The density driven convection phenomenon is expected to have a significant and positive role in CO2 geological storage capacity and safety. But predictions on reservoir time and space scales are difficult to validate because data are generally sparse and will only be useful for a small part of the relevant time period. Laboratory scale data are valuable to validate the numerical models. In this paper we focus on the comparison of experimental and numerical determination of CO2 mass transfer in a laboratory experiment. We developed an experimental protocol for the determination of density-driven mass transfer of CO2 in water-saturated Hele-Shaw cells with different apertures. We used a CCD camera to capture images of the initiation of density-driven convection caused by dissolution of CO2 in water and the subsequent development of convective fingers. The visualization of the phenomenon allowed consistently stopping the experiment when dissolved CO2 first reached the bottom of the cell. We determined the total mass of dissolved CO2 during the experiment using a catalytic combustion-based total carbon analyzer (TCanalyzer). This experimental procedure was repeated several times for uncertainty analysis. Thus a combination of quantitative and qualitative experimental results for the same Hele-Shaw cell configuration was obtained for validation of corresponding numerical simulation results. A numerical simulation of the phenomenon was carried out using the STOMP-WCS simulator. We found that in order to accurately simulate numerically the phenomenon occurring in the Hele-Shaw cell, existent variations in the cell apertures should be taken into account. Thus we observed a good agreement between the experimental and numerical results in terms of total dissolved CO2 mass, timescale of mass transport and morphology of the convection fingers. In addition correlations are obtained between total dissolved CO2 mass, arrival time of dissolved CO2 to bottom of the cell, and the Rayleigh number. 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


The decisions known asFebruary 28 Decisionsin Turkish political life consist of themeasures required to be taken against the reactionary initiatives opponent to the regimecomprising 18 articles, which were taken at the National Security Council that lasted for 9 hours in the period of the 54th Government formed between Refah (Welfare) Party and Do��ru Yol (True Path) Party within the framework of the Coalition Government Protocol dated 28 June 1996 and chaired by Necmettin Erbakan. Five of those decisions aimed at preventing politicization of the religion directly involved the education policy. Though the government programmes decisively expressed that no compromise would be made on the education policies that were rearranged in line with the said decisions by the 55th, 56th and 57th Governments formed following the February 28 Decisions, it did not take long for the decisions, which could not gain public legitimacy, to begin to be questioned. As a matter of fact, one of the most remarkable actions of AK (Justice and Development) Party, which came to power in 2002 by taking strength from the reaction shown against the decisions following the February 28, designated as post-modern coup detat, has been to cease the education policies put into practice in line with the National Security Council decisions. Elimination of the field coefficient problem took place in 2009; opening the secondary school sections of the religious vocational high schools as a result of increasing the duration of compulsory education to 12 years with the formula 4+4+4 took place in 2012; ensuring dress freedom at schools took place defacto in 2010 and dejure in 2013. In view of the foregoing, this paper will try to address and study the relationship between education, religion and politics, which has been an ongoing area of debate from foundation of the Republic to present, particularly in the light of the February 28 Decisions. It should be noted that an analysis to be conducted in this respect by centering upon the concepts of education, religion and politics targets at the same time to shed light on the fact ofretreat of the military tutelagein Turkey.


The role of colonoscopy has not been adequately evaluated in the diagnosis of gastrojejunocolic fistula. We report the findings and complications of routine colonoscopy in four patients and a novel technique 'Chromo-colonoscopy' in the diagnosis of this entity.


Japanese encephalitis is a serious public health problem with significant mortality in children and old people. It occurs throughout much of Asia (43 000 cases worldwide per year). In recent years it has caused many epidemics in different parts of the country. In view of the high mortality and severe sequelae which often leaves behind highly dependent and disabled survivors, the disease is assuming great importance. A review of the pathogenesis, epidemiology, management and prevention together with changing perspectives in all these areas is presented.


In the south part of the Carpathian Foredeep basement, between Bochnia and Ropczyce, the Upper Jurassic (Oxfordian, Kimmeridian and Tithonian) carbonate complex plays important role as a hydrocarbon bearing formation. It consists of shallow marine carbonates deposited in environments of the outer carbonate ramp as reef limestones (dolomites), microbial – sponge or coral biostromes and marly or micrite limestones as well. The inner pore space system of these rocks was affected by different diagenetic processes as calcite cementation, dissolution, dolomitization and most probably by tectonic fracturing as well. These phenomena have modified pore space systems within limestone / dolomite series forming more or less developed reservoir zones (horizons). According to the interpretation of DST results (analysis of pressure build up curves by log – log method) for 11 intervals (marked out previously by well logging due to porosity increase readings) within the Upper Jurassic formation 3 types of pore/fracture space systems were distinguished: type I – fracture – vuggy porosity system in which fractures connecting voids and vugs within organogenic carbonates are of great importance for medium flow; type II – vuggy – fracture porosity system where a pore space consists of weak connected voids and intergranular/intercrystalline pores with minor influence of fractures; type III – cavern porosity system in which a secondary porosity is developed due to dolomitization and cement/grain dissolution processes.


Purpose: Agricultural financing is a critical component of all agricultural development operations aimed at improving the productivity. Farmers must have access to sufficient and timely financing for irrigation, farm mechanisation, and land expansion. The main goal of the study is to identify and explore the factors affecting agriculture finance, understand the challenges faced by the farmers, to compare the growth of farmer's income before and after availing finance support and the strategies required to improve the agriculture credit to farmers.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The study is based on secondary data gathered from several publications, websites, and other pertinent substance from NABARD and RBI annual reports.
Findings: The study revealed that smallholder systems, policies, and investments are meant to improve infrastructure, boosting efficiency to expand and finance services, and increasing labour availability or automation; formal financial outlets have improved in region regions; financial institution violations are regulated by regulatory frameworks, such as charging exorbitantly high interest rates or taking excessive risks with people's savings or investors' assets; and financial institution violations are controlled by regulatory frameworks, such as charging exorbitantly high interest rates or taking unnecessary.
Originality/Value: This study is infrequent in that it endeavours to trace the access of agricultural finance by farmers, as well as its impression on farmer's income level varying to numerous agricultural strategies that have been enacted as a result of agricultural finance.
Paper type: Review Paper


This study aims to clarify the relation between axonal deformation and the onset of axonal injury. Firstly, to examine the influence of strain rate on the threshold for axonal injury, cultured neurons were subjected to 12 types of stretching (strains were 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 and strain rates were 10, 30, 50, and 70 s-1). The formation of axonal swellings and bulbs increased significantly at strain rates of 50 and 30 s-1 with strains of 0.15 and 0.20, respectively, even though those formations did not depend on strain rates in cultures exposed to a strain of 0.10. Then, to examine the influence of the strain along an axon on axonal injury, swellings were measured at every axonal angle in the stretching direction. The axons that were parallel to stretching direction were injured the most. Finally, we proposed an experimental model that subjected an axon to more accurate strain. This model observed the process of axonal injury formation by detecting the same neuron before and after stretching. These results suggest that the strain-rate dependency of axonal tolerance is induced by a higher magnitude of loading strain and an experiment focusing on axonal strain is required for obtaining more detailed injury criteria for an axon.


Lack of access to food and its availability is of central concern in Africa and a fundamental challenge for human welfare and economic growth. Low agricultural production results in low incomes, poor nutrition, vulnerability to risks and lack of empowerment. The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) targets an average annual increase of 6% in agricultural productivity to ensure food security and sustained national economies. Land degradation and soil fertility or nutrient depletion are considered as the major threats to food security and natural resource conservation in the semi arid tropics (SAT). What is needed is to break the cycle between poverty and land degradation in Africa by employing strategies that empower farmers economically and promoting sustainable agricultural intensification using efficient, effective and affordable agricultural technologies. Such affordable management systems should be accessible to the poor, small-scale producers and the approach should be holistic and dynamic in order to foster both technical and institutional change. This paper aims to increase the dissemination of our knowledge base on soils and its management in Zambia. This includes issues of soil conservation and conservation farming. The main activities being to: inventories available technologies for alleviating land degradation and how to demonstrate and adapt the best-bets in farmers' circumstances using farmer participatory approaches; scale up best bet technologies for sustainable land management and marketing options through the use of appropriate tools, methods and strategies; and to study the resulting ecological resilience under variable environmental conditions.


\"A candidate gene approach was used to identify genes that may be associated with wool traits in Merino and Merino-cross sheep. Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis was used to identify sequence variation in the Keratin-Associated Protein (KAP) 1.3 and Keratin Intermediate-Filament protein (KRT) K33 genes (KAP1.3 and K33 respectively), while agarose gel electrophoresis was used to detect length variation in the KAP1.1 gene (KAP1.1). Two half-sib families (SL1, n = 131 and SL2, n = 35) were created for analysis. Wool samples were collected from the mid-side region of the SL1 progeny at 12, 24 and 36 months of age, and the SL2 progeny at 12 months of age. These samples were measured for a variety of commonly assessed wool traits.

The genotype of the sire used in SL1 was AB, BD and AB for KAP1.1, KAP1.3 and K33 respectively, while the sire used in SL2 was BC, CJ and DE.

In SL1, inheritance of KAP1.1 A was associated (P = 0.036) with a higher yield at 24 months of age compared to the KAP1.1 B. The same trend was also observed for yield at 36 months (P = 0.078). KAP1.3 B was associated (P = 0.045) with whiter wool at 36 months of age compared to the KAP1.3 D. Inheritance of the SL1 K33 B was associated (P = 0.038) with a smaller fibre diameter standard deviation compared to the SL1 K33 A at 12 months of age and it was also associated (P = 0.023) with an increase in mean staple strength compared to the SL1 K33 A at the same age. At 36 months of age, the K33 A was associated (P = 0.019) with whiter wool compared to the K33 B in SL1.

In SL2, inheritance of KAP1.1 B was associated (P = 0.006) with increased mean staple length compared to the KAP1.1 C and tended to be associated (P = 0.074) with a decrease in wool brightness compared to the inheritance of the KAP1.1 C. Inheritance of KAP1.3 J allele was associated (P = 0.011) with increased staple length compared with the inheritance of KAP1.3 C and was also associated (P = 0.036) with a decrease in wool brightness when compared with the inheritance of the KAP1.3 C. The inheritance of K33 D was associated with longer staple length (P = 0.029) and tended to be associated with a decrease in wool brightness (P = 0.056) compared to the inheritance of K33 E.

Although a narrow study, these results suggest that variation in the genes coding for the KRTs and KAPs have the potential to impact on wool quality and that further investigation of them would be warranted.\"


The mechanism of TNF-alpha to regulate glucose metabolism remains unclear. To further delineate the TNF-alpha signal transduction pathway mediating glucose metabolism, we utilized L6 rat myoblasts which contain the receptors for the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and TNF-alpha, and the ability of both ligands to stimulate glucose uptake was compared. IGF-I (6.5 nM) maximally stimulated glucose uptake 7-fold after 24 h incubation, while 23 nM TNF-alpha maximally stimulated glucose uptake 3-fold only after 48 h incubation. IGF-I receptor beta-subunit, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase were all phosphorylated in response to 6.5 nM IGF-I after 10 min incubation. In contrast, the treatment with 23 nM TNF-alpha failed to phosphorylate either IGF-I receptor beta-subunit or IRS-1 but did phosphorylate MAP kinase as much as IGF-I did. Despite a similar extent to which TNF-alpha induced MAP kinase phosphorylation as IGF-I did, TNF-alpha stimulated glucose uptake less compared to IGF-I. The results indicate that MAP kinase phosphorylation is not sufficient for glucose uptake in L6 myoblasts. TNF-alpha-elicited signal transduction to glucose uptake may utilize a different pathway from that seen with IGF-I.


Abstract:  Today, little is known about the bacteriological environment of the autopsy room and its potential interest for medico‐legal practices. Seven hundred fifty microbiological samples were taken from surface (n = 660), air (n = 48), and water (n = 42) to evaluate it in a French University Forensic Department. Median bacterial counts were compared before and during autopsy for air samples, and before and after autopsy for surface samples, using Wilcoxon matched pairs signed ranks test. Bacterial identification relied on traditional phenotypic methods. Bacterial counts in the air were low before autopsy, increased significantly during procedure, and seemed more linked to the number of people in the room than to an important production of aerosol‐containing bacteria. Despite cleaning, human fecal flora was omnipresent on surfaces, which revealed insufficient disinfection. Bacteriological sampling is an easy way to monitor cleaning practices in postmortem rooms, but chiefly a way to improve the reliability of medico‐legal proofs of infectious deaths.


The solution of the factorisation equation possessing G2 symmetry is found in a 7D representation. Bootstrap properties of massive particles of the principal chiral field with G2 symmetry and the particle spectrum are discussed on the basis of the deduced solution.


Nano-technology is the design, production, applicat ion of structures, devices and system through control of the size and shape of the material at 10 -9 of a meter scale. This review summarises the devel opment of nano- film from whey protein, corn zein protein and soy p rotein, and testing the mechanical, physical, rheological, chemical propert ies. The main factors include the origin of the extracts and the biopolym er carriers, polymer carriers/extracts composition and material-forming processes used. Interactions between polymer carriers and extracts have been well managed in explaining some of the above observations.


In an inclusive school environment, an important aspect of the role of educational psychologists that seems promising for educational psychologists is that of rendering Collaborative Consultation in Schools, in partnerships with teachers and families. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a preventive intervention program, based on the principles of the Collaborative Consultation in Schools and the Positive Behavior Support models, designed to prevent and minimize behavior problems. The study was conducted in three 1st grade classrooms in a public elementary school located in the state of Sao Paulo, involving participation of three teachers of these classrooms and their fifty-five pupils. The study was carried out in four phases. In Phase 1, the ethical procedures were carried out. In Phase 2, teachers were requested to complete the Child and Youth Behavior Inventory (6-18 years)/Teacher Report Form (TRF). In Phase 3, the preventive intervention program was implemented, targeting and focusing on teachers and pupils. Finally, in Phase 4, the TRF instrument was repeated. In order to assess the impact of the intervention, the MANOVA test was applied to the results. Regarding student behavior, there was a statistically significant decrease in internalizing, externalizing problems, and in total problems. Besides indicating that the implementation of the Collaborative Consultation in Schools and the Positive Behavior Support models can be effective, this result points to the fact that these models can be used by educational psychologists in preventive interventions that target preventing and minimizing behavior problems in school.


Configurable processes are increasingly being adopted by enterprises that seek experience sharing and best practice adoption. A configurable process is a customizable model that specifies how different enterprises perform similar processes. At the modeling level, a configurable process model provides for flexible business process (BP) reuse by (de)selecting the (ir)relevant parts to derive a particular process variant. At the exploitation level, it offers flexibility and agility to an enterprise looking to outsource its BP to different providers cooperating in a cloud federation. More specifically, an enterprise can use a configurable process model to derive particular process variants that it outsources depending on its objectives. In particular, it may opt for outsourcing the variant that results in the optimal deployment, e.g., having the minimal cost of allocated cloud services that fulfill the user quality of service (QoS) requirements. However, identifying the optimal deployment variants is a complex problem because of the heterogeneity of services within a cloud federation and the number of possible variants that can be derived from a configurable process model. In addition, the complexity of this problem increases for variable user QoS requirements. In this paper, we propose an approach to derive, from a configurable process model, the variant that has the optimal deployment in a cloud federation. We propose a linear programming approach that accounts for the variability of both the BP model and the user QoS requirements, and that ensures an optimal time-aware cloud service allocation. We experimentally show the effectiveness and flexibility of our approach on a generated testbed.


Carruthers, P. (2006). The architecture of the mind. New York: Oxford. Fodor, J. A. (1975). The language of thought. New York: Crowell. Fodor, J. A. (1983). Modularity of mind. Cambridge, MA: MIT. Fodor, J. A. (1998). Concepts: Where cognitive science went wrong. New York: Oxford. Fodor, J. A. (2001). The mind doesn't work that way: The scope and limits of computational psychology. Cambridge, MA: MIT. Fodor, J. A. (2004). Having concepts: A brief refutation of the 20th Century. Mind & Language, 19, 29–47. Fodor, J. A. (2007). The revenge of the given. In B. McLaughlin & J. Cohen (Eds.), Contemporary debates in philosophy of mind (pp. 105–116). Malden, MA: Blackwell. Fodor, J. A., & Lepore, E. (2002). The compositionality papers. New York: Oxford. McDowell, J. (1994). Mind and world. Cambridge, MA: Harvard. Rey, G. (2004). Fodor's ingratitude and change of heart? Mind & Language, 19, 70–84. Rives, B. (2009). Concept pragmatism, concept Cartesianism, and Frege cases. Philosophical Studies, 144, 211–238. Sperling, G. (1960). The information available in brief visual presentations. Psychological Monographs, 74, 1–29.


Do biased perceptions and behaviors affect teachers' assessment of students? To investigate this question, a number of studies use data on two different scores for the same individuals: one non-blind score based on classroom tests assessed by the student's own teacher and one blind test score based on a national exam marked externally and anonymously. In the absence of bias in teachers' assessments, it is argued, there should not be significant differences in the gaps in blind and non-blind scores between different groups. This article present a parsimonious econometric framework that distills out the assumptions necessary to identify group bias in teachers' assessment from such a comparison of blind and non-blind scores. This framework lays the foundation for our empirical analysis, where data from the Norwegian school system are employed to estimate and interpret differences between nonblind and blind assessments. The results suggest that the relationship between the subject ability and non-blind results tends to be different from the relationship between subject ability and blind results. Evidence of this is found both when grades are recorded when teachers grade the same test and when they grade based on different assessments that are meant to test the same skill. The difference between non-blind and blind will therefore be a function of the skill tested. This leads to different estimates of the group bias when holding ability fixed.


Vision Transformer (ViT) has emerged as a competitive alternative to convolutional neural networks for various computer vision applications. Specifically, ViTs' multi-head attention layers make it possible to embed information globally across the overall image. Nevertheless, computing and storing such attention matrices incurs a quadratic cost dependency on the number of patches, limiting its achievable efficiency and scalability and prohibiting more extensive real-world ViT applications on resource-constrained devices. Sparse attention has been shown to be a promising direction for improving hardware acceleration efficiency for NLP models. However, a systematic counterpart approach is still missing for accelerating ViT models. To close the above gap, we propose a first-of-its-kind algorithm-hardware codesigned framework, dubbed VITALITY, for boosting the inference efficiency of ViTs. Unlike sparsity-based Transformer accelerators for NLP, VITALITY unifies both low-rank and sparse components of the attention in ViTs. At the algorithm level, we approximate the dot-product softmax operation via first-order Taylor attention with row-mean centering as the low-rank component to linearize the cost of attention blocks and further boost the accuracy by incorporating a sparsity-based regularization. At the hardware level, we develop a dedicated accelerator to better leverage the resulting workload and pipeline from VITALITY's linear Taylor attention which requires the execution of only the low-rank component, to further boost the hardware efficiency. Extensive experiments and ablation studies validate that VITALITY offers boosted end-to-end efficiency (e.g., 3× faster and 3× energy-efficient) under comparable accuracy, with respect to the state-of-the-art solution. We make the codes available on https://github.com/GATECH-EIC/ViTaLiTy


Scientific capital structure is the key to guarantee sufficient funds and achievement of objectives of Public–Private Partnership (PPP) projects, while inappropriate capital structure has caused the failure of many projects. Meanwhile, sustainability is an important concept that should be concerned during the life cycle of PPP projects. Therefore, this study aimed to: (1) identify the critical factors influencing the capital structure of PPP projects from a sustainability perspective; and (2) analyze the relationships between the factors and the capital structure based on qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). This study identified seven critical factors influencing the capital structure of PPP projects. Moreover, the non-economic indicators should be concerned as well as the economic indicators. Thus, proper capital structure not only provides ample funds but also promotes the long-term healthy operation of projects and creates positive effects on the industry, region and society. Furthermore, the findings indicated that benefit, external situation, cost, ability of private sector and government support were the top critical factors. In addition, although risk did not show great importance, it had close relationship with other factors, which means risk should be concerned comprehensively. This study enriches the theoretical research about the capital structure of PPP projects and offers a new idea about the integration of sustainability and PPP projects. In addition, it supports the reasonable selection of capital structure in practice and promotes the practical application of sustainability on PPP projects.


Genome-wide DNA methylation studies are becoming increasingly important in unraveling the epigenetic basis of cell biology, aging and human conditions. The aim of the present study was to explore whether different methods for extracting DNA from whole blood can affect DNA methylation outcome, potentially confounding DNA methylation studies. DNA was isolated from healthy blood donors (n = 10) using three different extraction methods (i.e. two automatic extractions methods based on magnetic beads or isopropanol precipitation, and manual organic extraction). DNA methylation was analyzed using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 Bead Chip (Infinium 450K) (n = 30 samples in total), which is a frequently used method in genome-wide DNA methylation analyses. Overall, the different extraction methods did not have a significant impact on the global DNA methylation patterns. However, DNA methylation differences between organic extraction and each of the automated methods were in general larger than differences between the two automated extraction methods. No CpG sites or regions reached genome-wide significance when testing for differential methylation between extraction methods. Although this study is based on a small sample, these results suggest that extraction method is unlikely to confound Infinium 450K methylation analysis in whole blood.


Objective: To systematically review in the form of a mixed, systematic review, peer-reviewed, randomized, double blind controlled trials and observational studies investigating the effectiveness of the homeopathic treatment for sports injuries. It is sought to identify flaws and weaknesses in the conduction and reporting of trials and to critically analyze issues underlying these implications. This paper seeks to extrapolate a synthesizing argument, and intends to point out in its discussion requirements to overcome potential inconsistencies in future research. Data sources: Studies were searched from 1990 until December 2012. Electronic databases that are accessible via the UCLan subscription were searched for trials and studies matching the inclusion criteria. Further studies were obtained from personal contacts at the Carstens-stiftung. Study selection: Studies had to come from peer-reviewed sources and had to have a placebo or a ˈother than placeboˈ control. Treatments had to be homeopathic; either a single remedy or a complex preparation. Pooled-results and systematic reviews were excluded. There were no exclusions by language. Data synthesis: Trial quality differed extensively. Few similarities and vast differences were noted which complicated a synthesizing conclusion. Therefore, synthesis was drawn from only four trials that were sufficiently similar in their quality of reporting, conduction and outcome. Results: Synthesis showed that the homeopathic complex preparation Traumeel, of ingredients in homeopathic mother-tincture and decimal potency, and the single remedy Arnica in X/D and low C potency are effective for sports related injuries, if applied topically following physical exertion or exercise. Homeopathic preparations are very well tolerated and have high patient compliance. Conclusion: The outcomes reported by the individual trials and studies are inconsistent, and trials have substantial weaknesses. Studies are flawed by wrong application and ignorance of homeopathic principles, by weaknesses of reporting and quality of conduction. We propose that there should be a consensus on the reporting of trials, on a global level, and further postulate the need of a different approach to research when investigating homeopathic interventions. Objective: To systematically review in the form of a mixed, systematic review, peer-reviewed, randomized, double blind controlled trials and observational studies investigating the effectiveness of the homeopathic treatment for sports injuries. It is sought to identify flaws and weaknesses in the conduction and reporting of trials and to critically analyze issues underlying these implications. This paper seeks to extrapolate a synthesizing argument, and intends to point out in its discussion requirements to overcome potential inconsistencies in future research.Data sources: Studies were searched from 1990 until December 2012. Electronic databases that are accessible via the UCLan subscription were searched for trials and studies matching the inclusion criteria. Further studies were obtained from personal contacts at the Carstens-stiftung.Study selection: Studies had to come from peer-reviewed sources and had to have a placebo or a ˈother than placeboˈ control. Treatments had to be homeopathic; either a single remedy or a complex preparation. Pooled-results and systematic reviews were excluded. There were no exclusions by language.Data synthesis: Trial quality differed extensively. Few similarities and vast differences were noted which complicated a synthesizing conclusion. Therefore, synthesis was drawn from only four trials that were sufficiently similar in their quality of reporting, conduction and outcome.Results: Synthesis showed that the homeopathic complex preparation Traumeel, of ingredients in homeopathic mother-tincture and decimal potency, and the single remedy Arnica in X/D and low C potency are effective for sports related injuries, if applied topically following physical exertion or exercise. Homeopathic preparations are very well tolerated and have high patient compliance.


Chloride diffusion through concrete is influenced by harsh environmental conditions such as high ambient temperature and relative humidity. This paper examined the influence of temperature gradient on chloride diffusion in concrete under high ambient temperature conditions. Chloride diffusion tests using cylindrical concrete samples were performed in constant temperature and temperature gradient conditions. In a temperature gradient condition, a much higher chloride concentration was measured than at constant temperatures, which could not be explained only by the mass diffusion driven by the concentration gradient. A new analytical model of chloride diffusion with the mass diffusion term including the temperature effect and the thermo-diffusion term including the temperature gradient effect was applied to the results, which showed that the thermo-diffusion contribution was significant. Using the analytical model with the mass diffusion (DCl) and thermo-diffusion (DT) coefficients, the service life of reactor containment buildings (RCBs) in nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region was estimated. The results showed that the service life of the RCBs could be reduced by the temperature gradient, indicating the possible application of the proposed analytical model.


The importance of starting a race in short distance athletic sports below 400 m was rarely considered to the extent that it should be. The main research theme in this field has mainly been the relationship between the starting signal and the response speed of leg muscles. The records in short distance athletic sports have been improved through training athletes to increase their response speed. However, the improvements in records have also been due to the starting time speed; thus, there is another way to improve times, that is, through the starting speed. The starting speed related to the kicking force against the starting blocks at the start of a race. The objectives of this research were to present a method for analyzing forces acting upon a starting block at the start of a race and to optimize the starting conditions for each athlete. To achieve these objectives, a starting block with Wheatstone bridge type strain gauges which could measure, in normal and horizontal directions, the repulsive forces acting on the starting blocks at a starting point in real-time, was developed. The use of this block was expected to correct the posture of each athlete and record the sports dynamics data for each athlete.


Most drugs undergo biotransformation before excretion by renal, biliary or other routes. The main purpose of metabolism is to make the drug, which is usually lipophilic, more water soluble. Metabolic reactions, depending upon the end product formed, can be classified as functionalisation (phase I) or conjugation (Phase II) reactions. Phase I metabolic reactions include oxidation, reduction and hydrolysis; while phase II processes are glucuronidation, sulfation, methylation, acetylation and mercapture formation. Cytochrome P-450 isozymes play a central role in metabolism of great majority of xenobiotics, as well as some endogenous substances. Many drugs can inhibit, induce and alter relative amounts of different P-450 enzymes; therefore, possibilities of drug-drug interactions exist in that one drug can influence biodisposition of another with potential clinical implications. One drug can inhibit metabolism of another, leading to excessive accumulation and toxicity. Alternatively, one drug can stimulate or induce metabolism of another drug resulting in subtherapeutic plasma levels of the later.


The study assessed the marketing activities of ducks in Akinyele Local Government Area. The study was carried out in three selected main markets (Ojoo, Moniya, and Shasha). Information was generated from ninety-four (94) duck marketers in the study area using structured questionnaire to determine the socio-economic characteristics of duck sellers, profitability, market performance and problems militating against duck marketing. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Gini coefficient, budgetary analysis and marketing margin. The result showed that 52.1% of respondents were males while about 47.9% of respondents were females. Age range of 40-50 (38.3%) is the majority which means that adult dominate the duck business. Majority of them are married (63.8%), with no formal education (31.9%) and with marketing experience (40.4%) of less than five years. The result of the Gini coefficient was 0.52 which implied that the degree of income inequalities is high in sales revenue of the respondents and hence high level of concentration. Moniya market is more efficient among the other market visited. Duck selling business in Moniya is more profitable as sellers on the average realized gross revenue of ₦280,700; followed by Ojoo, ₦147,582; and Shasha, ₦116,640. The problems encountered include, low patronage, low price, disease infestation, mortality and theft. It was recommended that there should be general awareness of the business as a means of employment which would serve as poverty alleviation in the society.
Key words: Market structure, Market performance, Profitability, Ducks


The aim of the existing study is to investigate the influence of teacher expectation on students' achievement and their attitudes towards English lesson and to increase the students' academic success and positive attitudes towards this issue. In the study, a process which defined the existing situtation and which provided the educational processes to improve by changing the existing situation could be seen. For this reason, emancipatory/improving/critical action research model was used. The study was carried out on a sample group consisting of 87 students; 43 6th graders and 44 8th graders attending a school located in the city center of Düzce during the 2015-2016 academic year. In order to collect the data, "Teacher Expectancy Scale" developed by the researchers, "Attitude Scale towards English Course" and 7 test exams prepared by Turkish Ministry of National Education (MoNE) were used. The study was conducted for a total 48 hours in 12 weeks, 4 hours a week. As the result of the study, it was revealed that teacher expectation influenced the attitudes of the students towards the English lesson in a positive way and increased their academic achievements.


Nowadays, environmental pollution of heavy metals from automobiles has attained much attention. This was caused some heavy metal pollution in road side soils. In this research, the some selected heavy metals were studied along the taken road side soils under heavy traffic in northwestern Turkey. The aim of this research was carried out to determine the heavy metal pollution status of some agricultural lands along the one of major highways of Turkey. For this purpose, roadside surface soil samples were collected from 50 sites along the Bursa-Izmir highway and analyzed for cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc. Their concentrations and distributions were determined in this research. Lead concentration was the highest in the soils and ranged from 30.0 to 1210.0 mg/kg. Zinc concentration varied from 62.1 to 492.8 mg/kg and copper concentration ranged from 20.0 to 250.6 mg/kg. Cadmium concentration was the lowest in the soil and varied from 0.5 to 5.2 mg/kg. Overall, the levels of heavy metals in roadside soils were higher as compared to their natural background levels.


The current article discusses the relationship that basic communication presents in empirical social research presenting the attribution of meaning to significant events in which social actors are involved. It postulates the existence of three subjects in action in this relationship: the subject of collective thought, the subject of researcher and author of the empirical study and the subject of the reader of this research. The second and third are classical subjects of study, where the first is a novelty introduced by the Discourse of the Collective Subject method. No doubt, what is generally seen as a result of research and the fruit of the work of the researcher/author, the collective thought reconstituted for the current study is granted, in this methodology, the statute of subject of the research. Beginning with this idea of three subjects and their complex relationships must be perfectly clear in these studies so that criticism and quality evaluation can take place to an adequate degree.


It is necessary to develop novel high-efficiency red or far-red-emitting LEDs in order to facilitate the phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (pc-LEDs) for plant growth. This work reports a series of novel far-red emitting (Ba,Sr)LaZnTaO6:xMn4+ phosphors with double perovskite structure synthesized by the traditional high-temperature solid-state reaction (SSR). The crystal structure and morphology of (Ba,Sr)LaZnTaO6 were investigated by high-resolution TEM, SEM, and XRD Rietveld refinement. The photoluminescence properties were systematically explored and analyzed by diffuse reflectance (DR) spectra, photoluminescence emission (PL) and excitation (PLE) spectra, decay curves, and temperature-dependent spectra. Mn4+ ions occupy Ta5+ sites located at the [TaO6] octahedral emitting red light with the peak at 698 nm in BaLaZnTaO6:Mn4+ and 695 nm in SrLaZnTaO6:Mn4+ under n-UV and blue light excitation. The critical quenching concentration of Mn4+ was determined to be 0.008. The concentration quenching mechanism could be a dipole–dipole interaction between the Mn4+ ions. In addition, the PL intensity of (Ba,Sr)LaZnTaO6:xMn4+ phosphors decreases with increasing temperature. The SrLaZnTaO6:xMn4+ sample has better thermal stability than BaLaZnTaO6:xMn4+. Interestingly, (Ba,Sr)LaZnTaO6:0.008Mn4+ exhibits outstanding internal quantum efficiency (IQE ≥ 80%). Finally, the fabricated LEDs were combined with SrLaZnTaO6:0.008Mn4+ phosphors combined with 460 nm InGaN chips, which emit blue and red light. Based on the above properties, the rare-earth-free (Ba,Sr)LaZnTaO6:xMn4+ phosphors have great potential in being applied as far-red emitting phosphors in high-power plant growth LEDS.


Intra- and extracellular iron-chelating siderophores produced by fungal non-ribosomal peptide synthetases have been shown to be involved in reproductive and pathogenic developmental processes and in iron and oxidative stress management. Here we report individual and combined contributions of three of these metabolites to developmental success of the destructive cereal pathogen Fusarium graminearum. In previous work, we determined that deletion of the NPS2 gene, responsible for intracellular siderophore biosynthesis, results in inability to produce sexual spores when mutants of this homothallic ascomycete are selfed. Deletion of the NPS6 gene, required for extracellular siderophore biosynthesis, does not affect sexual reproduction but results in sensitivity to iron starvation and oxidative stress and leads to reduced virulence to the host. Building on this, we report that double mutants lacking both NPS2 and NPS6 are augmented in all collective phenotypes of single deletion strains (i.e., abnormal sexual and pathogenic development, hypersensitivity to oxidative and iron-depletion stress), which suggests overlap of function. Using comparative biochemical analysis of wild-type and mutant strains, we show that NPS1, a third gene associated with siderophore biosynthesis, is responsible for biosynthesis of a second extracellular siderophore, malonichrome. nps1 mutants fail to produce this metabolite. Phenotypic characterization reveals that, although single nps1 mutants are like wild-type with respect to sexual development, hypersensitivity to ROS and iron-depletion stress, and virulence to the host, triple nps1nps2nps6 deletion strains, lacking all three siderophores, are even more impaired in these attributes than double nps2nps6 strains. Thus, combinatorial mutants lacking key iron-associated genes uncovered malonichrome function. The intimate connection between presence/absence of siderophores and resistance/sensitivity to ROS is central to sexual and pathogenic development.


Edge Drawing (ED) is an edge detection method that works by computing a set of anchor points, which are most likely to be edge elements, and linking them with a predefined set of rules which we call smart routing. ED can thus obtain one-pixel wide, contiguous and smooth edges in real-time. In most cases, obtaining the edges in segment form (i.e. blob of connected edgels) is desired. Because edge segments also include the connectivity information among the pixels, they contain useful features about the geometric shape of the detected edges. In contrast to conventional detectors, ED is able to output the resulting edge map as vectorial data, i.e., array of edge segments instead of a 2D binary image. In this work, this capability of ED is explained and discussed with examples.


Social media platforms are thriving nowadays, so a huge volume of data is produced. As it includes brief and clear statements, millions of people post their thoughts on microblogging sites every day. This paper represents and analyze the capacity of diverse strategies to volumetric, delicate, and social networks to predict critical opinions from online social networking sites. In the exploration of certain searching for relevant, the thoughts of people play a crucial role. Social media becomes a good outlet since the last decades to share the opinions globally. Sentiment analysis as well as opinion mining is a tool that is used to extract the opinions or thoughts of the common public. An occurrence in one place, be it economic, political, or social, may trigger large-scale chain public reaction across many other sites in an increasingly interconnected world. This study demonstrates the evaluation of sentiment analysis techniques using social media contents and creating the association between subjectivity with herd behavior and clustering coefficient as well as tries to predict the election result (2021 election in West Bengal). This is an implementation of sentiment analysis targeted at estimating the results of an upcoming election by assessing the public's opinion across social media. This paper also has a short discussion section on the usefulness of the idea in other fields.


Background: The expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes CYPs is controlled by pregnane X receptor (PXR), and, therefore, understanding how PXR modulates CYP expression is important to minimize adverse drug interactions, one type of preventable adverse drug reaction. Objective: We review the mechanisms of PXR-mediated repression of CYP expression. Methods: We discuss the clinical implications of CYP repression and the role of signal cross-talks, including protein–protein interactions and phosphorylation of PXR and coregulators, in inhibiting PXR and repressing CYP expression. Results/conclusion: Kinases such as cyclin-dependent kinase 2, protein kinase A, PKC and 70 kDa form of ribosomal protein S6 kinase repress CYP expression by phosphorylating and inhibiting PXR. Growth factor signaling represses CYP expression by phosphorylating and inhibiting forkhead in rhabdomyosarcoma, a co-activator of PXR. During inflammation, NF-κB represses both PXR and CYP expression through protein–protein interactions with the PXR pathway.


Tuhfat Al-Nazzar is one of the most famous travel books in history. Ibn Battuta known for his travels, and because of his global fame, he called the Prince of Muslim Travellers. Ibn Battuta started this journey from his hometown Tangiers; He intended to make the pilgrimage to the Sacred House of God, and he took a friend in every city, who told about him and his city. The period of his travels was estimated to be approximately thirty years, and he dictated to "Ibn Jazi al-Kalbi" the details and anecdotes of those trips. Ibn Battuta excelled in the art of description and reached a high degree never before, and from this description appeared his fame in the field of travel literature. Ibn Battuta was not satisfied with the external description of the places that he visited, but he also elaborated on the entrances and exits of cities and the natures of the different peoples with whom he lived. He listed many interesting stories and mentioned several religious features; whether Islamic or other religions of different peoples that he passed through his travels. From this, derive the subject of this research entitled: Religious features in the book Tuhfat Al-Nazzar. The importance of this topic is to read the religious aspects that Ibn Battuta dealt with in his book Tuhfat al-Nazzar, where he mentioned some holy places and religious figures, Islamic, pagan, and others. This research specified in the book: "The Masterpiece of the Priests in the Oddities of the Cities and the Wonders of the Travels". In addition, this research aims to highlight the religious features included in the book Tuhfat Al-Nazzar were in Arab or foreign peoples of all kinds


Motivation
In the analysis of RNA-Seq data, detecting differentially expressed (DE) genes has been a hot research area in recent years and many methods have been proposed. DE genes show different average expression levels in different sample groups, and thus can be important biological markers. While generally very successful, these methods need to be further tailored and improved for cancerous data, which often features quite diverse expression in the samples from the cancer group, and this diversity is much larger than that in the control group.

Results
We propose a statistical method that can detect not only genes that show different average expressions, but also genes that show different diversities of expressions in different groups. These "differentially dispersed" genes can be important clinical markers. Our method uses a redescending penalty on the quasi-likelihood function, and thus has superior robustness against outliers and other noise. Simulations and real data analysis demonstrate that DiPhiSeq outperforms existing methods in the presence of outliers, and identifies unique sets of genes.

Availability
DiPhiSeq is publicly available as an R package on CRAN: https://cran.r-project.org/package=DiPhiSeq.

Supplementary Information
Supplementary data supplemental_materials.pdf are available at Bioinformatics online.


In the nuclei of Ehrligh and NK/Ly mouse ascites tumor cells the number of nucleoli varies between 1 and 10. The average nucleolar number is 3.3 +/- 1.3 for both tumors. This value as well as the distribution of nuclei with various nucleolar number are parctically constant between the 5th and 15th day of transplantation. The nucleolar changes resulting from the effect of a single 200 mug/kg i.p. dose of actinomycin D take place in two phases, almost in the same manner for both tumors. Within 24 hours the mean nucleolar number decreases by about 20 percent accompanied by a diminution of size of nucleoli. 15 to 20 percent of nuclei does not contain real nucleoli but has small spots showing nucleolus-like staining ("scattered" nucleolar cells). The second phase is characterized by a 25-35 percent increase in the mean nucleolar number followed by a nucleolar enlargement. The process returns to normal within 6-7 days.


Using algorithms to generate creative work is a well-established transdisciplinary practice that spans several fields. Accessible and popular coding tools such as Processing and Open Frameworks, as well as the rise of hack spaces have significantly contributed to increased activity in this field. However, beyond art-technology curation and historical contextualisation, evaluation of the resulting artefacts is in its infancy, although several general models of creativity - and its evaluation - exist. There is a perceived distinction between human and computer creativity, whereas we argue that they are effectively the same thing. Computers are made and programmed by people, so it makes sense to measure the creativity of the human influence behind the machine, rather than viewing computers as truly autonomous entities. By concatenating and enhancing existing models of creativity, we propose a framework that takes these issues into account, with a view to evaluating creative work that uses the computer as a medium more effectively.


The identification of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 19891 illuminated many dark corners in the natural history of the infection formerly known as non-A, non-B hepatitis. Chronic infection with HCV, we now know, affects more than 170 million people worldwide, and up to 90% of these will progress to chronic liver disease.2 Prevalence rates of infection range from 0.5-2% in the developed world, through 6.5% in parts of equatorial Africa, to as high as 20% in Egypt. The virus is transmitted by blood-to-blood contact and most infections in the Western world were acquired either through intravenous drug abuse or, before the advent of anti-HCV screening in 1992, through transfusion of blood or blood products. A high proportion of individuals with HCV infection in the USA3 and the UK were infected 20-25 years ago by sharing of drug injection equipment, so we face a substantial rise in the prevalence of end-stage liver disease. In the UK, between 200 000 and 400 000 individuals are believed to harbour the infection, most of whom have yet to be diagnosed. In developing countries the principal vehicle of transmission is inadequately sterilized medical equipment,4,5 and the high prevalence in Egypt may be attributable to lack of hygiene in schistosomiasis prevention programmes after the Second World War.6 Sexual transmission contributes few cases,7 and vertical transmission is likewise uncommon (< 6% of children becoming HCV-positive) unless the mother has high viraemia or is coinfected with HIV.8 The virus has not been shown to be transmitted by breast feeding.

Within 30 years after HCV infection nearly one-third of patients have developed cirrhosis. Independent factors associated with rapid progression to fibrosis include age at infection greater than 40 years, daily alcohol consumption 50 g or more and male sex.9 Other possible factors are immunodeficiency (for example due to HIV) and coinfection with hepatitis B virus.

Infection with the hepatitis C virus results in extrahepatic as well as hepatic diseases. In a minority of patients the first sign is an acute syndrome resembling other forms of acute hepatitis. The mean incubation period is 7 weeks and symptoms last 2-12 weeks. Patients with chronic HCV are often symptom-free, but fatigue, muscle aches, anorexia, and right upper quadrant pain do occur. Disorders linked to the infection include autoimmune hepatitis, Sjogren's syndrome, lichen planus, thyroiditis, membranous glomerulonephritis, polyarteritis nodosa, and essential mixed cryoglobulinaemia.10,11 Hepatocellular carcinoma is commonly associated with chronic HCV infection—probably as a consequence of cirrhosis or chronic necroinflammation rather than a direct carcinogenic effect.12

Individuals with suspected HCV infection should be tested for virus antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).13 If antibody is detected or the patient is thought to be at risk despite negative or indeterminate serological tests, viraemia should be sought by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A liver biopsy provides the best measure of the extent of disease—routine liver tests correlate poorly with both necroinflammatory and fibrosis scores—and is also useful for excluding other diagnoses such as alcohol-induced liver disease. All patients with chronic HCV should be considered for treatment. The goal of treatment is to achieve a sustained virological response (PCR-negativity 6 months after the end of treatment).14 In the first interferon trials, subcutaneous interferon alpha three times a week achieved sustained virological responses in 12-16% of patients. Addition of ribavirin then raised response rates to 35-45%,15,16 and the results have since been further improved (50-60%) by use of pegylated interferons.17 Variables that favour a sustained response to therapy include low pretreatment HCV RNA levels, HCV genotype 2 or 3, female sex, younger age, less hepatic fibrosis on liver biopsy and lower body weight.18 Patients with chronic HCV infection should be warned that alcohol abuse speeds progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.10


The large-sized composite compressed natural gas(CNG) cylinder shows great potentials in the exploration of ocean natural gas and the onshore transport of natural gas,which is benefit to achieving the national purpose of energy-saving and emission reduction.In this paper,the large-sized composite CNG cylinders are discussed in terms of their application requirement,foreign and domestic manufacturers,product standards and production key technologies,etc.


Actual pandemic state of covid-19 infection leads to considerations of the quality of the state of immune system in population and to possible changes of this unfavorable state. In this review, the authors discuss the possibilities of nutritional changes, as the quality of nutrition in global sense is completely unsatisfactory. We assume that optimal supplementation with minerals and vitamins forms the basis for development of adequate immune responses not only to Covid-19 infection, but also to other bacterial and viral infections. It is necessary, however, to use optimal doses of supplements, as either too low or too high dose might decide between the use of a medicine or a poison. We conclude that the major responsibility for optimal approach to supplements lies not only with health professionals, but with the society. It is necessary to repeatedly offer quality information on neglected components influencing the health of the population, including stress, microbiome, adequate physical and psychical strain, and/or optimal diet. Beta glucans and their immunomodulatory activity helps not only in prevention of the whole spectrum of diseases connected with the immune system, but also in treatment of infectious diseases.


Excerpt] In the United States, the renewed energy displayed by the labor movement is particularly promising. From organizing drives to strike victories to legislative campaigns, labor's renewed influence in the American political economy is clearly seen. A labor movement that was left for dead by many in the Reagan era has developed new leadership and innovative strategies for rank-and-file mobilization and political clout. In a global economy dominated to a large extent by American-based multinational corporations, the world needs a strong American labor movement. The goal of the new activists, young and old, who drive today's labor campaigns, is the rebirth of modernized, mobilized, powerful American unions. We suggest that innovations at the heart of the current revitalization are part of a broad shift away from traditional postwar unionism to a new social movement unionism. The transformation occurs in a weak institutional context in which experimentation and innovation are possible. Driving the change are two generations of activists: veterans of the social movements of the 1960s, now in leadership positions at the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and in many member unions, and a new generation of campus and workplace activists.


The well-publicized implosion of Enron Corporation highlighted the dangers of 401(k) retirement plans' holding large amounts of stock in the employing company. Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) are a special form of retirement plan that invests primarily in employer stock. As such, ESOPs are even more dangerous for workers than Enron-style 401(k) plans. When an employer chooses an ESOP, workers are stuck with under-diversified retirement savings, which expose them to unnecessary levels of investment risk. In addition, an ESOP carries with it opportunities for company insiders to serve their own interests or those of the company at the expense of the workers who participate in the ESOP.Despite these serious dangers, federal law allows and incentivizes ESOPs. Pro-ESOP advocates seek to justify ESOPs as being good for workers. They claim ESOPs are instruments of economic democratization, serving such ends as redistributing capital ownership, enhancing workers' job satisfaction and productivity, and improving compensation and job stability. There is, however, no solid evidence showing that ESOPs actually produce such effects. Even if ESOPs did benefit workers in some ways, it would be necessary to balance the benefits against the ills of under-diversification and inherent conflicts of interest.In light of ESOPs' clear harms and, at best, speculative benefits, the author suggests a range of possible solutions, with the ideal being a complete ban on ownership of employer stock by tax-advantaged retirement plans, including both ESOPs and 401(k) plans.


ABSTRACT A recurrent critique towards socialization theory is its emphasis on stability and disregard for change. Some case studies in the YARG project, particularly that of Ghana, do indeed point to the central role and influence that young adults ascribe to their primary socialization agents. In these contexts, personal religiosity is described as being in accordance with the values of parents and family, making religious transmission from one generation to another appear like a seamless affair. However, data from these contexts also point to how secondary socialization agents, such as peers, media and secular education, play a central role for how young adults maintain their personal religiosity. The aim of this paper is to analyze how young adults in Ghana, India and Poland describe the role of primary socialization agents on their religiosity, but also, to critically discern this influence as against that of secondary socialization agents. This article builds on both survey and interview data.


Collaboration networks arise when we map the connections between scientists which are formed through joint publications. These networks thus display the social structure of academia, and also allow conclusions about the structure of scientific knowledge. Using the computer science publication database DBLP, we compile relations between authors and publications as graphs and proceed with examining and quantifying collaborative relations with graph-based methods. We review standard properties of the network and rank authors and publications by centrality. Additionally, we detect communities with modularity-based clustering and compare the resulting clusters to a ground-truth based on conferences and thus topical similarity. In a second part, we are the first to combine DBLP network data with data from the Dagstuhl Seminars: We investigate whether seminars of this kind, as social and academic events designed to connect researchers, leave a visible track in the structure of the collaboration network. Our results suggest that such single events are not influential enough to change the network structure significantly. However, the network structure seems to influence a participant's decision to accept or decline an invitation.


Background Recent structural analysis of anti citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) in serum and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) revealed that the vast majority (>90%) of secreted ACPA IgG molecules carry N-glycans in the variable (Fab) domain. This remarkable degree of Fab-glycosylation is absent from ACPA-depleted control IgG and from autoantibodies in other diseases. So far, it is unclear why ACPA carry this feature and which biological effects these glycans mediate in the context of RA. Of note, however, N-glycosylation requires a specific amino acid consensus sequence in the protein backbone, which is very rare in germline-encoded variable region genes. Objectives To study the B cell receptor (BCR) repertoire of ACPA-expressing B cells to determine the frequency, origin and localisation of N-glycosylation sites in ACPA Fab domains. Methods Citrullinated antigen-specific and non citrulline-reactive control B cells were identified in peripheral blood of ACPA-positive RA patients by antigen-specific tetramer staining and isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting. Cells were either sorted in pools and directly lysed, or sorted as single cells and cultured for two weeks followed by the detection of ACPA-positive culture wells by ELISA. Full-length immunoglobulin (Ig) rearrangements were identified by anchoring reverse transcription of Ig sequences, amplification by nested PCR and either next generation sequencing (NGS, PacBio platform) or, for single cell transcripts, Sanger sequencing (scSeq). Sequence reads were analysed using IMGT V-QUEST tools. Results The mean number of nucleotide mutations in heavy chains (HC) of IgG BCRs derived from ACPA-expressing B cells was high (33 in NGS, 48 in scSeq samples; similarity to germline: 88% in NGS, 84% in scSeq). NGS identified 12 unique IgG clones derived from 4 donors, of which 10 (83%) had at least one N-glycosylation site in the HC or light chain (LC). scSeq identified 86 unique IgG clones derived from 6 donors, of which 68 (79%) had N-glycosylation sites. For 57/86 IgG clones, we could determine the combination of HC and LC sequences. In these, only 7 (12%) clones had no sites, while 19 (33%) had one, 23 (41%) had two, 5 (9%) had three and 3 (4%) clones had four sites. 57 sites were found in the HC and 34 in the LC. All N-glycosylation sites were created by somatic mutations and not encoded in the germline sequence. Several sites were located in antigen-engaging regions. No correlation was found between the number of N-glycosylation sites and the number of somatic mutations. Conclusions We demonstrate that B cell surface-expressed ACPA-IgG molecules carry a remarkably high frequency of N-glycosylation sites in the Fab domain, all of which are generated by somatic mutation. This could indicate that ACPA-expressing B cells acquire a selective survival advantage by introducing N-glycosylation consensus sequences in the Fab domain, a process that is likely to occur under the influence of T cell help and that could facilitate the break of tolerance to citrullinated antigens. Disclosure of Interest None declared


The van Hove singularity (VHS) model provides a unifying picture for understanding many anomalous features of high-temperature superconductors. Here, it is shown that there is an intrinsic in-plane anisotropy associated with the VHS which can explain recent observations on Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8.


Potatoes in the diet contribute significantly to antioxidant daily intake worldwide. The influence of different domestic cooking conditions, boiling, microwaving, and baking, on total phenolics (TP), antioxidant capacity, phenolic composition, and tryptophan content was studied using eight commercial potato varieties. The antioxidant capacity was detected by the methods of oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay (ORAC) and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH(*)) assay. The phenolic composition and tryptophan content were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD), whereas phenolics and tryptophan were identified by means of HPLC-mass spectrometry, HPLC-DAD, and authentic standards. Antioxidant capacity was influenced by potato variety and cooking conditions; however, cooked potatoes retained 68-97% ORAC value depending on cooking procedure and variety. Chlorogenic acid and its isomers dominated the phenolic composition of each variety involved in this study. ORAC and TP were highly and positively correlated (r = 0.9119). Norkotah ranked highest in chlorogenic acid content and antioxidant value. Principal component analysis showed different cooking processes did not influence the trend of the antioxidant profile of the eight potato varieties, but specific compounds exert influence on the antioxidant capacity. The results imply that the potato varieties rich in antioxidant components could be good antioxidant sources as activities are not greatly affected by different cooking conditions.


In response to increased environmental concerns, the Virginia Department of Transportation, with the support of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, developed an experimental project designed to test the feasibility of using shredded tires for constructing highway embankments. Approximately 1.7 million discarded tires were used on the project constructed near Williamsburg in the summer of 1993, the only shredded-tire highway embankment in Virginia to date. During the 10-year monitoring period, the shredded-tire embankment performed satisfactorily based on environmental and engineering assessments. The researchers recommended that the use of shredded-tire embankments be considered a viable option for disposing of discarded tires in an environmentally responsible way.


Ten intact and 22 ruptured Achilles tendons were studied by immunohistochemical techniques. In intact tendons, both fibronectin and laminin were found in vascular walls, myotendineal junction, and endomysium, but not in the connective tissue of the tendons. In ruptured tendons the distribution of laminin was not changed. Fibronectin deposits, on the contrary, could be detected on the tear surface and in the collagen fibers of the ruptured tendons.


Bacterial pathogens employ a variety of tactics to persist in their host and promote infection. Pathogens often target host organelles in order to benefit their survival, either through manipulation or subversion of their function. Mitochondria are regularly targeted by bacterial pathogens owing to their diverse cellular roles, including energy production and regulation of programmed cell death. However, disruption of normal mitochondrial function during infection can be detrimental to cell viability because of their essential nature. In response, cells use multiple quality control programs to mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction and promote recovery. In this review, we will provide an overview of mitochondrial recovery programs including mitochondrial dynamics, the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt), and mitophagy. We will then discuss the various approaches used by bacterial pathogens to target mitochondria, which result in mitochondrial dysfunction. Lastly, we will discuss how cells leverage mitochondrial recovery programs beyond their role in organelle repair, to promote host defense against pathogen infection.


This paper analyzes the strategies of internationalization of the automotive First Tier Suppliers (FTS). The developments of the modular production in the car industry induce an evolution of the vertical relationships which explain, at the same time, the interest and the forms of the internationalization of the FTS. From this point of view, the paper seeks to explain the patterns of internationalization adopted by the FTS by proposing a grid of reading which try to identify proximity request according to complexity and exclusivity of the interfirms' interactions. The argumentation is articulated around three parts. The first reconsiders the transformations induced by modularization. The second presents some stylized facts on the internationalization of the FTS. The third part presents the analytic grid and draws the implications on the internationalization of the firms.


Hemophagocytic syndromes encompass a spectrum of life-threatening disorders characterized by severe systemic inflammation and mechanistically are not well understood. We inadvertently generated a novel mouse model that shares many characteristics of these hyperinflammatory conditions. Expression of a single activating point mutation (E613R) in the receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase CD45 results in a lupus-like phenotype on a mixed C57Bl/6 (B6)-129/Sv genetic background. However, CD45E613R mice on an inbred B6 background show no stigmata of disease despite inappropriate regulation of signals emanating from CD45's substrates, the src family kinases. Surprisingly, introduction of a MHC class I restricted T cell receptor specific for ovalbumin (OT1) into B6 CD45E613R mice results in a severe hyperinflammatory disease reminiscent of hemophagocytic syndromes. Disease is maintained in RAG1 deficient CD45E613R/OTI mice implicating myeloid and/or CD8 T cells in disease pathogenesis. Using an adoptive transfer approach, we find CD45E613R/OT1 CD8 T cells are necessary and sufficient for this phenotype. Further analysis of CD45E613R/OT1 T cells indicates that they are inappropriately activated, secrete excessive levels of interferon gamma, and have defective cytolytic function. These intriguing results support further analysis of the role of src family kinase mediated signaling networks in hemophagocytic disorders.


Terrestrial and marine ecosystems provide essential goods and services to human societies. In the last several decades, however, anthropogenic pressures are causing serious threats to ecosystem integrity, functions, and processes. In turn, ecosystem degradation and loss of ecosystem services can seriously affect human well-being and climate processes on local and regional scales, potentially amplifying the negative effects of global change. Knowledge-based conservation, management, and restoration policies are thus urgently needed in order to ensure the delivery of ecosystem benefits in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures. The Group on Earth Observations Global Ecosystem Initiative (GEO ECO) uses newly available monitoring methodologies that combine approaches in geosciences and biosciences, remotely sensed data, and in situ observations to provide open-access information on the state and ongoing changes of ecosystems and ecosystem services. The best use is made of existing and future earth observations and field monitoring data, complemented by appropriate interpretation tools and data services, as well as ecosystem models able to use these data. The GEO ECO combines new activities developed in the framework of the European H2020 ECOPOTENTIAL and Satellite-Based Wetland Observation Service projects, with continuing global ecosystem mapping activities carried forward from the former GEO ecosystems task from the first decade of GEO and Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey, Esri, and a number of international ecosystems experts. In these endeavors, all data, scientific results, models, and information will be made accessible and available through a system of cloud-based open platforms implementing virtual laboratories. Such platforms will be a major contribution to the GEOSS common infrastructure, reinforcing the GEOSS Data Collection of Open Resources for Everyone and in harmony with the Open Data global vision.


The production of biofuels and other products from algae is a technology that is rapidly developing. This paper presents an overview of algae, its benefits over other biofuel sources and the technology involved in producing algal biofuel. The case study in this report looks at the potential of algal biodiesel, produced using power plant exhaust, to replace our current petrodiesel supply and consequently reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The results suggest that using 60% of all coal and gas power plants would allow this new fuel source to replace petrodiesel entirely and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions by ∼5%. The challenge at the present is to improve the efficiency of algal fuel production technology so as to lower the cost of algal biodiesel and thereby make it commercially competitive with petrodiesel. Researchers are currently developing various means of accomplishing this and successful commercialization is anticipated by 2018. Copyright , Oxford University Press.


Purpose – This study aims to investigate the validity of using bilingual test to measure the mathematics achievement of students who have limited English profi ciency (LEP). The bilingual test and the English-only test consist of 20 computation and 20 word problem multiple-choice questions (from TIMSS 2003 and 2007 released items. The bilingual test consists of items in Malay and English languages. The English teachers classifi ed their students into LEP and non-LEP groups. Methodology – A total of 2,021 LEP and 2,747 non-LEP students from 34 schools were identifi ed. Spiral administration was employed. A total of 2,399 students sat for the bilingual test and 2,369 for the English-only test. The scores were linked using RAGE-RGEQUATE version 3.22. Findings – Findings revealed that in the word problem testlet, the bilingual test was one unit easier for LEP students, probably indicating that the Malay language adaptation assisted them. For the non-LEP students, the bilingual version did not provide any added advantage to them as they did not show elevated achievement score. 30 Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction: Vol. 10 (2013): 29-55 Signifi cance – This study indicates bilingual test can be an appropriate test accommodation that validly measures both LEP and non-LEP students' mathematics achievement in countries where English is not the native language but is used as the instructional language.


Congestive heart failure is often preceded by a latent or preclinical phase in which patients are relatively asymptomatic. During this period, there is neuroendocrine activation, left ventricular dysfunction, and remodeling of the heart. The extent to which these activities are interrelated is unclear, but it appears from experimental studies that myocardial damage is associated with chronic sympathetic nervous system activation, left ventricular hypertrophy, and a subsequent increase in left ventricular volume. The nondamaged myocardial tissue demonstrates enhanced messenger RNA for angiotensinogen and angiotensin converting enzyme activity. Angiotensin II along with other trophic signals may prime the cell for "growth." Alteration of left ventricular function may produce unusual loading conditions on the myocardium. Stretch of membrane-bound ion channels may impart mechanical signals that may be transduced and expressed as cellular hypertrophy. Interstitial collagenase may be activated, leading to disruption of the collagen-supporting network. Elongated cells (eccentric hypertrophy), cell slippage, and cell dropout may contribute to the dilatative process. The end product is cardiac dilatation, inefficient left ventricular performance, and congestive heart failure. We have observed that an increase in left ventricular mass is the initial morphological response to acute myocardial damage in a canine model. This occurs at 1 week and is followed by progressive activation of the sympathetic nervous system, left ventricular dilatation, and modest left ventricular dysfunction, a condition that mimics preclinical heart failure in patients. The remodeling process in the canine model, including the increase in mass and volume, may be blocked by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


PAM data transmission receivers accomplishing maximum likelihood sequence detection (MLSD) usually require a matched filter prefilter, a sampler at the symbol rate, and a Viterbi algorithm detector. When the channel is unknown or slowly changing, one must use an adaptive matched filter prefilter. We examine an alternative optimum receiver whose optimality is independent of the matched filter prefilter and which is applicable when the channel is effectively band-limited. The sampler in the proposed receiver operates at a rate faster than the data symbol rate, enabling one to replace the matched filter by a fixed low-pass filter and still ensure that the maximum likelihood detector is supplied with a set of sufficient statistics. It is shown that the matched filter is incorporated within a modified Viterbi detector without increasing the number of states in the algorithm, although the Viterbi detector must perform computations at approximately twice the usual rate. Simulations support the optimality of the new receiver and quantitatively indicate the degradation in performance experienced by some adaptive receivers previously proposed.


Nearly every empirical study of outcome oriented retrospective voting assumes, though almost always implicitly, that a) every voter knows the composition of the incumbent government, or b) that voters who may not know who is in government do not cast retrospective votes. In this short essay we provide evidence that these assumptions are quite unlikely to hold and discuss how not taking this possibility into account has influenced our understanding of the retrospective voting mechanism and the conditioning effect of political sophistication on the economic vote. In so doing, we advocate for the inclusion of questions regarding cabinet composition in electoral surveys.


The purpose of this paper is to give a topological view to the spatial clustering focusing on density based clustering with its variations. We propose the definition of cluster topology; define clusters as various kinds of topological connected sets. More in this paper, the topological cluster forming algorithms are presented. Then we reform some typical algorithms with the new topological view. Examples are given to show the theories.


We estimate ex post returns to emerging market debt by combining secondary-market prices with observed flows based on World Bank data. From 1970-2000, returns averaged 9 percent per annum, about the same as returns on a ten-year U.S. treasury bond. This reflects the combined effect of the 1980s debt crisis and much higher returns during 1989-2000. Annual returns since 1986 have been less volatile than emerging market equity returns but more volatile than returns on U.S. corporate or high-yield bonds. However, unlike returns on these bonds, emerging market debt returns do not seem significantly correlated with U.S. or world stock markets.


We present the case of a 62 years old patient, with multiple associated tares, which was operated in emergency for an Amyand's hernia. The appendix was perforated and generated a big pussy collection (aprox. 200 ml) in the hernia sac. The impossibility of mobilization of the appendix, which was just 2/3 in the hernia sac, made us perform a median laparotomy for safety reasons. The position and fixation of the cecum made impossible the exteriorization of the appendix in the hernia sac. The postoperative evolution, under a complex supervision, was favorable. Due to the rarity of the clinical entity, of the specific issues and of the literature review, we decided to communicate the clinical observation.


We describe a formal approach to identify 'root causes' of outliers observed in $n$ variables $X_1,\dots,X_n$ in a scenario where the causal relation between the variables is a known directed acyclic graph (DAG). To this end, we first introduce a systematic way to define outlier scores. Further, we introduce the concept of 'conditional outlier score' which measures whether a value of some variable is unexpected *given the value of its parents* in the DAG, if one were to assume that the causal structure and the corresponding conditional distributions are also valid for the anomaly. Finally, we quantify to what extent the high outlier score of some target variable can be attributed to outliers of its ancestors. This quantification is defined via Shapley values from cooperative game theory.


We examine the entanglement dynamics between two strongly driven atoms off-resonantly coupled with a single-mode cavity via the two-photon process with the help of negativity in two different types of initial states. The results show that entanglement sudden death may occur under both the above conditions and the sudden death effect can be monitored by modulating the atom–cavity detunings. Furthermore, we also find an atomic decoherence-free subspace so that the initial entanglement between two atoms remains invariable in application.


The essential part of cognitive radio is spectrum sensing, so that the under utilised spectrum could be detected to improve the spectrum efficiency. For this purpose, a wide range of frequency bands are considered and locations of multiple occupied spectrum subbands are focused. A major challenge related with such broadband spectrum sensing is that it is either extravagant or impracticable to perform Nyquist sampling on the broadband signal. In this study, a broadband spectrum sensing method, that takes advantage of subNyquist sampling wherein the sampling rate is considerably reduced. The correlation matrix of a limited number of noisy samples is computed and is used to estimate the frequency function of the pisarenko harmonic decomposition method to detect the occupied and unoccupied channels. The salient feature of this approach as compared to other methods is that, no prior knowledge of signal properties (which would lead to uncertain problems) is necessary. Further, the efficiency of this method is assessed by calculating the detection probability of the occupied channel as a function of the limited number of samples and the signal to noise ratio of random input signals. The simulation results demonstrate a reliable detection, even with limited samples and a low SNR.


The paper is based on an arts-based project that was aimed at understanding what 'home' means to migrant women in London. The project entailed teaching art techniques to 36 women participants and the active contribution of a large group of volunteers and research assistants. Women in the project were from various backgrounds but the majority were from Afghanistan. As such the project was conducted using multiple languages and a systematic collaboration among the research team members and between researchers and participants. This complex communication made the process of meaning-making of concept of home challenging. Three main challenges that were experienced in relation to this collaborative methodology have been identified and the strategies that were developed to address them are detailed. The three challenges in combining action research and arts methods that are discussed in this paper include: 1. Challenges about collective decision-making; 2. Challenges about the notions of progress and process; and 3. Challenges concerning stakeholders' scope of experience. The paper offers a pathway towards working in contentious research settings between academia and community-based organisations in project that include participants from different backgrounds and speak various languages. We offer insights into how both researchers and participants can learn from challenges in deploying collaborative methodologies such as art practice in action research. We show here that incorporating art practice is a transformative action even when it is seen as far from an essential skill or unnecessary. Such action-oriented practices in research are directly related to United Nations' sustainable development goals in reducing gender inequality and the opportunities that art practice can offer for quality education to marginalised groups in society.


In a double‐blind, randomised study, we have examined the effects of the addition of pethidine 100 mg to 40 ml prilocaine 0.25% for intravenous regional anaesthesia in healthy volunteers. During intravenous regional anaesthesia the hand and forearm are isolated from the rest of the circulation and pethidine interaction with central opiate receptors does not occur. Pethidine increased the speed of onset and extent of sensory and motor block, reduced tourniquet and forearm pain, and subjectively improved the quality of the block. Pethidine has local anaesthetic action on peripheral nerves in vivo.


Experimental results are presented for a practical magnetic refrigerator equipped with a large-field racetrack superconducting magnet, an auxiliary GM (Gifford-McMahon) refrigerator, and a liquid-helium vessel for magnetic refrigeration cooling. In this design the magnetic refrigerator is equipped with 14 pieces of GGG (gadolinium-gallium-garnet) single-crystal material on a rotating disk that operates along the gradient of the magnetic field produced by the racetrack superconducting magnet. The heat generated by the magnetic refrigerator is removed by an auxiliary GM refrigerator through the heat absorber made of a high-thermal-conductivity metal. The cold station of the magnetic refrigerator can be connected to the liquid-helium vessel by a high-thermal-conductivity rod to recondense the gaseous helium in the vessel. Refrigeration power measurements are presented and discussed. >


The drought and flood disaster has features with wide influence,high frequency and hard to forecast. Based on the basic principle of grey model and the complementary advantage of Markov state transition matrix,the grey Markov prediction residuals optimization model was established. We chose the annual precipitation during 60 years in Zhengzhou as historical data and fixed the abnormal sequence,then established the prediction model of drought and flood. Using mean-standard deviation drought and flood classification method,the precipitation thresholds of drought and waterlogging were obtained. Thereby taking fixed upper and lower catastrophe point,the date disaster sequences of drought and waterlogging were built. At last,the sequence was modeled and solved. The result shows that the optimized prediction models of grey Markov are simpler and more accurate than the basic grey model and can be used as a reference for the disaster prevention and mitigation of Zhengzhou City.


This dissertation investigates the dynamics of some second-order difference equations and systems of difference equations whose defining functions satisfy certain monotonicity properties. In each study we utilize the theory for specific classes of monotone difference equations to establish local and global dynamics. Manuscript 1 is an introduction that provides fundamental definitions and important results for difference equations that are used throughout the rest of the thesis. Manuscript 2 presents some potential global dynamic scenarios for competitive systems of difference equations in the plane. These results are extended to apply to the class of second-order difference equations whose transition functions are decreasing in the first variable and increasing in the second. In particular, these results are applied to investigate the following equation as a case study: xn+1 = Cxn−1 + Exn−1 axn + dxn + f , n = 0, 1, . . . , (1) where the initial conditions x−1 and x0 are arbitrary nonnegative numbers such that the solution is defined and the parameters satisfy C,E, a, d, f ≥ 0, C+E > 0, a+ C > 0, and a+ d > 0. A rich collection of additional dynamical behaviors for Equation (1) are established to provide a nearly complete characterization of its global dynamics with the basins of attraction of equilibria and periodic solutions. Manuscript 3 considers the following second-order generalization of the classical Beverton-Holt equation: xn+1 = af(xn, xn−1) 1 + f(xn, xn−1) , n = 0, 1, . . . . (2) Here f is a continuous function nondecreasing in both arguments, the parameter a is a positive real number, and the initial conditions x−1 and x0 are arbitrary nonnegative numbers such that the solution is defined. Local and global dynamics of Equation (2) are presented in the event f is chosen to be a certain type of linear or quadratic polynomial. Particular consideration is given to the existence problem of period-two solutions. Manuscript 4 presents an order-k generalization of Equation (2), xn+1 = af(xn, xn−1, . . . , xn+1−k) 1 + f(xn, xn−1, . . . , xn+1−k) , n = 0, 1, . . . , k ≥ 1, (3) where f remains a function nondecreasing in all of its arguments, a > 0, and x0, x−1, . . . , x1−k ≥ 0. We examine several interesting examples in which f is a transcendental function. This manuscript establishes conditions under which Equation (3) possesses a unique positive equilibrium that is a global attractor of all solutions with positive initial conditions. In particular, results are presented for the special case in which f(x, . . . , x) is chosen to be a concave function.


Introduction: Cesarean section is the surgical delivery of a fetus, placenta, and the membranes through an incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus. Nowadays about 50-65 of all deliveries in our country are being done using this method. So we aimed to identify the factors that affect the method of delivery. Methods and Material: This study was done on 414 pregnant women referred to public and privative hospitals in Shiraz from1384 To 1385 Data regarding the mothers' demography, history of previous deliveries, fetuses' presentations, and neonates' physical examinations were collected using a structured questionnaire and interview as well as using the medical records. The data were then analyzed using SPSS software version 13. Fisher exact test, independent t test, and multiple regression test were used to compare two groups. Results: The overall prevalence of performing cesarean section was 66.4, which were 89 and 63.28 for privative and public hospitals respectively. Age, height, body mass index, socioeconomic status, nulliparity, admissions to privative hospitals, history of previous cesarean section, pharmacologic induction of labor, macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, and breach presentation showed a significant correlation with cesarean section (P 35 years, and the level of mothers' education were the most important factors that were accompanied by performing cesarean section as the method of delivery. Conclusion: Cesarean section is known as the recommended method of delivery in some specific emergency situations. However its prevalence is increasing because of economical benefits for physicians as well as mothers' fear from labor pain. So persuading mothers especially the nulliparous ones to vaginal delivery is essential to decrease the related side effects and the rate of cesarean section in the following pregnancies.


Abstract In industry and research, big data applications are gaining a lot of traction and space. Surveillance videos contribute significantly to big unlabelled data. The aim of visual surveillance is to understand and determine object behavior. It includes static and moving object detection, as well as video tracking to comprehend scene events. Object detection algorithms may be used to identify items in any video scene. Any video surveillance system faces a significant challenge in detecting moving objects and differentiating between objects with same shapes or features. The primary goal of this work is to provide an integrated framework for quick overview of video analysis utilizing deep learning algorithms to detect suspicious activity. In greater applications, the detection method is utilized to determine the region where items are available and the form of objects in each frame. This video analysis also aids in the attainment of security. Security may be characterized in a variety of ways, such as identifying theft or violation of covid protocols. The obtained results are encouraging and superior to existing solutions with 97% accuracy.


Understanding the dynamics and the stabilization of flames is important for practical applications and for theoretical research. Here, we investigate the time evolution of a Bunsen flame in a Poiseuille flow from an initially flat profile to a stationary front position by using a G-equation-based kinematic model. The transient flame positions are given by the solution of the G-equation. To find the solutions of the non-linear G-equation, the analytical method of characteristics is employed resulting in analytic expressions in terms of elliptic integrals for the location of the characteristics and for the location of the flame front along the characteristics. By employing the secant method in inverting the implicit relation giving the location of the characteristics, an analytical-numerical description of the transient position of the location of the flame front is derived. The transient Bunsen flame reaches in finite time a stationary position, whose analytical expression recovers the steady solution of the G-equation for a Poiseuille flow. The stationary position is proved to be stable with respect to small perturbations of the flame front. The time required for stabilization is further characterized by employing a detailed analytical investigation.


One of the major areas of interest in SLA research is the study of the ways in which expert and non-expert readers respond to L2 texts and the fundamental changes that can be brought about in their L2 reading processes through formal instruction. In line with this research tradition, the present quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of formal training in figures of speech on university EFL learners' appreciation of an unseen literary text, Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" in the case of this study. Understanding literature requires knowledge of figures of speech.An experimental group (n=29) and a control group (n=26) of intermediate 3rd year EFL learners, studying English for a B.A. degree at Kashan University, Iran, participated in the study. The participants were first pre-tested and matched for their level of proficiency in English and their initial reading comprehension ability. In addition to the normal curriculum content, the experimental group received instruction in figures of speech through a course called "Fonun va Sana'at" (Figures of Speech). The control group did not receive this instruction. Both groups were post-tested on their ability to read a literary passage and to appreciate it.The results of t-test analysis of the resulting data revealed significant differences between the means of the two groups. The experimental group that had received instruction in figures of speech significantly outperformed the control group. The findings of the study have practical implications for material development, curriculum planning, teaching English through literature, and second language acquisition.


This article analyzes how officials from the U.S., Australia, and Canada represented Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's psychology in diplomatic contexts between 1947 and 1964. Nehru was the representative of a newly sovereign state, whose people were often stereotyped as mystical, spiritual, and irrational. In this article, we show how Nehru was constructed as "irrational," "primitive," "effeminate," and racially resentful by Western diplomats. He was, conversely, also seen as a "Harrovian realist" or "transplanted Englishman" with an attendant air of "superiority." Cold War imperatives gave these ambivalent cultural and psychological projections a special salience, particularly as each confronted the implications of Nehru's non-alignment and his global profile as a proponent of Third World nationalism. The ambivalent representations of Nehru that we trace within U.S., Australian, and Canadian foreign policy-making also reveal a shared belief in the "Anglosphere"—the purported transnational unity of white, English-speaking nations—was sustained beyond the decline of the British Empire. Nehru's "Britishness" demonstrates how he could be tethered to the English-speaking world while simultaneously being seen as its irrational, non-white Other. This ambivalent connection helped to re-draw the boundaries of the transnational Anglosphere in the era of decolonization and to define Cold War assumptions about race, rationality, and foreign policy.