Targeted studies testing knowledge of subject-verb agreement (SVA) indicate that pre-trained language models encode syntactic information. We assert that if models robustly encode subject-verb agreement, they should be able to identify when agreement is correct and when it is incorrect. To that end, we propose grammatical error detection as a diagnostic probe to evaluate token-level contextual representations for their knowledge of SVA. We evaluate contextual representations at each layer from five pre-trained English language models: BERT, XLNet, GPT-2, RoBERTa and ELECTRA. We leverage public annotated training data from both English second language learners and Wikipedia edits, and report results on manually crafted stimuli for subject-verb agreement. We find that masked language models linearly encode information relevant to the detection of SVA errors, while the autoregressive models perform on par with our baseline. However, we also observe a divergence in performance when probes are trained on different training sets, and when they are evaluated on different syntactic constructions, suggesting the information pertaining to SVA error detection is not robustly encoded.


Linear asset-pricing relations, with macroeconomic factors as state variables, have found wide usein empirical finance. Applications of such relations range from academic studies of market efficiency andmarket anomalies to practical uses such as risk management and estimation of the cost of capital. Theseapplications make two key assumptions: that the relationship is exclusively linear, and that the macroeconomicfactors are exogenous to returns. For the set of macrofactors commonly used in these applications, bothassumptions run counter to economic intuition. We set out to demonstrate that they are also counter toempirical evidence.We carry out this task using tests for linear and nonlinear Granger causality. We find linear and nonlinearfeedback between stock returns and commonly used macroeconomic pricing factors. We also find linear andnonlinear feedback between residuals from linear pricing relations and returns. In addition, there is littleevidence to suggest that neglected autoregressive or autoregressive conditionally heteroskedastic dynamics areresponsible for these findings, implying that the underlying dynamics are complicated. Thus, linearasset-pricing relations omit interesting and potentially useful aspects of the relationship between stock returnsand the macroeconomy.


AeU is an international institution that offers quality education and flexible academic programmes for professional and working adults. "Kumaresan Muthusamy is confident that AeU MBA graduates have an eager over others as they are equipped with the necessary skills to succeed in a highly competitive working environment".


ABSTRACT After severe illness, there are stories: narrative strands to suture discontinuities of identities, practices, and lives. But within these narratives of illness and recovery, the body's discontinuities stand apart, striking in the materiality of change, in the tangible multiplicity of bodies – healthy, ill, recovering, recovered – that a person can call one's own. Based on longitudinal research interviews with Israeli women who identified as recovered from long-term eating disorders (fieldwork conducted in 2005–2006 and in 2011), this paper explores how these bodily discontinuities are expressed, drawing particular attention to the narrative role of embodied memory in linking past and present-tense bodies and selves. Embodied memory, as narrated by the participants, is deeply, sometimes surprisingly, embedded in lived experience, imbuing recovered bodies with moments of sensory continuity, the past coming into presence through forms of sensation and perception learned at the height of disorder. Examining narrative moments of sensory remembrance, this paper analyses how participants narrate embodied memory as a mode of reflection, self-protection, and dynamic integration, wherein the experience of disorder informs practices of recovery, and the body becomes a site for the reconciliation of past and present.


This paper exhibits the hexapod robot movement performance. We analyze the performance of the DC servo motor in the robotic system and to enhance the function, The Hexapod robot movement analysis was made using Virtual Robot Experimentation Platform (V REP) software. Through this simulation we can analysis the performance of hexapod robot body and legs movement in various parameters. The Robotic system was separately analyzed and the simulation results


Introduction: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an infiltrative cardiomyopathy and a common cause of heart failure with preserved and mid-range ejection fraction (HFpEF and HFmrEF). Left ventricular (LV) systolic assessment is pivotal in differential diagnostic and prognostic stratification in CA. However, nondeformation and deformation-based parameters classically implied had many limitations. Myocardial work (MW) has been recently introduced for the evaluation of myocardial performance, in a load-independent fashion, in patients with cardiomyopathies. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate MW parameters in LV performance assessment in CA and their possible role in differential diagnosis between AL and ATTR forms, compared with other echocardiographic parameters, also exploring the possible association between MW parameters and blood biomarkers. Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 25 patients with CA (10 with AL amyloidosis and 15 with wild-type ATTR [ATTRwt] form) and HFpEF or HFmrHF, enrolled between March 2018 and December 2019, undergoing a comprehensive clinical, biochemical, and imaging evaluation. Ten healthy individuals were studied as controls. ATTR patients had a noninvasive diagnosis of wtATTR-CA (positive 99mTc-hydroxy methylene-diphosphonate scintigraphy with a negative hematological screening), while AL patients underwent endomyocardial biopsy. All patients underwent standard transthoracic echocardiography. MW and related indices were estimated using a vendor-specific module. Results: Compared to the ATTRwt group, patients in the AL group showed a more pronounced myocardial performance impairment assessed by Global Word Efficiency (GWE: 83.5% ± 6.3% vs. 88.2% ± 3.6%; P = 0.026). In multiple linear regression analysis, cardiac troponin I (B = −0.55; P < 0.0001), global longitudinal strain (B =0.35; P < 0.008), and regional relative strain ratio (B = −0.30; P < 0.016) were significant predictors of GWE reduction in CA patients. At receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, among all other deformation-based and nondeformation-based echocardiographic parameters, GWE showed the highest area under the curve (AUC) (AUC 0.74; 95% CI: 0.55–0.96; P < 0.04). The optimal cutoff was determined by sensitivity/specificity analysis: a GWE < 86.5% identified patients with AL amyloidosis with a sensitivity and specificity, respectively, of 80.0% and 66.7%. Conclusions: The results of our pivotal study seem to highlight the importance of new deformation parameters to study myocardial performance in patients with CA, and to differentiate between AL CA and ATTR CA.


The debate surrounding tobacco control has become increasingly polarised as the health and tobacco lobbies seek to influence tobacco policy. In recent times the main focus for debate has been the impact of tobacco advertising on under‐age smoking. However, with the proposed ban on tobacco advertising, this paper argues that branding may prove pivotal to re‐orienting thinking about how tobacco marketing continues to influence smoking initiation. Marketing theory asserts that creating demand for a product is dependent upon building a strong brand identity that concurs with the needs, values and lifestyles of the consumer. It is hypothesised that branding can function by affecting not only the way people perceive specific tobacco products but also their perceptions of smoking behaviour itself. Using branding to extend the debate in this way provides some useful insights into the role tobacco marketing might play in encouraging young people to start smoking. It is concluded that explanations for smoking initiation can be found, not by attempting to isolate the abilities of tobacco marketing and health policy to persuade young people to adopt one behaviour in favour of the other, but by examining how exposure to competing forces such as these during adolescence may conspire to brand smoking in a way that encourages young people to experiment with cigarettes. It is suggested that more significant advances in reducing smoking rates are likely to depend upon a willingness to confront the fundamental contradictions that are created by such competing forces.


BACKGROUND
Antibacterial lavage with topical antibiotics may reduce the occurrence of capsular contracture (CC) in breast augmentation.

OBJECTIVES
The authors investigate the efficacy of povidone-iodine combined with antibiotic irrigation in reducing the CC rate.

METHODS
The charts of 330 consecutive women who underwent cosmetic breast augmentation during 2 different periods (group A: 2004-2009, n = 165; group B: 2009-2010, n = 165) were retrospectively reviewed. All patients in the series underwent augmentation with the same surgeon (A.S.) via the inframammary approach and dual-plane pocket. In group A, patients received a single perioperative dose of 1.5 g of intravenous cephalothin and 750 mg of oral cephalexin twice a day for 7 days after discharge. In group B, patients perioperatively received 750 mg of intravenous cefuroxime, and each implant and pocket were irrigated with 25 mL of a 10% povidone-iodine solution mixed with 750 mg of cefuroxime and 80 mg of gentamicin diluted in 15 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. After discharge, patients received 500 mg of oral levofloxacin once a day for 5 days. Postoperative complications included occurrence of infection, hematoma, seroma, and CC.

RESULTS
Mean (SD) postoperative follow-up in groups A and B was 24 (+/- 13) months and 22 (+/- 3) months, respectively. The postoperative superficial wound infection rate was 1.8% and 1.2%, the seroma rate was 1.8% and 1.2%, and the hematoma rate was 0.6% and 1.2% in groups A and B, respectively. Ten CC cases (Baker grade 3 or 4) in group A and 1 in group B were reported (6% vs 0.6%; P = .006).

CONCLUSIONS
Povidone-iodine and antibiotic irrigation in cosmetic breast augmentation yielded a lower CC rate than standard perioperative antibiotics in this series of patients.


In this paper the TRMS (Tilting Rolling-stock Maintenance System) that applies the concept of RAM (Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability) and RCM (Reliability Centered Maintenance) to Preventive and Corrective Maintenance Policy for TTX (Tilting Train Express) will be discussed. We will briefly introduce the RCM concepts and discuss how these concepts and procedures are implemented in the TRMS S/W. In the TRMS S/W there are four modules, System and Operations Information Module, FMECA(Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis)module, RAM Information Module, and RCM Analysis Module. The System and Operations Information Module provides the user interface for collection of systems and operations related data and the FMECA module provides a groundwork for the RCM analysis. The algorithms to calculate the reliability and failure rate for Weibull distribution and formulae to calculate the task intervals and task costs are proposed in the RAM and RCM Analysis Module respectively. There is a good possibility of applying RCM to other rolling stock maintenance systems if the benefit that RCM can brings to the maintenance world is fully recognized.


Arcidae are predominantly marine bivalves. Cucullaeidae are a small family of Arcidae with four living species (Huber, 2010). Two species of Cucullaeidae; Cucullaea labiata (Lightfoot, 1786) and Cucullaea petita (Iredale, 1939) were collected from Thermal beach, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. The detailed systamatics, taxonomy and marked difference between these species are dealt with in this paper. The occurrence of two Cucullaea species such as Cucullaea concamerata (Martini) and Cucullaea labiata (Lightfoot) from Tamil Nadu coast was reported by Dey and Ramkrishna (2007). However, the exact distribution record and taxonomical description of these species are not available from India. Like other clams there are also commercially valuable species used as food in many countries. In this paper these two species are newly reported from Gulf of Mannar region of Tamil Nadu. These species are believed to be nearly extinct. The study area from where these species were collected was polluted with the effluents from thermal plants and saltpans. These species are highly disturbed due to climatic change and therefore strategies will be needed to conserve these species. The presences of these species indicate the rich marine bivalve diversity in the Gulf of Mannar region. The near extinction of these species should be viewed seriously and urgent steps should be initiated in order to conserve these species from further disappearance from the face of the earth for good.


Current research on the role of third party intervention in civil wars demonstrates that the decision to intervene results from a mixture of strategic interests and domestic politics. Prior to intervention, third parties assess the characteristics of the target state and predict possible outcomes to determine whether the benefits of an intervention will outweigh the costs. Research suggests that transnational ethnic affinities play a significant role in this cost/benefit analysis. Kin dyads that feature a state whose ethnic group in power has ethnic affinity with a marginalized ethnic group in another state where that minority kin group is engaged in a civil conflict, have a higher probability of intervention. This thesis addresses a series of cases of conflict in Cyprus. The analysis finds that ethnic affinity enhances the linkage patterns between the state experiencing the intervention and the potential intervener, and discusses other variables that may influence the decision to intervene. Research into this topic is important because it may be used to indicate which civil wars will be more likely to receive interventions.


BACKGROUND/PURPOSE
Riehl's melanosis is a difficult-to-treat condition characterized by persisting dermal hyperpigmentation. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a histology-specific targeted therapy for Riehl's melanosis.

METHODS
Skin biopsy samples of Riehl's melanosis were assessed to identify histology-specific targets for treatment. Subsequently, the efficacy of a combination involving a fractional picosecond laser and a pulsed dye laser (PDL) targeting the dermal melanin and vessels, respectively, was evaluated. Clinical improvement was assessed using the dermal pigmentation area and severity index (DPASI). The treatment outcomes were compared to those of a control, in this case a single laser treatment solely targeting pigmentation.

RESULTS
Histological and immunohistochemical analyses identified dermal melanin pigment and dilated vessels as treatment targets for Riehl's melanosis. The combined treatment of the fractional picosecond laser and PDL showed a significant reduction of the DPASI scores, which was significantly better than the control group. Patients who underwent the combined laser treatment indicated high levels of satisfaction with no adverse events except of transient erythema and oedema.

CONCLUSION
The combined treatment of a fractional picosecond laser and a PDL was more effective for Riehl's melanosis compared to single laser treatment. The treatment targets both dermal pigmentation and dilated vessels, offering promising results for those working to manage Riehl's melanosis.


The calibration of optical see-through head-mounted displays is an important fundament for correct object alignment in augmented reality. Any calibration process for OSTHMDs requires users to align 2D points in screen space with 3D points in the real world and to confirm each alignment. In this poster, we present the results of our empiric evaluation where we compared four confirmation methods: Keyboard, Hand-held, Voice, and Waiting. The Waiting method, designed to reduce head motion during confirmation, showed a significantly higher accuracy than all other methods. Averaging over a time frame for sampling user input before the time of confirmation improved the accuracy of all methods in addition. We conducted a further expert study proving that the results achieved with a video see-through head-mounted display showed valid for optical see-through head-mounted display calibration, too.


Wave attenuation through mangrove forests has received more and more attention, especially in the context of increasing coastal erosion and sea-level-rise. Numerous studies have focused on studying the reduction of wave height in a mangrove forest. However, the understanding of this attenuation process is still in its infancy. In order to obtain more insight, a laboratory experiment, mimicking the processes of wave attenuation by coastal mangroves in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam was conducted. The reduction of wave height for different scenarios of mangrove densities and wave conditions was investigated. A new method to quantify vegetation attenuation induced by vegetation is presented. The wave height reduction is presented over a relative length scale (viz. the number of wavelengths), instead of an absolute length scale of the forest (e.g per meter or per 100m). The effects of wave non-linearity on the wave height attenuation over the mangrove forest were investigated using the Ursell number. It is suggested that the non-linear character of waves has a strong influence on the attenuation of the waves inside the mangrove forest. A numerical model, mimicking the experiment was constructed in SWASH and validated using the experimental data. Finally, the data set was extended through numerical modelling so that a larger ranging relationship between wave attenuation per wave length and the Ursell number could be formulated.


Raising of problem. World's natural resources are: coal - 909 064 billion t..; оil – 12 580 milliard barrels; Natural gas - 173trillion m 3 . Considering the factor, that more than 2.3 billion tons of coal, 30 187milliard m3 of oil and gas is consumed for a year, it will be more than enough of natural resources for the following years: coal for 200 years, oil - 42 years, gas - up to 65 years [1; 3; 5]. Now there is the global economic downturn, so it is necessary to find alternative natural resources. An effective way of solving this problem is energy saving measures inculcating and state support use, based on managing alternative renewable energy sources in the nearest future. The usage of renewable energy sources will increase the energy of the world, and also will provide environmental cleanliness, social and economic development. Nowadays, the energy of the sun is one of  the most perspective among renewable energy sources that can be collected by solar panels. Purpose. Analysis the principles shaping of active energy complex-houses using solar energy. Conclusion. The most efficient in terms of minimizing heat loss is a circular shape. It has the smallest perimeter and that's why building with circular shape in the plan will have the smallest area enclosing parts. Another advantage of the circular shape of the building -if the building's facade is covered with solar batteries, the process of electrical energy generation will be much efficient. Considering a great step in the solar panels production in a short period of time, we can assume that the common way of their usage will change.


Discussions on the impact of digital technologies on national and global processes are rising. Among important issues is the role of large Internet platforms (Facebook, Google, Alibaba, etc.) - key players of the digital markets and in the digital innovations – in producing global leadership / dominance. The article argues, that on the economy side existing USA-China duopoly on the platform markets creates asymmetric advantages for both nations resulting (in future) in unprecedented influence on global processes (up to "digital colonialism"). It is doubtful that potential competitors from third nations may ever destroy this duopoly. Also, the information functions of the platforms are reviewed as resource for global leadership. Noting the evolution of assessments (from techno-optimistic views of platforms as engines of democracy to alarmist views of their role as a "backdoor" for the opponents and adversaries) we accent platform`s growing information impact on the global processes (digital diplomacy, etc.). However, here the USA-PRC duopoly is also actual. Dilemma of alternative solutions to boost the influence of third nations in the new digital, platform economy still may be resolved. Since data is the key resource for the digital markets and platforms, formation of data regulatory regimes appears to be an asymmetric solution. The experience of the EU with its GDPR and other efforts to form new data/digital regimes may serve as a model. Exploiting its` large data market as a competitive factor, the EU may neutralize part of the advantages of stronger actors and orient global platforms towards a more acceptable strategy. However, regulatory practices should be complemented by the development of digital technologies, as well as regional- or national-level platforms. A serious challenge also lies in achieving needed market scale (in order to influence global platforms) and – in the future – in competition of jurisdictions.


Background: Patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) have a reduced health related quality of life (HRQoL). This pilot study examined the effect of a 6-month combined cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and muscle strength training program on hemodialysis patients. Methods: The outcomes of interest included HRQoL as measured by Short-Form 36 version 2 (SF-36v2), cardiac depression scale, self-efficacy score, 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), physical activity and muscle strengths. Twenty-seven patients were recruited for intervention, but only eight completed the study. Results: At baseline, participants who completed intervention (CI) had a higher role emotional score (P = 0.028), role physical score (P = 0.008) and self-efficacy score (P = 0.019), compared to the participants who dropped out (ID). At the end of intervention, CI had improvements in physical functioning scores (P = 0.040) and 6MWD (P = 0.018), whereas ID had a decline in their role emotional scores (P = 0.045). Conclusions: The result of this study suggests that a combined CBT and physical training intervention can benefit hemodialysis patients, but non-adherence to therapy is common. Self- efficacy could play an important role in therapy adherence in the ESKD population. World J Nephrol Urol. 2014;3(2):83-91 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10. 14740/ wjnu156w


Abstract Recent research has been uncovering the role of the gut microbiota for brain health and disease. These studies highlight the role of gut microbiota on regulating brain function and behavior through immune, metabolic, and neuronal pathways. In this review we provide an overview of the gut microbiota axis pathways to lay the groundwork for upcoming sessions on the links between the gut microbiota and neurogenerative disorders. We also discuss how the gut microbiota may act as an intermediate factor between the host and the environment to mediate disease onset and neuropathology. Based on the current literature, we further examine the potential for different microbiota-based therapeutic strategies to prevent, to modify, or to halt the progress of neurodegeneration.


Composite Co3O4/TiO2 nanotube arrays (NTs) were fabricated via atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Co3O4 thin film onto well-aligned anodized TiO2 NTs. The microscopic morphology, composition, and interfacial plane of the composite structure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersion mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectra, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. It was shown that the ultrathin Co3O4 film uniformly coat onto the inner wall of the high aspect ratio (>100:1) TiO2 NTs with film thickness precisely controlled by the number of ALD deposition cycles. The composite structure with ∼4 nm Co3O4 coating revealed optimal photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance in the visible-light range (λ > 420 nm). The photocurrent density reaches as high as 90.4 μA/cm(2), which is ∼14 times that of the pristine TiO2 NTs and 3 times that of the impregnation method. The enhanced PEC performance could be attributed to the finely controlled Co3O4 coating layer that enhances the visible-light absorption, maintains large specific surface area to the electrolyte interface, and facilitates the charge transfer.


The nucleocapsid protein (NP) of hantavirus has been shown to be highly immunogenic in laboratory animals and humans, and it induces an early and long-lasting humoral immune response during hantavirus infection. In the present study, entire and three partially truncated open reading frames (ORF) of NP genes of Hantaan virus (HTNV) strain 76-118, a prototype of hantavirus, were amplified and then cloned in prokaryotic expression vectors. The recombinant whole NP and truncated NPs were expressed in Escherichia coli. In addition, their antigenic and biological activities were evaluated in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of a series of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Results showed that the expressed complete HTNV NP had a similar function as an authentic viral NP. The antigen sites on NP of hantavirus were mainly located in the N-terminus, and the region at 1-37 amino acid might be one important antigenic domain.


Abstract 2367 Background: Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) is an autosomal recessively inherited marrow failure syndrome associated with exocrine pancreatic dysfunction and an increased leukemia risk. SDS is caused by biallelic mutations in the SBDS gene. Timely diagnosis prior to the development of life-threatening complications is essential for optimal medical management and outcomes. SDS hematologic complications such as severe marrow failure or leukemia are treated with a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. SDS patients require reduced intensity conditioning regimens to avoid undue regimen-related toxicities, thus the recognition of the underlying diagnosis of SDS is critical. The common constellation of clinical characteristics reported for SDS includes neutropenia, steatorrhea, and failure to thrive. Hypothesis: With the advent of genetic testing, diagnosis is now possible for patients with non-classical presentations of the inherited marrow failure syndromes. The aim of this study was to investigate the range of clinical presentations for SDS with the long-term goal of improving diagnosis. Methods: This study was a retrospective review of medical records obtained by the North American Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Registry (SDSR) which was founded in 2008. The SDS Registry works in partnership with the Severe Chronic Neutropenia International Registry. Results: Genetic reports of biallelic SBDS mutations confirming the diagnosis of SDS were available for 31 patients. This SDS study cohort included 19 male and 12 female patients. Median patient age was 10 years with a range of 2 – 49 years. Radiologic reports were available for 23 patients. Pancreatic lipomatosis was noted in 22/23 patients. One patient had an atrophic pancreas without lipomatosis on CT scan at age 6.9 years. Two patients initially had normal early pancreatic studies by CT or ultrasound at ages 1.3 years and 2.6 years, but subsequently were found to have pancreatic lipomatosis by the same imaging modalities later in life. Fecal elastase has not been previously evaluated as a screen for SDS. 14/17 patients (82%) had low fecal elastase levels while 3/17 patients had normal fecal elastase levels. Serum trypsinogen or pancreatic isoamylase were low in all 18 patients tested. 26/31 patients (84%) presented with failure to thrive. 17/31 (54%) patients presented with diarrhea or steatorrhea. 17/31 patients (55%) had congenital anomalies. Neutropenia was the most common hematologic abnormality at presentation (77%). Strikingly, 2 patients presented with isolated thrombocytopenia, 3 patients presented with severe anemia requiring transfusion support, and 5 patients presented without any cytopenias. One patient presented with the initial diagnosis of MDS with a del 20q clone. One patient presented with short stature and a sibling who died from AML. Interestingly, one patient had very short telomeres ( st percentile for age) across 3 lymphocyte subsets as well as in total lymphocytes, a pattern typically associated with dyskeratosis congenita. Conclusion: Data from the North-American Shwachman Diamond Syndrome Registry reveals an unexpected range of clinical presentation for this rare disorder that expands beyond that which is currently classically recognized. The diagnosis of SDS should be considered even in the absence of neutropenia or diarrhea. In our cohort, clues to the underlying diagnosis of SDS included other cytopenias, congenital anomalies, family history, and the del20q clonal marrow abnormality. Reliance on classical clinical descriptions of SDS would miss or delay diagnosis of a significant subset of SDS patients. Disclosures: Dale: AMGEN: Consultancy.


In this paper, we are concerned with a model of polytropic gas flow, which consists the mass equation, the momentum equation and a varying entropy equation. First, a new technique, to set up a relation between the Riemann invariants and the entropy variable s, coupled with the maximum principle, is introduced to obtain the a-priori L estimates for the viscosity-flux approximation solutions. Second, the convergence framework from the compensated compactness theory on the system of isentropic gas dynamics is applied to prove the pointwise convergence of the approximation solutions and the global existence of bounded entropy solutions for the Cauchy problem of the system with bounded initial data. Finally, as a byproduct, we obtain a non-classical bounded generalized solution (ρ, u, s), of the original non-isentropic polytropic gas flow, which satisfies the mass equation and the momentum equation, the entropy equation with an extra nonnegative measure in the sense of distributions.


Young people's engagement with urban public space has been facing a number of obstacles that reflect a lack of understanding of their needs, values and priorities. The emergence of digital devices and social media as integral elements of youth culture adds further urgency to the need to understand how young people themselves visually articulate their perceptions of life in the city. Bringing together elements from urban studies, youth studies and digital media literacy, this paper puts forward a pedagogic and research approach that aims to facilitate youth engagement with urban landscapes and the community. Participatory photography was used a tool for capturing youth urban voice with British undergraduate students. A methodological framework for the coding and analysis of participants' images and reflective pieces was conducted with a pilot study involving 51 students. By employing a participatory/reflective photography methodology analyzing youth engagement with the urban landscape, the exercise produced highly engaged and emotive visual and textual narratives. Student work focused around issues of unemployment, dereliction and conglomeration. Findings reveal that participants focused more on the social and economic properties of place than on its aesthetic and architectural ones. They viewed their local spaces through media filters and a prism of disempowered and individualized consumption. The paper ultimately highlights a paradox: while young people are at the forefront of unprecedented global digital connectivity, at the same time their narratives emit a sense of civic loneliness. Global change and urbanization are perceived as destructive forces that have an adverse effect on their way of life.


Although the Ca2+-F- association is of great importance for aqueous environments and industrial systems containing F-, as well as for defluorination processes, many details of the association solvation structures and behavior remain unclear. Herein, a combination of classical/ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations was used to investigate the structure and hydration of CaFx2-x (x = 1, 2) and the association/dissociation behavior of Ca2+-F- in aqueous CaF2 solutions. The primary shell of Ca2+ is found to be very flexible in the association of Ca2+-F-, with coordination numbers dynamically oscillating in the range of 6-9, with 6 and 7 being the most favorable. The calculations show that for CaF(H2O)14+, the contact ion pair (CIP) is more favorable and occurs with no energy barrier, whereas the formation of CaF2(aq.) must overcome a ∼3.6 kJ mol-1 energy barrier; moreover, the CIP and solvent shared ion pair (SSIP) dynamically coexist for CaF2(H2O)14 in aqueous CaF2 solutions. Calculations for the dissociation process of CaF(H2O)6+ show a dramatic energy increase going from SSIP to free Ca2+ and F-, ascribed to the surprisingly long-range electrostatic attraction between Ca2+ and F- rather than to special F⋯H interactions. The energy increase results in the estimated association constant of CaF+ being larger than that previously measured using fluoride ion selective electrodes. This is attributed to the fact that the latter value might correspond to the ligand reaction of free Ca2+ and F- to form the Ca2+-F- SSIP. The combination of these results with CaF2(s) solubility measurements suggests that the higher-order Ca2+-F- complexes are absent in aqueous CaF2 solutions.


The hepatitis E virus is best known as a waterborne pathogen that occasionally causes big outbreaks in Asia and Africa. But more recently, scientists have discovered that a strain named genotype 3 is a problem in Western countries as well, especially in Europe. An estimated 300,000 people get infected annually in Germany alone, and although the vast majority clears the infection easily and without symptoms, the virus persists in the liver of people with weakened immune systems, eventually killing them. Some people get infected through blood donations, but most infections come from eating contaminated pork. The big question now is how the hepatitis E virus can be stopped.


In the contemporary socio-economical scenario, knowledge sharing has become a crucial topic for discussion. As the economy of the societies becoming knowledge centric, knowledge production and dissemination by the educational and other social institutions must play an important role. In this paper, we discuss the notion of knowledge sharing as normative action involving two modes of function: voluntary and obligatory. Knowledge sharing as voluntary action presupposes personal ontology of knowledge. The knower as owner of knowledge has the right to disseminate knowledge. The reason of this dissemination could be sometimes to fulfill certain psychological desire or material needs, rather than purely value centric. Such a mode of sharing could be the reason for the degeneration of knowledge. It is because voluntary dissemination of knowledge does not go beyond the whims and fancies of the knower. On the other hand, knowledge sharing as an obligatory action emphasizes care and commitment. These normative elements could not only transform the attitude of the knower, but also help him to transcend the mere economic and psychological reasons of knowledge sharing. This transcendental logic of sharing would show how knowledge obtains its social ontology.


The desire to produce reversible electron traps for direct, room temperature studies of excess electron transport in DNA duplexes and hairpins motivated our efforts first to link pyridines to 2′-deoxyuridine (pyridinyl-dU) and then to convert these new conjugates into pyridiniumyl-dU nucleosides. Base sensitivity studies presented here rule out general use of bipyridinediiumyl compounds, but show that pyridiniumyl compounds are suitable for use under the strand cleavage and base deprotection procedures required for automated solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. This paper presents the synthesis of four 5′-O-DMT-protected 5-(N-methylpyridiniumyl)-dU conjugates using either ethynyl or ethylenyl linkers to join the pyridiniumyl and dU subunits.


The lauded Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP) has achieved much in stimulating private sector investment in the renewable energy market in South Africa. Yet, 95% of electricity generated is still from a single source, the state-owned utility Eskom. This paper set out to explore the policy sphere governing electricity generation and identifying possible avenues that can contribute to a more vibrant solar energy market in the most solar abundant province of South Africa, the Northern Cape Province. Licensed mines were identified as low hanging fruit due to a large policy overlap and leeway within existing mining policy. A solar audit of these areas was performed, based on accepted multi-criteria decision analysis techniques, and found that a potential 369 TWh to 679 TWh per annum can be generated, exceeding South Africa's current electricity usage.


ABSTRACT With the Justice and Development Party dominating the elections in Turkey since 2002, the existing political cleavages between religious and secular segments of the population increasingly crystallized during the last two decades. This article investigates the mass support for the AKP at a juncture of religious activities and voting behaviour. To contextualize religious activities, this study utilizes a unique data set consisting of the indicators of religious activities collected from the Directorate of Religious Affairs at the province level between the general elections in Turkey. The findings show a significant relationship between all religious activities and voting for the Justice and Development Party nationwide. However, the relationship between voting behaviour and religious activities mitigates when considering regional differences. Results imply three different spatial cleavages in western, internal, and eastern regions, where the relationship between voting behaviour and the types of religious activities, as well as demographic variables, varies significantly.


At the end of the World War I the role of women as housewives changed dramatically. They were forced to work and to earntheir own money which was the first step towards their independence. Especially after the war women came to the conclusion thatthere had to be more in life than just looking after the children and the house. By earning the right to vote in 1920 women made theirbiggest step in being accepted as equal members of society. This freedom changed women's attitude totally. They started drinkingalcohol, smoking and dancing a new type of dance called "Swing." One perfect example is Daisy from "Great Gatsby" by F. ScottFitzgerald.


Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems (IVHS) have generated a new challenge for communications industries. This is particularly true for mobile communications, since most essential IVHS communications links require wireless and mobile transmission. The IVHS and its major components are described. A generic block diagram for an IVHS network is presented. This block diagram defines the communications requirements for the IVHS network. The complete characterization of communication between the vehicle and the IVHS infrastructure is determined by the system architecture, however, by its very nature, this link is required to be wireless, mobile, and for the most part interactive. A survey of wireless technologies that have been tested, or implemented, and/or considered suitable for IVHS applications are discussed. Examples of operational and/or under development IVHS projects that applies the corresponding wireless technology are also provided.


The predictive efficiency of Caldwell's Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) with a sample of infants from low-income families at-risk for developmental retardation was assessed. The home environments of 51 infants were assessed with the HOME at 6 and 18 months. Multiple discriminant functions composed of the six HOME subscale scores predicted whether the child would be low IQ (below 75), low average (75 to 89), or average to superior (90 and above) at age 3. At both 6 and 18 months, the discriminant function of the HOME was found to be moderately sensitive in identifying children in the low-IQ group (62% correctly identified); 56% were false positives. Additional research is necessary to differentiate with precision among families at elevated risk levels.


Background Alpha-1 antitrypsin (α1-AT) is a member of the serine protease inhibitors (serpins) family. Liver cells are the major source of synthesis and secretion of (α1-AT) into the blood. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that α1-AT is expressed and secreted by many types of malignant cells. Studies have indicated that serum levels of (α1-AT) increase in a good number of malignant diseases. In addition, a significant correlation between serum levels and cancer stage has also been reported. In this work we aimed to test how α1-AT levels behave at the third week after treatment with chemotherapy. Methods The α1-AT blood levels were measured using commercially available radial immunodiffusion kit (Kent Laboratory Inc, Bellinham, Washigton) following manufacturer instructions. Results The α1-AT blood levels were significantly decreased after treatment compared with those before the treatment started. The mean difference (before - after) treatment was 127.82 and 137.37 mg/dL with 95% CI of difference 109.06 - 146.57 and 116.08 - 158.65 mg/dL in lung and prostate cancer respectively. When we compared these levels according to the stage of cancer, we found that the mean difference (before - after) treatment was also highly significant as indicated by P-value and the 95% CI of these differences. Conclusion Obtained data strongly indicate the value of testing α1-AT blood levels as one of the important indicators for the efficacy of cancer treatment.


Field investigations allow to constrain the co-seismic surface rupture zone of ~400 km with a strike-slip up to 16.3 m associated with the 2001 Mw 7.8 Central Kunlun earthquake that occurred along the western segmentof the Kunlun fault, northern Tibet. The co-seismic rupture structures are almost duplicated on the pre-existing fault traces of the Kunlun fault. The deformational characteristics of the co-seismic surface ruptures reveal that the earthquake had a nearly pure strike-slip mechanism. The geologic and topographic evidence clearly shows that spatialdistributions of the co-seismic surface ruptures are restricted by the pre-existing geological structures of the Kunlun fault.


In this paper the problem of software simulation of the noise distribution in the chip has been considered. On the basis of earlier developed analytical equations the internal electromagnetic noise distribution in the chip with orthogonal and complanar topology of power supply feed have been obtained. These results can be useful to estimate the trends of the EM noise in the chip and evaluate the most critical area. Further, the developer can change the placing of the functional modules in the chip to increase the stability of the designed device to internal noises.


BACKGROUND
The evaluation of patient satisfaction receives increasing attention partly due to pressure from state agencies involved in the administration of health care. Outpatients' satisfaction with their doctor is a major component of total patient satisfaction. However, a validated instrument for assessing this has not previously been available in French.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
The Princess Margaret Hospital Patient Satisfaction with Doctor Questionnaire (PMH/PSQ-MD) is a recently validated tool available in English for this purpose. A three-step procedure was conducted to obtain a validated French translation of the PMH/PSQ-MD. Subsequently, outpatients receiving chemotherapy, symptomatic treatment or attending a follow-up clinic were approached to participate in the study and complete the questionnaire. Acceptability and reliability (Cronbach's alpha score), as well as internal and external (Pearson correlation coefficient with the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire IV) validities were studied.

RESULTS
137 patients were approached and 116 fully completed the study. The PMH/PSQ-MD's acceptability was high (<10% of non-responders). Internal validity was also high (Cronbach's alpha score > 0.7 for each dimension). External validity in comparison with the PSQ IV was high as well. Women demonstrated higher satisfaction scores, while age had no influence on patient satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS
The F-PMH/PSQ-MD is a questionnaire which addresses outpatients' satisfaction with their doctor, and is now available for research purpose as well as for daily practice.


The influence of parameters such as laser power, focusing conditions, and travel speed on the laser surface hardening of American Iron and Steel Institute 1045 steel has been investigated in terms of the microstructure and hardness of heat affected zones. Hardening trials were performed with a 500 W neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser. Electron and optical microscopy were performed to correlate the hardness, hardness profiles, and microstructures that are achieved during laser surface hardening. A simple approach has been presented, which makes the Green's functions application easier, to predict the temperature distribution during laser surface hardening. This approach can be used to predict the case depth, which can be achieved by using a given set of laser process parameters. The results obtained by using this approach compare well with the results obtained from a commercial finite element package, Engineering Analysis System.


We have isolated a cDNA clone from the jellyfish Polyorchis penicillatus that encodes the homologue of the A1 acidic ribosomal protein previously characterized in human, brine shrimp, fruit fly, and yeast. The sequence of this protein is strongly conserved among the five eukaryotic species for which it has been determined. Conservation is greatest in the amino-terminal 51 amino acids and the carboxyl-terminal 25 amino acids. This suggests that these regions are necessary for interactions with other components of the protein synthetic machinery, while the central part of the protein has a less specific role to play. Comparison of the sequences obtained from the different species indicate that the metazoan lineages all appear to have arisen at approximately the same time and significantly later than the time of divergence of yeast from the common ancestor of the Metazoa.


Abstract. The German Bight located within the central North Sea is a hydro- and morphodynamically highly complex system of estuaries, barrier islands and part of the world's largest coherent tidal flats, the Wadden Sea. To identify and understand challenges faced by coastal stakeholders, such as harbor operators or governmental agencies, to maintain waterways and employ numerical models for further analyses, it is imperative to have a consistent data base for both bathymetry and surface sedimentology. Current commercial and public data products are insufficient in spatial and temporal 15 resolution and coverage for recent analyses methods. Thus, this first part of a two-part publication series of the German joint project EasyGSH-DB describes annual bathymetric digital terrain models in a 10 m gridded resolution for the German North Sea coast and German Bight from 1996 to 2016 (Sievers et al., 2020a, https://doi.org/10.48437/02.2020.K2.7000.0001 ), as well as surface sedimentological models of discretized cumulative grain size distribution functions for 1996, 2006 and 2016 on 100 m grids (Sievers et al., 2020b, https://doi.org/10.48437/02.2020.K2.7000.0005 ). Furthermore, basic morphodynamic and sedimentological 20 processing analyses, such as the estimation of e.g. bathymetric stability or surface maps of sedimentological parameters, are provided (Sievers et al., 2020a, 2020b, see respective download links).


Sonographic evaluation of the fetal spine is an essential part of any fetal survey, and it is included in the current American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine/American College of Radiology and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology guidelines for obstetric sonography [1, 2]. In this paper, we review the current knowledge of anatomy of the normal fetal spine and the sonographic findings associated with spinal anomalies, with special emphasis on neural tube defects. Important cranial clues to a spine abnormality initially may be more obvious at sonography than the spine abnormality itself, and the general significance of these clues is provided. The expanding role of prenatal maternal serum and amniotic fluid testing is explored, as are the benefits and modifications these bring to sonographic evaluations. Finally, the potential benefits of the rapidly advancing technology of three-dimensional sonography are introduced.


Celiac disease, a chronic autoimmune enteropathy, may develop in genetically predisposed individuals upon ingestion of gluten proteins found in wheat, barley, and rye. Overall prevalence of celiac disease is increasing and it currently affects around 1% of the population. The types and severity of symptoms of celiac disease show high variability, leading to many sufferers remaining undiagnosed. The only available treatment is to follow a strict gluten-free diet, but gluten-free alternatives are less available, more expensive, and often have lower nutritional and sensorial quality. This thesis work examined the interactions between the intestinal enzyme transglutaminase 2 and gluten peptides. Transglutaminase 2 plays a significant role in disease initiation and progression, and is the main autoimmune target in developed celiac disease. A method for measuring the interaction between transglutaminase 2 and gluten was developed and tested in studies on sourdough fermentation of wheat flour and bread. Transglutaminase 2-mediated transamidation of gluten was assayed and the extent of available binding motifs for transglutaminase 2 in α2-gliadin, considered the most immunogenic part of gluten, was assessed using an ELISA-based method. The results showed that lactic acid fermentation, which is not specifically tailored to degrade gluten, cannot sufficiently prevent transglutaminase 2 interaction with gluten or decrease the extent of available binding motifs for transglutaminase 2 on α2-gliadin. In studies investigating the possibility to block specific binding motifs for transglutaminase 2 on gluten peptides, using molecules suitable as food additives, binding to α2-gliadin was computationally simulated and promising candidates were identified. These candidates were analyzed in vitro for the ability to prevent transglutaminase 2-mediated transamidation and deamidation of gliadin. Ascorbyl palmitate was found to interact with α2-gliadin in computer simulations and effectively reduced gliadin interaction with transglutaminase 2 in vitro . The cytotoxicity profile of ascorbyl palmitate, in combination with gliadin, was evaluated in Caco-2 cell cultures by determining cell survival, direct cytotoxicity, inflammatory mediators, and cell layer integrity, and no negative effects were found. In ancillary studies of human ileostomy contents after ingestion of raw and extruded gluten-containing products, degradation products of α-gliadin were identified and the effect of extrusion on digestion was investigated. Preliminary results indicate that protein digestibility was decreased after intake of the extruded product, but the effect on α-gliadin digestion needs further evaluation. However, the majority of α-gliadin seems to be undigested after in vivo digestion in both products. The interaction between transglutaminase 2 and gluten is crucial for celiac disease and in this thesis work, several strategies for preventing this have been explored. Ascorbyl palmitate has been shown to effectively prevent this interaction in vitro and is thus a promising candidate for creating cereal-based foods potentially safe for celiacs.


Alcohol consumption is a known cause of cancer, but its role in the etiology of second primary (metachronous) cancer is uncertain. Associations between alcohol intake up until study enrollment (prediagnosis) and risk of metachronous cancer were estimated using 9435 participants in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study who were diagnosed with their first invasive cancer after enrollment (1990‐1994). Follow‐up was from date of first invasive cancer until diagnosis of metachronous cancer, death or censor date (February 2018), whichever came first. Alcohol intake for 10‐year periods from age 20 until decade encompassing baseline using recalled beverage‐specific frequency and quantity was used to calculate baseline and lifetime intakes, and group‐based intake trajectories. We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for potential confounders. After a mean follow‐up of 7 years, 1512 metachronous cancers were identified. A 10 g/d increment in prediagnosis lifetime alcohol intake (HR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.00‐1.06; Pvalue = .02) and an intake of ≥60 g/d (HR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.01‐1.73) were associated with increased metachronous cancer risk. We observed positive associations (per 10 g/d increment) for metachronous colorectal (HR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.00‐1.14), upper aero‐digestive tract (UADT) (HR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.00‐1.34) and kidney cancer (HR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.10‐1.39). Although these findings were partly explained by effects of smoking, the association for kidney cancer remained unchanged when current smokers or obese individuals were excluded. Alcohol intake trajectories over the life course confirmed associations with metachronous cancer risk. Prediagnosis long‐term alcohol intake, and particularly heavy drinking, may increase the risk of metachronous cancer, particularly of the colorectum, UADT and kidney.


We studied the effect of boric acid, Zn-sulfate and Zn-chelate on shell split and development of fruit rot diseases of the pistachio cultivar Eginis. The results showed that boric acid applied to soil and leaves together gave the highest percentage of shell split. Boric acid applied solely to the soil also increased significantly the percentage of shell split. In contrast, Zn-sulfate and Zn-chelate did not affect shell splitting, regardless of treatment No rotten fruit was found in any of the treatments, including the control.


Well-ordered structures formed by self-assembly of diblock copolymer have attracted increasing interest due to their potential applications, such as the preparation of nanoporous films, nanostructured templates, ultrahigh-density data storage media, and biosensors [1]. However, the thin film preparation by solvent-casting or spin-coating does not necessarily lead to the equilibrium structure. Often, only short-ranged order is observed in the self-assembled structures, which hampers many applications. Methods to bring the samples into their equilibrium states and to reduce the number of defects are thus highly desirable. Vapor treatment with solvents is a commonly used technique to anneal defects in block copolymer thin films. The solvent vapor swells the film and effectively lowers the glass transition temperature (Tg) of blocks; meanwhile it affects the interactions between blocks (eff) and the relative volume fractions. The mentioned parameters all depend on the selectivity of the solvent [2].


We have obtained an approximate expression for the impedance function at all frequencies, temperatures, and coupling strengths of an electron coupled to a polar lattice (a system commonly called a polaron). The starting point for the calculation is the quantum mechanical expression for the expected current. The phonon coordinates are eliminated from this expression by well-known field-theory techniques. The resulting exact "influence functional" is then approximated by a corresponding quadratic "influence functional" which, it is hoped, imitates the real polaron. Correction terms are computed to account for the difference between the approximate impedance and the exact polaron impedance in a manner closely analogous to Feynman's treatment of the polaron self-energy. In fact, the analytic evaluation of the expression for the impedance obtained here is carried out using the approximate "influence functional" that was successfully employed in minimizing the binding (and free) energy of the polaron in earlier calculations. However, the accuracy obtained using this approximation, for the impedance calculation, is less satisfactory and its limitations are discussed. Nevertheless, beginning at intermediate coupling strengths, the approximate impedance produces a level structure of increasing complexity and narrowing resonances as the coupling strengthens. This suggests that further refinements may be fruitful. Methods for finding a better quadratic influence functional for use in our impedance expression as well as ways of improving the expression further are suggested. A comparison of our results with those of the Boltzmann equation points up interesting differences which arise from reversing the order of taking limits of zero frequency and coupling.


Diagnostic criteria for schwannomatosis have been proposed in a recent consensus statement. These criteria permit schwannomatosis to be distinguished from neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) in most patients, but there is some clinical overlap between the two diseases. In this study, the authors use data from the population-based United Kingdom NF2 Registry to recommend modifications that increase the specificity of the schwannomatosis diagnostic criteria.


Definitive X-ray crystallographic evidence is obtained for a single hole (or a polaron) to be uniformly distributed on the three equivalent 1,2-dimethoxybenzenoid (or veratrole) rings in the hexamethoxytriptycene cation radical. This conclusion is further supported by electrochemical analysis and by the observation of an intense near-IR transition in its electronic spectrum, as well as by comparison of the spectral and electrochemical characteristics with the model compounds containing one and two dimethoxybenzene rings.


In order to determine if the CFB panel is superior to the CHB, this study, "Comparative Study of the Mechanical Properties of Coconut Fiber Cement Board and Concrete Hollow Blocks," compared the two products' prices, dead loads, and compressive strengths. Three samples of each of the two products were used in the experiment, which the researchers conducted. The tensile strength test, parametric test, and Universal Testing Machine (UTM) were used to gather the data for this study. The compressive strength test was performed at the TERMS Concrete and Materials Testing Laboratories Inc. in Tayuman, Manila. The study assumed that: CFBs are less expensive than CHBs; carry less weight than CHBs; and have greater structural strength. Results show that CFB has an average compressive strength of 1,004.167 PSI. In comparison to a CHB, the CFB has more compressive strength. The researchers also concluded that a CFB would carry less weight than a CHB at 5.4721 lb. In both panels' cost analyses, the price of CFB is deemed to be higher than the price of CHB. Fiber Cement Board (CFB) offers a substantially more cost-effective alternative. By enhancing the walling system for residential establishment, this study will benefit the Philippine construction industry.


Seed oils of 11 samples of Capparis ovata and Capparis spinosa from different locations in Turkey were characterized with regard to the composition of fatty acids, tocopherols, and sterols as well as the content of glucosinolates. The oil content of the seeds ranged from 27.3 to 37.6 g/100 g (C. spinosa) and from 14.6 to 38.0 g/100 g (C. ovata). The dominating fatty acid of both species was linoleic acid, which accounted for 26.9-55.3% in C. ovata seed oils and for 24.6-50.5% in C. spinosa seed oils. Oleic acid and its isomer, vaccenic acid, were both found in the seed oils in concentrations between 10 and 30%, respectively. The seed oils of both species were rich in tocopherols with the following composition: gamma-tocopherol, 124.3-1944.9 mg/100 g; delta-tocopherol, 2.7-269.5 mg/100 g; and alpha-tocopherol, 0.6-13.8 mg/100 g. The concentration of total sterols ranged from 4875.5 to 12189.1 mg/kg (C. ovata) and from 4961.8 to 10009.1 mg/kg (C. spinosa), respectively. In addition to sitosterol, which amounted to approximately 60% of the total amount of sterols, campesterol and stigmasterol accounted for 16 and 10% of the total sterols, respectively. The seed oils showed remarkably high contents of Delta5-avenasterol (between 138.8 and 599.4 mg/kg). The total content of glucosinolates of C. ovata and C. spinosa samples was determined as 34.5-84.6 micromol/g for C. ovata and 42.6-88.9 micromol/g for C. spinosa, respectively, on a dry weight basis, with >95% as glucocapperin.


Since there is no a concentrated computer monitoring system in the imported flexible assembly system, a knowledge-based monitoring and diagnostic system (KBAMD) for the flexible assembly system has been developed. In this paper, the structure of KBAMD is introduced. The online monitoring and knowledge-based error diagnosis system is proposed. The knowledge base and diagnosis inference are considered. The application example of KBAMD is presented.


Abstract: Introduction: Some evidence showed positive effects of sports therapy in forensic settings. Most of these evaluation studies analyzed between-subject relations and used RCTs (randomized controlled trials) to investigate intervention effects. RCTs normally randomize participants to an intervention and a control group with the intention to compare averaged group-findings. However, such averaged results, which are based on group effects may not apply to every single forensic patient as they do not adequately address that these patients are unique due to their complex psychopathology. Thus, RCTs do not adequately address the following circumstances especially relevant in forensic settings: heterogeneity and low sample size of therapy groups and low compliance rate of forensic patients. To address these challenges, it could be worthwhile to focus on within-subject relations by using N-of-1 studies. Methods: This viewpoint summarizes the possibilities and limitations of N-of-1 study designs regarding the challenges heterogeneity, low sample size and a low compliance rate when evaluating forensic sports therapy. Results: N-of-1 studies offer a useful addition in the evaluation of sports therapy in forensic psychiatry. They are able to evaluate individual effects and they increase the power of the study by increasing the number of measurements. Nevertheless, they are associated with limitations, for example increased effort due to frequent measurements and long study duration or the difficulty to generalize the results. Conclusion: Future studies should implement N-of-1 study designs in forensic psychiatric sports therapy to gain evidence and should find solutions to deal with the limitations (e.g., digital technology).


Abstract This paper contributes to the study of new forms of transnational power constituted by the action of international and nongovernmental organizations, to which gravitate loose networks of activists variously promoting democracy, human rights, the empowerment of women, and environmental conservation. The paper's focus is impacts that the massive reconstruction effort is having on Afghan society, examined through a case study of The National Solidarity Programme (NSP), the main project of rural rehabilitation underway in the country. Launched in 2003, its objective is to bring development funds directly to rural people and to establish democratically elected local councils that will identify needs, and plan and manage the reconstruction. Although the NSP's political significance faded in the context of the presidential elections of 2009, which were characterized by quickly evolving alliances, the program illustrates how reconstruction funds are an integral part of Afghanistan's social and political landscape. My arguments are four-fold: First, the NSP subtly modifies participants' body gestures and codes of conduct. Second, the program's fundamental assumptions are at odds with the complex social fabric and the overlapping sources of solidarity and conflict that characterize rural Afghanistan. Third, the ways in which political actors use material and symbolic resources channeled through the NSP mirror national struggles for power. Finally, such programs are one element in a much larger conceptual and bureaucratic apparatus that promotes new forms of transnational governmentality that coexist with and sometimes challenge the more familiar, territorialized expressions of state power and sovereignty.


A linear programming model has been developed for optimal cash flow management addressing specific cash flow issues related to the construction industry. These include typical financial transactions, possible delays on payments, use of available credit lines, effect of changing interest rates, and budget constraints that often occur in the construction industry. A small size project from the Brazilian construction industry is provided as a case study, aiming at evaluating the potential benefits from using the model. Different changes to the basic structure of the model allow and establish the consistency of the results. Alternative formulations are suggested to deal with uncertainties, longer planning horizons, and multiple subcontractors and suppliers. In addition to the tangible financial earnings derived from the optimization process, the simple structure of the model, as a network flow and corresponding equations, provides much visual insight concerning the relationships between the external inputs and the variables of the problem. Optimal results have yet to be achieved in a real life situation, but a better view of whole cash flow management is provided when using the model.


Objectives: CD8 T cells producing more than one cytokine or cytotoxicity factor, i.e. polyfunctional, have been shown to relate to control of HIV-1 infection. As it is currently not clear if polyfunctional CD8 T cells have a role in controlling HHV-8 infection, we investigated CD8 T cell cytokine responses to multiple lytic and latency viral proteins.
 Methods: T cells were stimulated with dendritic cells from HHV-8 seropositive subjects that were loaded with overlapping peptides derived from gB and K8.1 lytic proteins, and K12 and LANA-1 latency proteins, and screened for IFNγ production by extended culture ELISPOT. Positive peptides were assessed for production of IFNγ, IL2, TNFα, MIP1β and CD107a by flow cytometry.
 Results: ELISPOT and flow cytometry revealed new, potential HLA A*0201 9mer epitopes for each protein. In HHV-8 seropositive healthy donors controlling infection, the predominant CD8 T cell response to protein epitopes was monofunctional, with a portion of CD8 T cells being polyfunctional.
 Conclusions: This demonstrates that HHV-8 proteins predominantly induce single factors in CD8 T cells from healthy, HHV-8 seropositive individuals, with a portion of T cells producing 2 or more of these factors. These immunogenic regions of the viral proteins could be important in immunopathogenesis of KSHV/HHV-8 and progression to Kaposi's sarcoma. (U01-AI35041, R01 CA82053, T32 AI065380-04)


Abstract This paper puts forward a new account of rigorous mathematical proof and its epistemology. One novel feature is a focus on how the skill of reading and writing valid proofs is learnt, as a way of understanding what validity itself amounts to. The account is used to address two current questions in the literature: that of how mathematicians are so good at resolving disputes about validity, and that of whether rigorous proofs are necessarily formalizable.


We report the first observations of spinodal decomposition in solid helium isotopic mixtures, using NMR measurements. The experiments were performed at a 3He concentration of 50% where the transition proceeds through the critical point. We used an initial pressure such that the system remained solid. Our observations indicate that the transition occurs by the mechanism of spinodal decomposition and we are able to study its evolution in real time.


A dechirp on receive (DoR) concept demonstrator was recently implemented on the Fynmeet radar system of the CSIR, in an attempt to extend its high range resolution (HRR) measurement capabilities. Based on the low dynamic range observed in subsequent measurements, this paper presents detailed analysis of the effect of amplitude, phase and nonlinear distortion on dechirp on receive radars.


Empirical species distribution models (SDMs) constitute often the tool of choice for the assessment of rapid climate change effects on species' vulnerability. Conclusions regarding extinction risks might be misleading, however, because SDMs do not explicitly incorporate dispersal or other demographic processes. Here, we supplement SDMs with a dynamic population model 1) to predict climate-induced range dynamics for black grouse in Switzerland, 2) to compare direct and indirect measures of extinction risks, and 3) to quantify uncertainty in predictions as well as the sources of that uncertainty. To this end, we linked models of habitat suitability to a spatially explicit, individual-based model. In an extensive sensitivity analysis, we quantified uncertainty in various model outputs introduced by different SDM algorithms, by different climate scenarios and by demographic model parameters. Potentially suitable habitats were predicted to shift uphill and eastwards. By the end of the 21st century, abrupt habitat losses were predicted in the western Prealps for some climate scenarios. In contrast, population size and occupied area were primarily controlled by currently negative population growth and gradually declined from the beginning of the century across all climate scenarios and SDM algorithms. However, predictions of population dynamic features were highly variable across simulations. Results indicate that inferring extinction probabilities simply from the quantity of suitable habitat may underestimate extinction risks because this may ignore important interactions between life history traits and available habitat. Also, in dynamic range predictions uncertainty in SDM algorithms and climate scenarios can become secondary to uncertainty in dynamic model components. Our study emphasises the need for principal evaluation tools like sensitivity analysis in order to assess uncertainty and robustness in dynamic range predictions. A more direct benefit of such robustness analysis is an improved mechanistic understanding of dynamic species' responses to climate change.


In Indonesia, the problem of low productivity is evident; people still do not understand the concept of productivity improvement. They do not seem to be aware of the importance of productivity improvement in construction. They consider that productivity problem is only related to labor in the work face who do the real work in construction. Actually, the problem of productivity is laid on the hands of construction management personnel who plan and control all activities on site. Labor are able to be managed, motivated, encouraged to be more productive only if managers are willing to initiate the productivity improvement program. In this study establish 16 factors to identified become the 5 most influential factor on productivity. This study aims to identify the factors that have an effect on worker productivity. By giving questionnaires to foremen and engineers, it will get the facts on the site. One hundred questionnaires were distributed, 94 questionnaires were returned already and get the results as regular remuneration is the highest factor. And then factor affecting productivity is overtime payments, incentive payment, unskilled and inexperienced of labor, and motivation. Furthermore, this study identified perception of engineer and foremen related productivity.


This paper explores themes of image, technology, temporality and becoming in a design-art pedagogical context. It considers Deleuzo-Bergsonian approaches to the concept of 'image' in the broadest sense of the term – firstly through an examination of Gilles Deleuze and Henri Bergson's shared ontological depiction of the world as a matter-flow of images; secondly, through their collective veneration of art and artistic activity as a mode of becoming, and lastly through their respective critiques of representational images of thought. Ultimately, through an applied, comparative philosophical approach, it seeks to examine the significance of a Deleuzo-Bergsonian concept of the latent image from a pedagogical perspective, addressing the teaching of the visual arts in the context of the marketisation of education. As we shall see, Deleuze and Bergson's conception of the latent-image emphasises both its connective and transformative potentials. As such, it can illuminate questions of disciplinarity, authorship, and the ethics of image creation in interesting ways - suggesting strategies for operating smoothly in increasingly striated educational environments.


The rates of cyclization-cleavage of dipeptides with various sequences assembled on the Kaiser's oxime resin were determined. cyclo(–Ala–Ala–) was liberated from the H–Ala–Ala–oxime resin with the apparent first-order rate constant, kapp, 1.8 × 10−1 min−1 under basic conditions. While cyclo(–Ala–Pro–) was much more rapidly formed (kapp = 1.5 min−1) from the H–Ala–Pro–resin, cyclo(–Ala–Val–) was produced with kapp, 2.2 × 10−2 and 5.5 × 10−2 min−1 from H–Ala–Val–resin and H–Val–Ala–resin, respectively. During the coupling reaction for tripeptides by the dicyclohexylcarbodiimide/1-hydroxybenzotriazole or the symmetrical anhydride method was observed significant loss of dipeptides by cyclization, which was successfully prevented by the [(benzotriazol-1-yl)oxy]tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (BOP) method except in the case of H–Ala–Pro–resin. In consequence of elucidating the defect and describing the method for the prevention, the reliability of the oxime resin was increased to be widely us...


The recent revolution in technology has encouraged governments throughout the world to change their approaches to providing services to their citizens. Accordingly, some countries have set up e-government portals as one such approach to deliver services efficiently, economically, and promptly. The synergy of information with communication technology has the potential to make e-government a major advance; some citizens, however, are not satisfied with e-services introduced in several countries due to factors including lack of computer skills, limited availability of the Internet, and less than total coverage of necessary infrastructure. Effective E-government has several immediate benefits: 1) to lessen the need of travelling to and queuing in the various government departments; and 2) to combine access to different departments together in one government portal. A case study might be the e-government developments in Saudi Arabia, where, in the last few years, huge amounts of money have been expended to establish e-government service. In this context, the question arises whether the expenditure has been worthwhile. In the current research, the satisfaction levels with these services were surveyed among a set of users in order to determine drawback to using the system or any obstacles to access. Objectives were established in order to achieve the aims, and research questions devised to examine the usage of e-government and the service's usability, as well as to identify the barriers and factors that can affect the use of e-government. The relationship between these barriers and overall satisfaction levels with respect to e-government projects is also analyzed.


In this paper, the dynamics of acceleration and energy costs for cars with various types of inter-wheeled differentials are analyzed. The used dynamic models for drive with: a classical symmetric conical open differential, a fully locked differential, and limitedslip differentials for which the locking torque depends on the load or the relative speed of rotation are described. During the study, the ratios of the adhesion coefficients under the right and left sides were varied. As a result of the work, tasks are formulated for further more detailed analysis of limited-slip differentials.


Detecting familial matches Recent advances in DNA technology and companies that provide array-based testing have led to services that collect, share, and analyze volunteered genomic information. Privacy concerns have been raised, especially in light of the use of these services by law enforcement to identify suspects in criminal cases. Testing models of relatedness, Erlich et al. show that many individuals of European ancestry in the United States—even those that have not undergone genetic testing—can be identified on the basis of available genetic information. These results indicate a need for procedures to help maintain genetic privacy for individuals. Science, this issue p. 690 Genetic privacy is difficult to maintain in light of forensic searches of genetic genealogical databases. Consumer genomics databases have reached the scale of millions of individuals. Recently, law enforcement authorities have exploited some of these databases to identify suspects via distant familial relatives. Using genomic data of 1.28 million individuals tested with consumer genomics, we investigated the power of this technique. We project that about 60% of the searches for individuals of European descent will result in a third-cousin or closer match, which theoretically allows their identification using demographic identifiers. Moreover, the technique could implicate nearly any U.S. individual of European descent in the near future. We demonstrate that the technique can also identify research participants of a public sequencing project. On the basis of these results, we propose a potential mitigation strategy and policy implications for human subject research.


Background Coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are performed via the femoral or radial arteries. In patients examined via transfemoral access, closure devices facilitate hemostasis, but it is unknown whether it is safe to mobilize these patients immediately and how acceptable this may be in terms of patient comfort. Objective The aims of this study were to investigate bleeding complications in patients mobilized immediately after transfemoral CAG or PCI compared with patients on bed rest (BR) for 2 hours after the procedure and, furthermore, to investigate patient comfort in relation to mobilization and BR. Methods SAMOVAR was a noninferiority trial with patients randomized to immediate mobilization (IM) or 2 hours of BR after transfemoral CAG or PCI and use of the AngioSeal as a closure device and reversal of heparin effect. The primary end point was development of hematoma greater than 5 cm, pseudoaneurysm, or bleeding requiring blood transfusion. Secondary end points were oozing from the puncture site, small hematoma, and patient comfort. Results Of 2027 patients (IM, 1010; BR, 1017), 40% underwent PCI. The primary outcome was recorded in 0.7% patients randomized to IM versus 0.5% in BR (P = .58). There was no difference in the incidence of small hematoma, whereas persistent oozing was seen slightly more often after IM compared with BR (12% vs 9%, P = .04). Patients mobilized immediately reported less back pain and micturition problems (P < .001). Conclusions In patients who had CAG and PCI performed through transfemoral access, reversal of anticoagulation and use of closure devices allowed IM with low rates of complications and improved patient comfort.


All 170 Pythium isolates from carrot cavity spot lesions from a field in Western Australia were found to belong to either P. coloratum or P. sulcatum. All isolates of P. coloratum produced large, brownish-black, water-soaked and depressed lesions on mature carrots inoculated with agar plugs colonized by the pathogen. In comparison, only a few isolates of P. sulcatum produced lesions and these were small. In glasshouse trials, P. coloratum produced substantial and numerous lesions at an inoculum density of 0.5% (weight of millet seed-based inoculum/weight of soil), whilst P. sulcatum produced few and small lesions at inoculum densities of 0.8 and 1% and none at 0.5%. This is the first record of P. coloratum as a causal agent of cavity spot of carrots.


A circuit topology suitable for low-power Colpitts voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) is presented in this letter. By employing the proposed voltage-to-current positive-feedback network, the required transconductance for VCO startup can be reduced, leading to the minimized dc power for sustaining VCO oscillation. Moreover, the Q-factor enhanced varactor is used in this VCO design for phase noise improvement. Based on the proposed architecture, the fabricated VCO in standard 0.18 μm CMOS exhibits a 3.58% tuning range. Operating at 1.35-V supply voltage, the VCO core consumes 3.3-mW dc power. The measured phase noise is -110.82 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset from 18.95 GHz oscillation frequency. Compared with the recently published K-band 0.18 μm CMOS VCOs, it is observed that the proposed Colpitts VCO exhibits comparable circuit performance under low dc-power consumption.


A cavalier approach on the part of some physicians, and poor research on the part of some equipment manufacturers, has made central venous catheterization more dangerous to the patient than it need be. Here, the relationship between these factors is discussed, with special reference to the fact that central venous catheterization is an invasive surgical operation which should not be taken lightly by its practitioners.


Background & Aims: Congenital absence or loss of the ocular globe during childhood not only compromises the normal development of the orbital region, it causes esthetic and psycho-social disturbances as well. Literature demonstrates the necessity of prevention and early detection in order to minimize the sequelae and disturbances in orbital growth. The purpose of this article is to highlight customized scleral shell prosthesis as a simple yet effective treatment modality for opthalmic pediatric patients

Methods: For this anophthalmic pediatric patient who reported to us, we decided to fabricate a customized ocular prosthesis by modifying the stock eye prosthesis. Clinical relevance: Fabrication and installation of eye prosthesis is essential to the rehabilitation process especially in a child, so as to produce satisfactory development of the region and for their emotional wellbeing.


Today's drinking water supply in the Elbasan district continues to be an issue of concern. The population growth nowadays is accompanied by the increase of request for water use. To complete their needs, people have chosen to use groundwater by opening wells. Having their personal well does not guarantee water safety. The aim of this paper is to determine the quality of drinking water through coliform bacteria indicators, in Elbasan district. There are three groups of coliform bacteria, total coliform, intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli. Each of these is an indicator of drinking water quality and each has a different level of risk. In this study are analyzed many water samples taken from villages Labinot fushe, Gjergjan, Paper, Shushice, and Bradashesh. In some of these villages, the water samples are taken from wells and pipes. The total coliform, E. coli, and intestinal enterococci in drinking water of these villages are reflected in this study. The data recorded shows which of the analyzed water sources are within the international standards to be used as drinking water. The coliform pollution levels are higher in the wells water than in the pipes one. The distant areas from the city of Elbasan are more polluted than those nearby.


Until recently assessment and other eLearning systems have tended to adopt monolithic architectures, this has restricted integration with other tools. The ELearning Framework (ELF) sets out to address this problem by creating an eLearning environment within which components with discrete purposes communicate via webservices. In order to help co-ordinate the design of the ELF, JISC has recently sponsored a number of Framework Reference Model Projects, and FREMA is the Framework Reference Model for Assessment. In this paper we examine how FREMA is facilitating a common understanding of the components of assessment and their interfaces, and we explain how this information is being elicited from the community by reference to tools which are already contributing to the model. We also present the adaptive website by which the emerging model is being disseminated to a range of stakeholders.


* Corresponding author. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com This study examines effects of sulfonylurea herbicide Sekator OD 375 (amidosulfuron and iodosulfuron) to non-target aquatic plant species common duckweed (Lemna minor L.). The plants were affected by 5–75 μl/l concentrations of herbicide in their growth medium. L. minor had a strong phytotoxicty response to herbicide application (inhibition of growth, biomass, reduced content of photosynthetic pigments and increased content of malondialdehyde). The growth rate of L. minor was inhibited by 54.17%. The dry biomass was by 57.2% lower than in control. Application of herbicide provoked an oxidative stress, the concentrations of MDA was by 83.32% higher than in control.


We seek to advance debate and thinking about economic democracy. While recognising the importance of existing approaches focused upon collective bargaining and workplace organisation, we articulate a perspective that emphasises the importance of individual economic rights, capabilities and freedoms at a time when established norms and protections at work are in retreat in many parts of the world. We outline a framework where both individual rights to self-government of one's own labour, as well as the right of all citizens to participate in economic decision-making, are emphasised. The framework identifies a set of underlying principles, prerequisites, critical spheres for intervention, progressive institutional arrangements, and policies in pursuit of an expanded agenda around economic democracy. In this way, economic democracy potentially empowers individuals and creates the basis for generating new and sustainable alliances that challenge elite dominance in contemporary capitalism.


A compact broadband TE/sub 01/-mode generator is presented. It consists of five identical sectorial waveguides which are stepped into an ordinary circular waveguide. These sectorial waveguides are fed by five identical probes at the end of a star-shaped feed line with five arms. This feed line is placed in a trace between the sectorial waveguides. A consequence of the five-fold symmetry is that the lowest parasitic mode which can be generated and propagated has a cutoff far above the frequency range of operation (9.5-10.5 GHz). The measurements show that the return loss is less than -15 dB in the frequency range of operation. The mode purity is better than 99.4%.


We introduce a notion of morphism of CohFT algebras, based on the analogy with A-infinity morphisms. We discuss a "quantization" of the classical Kirwan morphism to a morphism of CohFT algebras from the equivariant quantum cohomology of a G-variety to the quantum cohomology of its git or symplectic quotient, and an example relating to the orbifold quantum cohomology of a compact toric orbifold. Finally we identify the space of Cartier divisors on the moduli space of scaled marked curves; these appear in the splitting axiom.


ABSTRACT The sizes of African lion home ranges vary widely but tend to correlate with characteristics of the prey populations (e.g. prey density and preferred prey weight). Lion home ranges should be expected to temporally fluctuate according to changes in prey biomass. Here we quantified and compared the home range sizes of lions in Uganda with data collected in the 1970's and that collected in the 2000's. Average range sizes of individual lions were 34.0 and 38.1 km2 for the two prides studied, while pride range was 35.7 and 43.1 km2 (Fixed-kernel method). Surprisingly, we found little variation in size of these home ranges between the two periods assessed. Across both periods, lion home ranges tended to be associated with grassland and wooded grassland to woodland, riverine forest and bushland habitats. The core lion home ranges typically overlapped with habitat where Uganda kob (preferred prey in this region) were most abundant and where most kills were made. Buffalo, topi, and waterbuck are avoided while warthog is preyed on in accordance with availability. Range location has not changed greatly since the 1970s although home range size has increased and pride size decreased, possibly in response to lower prey biomass.


A new technique of x-ray focusing crystal spectrometers' calibration is the desired result. For this purpose the spectrometer is designed to register radiated copper Kα and Kβ lines by using a flat α-quartz crystal. This experiment uses pre-breakdown x-ray emissions in low vacuum of about 2.5-3 mbar. At this pressure the pinch will not form so the plasma will not radiate. The anode material is copper and the capacity of the capacitor bank is 22.6 nF. This experiment designed and mounted a repetitive triggering system to save the operator time making hundreds of shots. This emission amount is good for calibration and geometrical adjustment of an optical crystal x-ray focusing spectrometer.


ABSTRACT In this article, the focus is on a theoretical discussion about how to analyse masculinities and power in historical research based on imagery and visual sources from a material-discursive point of departure. The argument is that analysing photographs in sport and the material-discursive representation of men/masculinities could contribute to a broader understanding of men's hegemony. The article adds to the field of visual literacy and connects research on visual materials, sports history and critical gender studies. The past of Swedish ice hockey constitutes the case, while the understanding of men/masculinities departs from research by Jeff Hearn, Raewyn Connell and other scholars within the critical studies on men and masculinities field. Using four specific photographs from the Swedish magazine Hockey, the analysis exemplifies how their materiality and discursivity relate to a broader cultural context of the hegemony of men and masculinities. For example, cultural dominance strategies, visual techniques that 'activate' a photographed (or objectified) male subject and entitlement are discussed, and how these include discursive and material meanings of masculinity, status, and domination and how such embodiments interconnect with a contextual configuration of the dominant hegemony of men.


Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between food security and cleaner energy and evaluate the financial viability of both ethanol and biodiesel productions in Southern Brazil, the current battleground region among food, ethanol and biodiesel. Southeastern Brazil was chosen to carry the analyses because that is the current battleground region for food, ethanol and biodiesel. Design/methodology/approach - The analyses to be carried out encompass the following steps: evaluate the investment needs for the ethanol and biodiesel programs in Southeast Brazil; gather information on financial costs, converting them to economic costs to evaluate the economic desirability of the programs; evaluate the possible subsidy needed to fulfill the programs' goals; and evaluate the biofuel-food tradeoff under some different scenarios. Findings - The conclusion is that Brazil, despite being the most efficient producer of ethanol, may very well be forced to use compensatory subsidies for ethanol production if the USA persists in imposing importing tariffs on that Brazilian commodity. On food security matters, the production of ethanol has to compete with beef production, whose prices present a rising trend because of strong demand in emerging countries. For the same reason biodiesel becomes less viable the stronger the demand for vegetable oil. Originality/value - The competition among these three alternative uses of natural resources will become tougher in the coming decades as, on the one hand, consumption of food and energy increases at high rates. Developed countries, on the other hand, continue to be heavy polluters and at the same time create all sorts of obstacles to the expansion of food and clean energy production elsewhere.


Fatigue life predictions based on fracture mechanics calculations are required to satisfy an increasing level of safety demanded by industry. These predictions are mainly used to schedule NDT inspections and with inspection data make structural integrity assessments. The periodic inspection-assessment process can lead to the implementation of a fatigue crack repair by crack removal. Fracture mechanics analysis is used again to determine whether or not a repair will be effective. For the case of tubular joints, in offshore structures, once repairs have been shown to be ineffective it is usually required to install a clamp to maintain the continuity of joint members if the structure is still required for production. In this paper a fracture mechanics analysis of crack repaired joints based on Y factors is presented. The analysis is used to predict fatigue life after crack removal and is validated against T-butts experimental data. The analysis is also extrapolated for the prediction of fatigue life of crack repaired tubular joints


Throughout this paper, we emphasize design; photoplethysmograph hardware design. We propose to build and test a photoplethysmograph. This device will be used to determine heart rate using a volume measurement. This is done by using low levels of infrared sensors to detect small changes in blood content in the micro-circulation of the skin that occur with each heart beat . An LED is used to transmit light into the skin. The infrared is reflected by the iron content of the blood in the skin and tissues. The transmitted light through the blood and tissue is detected by a receiver. This information is processed and amplified to provide blood flow data. The photoplethysmograph gives a good technique to the physician to get the suitable diagnosis to his patient according to the output data that he gets from this device.


We consider the problem of upsampling a low-resolution depth map generated by a range camera, by using information from one or more additional high-resolution vision cameras. The goal is to provide an accurate high resolution depth map from the viewpoint of one of the vision cameras. We propose an algorithm that first converts the low resolution depth map into a depth/disparity map through coordinate mappings into the coordinate frame of one vision camera, then classifies the pixels into regions according to whether the range camera depth map is trustworthy, and finally refine the depth values for the pixels in the untrustworthy regions. For the last refinement step, both a method based on graph cut optimization and that based on bilateral filtering are examined. Experimental results show that the proposed methods using classification are able to upsample the depth map by a factor of 10 x 10 with much improved depth details, with significantly better accuracy comparing to those without the classification. The improvements are visually perceptible on a 3D auto-stereoscopic display.


Seadornaviruses are lesser known emerging arboviral pathogens that have a wide geographic range as their members have been isolated or detected in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. The genus has multiple members but Banna Virus (BAV) and Liao Ning virus (LNV) are of particular interest due to their pathogenic and virulent nature. At a glance, their disease causing capacity may pale in comparison to Dengue virus, Japanese Encephalitis virus, Zika virus and others along those lines but this capacity could increase significantly in the future as Seadornaviruses may have only recently began adapting to the vector/human transmission cycle. The type species of the genus, BAV causes a myriad of symptoms upon infection while LNV, another member shows wide tissue tropism in vitro and causes fatality upon reinfection in vivo. Additionally, it is possible that infection by Seadornaviruses may lead to long term sequelae. Cumulatively, the data suggests that BAV and LNV and possibly other members may be highly successful arboviral pathogens. Due to paucity of knowledge pertaining their clinical significance, research has stalled and consequently viruses of the genera are poorly characterized. The current review of Seadornaviruses aims to provide an update on the literature related to them in addition to raising awareness about them and their potential clinical significance. Similarly, discussions are performed throughout the manuscript to highlight future research directions.


This paper relies on the longest closest subsequence (LCSS), a variant of the longest common subsequence (LCS), to account for process variation and mismatch in analog circuits. At circuit level, the effect of mismatch and process variation that results in offsets is analyzed by performing parametric and statistical techniques and then applying LCSS to estimate the probability of closest matching. The acceptance/rejection of a circuit is done using bounded hypothesis testing. The approach is illustrated on a Rambus ring oscillator circuit for a 90nm fabrication process. Advantages of the proposed methods are robustness and flexibility to account for a wide range of variations.