The bidomain equations have been widely used to mathematically model the electrical activity of the cardiac tissue. In this work, we present a potential theory-based Cartesian grid method which is referred as the kernel-free boundary integral (KFBI) method which works well on complex domains to efficiently simulate the linear diffusion part of the bidomain equation. After a proper temporal discretization, the KFBI method is applied to solve the resulting homogeneous Neumann boundary value problems with a second-order accuracy. According to the potential theory, the boundary integral equations reformulated from the boundary value problems can be solved iteratively with the simple Richardson iteration or the Krylov subspace iteration method. During the iteration, the boundary and volume integrals are evaluated by limiting the structured grid-based discrete solutions of the equivalent interface problems at quasi-uniform interface nodes without the need to know the analytical expression of Green's functions. In particular, the discrete linear system of the equivalent interface problem obtained from the standard finite difference schemes or the finite element schemes can be efficiently solved by fast elliptic solvers such as the fast Fourier transform based solvers or those based on geometric multigrid iterations after an appropriate modification at the irregular grid nodes. Numerical results for solving the FitzHugh-Nagumo bidomain equations in both two- and three-dimensional spaces are presented to demonstrate the numerical performance of the KFBI method such as the second-order accuracy and the propagation and scroll wave of the voltage simulated on the real human left ventricle model.


Akhil Amar informs his readers that he will attempt to analyze the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments from the perspectives of text, history, and structure, in order to lay bare their first principles. The first principle is summed up concisely: the Constitution seeks to protect the innocent. My Review Essay will show that Amar's vision of the animating principle behind the Bill of Rights is myopic and his analysis fails to mesh with the empirical world of criminal law practice. My critique breaks down into two general categories. The first concerns his legal and historical analysis. History and wisdom indicate that Amar's animating principle -- the pursuit of truth -- is not the only, or even, perhaps, the most important, principle at work in the Bill of Rights. For example, Amar may be accurate in stating that warrantless searches were not a concern of the framers when the Fourth Amendment was adopted. However, to conclude from this that the Court's current warrant preference is backwards ignores the fact that only a warrant or well delineated exception can effectuate the values underlying the Amendment under current social conditions. This is because the Fourth Amendment was not designed primarily to protect the innocent, but was instead a profoundly anti-government amendment designed to control governmental power. The second category of criticisms I will level concerns whether Amar's suggested reforms will actually take us any closer to his first principle, protecting the innocent, or to others primary principles in the Bill of Rights, such as fairness and equality. I conclude that his suggestions will do neither. For example, elimination of the exclusionary sanction will do little to ensure reliable convictions, as only a small fraction of guilty defendants are released on this basis. However, it will ensure that police officers lack guidance on how to conduct a lawful search, and that minorities and disfavored groups disproportionately suffer from harassment by law enforcement officers. In actuality, the bulk of miscarriages of justice are produced not from any constitutional jurisprudence that Amar will reform, but rather through inaccurate eyewitness testimony, high pressure plea bargaining, defendants' inability to obtain exculpatory evidence from the government, lack of funding for criminal defense attorneys, defendants' inability to adequately investigate the facts, and vague and malleable criminal laws. Yet both Amar and the Court have failed to suggest any clause of our constitution as a remedy for these serious failings. Finally, Amar's proposed first principle fails to address some of the most significant issues in constitutional criminal procedure. These problems, in what I consider to be descending order of importance, concern race relations in law enforcement and the Court's unwillingness to extend either Equal Protection or Fourth Amendment protection to minorities in any useful manner; the ongoing collapse of the criminal/civil divide, rendering the application of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments uncertain; and the excessive and multiple punishments inflicted upon defendants from the combination of federal and state criminal statutory explosions and the lack of any viable protection under present Fifth Amendment Double Jeopardy and Eighth Amendment Excessive Fines and Cruel & Unusual Punishment jurisprudence.


Multiscale methods have been demonstrated to be highly efficient techniques for solving partial differential equations. In this paper, the idea of applying multiscale computation to an optimal control model of groundwater in situ bioremediation is investigated. The optimal control model, which was developed in previous work, uses an optimal control method called successive approximation linear quadratic regulator to identify optimal well locations and pumping rates to minimize pumping costs. The model can be used as an aid in designing more cost-effective aerobic in situ bioremediation, where injection wells are used to supply oxygen and extraction wells are used to contain the contaminant plume. The goal of this research is to improve the computational efficiency of the model so that complex field sites can be addressed. A spatial multiscale approach is presented in this paper. The spatial multiscale concept comes from discretization of the model domain with different mesh sizes. By solving the optimization on different numerical meshes and using bilinear interpolation operator to switch from the coarser mesh to finest mesh, significant computational savings can be gained. Both the convergence behavior and CPU time are presented for a case study under homogeneous conditions. The impact and choice of penalty weight when applying the multiscale approach are also discussed.


The effects of Debye plasma on the frequency-dependent polarizabilities of Li and Na atoms are investigated using symplectic algorithm within the framework of the pseudostate summation technique. Dynamic dipole polarizabilities of Li (2s 2S) and Na(3s 2S) as functions of scaled number density of the plasma electrons for arbitrary plasma temperature are presented. Screening effects on the resonance frequencies are also presented. In free-atomic cases, our calculated results are comparable with the reported theoretical and experimental predictions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


An important characteristic of a steam power plant is its ability to maintain reliability and safety of the plant against frequent start-ups and load changes give rise to temperature distribution in steam turbine casing, which results in non-uniform strain and stress distribution. The rapid increase of temperature and rotational speed during starts-ups, especially, makes conditions more severe and causes main components damage and reduction of life span for steam turbine. Thus accurate knowledge of thermal analysis and stresses distribution are required for the integrity and lifetime assessment for the turbine casing. In this work a steady-state thermal analysis of steam turbine casing was established by finite element method (ANSYS Mechanical). A steady-state thermal analysis calculated the effects of steady thermal loads on a system or component. Engineer/analysts often perform a steady-state analysis before performing a transient thermal analysis, which helps establish initial conditions. A steady-state analysis was last step of a transient thermal analysis. In steady-state thermal analysis we determined temperatures distribution of inner part is calculated by conduction, Heat transfer of a casing surface is affected by convection, thermal gradients, heat flow rates, various stress distributions and heat fluxes in an object that are caused by thermal loads that do not vary over time. A steady-state thermal analysis was linear with constant material properties or nonlinear with material properties that depend on temperature. The thermal properties of most material do vary with temperature, so the analysis usually is nonlinear. Including radiation effects also makes the analysis nonlinear.


Rapid development of composite industries raised the demand for tough, effec-tive, practical, and sustainable composites with enhanced mechanical, electrical, thermal, and physical properties. However, several major problems such as high production cost and nonrecyclability and nondegradability of fillers and composites limited their selectivity and approaches toward their aims. Herein, our aim is to present and review the recent achievements in matter of reinforced composites with renewable, recyclable, or degradable additives toward development of composites through a mass-scale production strategy with least charges, high efficiency, and fine mechanical, thermal, and physical properties. Additionally, such aim can reduce the overall amount of nondegradable pollutions such as plastics in the nature and decline overall the charges of composite industries by reusing such materials and decreasing their demand for raw material. Last but not least, to clean up the nature from industrial wastes, green strategies should be developed to whether reuse such material or degrade them via practical strategies.


Jurgen Habermas is one of the best-known and most influential philosophers in Europe today. Heir to the Frankfurt school, his reputation rests on more than thirty years of groundbreaking works on society knowledge, history, technology; ethics, and many other subjects. He is also a familiar figure in his native Germany where he has often played a prominent role in public de-bates. In recent years, he has spoken out ever more directly on the extraordinary changes taking place in Germany, Europe, and the world.This volume of interviews reveals Habermas's passionate engagement with contemporary issues. Wide-ranging and informal, the interviews focus on matters of decisive importance to Germany and the rest of the world in the 1990s: German unification; recent explosive debates about interpretations of German history, Germany's asylum policies, and the Nazi era; efforts to create a cooperative, peaceful Europe; and the significance of the Persian Gulf War. A final interview focuses on the relation between theory and practice--between philosophy and the so-called real world. In an afterword to the volume, Habermas addresses a broad spectrum of issues facing Germany and other nations in this final decade of the century.Ably translated and annotated by Max Pensky, professor of philosophy at the State University of New York-Binghamton, "The Past as Future" provides a striking portrait of an intellectual who is equally at home in the world of academic philosophy and in mainstream debate--and who can make valuable connections between the two.


Most groups of chondritic meteorites experienced diverse styles of secondary alteration to various degrees that resulted in formation of hydrous and anhydrous minerals (e.g., phyllosilicates, magnetite, carbonates, ferrous olivine, hedenbergite, wollastonite, grossular, andradite, nepheline, sodalite, Fe,Ni-carbides, pentlandite, pyrrhotite, Ni-rich metal). Mineralogical, petrographic, and isotopic observations suggest that the alteration occurred in the presence of aqueous solutions under variable conditions (temperature, water/rock ratio, redox conditions, and fluid compositions) in an asteroidal setting, and, in many cases, was multistage. Although some alteration predated agglomeration of the final chondrite asteroidal bodies (i.e. was pre-accretionary), it seems highly unlikely that the alteration occurred in the solar nebula, nor in planetesimals of earlier generations. Short-lived isotope chronologies ({sup 26}Al-{sup 26}Mg, {sup 53}Mn-{sup 53}Cr, {sup 129}I-{sup 129}Xe) of the secondary minerals indicate that the alteration started within 1-2 Ma after formation of the Ca,Al-rich inclusions and lasted up to 15 Ma. These observations suggest that chondrite parent bodies must have accreted within the first 1-2 Ma after collapse of the protosolar molecular cloud and provide strong evidence for an early onset of aqueous activity on these bodies.


. We consider a random process with discrete time formed by singular values of products of truncations of Haar distributed unitary matrices. We show that this process can be understood as a scaling limit of the Schur process, which gives determinantal formulas for (dynamical) correlation functions and a contour integral representation for the correlation kernel. The relation with the Schur processes implies that the continuous limit of marginals for q-distributed plane partitions coincides with the joint law of singular values for products of truncations of Haar-distributed random unitary matrices. We provide structural reasons for this coincidence that may also extend to other classes of random matrices.


We demonstrate a new optical pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) scheme where joint ultrastable time-frequency and gigabit ethernet data transfer with the same laser wavelength is realized. Time transmission is compatible with the White Rabbit (WR) based on gigabit ethernet networks, and frequency transmission is achieved by using 100MHz radio frequency (RF) modulation and the round-trip compensation methods. The laser is on-off keying (OOK) modulated by the WR signal, the RF and WR signal are modulated by optical PAM in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer modulator (MZM), and the local and remote site are connected by 96km urban fiber in Shanghai. The experimental results demonstrate that the frequency instabilities are 5.7E-14/1 s and 5.9E-17/104s, and the time interval transfer of 1 pulse per second (PPS) signal with less than 300fs stability after 104 s are obtained. This novel scheme can transmit frequency signals at hydrogen-maser-level stability in the gigabit ethernet network.


According to the Stress Vulnerability Model, affect regulation is crucial to manage stressors and promote recovery for adults with mental health conditions. Education regarding music-based affect regulation can be delivered in group formats using a transdiagnostic approach to increase access to services and vicarious learning. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if there were between-diagnosis and between-substance differences in music-based affect regulation via the Brief Music in Mood Regulation Scale (B-MMR) and Healthy-Unhealthy Music Scale (HUMS) subscales in adults with mental health and substance use conditions. Adults with mental health (n = 147) and substance use (n = 221) conditions completed the B-MMR and HUMS. Analyses of variance were conducted with participants' mental health diagnosis or primary substance as independent variables and the B-MMR and HUMS subscales as dependent variables. There were only significant between-substance differences in revival and discharge subscales, with participants addicted to heroin having higher mean scores than participants addicted to alcohol. No other result was significant. Due to an overall lack of between-group differences in diagnoses and substances, transdiagnostic theory has applications for educating adults with mental health and substance use conditions about music-based affect regulation in group formats.


The purpose of PREIM (Progressive RB-EIM) [1] is to reduce the offline costs of nonlinear parabolic reduced order models with accurate RB approximations in the online stage. The key idea is a progressive enrichment of both the EIM approximation and the RB space, in contrast to the standard approach where the EIM approximation and the RB space are built separately. PREIM uses highfidelity computations whenever available and RB computations otherwise. Another key feature of each PREIM iteration is to select twice the parameter in a greedy fashion, the second selection being made after computing the high-fidelity solution for the firstly selected value of the parameter.


Deciding if a given set of Wang tiles admits a tiling of the plane is decidable if the number of Wang tiles (or the number of colors) is bounded, for a trivial reason, as there are only finitely many such tilesets. We prove however that the tiling problem remains undecidable if the difference between the number of tiles and the number of colors is bounded by 43. One of the main new tool is the concept of Wang bars, which are equivalently inflated Wang tiles or thin polyominoes.


Abstract A tradition of shooting Common Loons (Gavia immer) for food and for bone fishing lures was established on Shackleford Banks, North Carolina, by the mid-19th century. This strongly ingrained tradition continued to be maintained, primarily by residents of nearby Harkers Island, when inhabitants of the banks moved inland about 1899. The practice probably arose because, on the east/west-tending Shackleford Banks, loons migrating northward in spring flew sufficiently low over land to be within shotgun range. Spring loon shooting, although illegal since 1918, grew to the point that dozens of hunters might be present on the banks on a given day. A strict law enforcement crackdown on this activity began in 1950, and the banks were effectively shut down for loon shooting. Loons continued to be shot opportunistically nearby, but a growing cultural intolerance of this practice brought the loon hunting tradition to an end. We document the existing memories and the few, scattered written sources concerning this unique local interaction between humans and birds.


To explain quantitatively the primary electron energy dependence of secondary electron spin polarization, the authors propose a simple model, where spin-dependent net mean absorption length of secondary electrons is assumed.


The accumulation of biotin-vitamers in the culture media of a large number of microorganisms (about 700 strains) was studied. The contents of the biotin-vitamers were quantitatively determined by microbiological assays with Lactobacillus arabinosus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.It was found that large amounts of biotin-vitamers were accumulated by various microorganisms such as Streptomyces, molds and bacteria, and that the yield of biotin-vitamers was enhanced by the addition of pimelic acid or azelaic acid to the media. It was also found that the main portion of the vitamers accumulated by many microorganisms did not support the growth of Lactobacillus arabinosus, while it did support that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The small amounts of true biotin were observed in the culture media of various Streptomyces and molds, but hardly in the culture media of bacteria.The identification of biotin-vitamers accumulated by various microorganisms is described, and the distribution of the vitamers in microorganisms...


Summary: Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) has been used to facilitate genetic fingerprinting within a natural hymenomycete population. A protoplasting technique has been developed which shows that the basidial cells of the commercially important mushrooms Agaricus bisporus, A. bitorquis and Lentinus edodes (Shiitake), as well as from many wild growing Agarics, are sensitive to commercially available fungal cell wall degrading enzymes. The technique produces a high yield of intact protoplasts within short time periods. Using the basidial cell protoplasting technique, chromosomal-sized DNA from a wild fruit body of Coprinus comatus has been prepared and resolved into distinct bands using PFGE. This protoplasting technique will allow the application of PFGE to provide electrophoretic karyotypes within natural and commercial populations of hymenomycetes.


We present an integrated, open-source platform for the control of assistive vehicles. The system is vehicle-agnostic and can be controlled using a myoelectric interface to translate muscle contractions into vehicular commands. A modular shared-control system was used to enhance safety and ease of use, and three collision avoidance systems were included and verified in both an included test platform and on a quadcopter operating in a simulated environment. Seven subjects performed the experiments and rated the user experience of the system under each of the provided collision avoidance systems with positive results. Qualitative tests with the quadcopter validated the proposed system and shared-control techniques. This open-source platform for shared control between humans and machines integrates decoding of motor volition with control engineering to expedite further investigation into the operation of mobile robots.


This paper studies the problem of data association in multiple maneuvering targets locating and tracking. Genetic algorithm is used successfully in solving the complex optimization and the industrial engineering problem. Recently researching on genetic algorithm has attracted a lot of attention. This paper puts forward a way of using genetic algorithms to resolve the problem of multiple target data association. The simulation results show that the algorithm used in this paper is able to avoid the local extremum and the outcome is satisfactory.


The costs of supporting an aging society, in an era that will experience increased longevity, escalating health care costs, and low birth rates, will become untenable. The adjustments that must ultimately be made will inflict significant economic pain across all sections of society. Many people who regard themselves as being middle class will live out their lives in near-poverty. There are major implications for investment strategies. Long-term returns for most asset classes will be far lower than recent bull markets have led people to expect. Consumers, companies, and local and national governments all acquire debt. The impact of this debt depends on many factors. These include: its real (inflation-adjusted) cost, the degree of leverage and the debt-servicing capability, the uses that are made of the debt, and the identity of the creditors. The aging of western societies is not happening in isolation from demographic trends that are occurring elsewhere in the world. They are reforming totalitarian or corrupt political, legal, and class systems that kept the majority of their populations in poverty. The net result is a dramatic increase in global production capacity.


Abstract Employing the lens of institutional entrepreneurship to help understand the logic of organizational change management, we conduct an analysis of the impact of Appreciative Inquiry® in a multi-unit division of a large, university-based health system. Our results indicate that, although there may have been some marginal impact in temporarily reducing an observed decline in employee commitment indicators, the program failed to sustain positive impacts over the longer term. Implications for the study of organizational change as the action of institutional entrepreneurs are briefly discussed.


Cytokeratins (CKs) are a group of 20 antigenically distinct intermediate filaments, generally confined to epithelia and their neoplasms. Immunostaining for CKs, in particular coordinate staining for CK7 and CK20, has become a useful tool in diagnostic pathology. Although studies defining CK distribution in neoplasms identify 0–7.7% of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) positive for CK20, none has described the incidence of CK20 immunopositivity in renal oncocytomas (ROs). Distinction between RCC and RO may be difficult but this distinction is clinically significant, prompting us to establish the incidence of CK20 positivity in RO. We selected fifteen surgical cases of RO from our archives and studied their immunoreactivity for CKs including CK7 and CK20; 12/15 (80%) were positive for CK20, with variation in the number of cells staining. There was also variation in the distribution of CKs within the cells, including diffuse cytoplasmic, perinuclear, and a punctate or dot-like pattern. Such punctate staining corresponds to cytoplasmic balls of intermediate filaments and has been described with CAM 5.2 in RO and CK20 in Merkel cell carcinomas. Our findings suggest that CK20 immunohistochemistry is a useful tool for distinguishing RCCs from ROs.


Techniques for the hydraulic restoration of placer-mined streams and floodplains were developed in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. The two-year study at Glen Creek focused on a design of stream and floodplain geometry using hydraulic capacity and shear stress equations. Slope and sinuosity values were based on regional relationships. Design requirements included a channel capacity for a bankfull discharge and a floodplain capacity for a 1.5- to 100-year discharge. Several bio-engineering techniques using alder and willow, including anchored brush bars, streambank hedge layering, seedlings, and cuttings, were tested to dissipate floodwater energy and encourage sediment deposition until natural revegetation stabilized the new floodplains. Permanently monumented cross-sections installed throughout the project site were surveyed every one to three years. Nine years after the project began, a summer flood caused substantial damage to the channel form, including a change in width/depth ratio, slope, and thalweg location. Many of the alder brush bars were heavily damaged or destroyed, resulting in significant bank erosion. This paper reviews the original hydraulic design process, and describes changes to the channel and floodplain geometry over time, based on nine years of cross-section


This paper presents the results of a two-year proof-of-concept program to prepare for the foreseen needs to master microvibrations on-board high pointing accuracy platforms, through the design, prototyping and experimental validation of four microvibration control systems: (1) an elastomer-based passive isolator for six degree-of-freedom isolation of a disturbance source (reaction wheel or mechanical cooler). Attenuation performance exceeding 20 dB above 25 Hz and 40 dB above 50 Hz has been demonstrated. (2) A passive vibration damping system, based on distributed piezoceramic wafers connected to a dissipative electrical circuit. Such simple, standalone devices are shown to have interesting applications (up 20 dB attenuation) when applied to the damping of a local flexible mode with concentrated strain energy. (3) Active damping with two-dimensional smart structures by using positive position feedback on pairs of collocated piezo-electric wafers used as sensors and actuators. Modal damping from 10 to 20 dB on the best controlled modes has been demonstrated, but some less controllable modes remain essentially undamped. (4) A centralized anti-phase control scheme operating on distributed sensors and actuators to compensate for stationary harmonic disturbances. The sensors are accelerometers and the actuators piezoelectric wafers or active struts equipped with a stack of piezoceramic wafers. The harmonic disturbance (for instance a reaction wheel unbalanced force) is estimated and compensated, with demonstrated attenuation from 30 to 40 dB. Follow-on activities in the domain are focused on the development of flight prototypes of the two active control concepts, for validation through on-orbit experimentation.


Abstract Damage to homesteads by brown bears (Ursus arctos) has become commonplace in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Science‐based solutions for preventing damages can contribute to the establishment of mechanisms that promote human–bear coexistence. We examined the spatial distribution patterns of house break‐ins by Tibetan brown bears (U. a. pruinosus) in Zhiduo County of the Sanjiangyuan region in China. Occurrence points of bear damage were collected from field surveys completed from 2017 to 2019. The maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model was then used to assess house break‐in risk. Circuit theory modeling was used to simulate risk diffusion paths based on the risk map generated from our MaxEnt model. The results showed that (a) the total risk area of house break‐ins caused by brown bears was 11,577.91 km2, accounting for 29.85% of Zhiduo County, with most of the risk areas were distributed in Sanjiangyuan National Park, accounting for 58.31% of the total risk area; (b) regions of alpine meadow located in Sanjiangyuan National Park with a high human population density were associated with higher risk; (c) risk diffusion paths extended southeast to northwest, connecting the inside of Sanjiangyuan National Park to its outside border; and (d) eastern Suojia, southern Zhahe, eastern Duocai, and southern Jiajiboluo had more risk diffusion paths than other areas examined, indicating higher risk for brown bear break‐ins in these areas. Risk diffusion paths will need strong conservation management to facilitate migration and gene flow of brown bears and to alleviate bear damage, and implementation of compensation schemes may be necessary in risk areas to offset financial burdens. Our analytical methods can be applied to conflict reduction efforts and wildlife conservation planning across the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.


A new rapid and simple stability-indicating spectrofluorimetric method has been developed for the determination of two irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), neratinib (NER) and pelitinib (PEL). The method is based upon measurement of the native fluorescence intensity of both drugs at λex 270 nm in aqueous borate buffer solutions (pH 10.5). The fluorescence intensity recorded at 545 nm (NER) and 465 nm (PEL) were rectilinear over the concentration range of 0.1-10 μg/mL for both drugs with a high correlation coefficient (r > 0.999). The proposed method provided low limits of detection and of quantitation of 0.07, 0.11 μg/mL (NER) and 0.02, 0.05 μg/mL (PEL), respectively. The method was successfully applied for the determination of NER and PEL in bulk powder. The proposed methods were fully validated as per the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines. The application of the method was extended to stability studies of both NER and PEL under different forced-degradation conditions (acidic-induced, base-induced, oxidative, wet heat, and photolytic degradation). Moreover, the kinetics of the base-induced and oxidative degradation of both drugs was investigated and the pseudo-first-order rate constants and half-lives were estimated at different temperatures. Also, an Arrhenius plot was applied to predict the stability behaviour of the two drugs at room temperature. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


TeliaSonera Incident Management Centre Karlstad has been situated in facilities placed in the bedrock of the Kroppkarr district of Karlstad for over ten years. From here TeliaSonera monitors parts of their different kind of networks all over the globe. One part is the monitoring of sites, a structure that holds equipment vital for a network to function.Currently TeliaSonera Incident Management Centre receives about thirty phone calls a dayfrom technicians from all over the world regarding the reporting of attendance on sites. Themain objective is to create a mobile application that can substitute the need of a phone call.The project resulted in the development of two web applications, one application with the purpose to replace the site attendance reporting by phone and another to monitor the incoming reports. The reason for developing a web application was to deliver a platform independentproduct under a short period of time. The site reporting application is resistant to attacks suchas SQL-injections and Cross-Site Scripting.Functionality of web applications is closing in on the functionality behind native applications. Features included in HTML5 allow the developer to take more liberty when programming web applications. These features are utilized in the search and filter functions of the monitoring application in this project. The applications are written in HTML5, JavaScript and PHP and the data is stored in a MySQL database.


Evaluation of different kind of pedometers measuring walking steps at different speeds Anna Akerberg and Maria Linden The School of Innovation, Design & Engineering, Malardalen University, Vasteras, Sweden INTRODUCTION: A common method to measure physical activity is with a pedometer, which counts number of steps taken. The pedometer is seen as an acceptable tool by both researchers and the public, although, research shows that traditional pedometers are capable of both over- and underestimate steps taken. It is now common that pedometers are integrated in other devices, such as cell phones, which enables measurements by a product already worn by a huge part of the population. To assess the potential of pedometers in cell phones, and to contribute to increase physical activity and a better health, they need to be evaluated and compared with traditional pedometers. PURPOSE: to evaluate the measurement accuracy of a pedometer cell phone application compared to traditional pedometers, measuring walking steps at different speeds. METHODS: Walking steps was measured by two pedometers and one pedometer cell phone application, on one individual (Female, 38 y, BMI: 30) walking on a motorized treadmill (Attract), at 7% slope. Equipment: Yamax LS2000 (Y) (Yamax, Japan)on the right hip, Omron Walking Style X (O) (Omron Health Care, Japan) in the left chest pocket and an iPhone 4S (Apple Inc., California, USA. SW: iOS6.0.1), in the right chest pocket, using the Pedometer Ultimate GPS+ (A) (Arawella Corp., V: 3.3.2) (walking sensitivity medium level). All pedometers were carried according to the manufacturers' recommendations, and in the same position of all measurements. 200 walking steps were performed ten times at five speeds; 0.6, 1.2, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0 mph and the steps were also counted manually. The right target speed was held from the beginning of the measurement, and the pace of the steps was held with help of a metronome (Korg Micrometro MCM-1). Mean values and standard deviation was calculated. RESULTS: The steps were severely underestimated for all three pedometers at 0.6 mph (A=3.5±1.4, O=0.0±0.0 and Y=5.8±1.8) and 1.2 mph (A=5.2±3.1, O=137.4±39.5 and Y=21.2±17.7). The measurements could be regarded as good for both A (197.0± 7.7) and O (198.6±1.0) at 2.5 mph, where Y still underestimates (112.9±58.5). The same result at 3.0 mph (A=203.8±5.4, O= 199.2±1.9 and Y= 154.4±24.6). All pedometers measured about the same at 4.0 mph (A=170.3±15.7, O=185.7±6.4 and Y=171.7±20.2). CONCLUSION: The study shows that the evaluated pedometers cannot perform acceptable measurements in all five walking speeds, ranging from very slow to fast normal walking speed. However, both A and O, produce accurate measurements at speeds considered to be medium-fast. This limited study shows that A and O performs more accurate measurements compared to Y. Supported by: NovaMedTech


"We're getting dozens of calls every day from people who are frustrated and fed up," says one health care consumer rights advocate. The scenario is familiar: first come the horror stories, then trailblazing, media-engaging lawsuits, and finally the public learning curve starts to accelerate. Then the heat gets turned up on the government to act. That's where we're at right now. Where will we be tomorrow?


BACKGROUND: Agama agama lizards are the most populous species of lizard in developing countries of African including Nigeria. These lizards are insectivores; they feed on insects and other arthropods, which may predispose them to different gastrointestinal parasitic infections, some of which are of zoonotic importance. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the gastrointestinal parasites in Agama agama lizards trapped in and around commercial poultry houses in Gombe State, Nigeria. METHODS: The study was carried out between the months of February and December, 2017. Fresh fecal samples were collected from 200 humanly euthanized Agama agama lizards from six Local Government Areas of Gombe State. Samples were examined microscopically for the presence of gastrointestinal parasites eggs or adult worms. RESULTS: Gastrointestinal parasites were detected in 154 (77.0%) Agama agama lizards examined, comprising of 58% gastrointestinal helminthes ova and 19% coccidian oocytes. Six species of helminthes were encountered viz: Strongyluris species (25.5%), Trichuris species (13.5%), Oxyuris species (8.0%), Ascaris species (5.5%), Heterakis species (4.0%) and Capillaria species (1.5%) all belonging to the class Nematoda. Two coccidian species comprised of Eimeria (1.5%) and Isospora species (1.5%) were also encountered. The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes was found to be significantly (p 0.05) in the male (19.4%) compared to the female (18.5%) infected lizards. Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was found to be significantly (p < 0.0001) higher in the rainy season compared to the dry season of the study period. CONCLUSIONS: This study discovered helminthosis and coccidiosis in Agama agama lizards roaming in and around poultry pens in Gombe State. The occurrence of six helminthes and two coccidian species were recovered from infected Agama agama lizards, and prevalence rates of both parasites were significantly higher during the rainy season. Similar genus of gastrointestinal parasites detected in this study have been previously documented in man and domesticated birds. This suggests the association of Agama agama lizards in gastrointestinal parasites transmissions between susceptible hosts. Therefore, it is recommended that further studies involving molecular characterization and comparative studies of these gastrointestinal parasites in Agama agama lizards and domesticated birds should be carried out. It is also recommended that strict biosecurity should be maintained in and around commercial poultry houses to curb disease transmission by lizards or wild reptiles to birds.


Purpose To compare dosimetric parameters of multichannel cylinder (MCC) and 3-dimensional (3D)-printed plans for high-dose-rate vaginal cuff brachytherapy (VBT) and to explore vaginal morphologies after hysterectomy. Material and methods Forty-eight patients with gynecological cancer who required VBT after hysterectomy were investigated. To develop a 3D-printed applicator, computed tomography images were obtained with contrast-soaked vaginal gauzes placed in situ to mould vaginal anatomy. 3D digital model of vaginal gauze was then generated and subsequently converted into a prototype 3D-printed applicator, and optimized source catheters were placed in the applicator. Post-hysterectomy vaginal configurations were classified via morphometric analysis of 3D-printed applicators. Results In terms of clinical target volume (CTV) coverage, V100 was slightly larger in 3D-printed plans than in MCC plans (90.02% vs. 90.01%, p < 0.001), and D98 in 3D-printed group (429.11 cGy) was higher than that in MCC group (400.08 cGy, p < 0.001). Quality indices were superior in 3D-printed plans than in MCC plans. When evaluating proximal 1 cm of CTV from the vaginal apex (CTV-1 cm), difference in V100 was significant and favored 3D-printed plans (81.85% vs. 72.47%, p < 0.001). 3D-printed applicators demonstrated superiority over MCC in terms of bladder and rectum protection. However, it would cause higher undesired doses to sigmoid. Post-hysterectomy vaginal configurations were classified into five different types, including dome-column, Gothic arch-column, two dog ears-column, one dog ear-column, and 'up wide and low narrow'. Conclusions Compared with MCC, 3D-printed applicators delivered a higher dose and larger volume, and offered more homogeneous and conformal target coverage. Further research on vaginal morphology will be valuable to help screen out patients who need 3D-printed applicators, and to provide guidance for designing new applicators.


The use of drones for material transmits or support of activities of intra-logistics belongs among the new and progressive technological methods. Their primary purpose does not lie in the monitoring of employees; for the most part, it is utilized in the sphere of transport, when monitoring objects and private land properties or when supporting of intra-logistics, which is its primary economic purpose. Individual entrepreneurs need to protect their widely delineated private complexes which are always busy and full of employees. That is why they are often interested in eliminating of monitoring complexity of these areas. Newly proposed drone use requires further attention not only from the technical sphere but also from the field of law. Our current legal frame should be amended and updated as such, that it would enable their use.


Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) is an important group of pathogens associated with diarrhea among children. Despite the fact that diarrhaegenic Escherichia coli (DEC) has been identified as a major etiologic agent of childhood diarrhea, only a few studies have been performed in Bangladesh to identify these organisms. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility of DEC obtained from patients with acute diarrhea. To detect DEC in patients with acute diarrhea, a total of 300 stool specimens were tested by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The antimicrobial susceptibility of DEC were tested by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique as per recommendation of CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute), 2010. Out of 300 stool specimens collected from patients with acute diarrhea, the DEC was detected in 18% (54/300) cases. The dominating strain was Enterotoxigenic E. coli ( ETEC) (13%, 39/300), followed by Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) (5%, 15/300) and no Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), Enteroinvasive E. coli ( EIEC) and Enteropathogenic E. coli ( EPEC) could be detected. Detected ETEC were 100% sensitive to Ceftriaxone, Nitrofurantioin, Amikacin, 94% sensitive to Nalidixic acid, 89% sensitive to Gentamycin, 83% sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, 79% sensitive to Cephalexin, 39% sensitive to Amoxycillin, 46% sensitive to Tetracyclin and 31% sensitive to Cotrimoxazole. Detected EAEC were 100% sensitive to Ceftriaxone, Nitrofurantioin, Amikacin, Nalidixic acid, 90% sensitive to Gentamycin and Ciprofloxacin, 85% sensitive to Cephalexin, 41% sensitive to Amoxycillin, 49% sensitive to Tetracycline and 31% sensitive to Cotrimoxazole. Both ETEC and EAEC isolates exhibited decreased susceptibility for Amoxycillin, Tetracycline and Cotrimoxazole. Our results revealed that ETEC and EAEC, had significant association with acute diarrhea and should be considered as potential pathogens. Guidelines for appropriate use of antibiotics in tertiary care hospitals need updating. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cbmj.v2i2.16698 Community Based Medical Journal 2013 July: Vol.02 No 02: 46-51


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the absolute risk of the public transportation drivers in the city of Teresina, Piauí, to develop coronary heart disease over the course of ten years based on the Framingham risk score.

METHODS
An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study using the Framingham score was conducted with 107 public transportation drivers in the city of Teresina, Piauí, to assess level of risk and its association with the Framingham predictors that include: age, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and smoking. The significance test used was Chi2. The prevalence rate was used as the association measurement.

RESULTS
Mean risk was 5% and the greatest majority of the participants were situated in the low risk category (85.05%). Mean values for the variables were: 42 years of age, total cholesterol 200 mg%, HDL cholesterol 49 mg%, systolic blood pressure 130 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure 85 mmHg. The associations between diabetes mellitus, smoking and HDL cholesterol with level of risk were not statistically significant; however other variables had a great influence on the level of risk obtained.

CONCLUSION
The mean absolute risk estimate for the public transportation drivers in the city of Teresina to develop coronary heart disease over the next ten years based on the Framingham score is low. The majority of the participants in the study (85.05%) were situated in the low risk category, that is, with a relative risk less than or equal to 10%.


Numerical calculations on two-dimensional spin-½ XXZ Heisenberg models are presented. The computational technique entails solving the time-dependent Schrodinger equation. The time propagation of wave functions is performed employing Trotter-Suzuki product formulas. The algorithms are numerically stable and are used to study models involving ≈10^7 states. With this approach both the thermodynamic properties as well as the many-particle dynamics can be obtained. Densities of states and zero-temperature dynamic magnetic structure factors are presented. For the isotropic Heisenberg antiferromagnet thermodynamic properties are computed for lattices up to 26 sites.


INTRODUCTION
Inflatable penile implants are a mainstay for the surgical correction of erectile dysfunction. For the last 40 years they have provided reliable outcomes with durable patient satisfaction. Infection of the implant continues to remain the primary surgical concern, despite the advent of antibiotic-coated devices and improved skin preparation solutions.

METHODS
In this article, we review and evaluate the published literature for important contributions surrounding the various salvage techniques and washout strategies. In addition, the role of biofilm in prosthetic infection will be discussed.

RESULTS
First described by Mulcahy for instances of device infection, the salvage or rescue procedure was established to avoid complete removal and staged replacement. This approach, with its avoidance of difficult revision surgery, penile shortening and patient discomfort, has produced success as high as 84%.

CONCLUSION
Mulcahy's innovative approach at salvage or rescue reimplantation has proven to be a highly successful approach to this difficult surgical problem. Without question, the report of the long-term results of his salvage patients has directly influenced a generation of prosthetic surgeons.


For pt.I see ibid., vol.38, no.1, p.1-6 (1995). In part I an introductory course to electric network analysis was described. Some educational measures showed passing rates and students' insight to be unsatisfactory. In this paper we analyze problems that students have to solve. Examples of the difficulties that students have are presented. Several kinds of problems can be distinguished. Difficulties in concepts and some measures to support concept formation are discussed. Finally, a possible change in the overall sequence of problems is proposed. >


Nutrition support in the intensive care unit can impact favorably on disease severity, development of complications, modulation of the immune response, and length of stay, resulting in improved outcomes (ASPEN [American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition] 2009 guideline), but determining an individual's precise nutritional requirements remains a clinical challenge. By understanding the impact of critical illness on nutrient requirements, the dietitian can estimate needs and provide nutrition support. Monitoring tolerance to individualized nutrition support helps avoid the negative consequences of underand overfeeding. Evidence-based nutrition support guidelines and specifically tailored care plans play a significant role in optimizing nutritional management, thus improving patient outcomes and reducing health care costs.


BACKGROUND
It is well documented that nitric oxide (NO) suppresses the function of a number of mitochondrial enzymes. Our recent studies found that endogenous NO may play an important role in the modulation of tissue oxygen (O2) consumption and cellular respiration both in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS
Tissue O2 consumption was measured by a Clark-type O2 electrode at 37 degrees C in freshly isolated skeletal muscle segments from the accessory head of the triceps brachii (90% type I muscle fiber) and extensor carpi radialis (86% type II muscle fiber) from normal dogs and dogs with tachycardia-induced heart failure.

RESULTS
S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), carbachol, and bradykinin at doses of 10(-7) to 10(-4) mol/L concentration significantly suppressed tissue O2 consumption both in the absence and presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol (1 mmol/L), a mitochondrial uncoupler. These effects were not significantly different in the accessory head of the triceps brachii (90% type I muscle fiber) and extensor carpi radialis (86% type II muscle fiber). The effects of carbachol and bradykinin but not SNAP were attenuated by NG-nitro-L-arginine (10(-4) mol/L), indicating inhibition of the formation of endogenous NO. The inhibitory effect on tissue O2 consumption in response to carbachol and bradykinin became significantly smaller in skeletal muscle from dogs with pacing-induced heart failure, but the effects of SNAP were unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS
Endogenous NO released from microvascular endothelium may play an important physiologic role in the modulation of cellular respiration in skeletal muscle, and the loss of this regulatory function may contribute to peripheral metabolic disorders and poor exercise tolerance during heart failure.


The purpose of this study was to examine the factor structure of 2 versions of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spiritual Well-Being (FACIT-Sp) scale in a sample of Veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The FACIT-Sp has 12- and 23-item versions that have been factor analyzed in other populations with mixed factor solutions. Spiritual well-being is of growing interest in military and veteran populations; valid and reliable measures are needed for research with these groups. A sample of 146 Veterans diagnosed with PTSD was selected for this analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test competing factorial structures for the 12-item FACIT-Sp. Both a 2-factor and 3-factor model were compared. For the 12-item FACIT-Sp, a more plausible model of spiritual well-being was found with the 3-factor model, separating Meaning from Peace and including Faith subscales. The addition of 11 more items in the 23-item FACIT-Sp did not improve model fit to any substantial degree. Therefore, the 12-item FACIT-Sp with a 3- rather than 2-factor solution (e.g., subscales of Peace, Meaning, and Faith) is recommended as the most accurate representation of the spiritual well-being components in this study of veterans with PTSD


This paper presents a novel Res2Net-based fusion framework for infrared and visible images. The proposed fusion model has three parts: an encoder, a fusion layer and a decoder, respectively. The Res2Net-based encoder is used to extract multi-scale features of source images, the paper introducing a new training strategy for training a Res2Net-based encoder that uses only a single image. Then, a new fusion strategy is developed based on the attention model. Finally, the fused image is reconstructed by the decoder. The proposed approach is also analyzed in detail. Experiments show that our method achieves state-of-the-art fusion performance in objective and subjective assessment by comparing with the existing methods.


To obtain an image of the earth's subsurface, time domain methods can be applied as a first step. The implicit common reflection surface (CRS) approach provides a powerful tool for time imaging. We can perform a series of processes, e.g., stacking, time migration and demigration. Demigration describes the process of an inverse migration or a back transformation, respectively. The advantage of this data domain transformations are data enhancement and an intrinsic handling of conflicting dips. Furthermore, the stacking attributes serve as input for a data-driven time migration velocity model building. We suggest a velocity analysis method using the coherence of the migration combined with a threshold, following masking of velocities and subsequent interpolation and smoothing. Diffractions are enhanced in an automated fashion during this procedure. Therefore, no user interaction is required to carry out the migration and the following demigration. Applications to field data show good results for the prestack time migration and a suitably smooth velocity model. The demigration is able to reconstruct major events. The suggested data-driven approach to migration and demigration bears the potential to prestack data enhancement and regularisation without the need for expensive conflicting dip treatment.


Container movement by rail was a monopoly of Indian Railways (IR) until recently and its subsidiary, Container Corporation (CONCOR) was the sole operator of container trains. Entry of other entities in 2007 has been driven by larger public policy concerns. In the process, issues such as resistance of the incumbent, erection of entry barriers, denial of level playing field, use of a closely held organization as a consultant, and conflicting roles of IR as licensor, regulator, service provider, and operator came into sharp focus. This paper attempts to review the process starting from the policy announcement (February 2005) to evolution of a Model Concession Agreement (January 2007) and shows how policies were influenced by the incumbent to restrict competition by creating barriers on the one hand and how an alternate view provided by external entities, like the Planning Commission and other non-IR stakeholders significantly altered the course of action leading to entry of a large number of competing players.


Abstract: Secondary microcultures of newborn rat cerebrum astroglial (AG) cells, maintained in a serum‐free, chemically defined medium, were treated with various agents known to elevate intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels. Earlier studies had shown these drugs to induce a process‐bearing (stellate) morphology in the AG cells, a response that was antagonized by the presence of gangliosides. One millimolar dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dBcAMP), 10 μM forskolin, 12 nM cholera toxin, and 30 μM isoproterenol all raised intracellular cAMP levels, from basal values of 3 pmol/106 cells to 30–30,000 pmol/106 cells, depending on the agent tested. dBcAMP caused the greatest elevation, and forskolin the least. The timing and/or the level of the AMP response did not precisely correlate with those of the stella‐tion response. Values of ED50 with the four agents, as determined for the cAMP response, were always higher than stellation ED50 values in all treatments, and ED50 did not correlate with the maximal levels of cyclic AMP induced by the four agents. The capacity of ganglioside GMl to block the stellation response to the four agents was not accompanied by a similar capacity to block the cAMP responses. Lysophosphatidylserine (lysoPS) had the capacity to induce AG cell stellation as well, without altering the basal level of cAMP. Both lysoPS and gangliosides, therefore, may act directly on the cellular machinery underlying the stellation response without involving changes in intracellular AMP.


Sections of teeth partly demineralized in 10% formic acid were examined by X-ray diffraction, microradiography and scanning electron microscopy. In the undemineralized circumpulpal dentin, the tubules were empty, lying in a matrix containing hydroxyapatite. In the "plume" areas of remineralisation, the tubules were filled with mineral deposits. X-ray diffraction revealed the presence of brushite and monetite in these areas. In the outer layers of dentin the tubules were empty, lying in a matrix containing some residual hydroxyapatite. These findings confirmed that the remineralisation process occurred within the dentinal tubules.


Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine whether internal mal-rotation of the femoral component is associated with arthrofibrosis in TKA. We hypothesized arthrofibrosis may be triggered by a combination of non-physiological kinematics (femoral component internal rotation) and a tight medial compartment. Methods: From a consecutive cohort of 3058 mobile bearing TKA forty-four (1.4%) cases were diagnosed as having arthrofibrosis, of which thirty-eight (86%) cases could be recruited. Thirty-eight patients with a well functioning TKA served as matched controls. Evaluation included CT investigation to determine femoral component rotation with reference to the transepicon-dylar axis (TEA). Results: Femoral components in the AF group were significantly (p Conclusions: There is a highly significant association between arthrofibrosis in TKA and internal mal-rotation of the femoral component. On the base of these results it was hypothesized that non-physiological kinematics in TKA with mal-aligned femoral components influence and/or trigger arthrofibrosis in TKA. In TKA with arthrofibrosis, we now consider femoral CT evaluation with the view to surgically rebalancing the flexion gap and realigning the femoral component, when internal mal-rotation is confirmed.


The Euphrates Graben in southeastern part of Syria is considered to be one of the most important Mesozoic basins where oil deposits remain to be discovered and developed. In February 1986, the discovery well, Al Ishara-East101 Well, located in what is now the Al Ishara East Oil Field close to the central part of the Euphrates Graben, produced oil at high flow rates. In 1989, the field has produced at rates of up to 10.400 bbl/d. In the southern part of this field, another discovery well, Al Ishara-South1 Well, was drilled in 2009 by the Syrian Petroleum Company and produced oil of 370 API gravity oil. Three wells, each situated in a horst fault block, define Al Ishara South Oil Field.
 The Al Ishara South Oil Field lies at the crest of a tilted fault block, bounded on the east by a main normal fault and on the north by EW-trending graben. The field is a structural trap formed by tilting and erosion of a major fault block. In this field of the Euphrates Graben, the crude oils were derived primarily from Rutbah Formation of Lower Cretaceous age. The reservoir is mainly sandstones that are interpreted as having been deposited in upper shoreface, lower shoreface, offshore transition zone and outer shelf environments. Hydrocarbons are trapped in a tilted fault block capped by marl and marly limestone of Upper Cretaceous age. The reservoir is truncated by the Base Upper Cretaceous Unconformity and overlain by Muloussa-F Formation of Upper Triassic age. The Tanf Formation of Silurian age constitute the major source rock.
 Commercially available software packages that are used to interpret well logs and produce geological models are becoming very important in oil and gas industry. This study focuses on the interpretation of well log data in sequence stratigraphic terms and the evaluation of hydrocarbons in the porous zones encountered in the Upper Triassic to Upper Cretaceous reservoirs, penetrated by the three wells scattered in the study area. Detailed 3D geological modeling of the petroleum reservoirs conducted through this integrated study. It demonstrates the importance of integrated sedimentological analysis with well log interpretation and static modeling so as to enhance the predictive capabilities of subsurface models. Also, an improved understanding of basin-specific seal integrity is obtained from application of the fault seal evaluation techniques on this field. The results of this study were used for recommendations for further exploration and development planning in this area.


The ion energy distribution of ions bombarding a negative wall depends on the sheath potential and on the ion kinetics in the boundary layer. In most discharges the electron Debye length lambda D is small compared to the ion mean free path lambda C. For weakly negative walls the sheath is, therefore, nearly collision free. In the case of highly negative walls, however, the sheath thickness increases and collisions in the sheath may become important. The effect of collisions on the ion distribution function and sheath potential variation is investigated theoretically and experimentally. The theory starts from the charge exchange model of ion kinetics, presents a convenient self-consistent description of the unipolar ion sheath and extends a former asymptotic analysis lambda D/ lambda C to 0 to the Debye sheath. In the experimental part a retarding field analyser is used to determine the ion energy distribution. Measurements were made in the negative glow of a DC glow discharge at pressures of several Pa in argon, nitrogen and oxygen.


The majority of galaxy mergers are expected to be minor mergers. The observational signatures of minor mergers are not well understood; thus, there exist few constraints on the minor merger rate. This paper seeks to address this gap in our understanding by determining if and when minor mergers exhibit disturbed morphologies and how they differ from the morphology of major mergers. We simulate a series of unequal-mass moderate gas-fraction disc galaxy mergers. With the resulting g-band images, we determine how the time-scale for identifying galaxy mergers via projected separation and quantitative morphology (the Gini coefficient G, asymmetry A and the second-order moment of the brightest 20 per cent of the light M 20 ) depends on the merger mass ratio, relative orientations and orbital parameters. We find that G-M 20 is as sensitive to 9:1 baryonic mass ratio mergers as 1:1 mergers, with observability time-scales of ∼0.2-0.4 Gyr. In contrast, asymmetry finds mergers with baryonic mass ratios between 4:1 and 1:1 (assuming local disc galaxy gas fractions). Asymmetry time-scales for moderate gas-fraction major disc mergers are ∼0.2-0.4 Gyr and less than 0.06 Gyr for moderate gas-fraction minor mergers. The relative orientations and orbits have little effect on the time-scales for morphological disturbances. Observational studies of close pairs often select major mergers by choosing paired galaxies with similar luminosities and/or stellar masses. Therefore, the various ways of finding galaxy mergers (G-M 20 , A, close pairs) are sensitive to galaxy mergers of different mass ratios. By comparing the frequency of mergers selected by different techniques, one may place empirical constraints on the major and minor galaxy merger rates.


Abstract Hydrofractures are extension fractures generated by internal fluid overpressure (net or driving pressure): they include dykes, veins and many joints. The growth of a hydrofracture depends primarily on the mechanical properties of the host rock and the overpressure of the hydrofracture. Field observations show that in heterogeneous and anisotropic rocks, many hydrofractures change their apertures on passing through layers with different mechanical properties. Alternatively, hydrofractures may become arrested at contacts (and other discontinuities) between layers. We present boundary-element models on hydrofracture arrest and aperture variation that focus on the effects of abrupt changes in Young's modulus in layered reservoirs. The results show that, for internal fluid pressure as the only loading, high tensile stresses concentrate in the stiff layers. When approaching a stiff layer, the hydrofracture tip becomes sharp and narrow, and would normally continue its propagation through that layer. By contrast, soft layers suppress the tensile stresses associated with the hydrofracture tip and blunt the tip itself. Without a nearby weak, subvertical discontinuity that could open up, the hydrofracture tends to become arrested on meeting with a soft layer. When fluid over-pressure is the only loading, the aperture of a hydrofracture is normally larger in soft layers than that in stiff layers, which may lead to flow channelling in a layered reservoir.


Background We aimed to explore the predictive value of the carotid plaque score, compared with the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation 2 (SCORE2) risk prediction algorithm, on incident ischemic stroke and major adverse cardiovascular events and establish a prognostic cutoff of the carotid plaque score. Methods and Results In the prospective ACE 1950 (Akershus Cardiac Examination 1950 study), carotid plaque score was calculated with ultrasonography at inclusion in 2012 to 2015. The largest plaque diameter in each extracranial segment of the carotid artery on both sides was scored from 0 to 3 points. The sum of points in all segments provided the carotid plaque score. The cohort was followed up by linkage to national registries for incident ischemic stroke and major adverse cardiovascular events (nonfatal ischemic stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death) throughout 2020. Carotid plaque score was available in 3650 (98.5%) participants, with mean±SD age of 63.9±0.64 years at inclusion. Only 462 (12.7%) participants were free of plaque, and and 970 (26.6%) had a carotid plaque score of >3. Carotid plaque score predicted ischemic stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 1.25 [95% CI, 1.15–1.36]) and major adverse cardiovascular events (HR, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.14–1.27]) after adjustment for SCORE2 and provided strong incremental prognostic information to SCORE2. The best cutoff value of carotid plaque score for ischemic stroke was >3, with positive predictive value of 2.5% and negative predictive value of 99.3%. Conclusions The carotid plaque score is a strong predictor of ischemic stroke and major adverse cardiovascular events, and it provides incremental prognostic information to SCORE2 for risk prediction. A cutoff score of >3 seems to be suitable to discriminate high‐risk subjects. Registration Information clinicaltrials.gov. Identifier: NCT01555411.


The present research deals with the perception of matter in young children, inquiring if it is perceived as discrete or continuous. It investigates the existence of the intuitive rule "everything can be divided in two" in elementary school children (K-6) by using questions on the subdivision of mathematical and material objects. In addition, we included questions for studying students' conceptions of the particulate nature of matter, such as drawing of objects seen through "magic glasses" or describing the process of dissolving of sugar in water.

The results show that an intuitive rule exists in elementary school children: "everything comes to an end," meaning that subdivisions must eventually cease. This newly found rule seems to be less frequent as the children mature, parallel to an increase in the appearance of the intuitive rule "everything can be divided in two" and the emergence of the discrete concept of matter. An agglomeration of intuitive rules such as these can probably form the infrastructure for early explanatory frameworks. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed88:594–609, 2004


The problem in this research are: 1) Criminal prosecution against perpetrators of the Gambling Crime in the Kudus District Court. 2) Analysis of the results verdict against Gambling Crime lawsuit in the District Court of the Kudus. 3) Policy gambling a criminal offense in the Criminal Code reforms to come.Based on the results of the study concluded that: the base of the sentencing process is any act, error, and criminal prosecution. The average charges for the Gambling Crime in the District Court of the Kudus is six (6) months to 1 (one) year, but the result of a prosecution is not equal to the verdict, the general judge handed down the verdict for the Gambling Crime in the District Court of the Kudus average four (4) months to seven (7) months. Viewed from the demands of the course judges are many considerations to decide a case because the trial judges take into consideration the facts and evidence which can relieve the perpetrator gambling. That the main task of a judge is not necessarily just dropped punishment to the offender only. But also think about the consequences of sentencing, as well as considering the impact effect of what will happen later after the imposition of the witness. Creating new regulations on the prohibition of local governments to grant licenses to interested parties regarding the organization of gambling regulations, although in article 303 refer to legalize gambling if there is permission from the competent government in accordance with the PPRI No.9 of 1981. Diction abolish multiple interpretations contained in Article 303 and 303 bus or in the Bill of Article 505 where about peberian permits authorized officials in acts legalize gambling. Make one article where criminal gambling is not only subject to imprisonment and a fine of course, but also deprived of their rights in the professionalism if the perpetrator of a criminal who works with the enhancement.Keywords: Punishment; Crime Actors; Gambling; Policy; Reform.


In the identification of complex dynamic systems using fuzzy neural networks, one of the main issues is the curse of dimensionality, which makes it difficult to retain a large number of system inputs or to consider a large number of fuzzy sets. Moreover, due to the correlations, not all possible network inputs or regression vectors in the network are necessary and adding them simply increases the model complexity and deteriorates the network generalisation performance. In this paper, the problem is solved by first proposing a fast algorithm for selection of network terms, and then introducing a refinement procedure to tackle the correlation issue. Simulation results show the efficacy of the method.


Global data sets on the geographic distribution of livestock are essential for diverse applications in agricultural socio-economics, food security, environmental impact assessment and epidemiology. We present a new version of the Gridded Livestock of the World (GLW 3) database, reflecting the most recently compiled and harmonized subnational livestock distribution data for 2010. GLW 3 provides global population densities of cattle, buffaloes, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens and ducks in each land pixel at a spatial resolution of 0.083333 decimal degrees (approximately 10 km at the equator). They are accompanied by detailed metadata on the year, spatial resolution and source of the input census data. Two versions of each species distribution are produced. In the first version, livestock numbers are disaggregated within census polygons according to weights established by statistical models using high resolution spatial covariates (dasymetric weighting). In the second version, animal numbers are distributed homogeneously with equal densities within their census polygons (areal weighting) to provide spatial data layers free of any assumptions linking them to other spatial variables.


The synthesis of "very low" density lipoprotein in liver cells is characterized by the fact that the synthesized products, mostly triglycerides, are processed in the form of discrete, size-limited granules or globules, about 400 A in diameter. The present investigation has been made possible in part by the use of a fixative (OsO4 in bidistilled H2O at pH 6.0, in the absence of electrolytes) particularly effective in preserving cytoplasmic membranes and lipids, and giving them high stainability and differential contrast. Under these technical conditions, the lipoprotein granules retain their morphology and high density to electrons practically unaltered, and may serve as tracers in determining their route of transport from the sites of synthesis, starting at the rough-smooth ER junctions, to the lumen of Golgi concentrating vesicles. From the observations, it may be deduced that, along with lipoprotein granule synthesis and transport, there are also production and transfer of new membranes in the form of tubular extensions of smooth ER network which, by progressive fusion and coalescence, participate in the elaboration of fenestrated plates and solid Golgi sacs. In contradistinction to the entire process of liver lipoprotein granule synthesis, transport, and segregation, as reported in the present paper, appears to constitute a developmental sequence which includes the following communicating compartments, in consecutive order: cisternae of rough ER where proteins and possibly phospholipids are synthesized, smooth ER network where triglycerides are synthesized and transported in the form of dense granules, fusion of smooth ER tubular extensions into Golgi fenestrated plates, and further coalescence into solid Golgi sacs, ending in the segregation of the granules in appended concentrating vesicles, or detached "secretory vesicles." It seems that it is this progressive evolution in growth and configuration of membranes which is reflected in the so called polarity, from forming to mature faces, of the Golgi apparatus.


Six strains named SY1 to SY6 were isolated from oil-polluted soil. The degradation tests of oil by our isolates were carried out under still-reaction-bottle-aeration and shaking-aeration conditions. The co-metabolic characteristics of two co-substrates (ethanol and glucose) and inorganic ions on the biodegradation of oil by our isolates were also studied. The results show that oil can be degraded by the six isolates effectively. The degradation ability of strains is enhanced due to co-substrates added. The enhanced roles of glucose are stronger than ethanol to SY1 and SY5; while the enhanced roles of ethanol are stronger than glucose to SY3.And the enhanced roles of glucose and ethanol are similar to SY2, SY4 and SY6. Inorganic ions, such as Ca2 + Fe2 +, Mg2+, etc, could promote the degradation ability of strains and improve the growth of strains. The degradation effects of mixed strains were inferior to that of single strain. After five days, the degradation rate of SY3 was worst, which was 65.7%. In the mixed strains, there were only 11 groups' degradation rates greater than that of SY3, and other 46 groups' degradation rates were less than that of SY3.


Finland's Reformation is usually disposed of "in two sentences and the statement that it progressed much as in Sweden." Heininen exhibits two differences: Finnish reform was influenced more directly from Wittenberg than Sweden, and it had its own language. He lets us surmise that there could be no real reform without vernacular Bible, liturgy, and so forth (all supplied by Wittenberg alumni). He should explain that Finland was one diocese until 1554; so the positions of bishop of Turku or rector of the school for clergy were decisive ones when long filled by Wittenberg alumni. Six orderly chapters show that ten Finns studied at Wittenberg in an unbroken chain, 1531-1552, when Lutheranism had jelled doctrinally and was led by Melanchthon—hence his cast on Finnish reform. Michael Agricola looms largest, as "Finland's Reformer" and as founder of written Finnish through his Finnish primer, Bible, Prayer Book, and liturgy. P. Juusten, the first Finnish historian, was led by the Wittenberg weight on continuity with church history. Student problems of finances, beer parties, fights, and punishment ring true to all ages. Incidentally valuable is the depiction of the theological faculty led by Luther and the amazingly encompassing Melanchthon. This book is one of the clearest among those that trace the Reformation's spread through students, a gratifying addition to the all too sparse literature on this land whose reform most of us have bypassed.


A neutral loss scan of 141, corresponding to a phosphoethanolamine head group, has been commonly used for the determination of various glycerophosphoethanolamine species in complex lipid mixtures. However, the neutral loss of 141 Da is not a major fragmentation pathway in the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of ethanolamine plasmalogens in the positive-ion mode. Thus, the use of the neutral loss scan of 141 can be problematic to observe all possible ethanolamine phospholipids in biological samples. Ethanolamine plasmalogens could easily form adducts with Ag(I) ions, and the CID of Ag(I)-adducted ethanolamine plasmalogens provided abundant head group loss of 141 with higher collision energy. Thus, all ethanolamine plasmalogens could be identified from a neutral loss scan of 141 after Ag(I) adduction. This novel approach could be a useful diagnostic tool to observe most of the possible glycerophosphoethanolamine species in complex lipid mixtures.


Chaos and random signals share the property of long term unpredictable irregular behavior and broad band spectrum. The aim of this paper is not to distinguish between random and chaotic dynamics, nor to show the use of chaos, but to focus attention on how chaos and noise help order to arise from disorder It means to investigate the effect of the introduction of either deterministic chaotic or random sequences in different types of phenomena. In particular the results related to different applications, self-organization in arrays of locally coupled systems in which a chaotic dissymmetry is present, chaos driven optimization strategies, pattern formation in Drosophila embryos and some new topics on game theory are treated with the aim to investigate the subject: "does chaos work better than noise?".


Dynamics of profile soil water vary with terrain, soil, and plant characteristics. The objectives addressed here are to quantify dynamic soil water content over a range of slope positions, infer soil profile water fluxes, and identify locations most likely influenced by multidimensional flow. The instrumented 56 ha watershed lies mostly within a dryland (rainfed) wheat field in semiarid eastern Colorado. Dielectric capacitance sensors were used to infer hourly soil water content for approximately 8 years (minus missing data) at 18 hillslope positions and four or more depths. Based on previous research and a new algorithm, sensor measurements (resonant frequency) were rescaled to estimate soil permittivity, then corrected for temperature effects on bulk electrical conductivity before inferring soil water content. Using a mass‐conservation method, we analyzed multitemporal changes in soil water content at each sensor to infer the dynamics of water flux at different depths and landscape positions. At summit positions vertical processes appear to control profile soil water dynamics. At downslope positions infrequent overland flow and unsaturated subsurface lateral flow appear to influence soil water dynamics. Crop water use accounts for much of the variability in soil water between transects that are either cropped or fallow in alternating years, while soil hydraulic properties and near‐surface hydrology affect soil water variability across landscape positions within each management zone. The observed spatiotemporal patterns exhibit the joint effects of short‐term hydrology and long‐term soil development. Quantitative methods of analyzing soil water patterns in space and time improve our understanding of dominant soil hydrological processes and provide alternative measures of model performance.


The principal industrial users of land-observation satellite systems are several hundred oil and gas, mining, and engineering or environmental companies worldwide. The primary system used is Landsat/MSS (Multi-spectral Scanner), the data from which are now used operationally as an improved geologic mapping tool to help direct more expensive geophysical surveying and drilling, thus assisting exploration decision making. Use is also made of SKYLAB photography, SEASAT and SIR-A (Shuttle Imaging Radar) radar, and the new Landsat/TM (Thematic Mapper) data. Industrial use will soon be made of data from France's SPOT (1985), India's IRS (1986), the European Space Agency's ERS (1987), Canada's RADARSAT (1990), and Japan's JERS (1991) remote-sensing satellites. Data representing these systems were evaluated during the 7-yr, $10-million joint Geosat Committee-NASA/JPL Test Case Program. Begun in 1977, the objective of this program was to assess, in known geologic areas, the value of existing and potential satellite remote-sensing methods for petroleum exploration, mineral exploration, and engineering geology applications. The published study includes an evaluation of sensors, data-processing techniques, and interpretation methods. Some conclusions include the following. The Landsat/TM combines the visible and very near Infrared (IR) spectral bands of the MSS, with the shortwave IR 1.6-2.2 µm band region, which can indicate the presence of clays, carbonates, and sulfates. This system allows greater rock and soil discrimination than the MSS alone. Similarly, the TM bands demonstrate numerous, as yet little understood, geobotanical anomalies clearly related to leaking gas over oil and gas deposits. Landsat data, as well as that End_Page 264------------------------------ resulting from future satellite and airborne systems, must be utilized in an interactive manner with field geology and spectrometer measurements and computer-processing techniques to obtain the optimum integrated geologic, geophysical, and geochemical information contained in these data. Successful applications of satellite remote sensing requires a realistic understanding of the earth's surface and its relationship to the exploration models being used. As originally recommended by the Geosat Committee, the addition of the shortwave IR TM spectral bands, higher spatial resolution (10-20 m), and Synthetic Aperture Radar in the present and planned systems, combined with the Landsat/MSS system, will substantially improve these systems as a whole for more efficient geologic mapping and im roved exploration success worldwide. End_of_Article - Last_Page 265------------


Larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) are an ideal organism to study color vision, as their eye possesses four types of cone photoreceptors, covering most of the visible range and into the UV [1,2]. Additionally, their entire eye and nervous system are accessible to imaging, given they are naturally transparent [3–5]. Relying on this advantage, recent research has found that, through a set of color specific horizontal, bipolar and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) [6–8], the eye then relays tetrachromatic information to several retino-recipient areas (RAs) [9,10]. The main RA is the optic tectum, receiving 97% of the RGC axons via the neuropil mass termed Arborization Field 10 (AF10) [11,12]. In this work, we aim to understand the processing of color signals at the interface between RGCs and their targets in the brain. We used 2-photon calcium imaging to separately measure the responses of RGCs and neurons in the dorsal brain to stimulation with four different colors in awake animals. We find that color information is widespread throughout the larval brain, with a large variety of color responses among RGCs, and an even greater diversity in their targets. Specific combinations of response types are localized to specific nuclei, but we observe no single color processing structure. In the main interface in this pathway, the connection between Arborization Field 10 and the tectum, we observe key elements of color processing such as enhanced signal decorrelation and improved decoding [13,14]. Finally, when presenting a richer set of stimuli, we identify parallel processing of color, motion and luminance information in the same cells/terminals, evidence of a rich color vision machinery in this small vertebrate brain.


Effects of three-dimensional geometry of the field configuration and collisions on the zonal flows and the ion temperature gradient (ITG) modes in the Large Helical Device (LHD) are investigated by using a newly developed gyrokinetic simulation code, GKV-X. TheGKV-X incorporates full geometrical information such as the Jacobian and the metric tensor of the flux surface obtained from MHD equilibrium. The effects of the full geometry on the growth rate and real frequency of the ITG instability are clearly found in the large poloidal wavenumber region where the finite gyroradius effect is also important. The weak collision under the LHD experimental conditions reduces the residual zonal flow level, even if the geodesic acoustic mode oscillation as well as the growth rate and the real frequency of the ITG modes are not much affected. Furthermore, the simulation results for the linear ITG modes are compared with a high ion temperature discharge in the LHD experiments. It is found that the unstable ITG modes have the growth rates which peak at radial positions with the largest deviation of the temperature gradient from the critical values, where the peak positions of the growth rate are close to the regions where the density fluctuation peaks are measured in the experiment.


This study investigates the potential of a simple and Hybrid artificial neural network (ANN) to predict dense alumina's critical thermal shock temperature (ΔTc). The predictive models have been constructed using two ANNS models (M1, M2). In the first model (M1), elaboration, physical and mechanical parameters have been exploited to build three ANNs, namely generalized linear regression (M1-GLRNN), extreme learning machine (M1-ELM), and radial basis function (M1-RBFNN). The second model (M2) has been built by the three models mentioned above incorporated by the Shannon Entropy (SE) method. To compare the performance of all the developed models, coefficient of correlation (R), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE) have been considered. It is found that M2-RBFNN model with (RMSE = 4.3526, MAPE= 0.3406, NSE = 0.9921, and R= 0.9960) had superiority to the M1-RBFNN model (RMSE = 4.7030, MAPE= 0.3003, NSE = 0.9908, and R = 0.9954). More importantly, the contribution of the present work is that prediction of ΔTc has been performed through the developed hybrid model (M2-RBFNN), which reduces the number of inputs from six to only four inputs and offers high accuracy for all the studied variables.


Being able to keep your balance is something most of us take for granted. People with inner ear problems due to an accident or surgery or other dizziness have to live with this problem on a chronic basis. A balance prosthesis, worn around the torso, giving feedback about their upright position via tactile vibrators has been shown to help these people keep their balance.The goal and purpose for this thesis has been to conduct research on how to improve the existing balance prosthesis and adapt it to fit the user. The research has been conducted with the focus on human factors, meaning with the users' experience as the premier aspect.To be able to reach a good solution with a prototype that would be an improvement compared to the existing device, a vest, several stages have been passed. At first twelve criteria were set up to establish human factors and hedonomic requirements. To fulfill these requirements, surveys with users were conducted. An extensive phase of prototyping and material research informed the design of a final concept.The final concept was a prototype balance belt that contains six vibrators, called tactors, and models of the other electronic components. The belt has an elastic band as a base and then a black spandex fabric that covers all components. A Velcro band and a buckle are used to open and close the belt. Finally the belt has a beige spandex cover that can be pulled on and off. This cover makes the belt easy to keep clean because the cover can be washed.The prototype is made in three different sizes so it can fit most people in the US population.In the near future it will be important to make an evaluation of the balance belt with users. It needs to be tested if the vibrators are possible to feel and how it feels to wear the belt for a longer time. An aid to help pulling the cover onto the belt also has to be developed because putting on the cover is a bit difficult right now.


KL-6 is a high-molecular-weight mucinous glycoprotein discovered as a pulmonary adenocaricinoma related antigen. Its levels are used as a biomarker of lung injury in interstitial pneumonia. We here report a case of multiple myeloma with Bence-Jones lambda type whose serum KL-6 level was revealed high at a concentration of 19,400 U/ml. Next, we analyzed the blood test profiles and the concentrations of KL-6 in 20 patients with multiple myeloma. CD19/CD56 double negative fraction on myeloma cells with high expression of CD38 was found in all 5 patients with multiple myeloma having elevated KL-6 level. Patients with interstitial pneumonia show high level of KL-6. We, therefore, need to differentiate the interstitial pneumonia and the above-mentioned multiple myeloma when serum KL-6 level is high.


Fair redistributive measures require better knowledge of who the rich are. In order to evaluate the extent to which individuals are rich because they enjoy a differentiated family structure, this study tests three hypotheses concerning inequalities between the rich and the non-rich, relating the advantage of the rich to: a peculiar demographic structure (fertility levels, position in the life cycle, etc.); higher employment and greater yield of available labor (workforce participation and employment rates, length of workday); or occupation of better positions in the work market (higher remuneration). The hypothesis testing is based on a breakdown of families' per capita income, using data from the Brazilian National Household Sample Surveys (PNADs) from 1997, 1998, and 1999. The results suggest that the existence of a wealthy elite in the country is explained mostly by inequalities in workers' remuneration rather than by the population's demographic profile or by the workforce participation and employment rates for workers from the various families.


The study focused on stability and prediction of parenting stress experiences over a 6-year period. Mothers (N=93) who had received a clinical intervention for feeding or sleeping problems during infancy (Time 1; T 1) were followed-up when the children were 5–10 years old (Time 2; T 2). An age- and sex-of-child matched normal group was used for comparison of stress levels at T 2. Parenting stress was measured by the Swedish Parenthood Stress Questionnaire, which consists of a general parenting stress scale and sub-scales tapping different aspects of parenting stress experiences. T 1 predictors were clinical assessments of child problem load, maternal unresponsiveness, and family psychosocial problems. T 2 predictors were mother-reported concurrent child problem load and psychosocial problems. The individual stability in stress experiences was moderate. Effect sizes indicated that mothers with early clinical contacts had reduced their stress to levels close to those in the normal sample. Parenting stress at T 2 could be predicted from early and from concurrent child and family problems. The results point to the relevance of early clinical assessments and to the importance of a sub-area approach in parenting stress research, as there were differences between stress sub-areas regarding both prediction and stability. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


This article is based on a lecture presented on the 25th of May 2018 at the conference Teatervitenskap – historiografi, teori og praksis in Bergen. This conference's objective was to defend the section of Theatre Studies at the University of Bergen against cuts, and the lecture's corresponding objective was to exemplify how theatre studies, besides consisting in research on performing arts, also is productively effective in creative processes of performing arts respectively in this field's artistic research. In relation to the conference's three focal points – historiography, theory, and practice – referred the lecture to three examples: Mette Ingvartsen's performance 69 positions from 2014, Iggy Malmborg's performance b o n e r, also from 2014, and the author's own work as theatre scholar with background in Applied Theatre Studies, particularly his collaboration as dramaturge with Heine Avdal and Yukiko Shinozaki / fieldworks in their productions distant voices (2014), carry on (2015) and unannounced (2017). The article presents these examples in a slightly changed order and adds, as their description's background, a discussion on, firstly, the arguments that were used to defend theatre studies in the conference's context, and, secondly, the relation between research and artistic research in Norway and the debate about it.


We present 2 cases of mitral stenosis with left atrial thrombus who underwent Balloon Mitral Valvotomy with bilateral carotid protection using SpiderFX, distal protection devices to minimize the risk of neuroembolic stroke. One patient was critical MS in congestive heart failure with a highly mobile left atrial appendage clot (LAA) and the second patient was a young female who declined surgery and had an LAA clot which did not respond to warfarin therapy.


Abstract Walking as a leisure pastime is particularly popular amongst first generation members of the South Asian community. Whilst the lives of younger generations of South Asian men and women have tended to be at the forefront of academic debates, this has had the unfortunate effect of reducing the subjectivities of older groups to more narrow and fixed ideas about South Asian traditions and cultures. Thus limiting an understanding of their identities as also being hybrid, multiple and in-process. Additionally, much of the research about the leisure lives of migrant groups has been based upon research about the subjectivities and belongings of men, the histories of women have been relatively ignored. In order to address these absences, this research utilised participatory methods to explore first generation Gujarati Indian men and women's particular experiences of walking. The research findings revealed that the spaces/places that they walked through and across as part of their daily routines whilst relatively ordinary, were deeply meaningful, they enabled the participants to forward the translocal character of their identities over time and across space.


The molecular clock hypothesis is investigated by comparison of the rates of nucleotide substitution in globin genes of mice, cows and goats, humans, and rabbits, using the relative rate test. These comparisons are based on a branching order of genes and species established by cladistic analysis of nucleotide sequences. The species branching order is shown to be mouse, cow/goat, human, and rabbit. Relative rate tests involving paralogous and orthologous genes provide no evidence of heterogeneity, among species, in the rate of evolution of the genes. This result is discrepant with the conclusions of most other recent, similar studies. By comparison with previous studies, the present study is based on a sound phylogeny and involves a larger sample of species, genes, and genic regions. The result provides strong support for the neutral theory of molecular evolution and demonstrates that molecular evolutionary rate does not depend on generation time.


This paper presents novel designs of static dual-edge-triggered (DET) flip-flops that exhibit unique circuit behavior owing to the use of C-elements. Five novel DET flip-flops are presented including two high-performance designs and designs that improve upon common Latch-MUX DET flip-flops so that none of their internal circuit nodes follow changes in the input signal. A common characteristic of the presented flip-flops is their low energy dissipation due to glitches at the input. Novel DET flip-flops are compared to existing DET flip-flops using simulation in a high performance 28 nm CMOS technology and are shown to have superior characteristics such as power and power-delay product (PDP) for a range of switching activities. Extensive Monte Carlo and voltage scaling simulations are performed to show that the presented designs are robust under PVT variations.


Previous studies have shown that health information technologies have a positive impact on health systems. Electronic health record (EHR) systems are one of the most promising applications, demonstrating a positive effect in high income countries. On the other hand, robust evidence for low and middle income countries is still sparse. The aim of this study is to initiate a carefully planned nationwide EHR system in Vietnam by assessing the core readiness.
The assessment structure is mainly based on previous research, which recommends a readiness assessment prior to an EHR system implementation. To collect data, participant observation, document analysis and an in-depth interview were used.
This study has revealed new insights into the current situation on EHR in Vietnam. The Ministry of Health is currently working on improving the conditions for future implementation of a Vietnamese EHR system. There are issues with the current way of handling health records. These issues are encouraging the Ministry of Health to work on identifying the next steps for an EHR system implementation. The integration of an EHR system with current systems seems to be challenging, as most systems are commercial, closed source and very likely have no standardised interface/gateway.
In conclusion, this study identifies points which need to be further investigated prior to an implementation. Generally, health care workers show good awareness of new technologies. As the Vietnam's health care system is centrally organised, there is the possibility for a nation-wide implementation. This could have a great positive impact on the health care system, however, besides rigours planning also standards need to be followed and common gateways implemented. Finally, this assessment has focused only on one level of a readiness assessment. Further research is needed to complete the assessment.