Changes in composition during the maturation of Western Schley pecans [Carya illinoinensis(Wangenh.) K. Koch] grown in Australia were investigated. Pecans of different maturity levels were collected at monthly intervals between March and June in 1999 and 2000 and analyzed for the concentrations of moisture, total lipid, sucrose, raffinose, protein, and the minerals aluminum, boron, calcium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, phosphorus, sulfur, and zinc. Moisture, total lipid, and calcium contents changed significantly (p < 0.05) with harvest time and maturity, whereas the other components did not. Western Schley pecans grown in Australia should be harvested after the shuck has opened and it is either green or brown in color to maximize total lipid content and quality. This occurred after May 11 in 1999 and after May 17 in 2000.


A near-wall flow characterization including measurements of instantaneous wall-shear stresses of a turbulent boundary layer (TBL) developing along a flat plate with zero pressure gradients has been performed by using two advanced particle based measurement methods. The experiments were conducted in the 1m- wind tunnel facility of Gottingen at U_∞ = 10 m/s and a Reynolds number of Re_θ = 2,770 corresponding to Re_τ = 960. First, high-speed 2C-PIV was performed at two image magnification factors at 2 kHz and 4 kHz frame rates in order to obtain the overall statistical properties of the boundary layer profile together with a large time series of instantaneous 2C velocity vector fields in a streamwise, wall-normal plane. Single pixel line correlation applied to the particle image area close to the wall provided high spatial resolution velocity data down into the viscous sublayer. In a second step, the novel 4D-PTV technique Shake-The-Box (STB) was applied to a time series of particle images acquired with a typical tomographic high-speed camera set-up at 15.873 kHz. The STB measurement domain consists of a wall-bounded volume covering a stream- and spanwise area of 430 x 430 viscous units (l^+= ν/u_τ) and a wall-normal extension of 32 viscous units. A comprehensive set of relatively dense Lagrangian track data was reconstructed from two time resolved sequences of 115,000 time steps each. The data enables an accurate and very high resolution measurement of the mean and rms-velocity profiles averaged in bins sized by a fraction of a viscous unit, of both components of the instantaneous wall shear stress (τ^+_w) and all components of the Reynolds stress tensor. Furthermore, the time-resolved 3D velocity vectors and corresponding gradient tensor have been interpolated onto a regular grid using the time series of irregularly distributed Lagrangian track data. With the present data coherent structures and their dynamics close to the wall can be investigated together with their role for various (rare) wall shear stress events. The STB method is proven capable of coping with strong velocity gradients close to walls and can also be extended to TBL flows with much higher Reynolds numbers.


For recent machine-learning-based tasks like API sequence generation, comment generation, and document generation, large amount of data is needed. When software developers implement algorithms in code, we find that they often mention algorithm names in code comments. Code annotated with such algorithm names can be valuable data sources. In this paper, we propose an automatic method of algorithm name identification. The key idea is extracting important N-gram words containing the word `algorithm' in the last. We also consider part of speech patterns to derive rules for appropriate algorithm name identification. The result of our rule evaluation produced high precision and recall values (more than 0.70). We apply our rules to extract algorithm names in a large amount of comments from active FLOSS projects written in seven programming languages, C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, PHP, and Ruby, and report commonly mentioned algorithm names in code comments.


Most clinicians and researchers are concerned with recent advances in psychiatry. This involves the danger whether something time-tested may get sidelined for extra-scientific reasons. That the pharmaceutical industry and superspecialist researcher may keep churning out new findings to impress audiences is only a partial truth. Research progresses by refutation and self-correction. Acceptance in science is always provisional; changing paradigms, frameworks of enquiry and raising new questions is integral to break through in scientific knowledge. Hence, there is in science a constant concern with the new. Moreover, the number of treatment non- responders to the time-tested swells with time, and researchers feel challenged to find ways and means of resolving their difficulties. Newer challenges need newer strategies. Obsession with the most recent can lead us astray, but a healthy evidence-based acceptance of the new is essential for advancement in psychiatric research. As indeed of research in all fields of medicine. And of science in general. The role of lithium and newer mood stabilizers in bipolar disorders are taken as examples to highlight this point.


Dynamic field of view (FOV) restrictors have been successfully used to reduce visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) during continuous viewpoint motion control (virtual travel) in virtual reality (VR). This benefit, however, comes at the cost of losing peripheral awareness during provocative motion. Likewise, the use of visual references that are stable in relation to the physical environment, called rest frames (RFs), has also been shown to reduce discomfort during virtual travel tasks in VR. We propose a new RF-based design called Granulated Rest Frames (GRFs) with a soft-edged circular cutout in the center that leverages the rest frames' benefits without completely blocking the user's peripheral view. The GRF design is application-agnostic and does not rely on context-specific RFs, such as commonly used cockpits. We report on a within-subjects experiment with 20 participants. The results suggest that, by strategically applying GRFs during a visual search session in VR, we can achieve better item searching efficiency as compared to restricted FOV. The effect of GRFs on reducing VIMS remains to be determined by future work.


Incidence describes the rate at which new cases of infectious diseases occur. An accurate description of disease incidence is vital to infectious disease modelling. Incidence in epidemic models commonly depends on the size of the infectious and suceptible sub-populations, and may also depend on the size or density of the total population. We show that, even in the simplest SIR models, population dependent incidence can lead to complicated dynamics, including backward bifurcations that result in bistability and Hopf bifurcations that result in periodic oscillations. The types of density dependent incidence we consider can be interpreted as capturing changes in social behaviours as population size changes. Our results demonstrate that density-dependent incidence can be a new mechanism for complex disease dynamics.


Summary form only given. Today's semiconductor marketplace demands nanometer designs of unprecedented complexity and performance, with uncompromising time-to-market requirements. This drives a focus on predictable, high-quality design results despite the challenges associated with these next-generation technologies. This scenario is complicated even further by the need to address these challenges across a wide spectrum of products, ranging from high-frequency processor designs to extremely complex ASIC designs. In the nanometer era, the common factor for ensuring market leadership across this broad variety of products is achieving single-pass design success to avoid costly re-spins and the loss of market opportunities: design turnaround time must be minimized without compromising design efficiency and first-time-right requirements. Design automation tools must balance both requirements, while providing designers with information that enables them to "design around" potential trouble spots in both today's and tomorrow's environment to ensure an exceptional level of built-in quality. The article highlights some of the innovations IBM is developing, such as variation-aware and statistical timing, faster serial and parallel processing, more highly integrated data models and tools, and concurrent chip and package design, which optimise the competing requirements of simultaneously reducing design turnaround time and achieving single-pass design success, while effectively managing the technical challenges associated with nanometer designs.


Abstract Endometriosis is common among those with infertility, although many cases go undiagnosed. This study was performed to determine whether empiric treatment with two months of depo-leuprolide 3.75 mg monthly (dep-GnRH-ag) and letrozole 5 mg daily improves pregnancy outcomes in patients with at least two unexplained failed embryo transfers (ETs) but without a previous diagnosis of endometriosis. A retrospective cohort study was performed with subjects who failed at least two good quality ET. The study excluded women with a known history of endometriosis or ovarian cysts (possible endometriomas). Subjects (N = 38) were treated with dep-GnRH-ag and letrozole pre-cycle. Matched women (N = 37) who did not receive either pretreatment served as a control group. Data were compared by non-paired T-tests and multivariate logistic regression to control for confounding effects. Demographic data, hormonal profiles, and ovarian reserve parameters were similar between the two groups. The treated group had failed more embryo transfers (3.5 ± 1.7 vs. 2.0 ± 1.3, p = .01) than the controls. When adjusting for the number of MII oocytes collected, number of blastocysts developed and number of blastocysts transferred, there were more pregnancies (24/38 vs. 11/37, p = .02) and ongoing pregnancies (18/38 vs. 9/37, p = .03) in the treated group. Patients with multiple unexplained failed ET may have undiagnosed endometriosis and may benefit from pretreatment with dep-GnRH-ag and letrozole. These results would benefit from being subjected to a randomized prospective study.


The "Thrombin Reference Standard (Control 031", of National Institute of Health Sciences was prepared. The precision of filling into ampoule was about 11.5% as C.V. The content of alpha-thrombin was about 89%. The thrombin potency of the standard material was assayed against the Thrombin Reference Standard (Control 961) according to the method of JP-X IV and the potency was 692 +/- 35 units/ampoule. From the results, the potency of the proposed material for Thrombin Reference Standard was defined as 690 units per ampoule.


Background and Purpose: Poststroke functional outcome is critical to stroke survivors. We sought to determine whether adherence to current stroke performance measures is associated with better functional outcome 90 days after an ischemic stroke. Methods: Utilizing the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi cohort, we examined adherence to 7 ischemic stroke performance measures from February 2009 to June 2012. Adherence to the measures was analyzed in aggregate using a binary defect-free score and an opportunity score, representing the proportion of eligible measures met. The opportunity score ranges from 0 to 1, with values closer to 1 implying better adherence. Functional outcome, defined by an activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL/IADL) score (range 1-4, higher scores worse), was ascertained at 90 days poststroke. Tobit regression models were fitted to examine the associations between the performance measures and functional outcome, adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics, including stroke severity. Results: There were 565 patients with ischemic stroke included in the analysis. The median ADL/IADL score was 2.32 (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.41-3.41). The median opportunity score was 1 (IQR: 0.8-1), and 58.4% of the patients received defect-free care. After adjustment, the opportunity score (P = .67) and defect-free care (P = .92) were not associated with functional outcome. Conclusion: In this population, adherence to a composite of current stroke performance measures was not associated with poststroke functional outcome after adjustment for other factors. Performance measures that are associated with improved functional outcome should be developed and incorporated into stroke quality measures.


Purpose. The present study proposed a video-based access technology that facilitated a non-contact tongue protrusion access modality for a 7-year-old boy with severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy (GMFCS level 5). The proposed system featured a centre camera and two peripheral cameras to extend coverage of the frontal face view of this user for longer durations. Method. The child participated in a descriptive case study. The participant underwent 3 months of tongue protrusion training while the multiple camera tongue switch prototype was being prepared. Later, the participant was brought back for five experiment sessions where he worked on a single-switch picture matching activity, using the multiple camera tongue switch prototype in a controlled environment. Results. The multiple camera tongue switch achieved an average sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 80%. In three of the experiment sessions, the peripheral cameras were associated with most of the true positive switch activations. These activations would have been missed by a centre-camera-only setup. Conclusions. The study demonstrated proof-of-concept of a non-contact tongue access modality implemented by a video-based system involving three cameras and colour video processing.


Background: To investigate the relationship between daytime sedentary behavior and physical activity and sleep in patients with chronic schizophrenia, particularly focusing on insomnia symptoms, a hallmark of insomnia in patients with schizophrenia.Method: The subjects were 20 patients with chronic schizophrenia more than 1 year after onset (12 men and 8 women with a mean age of 59.0 ± 9.8 years), of whom 4 were outpatients and 16 were inpatients. Sedentary behavior performance and physical activity index (Total sedentary behavior time and sedentary behavior bout number, low-intensity physical activity, MVPA, and steps) were assessed by wearing a triaxial accelerometer (GT3X-BT). Total bed time (TIB), total sleep time (TST), sleep latency (SIL), wake after sleep (WASO), and sleep efficiency (SE) were calculated using a small body dynamometer as an objective sleep index. Both the triaxial accelerometer and the small body dynamometer were worn for 1 week, and the average value of each index was calculated.Results: Total sedentary behavior time was significantly positively associated with TIB and SL (r =. 499, p <. 05; r =. 543, p <. 05). Sedentary behavior bout number was negatively significantly associated with SE (r = -. 592, p <. 01) and positively associated with WASO (r =. 503, p <. 01). MVPA was significantly positively associated with SE (r =. 536, p <. 05) and negatively associated with WASO (r = -. 58, p <. 01).Conclusion: Daytime sedentary behavior in patients with chronic schizophrenia was associated with insomnia symptoms. It was suggested that decreasing their sedentary behavior time and increasing moderate-to-vigorous intensity activities may improve their sleep quality.In this study, though the relation has not been recognized in CP conversion value and sedentary behavior position action index, the relation between antipsychotic dose and total sedentary behavioral time needs further investigation.


Background: Live-in arrangements with migrant care workers have considerably increased over the last years since they allow older frail persons to age-in-place despite functional limitations. However, little is known about the ramifications live-in care arrangements for families. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate families' experience with live-in migrant care workers and indicators of quality from their perspective. Method: Constructivist grounded theory study with 22 families who were recruited via care agencies in the German-speaking part of Switzerland and participated in 29 individual or dyadic interviews. Results: Live-in care by migrant care workers has potentially positive ramifications for older persons and their families, but only so if families, first, reach a consensus about the need for the employment of migrant care workers; second, experience them as competent; and third, mutually forge relationships and negotiate daily life. A successful care arrangement occurs when there is a relational fit among those involved, which leaves families feeling cared for, safe and relieved. They experience a renewed stability in their family system, enriching relationships, and assuredness about the quality present in the care situation. Conclusions: A successful care arrangement is the result of relationships that have been actively created and a negotiated shared existence in a family-like network. It has a positive effect on the well-being of those receiving care and their family members. The family-like network needs competent support.


We developed an on-line medical record (OMR) and integrated it into a mature hospital information system. The OMR provides a number of information resources for the care of patients infected with the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV), including drug information, an on-line version of a newsletter on AIDS, an on-line version of a textbook on HIV, and an index of research protocols that actively enrolls patients. As part of an 18-month clinical trial of this system, we monitored the use of the information resources and whether or not the resources were being used at the time of a patient's visit. During 16% of office visits of HIV-infected patients, clinicians viewed some HIV-related information. Forty-four of 70 clinicians looked at drug information (the most popular resource) 347 times (eight times per person). Two thirds of each clinician's use of the information was through a patient's electronic record, and about half of those (or one third of each clinician's use) were at the time of a patient's visit. Use of other information resources was somewhat less, but the proportion of uses during a patient's visit was similar. Because of this high level of use, we conclude that clinicians need information resources at the point of patient care and that the electronic medical record is an ideal medium through which to convey this information to providers.


Birthweight, and head circumference and body weight at preschool age were studied in a group of 212 children exposed to maternal rubella infection. Birthweights were compared to standards for birthweights of British children according to gestational age and birth rank. Children with detectable rubella antibody at the time of the examination were regarded as seropositive and those with no detectable antibody as seronegative. It was shown that the mean birthweight of seronegative and seropositive children without rubella defects did not differ significantly from the 50th centile or from each other, but that those who were seropositive with defects had significantly lower birthweights. Head circumference and body weight were similarly compared to current British standards. Head circumference at follow-up was normal in seronegative and seropositive children without defects, but significantly low in seropositive children with defects, even if retinopathy was the sole defect. The findings for body weight at follow-up were similar, reflecting absence of catch-up growth in weight in the children with congenital rubella defects. This study has shown that intrauterine growth retardation does not present as the sole manifestation of maldevelopment in congenital rubella.


The present study evaluated the reliability of FEA on the results of different mechanical properties (E and v) of materials. Two 3D models of a maxillary canine with endodontic treatment, intracanal post, composite resin core and restored with porcelain-fused-to-metal crown were generated according to micro-CT images. Two groups with different E and ν values for porcelain, metal coping alloy, resin cement and composite resin were established. The materials' properties for group GL were based on literature data, while for group GIE the impulse excitation technique was used. A load of 180 N was applied at 45° on the incisal third of the lingual surface of the canine tooth. All models were supported by the periodontal ligament (x=y=z=0). The von Mises stress (VMS) was calculated. The stress values revealed differences between the groups for both VMS distribution and value. The porcelain (GL: 5.966 MPa; GIE: 7.478 MPa), metal coping (GL: 3.811 MPa; GIE: 0.973 MPa) and core (GL: 4.771 MPa; GIE: 0.026 MPa) were significantly affected. In conclusion, this study showed that the determination of mechanical properties (E and ν) of materials is essential for the reliability on the results of FEA.


A microwave source of nitrogen atoms is described. Atom production in the discharge bulk ( mixtures) and atom losses in the flowing afterglow are analysed. The rotational temperature is measured by emission spectroscopy along the discharge (0 - 0 band of the second positive system) and the afterglow (first positive or first negative system depending on the afterglow type). Depending on the experimental conditions ( concentration), two types of flowing afterglow can exist. At high percentage, a `pink' afterglow occurs upstream of the classical `Lewis - Rayleigh' afterglow. An NO titration method provides the atom concentration downstream of the discharge. Then, the N atom transport is explained from a simple model accounting for the energy characteristics of the plasma (obtained by the microwave interferometry methods) and the kinetics.


Interest in evaluating the presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in breast cancer is growing due to robust data supporting significant prognostic associations as well as the success of the new T cell checkpoint inhibitors in other solid organ cancer types. The positive prognostic associations between TILs present at diagnosis in triple negative (TN) and HER2-overexpressing breast cancer and better outcomes after standard adjuvant therapy strongly suggests that these breast cancer subtypes will be amendable to immunotherapeutic approaches. Current research suggests that TILs represent pre-existing host anti-tumor immunity, with the data reporting that the more TILs that are present in the tumor at diagnosis, the stronger the pre-existing immune response and better clinical outomes. However, only a minority of patients present with high levels of TILs at diagnosis. Current data also reports that biopsies from metastatic disease still can contain significant amounts of TILs. This suggests that these patients can generate an immune response even in advanced disease, albeit weak, as the median values of TILs present seem to be less. This presentation will discuss the data on the prognostic associations of TILs, our current understanding about the content of TILs in breast cancer and how they could be potentially triggered and/or suppressed. I will also discuss our recently published guidelines on how to evaluate TILs in breast cancer (Salgado R et al, 2014). Furthermore I will speculate on how we could potentially augment or re-kick start a more effective anti-tumor immune response in patients with breast cancer. I will also talk about the potential future clinical utility of TILs in breast cancer- it is currently not recommended that TILs are used in treatment decision-making concerning chemotherapy or no chemotherapy in TN breast cancer or trastuzuamb vs no trastuzumab in HER2-positive disease. Phase II efficacy data evaluating T cell checkpoint inhibitors is not yet available in advanced TN and HER2-positive breast cancer, however, phase I data using monotherapy T cell checkpoint inhibition in heavily pre-treated disease seems promising with objective responses meeting RECIST criteria seen. It is unclear what the best biomarker will be in breast cancer patients for immunotherapeutic approaches, but targeting patients with some degree of already pre-existing anti-tumor immunity seems logical. Citation Format: Sherene Loi. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr ES6-3.


Boundary conditions in the statistical theory of dynamical diffraction are shown to be closely related to the interference effect between the incident wave and the forward-diffracted wave. The propagation of the incoherent diffracted beams is analysed in the case of Laue geometry. For E=0 (E, static Debye-Waller factor), the authors then obtain generalized energy transfer equations which are valid in the whole influence region of a point radiation source. The most significant physical difference from previous formulations concerns the behaviour of integrated intensities for crystals such that chi 2 tau T>>1 ( chi is the reciprocal of extinction distance, tau the correlation length of the lattice distortion and T the crystal thickness along the incident direction).


The naphtho[2,1-b]furan-2-carbohydrazide 1, on reaction with carbon disulphide and ethanolic potassium hydroxide followed by treatment with hydrazine hydrate/phenyl hydrazine give 4amino/anilino-5-naphtho[2,1-b]furan-2-yl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols 2a,b. The compounds 2a,b when treated with chloroacetic acid undergo cycloaddition to produce 3-naphtho[2,1-b]furan-2-yl-5H/aryl-5H-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazin-6(7H)-ones 3a,b. Similar type of cycloaddition occurs on refluxing 2a,b with carbon disulphide in ethanolic potassium hydroxide. The resulting biheterocyclic compounds are identified as 3-naphtho[2,1-b]furan2-yl-5-H/aryl-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole-6(5H)-thiones 4a,b. 3-Naphtho[2,1-b]furan-2-yl-6-aryl/5,6-diaryl-5,6-dihydro[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles 5a-p and 3-naphtho[2,1-b]furan-2-yl-6-aryl[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles 6a-d are obtained in good yield on reacting 2a,b, with appropriate aldehydes and with carboxylic acids separately. The newly synthesized compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis and spectral studies. The few selected compounds have been evaluated foe antimicrobial and analgesic activity.


This paper proposes a new decentralized Access Point Selection Policy for 802.11 Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). We derive a decision metric towards AP selection improvement. The derived metric comprises both Inter-BSS and Intra-BSS interference. Our proposed policy is decentralized in the sense that the decision is performed by each station. The core of the policy is based on measurement reports standarized in the IEEE 802.11 k standard. The main question we would like to address is: To what extent can the impact of interference be reduced at the selection phase? The performance of the proposed policy is evaluated through detailed simulation experiments. We identify the scenarios where the proposed policy is likely to provide great gain, and scenarios where the gain is minimal.


he design and analysis of most engineered systems involves many and sometimes diverse technical disciplines. For example, in the design of a fluid power system, the input to the system is usually some type of prime mover. In addition, the output may include gears, linkage, etc. The output may be used in a feedback circuit which will normally encompass instrumentation, logic elements, and controllers. In order to evaluate the total performance of such systems analytically, a software package must be available which can unify the interactions of these diverse components. This paper will present a new computer program which will unify hydraulic, pneumatic, electronic, and mechanical components permitting the analysis of complete engineered systems on a P.C. Several example systems will be shown which originate in actual machinery designs. These example systems will be simulated and output type information will be presented.


Atheromatous plaques contain heavily lipid-loaded macrophages that die, hence generating the necrotic core of these plaques. Since plaque instability and rupture is often correlated with a large necrotic core, it is important to understand the mechanisms underlying foam cell death. Furthermore, macrophages within the plaque are associated with hypoxic areas but little is known about the effect of low oxygen partial pressure on macrophage death. The aim of this work was to unravel macrophage death mechanisms induced by oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL) both under normoxia and hypoxia. Differentiated macrophages were incubated in the presence of native, copper sulfate-oxidized, or myeloperoxidase-modified LDL. The unfolded protein response, apoptosis, and autophagy were then investigated. The unfolded protein response and autophagy were triggered by myeloperoxidase-modified LDL and, to a larger extent, by copper sulfate-oxidized LDL. Electron microscopy observations showed that oxidized LDL induced excessive autophagy and apoptosis under normoxia, which were less marked under hypoxia. Myeloperoxidase-modified LDL were more toxic and induced a higher level of apoptosis. Hypoxia markedly decreased apoptosis and cell death, as marked by caspase activation. In conclusion, the cell death pathways induced by copper sulfate-oxidized and myeloperoxidase-modified LDL are different and are differentially modulated by hypoxia.


The diagnosis of swimmer's shoulder has long con noted a malady usually perceived to be impingement syndrome. However, as greater understanding of shoulder mechanics and diagnosis has been applied to the shoulder of swimmers, it is apparent that they too suffer from a variety of problems common to all over head sports. This paper describes the functional insta bility problem of labral damage in the swimmer. Isolated labrum damage is part of a spectrum of anterior shoul der problems. This lesion is particularly disturbing to the swimmer, and its successful management through arthroscopic means is a boon. Correct diagnosis is paramount if a treatment is to be successful. The lesion in swimmers is described as well as its diagnosis by examination and computerized tomography (CT) ar thrography.


The chapter is focused on the theoretical perspective of analyzing the process of socializa- tion from the standpoint of the postnonclassical (universum) rationality theory. Rationality is defined as the cognitive self-reference of a society, a recursive layer of social reality, reflecting its existence and development via the means of consciousness and thinking. Socialization is considered as a process of mastering culture, the former having rational and irrational sides. The rational side is connected with the individual's acquisition of the ability to reflect reality discretely, normatively, symbolically, and reflexively. These abili - ties are necessary conditions to enter the world of human society culture. The irrational side is expressed in the process of the needs' socialization, during which the individual's extra-subjective needs in emotional satisfaction are transformed into orientations toward experiencing certain emotional states associated with the possibilities of satisfying needs in a particular society and culture. An important result of the socialization process is the formation of a system of the individual's value orientations. The rational level of this system consists of orientations that have become the subject of the individual's conscious choice. The irrational level consists of orientations to value experiences; these are the indi - vidual's emotional experiences of his/her relationships with reality.


In this paper, the harmonic balance method with the alternating frequency/time (HB-AFT) domain technique is extended to the dynamical systems with state-dependent delays and non-smooth right-hand side for the first time. Two types of network congestion control models [the modified transmission control protocol-random early detection (TCP-RED) model and the fluid-flow TCP-additive increase multiplicative decease (AIMD)/RED model] with state-dependent round-trip time delays and non-smooth right-hand side are considered in detail. First, their dynamics and bifurcation are analyzed by the numerical analysis method. Then, the analytical approximate expressions of the periodic solutions are obtained by employing the semi-analytical method named as HB-AFT. The results of the numerical simulation and HB-AFT agree with each other very well. It indicates that the HB-AFT technique is simple, valid, effective, and accurate for the non-smooth dynamical systems with state-dependent time delays. Besides, more complicated and rich dynamical phenomena, such as period-2 solution, period-3 solution, chaos and the period-doubling bifurcation, and the window of period-3 solution, which lead to chaos, are explored in the TCP-AIMD/RED model. Moreover, two different kinds of multi-stabilities, such as the coexistence of a stable period-1 solution, a stable period-3 solution, and an asymptotically stable equilibrium, and that of a stable period-1 solution, a stable period-2 solution, chaos, and an asymptotically stable equilibrium, are also discovered in the TCP-AIMD/RED congestion control model. It discloses that the interaction of the state-dependent delay and non-smooth function can easily induce the richer and more complicated dynamics. It can explain the complicated dynamical phenomena in the Internet network. Thus, the control and parameters tuning based on the above results could be used to avoid the congestion and optimize the performance. It can give the theoretical guidance to the application and research in network congestion control, which is very important in practical application.


The MPEG-7 visual standard under development specifies content-based descriptors that allow users or agents (or search engines) to measure similarity in images or video based on visual criteria, and can be used to efficiently identify, filter, or browse images or video based on visual content. More specifically, MPEG-7 specifies color, texture, object shape, global motion, or object motion features for this purpose. This paper outlines the aim, methodologies, and broad details of the MPEG-7 standard development for visual content description.


Induction of superovulation using human menopausal gonadotriphin (hMG) in Japanese Black cattle can result in the recovery of a higher percentage of high quality embryos compared with that using porcine follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). In order to clarify the endocrinological mechanism involved in this discrepancy, 30 superovulation sessions of 17 Japanese Black cattle were studied. Fifteen cattle were super-stimulated with hMG (total 600 IU), and the remaining 15 cattle were given FSH (total 20 mg). The plasma profiles of LH, estradiol-17beta (E2) and progesterone (P4) were correlated, and the embryo quality was investigated. The total number of ova recovered and the number of transferable embryos tended to be larger in the hMG-treated group than in the FSH-treated group. The percentage of excellent embryos tended to be higher in the hMG-treated group than in the FSH-treated group (54.3 and 28.7%, respectively, p < 0.10). The E2 level increased during the first 3 days after the initial administration of either hMG or FSH and was higher in the hMG-treated group than in the FSH-treated group (p < 0.05). During this period, the E2 level could be categorized into one of the following three types according to whether it increased or decreased and according to the degree of increase or decrease: (1) increase by a factor of 1.2 or more (quick increase type) (2) slight increase by a factor less than 1.2 (slow increase type), and (3) no increase (unstable increase type). In the group treated with hMG, 66.7% of the animals (10 of 15 cattle) showed a quick increase in the E2 level. However, in the FSH-treated group, 40% (six of 15) of the animals showed a slow increase in the E2 level. The plasma LH level increased dramatically 8 h prior to the peak level in both the hMG- and FSH-treated groups, and then it returned to the basal level 12 h later. After the administration of prostaglandin (PG)F2alpha, the LH peak level was attained within 44 h in 80% of the animals in the hMG-treated group, whereas in the FSH-treated group, the LH peak level tended to be reached later. The P4 level did not increase during the period of hMG or FSH treatment and decreased drastically following administration of PGF2alpha. After the onset of oestrus, the P4 level was higher in the hMG group than in the FSH group, and 5 to 7 days after oestrus, the level remained higher in the hMG group than in the FSH group (p < 0.05). After the first 3 days of hMG administration, the E2/P4 ratio was higher than that after FSH administration. Furthermore, on the day following PGF2alpha administration, the ratio was significantly higher in the hMG group than in the FSH group (p < 0.05). These results indicate that superovulation in cattle given hMG results in a significant increase in plasma E2 during the first 3 days and that the increase in the plasma P4 level is larger a few days after oestrus and thereafter compared with FSH-induced superovulation. Therefore, such plasma level profiles may be related to the increased recovery rate of high quality embryos.


Autologous rich plasma (PRP) is blood plasma with enhanced concentration of platelets and is enriched with several growth factors which stimulate tissue regeneration. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of PRP on hair regrowth in patients with alopecia areata (AA) totalis. Ten subjects (28.9 ± 6.28 years; five males and five females) with clinically diagnosed AA totalis for at least 3 years who had not received any treatment within 3 months prior to the study were recruited. Blood sample was collected in thrombocyte harvesting tubes. The PRP was separated via centrifugation. The patients' scalp was divided sagittally into two approximately equal parts. In each patient, 4 mL of PRP was injected intradermally into the left or right side of the scalp; in each point, 0.1 mL of PRP was injected. Each patient was followed up monthly for 4 months. No hair regrowth was seen in eight patients and in two patients only <10% hair regrowth was observed. Totally, no significant effect was found for PRP on hair regrowth (p > .05). There was no side effect during treatment. Single dermal PRP injection did not prove to have any effect on hair regrowth in these patients.


The main objective of this work is to design a single-phase distribution transformer core type involved, with the help of optimization techniques to minimize total losses (core and windings). The optimization algorithms used are the differential evolution and particle swarm. His performances and results are compared. Moreover, it is detailed the importance of a good estimate of inrush current in transformers projects, its interference in security systems and electric power system in general. The main parameters of the project, the core dimensions, total losses, the no-load current and the transient magnetization current are computed through Octave software. These values are used to determine the geometry of the active part of the transformer in order to simulate the magnitude of flux density in the transformer core and the losses through finite element method using FEMM (Finite Element Method Magnetics) software. It was through the results the effectiveness of the methodology used, with reducing losses, improving the efficiency and significant decrease of the Inrush current.


Objective: This study aimed to 1) compare the body mass index (BMI) and patterns of out-ofschool activity participation in young people with and without physical disabilities, and 2) examine the relationship between BMI and the activity participation patterns among young people with physical disabilities. Methods: Thirty-nine young persons with physical disabilities (mean age ± standard deviation: 18.79 ± 1.99 years) and 70 healthy individuals (mean age ± standard deviation: 18.64 ± 0.74 years) participated in the study. The diversity, intensity, companionship, location and enjoyment of participation in activities were evaluated using the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE) scale. Body height and weight were obtained and BMI was calculated. Results: People with physical disabilities, regardless of their gender, had significantly lower CAPE-derived scores in almost all types of activity than the control participants (p < 0.05). Moreover, BMI was significantly higher in the group with physical disabilities than in the control group (p < 0.001). Regression analysis further showed that the CAPE score for physical activity explained 17.2% of the variance in BMI (p = 0.021). Conclusion: Young people with physical disabilities generally had lower levels of activity participation and a higher BMI than their healthy counterparts. The perception of enjoyment during physical activities was an important determinant of BMI in this group of participants.


Abstract : There has recently been a resurgence of interest in the balance of conventional forces in the central European region. This increased concern is attributable to several factors, including the signing of the U.S.-Soviet INF treaty, the possibility of a third zero in Europe, increasing interest in a conventional arms control agreement, a perceived decrease in the credibility of the threat of nuclear use, and a trend away from considering escalation to nuclear use as the inevitable result of a conventional war. The debate surrounding the conventional balance is somewhat confused. There are many different balance assessment techniques used in analysis. Inadequate attention is given to the concept of stability in the conventional realm. Although conventional force planning, arms control policy, and defense objectives should be inextricably entwined, there appears to be very little connection between them. This report suggest a concept of conventional stability. Conventional stability exists when there is a balance of conventional capabilities such that both sides believe that neither side can launch a successful attack against the other, and either side can successfully repel any attack launched by the other. This definition suggests two facets of conventional stability, one based on offense and one based on defense. Offensive conventional stability would exist if neither side believed it could successfully attack the other, that neither could achieve its military objectives if it were to attack. Defensive conventional stability would exist if each side believed it could repel any attack launched by the other side.


I work with the concept of apparatuses of material storytelling as a way to study the enactment of 'the future school'. The article analyses a project at a school that involved students, teachers and leaders building models for learning spaces to inspire the architect who were to design a new building for grades 4-6. The analysis is theoretically informed by 'new materialist thinking'. The analysis show how the project, while producing differentiated learning spaces and ideas about the learning student, configures and reconfigures the organization known as 'a school' in ways that highlight contemporary problems concerning authority, management and the constitution of 'the student', in an education system which is increasingly focused on learning-centred educational management on the students desire and motivation for learning. Figure 1. Left photo: Model of a working area at school, produced by a student. The green puffy things are large beanbags. The yellow dots on the walls arewindows. They are meant to be deep so students can sit on the windowsills. Right photo: The text is connected to the left side model and describes the space and how it may be used: "My space is a space for both group work and individual work. Here you can sit comfortably on beanbags and windowsills. There is also a platform. If you want some quiet time, you can sit there". i


The direct drive electro-hydraulic servo system is a new approach hydraulic system. It is much smaller and easier controlled than traditional systems and is a perfect energy saver. This paper will briefly introduce the popular nonlinearities in the electro-hydraulic system and analyse the effect of nonlinearities in direct drive electro-hydraulic position servo system by means of simulation research. Some valuable conclusions are given.


Double patterning technology (DPT) and layout migration (LM) are two closely related problems on design for manufacturability in the nanometer era. DPT decomposes a layout into two masks and applies double exposure patterning to increase pitch size and, thus, printability. In this paper, we present the first algorithm in the literature for the simultaneous layout migration and decomposition (SMD) problem. Our algorithm first constructs a potential conflict graph and DPT-aware constraint graphs, and then applies integer linear programming (ILP) corresponding to the graphs to obtain a decomposed and migrated layout. We further present an effective graph-based reduction technique to prune the ILP solution space, which maintains the same DPT conflicts. We also present a new DPT-aware objective for the SMD problem to minimize the difference between the original and migrated layouts while considering the DPT effects. In addition, we present an approach to generate DPT-aware standard cells by considering the DPT effects on the cell boundaries; this technique improves the layout printability and facilitates electronic design automation tools to consider DPT. Experimental results show that our algorithms can effectively generate conflict-free migrated layouts with 11% smaller layout areas and 21% smaller layout changes, compared with the traditional method of layout decomposition followed by LM. In particular, our reduction technique reduces the ILP variables by 45.7%, the ILP constraints by 58.5%, and the DPT edges by 79.9% over the basic ILP formulation, leading to a substantial speedup. For example, it can reduce the runtimes for the test cases from more than one day to only seconds.


Storage of natural gas in salt caverns had been developed mainly for seasonal storage, resulting in a small number of yearly pressure cycles and moderate gas-production rates. The needs of energy traders are changing towards more aggressive operational modes. The "high-frequency cycling" operation of salt caverns raises questions concerning the effects of frequently repeated and intense mechanical and thermal loading. These questions concern the constitutive creep laws for salt, laboratory test procedures, criteria to be used at the design stage to provide operability, and the long-term integrity of the underground salt caverns.


Introduction – The mechanism and efficiency of force transfer by dental implants to surrounding biologic tissues are important determinants in the development of the implant-to-bone/tissue interface and implant longevity. Threads are used to improve the initial stability by maximizing bone contact through an enlarged implant surface area and thereby favor distribution of interfacial stresses. However, knowledge about optimal thread design for an enhanced implant integration in bone tissue is still lacking. Aim – The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the efficacy of implant micro thread design when combined with macro threads, for bone stimulation. The hypothesis is that the short threads will contribute with compression forces that may stimulate bone healing, while the larger threads will provide with primary stability necessary during the healing process. A further aim was to use an FEA model to describe the optimal thread form for reduced stress concentration immediately after implant insertion as well as after completed bone healing. Materials and methods – In study 1, Two-dimensional finite element models were made from 8 different thread designs. The crest module and apex of the implants were removed from the implant models, in order to enhance the effect of the thread designs only. Thus, the suprastructures and microstructures of the implants were not considered. All the eight implant models were assumed to be embedded in cortical bone. In addition, a 3D model was used to evaluate stress in the bone generated by 6 different thread designed implants when the implant models included the entire implant. In the In vivo studies 2 and 3, experimental turned implants with a diameter of 4mm and 8mm in length were prepared with micro threads in between macro threads along the body of the implants. These were used as test implants. Implants without micro-threads were used as controls. In study 4, similar implants were made but with alteration in depth of the macro-thread to improve the possibility for bone stimulation by compression during healing. Insertion and removal torque analysis along with histomophometric analyses were done to evaluate the bone response. Results – In study 1, stresses were calculated using von Mises stress analysis. The stress levels in the bone were in the range of 5-13 MPa in osseointegrated model and 14-107 MPa in immediate 2D models. 3D Analysis results showed the von Mises stress in the range of 4.8-30.9 MPa, when a load of 100N was applied vertically. In Study 4 FEA demonstrated stress levels in the range of 0.28 MPa to 62MPa for the control implant model designs, whereas the test implant models displayed a range of 0.28 MPa to 31Mpa. In study 2, the mean values of the ITQ for the control and test groups in the tibia were 15 and 20 Ncm respectively, and in the femur, the values were 11 and 12 Ncm, respectively. In study 4, the ITQ values were 11Ncm and 14 Ncm respectively in the tibia, and in the femur 13 Ncm and 19 Ncm respectively. The RTQ values for the control and test groups in tibia was 11Ncm and 17Ncm, respectively and in the femur, 13Ncm and 23Ncm, respectively. The histomorphometric analysis of study 3, showed the mean total bone area, BA% (SD) to be higher in the test implants, when compared to the control implants in both the tibia 24 (4), and 21(4), the femoral bone 29 (5), and 25 (7), respectively with no statistical significance. In study 4, the total bone area BA% was higher for the test implants with a mean value of 72% compared to 48% for the control group in tibial bone. In femural bone, the bone area was 63% for the test and 38 % for the control group implants with p value of 0.10 for both tibia and femur. Bone to implant contact showed significantly higher value for the test implants in the femur, p= 0.04. Conclusion – The impact of different thread designs, with respect to the magnitude of the transferred stress peak in the bone, was higher for the immediately inserted implants than for the osseointegrated implant model. The stress distribution was more effective in experimental micro-thread implant models, when compared to the non-micro thread models. The addition of pitch shortened threads in the test implant, did significantly improve the primary and secondary stability of the test implants, when mechanically evaluated with ITQ and RTQ analysis in corticular or trabecular bone rabbit bone. Histomophometrical analysis showed that the addition of the pitch shortened threads in between the macro threads did have a bone stimulatory effect in the femur of the rabbits.


Motion detection and estimation is a first step in the much larger framework of attending to visual motion based on Selective Tuning Model of Visual Attention (Tsotsos, et al., 2002). In order to be able to detect and estimate complex motion in a hierarchical system it is necessary to use robust and efficient methods which encapsulate as much information as possible about the motion together with a measure of reliability of that information. One such method is the orientation tensor formalism which incorporates a confidence measure that propagates into subsequent processing steps. The tensor method is implemented in a neural network simulator which allows distributed processing and visualization of results. As output we obtain information about the moving objects from the scene


A phase diagram of microcanonical ensembles of self-attracting particles is studied for two types of short-range potential regularizations: self-gravitating fermions and classical particles interacting via an attractive soft -(r(2)+r(2)(0))(-1/2) Coulomb potential. When the range of regularization is sufficiently short, the self-attracting systems exhibit gravitational or collapselike transition. As the fermionic degeneracy or the softness radius increases, the gravitational phase transition crosses over to a normal first-order phase transition, becomes second-order at a critical point, and finally disappears. Applicability of a commonly used saddle-point or mean-field approximation and importance of metastable states is discussed.


Workplace flexibility initiatives as a potential remedy for work–life conflicts are the focus of a considerable number of investigations. Despite their contributions, research findings reveal tensions and contradictions in the ways that employees, managers and organizations develop, enact and respond to these flexibility initiatives. This critical review identifies three primary tensions (variable vs fixed arrangements, supportive vs unsupportive work climates and equitable vs inequitable implementation of policies) that reveal inconsistent and sometimes contradictory findings. We tie these tensions, and the management of them, to an overarching dilemma in implementing workplace flexibility, the autonomy–control paradox. To develop alternatives for handling these tensions, we recommend reframing them through changing organizational cultures, adopting a philosophy of adaptability, customizing work and making workplace flexibility an employee right. We conclude by urging organizations and society to reframe the tensions between work and life, to treat them as enriching rather than competing with each other and to transcend these opposite poles through exploring third spaces.


The paper indicates benefits from ultrasound early diagnostics and management monitoring in Perthes disease. Fifty-two children with 56 hips (35 boys and 17 girls) aged 6-12 years treated because of aseptic of the femoral head to Orthopaedic Department Lódź were included in this study. Five MHz transducer was positioned anteriorly along the anterior margin of the femoral neck in external rotation of the limb, neutral and internal one as well as in perpendicular fashion to the long axis of the neck. These four images were compared with conventional a-p and Lauenstein radiographs. Ultrasound allowed for assessment of the synovial effusion, shape of the epiphysis, configuration of the physis and the shape of metaphysis. High correlation between ultrasound examination and radiography was found. Ultrasonography allowed for assigning a hip to one of Catterall's type. It has also served well for monitoring of the treatment and reduced the number of radiological exposures.


Myostatin (MSTN) is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth and development. A significant increase in skeletal muscle was observed in Mstn−/− mice compared with wild-type mice. So far, there has been no report on porcine MSTN mutations leading to skeletal muscle hypertrophy. In this report a MSTN frameshift mutation missing 11 nucleotides in exon 2 was introduced into Meishan pigs by zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) technology. ZFN-edited MSTN−/− Meishan pigs were successfully produced by a cloning method of somatic cell nucleus transfer. Results from slaughter experiments indicated that lean meat yield increased 16.53% in about 80 kg (10-months-old) MSTN−/− Meishan sows compared with their corresponding wild-type counterparts. The lean percentage of carcass from MSTN−/− sows was 61.20% vs 48.25% for MSTN+/− sows and 44.67% for wild-type sows. The fat of MSTN−/− sows was significantly lower than that of MSTN+/− and wild-type sows. The loin eye area of MSTN−/− Meishan sows (56.42 cm2) was greater than that of MSTN+/− (37.39 cm2) and wild-type (26.26 cm2) sows. The muscle fibre area of longissimus muscle in wild-type Meishan sows (1 946 μm2) was significantly greater than that of MSTN+/− (1 324 μm2) and MSTN−/− (1 419 μm2) sows. Moreover the significantly increased skeletal muscle in these MSTN−/− Meishan sows was mainly due to the increase in the number of myofibres rather than to hypertrophy. Compared with wild-type Meishan sows, it was noted that myofibres had transformed from type I to IIB in MSTN−/− Meishan sows. Our present study demonstrated that frameshift mutation in MSTN by ZFN technology led to a significant increase in muscle mass and a significant decrease in fat content in Meishan sows.


ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to investigate adolescents' perspectives on mental healthcare services. Based on theoretical perspectives concerning barriers for help-seeking, individual interviews were carried out in order to obtain the adolescents' perspectives on knowledge of services for mental health problems, potential barriers for help-seeking, and services to which they have access. The sample consisted of vocational students from an upper secondary school in the southwest of Norway (n = 8). None of the informants was currently in treatment for mental health problems. Interview data were transcribed and analysed with the assistance of NVivo Software. Qualitative content analysis indicated that the adolescents have limited knowledge of available resources, and, that stigma-related factors may prevent the adolescents from seeking help for mental health problems. Future directions for delivering mental health services for adolescents are given.


Scattering of positronium (Ps) by sodium and potassium atoms has been investigated employing a three-Ps-state coupled-channel model with Ps(1s, 2s, 2p) states using a time-reversal-symmetric regularized electron-exchange model potential fitted to reproduce accurate theoretical results for PsNa and PsK binding energies. We find a narrow S-wave singlet resonance at 4.58 eV of width 0.002 eV in the Ps-Na system and at 4.77 eV of width 0.003 eV in the Ps-K system. Singlet P-wave resonances in both systems are found at 5.07 eV of width 0.3 eV. Singlet D-wave structures are found at 5.3 eV in both systems. We also report results for elastic and Ps-excitation cross sections for Ps scattering by Na and K.


The utilization of groundwater heat pump systems is increasing in Norway, which are currently widely employed for heating and cooling applications in the town center of Melhus. The investigations of the Melhus installations are detecting gas exsolution as a possible trigger for precipitation reaction that causes incrustation of iron and manganese compounds in the systems. This paper discusses risks associated with gas exsolution and considers gas exsolution triggers in a typical Norwegian groundwater heat pump (GWHP) system configuration. The concept of the solubility grade line (SGL) is developed and suggested as a tool for optimizing the design. Based on SGL analysis and the intention of avoiding gas exsolution during heat production, an alternative system design in the same aquifer is presented and compared. The analyses show that the traditional system design is predisposed to gas clogging risks and prone to vacuum pressures in parts of the system. The alternative design mediates the risks by adjusting the well and piping configuration and by applying a backpressure technique. The results demonstrate how the groundwater heat pump system design can be customized according to local aquifer conditions to avoid gas exsolution during operation. It is recommended that the presented method of analysis should be utilized in dimensioning of systems and included in the monitoring scheme of the systems.


Eleven patients with acute hepatitis following multiple anaesthetics with halothane have been seen at two hospitals during the last four years. Six had massive hepatic necrosis and died. Unexplained fever occurred in nine of the patients; two of these and one other had had previous episodes of jaundice after halothane anaesthesia. Thus, in ten patients the disease could have been avoided.


Recent advances in gene sequencing technology are now shedding light on the complex interplay between genes that elicit phenotypic behavior characteristic of any given organism. In order to mediate internal and external signals, the daunting task of classifying an organisms genes into complex signaling pathways needs to be completed. The Handbook of Research on Computational Methodologies in Gene Regulatory Networks focuses on methods widely used in modeling gene networks including structure discovery, learning, and optimization. This innovative Handbook of Research presents a complete overview of computational intelligence approaches for learning and optimization and how they can be used in gene regulatory networks.


Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC

Mitochondria-specific photosensitizers were designed by taking advantage of the preferential localization of delocalized lipophilic cations (DLCs) in mitochondria. Three conjugates, CMP-Rh, CMP-tPP, and CMP-(tPP)2, were successfully synthesized by linking the hydroxy core modified porphyrins (CMP-OH and CMP-(OH)2) to either rhodamine B (Rh B) or one or two triphenyl phosphine (tPP) cations respectively via a saturated hydrocarbon linker. Their ability for delivering photosensitizers to mitochondria was evaluated using dual staining fluorescence microscopy and staining pattern was compared with a mitochondrial specific probe. Fluorescence imaging study suggested that CMP-Rh specifically localized in mitochondria. On the other hand, CMP-tPP and CMP-(tPP)2 showed less significant mitochondrial localization. The conjugation of CMP to Rh and tPP did greatly improve intracellular uptake and in vitro photodynamic activity compared to CMP-OH. In addition, to evaluate the efficiency of the conjugates as photosensitizers, their photophysical properties and in vitro biological activities were studied in comparison to those of CMP-OH. All conjugates were capable of generating singlet oxygen at rates comparable to CMP-OH. This improved photodynamic activity might be primarily due to an enhanced cellular uptake. Our study suggests that Rh B cationic group is better at least for CMP than tPP as a mitochondrial targeting vector.

Citation Format: Pallavi Rajaputra, Gregory Nkepang, Ryan Watley, Youngjae You. Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of lipophilic cation conjugated photosensitizers for targeting mitochondria. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1603. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1603


ABSTRACT: The establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) worldwide has shown thatclosure of areas to fishing results in major changes in the structure of marine ecosystems. Theremoval of high-order consumers by fishing has both direct and indirect effects that can lead toimportant changes in the strength of trophic interactions. Although the effects of marine protec-tion on biological interactions are beginning to be understood, our knowledge is largely restrictedto shallow-water assemblages. However, depth gradients are also characterised by significantdifferences in the intensity of trophic linkages, and these may be interacting with any effectsderived from protection. In this study, the individual and combined effects of depth and marinereserve protection on predation and herbivory were determined across 3 regions in the NWMediterranean (Catalunya, Mallorca and Menorca) using juvenile urchins and palatable algae asbioassays. Marine protection did not strongly influence fish herbivory, which generally decreasedwith depth. We found no evidence of depth-related changes in predation rates or the size ofpredatory fishes, but there was a strong effect of protection on predation rates that was onlyconsistently observed across regions in shallow water (5 m depth), but not at greater depths(15 and 30 m). This increase in predation of sea urchins within MPAs in shallow waters can haveimportant community-wide consequences, as herbivorous sea urchins are commonly most abun-dant in these shallow habitats and predator−urchin interactions have important cascading effectson algal communities.KEY WORDS: Marine reserves · Sea urchins · Macroalgae · Mediterranean Sea · Fish herbivory ·


SUMMARY The aim of this study were to report a case of unilateral spontaneous anterior lens luxation associated with retinal detachment and surgical removal in a common buzzard. An adult common buzzard ( Buteo buteo) of unknown sex, free-fly was found unable to fly on a pasture during the day. In the left eye the lens was luxated into the anterior chamber. The luxated lens was removed from the anterior chamber by an irrigation/aspiration technique after corneal incision. During the follow-up period of 3 weeks no signs of glaucoma or any other complications was detected. This is the first case of spontaneous anterior lens dislocation and surgical removal in a common buzzard reported in the literature. It shows that a careful clinical examination can identify lesions which have been considered as rare in this wild bird so far.


We represent a-65-year-old male patient presented with indwelling left JJ stent for obstructed solitary kidney drainage. The obstruction was due to internal iliac artery aneurysm, had been managed by trans-femoral self-expandable coated endovascular stenting. This patient readmitted with recurrent attacks of hematuria with displaced JJ stent and rising serum creatinine twice. In the first admission, the patient was managed by JJ stent readjustment and Percutaneous Nephrostomy tube (PCN) and was discharged safely. Again, he presented with UAF associated with aggressive hematuria mostly due to vascular endoleak rupture. The patient developed severe sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.


ABSTRACT This review provides a brief summary of ongoing studies in Lake Washington (Seattle, WA) directed at an understanding of the content and activities of microbial communities involved in methylotrophy. One of the findings from culture-independent approaches, including functional metagenomics, is the prominent presence of Methylotenera species in the site and their inferred activity in C1 metabolism, highlighting the local environmental importance of this group. Comparative analyses of individual genomes of Methylophilaceae from Lake Washington provide insights into their genomic divergence and suggest significant metabolic flexibility.


In the research project performed, the effects of different levels of hydro-alcoholic extract Vitex agnus-castus were investigated as nutritional supplement on growth parameters of Danio rerio for 4 months. Since the beginning of the feeding phase up to the age of 4 months (average weight: 2.1±0.1g, length: 5.2±0.3 cm), larvae were fed with experimental diets. Fish treated with diets containing plant extracts had higher growth and survival rate than the control group (p<0.05). Differences in the level of the extract had no significant effect on the survival rate (p<0.05). The results revealed that the diet containing 15 gr of the extract resulted in the best FCR significantly (p<0.05). By increasing the extract in the diet during the experiment, SGR increased. The highest and the lowest %BWG were observed in treatments T3 and T0 respectively (p<0.05). The highest CF was observed in T3 and the lowest was obtained in T0. All in all, this study proposed that the addition of 15 gr of hydro-alcoholic extract of Vitex agnus-castus in the diet of zebrafish could improve the performance of the growth indices and increase the final biomass. In addition, this extract could be considered as a suitable supplement for Cyprinidae diet.


The cord blood lead level was determined to 40 newborn infants. The values were significantly higher in the infants born to mothers resident in Vienna than in the infants born to the group of mothers from the rural surroundings of Eisenstadt. The overall mean blood level was 17.7+/-7.4 mug/100 g. Increasing pollution requires investigations concerning possible effects on the growing fetus and would serve as foundation for future trend assessment studies.


One-year open Multicentric Isradipine Study (MIS) performed in 7 centres in Czechoslovakia included 144 patients with mild and moderate hypertension. Isradipine was given at a dose of 2.5 mg daily. If normalization of diastolic blood pressure (BP) had not been reached, the dosage was increased to 5 mg. Monotherapy with isradipine normalized diastolic BP in 44% of patients. Isradipine (5 mg daily) was combined with bopindolol in patients in whom isradipine alone failed to normalize diastolic BP. These had higher mean systolic and diastolic BP, body weight, erythrocyte and platelet counts at the beginning of the study. The combination of isradipine with bopindolol normalized diastolic BP in 87% of the group at the end of 48 weeks' treatment. Tolerance was excellent in 82% of patients. Treatment was discontinued in 8% patients, undesirable effects being the reason in 2%, ineffective therapy in 2% and poor adherence to therapy in 4%. Isradipine in monotherapy or in combination with bopindolol did not exert an adverse effect on the metabolic risk factors of ischaemic heart disease (cholesterol, glycaemia).


Reasoning about the use of external resources is an important aspect of many practical applications. Effect systems enable tracking such information in types, but at the cost of complicating signatures of common functions. Capabilities coupled with escape analysis offer safety and natural signatures, but are often overly coarse grained and restrictive. We present System C, which builds on and generalizes ideas from type-based escape analysis and demonstrates that capabilities and effects can be reconciled harmoniously. By assuming that all functions are second class, we can admit natural signatures for many common programs. By introducing a notion of boxed values, we can lift the restrictions of second-class values at the cost of needing to track degree-of-impurity information in types. The system we present is expressive enough to support effect handlers in full capacity. We practically evaluate System C in an implementation and prove its soundness.


OBJECTIVES
To compare patient self-report of knee flexion, extension, range of motion (ROM) and American Knee Society (AKS) Pain, Knee and Functional scores with a clinician assessment.

METHODS
A total of 239 consecutive total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients (290 knees) were mailed surveys with an AKS questionnaire and lateral knee photographs that showed knee ROM in 10 degrees increments to compare their operated knee(s) ROM. Patients were subsequently seen in clinic and their ROM, AKS Pain, Knee and Functional scores were measured. Patient- and physician-reported measures were compared using independent sample t-test and correlated using Spearman's correlation coefficient. A priori rules for comparisons were based on previously published reports.

RESULTS
A total of 286 knees had both survey and clinic data available and constituted the analytic set. Patient-reported and physician-assessed extension, flexion and ROM were: 3 +/- 4.8 degrees vs 1.4 +/- 4.3 degrees (P < 0.001), 111.4 +/- 14.6 degrees vs 110 +/- 12.8 degrees (P = 0.04) and 108.6 +/- 16.8 vs 108.6 +/- 14.3 degrees (P = 0.98). There was a moderate correlation between patient and physician assessments (extension = 0.31; flexion = 0.44; ROM = 0.42; P < or = 0.001 for all). Patient-reported and physician-assessed AKS Pain, Knee and Functional scores were: 35.8 +/- 15.6 vs 43.9 +/- 11.1 (P < 0.001), 79.8 +/- 20 vs 88.9 +/- 13.3 (P < 0.001) and 57.7 +/- 23.1 vs 65.7 +/- 26.4 (P < 0.001), respectively. Patient- and physician-assessed AKS Pain, Knee and Functional scores had moderate-high correlation (r = 0.49, 0.49 and 0.70; P < or = 0.001 for all).

CONCLUSION
Long-term surveillance of TKA patients may be possible using a self-report AKS, but the average 8- to 10-point difference between patient- and physician-reported AKS scores (patients reporting poorer scores) represents a substantial impact on this outcome instrument. Since patient-reported responses have clear value in global assessment, further evaluation with other validated outcome instruments is warranted.


Introduction Chronic diseases and their complications may increase breast cancer risk through known or still unknown mechanisms, or by shared causes. The association between morbidities and breast cancer risk has not been studied in depth. Methods Data on all Danish women aged 45 to 85 years, diagnosed with breast cancer between 1994 and 2008 and data on preceding morbidities were retrieved from nationwide medical registries. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression associating the Charlson comorbidity score (measured using both the original and an updated Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI)) with incident breast cancer. Furthermore, we estimated associations between 202 morbidity categories and incident breast cancer, adjusting for multiple comparisons using empirical Bayes (EB) methods. Results The study included 46,324 cases and 463,240 population controls. Increasing CCI score, up to a score of six, was associated with slightly increased breast cancer risk. Among the Charlson diseases, preceding moderate to severe renal disease (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.48), any tumor (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.25), moderate to severe liver disease (OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.32, 2.62), and metastatic solid tumors (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.89), were most strongly associated with subsequent breast cancer. Preceding myocardial infarction (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81, 0.99), connective tissue disease (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.80, 0.94), and ulcer disease (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.83, 0.99) were most strongly inversely associated with subsequent breast cancer. A history of breast disorders was associated with breast cancer after EB adjustment. Anemias were inversely associated with breast cancer, but the association was near null after EB adjustment. Conclusions There was no substantial association between morbidity measured with the CCI and breast cancer risk.


A good infrastructure is actually the base behind the growth of an economy. In the present age of globalization accessibility of information is a very important component of infrastructure. Studies carried out on the effect of internet on economic growth are mostly either on high income countries only or on a large number of countries belonging to different income groups. Keeping in mind the differential impact of internet on economic growth of countries with different initial conditions, we have attempted in this chapter a study on the impact of internet use on economic growth in 39 lower middle income and low income countries during 2002-2011. Applying panel data regression techniques we have found a positive significant impact of internet use on economic growth of low income countries. The emergence of crisis adversely affected this growth process, overruling the positive impact of internet use.


Dorothy is an integrated 3D/robotics educational tool created by augmenting the Alice programming environment for teaching core computing skills to students without prior programming experience. The tool provides a drag and drop interface to create graphical routines in virtual worlds; these routines are automatically translated into code to provide a real-time or offline enactment on mobile robots in the real world. This paper summarizes the key capabilities of Dorothy, and describes the contributions made to: (a) enhance the bidirectional communication between the virtual interface and robots; and (b) support multirobot collaboration. Specifically, we describe the ability to automatically revise the virtual world based on sensor data obtained from robots, creating or deleting objects in the virtual world based on their observed presence or absence in the real world. Furthermore, we describe the use of visually observed behavior of teammates for collaboration between robots when they cannot communicate with each other. Dorothy thus helps illustrate sophisticated algorithms for fundamental challenges in robotics and AI to teach advanced computing concepts, and to emphasize the importance of computing in real world applications, to beginning programmers.


A Bayesian method is proposed for the parameter identification ofa stock market dynamics which is modeled by a Stochastic Differential Equation(SDE) driven by fractional Brownian motion (fBm).  The formulation for theidentification is based on the Wick-product solution of the SDE driven by an fBm. The determination of the solution is carried out using an independence MetropolisHastings algorithm. The historical record of SET index is employed for the purposeof method demonstration. For the SET index example, the estimate of the Hurstexponent is approximately 0.5. Consequently, the market is considered efficient.


In this paper we propose a security architecture for Virtual Organizations for businesses. The Virtual Organizations we consider are based on web service technology, and are dynamic, i.e. its membership may change frequently throughout its lifetime. The security architecture advances over previous approaches with a new approach for distributed administration based on policy generation which allows local security administrators to remain in complete control over the policies deployed. We show the advantages of our architecture in the case of member replacement.


Two types of vibration, i.e. forced and self-excited, are generated during the grinding process. The forced vibration is mainly introduced due to the wheel unbalance and the self-excited vibration due to the machining process itself. An attempt has been made to analyse the forced vibration in order to help with the formulation of a basis for the dynamic acceptance test of a grinding machine. A systematic analysis of the effects of the wheel unbalance on the dynamic system of the grinding machine, grinding forces, macro and micro geometrical workpiece parameters and wheel wear has been made by conducting a series of grinding tests. A new approach has been made to study the motion of the wheelspindle in its bearings. A theoretical expression relating the wheel unbalance and workpiece waviness has also been derived.
A Churchill plain hydraulic cylindrical grinding machine was adapted for the present investigation. Three wheels of grades K, M and 0 were employed. A suitable experimental set up was developed to measure the various parameters involved.
The two most important conclusions which emerged from the present investigation are as follows:
1. With increase in wheel unbalance an increase in the wheelhead and wheelspindle vibration are noticed. The relative motion between the wheel and the workpiece, the variation in the grinding forces and the workpiece waviness are also increased with the increase in the wheel unbalance.
2. The wheel unbalance does not affect the temperature in the bearings, the grinding ratio, the average grinding forces and longitudinal surface roughness parameters. Some improvement in bearing area, however, was observed with the increase of wheel unbalance.


Febrile seizures are common in the first five years of life, and many factors that increase seizure risk have been identified. Initial evaluation should determine whether features of a complex seizure are present and identify the source of fever. Routine blood tests, neuroimaging, and electroencephalography are not recommended, and lumbar puncture is no longer recommended in patients with uncomplicated febrile seizures. In the unusual case of febrile status epilepticus, intravenous lorazepam and buccal midazolam are first-line agents. After an initial febrile seizure, physicians should reassure parents about the low risk of long-term effects, including neurologic sequelae, epilepsy, and death. However, there is a 15 to 70 percent risk of recurrence in the first two years after an initial febrile seizure. This risk is increased in patients younger than 18 months and those with a lower fever, short duration of fever before seizure onset, or a family history of febrile seizures. Continuous or intermittent antiepileptic or antipyretic medication is not recommended for the prevention of recurrent febrile seizures.


Acinetobacter spp. are primarily associated with nosocomial infections and these isolates resistant to most antimicrobial agents. The present study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility of tigecyline in multi-drug-resistant (MDR) and extreme-drug resistance (XDR) Acinetobacter strains by three different methods. MDR Acinetobacter isolates described in the study were resistant to at least three of the following antibiotics: imipenem, meropenem, ceftazidime, cefepime, aztreonam, piperacillin tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, ampicillin-sulbactam, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, amikacin, gentamicin and tobramycin. XDR was defined as resistance to all above antibiotics excluding colistin and tigecyline. Identification of Acinetobacter spp. were made conventional methods. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed according to the criteria of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). All of the isolates were found resistant to carbapenem. Disk diffusion, E-test and broth microdilution methods were used to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility of tigecyline. No tigecycline interpretative criteria universally accepted for Acinetobacter spp, therefore the Food and Drug Administration approved breakpoints for members of the family Enterobacteriaceae have been used. A total of 30 (five strains were MDR and 25 strains were XDR) Acinetobacter strains were isolated from various clinical specimens (8 paracentesis fluid, 8 blood, 7 tracheal aspirates, 5 wound, 2 urine, 2 catheter, 1 sputum) of hospitalized patients in Turgut Ozal Medical Center in 2008 year. All of the MDR and XDR strains were susceptible to tigecyline by broth microdilution method. Against Acinetobacter spp, an MIC range between 0.03 and 0.5 mg/ml was observed by broth microdilution and MIC50 and MIC90 values were determined as 0.12 mg/ml and 0.25 mg/ml, respectively. Twenty five strains (83%) were found susceptible to tigecyline when the disk diffusion brekpoints were considered as g16mm susceptible and l12mm resistant. Against Acinetobacter spp, an MIC range between 1 and 8 mg/ml was observed by E test. MICs of tigecycline determined by E test were 8 to 64 times higher and 30% (9/30) of the isolates were resistant to tigecycline by E test (MIC breakpoint 2 mg/ml ). Broth microdilution method must to use in the resistant Acinetobacter spp, by E test and disk diffusion method. Key words: Acinetobacter spp; Multi-Drug-Resistance; Tigecycline; E Test; Broth Microdilution.


For electrical penetration graph (EPG) recording from a piercing insect, attachment of the insect to an electrode of thin wire is needed. The effects of tethering on the probing behaviour of the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) were studied by comparing free (not wired) whiteflies with tethered whiteflies, using gold wire of 10 and 20 μm diameter. As an additional group, whiteflies with silver paint contact but without wiring were used to accomplish discontinuous EPG recordings. The total probing time and the total time spent with the stylets in phloem sieve elements (phloem phase) differed between these treatments. Probing time of free insects was significantly longer than that of whiteflies wired with 20 μm, but not with 10 μm wires. Time spent in phloem phase was considerably shorter for 20 than for 10 μm wired whiteflies. These differences decreased over the 8 h experimental time. In an additional 12 h experiment, a free/tethered comparison was made on the basis of honeydew excretion, using 'honeydew clock' recording. By comparing the simultaneous EPGs with honeydew recordings of wired insects, a highly positive correlation was found between total duration of phloem phases and periods of honeydew excretion. Free insects spent longer time in phloem sieve elements than wired ones and shorter intervals occurred before reaching the phloem phase, which always includes phloem feeding. However, when a 2 h adaptation period was given to the wired whiteflies, an improvement could be observed in shortening the interval to the 1st phloem phase and increasing the total time of phloem phases. Although there is still an effect of a 10 μm gold wire on probing behaviour, EPG recording seems an acceptable method for investigating probing behaviour of whiteflies, as long as control whiteflies in behavioural and ecophysiological studies are tethered as well. Using an adaptation procedure to reduce the wire stress is recommended.


SUMMARY The receptor sites and nerve pathways involved in the reflex production of laryngospasm have been investigated in the cat. The trigeminal nerves and the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerves were shown to provide an afferent pathway for the reflex when the nasopharynx and larynx were exposed to ether vapour. Evidence was obtained suggesting that the recurrent laryngeal nerves may form part of the afferent innervation of the trachea involved in this reflex response. The vagus nerves provide an afferent pathway from receptors in the trachea and lungs.


Maintenance of the stock of medical property is an important strategic problem of Russian Federation Armed Forces nowadays. In the course of plan upgrading and reforming of a stock there is a necessity for theoretical elaboration of price formation process and realization of drugs and medical products discharged from the stocks. The conducted analysis of the requirements of current rules and regulations allowed the substantiation of the mechanism structure, which evaluates the price of drugs and medical products while formation, their keeping in a stock and reformation of medicinal property sets. We have created a model of price formation for drugs and medical products which are included into the medical property sets for theoretical substantiation of the mentioned processes. The study conducted allowed not only structuring of the price formation mechanism of discharged property, but also to isolate the prospective directions of its realization. So, we have established that the drugs and medical products discharged from the stock may be of great interest for consumers due to the medical property offer in low (optimal) costs.


Hydraulic fracturing of a formation causes its partial destruction; the subsequent operation of wells is frequently complicated by the release of solid particles (mechanical impurities) from the bottomhole, as well as by the inflow of loose proppant particles into the pump. The authors show how the occurrence of mechanical impurities in the produced fluid affects the operation of downhole installations and the number of well maintenance operations. The paper provides information on the results of measures implemented to prevent mechanical impurities from getting into the pump, whereupon the situation with wells complicated by mechanical impurities has significantly improved. To improve the efficiency of operation of curved wells with high oil viscosity values and abnormally low reservoir pressures, various downhole sucker rod pumps and new solutions for sucker-rod screw pump (PCP) installations have been developed. The analysis of existing PCP designs was carried out.
 The today's key strategy of Sheshmaoil Management Company LLC (Republic of Tatarstan, Russia) is to maintain oil production by applying highly effective well interventions (WI), i.e. hydraulic fracturing (HF) [1, 2]. This method of reservoir stimulation has been massively implemented in all seven production companies of Sheshmaoil Management Company LLC since 2014. Mainly transition to such type of WI is connected with abandoning of ineffective methods of production stimulation with various options of acid treatment:
 – acid treatments of bottomhole zones; – large-volume selective acid treatments; – acid hydraulic fracturing; – foam-acid treatment.


Conflict over the appropriate uses and management of public land have been a feature of the Australian political landscape for at least the past 30 years. While various attempts have been made to establish land use assessment and planning institutions in various jurisdictions, the success of these often short lived attempts at institutional approaches for managing land use conflict have been patchy at best. The experience in the State of Victoria has been somewhat different, with public land use assessment and planning having been informed by a series of independent statutory bodies since 1970 (the Land Conservation, Environment Conservation, and Victorian Environmental Assessment Councils). To some degree at least the value of this approach is indicated by the extent to which Victoria's bioregions are now protected in conservation reserves. However, while there has always been a statutory body in operation, the roles and responsibilities of these bodies have been subject to significant legislative change, with existing bodies replaced by new bodies in 1997 and 2001. Justifications for these reforms included changing circumstances and new understandings about environmental management, as well as changing views about public administration. As a way of contributing to enhancing the design of institutions for mediating land use conflict and contributing to sustainable land use and management, this paper investigates the lessons that can be learnt from the Victorian experience by examining the implications of the changing roles and responsibilities of these institutions, and then discussing possible future directions for strategic land use planning.


Olinda R.G., Maia L.A., Cargnelutti J.F., Gois R.C.S., Batista J.S., Dantas A.F.M., Flores E.F. & Riet-Correa F. 2016. Swinepox dermatitis in backyard pigs in Northeastern Brazil. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 36(6):468-472. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Hospital Veterinário, Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus de Patos, Patos, PB 58700-000, Brazil. E-mail: email@example.com This article describes five outbreaks of swinepox in backyard pigs in Northeastern Brazil. It affected backyard pigs from herds of poor hygienic-sanitary conditions with severe fly and lice infestations. The morbidity ranged from 33.3 to 100% among affected herds, with mortality reaching up to 60%. The affected pigs developed multifocal to coalescent gray to white papules and blisters in the skin, with eventual eruptions, evolving to erosions and crusts. In addition to skin lesions, affected piglets presented apathy, anorexia and fever. The disease was auto-limiting, resolving within 15 to 25 days. Histological examination revealed proliferative and ulcerative vesiculopustular dermatitis with ballooning degeneration of epithelial cells, perivascular inflammatory infiltrates of lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils, eosinophils and some macrophages in the dermis. Intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions were consistently observed in keratinocytes. Total DNA extracted from fresh tissue fragments obtained from one outbreak and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue from the other four outbreaks was submitted to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Swinepox virus (SWPV) and Vaccinia virus (VACV). Genetic SWPV material was identified by PCR in fresh material from one outbreak. Nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the PCR amplicons (viral polymerase gene) demonstrated 100% homology with sequences from SWPV. All tissues were PCR negative for VACV. Swine poxvirus is present in backyard pigs in Northeastern Brazil, indicating the need of including SWPV in the differential diagnosis of dermatitis in pigs.


The insurance industry can play a key role in contributing to social and economic continuity should a large-scale terrorist attack occur. There have been debates here and abroad on the role and responsibilities of the federal government and the private sector in providing adequate insurance protection against terrorism. In the United States, this led to the passage of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002. One question that needs to be thoroughly examined is whether and how the public sector could partner more systematically with the private sector to create a large and sustainable insurance market for terrorism risk. Such a policy may mean providing some degree of government reinsurance and possibly covering certain losses from terrorism where the private sector may not have sufficient capacity. The public sector may also facilitate the linkage of terrorism insurance with private expenditures to better prepare the nation by reducing interdependent risks of terrorism.


We present a novel approach for emotion conversion that bridges the domains of speech analysis and computer vision. Our strategy is to warp the pitch contour of a source emotional utterance using diffeomorphic curve registration. The associated dynamical process pushes the original source contour towards that of a target emotional utterance. Mathematically, this warping process is completely specified by a set of initial momenta . Therefore, we use parallel data to train a highway neural network (HNet) to predict these initial momenta directly from the signal characteristics. The input features to the HNet include contextual pitch and spectral information. Once trained, the HNet is used to obtain the initial momenta for new utterances. From here, the diffeomorphic process takes over and warps the pitch contour accordingly. We validate our framework on the VESUS repository collected at Johns Hopkins University, which contains parallel emotional utterances from 10 actors. The proposed warping is more accurate that three state-of-the-art baselines for emotion conversion. We also evaluate the quality of our emotion manipulations via crowd sourcing.


Spatial distribution and egg production of squat lobsters is examined from specimens deposited in the collection of the Zoology Museum from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. A total of 1346 specimens of squat lobsters were analyzed, out of which 169 were ovigerous females. Ovigerous females contained ten species of Munididae and three of Munidopsidae. Eleven of the thirteen studied species were distributed along the Brazilian coast, while two of the remaining species in other marine regions. The analysis of bathymetric distribution revealed the presence of four species on continental shelf (< 200m depth: M. spinifrons , M. pusilla , M. irrasa , M. flinti ), two on first layer of the continental slope (200-500m: Munida forceps , A. longipes ) and five distributed between 500 and 1048m ( M. erinacea , M. constricta , M. valida , M. microphthalma , M. transtridens ). Overall, species belonging to Munididae produced a higher number of eggs (554 ± 619 eggs) but minor size (0.48 ± 0.119 mm) than species of Munidopsidae (13 ± 10 eggs; 1.12 ± 0.337 mm, respectively). Such tendency is consistent with the phylogeny of both clades whose common origin is reflect in morphological similarities both in larval and adult forms, but not in terms of the reproductive strategy that clearly separates the species belonging to these families. Our results also demonstrate that egg size in squat lobsters is strongly associated with the depth, which suggest the strong influence of habitat on the duration of larval development of these species.


Sm x Ni 100– x (at. %) alloy thin films are prepared on Cr(100) underlayers hetero-epitaxially grown on MgO(100) single-crystal substrates at 500 °C by employing an ultra-high vacuum molecular beam epitaxy system with varying the Sm content from Ni-rich to Sm-rich region ( x = 10–25 at. %) including the SmNi 5 stoichiometry. The influence of film composition on ordered phase formation is studied by reflection high-energy electron diffraction and X-ray diffraction. Sm-Ni films with Sm compositions between 13 and 17 at. % consist of (112_0) epitaxial crystals with RT 5 -type structure. The epitaxial films involve two types of (112_0) variant whose c-axes are lying in the film plane and rotated around the film normal by 90° each other. As the Sm content departs from the compositional range, an amorphous phase tends to be included in the film in addition to SmNi 5 ordered phase.


Background: Analyze and compare the difference in arterial stiffness between patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy people. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 83 patients with COPD who were treated the observation group; 80 healthy people were selected as the control group during the same period. Pearson correlation analysis software was used to analyze the correlation between arterial stiffness and ultrasound index in COPD patients. Results: The ultrasound RI and PI level of observation group were lower than those of control group and PI level (t=6.326, 8.321, P=0.000). Observation group IMT (1.36±0.13) mm, total plaque area (19.75±2.19) cm2, plaque number (1.67±0.64) were higher than control group IMT (0.94±0.10) mm, total plaque area (5.84±1.32) cm2, number of plaques (0.82±0.30) (t=4.574, 7.493, 5.093, P=0.000). The arterial stiffness (1585.49±14.36) cm/s and ABI level (1.63±0.24) of the observation group were higher than the arterial stiffness (1142.45±10.77) cm/s and ABI level (1.12±0.16) of the control group (t=6.392, 5.109, P=0.000). Arterial stiffness in COPD patients was negatively correlated with ABI, RI, PI levels (P<0.05); positively correlated with IMT, total plaque area, and plaque number (P<0.05). Conclusion The arterial stiffness of COPD patients is higher than that of healthy people; the ultrasound index can be used as an auxiliary indicator for clinical prediction of arterial stiffness, which is helpful to improve the accuracy of prediction and thus better guide clinical intervention in high-risk groups of COPD in time.