back-propagation trained SLFN methods. Achieved results show that the proposed method is successful enough to be employed in classification and regression.


Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) can reduce sample preparation time and the recovery can be equal or better than that of the classical extraction techniques for solid and semi-solid samples. Extraction efficiency and speed can benefit from specific properties of a supercritical fluid.
Essential oils were extracted from "Marynka" variety hop using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. The highest essential oil recovery was obtained at the optimized conditions of extraction, i. e., trap temperature 5 °C, extraction pressure 85 bar and extraction time 10 min.
Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry was used for determination of quantitative and qualitative composition of the extracted essential oils. The following main compounds were identified in the essential oils from "Marynka" hop calculating retention indices and using mass spectra library: α-pinene, β-myrcene, limonene, humulene, copaene, cubebene, β-caryophyllene and α-caryophyllene.

Keywords: supercritical fluid extraction, essential oils, hops, gas chromatography –mass spectrometry


Observations of lunar occultations are presented for Callisto, Europa, and Ganymede. The resulting linear diameters are 4912 km, 3141 km, and 5062 km, respectively. The date of the events was 1977 January 1 (UT).


Aim To evaluate the role of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) as probiotic in persistent diarrhea (PD) in children of North Bengal, India. Setting Hospital-based study. Design Randomized, double-blind controlled trial. Patients and Methods All patients of PD admitted over a period of 2 years were included in the study as per predefined inclusion criteria. They were randomized to receive oral rehydration solution (ORS) alone, or ORS plus LGG powder containing 60 million cells, twice daily for a minimum period of 7 days or till diarrhea has stopped along with correction of dehydration with ORS and/or intravenous fluids as per WHO protocol and antibiotics in culture positive patients. The duration and frequency of purge and vomiting were studied. Data were analyzed by SPSS-10 software. Statistical significance was calculated by Student t test and χ2 test. Results The study comprised of 235 patients randomized into 2 groups, cases (117) and controls (118). Both the groups were similar with respect to age, number of breastfed infants, presentation with dehydration, degree of protein energy malnutrition, and distribution of infections. Stool culture was positive in 90 (38.3%) patients, Escherichia coli being the commonest organism followed by Shigella spp. and Clostridium difficile. The mean duration of diarrhea was significantly lower in the cases than in controls (5.3 vs. 9.2 d). The average duration of hospital stay was also significantly lesser in cases. No complication was observed from the dose of LGG used. Conclusions LGG (dose of 60 million cells) could decrease the frequency and duration of diarrhea and vomiting and reduced hospital stay in patients of PD.


Based on the high gassy and low permeability coal seams geo-conditions and developing technology in Tiefa coalfield,the features of mining-induced fractures with different mining orders,gas migration under U model exhaust ventilation,and boreholes layout of methane drainage were studied by means of physical simulation and CFD(Computational Fluid Dynamics) numerical modeling.The results show that mining-induced fractures are mainly generated on the inside of the retreat drift,around 1/3 along the retreat direction and the zone where gas mainly flows range from 30 to 80 m away from the tailgate.Arising from this,it can be derived that the boreholes should be drilled vertically with a distance that is the summation of caved zone height and 1/3 fractured zone height to the coalface roof,the separation distance should be no less than 100~150 m for surface boreholes,and the best location for the boreholes should be with a distance of 1/3~1/2 inclination.


A detailed analysis of epidemiology of measles in pre-vaccinal era is reported for both isolated, underdeveloped and developed populations, together with the most recent knowledge on epidemiological changes tooking place in those countries which introduced large-scale vaccination with live, further attenuated measles vaccines: reduction of morbidity mortality and complication rates, morbidity age shift, etc. Results obtained in U.S.A., where vaccination was introduced in 1963, are analyzed also considering that it never spanned above 66% of children 1-4 year. Suggestions derive after the american experience for a correct strategy of the incoming vaccination in this Country.


Two classes of multi-Zn-expanded oligoacenes from benzene to pentacene are computationally designed through introducing a Zn array into acene rings in two ways: acene-chain axial versus single-ring quasi-transversal direction. Combined density functional theory, CASSCF, and CCSD calculations predict that all these multi-Zn-expanded oligoacenes have the open-shell singlet diradical ground states, in contrast with the common fact that their parent oligoacenes are closed-shell systems or may have a triplet ground state and only acenes larger than octacene have open-shell singlet diradical ground states. These results offer the first theoretical prediction that the multi-Zn introduction into the acene ring(s), forming the Zn-expanded oligoacenes, can lead them to diradical structures. The diradical character of the ground states of these molecules arises from the Zn-participation-induced disjoint nature of the nonbonding molecular orbitals that are singly occupied in the diradicals. This work provides a strat...


The third EMBO Conference on Plant Molecular Biology, which focused on 'Plant development and environmental interactions', was held in May 2012 in Matera, Italy. Here, we review some of the topics and themes that emerged from the various contributions; namely, steering technologies, transcriptional networks and hormonal regulation, small RNAs, cell and tissue polarity, environmental control and natural variation. We intend to provide the reader who might have missed this remarkable event with a glimpse of the recent progress made in this blossoming research field.


Microorganisms can colonize and subsequently form biofilms on surfaces, which protect them from adverse conditions and make them more resistant than their planktonic free-living counterparts. This is a major concern in the food industry because the presence of biofilms has significant implications for microbial food contamination and, therefore, for the transmission of foodborne diseases. Adequate hygienic conditions and various preventive and control strategies have consequently been developed to ensure the provision of safe, good-quality food with an acceptable shelf-life. This review focuses on the significance of biofilms in the food industry by describing the factors that favor their formation. The interconnected process among bacteria known as "quorum sensing," which plays a significant role in biofilm development, is also described. Furthermore, we discuss recent strategic methods to detect, quantify, and remove biofilms formed by pathogenic bacteria associated with food processing environments, focusing on the complexity of these microbial communities.


Background The recognition of anatomical variants is essential in preoperative planning for lung cancer surgery. Although three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction provided an intuitive demonstration of the anatomical structure, the recognition process remains fully manual. To render a semiautomated approach for surgery planning, we developed an artificial intelligence (AI)–based chest CT semantic segmentation algorithm that recognizes pulmonary vessels on lobular or segmental levels. Hereby, we present a retrospective validation of the algorithm comparing surgeons' performance. Methods The semantic segmentation algorithm to be validated was trained on non-contrast CT scans from a single center. A retrospective pilot study was performed. An independent validation dataset was constituted by an arbitrary selection from patients who underwent lobectomy or segmentectomy in three institutions during Apr. 2020 to Jun. 2021. The golden standard of anatomical variants of each enrolled case was obtained via expert surgeons' judgments based on chest CT, 3-D reconstruction, and surgical observation. The performance of the algorithm is compared against the performance of two junior thoracic surgery attendings based on chest CT. Results A total of 27 cases were included in this study. The overall case-wise accuracy of the AI model was 82.8% in pulmonary vessels compared to 78.8% and 77.0% for the two surgeons, respectively. Segmental artery accuracy was 79.7%, 73.6%, and 72.7%; lobular vein accuracy was 96.3%, 96.3%, and 92.6% by the AI model and two surgeons, respectively. No statistical significance was found. In subgroup analysis, the anatomic structure-wise analysis of the AI algorithm showed a significant difference in accuracies between different lobes (p = 0.012). Higher AI accuracy in the right-upper lobe (RUL) and left-lower lobe (LLL) arteries was shown. A trend of better performance in non-contrast CT was also detected. Most recognition errors by the algorithm were the misclassification of LA1+2 and LA3. Radiological parameters did not exhibit a significant impact on the performance of both AI and surgeons. Conclusion The semantic segmentation algorithm achieves the recognition of the segmental pulmonary artery and the lobular pulmonary vein. The performance of the model approximates that of junior thoracic surgery attendings. Our work provides a novel semiautomated surgery planning approach that is potentially beneficial to lung cancer patients.


Mathematics education is considered indispensible for the improvement of curriculum and education system in each country. Similarly, in order to witness a positive and affective improvement in the curriculum and education system of Afghanistan, Mathematics textbooks have recently been revised by the Ministry of Education. Therefore, it was important to compare old and new textbooks of mathematics from some important learning and teaching approaches. Besides textbook analysis in lower secondary level, this study also analyzed the perceptions of different teachers regarding the recent change in the mathematics textbooks in lower secondary schools in Khost province, Afghanistan.For this study which took place in 15 schools in Khost province, quantitative research method was used. 15 teachers were given questionnaires to fill in with their perceptions about the old and new mathematics textbooks.It was found that new textbooks are better designed than old textbooks according to the teachers' responses; therefore, all the teachers believed that new textbooks reinforce students' learning by explaining charts, graphs and diagrams. Conversely, new textbooks are not easy for teachers to successfully teach new textbooks. Hence, it is to a large extent out of students' cognitive development.Teachers' responses and perceptions regarding questioning, bringing examples and illustrations are discussed which teachers believed as the key approaches for the improvement of mathematics learning achievement. Additionally,teachers believes about cognitive development of mathematics, design of old and new mathematics textbooks, mathematics concepts and their use in everyday life, contents and use of teachers' guide of textbooks are briefly discussed in Afghan context.The study contributed to existing knowledge in the area and the findings of the study are debatable because there are many issues and topics about mathematics textbooks to be explored. Different perspectives such as pedagogical and didactical aspects regarding old and new mathematics textbooks were discussed.


Participant observation is now increasingly used within qualitative health research and has been found to offer opportunities for the collection and synthesis of rich data about health and illness experience. This method, often used over an extended period, enables the researcher to build an in‐depth understanding of the research context and can be the basis for the development of relationships between the researcher and the 'researched'. Researcher familiarity in the field, however, can give rise to ethical and practical tensions. This article reports on the ethical and practical challenges of participant observation at a cancer drop‐in centre focusing on issues connected to the dual role of the researcher as both volunteer and researcher. It highlights the methodological practice of reflexivity as one way of the researcher maintaining an ongoing ethically engaged presence in the field.


The aim of the article is to present the necessity of completion of the test stand of brake components of railway vehicles with the equivalent railway operation load simulator for the research of the wheel wear on it. The other aim of presented research needs is to perform the analysis of the equivalent conicity as a parameter for the rail vehicles in operation ride properties prediction. The sub aims are the change of frame, wheel, braking forces load via SIMRAIL simulator program load collection performance.


In this paper the feasibility of utilizing low cost inertial sensors for human motion analysis is presented. The Xsens MTx sensor is used as the standard for comparison with the Sony Move and the Nintendo Wii (Wii Remote with Wii MotionPlus). Initial tests have been carried out by measuring upper limb range of motion and position tracking. Initial measurements utilizing kinematic modeling indicates that the MTx, whose static angle accuracy is 0.3°, can measure a movement of 10 cm with an error less than 0.05 cm. The low cost inertial sensors are capable of measuring the range of elbow flexion motion whose typical range is 150° with an error no greater than 1° and the Sony Move can track movement of 10 cm with an error less than 0.2 cm. In order to track position the system must include tri-axial accelerometers, rate gyros and magnetometers. This requirement is met by the Sony Move. The outcome is that Wii can be used for measuring upper limb range of motion and the Move for range of motion and position tracking based on the kinematic model.


Mineral addition can be used to enhance activity and stabilization of phytase. The aims of this study were to investigate effect of minerals, by addition of some minerals LP, Mg2, Zn2, Fez, Cat', Mn2, Cu2', Ni2', and Nit' at several concentrations 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mM. Effect of mineral addition on enzyme stability during storage 0, I, 2, 3, 4. 5, and 6 weeks was also Investigated. The most effective concentration of mineral Li2' was 0.5 mM, givi.g the highest activity I.e. 281.3%. MIneral Fe1' and Na2' were an effective activator at 1.0 mM concentration, giving tie highest activity I.e. 350 and 144.1%, respectively. Minerals Mg2' and Zn2' were effective stabilizers at 1.5 mM concen tration, that Increased the activity of 87.5 and 75%, respectively. On the other hand minerals Ca2' at 0.5 and 1.0 mM concentration act as activator, whereas Mn2', Ni', and Cu2' minerals act as inhibitors. Furthermore 0.5 mM Liz', Nat', Cu", Ni2', md Fe2' at 1.0 mM could minimize the rate of degradation of phytase activity during storage at 4C, wheress other minerals accelererated of phytase degradation.


The current ponding system applied for palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment often struggle to comply with the POME discharge limit, thus it has become a major environmental concern. Batch adsorption study was conducted for reducing the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Color of pre-treated POME using coconut shell-based activated carbon (CS-AC). The CS-AC showed BET surface area of 744.118 m2/g, with pore volume of 04359cm3/g. The adsorption uptake was studied at various contact time and POME initial concentration. The CS-AC exhibited good ability with average percentage removal of 70% for COD, TSS and Color. The adsorption uptake increased over time and attained equilibrium in 30 hours. The equilibrium data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. Based on the coefficient regression and sum of squared errors, the Langmuir isotherm described the adsorption of COD satisfactorily, while best described the TSS and Color adsorption; giving the highest adsorption capacity of 10.215 mg/g, 1.435 mg/g, and 63.291 PtCo/g respectively. The CS-AC was shown to be a promising adsorbent for treating POME and was able to comply with the Environmental Quality Act (EQA) discharge limit. The outcome of treated effluent using CS-AC was shown to be cleaner than the industrial biologically treated effluent, achieved within shorter treatment time


This paper considers the factors that relate to the recovery of a community affected by emergency. In particular, principles of recovery, the process of recovery, the reactions of people affected by emergencies, and the means by which recovery needs might be addressed are considered. An approach to recovery that is not strictly sequential, but is flexible, community-centric and which is integrated with other elements of the emergency management process is advanced. On 20 May 2002 the Republic of East Timor was acknowledged by the United Nations as a country in its own right. When interviewed, citizens of the new country expressed relief at no longer having to live in fear of violent militia attacks. They did however express new concerns; concerns more characteristic of the aftermath of a less insidious, yet equally destructive calamity. These concerns included the need for employment, long-term accommodation, and economic viability. The above, in addition to the psychological sequelae, represent some of the more typical needs of a recovering community. Indeed, the recovery of a community, whether from war or cyclone, rates as one of the more complex and lengthy challenges to confront both those affected by the event and those called to assist the affected. This paper considers the process of recovery. In particular, several key principals of recovery are considered along with the process by which the recovery of a community occurs. In addition to the aforementioned fundamentals of recovery management, several other recovery issues will be considered, including the diverse reactions to emergencies. The question of meeting the needs of a recovering community in terms of what is required and who accepts responsibility for its provision will also be addressed. Importantly, a number of conclusions will be drawn with respect to factors that affect recovery.


Given that, nowadays, 40% of the US corn crop is used for biofuel production, there is a growing concern that the rise in biofuel production might lead to an increase in food prices. However, it is also obvious that significant growth in biofuel use has minimized the demand for fossil fuel and has hence reduced the volume of carbon emissions. It is therefore crucial to model corn market volatility precisely because such an estimate could play a vital role in stabilizing food and biofuel market prices. For this purpose, we consider using the information content of the corn implied volatility (CIV) index to predict the corn futures market return volatility. Using symmetric and asymmetric GARCH‐class models, we find that the CIV index provides additional information beyond what is contained in the historical volatility of the corn market returns, and the information provided by the CIV index improves volatility forecasts for the US corn market. These findings could be extremely useful for energy market participants. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd


The coupling of multiple magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modes can lead to mode locking and major disruption in tokamak plasmas. In the J-TEXT tokamak, the coupling between two small modes, i.e. m/n = 2/1 and 3/1 modes (m and n are poloidal and toroidal mode numbers, respectively), appears when the edge safety factor is reduced to the vicinity of 3. After the mode coupling, the toroidal phase difference between the 2/1 and 3/1 modes equals 0 in the low field side midplane. This phase relation of coupled modes leads to mutual destabilization and even major disruption. A control scheme to avoid disruption caused by coupled modes by resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) is presented. It is found that the application of RMP significantly changes the evolution of the coupled modes. The coupling of the 2/1 and 3/1 modes occurs earlier as the RMP amplitude increases. The RMP with moderate amplitude can suppress the growth of 2/1 and 3/1 coupled modes and hence avoid disruption. These results provide a possible strategy for the suppression of neoclassical tearing mode (NTM) seed islands on International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) or future fusion reactors.


The ultrastructure of the parathyroid glands of magnesium-treated golden hamsters exposed to a 5 gravity environment was studied. In the parathyroid glands of the magnesium-treated animals exposed to a hypergravity environment, the Golgi complexes and cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum were increased as compared to those of the magnesium-treated animals and decreased as compared to those of animals exposed to a hypergravity environment, but were almost the same as those of the control animals. In the control and experimental animals, the chief cells were rich in free ribosomes and mitochondria. In addition, numerous secretory granules were situated close to the plasma membrane in the magnesium-treated animals exposed to a hypergravity environment. These observations suggest that the synthesis of parathyroid hormone may be stimulated in the parathyroid glands of magnesium-treated hamsters exposed to hypergravity environment.


Distributed Databases Systems (DDBS) are a set of logically networked computer databases, managed by different sites and appearing to the user as a single database. This paper proposes a systematic review on distributed databases systems based on respectively three distribution strategies: Data fragmentation, Data allocation and Data replication. Some problems encountered when designing and using these strategies have been pointing out. Data fragmentation involves join optimization problem since when a query has to combine more than one fragment stored on different sites. This produces the high time response. Heuristic approaches have been examined to solve this problem as it is known as a NP-Hard problem. Data Allocation is also another particular problem which involves finding the optimal distribution of fragments to Sites. This has already been proved to be a NP-complete Problem. The review of some heuristics methods as solutions has been conducted. Finally, Data replication, with its famous synchronization algorithm, which is the unique strategy to manage exchange of data between databases in DDBS, has been studied. Thus, following problems have retained our attention: serialization of update transactions, reconciliation of updates, update of unavailable replicas in Eager or synchronous replication, sites autonomy and the independence of synchronization algorithm. Therefore, this has been our motivation to propose an effective approach for synchronization of distributed databases over a decentralized Peer-to-Peer (P2P) architecture.


Introduction . The paper discusses the problems of organizing the vehicles' parking near large shopping centers and also describes their relevance, taking into account the transport services of retail outlets and residence places. The authors present the research of the problem by leading scientists, which is reflected in the regulatory documentation. Materials and methods . The authors used a mathematical description of the average parking duration and identified the main affecting factors, taking into account the proportion of workers in the mass gravity center. The authors proposed a mathematical dependence based on the average parking duration, taking into account reservation of parking places for workers and the required number of parking spaces for other categories. The paper considered the possibility of the intra-hour deficit of parking places based on the PHF-factor. Results . As a result, the authors made the comparison of the obtained values of the required parking spaces with the standard ones. The paper provided more than 30 types of mass gravity centers and urban areas. In addition, the authors considered the examples of assessing the required number of parking spaces near a large housing estate at the 8 km distance from the city center. Therefore, the authors proposed the technique for assessing the required number of parking spaces based on normative values per 100 m2 of the area of the mass gravity centers. Discussion and conclusions . The authors present recommendations are made for the practical application of the required number of parking spaces by the normative values. Financial transparency: the authors have no financial interest in the presented materials or methods. There is no conflict of interest.


This thesis investigates the predictive power of six bivariate GARCH-CCC (constant conditional correlation) models; the GARCH (1, 1), BEKK GARCH (1, 1), GARCH-X (1, 1), BEKK-X (1, 1), GARCH-GJR (1, 1) and QGARCH (1, 1) based on both normal and student's t distributions. Empirical investigations are conducted by forecasting the daily hedge ratios from agricultural futures markets using one-step-ahead over 1 year and 2 year out-of-sample period. The forecasting of OHR in agricultural and commodities' futures markets has not been studied thoroughly and few publications are available in literature. My work enriches the literature and will hopefully provide guidance for hedging in these markets. To forecast the OHR, we apply data from three storable commodities, coffee, wheat and soybean and two non-storable commodities, live cattle and live hog. Four tests are conducted to evaluate the forecasting errors of out-of-sample forecasted return of the portfolio based on the forecasted OHR. Our study shows that the asymmetric GARCH model outperforms other models, and the standard GARCH is the weakest for 1-year forecast. However, the standard GARCH model performs well for 2-year forecast of live cattle with student's t distributed residuals. More generally, the BEKK and asymmetric GJR and QGARCH models are recommended to forecast OHR on both 1-year and 2-year horizons with normal and student's t distributions for storable products and the asymmetric models for non-storable commodities. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that the predictive power of GARCH models depends on the distribution of residuals, the commodity and also the length of the forecast horizons. This result is consistent with the those from Poon and Granger (2003) and Chen et.al (2003). Given accurately forecasted OHR, investors can determine appropriate hedging strategies for portfolio management to reduce or transfer risks, and prepare for the capital needed for hedging.


This paper examines how the borrowing decisions of local governments, often financially constrained, respond to a shock that affects the distribution of revenue from the central government. The shock stems from the discrete updating of population census data that is plausibly uncorrelated with short-term financing needs. For a one-standard-deviation increase in the population shock, I find that federal transfers to Mexican municipalities increase by 2% over the first two post-census years. Using supervisory loan-level data, I show that the probability of municipalities being indebted declines by 0.1 percentage points over the same period. The response is driven by governments with relatively more ownsource revenue, less dependent on transfers, which lenders perceive as more creditworthy. These findings reveal a small capacity to smooth shocks in credit markets, restricted to few governments with a diversified revenue base. In general, there is no evidence of a positive effect of grants on local debt, not even when the lender is a public bank. The additional revenue mostly goes to finance short-term, current expenditures, with limited potential to alter the path of local development.


This paper addresses the problem of robust control for a class of nonlinear dynamical systems in the discrete-continuous time domain. We deal with nonlinear controllable models described by ordinary differential equations in the presence of bounded uncertainties. The full model of the control system under consideration is completed by linear samplingtype outputs. The linear feedback control design proposed in this manuscript is created by application of an extended version of the conventional invariant ellipsoid method. Moreover, we also apply some specific Lyapunov-based "descriptor techniques" from the stability theory of delayed systems. The above combination of the modified invariant ellipsoid approach and descriptor method make it possible to obtain the robustness of the designed control and to establish some well known stability properties of dynamical systems under consideration. Finally, the applicability of the proposed method is illustrated by a computational example. A brief discussion on the main implementation issue is also included.


At the end of last century the author proved the possibility of spontaneous formation and relative stable existence of special nano-size clusters in supersaturated media (solutions, vapor phase) and overcooled melts. These clusters were interpreted as prenucleation protomineral particles and were named clusters of «hidden» phase or quatarons. On this basis a special quataron concept of cluster self-organization of matter at nano-level was formed within which a number of debatable questions of the nucleation theory, formation of crystalline and non-crystalline materials, including hierarchically constructed amorphous (îpal-like) materials was solved. In subsequent years new ideas on clusterization of substance in crystal-forming media and prenucleation clusters became extremely popular and found more and more experimental proofs. Owing to really specific character of their properties, these clusters are given special names by other authors — for example «DOLLOP». We, in turn, go further — we consider quatarons, dollops and other similar particles as the basic building units of growth of crystals. As a result a principally new concept of quataron growth of crystals, different from known concepts of microblock (Fedorov-Balarev) and atomic (Kossel-Stransky) growth of crystals was formed on this basis. The quataron concept, developed by us, allows to generalize nowadays popular ideas of nonclassical nucleation and crystal-growth, formation of nanostructured materials.


Summary form only given, as follows. Efficient decoding of BCH- and Reed-Solomon codes can be done using the Berlekanp-Massey (1969) algorithm, and it is natural to try to use the extension of this to N dimensions of Sakata (see Inform. Computat., vol.84, no.2, p.207, 1990) to decode algebraic geometry codes. We treat a general class of algebraic geometry codes and show how to decode these up to half the Feng-Rao (see IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory, vol.IT 39, no.1 p.37-45, 1993) bound, using an extension and modification of the Sakata algorithm.<<ETX>>