Mice are a common animal model for the study of influenza virus A (IAV). IAV infection causes weight loss due to anorexia and dehydration, which can result in early removal of mice from a study when they reach a humane endpoint. To reduce the number of mice prematurely removed from an experiment, we assessed nutritional gel (NG) supplementation as a support strategy for mice infected with mouse-adapted Influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (A/PR/8/34; H1N1) virus. We hypothesized that, compared with the standard of care (SOC), supplementation with NG would reduce weight loss and increase survival in mice infected with IAV without impacting the initial immune response to infection. To assess the effects of NG, male and female C57BL/6J mice were infected with IAV at low, intermediate, or high doses. When compared with SOC, mice given NG showed a significant decrease in the maximal percent weight loss at all viral doses in males and at the intermediate dose for females. Mice supplemented with NG had no deaths for either sex at the intermediate dose and a significant increase in survival in males at the high viral dose. Supplementation with NG did not alter the viral titer or the pulmonary recruitment of immune cells as measured by cell counts and flow cytometry of cells recovered in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in either sex. However, mice given NG had a significant reduction in IL6 and TNFα in BAL fluid and no significant differences in CCL2, IL4, IL10, CXCL1, CXCL2, and VEGF. The results of this study show that as compared with infected SOC mice, infected mice supplemented with NG have reduced weight loss and increased survival, with males showing a greater benefit. These results suggest that NG should be considered as a support strategy and indicate that sex is an important biologic variable in mice infected with IAV.


INTRODUCTION: Ipsilateral fractures of femur and tibia in adults are also known as floating knee Injuries . These are injuries with serious complications. High velocity trauma is a cause. Associated with extensive skeletal and soft tissue Injuries, injuries of head, chest and abdomen.
Infection, excessive blood loss, maluninon, non union, knee stiffness and prolonged immobilization are the leading causes of complications . We in South India as one of the leading
orthopaedic and trauma centres present our Experiences in treating floating knee injuries.
AIM: To analyse the functional outcome of a group of patients sustaining ipsilateral femur and tibia fractures using Karlstrom and Olerud's Criteria.
OBJECTIVES: 1. To study the new cases, patterns and morphology of ipsilateral femur and tibia fractures, their management modalities and result. 2. To identify any modifiable factor affecting the eventual functional outcome.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective study conducted in Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Madras Medical College, Chennai. This study is about the Functional Outcome of Surgical Managements of Ipsilateral Femur and Tibia Fractures [Floating Knee]. For this study 43 consecutive patients with Ipsilateral Femur and tibia fractures who presented to RGH casualty from May 2011- Dec 2012 who fulfilled the criteria were included but 3 patients died ,and 3 patients ended up in non union. The patients were classified according to Blake and Mcbryde's Classification for floating knee injuries. Inclusion Criteria - 1) All ipsilateral femur and tibia fractures in adults. 2) Both closed and open fractures. Exclusion Criteria - 1) Children with ipsilateral femur and tibia fractures – skeletally immature patients. 2) Associated neurological injuries such as paraplegia or quadriplegia resulting from spinal injuries
RESULTS: Non union was seen in 3 patients (6%).Further surgeries were planned in the form of LRS, Ilizarov for these patients. Malunion was observed in 6 pts (13%).Significant knee stiffness (ROM<90) was found in 11 patients (25%).Mean range of movements was 98 degrees (min 30 max 130 degrees ). Knee pain and stiffness was the most common complication in 18 patients. Limp was seen in 5 patients and laxity in 2 patients. Gait walking was unimpaired in 20
patients (46%) and only 1 patient needed to use crutches for walking. 3 patients died within the first week of admission. 28 patients required at least 1 plastic procedure (65%). Hospital stay was uncomplicated in 26 patients (60%). Superficial infection and pin site infection occurred in 11 patients (25%) and is the most common complication. Fat embolism was seen in 2 patients, ARDS in 3 patients
CONCLUSION: Floating knee injuries are due to high velocity trauma. Road traffic accidents are the commonest cause. Males are affected more Right side involvement is predominant. The most important factors which determine the functional outcomes were: Type of fractures : OPEN or CLOSED, Nature of communities : Intra articular involvement, Post operative infections. Karlstrom and Olerud criteria is an effective s coring system to grade the functional outcome of floating knee injuries.


Release strategies of hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., smolts were compared by studying survival and migration of smolts (n = 99) and their predators (Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L., n = 8; and saithe, Pollachius virens (L.), n = 2) during the first 37 km of the marine migration using acoustic telemetry. Survivorship was higher in smolts released at the river mouth (30%) compared with smolts released in the river (12%). This was likely due to mortality or reduced migratory behaviour in fresh water. The marine mortality was 37% during the first 2 km after leaving the river (at least 25% mortality because of predation from marine fishes), and total marine mortality over 37 km was 68%. Detection-depth data were useful for evaluating whether the tagged smolts were alive or predated; mortality during the first 2 km of outward migration would have been underestimated at 26% instead of 37% without the analysis of depth detection. Transmitters from consumed post-smolts remained in predators for up to 47 days (average 29 days).


Although the news media has occasionally reported deaths and injuries related to fraternity hazing in the past, little, if any, attention has been given to the subject in the medical literature. In light of the medicolegal implications surrounding many of these incidents, it is important that medical examiners be aware of the problem. One hundred sixty-eight (168) cases of injuries and deaths related to fraternity hazing activities occurring in the past 60 years in the United States have been collected from secondary sources. A descriptive statistical analysis of the data is presented.


Interactive proofs of proximity (IPPs) offer ultra-fast approximate verification of assertions regarding their input, where ultra-fast means that only a small portion of the input is read and approximate verification is analogous to the notion of approximate decision that underlies property testing. Specifically, in an IPP, the prover can make the verifier accept each input in the property, but cannot fool the verifier into accepting an input that is far from the property (except for with small probability). The verifier in an IPP system engages in two very different types of activities: interacting with an untrusted prover, and querying its input. The definition allows for arbitrary coordination between these two activities, but keeping them separate is both conceptually interesting and necessary for important applications such as addressing temporal considerations (i.e., at what time is each of the services available) and facilitating the construction of zero-knowledge schemes. In this work we embark on a systematic study of IPPs with proof-oblivious queries, where the queries should not be affected by the interaction with the prover. We assign the query and interaction activities to separate modules, and consider different limitations on their coordination. The most strict limitation requires these activities to be totally isolated from one another; they just feed their views to a separate deciding module. We show that such systems can be efficiently emulated by standard testers. Going to the other extreme, we only disallow information to flow from the interacting module to the querying module, but allow free information flow in the other direction. We show that extremely efficient one-round (i.e., two-message) systems of such type can be used to verify properties that are extremely hard to test (without the help of a prover). That is, the complexity of verifying can be polylogarithmic in the complexity of testing. This stands in contrast the MAPs (viewed as 1 / 2-round systems) in which proof-oblivious queries are as limited as our isolated model. Our focus is on an intermediate model that allows shared randomness between the querying and interacting modules but no information flow between them. In this case we show that 1-round systems are efficiently emulated by standard testers but 3 / 2-round systems of extremely low complexity exist for properties that are extremely hard to test. One additional result about this model is that it can efficiently emulate any IPP for any property of low-degree polynomials.


Recent developments in health service delivery have had a profound effect on Postgraduate medical training. Professional Specialist training programmes for doctors at Registrar level within the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) have evolved over various phases (or periods) owing to continuous advances in medical and scientific technology, the natural need to improve on standards and continuous changes within the UK funding environment. In parallel with these service changes, emerging trends in medical education such as increasing accountability, professionalism and the pursuit of 'excellence' have come together in a number of high profile national policies and regulatory requirements.


PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome following Lichtenstein open mesh repair or Shouldice repair for the surgical treatment of primary unilateral inguinal hernias.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia who underwent a Shouldice repair (n: 120) and a Lichtenstein open mesh techniques (n: 121) between 1994 and 1998 were evaluated retrospectively. Operation time, hospital stay, postoperative analgesic consumption and complications, return to work and recurrence after surgery were assessed and compared.

RESULTS
The two groups were comparable regarding age, types of hernia and the follow-up interval. There were no significant differences in hospital stay and postoperative complications. The number of recurrences differed significantly between the groups with five in the Shouldice group (4.1%) and one in the Lichtenstein group (0.8%) (p < 0.05). The need of analgesic medication after mesh repair was significantly lower than the Shouldice group (3.9+/-1.4 vs. 4.9+/-1.6 gr. p < 0.05). The operation time was 36+/-14 min. for Lichtenstein repair and 61+/-12 min. for Shouldice repair (p < 0.05). The time for return to work was shorter in Lichtenstein group (17+/-4 days) compared to Shouldice group (25+/-5 days) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION
Shorter operation time, faster return to work, less need to analgesia and lower recurrence rate, shows the superiority of Lichtenstein repair against Shouldice repair in the surgical repair of primary unilateral inguinal hernia.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of fluorochloridone (FLC) exposure on the testes of adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

METHODS
Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups. These groups, each of 10 male rats, were separately given FLC by gavage at a dose of 0 (control), 30, 150, or 750 mg/kg once daily for 28 d. The oxidative stress biomarkers in the testes were measured by spectrophotometry. The pathological changes in testicular tissues were evaluated under the light and electric microscopes. The cauda epididymal sperm count was determined. The testicular toxicity of FLC was assessed accordingly.

RESULTS
Compared with the control group, the 750 mg/kg FLC group had significantly lower testicular weight and organ coefficient, epididymal weight, and cauda epididymal sperm count (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the 150 and 750 mg/kg FLC groups had significantly increased malonaldehyde content (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), each exposed group had a significantly reduced glutathione (GSH) level (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the 750 mg/kg FLC group had significantly reduced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), GSH peroxidase, GSH S-transferase (GSH-ST), and GSH reductase (GSH-GR) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the 150 mg/kg FLC group showed significant decreases in the activities of all antioxidant enzymes except GSH-GR (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the 30 mg/kg FLC group showed significant decreases in the activities of SOD and CAT (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Furthermore, seminiferous epithelial degeneration, Sertoli cell vacuolization, spermatogenic cell loss, and nuclear damage were observed under the light and electronic microscopes in the 150 and 750 mg/kg FLC groups.

CONCLUSION
FLC could damage the testes of adult rats by inducting oxidative stress. This research provided clues and directions for further exploration of the mechanism of FLC testicular toxicity.


This paper examines factors influencing voluntary forecast disclosure by target companies, whether good/bad news forecasts are disclosed and the influence of forecasts on the outcome of hostile bids. Disclosure was significantly more likely during contested bids. In agreed bids, probability of forecast disclosure was greater the shorter the bid horizon. In contested bids, forecasts were more likely where there were large block shareholdings, for larger targets and for targets in the capital goods industry. There was a clear tendency to disclose good news forecasts. A significant positive association between forecast disclosure and increase in offer price was found.


Temporal Dependency Trees (TDTs) have emerged as an alternative to full temporal graphs for representing the temporal structure of texts, with a key advantage being that TDTs can be straightforwardly computed using adapted dependency parsers. Relative to temporal graphs, the tree form of TDTs naturally omits some fraction of temporal relationships, which intuitively should decrease the amount of temporal information available, potentially increasing temporal indeterminacy of the global ordering. We demonstrate a new method for quantifying this indeterminacy that relies on solving temporal constraint problems to extract timelines, and show that TDTs result in up to a 109% increase in temporal indeterminacy over their corresponding temporal graphs for the three corpora we examine. On average, the increase in indeterminacy is 32%, and we show that this increase is a result of the TDT representation eliminating on average only 2.4% of total temporal relations. This result suggests that small differences can have big effects in temporal graphs, and the use of TDTs must be balanced against their deficiencies, with tasks requiring an accurate global temporal ordering potentially calling for use of the full temporal graph


Antimicrobial resistance requires urgent efforts towards the discovery of active antimicrobials, and the development of strategies to sustainably produce them. Defensin and defensin-like antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are increasingly gaining pharmacological interest because of their potency against pathogens. In this study, we expressed two AMPs: defensin-d2 derived from spinach, and defensin-like actifensin from Actinomyces ruminicola. Recombinant pTXB1 plasmids carrying the target genes encoding defensin-d2 and actifensin were generated by the MEGAWHOP cloning strategy. Each AMP was first expressed as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli, purified by affinity chromatography, and was thereafter assayed for antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Approximately 985 µg/mL and 2895 µg/mL of recombinant defensin-d2 and actifensin, respectively, were recovered with high purity. An analysis by MALDI-TOF MS showed distinct peaks corresponding to molecular weights of approximately 4.1 kDa for actifensin and 5.8 kDa for defensin-d2. An in vitro antimicrobial assay showed that MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans were inhibited at minimum concentrations of 7.5 µg/mL and 23 µg/mL for recombinant defensin-d2 and actifensin, respectively. The inhibitory kinetics of the peptides revealed cidal activity within 4 h of the contact time. Furthermore, both peptides exhibited an antagonistic interaction, which could be attributed to their affinities for similar ligands, as deduced by peptide–ligand profiling. Moreover, both peptides inhibited biofilm formation, and they exhibited no resistance potential and low hemolytic activity. The peptides also possess the ability to permeate and disrupt the cell membranes of MDR P. aeruginosa and C. albicans. Therefore, recombinant actifensin and defensin-d2 exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and have the potential to be used as therapy against MDR pathogens.


We test the nature of weak form informational efficiency present in the wine market using daily return of LIV-EX 50 index from 1/1/2010 to 12/6/2020. First, we employ a number of statistical tests including variance ratio tests, tests for linear and non-linear dependence and Hurst coefficient. The tests are applied on the full dataset and on four non overlapping sub-samples of equal length. The variance ratio tests provide a mixed regarding informational efficiency. Evidence of non-linear dependence in the return series was found. The Hurst coefficient values confirm the presence of long run persistence in the wine market. Based on the mixed evidence, we test the possibility of adaptive nature of the wine market. We employ the newly proposed Adaptive Index (AI) to quantify the degree of information inefficiency in the wine market at any instance. Our results confirm that wine market is adaptive and periodically shifts between states of efficiency and inefficiency. The wine market is found to be relatively free from the Covid-19 induced shock and the safe haven property of wine is thus confirmed. Finally, impact of various macroeconomic and financial events on wine market efficiency is identified by using AI.


Programmable photonic circuits of reconfigurable interferometers can be used to implement arbitrary operations on optical modes, facilitating a flexible platform for accelerating tasks in quantum simulation, signal processing, and artificial intelligence. A major obstacle to scaling up these systems is static fabrication error, where small component errors within each device accrue to produce significant errors within the circuit computation. Mitigating this error usually requires numerical optimization dependent on real-time feedback from the circuit, which can greatly limit the scalability of the hardware. Here we present a deterministic approach to correcting circuit errors by locally correcting hardware errors within individual optical gates. We apply our approach to simulations of large scale optical neural networks and infinite impulse response filters implemented in programmable photonics, finding that they remain resilient to component error well beyond modern day process tolerances. Our results highlight a new avenue for scaling up programmable photonics to hundreds of modes within current day fabrication processes.


This thesis is thematically divided into two sections: Part1 presents studies related to the palaeoenvironments,palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography of the LateCretaceous (Campanian) faunas from the KristianstadBasin of southern Sweden; Part 2 reports on applicationsof palaeontological research for science education inschools.Part 1 was based on personally conducted fieldworkand biostratigraphical analysis at various Santonian-Campanian localities throughout Skane. However, themost complete section at Asen provided the primary datasource and was systematically excavated with a team ofvolunteers, who employed wet-sieving methods to extractbulk fossil material from each bed within the sequence. Aseries of globally correlated temperature-induced changeswas detected in the stepwise declining abundanceand disappearance of rudists, sclerorhynchids and therajiforms Rhinobatos and Squatirhina, as well as marinecrocodilians, various mosasaurid lizard taxa. A rangeof local palaeoenvironments were also reconstructed,including estuaries, rocky coastlines, sandy beaches,drowned river valleys, shallow neritic settings, anddeeper offshore conditions. An archipelago bordering theFennoscandian landmasses also supported continentalecosystems comprising ferns, conifers and early floweringplants, with dinosaurs, pterosaurs and non-marine turtles.Trophic levels within the marine system incorporatedred algae and dinoflagellates as primary producers, withcorals, brachiopods, bivalves, echinoids, barnacles anddecapod crustaceans as benthos, and belemnites withinthe water column. Actinopterygian fish, sharks, rays andchimaeroids, chelonioid sea turtles, marine crocodilians,polycotylid and elasmosaurid plesiosaurians, variousmosasaurids and aquatic hesperornithiform birdscollectively represented middle level and apex predators.Herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs, lizards and softshelledtryonichid turtles evidence elements of terrestrialisland communities. The palaeobiogeographicalrelationships and dispersal of these local assemblageswas probably influenced by marine transgressions andregressions. These would have affected habitat availabilityand connectivity via changing water depths.Part 2 presents three school education projects aimed atincreasing awareness of geoscience and natural history inschools. The better integration of geological time conceptsand geosciences into the Swedish school curriculum isalso discussed. The first study described a project wherebyfossils were found in the sandboxes in preschools, andtheir use as a tool for learning about dinosaurs, fossilsand natural history. A survey of teachers and childrenfound that both increased their knowledge base throughthis approach, and that the local context of the fossilsin particular generated interest about the subject. Theconcepts of geological time was similarly addressed in thesecond study, which utilized timescale projects and otherhands-on activities to create memory triggers for childrenand students, and to demonstrate how the perspective of'deep time' is relevant for understanding large-scale Earthprocesses, such as evolution and environmental change.The integration of geosciences into the Swedish schoolcurriculum is currently inadequate. Therefore, the finalpaper in this sequence discusses how geosciences forman interdisciplinary bridge between school subjects andcan be used to teach geography and biology at all schoollevels. (Less)


A review of the literature surrounding information policy suggests it is often discussed but it is not clear that it is understood. The policy governing the creation and dissemination of information has existed a long time, but policy development has changed because of the proliferation of resources via the Internet. The concepts of information and policy and the difficulty in defining them are presented. Typical school information policies are discussed in the context of policy development in Hong Kong. The implications of a lack of information policy for schools and school libraries are weighty considering that schools play an important part in the information cycle for students. Reference is made of the author's study to benchmark the existence of information policies in Hong Kong schools.


The subject has long been a matter of concern since the industrialization of the country brought in its pollution hazards. The present exposure to the environmental chemicals is more likely to produce toxicity that adult exposure. Subtle functional deviations in the off-springs of exposed mothers may be one of the most sensitive indications of potential harm from environmental chemicals. The air pollutants contaminate air, water and soil, corrode materials, dirty buildings and clothing, harm plants and wild life and affect human health. To determine that an environmental change is going to be unfavorable requires a careful study of ecological system, known as the ecosystem. In an ecosystem the living organisms are inter-related and well-adjusted to their environment, comprising biotic components of plants, animals and microbes. The correlation between growth transitions of green plants, which grow outdoors and are continuously exposed to pollutants, and pollutant concentrations have helped decipher pollution zones. These zones extend in the direction of the prevailing wind, assuming an elliptic shape; the axis of the ellipse being oriented from south-west to north-east direction with the pollution source at the south-west end. In such instances the north-east extension of the ellipse penetrates deep into the natural and rural habitats.


Substrate rigidity profoundly impacts cellular behaviors such as migration, gene expression, and cell fate. Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy enables selective visualization of the dynamics of substrate adhesions, vesicle trafficking, and biochemical signaling at the cell-substrate interface. Here we apply high-refractive-index silicone gels to perform TIRF microscopy on substrates with a wide range of physiological elastic moduli and simultaneously measure traction forces exerted by cells on the substrate.


This paper constructs a dynamic model of thermal system of reheater based on its structure. After simulation of this system we found that it has certain precision of dynamic and static performance and creative at some aspect. Simulation is valued for its general application at thermal system field.


The hydrogenated diglycidylether of Bisphenol A epoxy resin (HDGEBA)was successfully employed to prepare nanocomposites with a more homogeneous distribution of clay, compared to that of bisphenol A epoxy resin (DGEBA)/clay system. Nanocomposites, with amounts up to 7.5 wt% of Organo-clay, were synthetized by means of "slurry-compounding" method and followed by a curing process with cis-1,2-Cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and Glutaric Anhydride as the curing agent. A combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the dispersion behavior of organo-clay in epoxy/clay nanocomposites. It was found that, in HDGEBA/clay nanocomposites, organo-clay was uniformly dispersed and even partly exfoliated, whereas, in DGEBA/clay system, large particle aggregates were seen when examined by TEM under lower magnification. Accordingly, the rheology and compatibility experiments were carried out to investigate the interactions within each system. It turned out that, after hydrogenation, HDGEBA was endowed with stronger interactions with organo-clay, thus resulting in the enhanced dispersion behavior, which may generate more chances to be mechanically reinforced by adding inorganic clays.


Because mobilized peripheral blood (mPB) represents an attractive source of cells for gene therapy, we investigated lentiviral gene transfer in CD34+ cells and the stem/progenitor‐cell‐enriched CD34+/38−/lin− cell subset isolated from mPB. In this study, we used an optimized third‐generation self‐inactivating lentiviral vector containing both the central polypurine tract and the woodchuck hepatitis posttranscriptional regulatory element sequences and encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of the elongation factor lα promoter. This lentivector was first used to compare multiplicity of infection (MOI)‐dependent gene transfer efficiency in cord blood (CB) versus mPB CD34+‐derived cells, colony‐forming cells (CFCs), and long‐term culture‐initiating cells (LTC‐ICs). Results showed a difference in the percentage of transduced cells particularly significant at low MOIs. A plateau was reached where 15% and 25% of CB and mPB cells, respectively, remained refractory to lentiviral trans‐duction. Effects of a cytokine prestimulation period (18 hours) with interleukin‐3, stem cell factor, Flt‐3 ligand, and thrombopoietin were then analyzed in total cells, CFCs, and LTC‐ICs derived from mPB CD34+ cells. Transduction levels in those conditions demonstrated a two‐ and fourfold increase in CFCs and LTC‐ICs, respectively, compared with unstimulated (<3 hours) control cells. Moreover, using the same transduction protocol, we were able to efficiently transduce CD34+/38−/lin− cells isolated from mPB, with up to >85% of colonies derived from LTC‐ICs expressing EGFP and gene transfer levels remaining stable for 10 weeks in liquid culture. We therefore demonstrate a highly efficient gene transfer in this therapeutically relevant target cell population.


Welcome to the 2016 White Paper on Australian financial services business in China, the third report prepared by the Australian Chamber of Commerce in China. Preparing a whitepaper is a good analogy for China in general. Some parts of the financial industry in China are progressing at blistering speed like the Shanghai Maglev whilst other elements and systems seem not to notice the effects of time. There is a big challenge in keeping this whitepaper up to date with the rapid changes taking place. This does not however mitigate its purpose of pointing out the elements that remain unchanging and unreformed and the large benefits that can be achieved for China and it its citizens by making change.

Since the publication of AustCham's previous White Paper relating to Australian Financial Services Business in China in 2012, we have seen significant development in China's financial markets and the associated regulatory environment. In the last year or so, China is continuing on the path of financial sector reform and 'opening up' as part of the broader macroeconomic agenda of a shift away from investment-led growth, to a more sustainable domestic consumption-led growth. These changes will have significant implications for Australia, the Asian region and indeed globally.

Establishment of the Shanghai pilot free trade zone in 2013 and the subsequent establishment of similar zones in Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian in 2015 and expansion of the Shanghai pilot free trade zone to encompass three additional districts - significantly including Shanghai's established 'financial district' Lujiazui, has seen heightened focus from financial services providers and investors alike, with the heralded reforms some of the most significant financial reforms in China's history: liberalisation of deposit interest rates; liberalisation of China's currency, the renminbi and liberalisation of China's capital account. Much has been achieved and the pace of change and progress made has been quite extraordinary, but of course opportunity for further enhancements remains. Australian investment and participation in Chinese financial markets continues to grow, with a number of new entrants across a range of different segments of the market. AustCham member feedback has continued to highlight a positive bias to continued investment in China and a desire to participate in a well regulated, transparent, open and efficient financial services sector. It is in that context that AustCham has produced this paper, with a number of suggested recommendations for further enhancement of the system.

Since 1978 China has achieved vast strides in its economy and in securing an improved standard of living for its people. China has achieved this through an open-door policy and by allowing the private sector to innovate better and through the development of more efficient products and solutions for its citizens. This whitepaper hopes, in its own small way, to help China along this path. The paper has been prepared with the intention of informing discussion between Chinese and Australian policy makers and regulators and market participants, with a view to improving and streamlining the system for the benefit of customers and participants.

We look forward to continuing to support these developments through an active dialogue with relevant authorities and regulatory bodies about the topics raised over the course of the coming months.

Danny Armstrong
Chairman
Financial Services Industry Committee
AustCham Shanghai


Replacement of anterior teeth with ridge defect and diastema is a complex challenging scenario with regards to prosthesis as well as esthetics. Different aesthetic treatment options such as implant supported restoration, conventional fixed partial denture and removable partial denture need be explored in treating such a patient. Problems posed may include drifting of teeth into edentulous areas which may reduce available pontic space, whereas diastema existing before an extraction may result in excessive mesiodistal dimension of pontic space. In such cases, loop connectors may be used to maintain the diastema in a planned fixed prosthesis. This article aims to describe the procedure for the fabrication of a loop connector fixed partial denture to restore an excessively wide anterior edentulous space in a patient with existing spacing between the maxillary anterior teeth.


All of us who work using diagnostic tests, averages or hearing tests know that we do not always do it in the same way as other colleagues. We introduce personal, useful or methodological variables that are not always controllable that can produce at least two undesirable consequences. In the first place we can consider correct results that are not. Second, we need to know under what minimum conditions we all work. The Spanish Audiology Association (AEDA) presents with this text a suggestion of standardization of the Liminal Tonal Audiometry, which is in accordance with the ISO regulations and it aims to be a further contribution to the need we have in Spain to share this type of protocols .


This paper argues that the Confession of Belhar 1986 articulates the story of the Triune God's work of justice, reconciliation, and unity. That story redeems the human stories of injustice, alienation, and division in South Africa. It transforms us into people who make new stories of justice, reconciliation, and unity. The story of Belhar serves as a staff for justice, reconciliation, and unity. The cry for justice, reconciliation, and unity is first outlined (1). Thereafter, Belhar's understanding of justice as compassionate justice (2), reconciliation as the overcoming of alienation between humans and God, and as the overcoming of estrangement among human beings, and reconciliation as embrace (3), and unity as unity in proximity (4) is discussed. Last, an appeal is made for the continued confession and embodiment of justice, reconciliation, and unity in and through churches as spaces of hope (5).


Numerical simulations of an oblique shock interacting with a compressible laminar boundary layer are reported. The Mach number ranges from 2 to 6.85, while the Reynolds number based on the distance to the impingement location is fixed at 3 × 105. All the simulations are carried out with a constant wall temperature, equal to the adiabatic recovery temperature. At higher shock strength the evolved separation bubbles are taller and are biased towards the upstream side of the impingement location with an asymmetrical structure. Existing similarity scalings for the bubble length need to be modified for the high Mach number range. Introduction of small amplitude disturbances upstream of the separation bubble resulted in the growth of organised streamwise structures downstream of the bubble.


WAS is an X-linked immunodeficiency characterized by eczema, thrombocytopenia and recurrent infections. WAS-protein (WASP) links cell surface signals to the actin cytoskeleton. WASP is important in T cells for IL-2 production, proliferation, and migration. The WAS-interacting protein (WIP) stabilizes WASP. WASP level is severely reduced in T cells of WIP KO mice. The majority of missense mutations in WAS patients are in the WIP binding domain (WBD) of WASP and interfere with WIP binding, resulting in low WASP levels.
 We identified a 35 a.a. fragment of WIP (termed nWIP), which when fused to the C-terminal of EGFP (EGFP-nWIP), interacts with WASP in Jurkat cells. When introduced into WIP KO T cells, EGFP-nWIP increased the level of WASP to normal, as determined by FACS analysis. EBV-transformed B cell lines from WAS patients with mutations in the WBD of WASP expressed low levels of WASP, but had normal mRNA levels. Introduction of EGFP-nWIP into these lines resulted in increased levels of WASP, up to normal. Two cell lines from patients with WAS mutations outside the WIP-binding domain did not show an increase of WASP after introduction of EGFP-nWIP.
 Our results demonstrate that nWIP stabilizes WASP and ameliorates WASP levels in B cells from WAS patients with missesense mutations in the WBD of WASP. We will determine if nWIP will correct the functional defects in cells from these patients. (Supported by USPHS grant HL059561 and the PERKIN fund.)


Three untested assumptions of the impulse-variability model were examined in two experiments utilizing rapid, uni-planar limb movements. Experiment 1 varied movement distance (A) and movement time (MT) in a rapid-timing paradigm where the subject moved a lever through a certain distance in a certain time. Experiment 2 varied A in a reversal response where the S made a rapid elbow flexion and extension in a given MT. Displacement recordings were made on every trial. KR (knowledge of results) about MT was given after every trial. The results can be summarized as follows: (a) As predicted by the model, variations in impulse size and velocity were directly related to the impulses size; (b) There was no correlation between the accelerative and decelerative impulse durations recorded during the reversal response supporting the notion that the impulses might be independent; (c) Negative correlations (-.20 to -.50) were demonstrated between peak acceleration and impulse duration for both experiments, counter to the predictions of the model; and (d) Counter to the predictions of the model, timing error (VEt) increased as A decreased for rapid-timing responses. When the correlational results are taken into account, the model has the capacity to account for curvilinear relationships between relative timing error and movement speed. Overall, the results suggest that the impulse variability model requires some restructuring before it can be considered a viable model for the control of rapid limb movements.


Background MBD5 and MBD6 are two uncharacterized mammalian proteins that contain a putative Methyl-Binding Domain (MBD). In the proteins MBD1, MBD2, MBD4, and MeCP2, this domain allows the specific recognition of DNA containing methylated cytosine; as a consequence, the proteins serve as interpreters of DNA methylation, an essential epigenetic mark. It is unknown whether MBD5 or MBD6 also bind methylated DNA; this question has interest for basic research, but also practical consequences for human health, as MBD5 deletions are the likely cause of certain cases of mental retardation. Principal Findings Here we report the first functional characterization of MBD5 and MBD6. We have observed that the proteins colocalize with heterochromatin in cultured cells, and that this localization requires the integrity of their MBD. However, heterochromatic localization is maintained in cells with severely decreased levels of DNA methylation. In vitro, neither MBD5 nor MBD6 binds any of the methylated sequences DNA that were tested. Conclusions Our data suggest that MBD5 and MBD6 are unlikely to be methyl-binding proteins, yet they may contribute to the formation or function of heterochromatin. One isoform of MBD5 is highly expressed in oocytes, which suggests a possible role in epigenetic reprogramming after fertilization.


I developed aerial survey methods for statistically rigorous bison population estimation in Yellowstone National Park to support sound resource management decisions and to understand bison ecology. Survey protocols, data recording procedures, a geographic framework, and seasonal stratifications were based on field observations from February 1998-September 2000. The reliability of this framework and strata were tested with long-term data from 1970-1997. I simulated different sample survey designs and compared them to high-effort censuses of well-defined large areas to evaluate effort, precision, and bias. Sample survey designs require much effort and extensive information on the current spatial distribution of bison and therefore do not offer any substantial reduction in time and effort over censuses. I conducted concurrent ground surveys, or 'double sampling' to estimate detection probability during aerial surveys. Group size distribution and habitat strongly affected detection probability. In winter, 75% of the groups and 92% of individual bison were detected on average from aircraft, while in summer, 79% of groups and 97% of individual bison were detected. I also used photography to quantify the bias due to counting large groups of bison accurately and found that undercounting increased with group size and could reach 15%. I compared survey conditions between seasons and identified optimal time windows for conducting surveys in both winter and summer. These windows account for the habitats and total area bison occupy, and group size distribution. Bison became increasingly scattered over the Yellowstone region in smaller groups and more occupied unfavorable habitats as winter progressed. Therefore, the best conditions for winter surveys occur early in the season (Dec-Jan). In summer, bison were most spatially aggregated and occurred in the largest groups by early August. Low variability between surveys and high detection probability provide population estimates with an overall coefficient of variation of approximately 8% and have high power for detecting trends in population change. I demonstrated how population estimates from winter and summer can be integrated into a comprehensive monitoring program to estimate annual growth rates, overall winter mortality, and an index of calf production, requiring about 30 hours of flight per year.


In this work, we present the results of investigation of the nanoporous material – carbon fabrics, which is used as electrodes in rechargeable energy storage capacitors (ultracapacitors). The impurity composition in the fabrics, the influence of thermal annealing conditions on the impurity concentration is studied. The performed studies resulted in determination of the investigated carbon material structure, determination of impurity composition of carbon material and change of impurity content depending on thermal treatment in vacuum at different temperatures and time intervals. The optimum temperature range for the treatment of carbon fabrics in vacuum that is important for its application in energy storage devices is found.


– The research was conduct in PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk by comparing the 3 from 26 companies' food and beverage industry which is registered in the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The research using quantitative data and documentation as the data collection technique. This study was using Return on investment variable, Net Profit Margin, and Total Assets Turnover. Since 2015-2019 the results from the ROI variable are weak because it's still under the industry average value. Meanwhile, NPM that is categorized as good enough is because it's above the industry average. TATO variable is still categorized as not yet able to activate the effectiveness because it's still below the average of similar industries.


Roncoroni, A. J., Puy, R. J. M., Goldman, E., Fonseca, R., and Olmedo, G. (1973).Thorax,28, 777-781. Fibrosarcoma of the trachea with severe tracheal obstruction. A patient with a tracheal fibrosarcoma is reported. The tumour was located just above the thoracic inlet and produced severe obstruction predominantly during expiration. An abnormal effort independent flow pattern was seen during inspiration in isovolume pressure-flow studies. Endoscopic resection induced temporary symptomatic remission, and airway resistance and expiratory flows became normal. Subsequently he required resection of eight tracheal rings with end-to-end tracheal anastomosis. Obstructive granulomata then developed at the suture sites, necessitating endoscopic removal. Later tracheal stenosis responded to periodic dilatation.


Women spend about one-third of their lifespan in the postmenopausal period. Menopause represents a vulnerable time in a woman9s life for a number of reason, in particular, for her skeletal health. Estrogen deficiency associated with menopause increases bone remodeling leading to an imbalance between bone formation and bone resorption. The Study of Women9s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) is an ongoing multicenter study designed to investigate a broad range physiological, psychosocial and social issues for women at midlife. The long range goal was to distinguish ovarian aging from chronological aging. Skeletal health was a particular focus of SWAN. At baseline, all 3302 women were age 42-52 years and pre- or early perimenopausal, having had a menstrual period within 3-months of study entry. A 10-year longitudinal analysis was conducted in a subset of 242 African American, 384 Caucasian, 117 Chinese and 119 Japanese women for whom a final menstrual period (FMP) could be defined. Bone loss was not evident during the pretransmenopausal state (between 5-years and 1-year prior to the FMP). Bone mineral density (BMD) loss began 1-year prior to FMP and slowed 2 years after FMP. Cumulative loss was greatest in Asian women and slowest in African American women. The 10-year cumulative loss of lumbar spine BMD was 10.6%, most of which was lost in the transmenopause period. This menopause associated estrogen deficiency might also influence breast density, a major risk factor for breast cancer. An ancillary study to SWAN focused on breast density: 1007 women from 3 sites were included. Mammograms that were taken 2-years before baseline up to 2-years after the 6th annual follow-up visit were retrospectively obtained and graded for breast density. Findings from the SWAN breast density include the observation that greater parity and younger age at first birth were inversely associated with breast density and may support a mechanism for parity and breast cancer through breast density. Smokers had lower breast density supporting an anti-estrogenic effect on breast tissue. The percentage of breast density decreased with increasing body mass index over time. In conclusion, the SWAN study provides important insights into menopausal health. Citation Format: Jane A. Cauley. Impact for the menopausal transition on skeletal and breast health. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirteenth Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2014 Sep 27-Oct 1; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2015;8(10 Suppl): Abstract nr CN11-02.


We propose a new online recognition method to recognize handwritten cursive-style Japanese characters correctly. Our method simultaneously uses both directional features, otherwise known as offline features, and direction-change features which we designed as online features. The direction-change features express where in the mesh and in which direction the character's coordinates change. These features express both written strokes in the pen-down state and unwritten imaginary strokes in the pen-up state. The recognition rate was improved by our method over the traditional method using only directional features.


Verification times for electronic system designs typically require more than half the over-all design effort. With the substantial costs and increasing importance of system verification technologies, determining the best verification strategy, is critical to complex systems design. As a tool to improve the design process, we apply a model to perform tradeoffs between the different types of emulation, hardware acceleration, and simulation verification tools available. The predictive power of the modeling approach is applied to usage scenarios to determine the most appropriate mix of verification technologies to employ in development efforts.


Researchers studying slow light via stimulated Brillouin scattering have demonstrated that it is possible to minimize pulse distortion by tailoring the higher-order dispersion of the material, operate at data rates over 10 Gb/s using broad-band pump light, obtain controllable delays exceeding one pulse width, and delaying pulses with minimal change in the pulse amplitude. Spurred by this work, there is active research in obtaining slow light in optical wave guides by stimulated Raman scattering and by the four-wave mixing process. Also, researchers are moving into the nonlinear regime to study slow-light with optical solitons. Simultaneously, results from the basic science laboratories are transitioning to applications-oriented laboratories who are integrating slow-light sub-assemblies into functions telecommunication components.


These two books illustrate two different approaches to Zen which Zenkei Shibayama, in an earlier work, labeled the direct and indirect methods of presentation. Professor Hyers' study exemplifies indirect, conceptual, "answer" Zen which seeks some understanding through symbols and concepts—in this case, the categories of the sacred and the profane. Hyers, an historian of religion (Beloit College) harmoniously resolves the dialectic of the serious ("Bodhidharma Zen") and the comic ("Pu-tai Zen") in the enlightened consciousness of the Zen Master who, as a sometimes serious, sometimes zany, always eccentric clown figure profanes the sacred in order that "the sacredness of the profane world might be revealed." In Zen Comments on the Mumonkan, on the other hand, Zenkei Shibayama, stick in hand, demands from the student-reader a direct "Zen" response to each koan. Shibayama's commentary on the classic collection of forty-eight koan (Mumonkan) is fresh, "living" Zen reflecting his twenty-five years' experience as Zen Master of Nanzenji Monastery in Kyoto. In koan after koan, his relentless, "question" Zen assaults the rational mind and woe to the reader who speaks words like "water" unless his throat is moistened. Shibayama makes no concessions to reason and, as I read, I squirmed with a discomfort first experienced on reading Zen Master Yasutani's commentaries in Philip Kapleau's The Three-Pillars of Zen. To interpret Master Joshu's mu, for example, as Absolute Oneness beyond dualistic discrimination "is to lose mu forever." Common sense interpretations of koan may be possible, concedes Master Shibayama, but, like "painting-Zen," "piano-playing Zen" etc., they are all by-products. "Zen," concludes Shibayama, "can never be an idea or knowledge, which are only shadows of Reality." A course in Zen Buddhism must be a dialectic of both methods. Hyers' valuable study of the Zen Master as clown raises the broader religious issues while Shibayama's indispensable commentary preserves the tradition and the mystery. Both books should make the assigned reading list.


Biological control is the central stone of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) paradigm and natural enemies are becoming an increasingly desirable prospect. Parasitoids are a widely used group of invertebrate natural enemies as biological control agents and several species are being used to control various aphid pests. In recent years, an increasing emphasis is being given to the conservation and manipulation of naturally-occurring populations of parasitoids in agricultural ecosystems over traditional approaches to biological control. But these approaches must be underpinned by basic knowledge in host preference behaviour and ecology of the parasitoid species being manipulated. Three aspects of host preference behaviour, namely host recognition, host acceptance and host suitability have been discussed in this paper. Parasitoids' host selection strategy is based on using long-range and short-range cues. Parasitoids respond to both semiochemical and physical stimuli to locate and recognise their hosts. These responses are either due to aphid sex pheromones acting as kairomones, or due to aphid-induced plant volatiles, acting as synomones. Various interactions like genetic, learning and conditioning factors, which play an important role in host selection behaviour of foraging parasitoids, have been discussed. The learning ability provides the parasitoid with behavioural plasticity to adapt its responses to suit prevailing foraging opportunities and the maintenance of genetic variability within natural populations of parasitoids may promote long-term population stability and help conserving genetic diversity by ensuring flexibility in host selection.

 Key words: Aphid parasitoids, host preference, host selection, host recognition, host acceptance, host suitability, conservation of aphid parasitoids, manipulation of parasitoid behaviour, habitat.


After deregulation of consumer credit and resultant availability, over-indebtedness became a problem for many countries. As a response to this, many jurisdictions have departed from their "merchant-oriented" bankruptcy law to include consumers giving them discharge and fresh start. Germany, United States, United Kingdom and France are some of the countries that have adopted consumer bankruptcy laws after experiencing over-indebtedness problem. In Ethiopia, credit market is still highly regulated. Nevertheless, consumers have access to credit and are potentially exposed to risk of indebtedness and there is a move towards that. Adopting consumer bankruptcy law can also be an ex ante solution. More importantly, introducing such law to Ethiopia is more convincing based on the entrepreneurship, social insurance, development policy and rehabilitative function of discharge and fresh start. The author argues that Ethiopia should follow the global trend by adopting consumer bankruptcy law with adequate discharge and fresh start. This law should be based on German model, repayment plan and then discharge: repayment of certain portion of the debt and covering cost of proceeding by the debtor. Keywords: bankruptcy, debt, discharge, exemption, fresh start, insolvency, merchant-oriented, over-indebtedness, rehabilitation, repayment


The goal of this paper is to present the research that has been carried out over the last 10 years in the Image Processing and Communications Lab of the University of Florence for developing applications for the cultural heritage field. In particular research has focused on the following issues: high resolution acquisition of paintings by means of mosaicing techniques, colour calibration of the acquisition devices, tools for forecasting the results of restoration processes (in particular with reference to the cleaning process), systems for producing virtually restored digital copies of paintings (in particular for filling in cracks and lacunas). The problems related to the distribution of the digital copies have also been considered, in particular with reference to the watermarking of the images for copyright protection. The methodologies developed by the Lab with reference to the above mentioned issues will be described, and the main results discussed.


In an overall view, a vehicle is described as a system of bodies interconnected by elastic and dissipative couplings. Bodies have a mass concentrated at a point, the movement of which describes their motion. Certain difficulties arise when introducing a railway track into such models. While interacting with the rolling stock, the track operates as an elastic body, and its mass is specified as reduced to the point of interaction. The purpose of this work is to provide a reasonable value of the reduced mass of the railway track depending on its parameters. The task is solved by applying a spatial model of dynamic deformations of the railway track on the basis of the elasticity theory. Such an approach makes it possible to determine which part of the railway track interacts with the wheel based on the propagation of deformations as elastic waves.


Polymer-clay nanocomposites are interesting class of materials due to possibility of fine tuning of processing as well as utility properties. On the one hand, enough studies have been performed until now concerning principles of clay dispersion in different polymer matrices and effect of clay structure on the final material performance. On the other hand, there are still not many products on the market based on polymers reinforced with nano-scaled layered silicates. One of the main difficulties during development of new materials using clay particles consists in long development times, which reflect the complexity of relevant processing processes (compounding, extrusion, injection moulding). Comparing to conventional composites systems, different physical as well as chemical reactions can occur during the mixing of polymer with organically modified clay and, consequently, long development time to find a proper processing routes (temperature profile, screw geometry, screw speed etc.) is necessary. In this contribution, shear as well as elongational rheometry has been applied for the estimation of physical and chemical interactions during the processing. It is shown that combination of shear and extensional rheology can be used for both research structural characterisation as well for fast industrial quality control of nanoclay-based materials.


Traditionally, the slump test has been used to measure concrete consistency. However, many researchers contend that the slump alone is not a sufficient measure of consistency and that other quantifiable rheological properties such as shear yield stress and plastic viscosity are more representative and should be considered. A SLump Rate Machine (SLRM) was adapted and calibrated, to consistently measure the plastic properties for a number of concrete mixes, namely slump rate and slump flow. Furthermore, a theoretical model was developed to correlate the slump flow and slump rate with the shear yield stress and plastic viscosity of fresh concrete, respectively. Employing the SLRM and the theoretical model has resulted in an efficient new approach to adequately predict the rheological behaviour of fresh concrete as well as to provide reasonably accurate values for shear yield stress and plastic viscosity.


The Dorodogne offers splendid scenery, exquisite food and wine, the finest examples of prehistoric art and some of the most enchanting villages of France. This guide offers a journey through the region, from northern gems such as Brantome to "grand" villages such as Hautefort, found further south among the hills and limestone valleys. Gastronomy and prehistory distinguish the villages of the two southern-most areas, from the white wine of Monbazillac to the prehistoric cave paintings of Les Eyzies, while the ancient fortified towns of Montfort and Montpazier recall the struggles of the Middle Ages. The book comes complete with a travellers' gazetteer.


Abstract This paper explores the effect of various contract-awarding procedures in public procurement on the price of the contract. We provide a theoretical model that compares prices in different procedures and tests whether there is a significant price difference between the procedures using data from Czech public procurement. The model predicts that auctions are more efficient than negotiations given the same number of suppliers, and open procedures are more efficient than closed procedures if high-cost firms are selected for the closed procedure. In accordance with the first prediction, we find that open auctions are more efficient than open negotiations. Concerning the second prediction, we find that closed procedures are less efficient than open procedures, which suggests that procurers tend to select relatively more costly firms to participate in closed procedures. Comparing all four awarding procedures, we find that open auctions are the most efficient procedure used in the Czech Republic. We estimate that the inefficiencies due to the use of other contract-awarding procedures are substantial.


In this thesis I introduce and empirically test the novel concept of an advance gratitude expression as a prosocial appeal. I propose a conceptual framework which outlines when and how advance gratitude expressions may or may not result in increased prosocial tendencies. Across eight main studies (field, online and laboratory) one pilot and two follow-up studies, I demonstrate that (1) a simple advance gratitude expression can shape one's prosocial tendencies by making the perceived morality of the appeal appear more or less salient, and (2) the direction and magnitude of the effect is contingent on the donor's level of psychological connectedness to the cause. I test the validity and generalizability of my model by means of different operationalisations of the key theoretical constructs, dependent measures (financial donations, volunteering and cause related marketing purchases), study designs and sample populations.

In Study 1 I demonstrate the predicted main effect with a real behavioural outcome (donation amount) while additionally showing how the increased desire to act prosocially stems from increased moral awareness. In Studies 2-5, I identify psychological connectedness as a key moderator of the effect of advance gratitude on prosocial behaviour and I show that under conditions of low connectedness, in which consumers do not feel engaged with the prosocial cause, advanced gratitude expressions can backfire.

In Study 6, I provide a complete examination of my theoretical framework by testing for the conditional indirect effects of moral awareness on prosocial intent at different levels (high vs. low) of psychological connectedness to the cause. I show that when psychological connectedness is low (high), advance gratitude expressions result in a decrease (increase) in prosocial intent via a reduced (increased) moral awareness. Through a moderation of process design, study 7 offers conclusive evidence for the notion that moral awareness is the underlining mechanism. Finally, in Study 8, I identify a theoretically important boundary condition for the documented main effect; advance gratitude expressions fail to increase prosocial behaviour in the case of individuals whose moral identity centrality is already chronically high.

This dissertation's findings are of theoretical significance because they add to the gratitude, morality and prosocial literatures and are of practical significance because they provide non-profit organizations as well as managers of private enterprises engaging in charitable work, with actionable insights that can help them design more effective prosocial appeals.


Directional or Circular statistics are pertaining to the analysis and interpretation of directions or rotations. In this work, a novel probability distribution is proposed to model multidimensional sparse directional data. The Generalized Directional Laplacian Distribution (DLD) is a hybrid between the Laplacian distribution and the von Mises-Fisher distribution. The distribution's parameters are estimated using Maximum-Likelihood Estimation over a set of training data points. Mixtures of Directional Laplacian Distributions (MDLD) are also introduced in order to model multiple concentrations of sparse directional data. The author explores the application of the derived DLD mixture model to cluster sound sources that exist in an underdetermined instantaneous sound mixture. The proposed model can solve the general  ${K\times L~(K< L)}$ underdetermined instantaneous source separation problem, offering a fast and stable solution.


Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) systems are increasingly used for municipal and indus- trial wastewater treatment. Innovative wastewater treatment technologies are developed to respond to changing regulatory requirements, increase efficiency, and enhance sustainability or to reduce capital or operating costs. Extensive research on how to use new materials in a moving bed technology is currently being carried out. An interesting solution in this area due to the large active surface (above 1200 m 2 /m 3 ) for biofilm is employment of wood-polymer composites (WPC). The elements of moving bed made of WPC may be an interesting option for treatment plants that are difficult to access, where the applied tech- nology should be characterized by flexibility that is the ability to adapt the technology to the changing


BACKGROUND
Many components of clinical management are tailored to metabolic variables, such as fat-free mass, fat mass, resting metabolic rate (RMR), and body surface area. However, these traits are difficult to measure in routine care and are typically predicted from simple anthropometric or bedside body-composition measurements. Many prediction equations have been published, but validation studies have shown that these equations tend to have limited accuracy in individuals and many have significant average bias.

OBJECTIVE
We tested a mathematical approach that assumes that the aggregate of many independent predictions is more accurate than the best single prediction.

DESIGN
Body composition was measured in 196 children aged 4-16 y by using the 4-component model. RMR was measured in 142 adult women. Data on weight, height, age, skinfold thickness, and body impedance were used in published equations to predict body composition (12 equations) or RMR (13 equations). The accuracy of individual compared with aggregate predictions, relative to the reference measurements, was compared by using the Bland and Altman method.

RESULTS
For children's body composition and adult RMR, the aggregate predictions had lower mean biases and lower limits of agreement than did the individual predictions, and the aggregate predictions performed better than did any individual prediction.

CONCLUSIONS
Aggregate predictions perform better than single predictions at predicting fat-free mass, fat mass, total body water, and RMR. Our findings indicate that the accuracy of calculating variables such as energy requirements and drug and dialysis dosages can be improved significantly with the use of our mathematical approach.


Back  to  values"  has  been  a  significant  trend  in  school  systems during the past few years. While the secular school system continues to debate on  how  to  go  about  teaching  values,  Adventist  teachers  are  encouraged  to continue  the  deliberate  integration  of  values  through  their  own  modeling,  the use  of  planned  and  unplanned  curriculum  activities,  and  appropriate pedagogical  practices.    This  article  highlights  the  necessity  of   inculcating values in schools, and describes how teachers may utilize both the "overt" and "covert"  curriculum  through  selective  pedagogical  practices.   Integration  of faith  and  learning  using  biblical  principles,  which  include  all  values,  is identified  as  the  practice  that  Adventist  educators  have  been  using  to  make  a difference in the lives of students.


Background The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (MTHFD1) enzymes play important roles in the metabolism of folate. MTHFR catalyses the reduction of 5,10-methylene-tetrahydrofolate (5,10-methylene-THF) to 5-methyl-THF and present a crucial role in the regulation of available folate to homocysteine remethylation, in a cobalamin (Cbl) dependent reaction. MTHFD1 has three distinct enzymatic activities in folate metabolism: the conversion of THF to 10-formyl-THF; the reversible conversion of 10-formyl-THF to 5,10-methenyl-THF; and the conversion of 5,10-methenyl-THF to 5,10-methylene-THF. The two enzymes were related with DNA synthesis and single nucleotides polymorphisms (SNPs) in their genes have been associated with lower folate levels. People who have increased cellular duplication could be affected by low folate levels. Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) patients had an increased erythropoiesis and need more amounts of acid folic. In Brazil, HS patients are usually treated with 5mg/day of folic acid, the only formulation available. The use of folic acid by β-thalassemia heterozygotes (β-TH) subjects is not common, and depends of the individual clinical feature. Furthermore, in Brazil, HS patients and β-TH people have been exposed to food fortification (wheat and corn flours) with 150 µg of FA since 2004. The influences of variants of MTHFR and MTHFD1 SNPs in people with increased erythropoiesis, especially in HS patients, are not known.

Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the interaction between MTHFR c. 677C>T and c. 1298A>C and MTHFD1 c. 1958G>A SNPs and the use or not of FA supplementation in HS patients. It was also our objective to compare the folate and Cbl levels according to genotypes for MTHFR and MTHFD1 SNPs in β-TH subjects and their controls.

Methods Twenty-five patients with HS, 49 β-TH subjects and 98 healthy people exposed to mandatory fortification of wheat and corn flours with FA were included in this study. Serum folate and Cbl were determined by microbiologic assays. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood using commercial kit. The genotypes for MTHFR c. 1298A>C and MTHFD1 c.1958G>A SNPs were determined by Real Time PCR using TaqMan assays. PCR-RFLP was used for genotyping MTHFR c. 677C>T SNP. Haplotype frequencies ( MTHFR c. 677C>T and c. 1298 A>G) and the standardized disequilibrium coefficient (D') for pair-wise linkage disequilibrium were assessed by the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorism using the Haploview Software. We considered linkage disequilibrium when D' ≥0.50. The study of linkage disequilibrium was performed by calculating the coefficient D' of Lewontin.

Results The frequencies of genotypes for MTHFR (c. 677C>T and c. 1298A>C) and MTHFD1 c. 1958G>A SNPs were similar in HS, β-TH and control groups (p>0.05). When genotypes were grouped according to the presence of the mutated allele (CC vs. CT+TT for MTHFR c. 677C>T, AA vs. AC+CC for MTHFR c. 1298A>C and GG vs. GA+AA for MTHFD1 c. 1958G>A), no differences were also found (p>0.05). The MTHFR c.677C>T and c. 1298A>C SNPs are in complete linkage disequilibrium (D'=1.0). Regarding the correlation coefficient between the two loci (r2), the value found in this analysis was equal to 0.169 in HS versus control group and 0.205 in β-TH versus control group. The haplotype CA, which is formed by the ancestral allele of MTHFR c. 677C>T and c. 1298A>C SNPs respectively, was more frequent in controls (41.9%) than in the β-TH group (28.1%). However, this finding was not observed in HS group comared with control group. No association was found between genotypes for MTHFR c. 677C>T and c. 1298A>C and MTHFD1 c. 1958G>A and alterations in folate and Cbl levels in three groups. ANCOVA was used for evaluating the interaction between the use of FA supplementation and MTHFR c.677C>T SNP on folate levels in HS patients. Only FA supplementation was associated with increased serum folate, and no associations were observed with MTHFR SNP or interaction between both.

Conclusion The SNPs were not associated with reduced serum folate levels in the three groups studied. This finding suggests that FA flour fortification in β-TH and controls, as well as, the supplementation plus fortification in HS group, could offset the effect of variants of SNPs, especially for MTHFR c.677C>T.

Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


We describe a rare case of pulmonary blastoma complicated with systemic sclerosis. The serum alpha-fetoprotein level was elevated at presentation and the biopsied tumour stained positively against anti-alpha-fetoprotein antibody. The alpha-fetoprotein produced autonomously by tumour cells was of yolk-sac origin. Although the pathogenesis of pulmonary blastoma has not been clarified, we suggest that this pulmonary blastoma is a type of yolk-sac tumour.


Distilling and purifying ethanol, butanol, and other products from second and later generation lignocellulosic biorefineries adds significant capital and operating cost for biofuels production. The energy costs associated with distillation affects plant gate and life cycle analysis costs. Lower titers in fermentation due to lower sugar concentrations from pretreatment increase both energy and production costs. In addition, higher titers decrease the volumes required for enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation vessels. Therefore, increasing biofuels titers has been a research focus in renewable biofuels production for several decades. In this work, we achieved over 200 g/L of monomeric sugars after high solids enzymatic hydrolysis using the novel deacetylation and disc refining (DDR) process on corn stover. The high sugar concentrations and low chemical inhibitor concentrations from the DDR process allowed ethanol titers as high as 82 g/L in 22 hours, which translates into approximately 10 vol% ethanol. To our knowledge, this is the first time that 10 vol% ethanol in fermentation derived from corn stover without any sugar concentration or purification steps has been reported. Techno-economic analysis shows the higher titer ethanol achieved from the DDR process could significantly reduce the minimum ethanol selling price from cellulosic biomass.


Coccidiosis is a disease of the young piglet due to infection with Isospora suis and is characterized by diarrhea which is nonresponsive to antibacterial therapy. There is variable morbidity and mortality. Piglets develop a more severe clinical illness and enteritis when infected with I. suis at one to three days of age than when infected at two weeks of age. Microscopic lesions range from villous atrophy and mild erosion to severe fibrinonecrotic enteritis.


Good housing design has been shown to yield both health gains and meet long-term climate change mitigation objectives. To date however, in-depth studies focusing on housing, health and energy in developing contexts are scarce. The work described in this thesis aimed to understand how housing interventions could achieve health and energy efficiency goals simultaneously in a low-income context, through using building science to investigate the residential sector of Delhi. A multiphase mixed methods approach was employed to assess the current housing conditions in Delhi and identify potential interventions. These learnings have also led to suggestions of new perspectives for further work. Delhi's housing stock was stratified into four largely homogeneous settlement types; planned, unauthorised, urban villages and JJ clusters, to assess energy consumption and health risks. Energy consumption was found to be two to three times higher in planned settlements and health risks were estimated greatest in JJ cluster dwellings, with exposure to heat and particulate matter found to be prime hazards. Quantification of indoor conditions using building simulation modelling found that planned and JJ clusters archetypes experienced high levels of annual PM2.5 exposure and were thermally uncomfortable in summer and monsoon seasons. Monitoring of indoor temperatures during key seasonal periods supported these findings, with dwellings found incapable of providing safe conditions. The most effective intervention, when considering objectives for energy use, cost, and health, was a combination of building fabric changes with evaporative cooling and cooking ventilation strategies. For the JJ clusters, a total retrofit was recommended to significantly improve conditions. However, exposure to PM2.5 indoors cannot be sizeably reduced without decreasing the outdoor levels. On evaluation of the study framework, it was recognised that the generalisability of the results across Delhi is limited by the informal and unregulated housing sector. It was proposed that building science should be immersed in a participatory approach that not only defines but also works within policy and practice to achieve adequate housing.


Objective: Warts are a common skin disease seen by dermatologists. It is an infection caused by different strains of human papilloma virus. The presence of various topical and systemic treatments for warts is a testament to the lack of a rapid, simple, uniformly effective, inexpensive, nonscarring, and painless treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of 85% formic acid with 30% formic acid on palmoplantar warts. Methods: A non-randomized, open trial was performed in 30 patients with common warts attending Father Muller's Medical College Hospital, Mangalore. 15 patients received 85% formic acid application, and 15 patients received 30% formic acid using a to puncture technique every day. Results: About 73.3% in Group I and 73.3% in Group II showed disappearance of warts at the end of 3 months. No major side-effects were seen at the end of therapy in either group. Conclusions: The results show that both 30% and 85% formic acid application are a safe, economical, and effective alternative in the treatment of common warts with few side-effects and 30% formic acid may be an effective replacement of 85% formic acid. A study with more number of patients is needed to see the efficacy of this treatment. Keywords: Warts, Formic acid, Palmoplantar warts.


Kant considers his Critique of Pure Reason to be founded on the act of judging and the different forms of judgement, hence, take pride of place in his argumentation. The consensus view is that this aspect of the Critique of Pure Reason is a failure because Kant's logic is far too weak to bear such a weight. Here we show that the consensus view is mistaken and that Kant's logic should be identified with geometric logic, a fragment of intuitionistic logic of great foundational significance.


Accurate modeling of electric fields is necessary to study the dynamics of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Typical microelectromechanical systems use high dielectric-constant materials, however, which significantly affect the electric field. Many numerical packages use the finite element method (FEM) to deal with systems with dielectrics. The FEM is not, however, very efficient in modeling microelectromechanical systems. There exist numerical packages that use the boundary element method (BEM), which is more desirable due to its low computational cost. But the BEM as it exists cannot model the effects of the dielectrics. This paper extends the BEM to systems with piece-wise constant dielectrics as well as conductors.


Deterministic photon-photon interactions are a long-standing goal in optical science. Using an atomic ensemble inside a cavity, we demonstrate the mutual cross modulation of two continuous light beams at the level of individual photons. The originally uncorrelated beams derived from independent lasers become anticorrelated, as evidenced by an equal-time cross-correlation function g^{(2)}=0.89(1), showing that one photon in one beam extinguishes a photon in the other beam with a probability of 11(1)%. With further technical improvements, our approach should enable the nondestructive continuous detection of traveling optical photons.


It has repeatedly been demonstrated that the nature of the diet can influence the rate at which hepatic tumors develop in rats fed p-dimethylaminoazobenzene. Dietary factors that retard the formation of such tumors include riboflavin (6, 14), hydrogenated coconut oil (10, 11) and several others. Dietary factors that accelerate tumor formation under these conditions include the crude mixture of extractives in commercial concentrate of rice bran (13, 14). The evidence has been summarized in a recent review (17). While the experiments themselves are reproducible, the significance of these dietary effects on carcinogenesis is still open to question. Thus it has been pointed out (13, 17) that tumors of most other organs, whether spontaneous or induced by agents such as carcinogenic hydrocarbons or ultraviolet light, are not nearly so sensitive to diet as liver tumors due to p-dimethylaminoazobenzene, and hence one may ask whether the dietary factors are concerned with the fundamental carcinogenic reaction, or whether they act primarily by destroying or preserving the azo dye used as a carcinogen. One experimental approach to this question would be to determine the effect of diet on the induction of hepatic tumors by agents other than p-dimethylaminoazobenzene. For if the carcinogenic reaction were involved, a similar response to diet might be expected of all carcinogens for that organ. On the other hand, if diet merely alters the rate at which carcinogenic chemicals are destroyed in the body, different responses to diet could result when different carcinogens are used, although a similarity in response is also possible if the same chemical grouping as, for example, the azo link-


Purpose: We aimed to make a fast and accurate distinction of malignant and benign lesions in cases with predominantly solitary or multifocal involvement using latest technology software and hardware systems in computed tomography. Materials and Methods: 53 cases were included in the study. Primary (n = 42, 31 benign, 11 malignant) or metastatic (n = 11) tumors were detected at various locations in the bone structure of the cervical to coccygeal vertebrae in all cases. 3D CT images taken using the same system and biopsy or post-operative histopathology findings were available for all cases. Thin section images taken retrospectively from the archives were converted to 3D images using the same program and parameters, which were then recorded in the same window settings by two radiologists. Only 3D images were then analyzed to investigate the presence or absence of the dirty interface sign. Results: Dirty interface sign was present in 17 malignant lesions and absent in the remaining 5 lesions. As for benign lesions, the sign was present in only two lesions and the remaining 29 were negative for the sign. There was a high level of consistency between the two radiologists. In conclusion, malignant and benign lesions affecting the bone spinal axis were distinguished based on the presence or absence of the dirty interface sign with 77.3% sensitivity, 93.5% specificity and 86.8% accuracy. Conclusion: When evaluated with standard bone window views, 3D views can be used successfully for the distinction of malignant and benign bone tumors. At least, 3D views generated using low dose regimes in highly developed systems can be used with similar purpose to that of diffusion weighted MRI sequences that give roughly outlined but fast and accurate information about the lesion.


Introduction: Superior canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS) is a rare disorder characterized by an array of audiovestibular symptoms due to a dehiscence of bone overlying the superior semicircular canal (SSC). In the presence of debilitating symptoms, surgical management, to plug or resurface the SCC is performed. Although computed tomography (CT) may overestimate the size or presence of a dehiscence due to a partial volume effect, it remains an invaluable diagnostic tool. Objectives: To assess for correlation between the arc and length of dehiscence and clinical symptomology. Method: A single-center, single-operator retrospective analysis of 42 patients who underwent trans mastoid plugging of SCC with confirmed radiological dehiscence of their SSC between January 2008 and July 2019 was undertaken. Patients were assessed based on seven predefined clinical symptoms. Length and arc of dehiscence's were evaluated by means of high resolution (0.5 mm) CT (HRCT), using multiplanar reconstruction (MPR). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and more specifically the area under the ROC curve (AUROC) were used to assess for statistical significance. Results: Our results demonstrate overall very little correlation between the arc and size of the dehiscence and symptoms. The only statistically significant correlation we found was between length of dehiscence and the presence of aural fullness. Conclusion: SCDS is a debilitating condition with an array of symptoms on presentation. While dehiscence length demonstrated a correlation with aural fullness, no other symptomology in patients with radiologically evident SCDS demonstrated a statistically significant correlation either against the length or arc of dehiscence.


In the aging process, there may be four kinds of changes that demand psychological adaptation: (1) Changes in physical environment, such as moving to live with children, moving to long term care organization, or changing household equipment/structure to meet the changes of body and/or psychological functions; (2) Changes in social environment, including changes of social roles and those derived from the role changes; (3) Changes of body (physiological) structures/functions; (4) Changes of psychological structures/functions. One way or the other, an aging individual will "detect" the changes mentioned above, and at the same time, "interpret" the meaning of the changes. The first two kinds of changes provide information from outside of the self while the latter two mainly from within the self. However, how to detect the change(s) and the content detected are more important than whether the information coming from within or outsider the self. Because the meaningfulness of the change(s) constructed by one`s "knowledge system" is based upon the changes detected. The meaning-constructing process is a "top-down" process that develops mainly by the command of one`s knowledge system. Within the knowledge system the attitude of illness, aging and death may be the core commander. Besides, one`s life goal(s)/ goal hierarchy, self concept, and self image will be effective in the meaning-constructing process, too. Many researchers focus on the "paradox of attitude toward aging". Most societies possess noticeable degree of negative attitude toward "aging and/ or the elderly". And, when a person grows older, he himself/ she herself become the target of his/her negative attitude. Some of the researchers would address this paradox as a kind of "disaster" when a person encounters it. Active psychological adaptation to aging can be achieved by "selective optimization with compensation". With the preassumption of realistically knowing the change following aging, one can reasonably analyze- reanalyze the resources already lose, the resources remained, and the resources gained. And, based on these analysis, he/she may rearrange (reconstruct) his/her life goals, i.e. to be selective and flexible in determining the planning of living with aging. After the selection, the focus will be "optimizing" what one can do and "compensating" what one cannot do.


This study proposes two classes of variance estimators for estimating population variance of a study variable using information of auxiliary variable under stratified random sampling scheme. The bias and mean square error of the estimators belonging to classes are obtained and the optimum parameters of classes are given in stratified random sampling. Efficiency comparison is carried out using a real data set. In this data set, sales profit and waste product of a company are used as a study and auxiliary variable respectively. Moreover we have found that suggested classes of estimators are more efficient than classical estimators.


All‐inorganic transparent thin‐film transistors deposited solely by the solution processing method of spray pyrolysis are reported. Different precursor materials are employed to create conducting and semiconducting species of ZnO acting as electrodes and active channel material, respectively, as well as zirconium oxide as gate dielectric layer. Additionally, a simple stencil mask system provides sufficient resolution to realize the necessary geometric patterns. As a result, fully functional low‐voltage n‐type transistors with a mobility of 0.18 cm2 V−1 s−1 can be demonstrated via a technique that bears the potential for upscaling. A detailed microscopic evaluation of the channel region by electron diffraction, high‐resolution and analytical TEM confirms the layer stacking and provides detailed information on the chemical composition and nanocrystalline nature of the individual layers.


In 2020, approximately 604 127 patients were newly diagnosed with cervical cancer and 341 831 died of the disease worldwide. Unfortunately, 85–90% of new cases and deaths occur in less developed countries. It is well known that persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main risk factor for developing the disease. There are more than 200 HPV genotypes identified, but the most important in public health are the high-risk HPV genotypes including HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, and 59 due to their strong association with cervical cancer. Among these, genotypes 16 and 18 are responsible for about 70% of cervical cancer cases worldwide. Implementing systematic cytology-based screening, HPV screening, and HPV vaccination programs have successfully decreased the cervical cancer burden, particularly in developed countries. Although the etiological agent has been identified, we have seen the impact of well-conducted screening programs in developed countries, and we have available vaccines, the fight against this preventable disease has shown poor results globally. In November 2020 the World Health Organization launched its strategy to eliminate cervical cancer from the earth by 2130 (the goal is to achieve a global incidence lower than 4 per 100 000 women/year). The strategy aims to vaccinate 90% of girls before 15 years of age, to screen with a highly sensitive test (HPV-based) 70% of women at 35 and 45 years of age, and to provide proper treatment by trained personnel to 90% of women diagnosed with either cervical dysplasia or invasive cervical cancer. The objective of this review is to update the state of the art on primary and secondary prevention of cervical cancer.


We present a deep recurrent convolutional neural network (CNN) approach to solve the problem of hockey player identification in NHL broadcast videos. Player identification is a difficult computer vision problem mainly because of the players similar appearance, occlusion, and blurry facial and physical features. However, we can observe players' jersey numbers over time by processing variable length image sequences of players (aka tracklets). We propose an end-to-end trainable ResNet+LSTM network, with a residual network (ResNet) base and a long short-term memory (LSTM) layer, to discover spatio-temporal features of jersey numbers over time and learn long-term dependencies. For this work, we created a new hockey player tracklet dataset that contains sequences of hockey player bounding boxes. Additionally, we employ a secondary 1-dimensional convolutional neural network classifier as a late score-level fusion method to classify the output of the ResNet+LSTM network. This achieves an overall player identification accuracy score over 87% on the test split of our new dataset.


Big data sets in conjunction with self-learning algorithms are becoming increasingly important in public administration. A growing body of literature demonstrates that the use of such technologies poses fundamental questions about the way in which predictions are generated, and the extent to which such predictions may be used in policy making. Complementing other recent works, the goal of this article is to open the machine's black box to understand and critically examine how self-learning algorithms gain agency by transforming raw data into policy recommendations that are then used by policy makers. I identify five major concerns and discuss the implications for policy making.


Pakistan Abstract The term Shūra has become an important term in modern political history of Islam. Its importance and centrality can be gauged by the fact that Muslim modernists, traditionalists and fundamentalists use it equally to propound and promote their own political ideas. This term and concept were part of Fazlur Rahman"s political thought and central to his overall idea of an Islamic State. However, with the passage of time his arguments changed corresponding to the changes in the prevailing situation. The current article focuses mainly on his thought on shūra in his early writings from 1950s and 1960s. Though in the first decade of his career he had no independent views of his own on shūra and he based his arguments on the subject mainly on the arguments of classical thinkers such as Sayyid Ahmad Khan, Shibli, Hali, Chiragh Ali, Amir Ali and Iqbal at home and Jamal al-Din Afghani, Muhammad Abduh, Namik Kemal and Zia Gokalp abroad. On the contrary, during the 1960s he developed his independent thoughts on shūra . The current work will highlight the fact that his ideas were grossly influenced by the prevailing socio-political conditions in Pakistan at that time and he appears to contradict himself on some of the arguments about the authority of the head of the state. This situation also highlights the dilemma of a thinker who also has to play the role of a reformer at the practical level in a given political


Thin-walled cylindrical shell structure not only shows the highly efficient load carrying capacity but also is vulnerable to buckling instability failure. In practical application, these structures are more easily subjected to locally distributed axial compression load, which is a more common non-uniform loading case. However, until now, the buckling behaviors of thin-walled cylindrical shells under this kind of loading case are still unclear, and there are also few relevant buckling experiments. In order to fill this research gap as well as reveal the relevant failure mechanism of thin-walled cylindrical shell structures, in this paper buckling tests of thin-walled metallic cylindrical shell structures under non-uniform axial compression loads are successfully performed. In this regard, the design and characteristics of two cylindrical shell test specimens subjected to different pattern of non-uniform compression loads are mainly introduced. Meanwhile, as the important parts for conducting this buckling experiment, the axial compression buckling test rig as well as the real-time acquisition measurement system is also presented in details. Results indicate that locally distributed axial compression loads play a pivotal role in the buckling behaviors of thin-walled cylindrical shell, not matter from the point of view of load carrying capacity, shell deformation process or failure mode. The experiments carried out in this work can be served as a benchmark for related numerical simulation afterwards. Furthermore, the obtained test results can also provide some guides for the design and application of thin-walled cylindrical shell in actual engineering.


A two week study was held at Brookhaven this summer to investigate polarized proton acceleration at the AGS in more detail and to produce a preliminary design and cost estimate. The Brookhaven study discovered no new problems which cannot be solved. A polarized proton ion source of the H/sup -/ type is preferred, which could yield pulses of 75% polarized H/sup -/ ions with an intensity of 10 to 100 ..mu..amp and a length of 1 to 3 msec. Upon injection this would result in an AGS intensity of 3 x 10/sup 10/ to 10/sup 12/ polarized protons per pulse which, together with the 2 sec repetition rate and the high extraction efficiency of the AGS, would yield an extracted beam intensity 5 to 150 times larger than that of the ZGS. Twelve new pulsed tune-shift quadrupoles will be necessary to jump the intrinsic resonances while the existing 96 correction dipoles can be used to tune out the imperfection harmonics. Most of the polarization monitors necessary are simply extensions of existing polarimeters; however, a fast internal polarimeter with an associated thin internal target would be useful for rapid tuning during the acceleration cycle. With these modifications it should be possiblemore » to accelerate polarized protons through the 8 intrinsic and 47 imperfection resonances in the AGS up to 23 GeV/c by late 1980. Although no decision has yet been reached with regard to the implementation of such a program, it is presently being considered together with other options for future AGS operation.« less


Past findings indicate that middle-aged adults in the United States tend to be more resistant to attitude change than younger and older adults, but little is known about why this is so. The authors propose that midlife adults' disproportionate occupation of high-power social roles (which call for resoluteness) may partly explain their heightened resistance to persuasion. Using nationally representative data sets, the article first documents that in various domains the possession of social power peaks in midlife. It next documents that middle-aged adults place a high value on resoluteness, which suggests that they have internalized powerful role norms. Next, it shows that directly activating the concept of social power increases the perceived value of resoluteness. Finally, it demonstrates that the possession of powerful social roles partially mediates the relationship between age and resistance to persuasion. This work is the first to uncover a mechanism responsible for changes in attitude strength over the adult life course.


This paper presents airborne measurements of ice nuclei (IN) number concentration and elemental composition from the mixed-phase Arctic cloud experiment (M-PACE) in northern Alaska during October 2004. Although the project average IN concentration was low, less than 1 L-1 STP, there was significant spatial and temporal variability, with local maximum concentrations of nearly 60 L-1 STP. Immersion and/or condensation freezing appear to be the dominant freezing mechanisms, whereas mechanisms that occur below water saturation played a smaller role. The dominant particle types identified as IN were metal oxides/dust (39%), carbonaceous particles (35%) and mixtures of metal oxides/dust with either carbonaceous components or salts/sulphates (25%), although there was significant variability in elemental composition. Trajectory analysis suggests both local and remote sources, including biomass burning and volcanic ash. Seasonal variability of IN number concentrations based on this study and data from SHEBA/FIREACE indicates that fall concentrations are depleted relative to spring by about a factor of five. Average IN number concentrations from both studies compare favorably with cloud ice number concentrations of cloud particles larger than 125 μm, for temperatures less than -10°C. Cloud ice number concentrations also were enhanced in spring, by a factor of ˜2, but only over a limited temperature range.