We use the 1994, 2001 and 2005 Senegalese households' surveys to examine to what extent the differences in asset ownership are associated with differences in education levels. The assets are mainly classified into savings, house, car/vehicle and household furniture while the education levels considered are the primary, secondary and university education. The results of the estimations show that education can play a significant role in the holding of household durables or house comfort related assets such as refrigerator and air conditioner. Besides, the findings show that more educated individuals are more likely to have net savings. The results of the stratified samples (rural vs. urban and male vs. female) show that secondary/tertiary education and most of the assets are positively and significantly associated, implying an intensive promotion of higher education. The results suggest an increase of the level of compulsory education. The results of the present study are modest and very indicative in the sense that the lack of various financial and productive assets does not help drawing straightforward conclusions.


Stress is now recognized as an occupational hazard and it is incumbent on all employers to carry out an assessment in order to assess the risk to health. A stress audit would be an appropriate tool to use. An audit should concentrate on organizational issues. Most audits use a questionnaire and it is sensible to use one which has already been validated. Results should be fed back to the employer in a form which is easily understandable and which contains clear recommendations for action. A repeat audit after one year is advised.


Abstract : We present new VLA observations of the W30 Galactic complex at 90 and 20 cm. By combining these data with existing radio continuum and recombination line observations extending from wavelengths of 10 m to 3 cm, we are able to do the following: (1) We can improve estimates of the spectra and physical properties of H II regions in the complex. For thermal sources which are optically thick at 90 cm, we derive improved emission measures and filling factors, and for those which are optically thin, we set new upper limits to their emission measures. (2) We can derive improved estimates of the spectrum and physical properties of the supernova remnant (SNR) G8.7-0.1 associated with the W30 complex. Our 90 cm observations show that the nonthermal emission from the SNR is much larger than previously realized. The newly determined spectral index alpha = -0.5 is typical of shell-type SNRs. Relating G8.74-0.1 to H II regions in the W30 complex yields an improved distance estimate for the SNR of ~6 plus or minus 1 kpc. At this distance G8.7 - 0.1 is one of the largest known Galactic SNRs, with a physical size of 80 pc, and certainly one of the most distant, low-surface brightness SNRs known in the Milky Way. (3) We can show that the low-frequency turnover in the spectrum of G8.7 - 0.1 is due to absorption by localized thermal gas associated with one or more of the H II regions near the W30 complex and does not require absorption by a distributed ionized component of the ISM. (4) We can show that, with this new distance and larger extent, G8.7 - 0.1 may be associated with the very young pulsar, PSR 1800 - 21.


Indeed, each year, 4–5% of patients with chronic hepatitis C develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was identification of 515A>G CDC6 polymorphism as a trial for prediction of HCV progression to HCC. METHODS: This study had been carried out as single center case control study on 91 patients with chronic HCV, 25 HCV induced cirrhosis patients and 111 HCC related HCV patients who were treated in Internal Medicine Department 1, Goethe University Clinic, Frankfurt am Main, Germany plus 109 HCV free control persons from DRK Blood Bank Hessen GmbH. CDC6 genotypes were determined by DNA sequencing. The PCR primers, 5-CTA GGC TCT TCA CTG TCA CCA A and 5-GAC TGG AAG TGT CAA GAT GTG G, were used to amplify a 236-bp fragment covering the 515A>G polymorphism (rs4134994) in the CDC6 promoter. RESULTS: There was significant difference between the frequency of CDC6 SNP among different groups. The AG genotype in the non HCC group was less frequent than that in the HCC. The AG genotype patients showed significantly increased risk for HCC development. Exact Fisher test was done and showed statistical significant association (p = 0.000002). CONCLUSIONS: We detected 515A>G polymorphism in the CDC6 promoter association with the risk of HCC. Clearly, additional investigations are warranted to confirm our findings before we can employ this polymorphism as a biomarker for identifying the subgroup that is susceptible to HCC.


Drebrins are developmentally regulated actin‐binding proteins. In this study, we analyzed subcellular distribution of drebrin E in neuroblastoma cells (SHSY5Y) in culture, especially in terms of its relationship to actin filaments. In undifferentiated cells, drebrin E was scattered as flocculus small dots along the stress fibers and also accumulated at adhesion plaques. In parallel with the neuronal differentiation following retinoic acid treatment, drebrin E was accumulated, accompanying filamentous (F) actin, in the submembranous cortical cytoplasm. Similar submembranous localization of drebrins was observed in primary cultured neurons. In the presence of drebrin E F‐actin was more stable against cytochalasin D than F‐actin lacking drebrin E. These results suggest that drebrin E plays a role in neuronal morphological differentiation by changing its subcellular localization with stabilized F‐actin. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most well characterized eukaryote, the preferred microbial cell factory
for the largest industrial biotechnology product (bioethanol), and a robust commercially compatible scaffold to be exploited for diverse chemical production. Succinic acid is a highly sought after added-value chemical which
is not overproduced in native S. cerevisiae strains. The genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction of S.
cerevisiae enabled in silico gene deletion predictions. First, a multi-gene, non-intuitive, genetic engineering
strategy guided by an evolutionary programming method to couple biomass formation through glycine/serine
amino acid requirements to succinate production was proposed. Pursuing these targets, a multi-gene deletion
strain was constructed, and directed evolution with selection was used to identify a succinate producing mutant.
Physiological characterization coupled with integrated data analysis of transcriptome data in the metabolically
engineered strain were used to identify 2nd-round metabolic engineering targets – overexpression of ICL1. The
resulting strain represents a 30-fold improvement in succinate titer, and a 43-fold improvement in succinate yield on biomass, with only a 2.8-fold decrease in the specific growth rate compared to the reference strain. Further genome-scale metabolic modeling supplemented with pathway visualization, flux balance analysis, and model
modifications to better simulate batch glucose conditions was performed. Identification of the top single and
double gene deletion strategies, under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, resulted in three predictions with a 10-fold improvement in succinate yield on glucose compared to the reference: MDH1, OAC1, and DIC1. While
⊿mdh1 and ⊿oac1 strains failed to produce more succinate relative to the reference, ⊿dic1 produced 0.02 C-mol C-mol-glucose-1, in close agreement with model predictions (0.03 C-mol C-mol-glucose-1). Pathway
visualization, coupled with transcriptional profiling, suggested that succinate formation was coupled to
mitochondrial redox balancing, and more specifically, reductive TCA cycle activity. The aforementioned
metabolic engineering strategies were designed based on glucose supplementation and metabolism. Future S.
cerevisiae microbial cell factories capable of fast and efficient xylose consumption for biorefinery compatibility,
and succinic acid overproduction would be highly desirable. Metabolic engineering of S. cerevisiae for
consumption of xylose aerobically without redirection of some carbon flux to overflow metabolites (ethanol,
glycerol, acetate, xylitol) was accomplished by expression of PsXYL1, PsXYL2, and PsXYL3 from the native
xylose-metabolizing Pichia stipitis, and subsequent, directed evolution. The resulting S. cerevisiae strain showed xylose consumption at a specific rate of 0.31 g g-cell-1 h-1, a specific growth rate of 0.18 h-1, and a biomass yield
of 0.62 C-mol C-mol-xylose-1. Plasmid isolation and re-transformation confirmed the conferred phenotype
resulted from a chromosomal modification. Transcriptional profiling confirmed a strongly up-regulated
glyoxylate pathway enabling sustained respiratory metabolism. A proof-of-concept study was performed to
determine if whole high-throughput genome sequencing could be used as a tool in metabolic engineering for
direct identification of genotype to phenotype correlations. Therefore, whole genome sequencing of S.
cerevisiae S288C and CEN.PK113-7D resulted in identification of 13,787 filtered SNPs in CEN.PK113-7D,
with a total of 939 SNPs detected across 158 unique metabolic genes, 85 of which contained a total of 219 nonsilent
SNPs. S. cerevisiae CEN.PK113-7D exhibited significantly higher ergosterol content correlating with
non-silent SNPs identified in ERG8 and ERG9. The flux through the galactose uptake pathway was much lower
in S288C compared with CEN.PK113-7D, correlating with the non-silent SNP enrichment in GAL1 and GAL10.
Inspection of the significantly differentially expressed genes between strains did not reveal an obvious gene
cluster that would explain the significant physiological differences, strongly suggesting that genotype to
phenotype correlation is manifested post-transcriptionally or post-translationally.


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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk depends
on HDL function, not HDL-cholesterol
(HDL-C). Isolevuglandins (IsoLGs) are lipid dicarbonyls
that react with lysine residues of proteins
and phosphatidylethanolamine. IsoLG adducts
are elevated in atherosclerosis. The consequences
of IsoLG modification of HDL have not
been studied. We hypothesized that IsoLG modification
of apoA-I deleteriously alters HDL
function. We determined the effect of IsoLG on
HDL structure-function, and whether pentylpyridoxamine
(PPM), a dicarbonyl scavenger,
can preserve HDL function. IsoLG-adducts
in HDL derived from patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
(n=10, 233.4±158.3 ng/mg)
were found to be significantly higher than in
healthy controls (n=7, 90.1±33.4 pg/mg protein).
Further, HDL exposed to myeloperoxidase had
elevated IsoLG-lysine adducts (5.7 ng/mg protein)
compared to unexposed HDL (0.5 ng/mg
protein). Preincubation with PPM reduced
IsoLG-lysine adducts by 67%, while its inactive
analogue pentylpyridoxine (PPO) did not. Addition
of IsoLG produced apoA-I and apoA-II
crosslinks beginning at 0.3 molar equivalents
IsoLG per mol apoA-I (0.3 eq.), while succinylaldehyde
and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) required
10 and 30 eq. IsoLG increased HDL size, generating a subpopulation of 16-23 nm. 1 eq.

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IsoLG decreased HDL-mediated 3H-cholesterol
efflux from macrophages via ABCA1, which
corresponded to a decrease in HDL-apoA-I exchange
from 47.4% to only 24.8%. This suggests
that IsoLG inhibits apoA-I from disassociating
from HDL to interact with ABCA1. Addition of
0.3 eq IsoLG ablated HDL's ability to inhibit
LPS-stimulated cytokine expression by macrophages,
and increased IL-1β expression by 3.5-
fold. The structural-functional effects were partially
rescued with PPM scavenging.

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generating a subpopulation of 16-23 nm. 1 eq.
IsoLG decreased HDL-mediated 3H-cholesterol
efflux from macrophages via ABCA1, which
corresponded to a decrease in HDL-apoA-I exchange
from 47.4% to only 24.8%. This suggests
that IsoLG inhibits apoA-I from disassociating
from HDL to interact with ABCA1. Addition of
0.3 eq IsoLG ablated HDL's ability to inhibit
LPS-stimulated cytokine expression by macrophages,
and increased IL-1β expression by 3.5-
fold. The structural-functional effects were partially
rescued with PPM scavenging.


Over the past thirty or so years, motion processing in insects has been studied primarily through the 'optomotor response', a turning response evoked by the movement of a large-field visual pattern. More recently, however, evidence is accumulating to suggest that, in addition to the optomotor pathway, there are other pathways which use motion information in subtler ways. When an insect moves in a stationary environment, the resulting optic flow field is rich in information that can be exploited to estimate the distance to a surface, distinguish between objects at different distances, land on a contrasting edge, or distinguish an object from a similarly textured background. This article reviews recent behavioural studies in our laboratory, investigating how honeybees accomplish such tasks.


Chain dynamics, probed by dielectric spectroscopy, provide a route to further understanding of the molecular interactions induced by hydration, degree of crosslinking, and microstructural changes occurring on swelling of biopolymers such as chitosan, which is becoming a focus for biomedical engineering and therapeutic delivery. The basis of the s-wet relaxation peak is established as segmental chain relaxation between chitosan water bridges and related to its hysteresis induced by microstructural changes during wetting and dewetting cycles. Linear expansion probes the hysteresis arising from bridging water interactions during the hydration-dehydration paths which is also shown in the resultant ionic conductivity. s-wet relaxation and ionic conductivity exhibit identical hysteresis behavior with both degrees of chemical crosslinking and water contents. X-ray diffraction shows that the degree of crosslinking and hydration also influences the degree of disorder of the polymer chains changing both the crystalline phase fraction and lattice dimensions. These molecular interactions provide power law behavior between s-wet relaxation dynamics and ionic mobility over five orders of magnitude for all degrees of chemical crosslinking and water bridging which is independent of the significant hysteresis in these properties indicative of scaling behavior within the noncrystalline gel phase.


Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a "refractory cancer" characterized by rapid growth and extensive early metastasis. About 70% of patients are already in the extensive stage at the time of diagnosis. Despite the high response rate to platinum-contained first-line chemotherapy, almost all patients subsequently experienced inevitable recurrence and had poor response to second-line treatment. The high mutation load and immunogenicity of SCLC suggest that immunotherapy may be effective for SCLC patients. Over the past few years, several clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors [mainly CTLA-4 and programmed death 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) inhibitors) in SCLC patients and demonstrated promising survival prospects. This article reviewed the clinical studies of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the first-line, maintenance and second or more line treatment of SCLC. Besides, predictive biomarkers were discussed to select suitable patients for immunotherapy effectively.


A functionalized Schiff base-chitosan-grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes (S-CS-MWCNTs) material has been studied on pre-concentration and determination of trace mercury. In this process, the effects of solution pH solution, elution conditions on pre-concentration of trace mercury were studied and the effect of interfering ions was also investigated. A novel S-CS-MWCNTs solid-phase extraction adsorbent was synthesized by covalently grafting a Schiff base-chitosan (S-CS) onto the surfaces of oxidized MWCNTs. The stability of chemically modified S-CS-MWCNTs especially in concentrated hydrochloric acid was then used as a recycling and pre-concentration reagent for further uses of S-CS-MWCNTs. The application of S-CS-MWCNTs for sorption of a series of metal ions was performed by using different controlling factors such as the pH of metal ion solution and the equilibration shaking time by the static technique. Hg(II) was found to exhibit the highest affinity towards extraction by these S-CS-MWCNTs phases. The pronounced selectivity was also confirmed from the determined distribution coefficient or dissociation constant (Kd) of all the metal ions, showing the highest value reported for Hg(II) to occur by S-CS-MWCNTs. The potential applications of S-CS-MWCNTs for selective extraction of Hg(II) to occur from aqueous solution were successfully accomplished as well as pre-concentration of low concentration of Hg(II) (60 pg ml-1) from natural tap water with a pre-concentration factor of 100 for Hg(II) off-line analysis by cold vapor atomic absorption analysis.

 Key words: Pre-concentration, Hg(II), Schiff base-chitosan-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (S-CS-MWCNTs).


Effective retrieval of the most relevant documents on the top ic of interest from the Web is difficult due to the large amount of information in all types of formats. Studies have been conducted on ways to improve the efficiency of information retrieval (IR) systems. To arrive to suitable solutions in IR systems, machines need additional semantic information that helps in understanding Web documents. In this paper, the semantic IR model is investigated, oriented to the exploitation of domain ontology and WordNet to support semantic IR capabilities in Web documents, stressing on the use of ontologies in the semantic-based perspective. The system; called SPIRS, that uses Semantic Web and agent to support more expressive queries and more accurate results is proposed. The examination of the proposed system is performed by an experiment that is based on relevance based evaluation and user satisfaction based evaluation. The results of the experiment shows that the proposed system, which is based on Semantic Web and agent, can improve the accuracy and effectiveness for retrieving relevant Web documents in specific domain.


Deep neural networks have been able to outperform humans in some cases like image recognition and image classification. However, with the emergence of various novel categories, the ability to continuously widen the learning capability of such networks from limited samples, still remains a challenge. Techniques like Meta-Learning and/or few-shot learning showed promising results, where they can learn or generalize to a novel category/task based on prior knowledge. In this paper, we perform a study of the existing few-shot meta-learning techniques in the computer vision domain based on their method and evaluation metrics. We provide a taxonomy for the techniques and categorize them as data-augmentation, embedding, optimization and semantics based learning for few-shot, one-shot and zero-shot settings. We then describe the seminal work done in each category and discuss their approach towards solving the predicament of learning from few samples. Lastly we provide a comparison of these techniques on the commonly used benchmark datasets: Omniglot, and MiniImagenet, along with a discussion towards the future direction of improving the performance of these techniques towards the final goal of outperforming humans.


In impromptu or ad hoc settings, participating players are precluded from precoordination. Subsequently, each player's own model is private and includes some uncertainty about the others' types or behaviors. Harsanyi's formulation of a Bayesian game lays emphasis on this uncertainty while the players each play exactly one turn. We propose a new game-theoretic framework where Bayesian players engage in a Markov game and each has private but imperfect information regarding other players' types. Consequently, we construct player types whose structure is explicit and includes a finite level belief hierarchy instead of utilizing Harsanyi's abstract types and a common prior distribution. We formalize this new framework and demonstrate its effectiveness on two standard ad hoc teamwork domains involving two or more ad hoc players.


Technologies such as smartphones have had a profound impact on everyday activities, providing us with instant access to a boundless archive of information and real-time communications with others. Additionally, new devices such as standalone 'smartspeaker' devices, which are controlled entirely through voice, are making an appearance in the home. This instantaneity and pervasiveness of these technologies has not unfolded without critique, however, as many complain of situations where we are surrounded by friends but become distracted, lose track of the conversation, or have trouble balancing demands both from our devices and the conversational involvement.

Through the completion of three observational studies, this thesis reveals how people bring their device use into a multi-party conversation as part of socialising together. Furthermore, these interactions are shown to unfold collaboratively, with co-present others supporting device users to complete their interactional projects occasioned through the conversation.

This thesis studies three such technologies, and examines how interaction with and around the device situationally unfolds:
- device interaction where a touchscreen is used as the primary input and output mechanism,
- device interaction using touchscreen-based devices that also feature voice-controlled interfaces that can be spoken to, and can respond by synthesising speech, and
- device interaction using voice only, where the device is controlled using spoken 'natural language' as the input mechanism, and the device synthesises speech as its response.

Each study takes place in what is categorically called a 'casual-social' setting, with these settings demarcated as places where people gather to socialise and relax. The first two of these studies adopt a participant-observer approach, and all three employ an analytic lens based on ethnomethodology. The first study observes groups of friends socialising in a pub together and reveals how natural device use becomes occasioned in and through interaction and how the device use is interleaved amongst talk in the setting. Study two adopts a similar premise but asks participants to preferentially use their device's voice-controlled 'personal assistant' in situations where they would typically type into a device. This reveals how people accountably and interactionally accomplish this practice. In both of these studies, participants were not asked to use technology or perform any activity other than to socialise together. The final study explores the use of smartspeakers in the home through a longitudinal study. These devices are designed with 'far-field' microphones to allow users to speak to them at a distance, and with speakers to allow the device to respond using a synthesised voice. Through capturing their use over a one-month period, the study reveals how devices are used as part of the multi-activity home, alongside other ongoing activities.

The thesis makes a number of contributions, such as identifying for what purposes and how people use devices in and through socialising together in a casual-social setting, including the collaborative nature of these interactions. Dealing with technical troubles with devices such as smartspeakers was identified as being a potentially collaborative activity amongst the groups, and synthesised responses from the VUI were ostensibly 'resources' for dealing with these troubles and progressing interaction with the device. Through its presentation of thick description and analysis, this thesis establishes the case for further research to examine and design for gatherings in such settings.


Profitability in the United States has been rising since the early 1980s and by 1997 was at its highest level since its postwar peak in the mid 1960s, and the profit share, by one definition, was at its highest point. In this paper I examine the role of the change in the profit share and capital intensity, as well as structural change, on movements in the rate of profit between 1947 and 1997. Its recent recovery is traced to a rise in the profit share in national income, a slowdown in capital-labor growth on the industry level, and employment shifts to relatively labor-intensive industries.


On 10 June 1963 President John F. Kennedy gave a speech that changed the world. His commencement speech at American University helped to spur the signing of a world-changing agreement between the Soviet Union and the United States-the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. This episode of peacemaking is remarkable for two reasons. First, it arguably helped to save the world, since the nuclear confrontation at that stage of the Cold War was not a 'stable balance of terror', as sometimes described, but rather a highly unstable situation that was prone to accidents, misjudgements and potential disasters. Second, this was an episode of statesmanship in which presidential leadership played a crucial role. Following the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy understood that he bore sole responsibility on the US side to find a way back from the brink of nuclear war. He used the 'peace speech' to create a novel kind of peace diplomacy, and worked together with his counterpart, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, to pull the superpowers back from this precarious brink.


Science and Technology Parks (STPs) have fueled many debates on their effectiveness in policies to enhance innovation and regional economic growth. Some authors put emphasis on advantages of physical proximity between onsite firms and the university, while others pay increasingly attention to benefits from social capital between the stakeholders involved. According to theory, social capital works as a 'glue that binds' stakeholders who may originally have different interests, visions and different power positions. Adopting the last point of view, the aim of the paper is to increase understanding of the role of social capital in performance of STPs. The paper explores the relationship between growth and innovativeness of STPs and social capital-related power position, trust, and shared visions, using regression analysis. We make use of a survey-based sample of almost 50 STPs in various Asian countries. With regard to stakeholders and social capital, we distinguish between STPs' management, local university, local government and national government. We control for variation on country-level regarding innovativeness and planning culture and for variation in STPs' land-size. Our results show that higher STPs' growth (numbers of firms) tends to go along with some shortage in social capital, mainly on the local level concerning university and government. This situation may point to different opinions about growth, connected to physical limits regarding land and road system. In contrast, social capital on the local level but also national level, tends to be positively associated with degree of R&D orientation of STP firms.


Magnetic field amplification by relativistic streaming plasma instabilities is central to a wide variety of high-energy astrophysical environments as well as to laboratory scenarios associated with intense lasers and electron beams. We report on a new secondary nonlinear instability that arises for relativistic dilute electron beams after the saturation of the linear Weibel instability. This instability grows due to the transverse magnetic pressure associated with the beam current filaments, which cannot be quickly neutralized due to the inertia of background ions. We show that it can amplify the magnetic field strength and spatial scale by orders of magnitude, leading to large-scale plasma cavities with strong magnetic field and to very efficient conversion of the beam kinetic energy into magnetic energy. The instability growth rate, saturation level, and scale length are derived analytically and shown to be in good agreement with fully kinetic simulations.


Lossless compression schemes with secure transmission play a key role in telemedicine applications that helps in accurate diagnosis and research. Traditional cryptographic algorithms for data security are not fast enough to process vast amount of data. Hence a novel Secured lossless compression approach proposed in this paper is based on reversible integer wavelet transform, SPIHT algorithm, new modified runlength coding for character representation and selective bit scrambling. The use of the lifting scheme allows to generate truly lossless integer-to-integer wavelet transforms. Images are compressed/decompressed by well-known SPIHT algorithm. The proposed modified runlength coding greatly improves the compression performance and also increases the security level. This work employs scrambling method which is fast, simple to implement and it provides security. Lossless compression ratios and distortion performance of this proposed method are found to be better than other lossless techniques.


In mainland France, as in most Western countries, prostate cancer is the most frequent cancer in men. However, the incidence of this cancer is highly variable, depending on the region of the world. This variability is largely accounted for by differences in access to care, but also by environmental conditions and the ethnogeographic origins of the populations. The French West Indies--the archipelago of Guadeloupe and the island of Martinique--are unique in terms of their geography, environment and the lifestyle and origins of their populations. We report the incidence and mortality rates for prostate cancer in the French West Indies and also provide the first description of the major clinical and anatomical characteristics of this disease in this region.


The two alternatives for the direct connection of generators to HVDC converters, i.e. the unit and group connections, are compared under varying steady-state operating conditions at nominal operating frequency. Direct connection is defined as the connection of synchronous generators and converters without AC filters and with the transformer having simultaneously the function of converter and step-up transformer. With all the units in service both schemes display the same characteristics. By reducing the number of generators in service the group connection becomes more efficient at lower power levels. The opposite effect occurs with the unit connection where the efficiency reduces with the power levels, particularly with fewer generators in service. Moreover, in the last-mentioned case the inverter end of the link requires extra reactive power compensation. Therefore for schemes operating at varying power levels and fixed frequency the group connection should be the preferred alternative.


This paper study the deployment strategy based on data fusion and focus on two regular deployment patterns - equilateral triangle and square. Through theoretical analysis, this paper determines the location of least (α,β) -covered point in respective grid, and derives the constraint of side length of respective grid, which ensures that the grid is full (α,β) - covered in terms of different requirement of coverage quality and environmental parameters. Then, the deployment efficiency in both patterns with constraints of coverage and connectivity is analyzed. This paper also presents a Back-off based Grid Fusion Algorithm (BGFA), which can restrain unnecessary fusion frames from broadcasting and save energy. Numerical analysis and simulation results show that the deployment efficiency in equilateral triangular pattern is better than the efficiency in square pattern, and the impact of cooperation energy cost on entire energy cost in both patterns is very small.


This paper presents an implementation study of a wireless communication network in Printed Circuit Board (PCB) context. First, we point out the needs and the constraints in term of communication for a Wireless Interconnect Network-on-Board (WiNoB). Then, we present the electrical characteristics of the chosen dipole and "Vivaldi" antennas for the achievement of a 10 GHz demonstrator. Finally, using measurements and EM simulations, we evaluate the transmission between two antennas on a PCB substrate and we mainly present the results with Vivaldi antennas. We also study the effect on the transmission of various obstacles, as integrated components, lines, grids.


Humans are increasingly becoming the primary consumer of structured data. As the volume and heterogeneity of data produced in the world increases, the existing paradigm of using an application layer to query and search for information in data is becoming infeasible. The human end-user is overwhelmed with a barrage of diverse query and data models. Due to the lack of familiarity with the data sources, search queries issued by the user are typically found to be imprecise.
To solve this problem, this dissertation introduces the notion of a "queried unit", or qunit, which is the semantic unit of information returned in response to a user's search query. In a qunits-based system, the user comes in with an information need, and is guided to the qunit that is an appropriate response for that need.
The qunits-based paradigm aids the user by systematically shrinking both the query and result spaces. On one end, the query space is reduced by enriching the user's imprecise information need. This is done by extracting information from the user during query input by providing schema and data suggestions. On the other end, the result space is reduced by modeling the structured data into a collection of qunits. This is done using qunit derivation methods that use various sources of information such as query logs. This dissertation describes the design and implementation of a autocompletion-style system that performs both query and result space reduction by interacting with the user in real time, providing suggestions and pruning candidate qunit results. It enables the user to search through databases without any knowledge of the data, schema or the query language.


Graphocephala atropunctata or the blue‐green sharpshooter (BGSS) has been long recognized as the principal native vector of Xylella fastidiosa in coastal, wine‐grape‐growing areas of California. X. fastidiosa is the causative agent of Pierce's disease of grapevine and of numerous other leaf‐scorching diseases of agronomically important plants. X. fastidiosa has been shown to colonize the cibarium and precibarium (anterior foregut) of sharpshooters, where it may encounter other naturally occurring bacterial species. Here, deep 16S rRNA sequencing was used to survey the microbiota associated with the BGSS anterior foregut. DNA was extracted from dissected cibaria and precibaria; a portion of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced using Illumina MiSeq technology. An average of approximately 32 000 sequence reads per insect was obtained. Agrobacterium was the most common genus detected; additional sequencing of the full‐length 16S rRNA gene further identified this as Agrobacterium tumefaciens or A. fabrum. A number of additional plant‐associated bacterial genera were also detected (Pseudomonas and Ensifer), along with genera known to be associated with insects (Baumannia), and soil (Stenotrophomonas, Caulobacter, Delftia, Achromobacter, Acinetobacter and Novosphingobium). Approximately half of the genera reported here have been previously reported to be prevalent in the cibarium and precibarium of glassy‐winged sharpshooter (GWSS; Homalodisca vitripennis). Many of these cibarium‐ and precibarium‐associated genera likely interact with X. fastidiosa.


Celiac disease (CD) is the most common autoimmune enteropathy in the western world caused by the intolerance to gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. CD is characterized by a remarkable rearrangement of the mucosal architecture, in which process myofibroblasts play a crucial role. Myofibroblasts (intestinal subepithelial myofibroblasts and interstitial cells of Cajal) are the most represented mesenchymal cell types in the gut mucosa and are involved in a broad range of biological processes including growth, mucosal protection, repair, inflammation and fibrosis. Myofibroblasts actively contribute to the mucosal changes in CD due to their ability to produce an excessive amount of extracellular matrix and basement membrane components (e.g. collagens, fibronectin, and specific enzymes including tissue transglutaminases) and through the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The enhanced production of ECM components and MMPs and the altered shape and motility of myofibroblasts in the duodenal mucosa of patients with CD suggest that myofibroblasts may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of CD.


The central nervous system (CNS) barriers are composed of blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (B-CSFB). The BBB and B-CSFB are a highly specialized brain endothelial and epithelial structure of the fully differentiated neurovascular system. These barriers separate components of the circulating blood from neurons. Moreover, the BBB and B-CSFB maintain the chemical composition of the neuronal "milieu," which is required for the proper functioning of neuronal circuits, synaptic transmission, synaptic remodelling, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis in the adult brain. Hematoencephalic barrier breakdown, due to disruption of the tight junctions, alters transport of molecules between blood and brain and vice versa, causes an aberrant angiogenesis, vessel regression, and inflammatory responses. Megalin is a multi-ligand endocytic receptor expressed in the choroid plexus epithelium and in the brain-endothelial cells, playing a central role in the clearance/entrance of many proteins from the brain or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Megalin cooperates with various membrane molecules and interacts with many adaptor proteins for endocytic trafficking. It has already been implicated in amyloid- clearance and amyloidosis through the BBB and B-CSFB. Also, it is a promiscuous receptor involved in the endocytic uptake of many ligands, including many of the known carriers of amyloid-, insulin, IGF-I, leptin, transthyretin, transferrin, ApoE and others. The knowledge of B-CSFB and its transporters in healthy and pathological situations supports the development of new therapeutic approaches for chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, brain cancer, diabetes and others. This article outlines recent patents on artificial carriers for transport of substances across of the CNS barriers, different models for the drug delivery research and future therapies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.


It is generally accepted that the natural habitats of most pest insects can be found outside the synanthropic environment in layers of leaf litter, under bark, as well as in rodent or bird nests. Indeed, most of the common pests have been reported as being facultative nidicolous. Therefore infestation of commodities by pest insects out of these reservoirs is one considerable possibility. However, the likelihood of a pest ́s occurrence and survival out-doors largely depends on its ecological potential and competitiveness against other species of the same ecological guild. Some pest species are rarely found in wild habitats, especially in those regions where they are not native and where they have been introduced by man. The fabric pest Tineola bisselliella serves as a good example. Most likely originating in Central or Southern Africa this insect was introduced into Europe probably not earlier than the late 18th century. Being more tolerant to dry environments than other fabric pests its economical importance increased during the 20th century when in-door climates changed because of central heating systems. Its occurrence in out-door natural habitats must be regarded as accidental. Reported founds of webbing clothes moth larvae in bird nests e.g. have been largely overstated in the literature. T. bisselliella should be regarded as an eusynanthropic species.


Green computing is the process of reducing the power consumed by a computer and thereby reducing carbon emissions. The total power consumed by the computer excluding the monitor at its fully computative load is equal to the sum of the power consumed by the GPU in its idle state and the CPU at its full state. Recently, there have been tremendous interests in the acceleration of general computing applications using a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). Now the GPU provides the computing powers not only for fast processing of graphics applications, but also for general computationally complex data intensive applications. On the other hand, power and energy consumptions are also becoming important design criteria. Consequently, software designs have to consider the power/energy consumptions together with performance when they are developing software.The GPU therefore does the 100% of the CPU work in its idle state .Hence the power consumed by the GPU will be low. Also when the GPU is doing all the work the CPU will remain at a load less than its idle load. Hence the power consumed will be equal to the power consumed by the CPU at a load less than its idle load plus the power consumed by a GPU.


Current sizing algorithms for warship power generation and fuel tank capacity were developed over forty five years ago when ship service loads were a small fraction of the overall power demand. Electric load growth, particularly with the introduction of high power mission systems, results in ship service maximum margined loads being nearly the same as the maximum propulsion load. In many operating conditions, ship service power demands exceed propulsion demands. This paper proposes new sizing methods for all-electric warships that are tied to operational effectiveness. These sizing methods are based on mobility mission tactical situations such as high speed transit, economical speed transit, and on station time. Additionally, the methods are sensitive to drag reduction efforts, temperature, and the ability to maintain speed in higher sea states. The goal is to optimize shipboard power and propulsion system life cycle cost while meeting operational requirements.


Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a condition of severe pneumonia caused due to environmental stress followed by a multiple viral and bacterial pathogens.The present study aimed to detect the BRD agents such as Mannhaeimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Histophilus somni and IBR in yaks suffering from respiratory infections. For the study, 157 deep nasal and blood samples were collected from yak of Arunachal Pradesh and processed for isolation and PCR detection of respiratory bacterial pathogens such as M. haemolytica, P. multocida and H. somni and seroscreening of IBR. From 157 samples, one M. haemolytica and two H. somni isolates were recovered. This is the first report of H. somni and M. haemolytica isolation from yak nasal samples from India. In mPCR, 23 yak nasal samples (14.6%) amplified for M. haemolytica, two (1.2%) for P. multocida and six samples for H. somni (4.6%) by simplex PCR. Concurrence of H. somni and M. haemolytica in three samples, and M. haemolytica and P. multocida type B in two samples was also observed.Very high seroprevalence for IBR (37%) by Indirect ABELISA was recorded.The study concluded that highest number of samples were positive for M. haemolytica (14.6%) and emphasizes its role in respiratory infections along with high seroprevalence of IBR. It also reflected the diagnostic importance of mPCR/PCR in regions inaccessible for fresh sample collection and transportation as an alternate to isolation procedures.


The radioprotection by several eicosanoids was investigated in cultures of bovine aortic endothelial cells. One hour before irradiation (0-500 cGy, 137Cs gamma rays) 10 micrograms/ml of PGD2, PGE1, PGI2, misoprostol (PGE1-analog), 16,16-dimethyl PGE2, PGA2, or 1 microgram/ml LTC4 was added. Radiation decreased incorporation of [3H]thymidine at 4 h, cell number/culture at 24 h, and cell survival as measured by colony formation. Under these conditions the eicosanoids were not radioprotective. Two eicosanoids, PGD2 and PGA2, appeared to be toxic. Because receptors might mediate eicosanoid-induced radioprotection, radioligand binding of PGE2 and LTC4 and levels of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) were measured. Evidence for a receptor was equivocal; there was nonspecific binding and metabolism of LTC4. The level of cAMP was elevated by 16-16-dimethyl-PGE2 in the presence of isobutyl methylxanthine; however, this combination of the prostaglandin and the methylxanthine was not radioprotective. These investigations suggest that an elevated cAMP level alone does not lead to eicosanoid-induced radioprotection of bovine aortic endothelial cell monolayers in vitro.


The wavelet threshold denoising method is an effective noise suppression approach for noisy laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy spectrum. The wavelet threshold denoising method is influenced by several key issues such as the choice of wavelet, the choice of decomposition level, threshold selection, and the choice of thresholding functions. In this paper, the double threshold optimization models of semi-soft thresholding function are established firstly. Next, on the basis of grey relational analysis and Euclid closeness of fuzzy theory, a method of amending the double thresholds of semi-soft thresholding function is put forward. The performance of the proposed method is verified by analysis of both synthetic and observed signals. The limit of detection values are reduced by more than 50% and the signal to noise ratios are improved by a factor of two by using the proposed method. c 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.


Introduction: Clinical practice of nurses with immigrant families presents difficulties in promoting their health. This statement gave support to teaching strategies in nursing education context – promoting the construction of cultural competencies. In the research developed, elements were identified as facilitators of communication and initial assessment of families, promoting adhesion and continuity in care.Objective: To analyse the construction of cultural competencies in 1st cycle students, sustained by scientific evidence, starting from stimulus situations in classroom – narratives of immigrant families.Methods: Qualitative and ethnographic study; data collection techniques: narratives, participant observation, focus groups and interviews. Mobilization of the case study analysis in classroom context, framed by narratives produced by nurses – stimulus situations. Use of the instrument for evaluation of immigrant family/person, suggested by Campinha-Bacote (2011) – LEARN (Listen, Explain, Acknowledge, Recommend, Negociate). Results: Knowledge emerges in the intervention with families – values, customs, beliefs and practices of health, for decision making and problem solving.Conclusions: The strategy proved to be a facilitator of cultural competences in students by providing guidelines objectives to be achieved in theoretical teaching and clinical teaching mobilization, regarding health promotion with immigrant families.


Two-dimensional numerical simulations for the ohmic heating of whole milk solutions in an annular geometry were performed using a general-purpose partial-differential equation solver, FlexPDE software. The flow, energy, and concentration equations were developed and solved for laminar flow. The reaction kinetics model for beta-lactoglobulin proposed by Toyoda and Fryer (1996) was adopted to solve for the native, denatured, and aggregated protein concentrations in the full-flow domain. The aim of this work is to investigate how the applied voltage and flow rate affect the temperature field, and the effects on the concentration profile of each protein type in the solution. Despite what is usually expected of the ohmic heating as a uniform heating method, temperature gradients were seen to be significant from the wall to the bulk solution. The results show that a higher voltage causes a faster disappearance of native protein concentration, especially near the wall. Depending upon the applied voltage, the denatured protein concentration initially increases along the axial distance, then starts to decrease at different axial locations. The aggregated protein concentration was found to be much higher at the wall then in the bulk. In addition to describing the protein concentration distributions in the heater, the fouling tendency of the milk components on the walls is also discussed in this paper.


This study examined the effectiveness of the First Step to Success (FSS) early intervention program for preventing antisocial behavior in Turkey. Participants included 24 students, their teachers and parents from four K–8 elementary schools. The experimental group included 12 targeted students (four kindergarten, four first-grade and four second-grade students) who received the intervention. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were carried out by using a pre-posttest experimental design. Results indicated that there were significant decreases in problem behaviors and significant increases in social skills and academic competence of targeted students. In addition, teachers and parents reported significant positive changes in problem behaviors and social skills of their children. Most teachers and parents were highly satisfied with the program. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.


A new species of Bessierus Thomas Orth, formerly a monotypic genus, is described from Amapá State, Brazil. The type species of the genus, B. doloris Thomas Orth, had only its nymphs described until recently, when its male imago was associated to nymphs mainly based on pigmentation pattern. Bessierus riobranco sp. n. here described has no significant difference on pigmentation pattern from B. doloris, thus the new species could be the male imago of B. doloris, and the putative imago of B. doloris a new species, or even both described imagoes could be new species. Still, a new male imago existence cannot be neglected and we opted to provide a properly description, diagnosis and illustration, hence contributing to the knowledge of mayfly neotropical diversity and future research on the genus. The generic concept of Bessierus and its type species diagnoses are altered to accommodate the new species, and a new record of B. doloris is provided.


The photovoltaic (PV) generator exhibits a
nonlinear current-voltage (I-V) characteristic that its maximum power point
(MPP) varies with solar insolation. In this paper, a maximum power point
tracking (MPPT) method using fuzzy logic control (FLC) is presented. This
method is based on the concept of perturbation and observation (P & O)
algorithm to track the MPP of a stand-alone PV system. The controller is used
to maximize the power generated by the PV array and the simulation of the
system is implemented in MATLAB. Simulation results are compared with those
obtained by the conventional P & O controller. Results show that the FLC
gives better and more reliable control for the stand-alone PV system feeding
hybrid loads.


Pepper is one of the most exported crops in Vietnam. However, pepper farms are usually threatened with diseases, causing deaths over the large areas. The main features of pepper diseases are the abilities to spread rapidly and cause mass death, without recovery or prevention methods. Therefore, the research and production of biological products are essential to prevent, inhibit and resist to fungal diseases. This research focuses on identification of the mold species isolated from the compost, and investigation of their cellulolytic activity, inhibitory or resistant abilities to fungal diseases on the pepper tree (Piper nigrum), in order to produce biological products for fertilization. The results showed that, 2 strains (C1-1 and C1-2) of Aspergillus oryzae was isolated and identified had the fungal resistance to Phytophthora capsici and Pythium, which cause rapid death on the pepper. Therefore, these types of molds can be combined to produce biological products for practical use in agriculture.


Polysaccharides isolated from fungi, Phellinus spp. is well-known material with anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties. We have assessed the adhesion- and abscess-reducing capacity of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and polysaccharides from Phellinus spp. combination in a rat peritonitis model. In 72 Sprague-Dawley rats, experimental peritonitis was induced by means of the cecal ligation and puncture model (CLP). After 24 hr, the abdomen was reopened and the ligated cecum was resected. Peritoneal fluid samples were taken for microbiological examination. Rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups: ringer lactate solution (RL group), polysaccharides from Phellinus gilvus (PG group) and Phellinus linteus (PL group), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC group), and their combinations (PG+CMC and PL+CMC groups). Adhesions and abscesses were noted at day 7 after CLP. RT-PCR assay for urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), its cellular receptor (uPAR), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was performed to assess the cecal tissue. Microbiological examination showed polymicrobial bacterial peritonitis. Adhesion formation was significantly reduced in PG+CMC and PL+CMC groups (P<0.05). The incidence of abscesses was reduced in all treated groups except the RL group (P<0.05). uPA, uPAR, and TNF-alpha mRNA were highly expressed in the PG+CMC and PL+CMC groups, as compared to the RL group. We concluded that the combination of polysaccharides and CMC had significant adhesion- and abscess-reducing effects compared with their single treatment and the effects may act by modifying the fibrinolytic capacity of uPA, uPAR and TNF-alpha produced from activated macrophages in a rat peritonitis model.


A total of 27 adult phalangers was employed to investigate the pattern of neocortical projections to the pontine and medullary portions of the brain stem. Lesions restricted to neocortical areas rostral to the orbital sulcus resulted in fiber degeneration which distributed mainly to midline and medial areas of the pontine and medullary reticular formation. The greatest amount of fiber degeneration was located within the superior central nucleus, the nucleus of the pontine raphe, the nucleus pontis centralis oralis and the nucleus pontis centralis caudalis. However, a few degenerating fibers were present within the nucleus gigantocellularis and the magnocellular portion of the medullary raphe. In contrast, lesions which were located just caudal to the orbital sulcus resulted in fiber degeneration chiefly within the more lateral parvocellular reticular formation and within the subnucleus dorsalis of the nucleus medullae oblongatae centralis. In such cases, additional degenerating fibers were present within the dorsal column nuclei and within more medial areas of the reticular formation. In those brains with ventral parietal ablations, degenerating fibers were present within the chief sensory and spinal nuclei of the trigeminal complex and the closely adjacent reticular formation. All of the above neocortical lesions resulted in fiber degeneration within the basilar pontine gray. In those specimens subjected to caudal (striate and peristriate) or ventrocaudal (temporal) lesions, degenerating fibers were present within the basilar pontine gray, but not within other areas of the pons or the medulla oblongata.


Intron 22 factor VIII gene inversion (Inv22) is the most common mutation causing severe haemophilia A (SHA). We studied Inv22 in 34 SHA affected families by Southern blotting. Data from the familial history of the disease and the inhibitor status were also included. We found Inv22 in 41 % of SHA Argentine families (35 % with type 1 and 6 % with type 2), in close agreement with previously reported series. No significant correlation between the inheritance (familiar or sporadic disease) and the presence of inversions was found. Our population showed 24 % of families included at least one hemophiliac with inhibitor. In families positive for Inv22, 29 % of patients developed inhibitor but this increased frequency was not statistically significant. In conclusion, analysis of Inv22 in SHA patients should be used as a first line method because it provides useful and secure information for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis in a high percentage of cases.


Two-particle (p-p, p-d) coincidence has been measured in p + A collisions. Production mechanism of backscattered proton has been studied by forward-backward coincidence events. Data show the impor tance of 2N-cluster scattering and/or multiple scattering processes involving a few nucleons. They also show that the nucleon-nucleon quasi-elastic-scattering is not the dominant part of the backscattered proton production.


This chapter summarizes the authors' joint development of the goal setting theory. The basic concept was based on more than 50 years of research and the formal theory has endured for 28 years (Locke & Latham, 1990). The theory was not developed through overgeneralization from only a few studies or by deduction but rather by induction. The inductions involved the integration of hundreds of studies involving thousands of participants. The theory initially focused solely on consciously set goals. To date, the goal setting theory has shown generality across participants, tasks, nationality, goal source, settings, experimental designs, outcome variables, levels of analysis (individual, group, division, and organizational), and time spans. The theory identifies both mediators and moderators of goal effects. Numerous subsequent studies since 1990 have supported the main tenets of the theory. New findings have enlarged our knowledge of the relevant mediators and moderators as well as showing new applications (Locke & Latham, 2013). Among these discoveries are when to set learning rather than performance goals, the effect of goals primed in the subconscious on job performance, and that goal effects are enhanced by having people write at length about them.


In this paper, first, we introduce a successive approximation method in terms of a combination of Bernstein polynomials and block-pulse functions. The proposed method is given for solving two dimensional nonlinear fuzzy Fredholm integral equations of the second kind. Then, we present the convergence of the proposed method. Also we investigate the numerical stability of the method with respect to the choice of the first iteration. Finally, two numerical examples are presented to show the accuracy of the method.


Lyzzaik studied the local properties of light harmonic mappings. More precisely, he classified their critical points and accordingly studied their topological and geometrical behaviour. One aim of our work is to shed some light on the case of smooth critical points, thanks to miscellaneous numerical invariants. Inspired by many computations, and with a crucial use of Milnor fibration theory, we get a fundamental and quite unexpected relation between three of these invariants. In the final part of the work we offer some examples providing significant differences between our harmonic setting and the real analytic one.


At Keio University Hospital, septicemia was most frequently encountered in patients with hematological disorders such as leukemia and aplastic anemia, particularly in patientsswho developed serve granulocytopenia. In aplastic anemia, there have been little variation in the occurrence of septicemia every year, while the incidence of septicemia has been increasing in acute leukemia since powerful anti-leukemic agents were introduced for treatment of acute leukemia. The majority of these septicemias occurred during induction therapy. The main causative organisms were gram-negative rods, that is, Pseudomonas aeuruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coll and Enterobacter although the incidence of the causative organisms varies every year among gram-negative rods, depending upon the antibiotics available. No case of septicemia was accompanied by disseminated intravascular coagulation in our series. Septic shock was one of the frequent complications in the past, but less frequently encountered in recent years. Our regimens for treatment of septicemia were the combination of /3-lactam and aminoglycoside anti-microbial agents. CZE and GBPC were the choice of /3-lactam antibiotics, while GM or TOB were that of aminoglycoside antibiotics. All drugs were given intravenously and the dosage of CBPG (SBPG), CEZ, GM and TOB were 20-32g, 8-12g, 160-240mg and 240-300mg


ABSTRACT Background: Hippocampal and cerebellar neuropathology occurs in individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUD), resulting in impaired cognitive and motor function. Objectives: Evaluate the effects of ethanol on the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules, as well as the effects of the anti-inflammatory PPAR-γ agonist pioglitazone in suppressing ethanol-induced neuroinflammation. Methods: Adult male and female mice were treated chronically with ethanol for just under a month followed by a single acute binge dose of ethanol. Animals were provided liquid diet in the absence of ethanol (Control; n = 18, 9 M/9F), liquid diet containing ethanol (ethanol; n = 22, 11 M/11F), or liquid diet containing ethanol plus gavage administration of 30.0 mg/kg pioglitazone (ethanol + pioglitazone; n = 20, 10 M/10F). The hippocampus and cerebellum were isolated 24 h following the binge dose of ethanol, mRNA was isolated, and pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules were quantified by qRT-PCR. Results: Ethanol significantly (p < .05) increased the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules IL-1β, TNF-α, CCL2, and COX2; increased the expression of inflammasome-related molecules NLRP3 and Casp1 but decreased IL-18; and altered the expression of anti-inflammatory molecules including TGFβR1 in the hippocampus and cerebellum, though some differences were observed between males and females and the two brain regions. The anti-inflammatory pioglitazone inhibited ethanol-induced alterations in the expression of most, but not all, inflammation-related molecules. Conclusion: Chronic plus binge administration of ethanol induced the expression of inflammatory molecules in adult mice and pioglitazone suppressed ethanol-induced neuroinflammation.


The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) holds an essential position in guaranteeing the observance of human rights within the country's constitutional and legal framework. Through its attribution to interpret and verify the compliance of laws with the Constitution, the CCR has built a vast and particularly significant caselaw regarding the individual's fundamental rights. By studying the Constitutional Court of Romania's judicial practice in the field of human rights, we can examine how fundamental rights are interpreted and implemented in the national legal system. In this regard, the CCR plays a vital role in ensuring the protection and promotion of these rights by interpreting the Constitution and applicable legislation in accordance with international standards. It is important to highlight that the CCR's human rights caselaw reflects the constant attempt to ensure a balance between the individual's and society's interests, protecting fundamental rights in accordance with the principles of the rule of law and international standards in the field. Through the analysis of concrete cases and constitutional interpretation, the CCR strengthens its essential role in human rights promotion and defense in Romania.


Groundwater in Geologic Processes was first published in 1998 as a result of a course of the same name presented by the authors at the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Training Center. This second edition is much expanded and addresses most aspects describing "how the occurrence and movement of groundwater affects a wide range of geologic processes in diverse environments." These environments include not just regional groundwater flow systems, but also the hydrogeological environments of ore and petroleum deposition and the role of groundwater in earthquakes, compaction and diagenesis, metamorphism, evaporite formation, and even marine sediments and rocks. As might be expected given the authors' USGS affiliation, most examples are of American geosystems, although a few from Europe, Asia, and Canada are included. Had this book been written by members of the British Geological Survey instead of the USGS, the title might read Theoretical Hydrogeology: The Coupling of Geophysical Processes in Ancient and Modern Groundwater Systems . Coupling here refers to the book's theme of hydrogeological processes coupled to geomechanical, geothermal, and geochemical ones.

For readers of this journal who have a most definite interest in applied rather than theoretical or "pure" hydrogeology, perhaps the most significant improvement in the second edition is the inclusion of text by Chris Neuzil, a geomechanically minded USGS hydrogeologist, as the third author. This has resulted in the incorporation of a superb introductory chapter on hydromechanical coupling and a later section on compaction added to that on diagenesis. The original authors, Steve Ingebritsen and Ward Sanford, have special expertise in hydrothermal systems and hydrogeochemistry, respectively, and their contributions on water-rock interactions comprise the bulk of the book.

The first four chapters address the basic hydrogeological theory required …


This article estimates urbanisation and localisation economies for two digit manufacturing and service industries. The analysis is based on estimation of a translog production-inverse input demand system using data on British firms. We use distance-based measures of localisation to test for the spatial transmission of externalities. We identify positive localisation economies for 13 of the 27 sectors examined. The results indicate that where localisation economies exist, they tend to attenuate fairly rapidly with distance. All localisation externalities are identified within a 10 kilometre radius of the firm. Positive elasticities of productivity with respect to urbanisation are identified for 14 sectors. The weighted average localisation elasticity for manufacturing industries is 0.03 and for services 0.01. The mean urbanisation elasticities are 0.07 and 0.19 respectively. Copyright (c) 2008 the author(s). Journal compilation (c) 2008 RSAI.


Abstract Objective: Driving behavior is the key feature for determining the nature of traffic stream qualities and reflecting the risk of operating environments. However, evaluating the driving risk accurately and practically in continuous tunnels (tunnels with a space more than 250 m and less than 1000 m) still faces severe challenges due to the complex driving conditions. The objective of this study is to predict the driving risk indicators and determine different risk levels. Methods: The naturalistic driving system equipped with a road environment and driving behavior data acquisition system combined with the fixed-point test method was used for data collection in 130 tunnels on four highways. A traditional AASHTO braking model and convex hull algorithm were adopted to predict the critical safety speed and the critical time headway of each risk feature point in tunnels. According to the risk constraints under free-flow, car-following and lane-changing conditions, the average traffic flow risk index (TFRI) representing six risk levels and the safety threshold of the corresponding risk indicators were determined. Results: The findings of this study revealed that the critical safety speed at nighttime is slower than in other daytime conditions in continuous tunnels. The time headway slightly changes under 90 km/h. As the speed continues to increase, speed has a significant influence on the critical time headway. The only reliable interaction involved the different adverse weather conditions on the mean critical safety speed in the continuous tunnels (short plus long) (F = 9.730, p<0.05) and single long tunnels (F = 12.365, p<0.05). Conclusions: It can be concluded that driving behaviors significantly vary in different tunnel risk feature points and the combined effect of high speed and luminance variation may result in high driving risk. The performance validation indicted that the risk assessment level determined by the proposed approach is consistent with the real safety situations. The study provides an effective and generally acceptable method for identifying driving risk criteria that can also be applied for traffic management and safety countermeasures with a view to possible implementation in continuous tunnels.


Dental caries is an infectious disease that Dental  is characterized by the dental damage resulting from microorganism products in carbohydrate fermentation. Dental caries and obesity in children are multifactorial diseases associated with eating habits and certain lifestyle factors. This study aimed to assess the association between overweightness, obesity, and dental caries among children aged 7–12 years in Badung district, Bali province in 2018. The total sample of 426 children and their mothers were recruited from all first to fifth elementary grade students in three schools selected by simple random sampling. The logistic regression analysis has demonstrated a significant association between obesity and dental caries (OR: 1.830; 95% CI: 1.230–2.722) and showed that after controlling for the confounding variables, obese children have a twice higher chance of experiencing dental caries than non-obese children. Therefore, strengthening the existing health education programs in schools, including those on healthy food or snack components, and improving the efficiency of physical activities for preventing obesity could be a short-term strategy to protect school children from childhood obesity and dental caries.


`gym-saturation` is an OpenAI Gym environment for reinforcement learning (RL) agents capable of proving theorems. Currently, only theorems written in a formal language of the Thousands of Problems for Theorem Provers (TPTP) library in clausal normal form (CNF) are supported. `gym-saturation` implements the 'given clause' algorithm (similar to the one used in Vampire and E Prover). Being written in Python, `gym-saturation` was inspired by PyRes. In contrast to the monolithic architecture of a typical Automated Theorem Prover (ATP), `gym-saturation` gives different agents opportunities to select clauses themselves and train from their experience. Combined with a particular agent, `gym-saturation` can work as an ATP. Even with a non trained agent based on heuristics, `gym-saturation` can find refutations for 688 (of 8257) CNF problems from TPTP v7.5.0.


: The paper investigates whether scale effects, market structure, and regulation determine the poor productivity performance of the European business services industry. We apply parametric and nonparametric methods to estimate the productivity frontier and subsequently explain the distance of firms to the productivity frontier by market characteristics, entry- and exit dynamics and national regulation. The frontier is assessed using detailed industry data panel for 13 EU countries. Our estimates suggest that most scale advantages are exhausted after reaching a size of 20 employees. This scale inefficiency is persistent over time and points to weak competitive selection. Market and regulation characteristics explain the persistence of X-inefficiency (sub-optimal productivity relative to the industry frontier). More entry and exit are favourable for productivity performance, while higher market concentration works out negatively. Regulatory differences also appear to explain part of the business services' productivity performance. In particular regulation-caused exit and labour reallocation costs have significant and large negative impacts on the process of competitive selection and hence on productivity performance. Overall we find that the most efficient scale in business services is close to 20 employees and that scale inefficiencies show a hump-shape pattern with strong potential scale economies for the smallest firms and diseconomies of scale for the largest firms. The smallest firms operate under competitive conditions, but they are too small to be efficient. And since this conclusion holds for about 95 out of every 100 European business services firms, this factor weighs heavily for the overall productivity performance of this industry .


Introduction: the private law protection of consumer interests in modern trade relations is represented by a wide range of various tools that allow consumers to adequately protect their rights and restore justice. At the same time, the specifics of trade relations, whose subject is a passenger car intended for use for personal household purposes, and having the characteristics of a complex technical product, in some cases, due to the technical and legal illiteracy of the consumer, put consumers in a less favorable position as the least protected party. The purpose of the study is to identify current trends in judicial protection and self-defense of the rights of consumers as a party to the contract of purchase and sale of passenger cars. Methods: the methodological framework for the research is a set of methods of scientific cognition, among which the main ones are analysis, synthesis, generalization, and comparative jurisprudence. Results: the study analyzes the law enforcement materials over the past 2-3 years, identifies a cluster of the most relevant court proceedings arising from the protection of consumer rights when selling passenger cars (the disputes about setting deadlines for which it is impossible to use a passenger car for its intended purpose due to the need for repair work, the disputes about the conditions, the place and time of the technical inspection and maintenance of the car). The author expressed his opinion about the potential possibilities of using interactive information platforms to verify information about a product as a means of self-protection of consumer rights when buying and selling cars. Conclusions: the author insists on using a "flexible" approach in the field of application of the legislative norms when setting the deadlines for technical / repair work to eliminate malfunctions, and to count the entire period of the car's stay on the territory of the service station within the specified period (currently, the judicial practice has taken the path of setting off only the time of the actual labor costs for repair work in the specified period according to the working schedule at the service enterprise). The author supports the position of the courts, which does not attach exceptional importance to the place and time of warranty repair and maintenance, and the protection of the interests of the consumer is not conditioned by the imperative requirements implanted in the service book. In the field of self-protection of the rights of car buyers, the author recommends wider use of the modern information platforms presented on the official websites of the state agencies, and the information obtained from these interactive platforms should be supported by the contract itself as its integral part.


The entransy theory developed in recent years is used to optimize the aspect ratio of a plate fin in heat convection. Based on a two-dimensional model, the theoretical analysis shows that the minimum thermal resistance defined with the concept of entransy dissipation corresponds to the maximum heat transfer rate when the temperature of the heating surface is fixed. On the other hand, when the heat flux of the heating surface is fixed, the minimum thermal resistance corresponds to the minimum average temperature of the heating surface. The entropy optimization is also given for the heat transfer processes. It is observed that the minimum entropy generation, the minimum entropy generation number, and the minimum revised entropy generation number do not always correspond to the best heat transfer performance. In addition, the influence factors on the optimized aspect ratio of the plate fin are also discussed. The optimized ratio decreases with the enhancement of heat convection, while it increases with fin thermal conductivity increasing.


In recent years, researchers are building models relying on a wide variety of data that can be extracted from software repositories, concerning for example characteristics of source code changes, or be related to bug introduction and fixing. Software repositories also contain a huge amount of non-structured information, often expressed in natural language, concerning communication between developers, as well as tags, commit notes, or comments developers produce during their activities.
 This keynote illustrates, on the one hand, how explanatory or predictive models build upon software repositories could be enhanced by integrating them with the analysis of communication among developers. On the other hand, the keynote warns agains perils in doing that, due to the intrinsic imprecision and incompleteness of such a textual information, and explains how such problems could, at least, be mitigated.


The behavior of a complex system in a changing environment is strongly affected by the system's architecture. We present an analogy between the major phases of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and three major generic architectures of complex systems: tree structures, layered structures and grid networks. This analogy is realized using a graph-based formalism, with nodes and edges in a given configuration. Solid materials are akin to tree structures, especially when we consider that most solids actually have cracks. Solids with cracks between their components can be modeled by nodes (representing each component) and their interconnection, leading to a tree structured hierarchy. Gases made up of molecules can be modeled by nodes (the molecules) with local interconnections representing nearby molecules in space, thus forming a grid network. Liquids can form layers as in a mixture of oil and water. We represent this by connections that are densely horizontal within layers as well as sparsely vertical between layers. A key issue for complex systems is the ease by which they may be changed, which we call the system's flexibility. Our definition of flexibility indicates that tree structures, like solids, are relatively inflexible and that grid networks, like gases, are extremely flexible, possibly leading to loss of control and chaotic behavior. Like liquids, layered systems are intermediate in flexibility and controllability. Solids, even with cracks, are relatively difficult to modify, whereas gases change internal form so quickly that they can only be constrained; not controlled. Liquids are intermediate in their ability to change form internally. Just as heating solids can lead to liquids, and heating liquids can result in gases, we shall present transformations in the interconnection structure of systems, analogous to heating, that change tree structures into layered ones and layered structures into networks.


This paper investigates the role of non-technological innovation on firms' innovation propensity and performance. We note that emphasis on technological innovation alone is misleading, as a firm's decision to undertake technological innovation brings about a more complex and general process which may involve new attitudes regarding organization and market orientation. We analyse the relationship between product and marketing innovation in manufacturing, focusing specifically on the food industry. We propose a bivariate probit model in which product and marketing innovation are estimated taking into account their reciprocal interactions. This enables us to provide more efficient and realistic estimates of a firm's probability of introducing either a new or improved product or a new marketing technique. In addition, the proposed model provides the determinants of such probabilities.


In this paper we introduce Blackspot, an extension to R-Check SCA that uses unsupervised machine learning based on tensor decompositions to organize and highlight sections of source code for more systematic inspection. Using markers identified by R-Check SCA's Pitchfork rule language, multidimensional decompositions are used to cluster code so as to group similar structures for accelerated manual inspection and, when seeded with examples of known weaknesses, to prioritize code fragments for rigorous review based on similarity derived from latent features. We show how multidimensional analysis provides a precision advantage over matrix SVD-based approaches and enables both accelerated compliance testing and more directed discovery of potentially critical software weaknesses. Utilizing high-performance tensor decomposition techniques provided by Reservoir's ENSIGN Tensor Toolbox, Blackspot scales to millions of lines of code, making it practical for application to complex, large-scale cyber-physical systems. Using an open SCA radio waveform as a first example, we illustrate how Blackspot can be applied to guide inspection for SCA compliance testing and weakness discovery in the software radio domain.


The ability to adapt utterances to the world knowledge of one's addressee is undeniably ubiquitous in human social cognition, but its development and association with other cognitive mechanisms during adolescence have not been studied. In an online production task, we measured the ability of children entering adolescence (ages 11–12, M = 11.8, N=29, 17 girls) and adolescents (ages 15–16, M = 15.9, N=29, 17 girls) to tailor referential expressions in accordance with the inferred world knowledge of their addressee—an ability we refer to as world knowledge-based audience design (AD). A post-test survey showed that both age groups held similar assumptions about the addressees' knowledge of referents, but the younger age group did not consistently adapt their utterances in accordance with these assumptions during online production, resulting in a significantly improved AD behaviour across age groups. We also investigated the reliance of AD on executive functions (EF). Executive functioning (as reflected by performance on the Wisconsin card sorting task) increased significantly with age, but did not explain the age-related increase in AD performance. We thus provide evidence in support of an adolescent development of world knowledge-based AD over and above development of EF.


The colonial image of endemic political and economic antagonism between nomadic and sedentary groups in the context of Roman North Africa should be discarded. Likewise, the rigid adherence to symbiosis and cooperation in more recent studies is based on a rather one-sided reading of anthropological literature. For the analysis of literary, epigraphic and archaeological sources, supported by insights derived from anthropology, shows that political and economic integration trajectories of nomads were much more complex, diverse, and dynamic.


One stylised fact to emerge from the empirical analysis of interest rates is that the unit-root hypothesis in nominal interest rates cannot be rejected. However, using the panel date unit-root test IM, Pesaran and Shin (1997), we find support for the mean-reverting property of Eurocurrency rates. Thus, neither a vector-error-correction model nor a vector autoregressive model in differences is appropriate for modelling Eurocurrency rates. Instead, conventional modelling strategies with level data are appropriate. Furthermore, the finding of stationary interest rates supports uncovered interest parity, and hence the convergence hypothesis of interest rates. This in turn suggests a limited role for a monetary authority to affect domestic interest rates. Copyright 2001 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd


The most widely used algorithms for graph drawing are force-directed algorithms. We should modify a hybrid force model that is coupling a traditional spring force model and a novel repulsive force model will be proposed to solve the graph drawing problems in 2-D space. Especially, regular triangle drawing frame can be applied to binary tree drawing problems that on an important contribution to computer science. And apply circle drawing frame to normal graph drawing problems, we get satisfactory and aesthetic criteria graphics.


Implicit interactions refer to those interactions among the components of a system that may be unintended and/or unforeseen by the system designers. As such, they represent cybersecurity vulnerabilities that can be exploited to mount cyber-attacks causing serious and destabilizing system effects. In this paper, we study implicit interactions in distributed systems specified using the algebraic modeling framework known as Communicating Concurrent Kleene Algebra (C$^2$KA). To identify and defend against a range of possible attack scenarios, we develop a new measure of exploitability for implicit interactions to aid in evaluating the threat posed by the existence of such vulnerabilities in system designs for launching cyber-attacks. The presented approach is based on the modeling and analysis of the influence and response of the system agents and their C$^2$KA specifications. We also demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach using a prototype tool that supports the automated analysis. The rigorous, practical techniques presented here enable cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the designs of distributed systems to be more easily identified, assessed, and then mitigated, offering significant improvements to overall system resilience, dependability, and security.


QT interval prolongation and ventricular tachyarrhythmia are potential adverse effects of antidepressant (AD) and antipsychotic- (AP) agents, especially when overdosed. Since AD and AP agents are often prescribed to patients suffering from suicidal intentions, it is essential to estimate these risks in the context of intoxications. This retrospective and naturalistic one-year registry study included 105 patients treated for oral intoxication at the University Department of Emergency Medicine in Vienna, Austria. AD/AP intoxications were present in 26 patients, while in the control group (n = 79) non-AD/AP drugs (n = 54) and exclusively alcohol (n = 25) were the toxic agents. QT intervals, the necessity of intubation, the extent of conscious state, and the subsequent discharge management were compared. The mean age was 34.94 ± 14.6 years, 62 patients (59%) were female. There were no significant between-group differences regarding QT prolongation >470 ms using Bazett's correction (p = 0.178), or >440 ms using Fridericia's correction (p = 0.760). No significant group differences concerning the need for intubation were observed (p = 0.747). The AD/AP and the control group did not significantly differ regarding Glasgow Coma Scale scores (p = 0.439). Patients with AD/AP intoxication were significantly more often transferred to the psychiatric department, while discharge to home was more likely in the control group (p = 0.002). These results suggest that the risk of a potentially life-threatening outcome in cases of intoxication with AD/AP is not substantially higher than in other easily available toxic agents, in line with the advantageous risk/benefit ratio of newer ADs and APs.


A new x-ray luminescence based spectrometer was developed and installed to examine the scintillation properties of materials while revealing the origins of luminescence and investigating trapping defects. Measurements were performed on a number of undoped and Ce doped yttrium aluminum garnet crystals and various luminescence centers were characterized. The measured x-ray luminescence spectra provide information about the spectral range and the scintillation efficiency and linearity. The efficiency of charge-carriers production due to x ray, their energy transfer to the luminescence centers, and the efficiency of luminescence are all reflected in the efficiency of x-ray luminescence.


Sensor fusion is the combining of sensory data or data derived from sensory data in order to produce enhanced data in form of an internal representation of the process environment. The achievements of sensor fusion are robustness, extended spatial and temporal coverage, increased confidence, reduced ambiguity and uncertainty, and improved resolution. This thesis examines the application of sensor fusion for real-time applications. The time-triggered approach provides a well suited basis for building real-time systems due to its highly deterministic behavior. The integration of sensor fusion applications in a time-triggered framework supports resource-efficient dependable real-time systems. We present a time-triggered approach for real-time sensor fusion applications that partitions the system into three levels: First, a transducer level contains the sensors and the actuators. Second, a fusion/dissemination level gathers measurements , performs sensor fusion and distributes control information to the actuators. Third, a control level contains a control program making control decisions based on environmental information provided by the fusion level. Using this architecture, complex applications can be decomposed into smaller manageable subsystems. Furthermore, this thesis evaluates different approaches for achieving dependability. These approaches attack the problem at different levels. At the transducer level, we introduce a filter algorithm that performs successive measurements in order to improve the data quality of a single sensor. A different approach improves data by combining data of multiple sensors at the fusion/dissemination level. We propose two sensor fusion algorithms to accomplish this task, the systematic confidence-weighted averaging algorithm and the application-specific robust certainty grid algorithm. The proposed methods are evaluated and used in a case study featuring an autonomous mobile robot. Contents 1 Introduction 1 1.


Norepinephrine (NE) and angiotensin II (ANG II) are primary effectors of the sympathetic adrenergic and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems, mediating hypertrophic, apoptotic, and fibrotic events in the myocardium. As NE and ANG II have been shown to affect intracellular calcium in cardiomyocytes, we hypothesized that they activate the calcium-sensitive, prohypertrophic calcineurin-nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFATc) signaling pathway. More specifically, we have investigated isoform-specific activation of NFAT in NE- and ANG II-stimulated cardiomyocytes, as it is likely that each of the four calcineurin-dependent isoforms, c1-c4, play specific roles. We have stimulated neonatal ventriculocytes from C57/B6 and NFAT-luciferase reporter mice with ANG II or NE and quantified NFAT activity by luciferase activity and phospho-immunoblotting. ANG II and NE increased calcineurin-dependent NFAT activity 2.4- and 1.9-fold, measured as luciferase activity after 24 h of stimulation, and induced protein synthesis, measured by radioactive leucine incorporation after 24 and 72 h. To optimize measurements of NFAT isoforms, we examined the specificity of NFAT antibodies on peptide arrays and by immunoblotting with designed blocking peptides. Western analyses showed that both effectors activate NFATc1 and c4, while NFATc2 activity was regulated by NE only, as measured by phospho-NFAT levels. Neither ANG II nor NE activated NFATc3. As today's main therapies for heart failure aim at antagonizing the adrenergic and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems, understanding their intracellular actions is of importance, and our data, through validating a method for measuring myocardial NFATs, indicate that ANG II and NE activate specific NFATc isoforms in cardiomyocytes.


Individual-level epidemiologic studies of pregnancy outcomes after maternal influenza are limited in number and quality and have produced inconsistent results. We used a time-series design to investigate whether fluctuation in influenza virus circulation was associated with short-term variation in population-level rates of preterm birth, stillbirth, and perinatal death in Ontario between 2003 and 2012. Using Poisson regression, we assessed the association between weekly levels of circulating influenza virus and counts of outcomes offset by the number of at-risk gestations during 3 gestational exposure windows. The rate of preterm birth was not associated with circulating influenza level in the week preceding birth (adjusted rate ratio = 1.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.00, 1.02) or in any other exposure window. These findings were robust to alternate specifications of the model and adjustment for potential confounding. Stillbirth and perinatal death rates were similarly not associated with gestational exposure to influenza circulation during late pregnancy. We could not assess mortality outcomes relative to early gestational exposure because of missing dates of conception for many stillbirths. In this time-series study, population-level influenza circulation was not associated with short-term variation in rates of preterm birth, stillbirth, or perinatal death.


This study investigates the impact of the oxidants potassium bromate and potassium iodate (8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 micromol/g dry matter of egg white protein) on pound cake making. The impact of the oxidants on egg white characteristics was studied in a model system. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that the oxidants caused egg white to denature later. During heating in a rapid visco analyzer, the oxidants caused the free sulfhydryl (SH) group levels to decrease more intensively and over a smaller temperature range. The oxidants made the proteins more resistant to decreases in protein extractability in sodium dodecyl sulfate containing buffer during cake recipe mixing and less resistant to such decreases during cake baking. We assume that, during baking, the degree to which SH/disulfide exchange and SH oxidation can occur depends on the properties of the protein at the onset of the process. In our view, the prevention of extractability loss during mixing increased the availability of SH groups and caused more such loss during baking. During cooling, all cakes baked with added oxidants showed less collapse. On the basis of the presented data, we put forward that only those protein reactions that occur during baking contribute to the formation of a network that supports final cake structure and prevents collapse.


The tight focusing of femtosecond radially polarized vortex laser pulse by a high numerical aperture objective is investigated in this paper. Based on Richards-Wolf vectorial diffraction theory, the electric field and the group velocity of the radially polarized vortex femtosecond laser pulse are studied in great detail. It finds that the femtosecond radially polarized vortex laser pulse can travel at various group velocities near the focus, that is, slower or faster than light velocity in vacuum, depending on the numerical aperture of the focusing objective system. Moreover, the effect of spherical aberration of objective, topological charge and time duration of the radially polarized vortex laser pulse on the group velocity distribution near the focus is discussed.


Background: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is characterized by a mild neurocognitive impairment encompassing neuropsychological and neurophysiological alterations not detectable by clinical examination. This study aims at assessing the frequency and risk factors for developing minimal hepatic encephalopathy in patients with compensated cirrhosis. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 60 patients with compensated cirrhosis in Elzagazig University Hospital and Elmatarya Teaching Hospital from December 2017 to June 2018, diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy was established using by mini mental status examination test and psychometric studies, they underwent full history, laboratory investigations and abdominal Doppler ultrasonography by professional radiologist assessing the presence of any Porto systemic shunts and measuring serum ammonia level. Results: About 37% had MHE. Female represented 65% with mean age 49.82 years. There is statistically significant relation between MHE and smoking, comorbid diabetes, hypertension, high ammonia level and portosystemic shunt. Smoking, being single, illiterate, portosystemic shunt, comorbid diabetes and hypertension increased risk of MHE by 4.57, 3.05, 2.31, 25.94, 3.29 and 3.55 folds. Male gender and normal ammonia level were protective factors. There is significant relation between MHE and all of age, platelet count, serum albumin, ammonia and INR. Older patients, low platelet count and serum albumin, high ammonia level and INR were detected among patients with MHE. Increasing ammonia level was significant independent risk factor for MHE (AOR= 4.06) Conclusions: MHE is a prevalent condition among patients with compensated cirrhosis with high ammonia level and portosystemic shunts as a strong risk factors for its development.


Most simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) approaches focus on purely metrical approaches to map-building. We present a method for computing the global metrical map that builds on the structure provided by a topological map. This allows us to factor the uncertainty in the map into local metrical uncertainty (which is handled well by existing SLAM methods), global topological uncertainty (which is handled well by recently developed topological map-learning methods), and global metrical uncertainty (which can be handled effectively once the other types of uncertainty are factored out). We believe that this method for building the global metrical map is scalable to very large environments.


The present study aimed to determine the possibility of using yeasts as adjunct cultures in the production of white brined cheese, which is quite important to the Turkish dairy industry, and to evaluate the effects of these yeasts on cheese ripening. In addition to starter culture (Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis + Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris), adjunct yeast cultures of Yarrowia lipolytica, Debaryomyces hansenii, and Kluyveromyces marxianus were separately co-inoculated to each cheese vat and, therefore, 4 different experimental cheese samples were produced, including the control cheese. Some chemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of the samples were monitored during the 90-day ripening period.