This paper presents a novel control approach of a current source inverter drive system using an induction motor. A variant of hysteresis-band current control adapted to the current source inverter circuit topology is proposed. The current control strategy is based on the correction of the two out of three larger errors of the instantaneous real currents of motor with respect to their references. The well known GTO current source inverter in which an auxiliary branch of inverter is added in order to ensure the continuity of dc link current in special conditions The indirect rotor flux-orientated vector control of induction motor gives the reference motor's currents. In order to suppress the inherent instability of current fed induction motor, a coefficient of derivative of real motor's currents is added to the reference ones. The simulation results of steady state and dynamic operations of the novel control asynchronous drive are shown and the advantages of this technique are discussed.


This dissertation unites variational computation with results and techniques appearing in the theory of ground state computation. It should be readable by graduate students.
The topics covered include: Ising model reductions, stochastic versus quantum processes on graphs, quantum gates and circuits as tensor networks, variational quantum algorithms and Hamiltonian gadgets.


In this paper, we propose a new method to measure area using only a single CCD camera in different distances. Two parallel laser beams are established to serve as the basis for horizontal length measurement. A single horizontal scanning line of the CCD image is only required for the area measurement. Based on the pixel numbers between two projected points within a CCD image, which represent the resolution of horizontal length, the actual area can be derived by counting the pixel numbers occupied by the image of the object to be measured on the CCD image. Our research results are merited with quick measurement speed, simple system structures and there will be no necessity to adopt image recognizing or signal analysis techniques to calculate the area from different photographing distances.


Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) uses the chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 as coreceptors for entry. It was recently demonstrated that HIV-1 glycoprotein 120 (gp120) elevated calcium and activated several ionic signaling responses in primary human macrophages, which are important targets for HIV-1 in vivo. This study shows that chemokine receptor engagement by both CCR5-dependent (R5) and CXCR4-dependent (X4) gp120 led to rapid phosphorylation of the focal adhesion-related tyrosine kinase Pyk2 in macrophages. Pyk2 phosphorylation was also induced by macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta (MIP-1beta) and stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha, chemokine ligands for CCR5 and CXCR4. Activation was blocked by EGTA and by a potent blocker of calcium release-activated Ca++ (CRAC) channels, but was insensitive to pertussis toxin (PTX), implicating CRAC-mediated extracellular Ca++ influx but not Galpha(i) protein-dependent mechanisms. Coreceptor engagement by gp120 and chemokines also activated 2 members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) superfamily, c-Jun amino-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase and p38 MAPK. Furthermore, gp120-stimulated macrophages secreted the chemokines monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and MIP-1beta in a manner that was dependent on MAPK activation. Thus, the gp120 signaling cascade in macrophages includes coreceptor binding, PTX-insensitive signal transduction, ionic signaling including Ca++ influx, and activation of Pyk2 and MAPK pathways, and leads to secretion of inflammatory mediators. HIV-1 Env signaling through these pathways may contribute to dysregulation of uninfected macrophage functions, new target cell recruitment, or modulation of macrophage infection.


Purpose: To assess liver and lesion enhancements by dynamic MR imaging after bolus injection of the hepatobiliary contrast agent gadolinium ethoxybenzyldiethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) in patients with liver metastases and to compare the effect of different doses. Material and Methods: A randomized double-blinded trial with doses of 12.5, 25 and 50 µmol/kg Gd-EOB-DTPA was performed in 35 patients with liver metastases. Liver enhancement, tumor enhancement and liver lesion contrast-to-noise (C/N) ratios were calculated from breath-hold gradient echo images (100/5/80°) recorded precontrast and at different times up to 10 min postcontrast. Results: Normal liver showed a characteristic enhancement pattern, with a rapid enhancement in the first 45 s postcontrast and a slight but significant further increase up to 600 s. The initial enhancement in the lesions was also pronounced, but the enhancement was slightly decreased after 240 s postcontrast. At dose levels of 12.5 and 25 µmol/kg Gd-EOB-DTPA, C/N ratios significantly increased compared to baseline from 90 to 600 s. Postcontrast C/N-values obtained using 50 µmol/kg Gd-EOB-DTPA were not significantly increased, except for the examinations 480 s postcontrast. Conclusion: In liver metastases, C/N ratios obtained with doses of 12.5 and 25 µmol/kg Gd-EOB-DTPA were slightly superior to 50 µmol/kg Gd-EOB-DTPA. This finding is probably due to a more pronounced extracellular effect of the contrast medium at higher doses.


The bone marrow is commonly present in the medullary cavity of long bones in most mammals at birth. In the present study, the persistence of the osseous tissue was examined in the medullary cavities of piglet bones at and after birth. Immediately after birth, medullary cavities of long bones were almost completely filled with the spongy bone. The persisted spongy bone, i.e., medullary bone was prominent in younger pigs but decreased with advance in age. By 90 days of age, the medullary bone almost disappeared to form the extended medullary cavity. During the disappearing process of the medullary bone, osteoclasts showed significant increase in size and number (p less than 0.05). In irregular and flat bones, osseous trabeculae of the medullary bone became slender with age. The extramedullary hematopoiesis in the liver and spleen was very active till 30 days of age. This may suggest that the persistence of the medullary bone narrows the medullary cavity to cause poor medullary hematopoiesis and is compensated by extramedullary hematopoiesis. The relationship among the medullary bone, extramedullary hematopoiesis and piglet anemia was discussed.


This article explores the dynamics of the rupture with the status quo that transformed the face of the Arab world. It examines the meanings of the pathways of social and political change in the light of some of the dominant paradigms that have informed policy and practice in the Arab world. In doing so, this article makes five key postulations that are relevant beyond the Arab context: the first is that we need new lens, new framings and new modes of engagement to capture the pulse of the street. The second postulation is that representing the uprisings as a 'Facebook revolution' is highly reductionist and risks promoting the replacement of one development fashion fad with another, without addressing the underlying power dynamics. This is especially so since the uprisings reached tipping point by virtue of a constellation of dynamics involving the youth, the masses and the army's military coup. Third, the time‐ and space‐bound moral economy of Tahrir Square bears much explanatory power on why the act of revolting should not be confused with its outcome. The fourth contestation suggests that the concept of unruly politics may offer substantial analytical power in understanding the agency, the relationships and spaces through which people mobilised. The fifth argues that there is a need to rethink development policy in the light of a number of paradigm failures outlined below.


Concerns of preservice and inservice physical educators differ in the area of concerns for self and concerns for impact, which are lower in each instance when looked at in cross-sectional data. Longitudinal data only give evidence of lower self-concerns over time. Fuller's prediction of higher concern for impact is not realized with this sample. It may be that Fuller's scale is valuable only in predicting self-concerns.


In a distributed server architecture an obvious question is where to deploy the components. Host recommendation, which gives the answer, faces problems such as server selection, host deployment and, in case of multimedia servers, video replication. It is especially relevant for the Adaptive Distributed Multimedia Server (ADMS) which is dynamically able to add and remove its components to different nodes of the network. The present survey paper introduces the different variants of host recommendation and gives an overview of its possible mathematical approaches. Emphasis is put on the facility location problem and the related approximation algorithms. Finally some algorithms selected for implementation are presented.


Shot boundary and classification is the first and most important step for further analysis of video content. Shot transitions include abrupt changes and gradual changes. A rapid and robust method for shot boundary detection and classification in MPEG compressed sequences is proposed in this paper. We firstly only decode I frames partly in video sequences to generate DC images and then calculate the difference values of histogram of these DC images in order to detect roughly the shot boundary. Then, for abrupt change detection, shot boundary is precisely located by movement information of B frames. Shot gradual change is located by difference values of successive N I frames and classified by the alteration of the number of intra coding macroblocks (MBs) in P frames. All features such as the number of MBs in frames are extracted from uncompressed video sequences. Experiments have been done on the standard TRECVid video database and others to reveal the performance of t he proposed method.


A semiquantitative analysis of the infrared spectra from 650 to 4000 cm −1 of six vitrains and the coals associated with three of them is presented. This analysis supplies information on the concentration of several functionalities in the samples. Relationships between infrared data and several parameters (carbon content, vitrinite reflectance, pyrolysis data) are discussed. The results thus obtained contribute to a better understanding of vitrinite structure. They also help to explain the discrepancies between rank parameters obtained from chemical analyses and those determined by petrographic measurements. The comparison between the infrared data of the Cretacic-Albian vitrain from Teruel (Spain) and its associated coal reveals the unusual chemical composition of this vitrain. The infrared analysis of this vitrain and the vitrian from Asturias (Jurassic-Malm) shows unusual features in comparison with «normal» coals. The intensity of the aliphatic peaks relative to the aromatic (A factor) in these vitrains is characteristic ofimmature samples, closer to those of type II kerogens than type III. This result agrees with the perhydrous character of these samples and helps to explain volatile matter and pyrolysis data. However, for the vitrain from Asturias, the intensity of the bands due to aromatic hydrogen and the ratio between aromatic and aliphatic hydrogen are consistent with a stage of evolution that is higher than the diagenesis/catagenesis transition in agreement with other chemical and petrographic data. In the vitrains from Asturias and Teruel an absorption band at 1500 cm −1 is assigned to aromatic C=C bonds. In these vitrains, the band centered at 815 cm −1 is the most prominent in the 900-700 cm −1 region. These spectral features are unusual in coal spectra, but they seem to be characteristic of perhydrous coals


In this work we present an analysis of selected atmospheric electricity parameters, measured at the Geophysical Observatory in Świder (near Warsaw, Poland), in a review of the major events that resulted in the release of a significant amount of artificial radioactive substances in the Earth's atmosphere: the radioactive accident in Fukushima, Japan, beginning 12 March 2011, followed by the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami; Chernobyl disaster (27 April 1986); and nuclear weapons testing (1958–1965). The physical mechanisms of the impact of radioactive sources on the electrical parameters of the atmosphere are analyzed. The formation of free charge (small ions, represented by electric air conductivity) and bound-induced charges (measured vertical electric field and current) by radioactive aerosol and cloud nuclei were taken into account. The values of electric field Ez, atmospheric air conductivity λ, and aerosol concentrations measured at a certain site depend on the time and space location of the released radioactive materials in relation to the measurement site and the meteorological situation. A frontal inflow of air masses containing radioactive substances may be noticeable at a large distance from the atmospheric electricity measuring site in fair weather conditions (Chernobyl disaster). Atmospheric precipitation plays a very important role in the transport of radioactive substances to the ground level (nuclear weapons testing). The relationship between the ionospheric potential Vi and the electric field near ground level Ez resulting from the Global Electric Circuit (GEC) concept for the presence of a strongly ionized air layer in the lower stratosphere and the ground level was disturbed in nuclear weapons testing time. The aim of this work is a qualitative characterization of discussed events. Future modeling works are needed to investigate the dependence of quantitative GEC parameters in situations of global or regional high air ionization. For this purpose, available measurements of recorded atmospheric electricity parameters will be used.


We read with interest the recent case report entitled 'Giant cystic lymphangioma of pancreas' in the August edition of the Journal. We recently saw a case in pathology consultation involving a 46-year-old woman who presented with left-sided abdominal pain, bloating and firmness. Physical examination indicated a large, leftsided, mildly tender intra-abdominal mass. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a well-circumscribed, 15-cm, predominantly cystic multiloculated mass within the tail of the pancreas. No enlarged intra-abdominal lymph nodes were seen. Exploratory laparotomy indicated a large cystic mass in the tail of the pancreas, displacing intra-abdominal organs and producing illformed adhesions to the surrounding structures. A distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy were performed. Gross examination of the distal pancreatectomy specimen showed a lobulated cystic mass with hemorrhagic contents. Microscopic sections demonstrated a multilocular cyst, lined by flattened lymphatic endothelial cells, without cytological atypia (Fig. 1). Scattered small lymphocytic aggregates were seen closely associated with the cyst wall. The multiple cysts were separated by a spindled stroma, without cytological atypia. Cyst contents included serous fluid and blood. Background pancreatic parenchyma was without significant alterations. A pathologic diagnosis of cystic lymphangioma of the pancreas was made. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged on postoperative day 8, eating and ambulating well. As the authors mention, this is a rare benign neoplasm of the lymphatic system that may rarely involve the pancreas, with <100 reported cases in almost 100 years. Histologic features can be divided into three subtypes: cystic, cavernous or capillary. The cystic and cavernous types have been reported in the pancreas. A rare case has been reported to extend into the duodenal wall, causing gastrointestinal bleeding. The histopathologic differential diagnosis includes other, more common cystic lesions of the pancreas, such as simple cysts, pseudocysts, serous cystic neoplasms, mucinous cystic neoplasms, including adenocarcinoma, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and cystic islet cell tumors. Although various imaging features can help, definitive diagnosis requires pathologic examination of the excised lesion.


The study aimed to examine the effects of changes in the angle and height on movements and ground reaction forces in the feet. Subjects were instructed to sit and stand on different angles and heights; 0° (43 cm), 10° (51 cm), and 15° (58 cm). The motion required in this study is similar to that of standing up from sitting on a chair. The Tumble Forms Wedges (10° [8 cm], 15° [15 cm]) were placed on the toilet seat to create angles and heights at 0° (43 cm), 10° (51 cm), and 15° (58 cm). The side-to-side travel distances when the subjects stood up from sitting were 103.70±12.46 at 0° (43 cm), 96.99±12.11 at 10° (51 cm), and 99.12±12.00 at 15° (58 cm). The forward and backward travel distances when the subjects stood up from sitting were 235.93±10.60 at 0° (43 cm), 194.17±8.07 at 10° (51 cm), and 181.63±8.66 at 15° (58 cm). The ground reaction forces when the subjects stood up from sitting were 1.09±0.02 at 0° (43 cm), 1.08±0.22 at 10° (51 cm), and 1.07±0.21 at 15° (58 cm). Increases in the angle and height of the toilet seat affected forward-and-backward swaying during standing up, but did not affect the ground reaction force and side-to-side swaying.


The announcement in March 2014 that a telescope near the South Pole had detected possible evidence of gravitational waves brought renewed attention to inflationary theory, which describes the earliest moments of the universe. According to inflationary theory, exotic matter present at the birth of the universe exerted repulsive gravitational effects, driving extremely rapid expansion of the universe and leaving behind traces of gravitational waves in the cosmic background radiation. National Academy of Sciences member Alan Guth, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, first outlined inflationary theory in 1981 and has since been working out the details and implications of the theory with his colleagues. The South Pole experiment, called BICEP2 (Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization 2), is undergoing further scrutiny to assess the possible influence of cosmic dust on the gravitational wave signal. Guth, however, points to other evidence that illustrates how inflationary theory can accurately describe the earliest moments of matter and energy in the universe. In May 2014 Guth, along with fellow inflationary theorists Andrei Linde and Alexei Starobinsky, was awarded the Kavli Prize in astrophysics. To commemorate the honor, PNAS spoke with Guth.

Alan Guth. Image courtesy of Jenny Guth.

PNAS: What does winning the Kavli Prize mean to you?

Guth: I think the prize helps to solidify the acceptance of inflationary theory, which has a great deal of evidence behind it now, and I'm glad to see the institutions of the world agreeing with that conclusion.

PNAS: Which came first, inflation or the big bang?

Guth: The word "big bang" is used inconsistently. In the eyes of most of the public, the "big bang" indicates the instant of creation of the universe. But in fact we don't even know if the universe had an instant of creation. Nevertheless, if the phrase "big bang" is used this way, then certainly it comes before anything. However, among scientists, the big bang theory is really only the theory of the aftermath of a bang. It's a theory of how the early universe expanded and cooled. It includes, for example, a description of how the lightest chemical elements were produced in the first few minutes of the history of the universe. Inflation comes before all that.

PNAS: What was your reaction to the results of the BICEP2 experiment, suggesting evidence of gravitational waves?

Guth: I was incredibly impressed that they had discovered what, at that time, appeared to be a completely unambiguous signal of gravitational radiation coming from the early universe, presumably from inflation. Since then things have changed. The observations were certainly a tour de force, but when other people looked more carefully at the ways the experiment could go wrong, the possibility that the signal could have been entirely due to dust could not be ruled out. So right now I think it is waiting to be confirmed. I still hope that it will turn out to be real, but at this point I think we don't know if it was a real signal of gravitational radiation from the early universe or not.

PNAS: Apart from BICEP2, what evidence supports inflation theory?

Guth: Since the proposal of inflation, there have been a growing number of measurements that have supported exactly what inflation predicts. One of those is the prediction about the overall mass density of the universe. When inflation was first proposed, the measured value seemed to be lower than what inflation predicted, by a factor of about 3 or 4. Then, in 1998 astronomers discovered that the universe is not slowing down under the influence of gravity but rather is accelerating. This acceleration gives a demonstration that gravity can act repulsively and not just attractively. But once we knew the universe was accelerating, we had to invent a new kind of matter to be responsible for that. And that's what we call the "dark energy," which we now think makes up most of the energy in the universe. Once the dark energy is added to the other matter that we already knew about, the empirical estimates of the mass density of the universe agree precisely with what inflation predicts. So what had been a significant problem for inflation has turned into an important success.

PNAS: Why have you devoted your life to unraveling the secrets of the universe?

Guth: I certainly did not set out to invent a new theory of cosmology. When I was a postdoc at Cornell, a fellow postdoc named Henry Tye got himself interested in a class of particle theories called Grand Unified Theories. And he asked me whether these theories would predict that magnetic monopoles should exist, a magnetic monopole being a particle with a net magnetic charge, north or south. We came to the conclusion that if we combined conventional cosmology with Grand Unified Theories, the universe would be predicted to be swimming with magnetic monopoles, but there couldn't possibly be nearly that many. So Henry and I started thinking about whether or not it's possible to change anything to make the Grand Unified Theories compatible with cosmology. This inquiry ultimately led to the idea of inflation.

From the time I was a kid I was quite fascinated with the idea that mathematics can describe the real world. In high school a friend of mine was doing a physics experiment, taking a yardstick and punching holes in it at different locations, and pivoting the yardstick around those holes, letting it swing back and forth, and measuring the frequency of the swinging as a function of where the hole was. I had learned just enough Newtonian mechanics to calculate what the answer was supposed to be. We took my friend's data and a slide rule and plugged in the numbers to compare his data with my calculation, and we were both shocked to see that it actually worked: his measured frequencies were very close to what my formula predicted. It was great fun. Maybe that's what hooked me.


In 2017 a first selfintersection-free polyhedral realization of Hurwitz's regular map {3, 7}_{18} was found by Michael Cuntz and the first author. For all previously determined selfintersection-free polyhedral realizations of regular maps, there exist those with non-trivial geometric symmetriesas well. So it is natural to ask of whether we can find for the above-mentioned regular map a corresponding version with some non-trivial geometric symmetry. The orientation-preserving combinatorial automorphism group of this Hurwitz map is the projective special linear group PSL(2, 8). All non-trivial subgroups of PSL(2, 8) are candidates for such a geometric symmetry. Each subgroup has among their generators one of only 4 cyclic subgroups, with orders 9, 7, 3, or 2. We prove that there are obstructions for selfintersection-free polyhedral realizations of the Hurwitz map {3, 7}_{18} with geometric symmetries for these subgroups of order 9 or 3, and for the subgroup of order 2, when we assume a reflection in a point or in a plane. We provide small integer coordinates within the known realization space of the new realization. We present Kepler-Poinsot type realizations, both with 7-fold and with 3-fold rotational symmetry, the latter with integer coordinates.


Silage maize (Zea mays L) hybrids bred in Martonvasar were tested for morphological traits, yield and chemical composition of the whole plant and the plant parts in three years (2010-2012). Biogas production of the hybrids was investigated in 2009 and 2010. The dry matter, protein, starch, water soluble carbohydrates, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, lignin and in vitro digestible organic matter contents were measured by NIR spectroscopy. The ratio of ear attachment height to plant height was smaller, the leaf number above the ear and the proportion of the leaves in the total plant dry matter was greater for leafy hybrids. It was concluded that the differences in the chemical composition of the parts of the same genotype were greater than between the same parts of different genotypes. The leaves had the greatest protein content. The starch and WSC content in the ear was significantly higher than in the other plant parts. The ear had the lowest lignin content and the highest IVDOM content compared to other plant parts. NDF and ADF contents were greatest in the stalk below the ear. Significant differences were found for WSC content of the plant parts of leafy and non-leafy hybrids. Digestible dry matter yield (DDMY) was calculated from individual dry matter production, plant number per hectare and digestible organic matter content. The highest DDMY value was recorded for Siloking (19.18 t ha-1). Biogas yield was highest for Mv Massil (659 l kg-1 DM) with 61.38% methane concentration. Leafy hybrids produced significantly more biogas than conventional hybrids. Biogas yield proved to have significant positive correlations with starch and WSC content, and negative correlations with protein and lignin content.


Slow highly charged ions were successfully utilized for the creation of different types of surface structures. Hillock-like nanostructures were created in most of the investigated material surfaces. Here, we report on using the plasma expansion approach to explain the main features of the nanohillocks creation on the sapphire surface irradiated by slow highly charged ions. In order to explain the creation mechanism of hillocks, we used a two dimensional axisymmetric plasma expansion model, where the plasma parameters are correlated to the hillocks shape characteristics. Our strategy is based on following the expanding plasma front, assuming that the longitudinal and transverse initial conditions are different throughout the multi-fluid plasma model. The results show that the size of the ion-induced hillock is determined by the temperature and density ratios in the ion impact region.


Software control systems may be subject to high interference caused by concurrency and resource sharing. Reducing delay and jitter in such systems is crucial for guaranteeing high performance and predictability. In this paper, we present a general approach for reducing delay and jitter by acting on task relative deadlines. The method allows the user to specify a deadline reduction factor for each task to better exploit the available slack according to specific jitter sensitivity. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness and the generality of the proposed approach with respect to other methods available in the literature.


The hydrophilic hollow nano-spheres and hemispheres of Co are synthesized via ethylene glycol reduction of cobalt acetate in the presence of PVP and Pd nano-particle seeds. The dimensions of the hollow core can be tuned from 100 to 300 nm by controlling the amount of Pd nano-particle seeds. The morphology of the hollow materials strongly depends on the molar ratio of the amide unit in PVP over Co and the Mw of PVP. The hollow structure is formed when the ratio falls in the range 1–1.5 and the Mw is over 40 000. Based on the experimental data, a possible formation mechanism of Co hollow spheres is proposed.


Abstract: In order to define cell type‐specific elements associated with the catecholamine biosynthetic enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), transient transfections of promoter deletion constructs were used to test relative reporter‐gene activities in TH‐expressing and‐nonexpressing cell lines. Such assays demonstrated that a region between‐503 and‐578 contributed to rat TH promoter activity in the pheochromocytoma cell line PC12. Deletion of these sequences resulted in a 66% loss in cell type‐specific activity. Mutations within the E box/dyad symmetry element (CAGGTGCCTGTGACAGTG) did not affect the basal and cell type‐specific pattern of expression exhibited by the rat TH promoter. Promoter fusion constructs between the rat TH promoter (‐741 and‐197) and the human TH promoter (‐197 and +1) exhibited reporter‐gene activities equivalent to that of wild‐type‐741 rat TH constructs, further demonstrating that sequence elements upstream of the rat E box/dyad symmetry are important for cell type‐specific expression. Gel‐shift experiments indicated that a PC12 nuclear factor could bind to a 39‐bp sequence within this region in a cell type‐specific manner. The size of this factor was 52 kDa as determined by UV cross‐linking experiments.


Abstract This paper reports on the supervision seminar in Kaunas, Lithuania with five faculty members from the Postgraduate Psychoanalytic Society and Institute (USA) and the Kaunas Society for the Studies of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy (Lithuania). Four teaching principles of empathic responsiveness in the supervisory process are presented. First is the establishment of an accepting atmosphere, a place where uncertainty is invited. Second is the group leader modeling "open listening," and the third is focusing on the needs of the presenter to clarify the problem. Finally, the "resolution experience" occurs when the presenter feels genuinely helped. Brief vignettes from some members of the Kaunas Society are included, which additionally highlight the supervisory experience.


In September 2007 on RRS Discovery, the Autosub6000 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)
completed its first deep water engineering trials, and less than a year later, fitted with a multibeam
bathymetric mapping sonar, carried out its first science missions, as part of a geology and
geophysics science cruise onboard the RRS James Cook to investigate potential geo-hazards
(such as tsunami generating landslides) on the European and North African margin. In the spirit of
true AUV autonomy, while the AUV was deployed, we used the ship for seabed coring operations,
and once the AUV was recovered, the high resolution bathymetry which it had obtained guided
the next coring operations. In this paper we will describe how we are tackling the issues that
specifically affect a deep diving AUV capable of operating with true autonomy, and independently
of the mother ship: How to carry enough energy for long endurance and range? How to operate
safely and efficiently with varying buoyancy? How to maintain accurate navigation throughout
missions lasting up to several days?


Abstract In this collaborative self-study, two teacher educators examine their experiences of working in new international contexts and the impact of those experiences on their professional learning and identities. Mandi moved from a major research university in one country to another, while Judy co-led a group of pre-service teachers on an international practicum for three weeks each year for three years. Using the concept of boundary crossing as a theoretical and analytical framework, each teacher educator identified a boundary-related critical incident or experience that occurred during her work in new international contexts. Through individual and collaborative analysis of their critical incidents, they found that working as a teacher educator in new international contexts involves the crossing and re-crossing of multiple personal, professional, linguistic and cultural boundaries. Working in these boundary spaces involved learning how to negotiate new kinds of relationships with colleagues and students, manage changed roles and responsibilities and, ultimately, a search for a renewed sense of self, as each sought to understand herself differently within a new professional context.


Simulation data are presented for eleven benchmark circuits to show how test pattern correlation in a scan-path design circuit adversely affects delay fault coverage, and to demonstrate that most undetected delay faults caused by correlation of test patterns are close to the outputs of latches. Topology-based latch correlation measures are introduced and used by a companion latch arrangement algorithm to guide the placement of latches in a scan-path design, with the objective of minimizing the effect of correlation and maximizing the coverage of delay faults. Simulation results with benchmark circuits indicate that the scan-path found by the algorithm clearly achieves better delay fault coverage than a scan-path having no deliberate arrangement. The data also indicates that the algorithm is most effective in covering delay faults that are located nearest the latch outputs of the circuit. The approach has an advantage over other arrangement schemes in that it is simple to implement and does not require significant computational time even for large circuits. >


Two methods for predicting the specific in vivo bioactivity of recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), based on quantitative measures of isoform distribution by isoelectric focusing (IEF)(1) and by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE)(2) respectively, have been subjected to an international collaborative study by six laboratories from six countries. Both methods were used to estimate the predicted bioactivities of four preparations of follitropin beta, coded FSH A-D, differing widely in their isoform compositions and specific bioactivities. The mean predicted estimate of potency by IEF and CZE for each FSH preparation by each laboratory was within 80-125% of its potency estimated by bioassay, except for the mean estimates by CZE of that for FSH A by one laboratory and of that of FSH D by another. Each of the six laboratories using the IEF method, and each of the five laboratories using the CZE method were able to rank these FSHs according to their bioactivities, namely FSH B>FSH C>FSH A>FSH D. All laboratories were able to use both IEF and CZE to discriminate between FSH A and C, with bioactivities within 76-132% of one another. Four of six laboratories were able to use IEF, and two of five laboratories were able to use CZE, to discriminate between FSH B and C, with bioactivities within 89-112% of one another. This suggests that the accuracy and precision of both these methods should be sufficient to discriminate between FSHs which would meet or fail European Pharmacopoeia requirements for this type of hormone, since these stipulate that estimates of potency should fall between 80-125% of its stated potency. Using in most cases duplicate estimates in two independent assays, and excluding Laboratory 4, the pooled intra-laboratory geometric coefficient of variation (GCV) was about 4% for both IEF and CZE, and the inter-laboratory GCV was about 7% for IEF and about 10% for CZE. The use of one FSH preparation as a standard, with its specific activity as an assigned value, reduced the inter-laboratory variability of estimates for the remaining FSHs by both methods. This increased the accuracy of the predicted estimates of bioactivity for these remaining FSHs in terms of their approximation to the values for their bioactivities estimated by bioassay. These data therefore suggest that both these methods, and particularly IEF, are sufficiently accurate, precise and robust to be used for predicting the bioactivity of batches of follitropin beta, and especially if used with a standard preparation.


BACKGROUND
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Although different metabolic factors have been implicated in breast cancer development, the relationship between hypertension and breast cancer has not been elucidated.

AIM
To evaluate hypertension as a risk factor for breast cancer in Chilean women of low and middle socio-economic status.

METHODS
We conducted an age-matched (1:1) case-control study in 3 hospitals in Santiago, Chile. Breast cancer cases (n=170) were histopathologically confirmed. Controls had been classified as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System I (negative) or II (benign findings) within 6 months of recruitment. Blood pressure was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer and standardized procedures. We used 2 hypertension cut-off points: blood pressures of ≥140/90 mmHg and ≥130/85 mmHg. Fasting insulin and glucose levels were assessed, and anthropometric, sociodemographic, and behavioral information were collected. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for the entire sample and restricted to postmenopausal women using multivariable conditional logistic regression models.

RESULTS
Hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg) was significantly higher in cases (37.1%) than controls (17.1%) for the entire sample and in postmenopausal pairs (44.0% compared to 23.8%). In crude and adjusted models, hypertensive women had a 4-fold increased risk of breast cancer (adjusted odds ratio: 4.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.8; 9.6) compared to non-hypertensive women in the entire sample. We found a similar association in the postmenopausal group (adjusted odds ratio: 2.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.1; 7.4). A significant effect was also observed when hypertension was defined as blood pressure of ≥130/85 mmHg.

CONCLUSION
A significant association was found between hypertension and breast cancer over the entire sample and when restricted to postmenopausal women. Hypertension is highly prevalent in Latin America and may be a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer; therefore, a small association between hypertension and breast cancer may have broad implications.


Background: Based on recent trials, AIS due to large artery occlusion (LAO) is resistant to IV thrombolysis and adjunctive stent retriever thrombectomy (SRT) is associated with better recanalization rates and outcomes.Despite the benefit with endovascular therapy 39% to 68% of patients were either disabled or dead.Thrombectomy in AIS with LAO within 3 hours (IV t-PA window) is performed as secondary therapy after IV thrombolysis, which may be associated with delay in enrollment and recanalization. Objective: Primary objective is to evaluate the safety, feasibility and recanalization rate of primary SRT (without IV tPA) within 3 hours in AIS with NIHSS >10 from LAO.Secondary objective is to determine the functional outcome in 30-days and 90-days. Methods: Based on institutionally approved protocol patients with LAO with LCB within 3 hours were offered primary SRT alone as an alternative to IV rtPA, after informed consent.Consecutive patients who underwent primary SRT for LAO within 3 hours from 2012 to 2014 were enrolled.Outcomes were measured using modified Rankin Scale. Results: 18 patients with LAO; mean age 62.8±15.3 years and mean NIHSS 16±5; chose primary SRT after informed consent.Thrombectomy was performed using new generation stent-retriever device in addition to small intra-arterial rtPA (2-10 mg).Number of passes was 1.6±0.9.Near complete (TICI2b in 1) and complete (TICI3 in 17) recanalization was observed in all (100%) patients.Mean time to recanalization from symptoms onset was 188.5±82.7 and from groin puncture was 64.61±40.14 minutes.Immediate post-thrombectomy, 24 hour and 30 day NIHSS score was 4.4±3.7, 1.9±3.2 and 0.3±0.9 respectively.There was no procedure related complication.Asymptomatic perfusion related hemorrhage developed in 6 patients (33%).30 days good outcome was observed in all cases (mRS0= 38.9%, mRS1=44.4%, mRS2=16.7%). 90 days good outcome was observed as follows (mRS0= 50.0%, mRS1=44.4%, mRS2=5.6%). Conclusion: Our pilot study demonstrates that primary SRT in AIS due LAO occlusion with LCB is not only safe and feasible, but associated with complete recanalization and good functional outcome.Larger randomized controlled studies are needed.


The purpose of this study is to examine the importance of technology in business, especially in terms of transactions. The method used in this study was a descriptive method by reading from various international and domestic journals. The results of this study were identification of how simple and important technology was in influencing payment systems that were slowly changing from conventional to electronic payments (e-payment). We also discussed what information related to e-payment, such as safety, functions, and available features from using this e-payment system.


This is the third review of the use and impact of ICT in the education system following the publication of the Government's e-Strategy for education, known as Harnessing technology. The review drew upon Becta's surveys of schools and FE colleges as well as other research to assess the impact of technology within the education system and the progress made in achieving the system outcomes of the policy.


A 42-year-old man emergently presented with chest pain and anterior ST elevation. Refractory ventricular arrhythmias and shock developed rapidly. A coronary angiogram revealed the acute occlusion of a nondominant right coronary artery. After percutaneous coronary intervention, the anterior ST elevation and ventricular arrhythmias resolved. The electrocardiographic pattern was a result of isolated right ventricular infarction that in turn caused profound electrical and hemodynamic instability. We discuss the cause and pathophysiology of this patient's case, and we recommend that interventional and general cardiologists be aware that anterior ST elevation can be caused by the occlusion of a nondominant right coronary artery.


On the surface, the three on-line machine learning problems analyzed in this thesis may seem unrelated. The first is an on-line investment strategy introduced by Tom Cover. We begin with a simple analysis that extends to the case of fixed-percentage transaction costs. We then describe an efficient implementation that runs in time polynomial in the number of stocks. The second problem is k-fold cross validation, a popular technique in machine learning for estimating the error of a learned hypothesis. We show that this is a valid technique by comparing it to the hold-out estimate. Finally, we discuss work towards a dynamically-optimal adaptive binary search tree algorithm.


Measurement uncertainty relations are quantitative bounds on the errors in an approximate joint measurement of two observables. They can be seen as a generalization of the error/disturbance tradeoff first discussed heuristically by Heisenberg. Here we prove such relations for the case of two canonically conjugate observables like position and momentum, and establish a close connection with the more familiar preparation uncertainty relations constraining the sharpness of the distributions of the two observables in the same state. Both sets of relations are generalized to means of order α rather than the usual quadratic means, and we show that the optimal constants are the same for preparation and for measurement uncertainty. The constants are determined numerically and compared with some bounds in the literature. In both cases, the near-saturation of the inequalities entails that the state (resp. observable) is uniformly close to a minimizing one.


ABSTRACT There is a need for more Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) trained to provide nutritional care to older adults with dementia who experience mealtime difficulties. The purpose of this single-arm, pre/post pilot study was to adapt a generalized dementia care curriculum to the learning needs of RDNs who work with individuals with dementia and to determine the feasibility and acceptability of the adapted program. Using an existing evidence-based dementia care curriculum, the research team identified learning objectives and content pertinent to the scope of RDNs. The adapted program was piloted with RDNs who work with older adults with dementia. Twenty-five RDNs registered for the training while 80% (20) attended the training and completed the post-training survey. All participants agreed that the module met the learning needs of RDNs who work with older adults with dementia, the two-hour workshop was a good use of their time, and the experience and skills gained would be useful in their work as an RDN. Implementation costs totaled $1,310. Based on the post-training feedback, the adapted program was deemed feasible and acceptable by RDN participants, who also expressed interest in using the module to train other caregivers on providing mealtime assistance to older adults with dementia.


Lichen Planus is a chronic immunologically mediated mucocutaneous disorder with varied clinical manifestations. The condition might be associated with multiple causative or exacerbation factors. An interesting association of Oral Lichen Planus with Diabetes Mellitus and vascular hypertension is called as Grinspan's syndrome. Since its inception has been an arena of interest. It has appeared very lucrative to many researchers as it lacks clarity and enhanced ambiguity. A 65 year female patient came with a complaint of burning mouth and difficulty in swallowing since 1 year with H/O Diabetes Mellitus since 8years and hypertension since 2 years. Malignant transformation is the most significant complication of long standing and non healing Lichen Planus. Repeated follow up and biopsies are mandatory for prevention and early detection of malignant transformation.
Keywords: Grinspan Syndrome, Hypertrophic Lichen Planus, Esophageal Lichen Planus


This special issue of the IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation (TDEI) is devoted to Condition Monitoring and Diagnostics (CMD) of high voltage insulation systems. Our intension was to pinpoint actual trends in this area of research and engineering. Especially the diagnostics of insulation systems of power equipment becomes particularly important, driven by multi-stress operational conditions and the strive for higher transmission capacity. Also the increasing requirements with respect to safety and reliability in electric power and industrial networks as well as their environmental compatibility set new and special demands.


In the course of pulmonary asbestosis in hamsters, alveolar epithelial cells can transform into large phagocytic cells which ingest asbestos fibers and produce asbestos bodies. In the process, the epithelial cells frequently lose their original Type I or Type II cell structure and change into a form intermediate between the epithelial cell and the alveolar macrophage. This transformation may be the result of continuous stimulation of the cells by repeated phagocytosis of asbestos, followed by rapid death of the host cell, release of the fibers and rephagocytosis by a new cell. It is suggested that some of the large macrophages in the alveolar spaces originate from the alveolar epithelial cells via the intermediate form.


An 18-year-old man who presented with weakness in his lower limbs, had an upper motor neurone lesion at the D12-L1 level. At laminectomy two stone-like objects were found which proved to be bundles of tiny pieces of wood. They are thought to have entered the cord through an abdominal penetrating injury sustained six years previously.


The results of recent multicenter studies of stroke prevention are encouraging. Carotid endarterectomy is highly beneficial for patients with recent transient ischemic attacks (TIA) or nondisabling stroke and ipsilateral high-grade stenosis (70-99%); ticlopidine significantly lowers the risk of stroke in patients with TIA or minor stroke compared with aspirin or placebo,' and coumadin and aspirin are effective for preventing stroke in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. However, if long-term benefits of medical or surgical therapy for cerebrovascular disease are to be achieved, coronary artery disease (CAD), the major cause of death in stroke patients, must be identified and treated effectively. Although strategies for evaluating and treating symptomatic CAD in patients with stroke are well established, this is not true of asymptomatic CAD. Therefore, a detailed cardiovascular evaluation is rarely incorporated into the management of patients with cerebrovascular disease and without symptoms of CAD. Accumulating evidence suggests that asymptomatic CAD is common in patients with cerebrovascular diseaseand that the prognosis of a subset of patients with asymptomatic CAD is poor.Furthermore, preliminary data from nonrandomized studies suggest that the prognosis of patients with asymptomatic 3-vessel or left main CAD is improved after coronary artery bypass surgery. In this article we review available data on the prevalence and prognosis of asymptomatic CAD in patients with cerebrovascular disease and suggest possible diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for management of asymptomatic CAD in these patients.


This letter reports a novel methodology for co-design of broadband power amplifiers (PAs) and high- Q tunable filters. It is for the first time demonstrated that the tunable filter's input port can be synthesized to directly match the transistor's output, thus eliminating the conventional broadband/band-reconfigurable matching network of the PA. This leads to minimized circuit size, volume, and loss. In this letter, a three-pole tunable bandpass filter is designed as the output matching network of a 10 W GaN PA, yielding optimal fundamental and harmonic impedances. Simulation and measured results show that the co-designed PA-filter module exhibits desired Chybeshev filter behavior while achieving efficient PA performance in the passband over a 400-MHz tuning range from 2.95-3.35 GHz. Specifically, 51%-67% efficiency, ≈ 10 W output power, ≈ 10 dB gain were measured throughout the entire frequency range.


Congenital hypothyroidism is one of the commonest preventable causes of mental retardation is also the most common congenital endocrine disorder of childhood. The subtlety of clinical features and protective effect of the maternal hormone on fetal brain after crossing the placenta mask the clinical features. The incidence varies from 1 in 4000 to 1 in 1000 in newborn infants in various parts of world and is increasing world wide. Thyroid agenesis remains the most common etiology of CH and other causes are dyshormonogenesis, defects in peripheral thyroid hormone transport, metabolism, or action. CH is usually diagnosed after neonatal screening tests and if treatment started with in few weeks of birth neurodevelopmental outcome is usually normal. Levothyroxine (T4) remains the treatment of choice as most brain T3 is derived from local monodeiodination of T4 and studies have shown normal serum level of T3 in infant treated with T4 alone.


In recent years, the emergence of social media has encouraged and influenced our youth to participate in political matters. The current study was conducted in Indonesia and Pakistan. The objective of the study was to analyse the persistence of social media and youth political participation in democratic activities. The study opted quantitative research design through an offline and online survey to obtain data from 400 individuals (falling in age group 18th to 29th), having political experience and knowledge of participation. The data gathered through structured questionnaires using scales to compile the results, and data was carried out through Excel and SPSS software. The results show that social media is a persuasive medium in providing platform to youth to participate in political activism. Youth healthy engagement in such activities plays a significant role in the political structure of states. It was also observed that youth participation is essential for prosperity and growth of nation. The study suggests that the Government of Indonesia and Pakistan have a good opportunity to socialise youths through online spheres.


Scalable shared memory multiprocessors traditionally use either a cache coherent non-uniform memory access (CC-NUMA) or simple cache-only memory architecture (S-COMA) memory architecture. Recently, hybrid architectures that combine aspects of both CC-NUMA and S-COMA have emerged. We present two improvements over other hybrid architectures. The first improvement is a page allocation algorithm that prefers S-COMA pages at low memory pressures. Once the local free page pool is drained, additional pages are mapped in CC-NUMA mode until they suffer sufficient remote misses to warrant upgrading to S-COMA mode. The second improvement is a page replacement algorithm that dynamically backs off the rate of page remappings from CC-NUMA to S-COMA mode at high memory pressure. This design dramatically reduces the amount of kernel overhead and the number of induced cold misses caused by needless thrashing of the page cache. The resulting hybrid architecture is called adaptive S-COMA (AS-COMA). AS-COMA exploits the best of S-COMA and CC-NUMA, performing like an S-COMA machine at low memory pressure and like a CC-NUMA machine at high memory pressure. AS-COMA outperforms CC-NUMA under almost all conditions, and outperforms other hybrid architectures by up to 17% at low memory pressure and up to 90% at high memory pressure.


The aim of this master's thesis is the classification of images of galaxies according to their morphological features using computer vision and artificial intelligence techniques. We deal specifically with the shape of the galaxy in this project. The galaxies are broadly categorized into 3 categories according to their shape: circular, elliptical and spiral. Out of these 3 possible shapes, correctly classifying the spiral shape is the most challenging. This is mostly due to the noisy images of the galaxies and partly due to the shape itself, as spiral can easily be mistaken for an ellipse or even a circle. Thus we focus on classifying the images into only 2 categories: spiral and non-spiral. The first phase of the thesis addresses the process of feature extraction from images of the galaxies, and the second phase uses artificial intelligence and machine learning methods to create a system that categorizes galaxies based on the extracted features. The specific methods used for classification are boosting, logistic regression and deep neural networks. We evaluate these techniques on data from the Galaxy Zoo project [1] that is freely available to anyone. The languages used are C++ (OpenCV) and Python.


Government figures put the current indigenous unemployment rate at around 23%, 3 times the unemployment rate for other Australians. This thesis aims to assess whether Australian indirect discrimination legislation can provide a remedy for one of the causes of indigenous unemployment - the systemic discrimination which can result from the mere operation of established procedures of recruitment and hiring. The impact of those practices on indigenous people is examined in the context of an analysis of anti-discrimination legislation and cases from all Australian jurisdictions from the time of the passing of the Racial Discrimination Act by the Commonwealth in 1975 to the present. The thesis finds a number of reasons why the legislation fails to provide equality of opportunity for indigenous people seeking to enter the workforce. In nearly all jurisdictions it is obscurely drafted, used mainly by educated middle class white women, and provides remedies which tend to be compensatory damages rather than change to recruitment policy. White dominance of the legal process has produced legislative and judicial definitions of "race" and "Aboriginality" which focus on biology rather than cultural difference. In the commissions and tribunals complaints of racial discrimination are often rejected on the grounds of being "vexatious" or "frivolous", not reaching the required standard of proof, or not showing a causal connection between race and the conduct complained of. In all jurisdictions the cornerstone of liability is whether a particular employment term, condition or practice is reasonable. The thesis evaluates the approaches taken by appellate courts, including the High Court, and concludes that there is a trend towards an interpretation of reasonableness which favours employer arguments such as economic rationalism, the maintenance of good industrial relations, managerial prerogative to hire and fire, and the protection of majority rights. The thesis recommends that separate, clearly drafted legislation should be passed to address indigenous disadvantage and that indigenous people should be involved in all stages of the process.


Inner speech lies at the chaotic intersection of numerous difficult questions in contemporary philosophy and psychology. On the one hand, inner speech utterances are private mental events of a kind. On the other, they resemble speech acts of the sort used in interpersonal communication. Thought and its linguistic expression appear to overlap. Further, inner speech is at once imagistic in nature, having a characteristic auditory-verbal phenomenology; yet it also appears suitable to carrying complex linguistic contents. In another apparent clash, inner speech episodes seem to constitute or express sophisticated trains of conceptual thought; yet, at the same time, they are deeply motoric in nature, drawing on mechanisms for speech production and perception more generally. Also, in using inner speech, we seem able both to regulate our bodily actions and, arguably, to gain a unique kind of access to our own beliefs and desires. Finally, disorders as "thought insertion" and auditory verbal hallucinations are plausibly explicable in terms of the malfunctioning of mechanisms governing speech production and perception. But there is still little on what those mechanisms are, nor in how they might be involved. This interdisciplinary volume—comprising twelve chapters by philosophers, psychologists, and neuroscientists—capitalizes on growing interest in the many questions surrounding inner speech and presents a range of new theories concerning both its nature and location within these important debates.


THE combination of transistors and transformers constructed of square hysteresis loop material has produced much useful circuitry outside of the realm of magnetic amplifiers per se. In this paper a highly efficient and extremely precise converter for transforming direct to alternating current, yielding a square-wave output whose frequency is proportional to the d-c input voltage, will be described. From among the many uses of this converter, the following applications will be discussed: 1. a transducer for telemetering systems, and 2. an integrator which has found application as an analogue to digital converter.


Objective. To determine, in people who participated in the Netherlands Heart Foundation's National Cholesterol Test in supermarkets, risk factors for cardiovascular disease and expectations concerning the test result using a questionnaire, and to compare their cholesterol levels with reference values. Design. Descriptive study and questionnaire survey. Method. Participants who underwent the National Cholesterol Test in 9 supermarkets during the summer oF 2007 were invited to complete a short questionnaire about risk factors for cardiovascular disease and expectations concerning the test result. Statements about the intention to change behaviour were offered, and the measured total cholesterol level was recorded. Results. The average age of the 684 respondents was 57 years (SD: 16); 72% were female. Participants had on average a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than the general population; they suffered less frequently from diabetes, hypertension and being overweight, and smoked less. The measured cholesterol level was 5.0-6.5 mmol/l in 37% and > 6.5 mmol/l in II%. Elevated cholesterol levels were less common in this group than in the general population. The intention to change behaviour was substantial. Conclusion. The results of this study showed that the National Cholesterol Test reached relatively many healthy, somewhat worried people. The intention to change behaviour was substantial.


This paper asks how macroeconomic policies affect growth. It draws on the experiences since 1974 of seventeen developing countries-Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, C6te d'Ivoire, India, Indonesia, Kenya, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Turkey. First, the paper looks at the effects of the foreign-financed public spending booms of the 1 970s, which tended to destabilize economies and lead to debt crises, initially raising and then lowering growth rates. Next, the paper compares reactions to the 1980-82 crises and adjustment policies in four countries that were relatively successful-Colombia, Turkey, Thailand, and Indonesia. The paper reviews the varying experiences with inflation of the countries in the study and assesses the effects of inflation on growth. The generally low-inflation countries experienced short bursts of high inflation caused by external shocks. Finally, the paper analyzes the relation between inflation and exchange rate regimes and describes the exchange rate policies of Indonesia and Mexico in detail. The paper draws a number of policy lessons-notably the need to do cost-benefit analyses for public investments, the need to avoid "euphoria" when the economic outlook appears favorable, and the need to react speedily to crises. Nominal exchange rates should be adjusted to avoid unstable real rates, and a flexible exchange rate policy should be combined with a commitment to a noninflationary monetary policy.


The relationship between vasopressin (VP) receptor levels in the anterior pituitary and VP‐stimulated ACTH release in vitro was studied in rats subjected to various chronic stress paradigms. The stress models used were water deprivation for 60 h and administration of 2% NaCI in the drinking water (both of which are associated with decreased pituitary ACTH responsiveness), and repeated i.p.hypertonic saline injections or repeated daily immobilization for 14 days (associated with increased ACTH responsiveness to novel stimuli). VP receptors were measured by binding of [3H]arginine‐VP to anterior pituitary membrane‐rich fractions, and ACTH responses to VP in collagenase dispersed anterior pituitary cells. In control rats, binding of [3H]AVP was saturable and high affinity, with a Kd of 0.45 ± 0.05 nM and a Bmax of 138.8 ± 8.1 fmol/mg. In pituitary membranes from stressed rats, binding affinity was unchanged, but Bmax changed according to the type of stress. While VP binding was markedly reduced after water deprivation and 2% saline (25% and 49%, respectively), it was significantly increased after repeated i.p. hypertonic saline injections and repeated immobilization (126% and 154% of controls, respectively). The changes in VP binding were associated to parallel changes in maximum VP‐stimulated ACTH production in vitro, with a 34% decrease in water deprived rats and a 25% increase in hypertonic saline injected rats. The potentiating effect of VP on corticotropin releasing hormone‐stimulated ACTH was also reduced in cells from water‐restricted rats, and increased in cells from rats given repeated injections of hypertonic saline. The data show a direct relationship between changes in corticotroph responsiveness and changes in pituitary VP receptors during chronic stress, suggesting that pituitary VP receptor regulation is involved in the adaptation of the HPA axis during chronic stress.


Facilitation of Child Language Development through Using Finger Plays in Toddler's Age Introduction Toddler's age is a period which includes children development from 1 to 3 years of age. This is a period when a child needs a lot of support from parents and understanding from caregivers. It is also a period when coordination of fine movements and language develops. The main factor facilitating the process is a positive communication between the child and an adult. Therefore one of the most successful means ensuring both positive communication with an adult and the development of the language is finger plays or a folk-songgame from the Latvian folklore. The experience coming from other nations also emphasizes the significance of the finger games in the development of children's language. Aim of the study To analyze the influence of finger plays to the development of language in toddler's age (1 - 3 years). Materials and methods Latvian folk songs constituting the part of the folklore of the toddler age have been analysed in the research. Also, research on Latvian children's folklore has been done. Research on finger plays in English has been also done, and the features characteristic to both Latvian and English culture have been analysed. Results The development of speech is a highly important indicator in the child's development. It seems that the above issue has been topical many centuries ago too as we can find so many wonderful finger plays in folklore that have attracted children's attention for centuries. As one can find very scarce information on finger plays in literature, the major way enabling generations to pass this national treasure on to the next generation is verbal communication. While playing finger plays the development of children's communication skills are encouraged. The foundation for successful development of interaction is being laid when the child has to cooperate not only with the immediate family but also peers. Speaking skills and the development of interaction are closely linked as successful interaction is not possible without well-developed language skills and other children might not understand their playmate and thus communication barriers may emerge. Toddler's folklore mostly consists of folksongs introducing the child with its nearest and more distant surroundings. That is extremely important for enlarging the lexicon of the child as this is exactly the age when the stock of words grows very rapidly due to the development of cognitive processes, and many of the words from the passive knowledge are now actively used. Finger plays is a gratifying means that can be included into various activities of the daily regime at a preschool institution. It will be useful both during the morning hours when you meet the children as well as during the time when you work with a child individually. There are no space related restrictions for using the play as well as no auxiliary materials required. Through using finger plays in toddler's age a child is successfully prepared for the next stage in its development: preschool age where one of the most important preconditions for success is well-developed language. Despite the fact that children's shops offer the most various toys aimed at encouraging children's development from the very first months of their lives, one should not forget about the children's development means known and proven through centuries as they possess one important quality: they have to be played together with relatives, and that, in turn, develops the child's emotional sphere and activates language much more successfully than any toy bought in a shop. Conclusions The impact of finger plays on the development of a child is very manifold. The following aspects are being developed: - child's speech as well as other cognitive processes: thinking, memory, imagination, attention, perception; - interaction skills; - coordination of finger movements; - feeling of safety.


Delayed fluorescence resulting from triplet-triplet annihilation in crystalline 9,10-diphenylanthracene was observed by means of steady-state fluorescence measurements under magnetic fields of ≤10 T. At five specific magnetic fields, four peaks and one dip in the magnetic field dependence of fluorescence intensity were observed, proving that exchange-coupled triplet pairs were generated in the course of triplet-triplet annihilation. The dip was in the opposite direction predicted for singlet channel triplet-triplet annihilation. Further analysis using the stochastic Liouville equation confirmed that the closest exchange-coupled triplet pair in crystalline 9,10-diphenylanthracene is quenched via both triplet channel and singlet channel triplet-triplet annihilation.


The innate immune system utilizes an intricate network to aid in fighting foreign invaders. Recent insight and understanding of toll-like receptors (TLRs) has been critical in providing key information about early responses to infection, and more recently, understanding dysregulation of TLRs has shed light on pathogenic states. This paper addresses the importance of innate immunity and TLR regulation of immune responses to the presence of influenza infection and its role in the subsequent bacterial infections.


R h esearc groups within the Human Brain Project are developing technologies to help organize and make accessible the vast quantities of information being accumulated in the neurosciences. The goal of this work is to provide systems that enable this complex information from many diverse sources to be synthesized into a coherent theory of nervous system function. Our initial approach to this problem has been to create several small databases. While addressing the issues of each individual database, we are also considering how each might be incorporated into an integrated cluster of databases. In this paper, we describe a pilot project in which we construct a database of computational models of neuronal function. This database allows models to be created and run and their results reviewed through a World Wide Web interface. Because models encapsulate knowledge in a formal manner about how neuronal systems function, we also discuss how this database forms a natural center for our initial attempts at creating a cluster of related databases. General issues of database development in the context of the Web are also discussed. n JAMIA. 1996;3:389-398. Neuroscience research is generating vast quantities of data in subdisciplines, ranging from the molecular to the behavioral level. Each level of study has had surprising success at describing phenomena at that level, but no one area has been sufficient in itself to provide a satisfactory description of nervous system function Affiliations of the authors: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, Department of Anesthesiology and Center for Medical Informatics (BEP, MDH, PMN, PLM); Section of Neurobiology (BEP, GMS). This work was supported by the National Institute for Deafness and other Communicative Disorders (National Institutes of Health), by the National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Stroke (National Institutes of Health), and by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute for Deafness and other Communicative Disorders (National Institutes of Health) through the Human Brain Project. Correspondence and reprints: Bret Peterson, PhD, 1 Kearny Suite 501, San Francisco, CA 94108. email: firstname.lastname@example.com Received for publication: 3/25/96; accepted for publication: 7/18/96. as a whole. Furthermore, the complexity of the systems being studied requires that, even within a given subdiscipline, an increasingly narrow focus of specialization is required in order for progress to be made. This necessary specialization makes compilation and integration of results across disciplines all the


Approximately 200 million people suffer from type 2 diabetes (T2D) worldwide, and the rapid increase in the prevalence of this disease is likely a result of multiple environmental factors, such as increased food intake and decreased physical activity in genetically predisposed individuals. Different population studies have demonstrated a strong association of two polymorphic variations in the TCF7L2 gene, the noncoding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs7903146 (C/T) and rs12255372 (G/T), with T2D. Herein, we analyzed the association of these SNPs with T2D in a population from northeastern Brazil. Our results showed that the genotype and allele frequencies in TCF7L2 rs7903146 and rs12255372 were similar in the patient and control groups (P > 0.05). In addition, the allele frequencies were not significantly associated with T2D risk [rs7903146: odds ratio (OR) = 0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.52-1.76, P = 1.00, and rs12255372: OR = 1.38, 95%CI = 0.72-2.62, P = 0.41]. These data suggest that the TCF7L2 SNPs rs7903146 and rs12255372 may not significantly contribute to T2D susceptibility in this population. However, our results may reflect the small number of subjects. Alternatively, these results may be attributable to specific ethnic effects, as most of the previously reported associations were demonstrated with predominantly European populations. To reach a definitive conclusion on the role of such gene variants for T2D in mixed populations, additional efforts are necessary to replicate this study with larger populations from areas with more ethnic heterogeneity.


A highly selective chemosensor LX based on quinoline was described, which could instantly detect Ni2+ in aqueous solution with specific selectivity and high sensitivity. The addition of Ni2+ to sensor LX induced a remarkable color change from yellow to red; this sensing procedure could not be interfered by other coexistent competitive cations such as Fe3+, Co2+, and Cu2+. Thus LX could be used as a potential Ni2+ colorimetric and naked-eye chemosensor. Moreover, test strips based on sensor LX were fabricated, which could act as a convenient and efficient Ni2+ test for "in-the-field" measurement of Ni2+.


In this work a novel room-temperature bonding technique based on chemically activated Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP) sheet as an intermediate between chemically activated substrates is presented. Surfaces of silicon and glass substrates are chemically modified with APTES bearing amine terminal groups, while FEP sheet surfaces are treated to form carboxyl groups and subsequently activated by means of EDC-NHS chemistry. The activation procedures of silicon, glass and FEP sheet are characterized by contact angle measurements and XPS. Robust bonds are created at room-temperature by simply pressing two amine-terminated substrates together with activated FEP sheet in between. Average tensile strengths of 5.9 MPa and 5.2 MPa are achieved for silicon-silicon and glass-glass bonds, respectively, and the average fluidic pressure that can be operated is 10.2 bar. Moreover, it is demonstrated that FEP-bonded microfluidic chips can handle mild organic solvents at elevated pressures without leakage problems. This versatile room-temperature intermediate layer bonding technique has a high potential for bonding, packaging, and assembly of various (bio-) chemical microfluidic systems and MEMS devices.


ABSTRACT This paper analyses recent educational reforms on teachers' work in Sweden following the 2010 Education Act, and up to the School Commission Report released in April 2017. We draw upon key policy texts and associated documents from the Ministry of Education, and the Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket). We consider the background to the reforms, their relations with one another and how they have played out in the Swedish educational policy context. We argue that these reforms exhibit features of 'fast policy' in terms of how they have taken on an increasingly centralised and neoliberal character, and the rapid-fire way they have been directed at teachers as individuals, rather than broader schooling structures. We show how the fast policy reforms have recentralised schooling and teachers' work—effectively de-professionalising educators.


Online topology estimation of graph-connected time series is challenging, especially since the causal dependencies in many real-world networks are nonlinear. In this paper, we propose a kernel-based algorithm for graph topology estimation. The algorithm uses a Fourier-based Random feature approximation to tackle the curse of dimensionality associated with the kernel representations. Exploiting the fact that the real-world networks often exhibit sparse topologies, we propose a group lasso based optimization framework, which is solve using an iterative composite objective mirror descent method, yielding an online algorithm with fixed computational complexity per iteration. The experiments conducted on real and synthetic data show that the proposed method outperforms its competitors.


Abstract Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an aggressive inflammatory syndrome that results from inappropriate activation of the immune system. HLH has a high mortality if not treated. We describe a case of a fulminant HLH, associated with a reactivation of an EBV infection. The patient responded well to steroid treatment.


In several diagnostic manuals of disabilities and disorders, High-Functioning Autism (HFA) is omitted and/or remains an unofficial diagnostic term. However, in 2007, the American Academy of Special Education Professionals has given it an official diagnostic code AU-4.00 in its Educator's Diagnostic Manual of Disabilities and Disorders (EDM). This has rekindled research to re-look at HFA if it deserves to be given its own diagnostic code. Today, HFA refers to autistics who possess average/above-average intelligence and function in typical settings. This paper explores what 'high-functioning' is in the enigmatic condition of HFA.


BACKGROUND
Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a clinical condition with potential implications for patients. However, little is known about its occurrence and determinants in the general population. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and risk indicators of DH in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

METHODS
A representative multistage probability sample of 1,023 adults aged ≥ 35 years was obtained. Individuals were interviewed and clinically examined in their homes. DH was assessed dichotomously in all present teeth by a blast of air and a manual probe. Teeth restored with crowns and presenting with carious cavitation were excluded. Survey logistic regression using sampling weights was applied to assess demographics and behavioral and clinical determinants.

RESULTS
Overall prevalence estimates for DH diagnosed by air and probe were 33.4% and 34.2%. DH affected ≈ 1 tooth per individual, and approximately 10% of teeth with gingival recession (GR) had DH. In a multivariable model for DH diagnosed with air, females had increased chance of DH (odds ratio [OR] = 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.57 to 2.91). Smoking, periodontal treatment, and GR were also associated with increased DH risk. The chance of DH was lower (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.29 to 0.76) among individuals ≥ 60 than among those aged 35 to 49 years. Oral hygiene practices, socioeconomic and education status, dental visits, and gingival inflammation were not associated with DH.

CONCLUSIONS
DH may be considered a concern in a Brazilian general population. Reduction of DH may be achieved by smoking cessation and periodontal health improvements.


Prison library is one of the most important components of rehabilitation of incarcerated persons. This paper is the translation of the latest revision guidelines issued by IFLA, titled "Guidelines for Library Services to Prisoners" (by Vibeke Lehmann and Joanne Locke) These 2005 guidelines, developed to assist prison library management and staff in providing the prisoners with efficient and satisfying library and information service, are flexible to be adapted to local conditions and settings.


The question as to the cause of melanin formation has given rise to considerable investigation and much speculation, but it is only recently that the theories and the known facts have begun to coincide. Earlier investigators held that the melanin formation in red-blooded animals was due to products formed from the haemoglobin, but this failed to explain why iron was only a casual constituent of the melanin ash. More recently the melanins have come to be looked upon as having an origin in the albumen. especially in those products with an aromatic or heterocyclic neucleus (tyrosin, tryptophan, etc)'. Compounds of this class when oxidized by artificial or naturally occuring oxidases undergo a series of color changes, ending in the case of oxidases of the tyrosinase type2 with the deposition of a dark, insoluble, melanin-like body. Shortly after the discovery of tyrosinase by Bertrand3 it was suggested that the oxidases, acting on various substituted aromatic or heterocyclic phenols, were the cause of melanin formation and this view has been gen-


Background: Rh D is the most important Blood Group antigen after ABO Blood group antigen for transfusion purpose. All negative blood units by routine methods must be tested to detect weak D using IAT method. When the test for D and D is positive, the label should read Rh(D) Positive . When the test for D and D is negative, the label should read Rh(D) Negative. Objective: To know the prevalence of weak D in the donor population. No study has been done in this part of the country earlier. It will help in the knowledge of weak D, which is very important for better patient care and prevent allo-immunzation in blood recipients. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were tested by ID Gel technique or by tube method with two anti D reagents – anti-D IgM monoclonal and blend of anti-D IgM & IgG. All negative samples were further tested for weak D in IAT phase by LISS/Coombs' gel card. Results: A total of 13043 samples were tested from January 2011 to December 2013. 12196 were Rh positive and 847 were Rh D negative. Weak D was positive in 8 samples. Conclusion: The study shows the prevalence of weak D as 0.07% in blood donors who were primarily from in and around Jalandhar in Punjab. These donors may have posed problem to the recipients of blood and blood product and their detection prevented them from alloimunisation.


We present the development of a low noise 1.2 THz and 1.4 THz SIS mixers for heterodyne spectrometry on the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) and Herschel Space Observatory. This frequency range is above the limit for the commonly used Nb quasi particle SIS junctions, and a special type of hybrid Nb/AlN/NbTiN junctions has been developed for this project. We are using a quasi-optical mixer design with two Nb/AlN/NbTiN junctions with an area of 0.25. The SIS junction tuning circuit is made of Nb and gold wire layers. At 1.13 THz the minimum SIS receiver uncorrected noise temperature is 450 K. The SIS receiver noise corrected for the loss in the LO coupler and in the cryostat optics is 350-450 K across 1.1-1.25 THz band. The receiver has a uniform sensitivity in a full 4-8 GHz IF band. The 1.4 THz SIS receiver test at 1.33-1.35 THz gives promising results, although limited by the level of available LO power. Extrapolation of the data obtained with low LO power level shows a possibility to reach 500 K DSB receiver noise using already existing SIS mixer.


We demonstrate a pulsed ring erbium-doped fiber laser based on graphene oxide (GO), employing a simplified Hummer's method to synthesize the GO via chemical oxidation of graphite flakes at room temperature. By dipping a fiber ferrule end face onto the GO suspension, GO is successfully coated onto the end face, making it a simple saturable absorption device. A stable Q-switched pulsed fiber laser is achieved with a low pump threshold of 9.5 mW at 980 nm. The pulse repetition rate ranges from 16.0 to 57.0 kHz. The pulse width and the pulse energy are studied and discussed.


This paper extends the application scope of a previously developed auction-based shop floor control model to the enterprise level and evaluates its performance for the coordination and collaboration of spatially distributed Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The model uses the contract net protocol to facilitate the negotiation process among SMEs and consists of two main components: task proposal formulation and bid formulation. An agent-based simulation environment is developed in ProModel to evaluate the impact of two negotiation factors and due date slack of tasks on tardiness, earliness and absolute due date deviation of tasks. A mixed-level factorial Design of Experiments (DOE) is carried out by considering different levels of α, β and K, and the results of the simulation study are analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in Minitab. This study shows that the auction-based model is effective for the task allocation among SMEs, yet it is necessary to fine-tune the negotiation factors based on the due-date-related performance measures.


Water suspensions of fragmented mycelia cultured from single-ascospore isolates of Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii (Rohde) Petrak were used to inoculate foliage of seedlings of Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Infected 0to 1-year-old foliage on inoculated seedlings was retained to the same extent as uninfected foliage on control plants. On the other hand, the inoculated seedlings retained a significantly lower proportion of 1to 2-year-old needles than the controls (with one exception) 19-23 months after becoming infected. Infected 0to 1-year-old foliage photosynthesised at a lower mean rate than uninfected needles of the same age. Despite these effects, no significant differences in total seedling dry weight were found between control seedlings and seedlings infected for 19-23 months.


Governance, from local to global levels, relies increasingly on private governance arrangements. Private actors, specifically corporations and civil society organizations, increasingly design, implement and monitor rules and standards that guide and prescribe behavior in a range of policy areas, including sustainability, banking and international security, to name a few. Even though the involvement of private actors in global politics is not a new phenomenon, the creation of cooperative arrangements in the form of organizations that lead to private regulation – thus complementing traditional ways of political influence – is relatively novel. This paper focuses on private rule-setting organizations that have emerged in the global governance of sustainability. It starts from the observation that, despite seemingly performing similar roles and functions, organizations differ both in terms of outputs they produce as well as rules of participation and decision-making. Accordingly, the paper evaluates whether organizations providing a more inclusive and participatory approach in relation to others have different implications for the quality and relevance of rules (outputs). Hence, it aims to shed light on the way private rules and standards are decided and the associated implications, in view of their increasing role and relevance in sustainability governance. In more detail, we contend that there is no linear relation between democratic legitimacy and effectiveness. While inclusiveness and representativeness in the standard-setting process will probably lead to more stringent and comprehensive rules, those regulatory systems with high stringency will be the ones least taken up. Empirically, the paper illustrates its argument with a comparison of five private rule-setting organizations that have emerged in the global governance of fisheries sustainability: the Marine Stewardship Council, Friend of the Sea, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, the Global Aquaculture Alliance and GlobalGAP.


— Repetitive control and feedback dithering modulation are applied to a single-phase voltage source inverter, with an aim to eliminate harmonics and stabilize the inverter under load variations. The proposed control and modulation scheme comprise multiple loops of feedback, which helps improve inverter performance and robustness. Experimental results show that the designed inverter exhibits very low distortion at its output with THD of about 0.3% under different load variations.


Densities of 5 taxa along with 7 environmental variables were measured monthly with 4 replicates at each of 3 stations over a period of 5 years. The 720 observations of density for each taxon were analyzed by General Linear Models with density as the dependent variable. Differences among stations, years, seasons and their interactions are all significant. When treated as covariates environmental variables contributed little to explaining the observed variability in densities. However, the observed densities of the taxa are highly correlated and when a single taxon is treated as a covariate most of the variability in the density of a related taxon is explained. There are no significant differences among replicates (taken within a square meter) or their interactions. Consequently, the biotic or abiotic factor(s), although unknown, responsible for the simultaneous density variation of the taxa operate on a relatively small spatial scale. Based on these observations and previous studies, we propose a model wherein individual foraminifers are spatially distributed as a heterogeneous continuum forming patches with different densities that are only meters apart; reproduction is asynchronous causing pulsating patches that vary in space and time. Thus, we would expect significant differences among stations, years, seasons and their interaction. At the same time, no long-term increase or decrease in density for any of the taxa is observed. Evidently, long-term stability is achieved through considerable short-term variability in space and time. Although observations at a single station are not indicative of a larger area at any particular time, the concept of pulsating patches indicates that observations at a station will in the long-term give an assessment of a larger area.


As an early adopter of plant chemical genetics to the study of endomembrane trafficking, we have observed the growth of small molecule approaches. Within the field, we often describe the strengths of the approach in a broad, generic manner, such as the ability to address redundancy and lethality. But, we are now in a much better position to evaluate the demonstrated value of the approach based on examples. In this perspective, we offer an assessment of chemical genetics in plants and where its applications may be of particular utility from the perspective of the cell biologist. Beyond this, we suggest areas to be addressed to provide broader access and enhance the effectiveness of small molecule approaches in plant biology.


This paper proposes an efficient content adaptive screen image scaling scheme for the real-time screen applications like remote desktop and screen sharing. In the proposed screen scaling scheme, a screen content classification step is first introduced to classify the screen image into text and pictorial regions. Afterward, we propose an adaptive shift linear interpolation algorithm to predict the new pixel values with the shift offset adapted to the content type of each pixel. The shift offset for each screen content type is offline optimized by minimizing the theoretical interpolation error based on the training samples respectively. The proposed content adaptive screen image scaling scheme can achieve good visual quality and also keep the low complexity for realtime applications.


We can divide Esperanto literature into four historical periods. The first (1887–1920) was characterised by the important role of translations. The second period (1921–1945) was marked by the development of poetry and also, to some extent, of prose and drama. The third period (1946–1974), while beset with difficulties, continued the development started in the second period and made some new innovations, especially in poetry. The fourth period (since 1975) has so far been a period in which the novel and experimental poetry have flourished. Unlike the earlier periods, the fourth period is no longer dominated by a small group of authors and influential literary magazines: Esperanto literature is now more diverse and fragmented, leaving space for different schools and linguistic styles.


The Herrnstein matching law was used to dissociate motoric from motivational drug-induced performance changes. The effects of neuroleptic drugs were compatible with, at low doses, a reduction in reinforcer efficacy, and at higher doses, an additional motor impairment However, the Herrnstein matching law was found to be prone to artifactual error; in particular, under reinforcement-lean conditions reductions in reinforcer efficacy were time-dependent These problems compromised the use of the Herrnstein law to assess drug-induced performance changes.

Raclopride-induced time-dependent reductions in response rate occurred in the absence of both primary and secondary reinforcement. Within-session decrements in both operant and consummatory behaviour were observed following administration of sulpiride to the anterodorsal striatum, but not following administration of sulpiride to the nucleus accumbens. The implications of this finding are discussed in relation to the internal organisation of behaviour, and Parkinson's disease.

Consumption of sucrose and operant responding maintained by sucrose pellets follows an inverted-U-shaped concentration-intake function. Systemic administration of raclopride shifted the curve to the right. It is argued that this curve shift reflects an impairment in the primary reward process. Effects of intracranial administration of sulpiride on sucrose consumption were restricted to the nucleus accumbens at a low concentration of sucrose, but were also observed within the anterodorsal striatum and basolateral amygdala at higher concentrations. These findings are discussed in relation to the neuroanatomical substrates for the guidance of behaviour by external cues, and for reward processes.


Over the past three decades, tariff barriers have fallen significantly, leading to an increasing integration of Canadian manufactures into world markets and especially the U.S. market. Much attention has been paid to the effects of this shift at the national scale, while little attention has been given to whether these effects vary across regions. In a country that spans a continent, there is ample reason to believe that the effects of trade will vary across regions. In particular, location has a significant effect on the size of markets available to firms, and this may impact the extent to which firms reorganize their production in response to falling trade barriers. Utilizing a longitudinal microdata file of manufacturing plants (1974 to 1999), this study tests the effect of higher levels of trade across regions on the organization of production within plants. The study finds that higher levels of export intensity (exports as a share of output) across regions are positively associated with longer production runs, larger plants and product specialization within plants. These effects are strongest in Ontario and Quebec, provinces that are best situated with respect to the U.S. market.


Study on x-ray emission from a low energy (1.8 kJ) plasma focus device powered by a 9 μF capacitor bank, charged at 20 kV and giving peak discharge current of about 175 kA by using a lead-inserted copper-tapered anode is reported. The x-ray yield in different energy windows is measured as a function of hydrogen filling pressure. The maximum yield in 4π-geometry is found to be (27.3±1.1) J and corresponding wall plug efficiency for x-ray generation is 1.52 ± 0.06%. X-ray emission, presumably due to bombarding activity of electrons in current sheath at the anode tip was dominant, which is confirmed by the pinhole images. The feasibility of the device as an intense x-ray source for radiography is demonstrated.


A 36‐year‐old man presented with a prolonged history of chest pain, and was given two sublingual nitroglycerin tablets. Subsequently, the patient became hypotensive, bradycardic, apneic, and lost consciousness. The bradycardia resolved spontaneously. No evidence for acute myocardial infarction or ischemic disease was found. Thirty‐four cases reported to date are reviewed, demonstrating that this response appears to be an independent effect of nitroglycerin taken in any form, in patients with and without myocardial infarction and to be unpredictable, especially without evidence of inferior or right ventricular infarction. Careful monitoring is warranted when administering nitroglycerin.


Abstract Aspects of the turbulent wind environment Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) experience when flying outdoors were replicated in a large wind tunnel. An overview of the facility, instrumentation and initial flight tests is given. Piloting inputs and aircraft accelerations were recorded on fixed and rotary wing MAVs and for some tests, measurements of the approach flow (u,v,w sampled at 1,250Hz at four laterally disposed upstream locations) were made. The piloting aim was to hold straight and level flight in the 12m wide × 4m high × ~50m long test section, while flying in a range of turbulent conditions. The Cooper-Harper rating system showed that a rotary craft was less sensitive to the effects of turbulence compared to the fixed wing craft and that while the fixed wing aircraft was relatively easy to fly in smooth air, it became extremely difficult to fly under high turbulence conditions. The rotary craft, while more difficult to fly per. se., did not become significantly harder to fly in relatively high turbulence levels. However the rotary craft had a higher mass and MOI than the fixed wing craft and further work is planned to understand the effects of these differences.