The heritabilities of the parameters slope (b) and intercept (In a) of the allometric function: y = In a + bx [where y = In (body mass) and x = In (cumulative feed intake)] and for p, which is the slope of the autoregressive relationship (t against t 1), were investigated using the rat as model. The heritability estimates for In a (0,34), b (0,31) and p (0,12) agree with those of a previous study. Since In a and b are both directly proportional to growth efficiency, it may be possible to use the model to change the entire efficiency curve of growing animals. The correlations (phenotypic, genetic, ordinary) between these parameters and common growth (growth rate, feed intake, body mass) and efficiency (three types) traits were also investigated. There are positive correlations between band the efficiency traits (0,71; 0,82; 0,37), and growth rate (0,31). There is, however, a negative correlation between b and feed intake (0,38). If this is true, it may be possible to increase growth rate via b without an increase in feed intake.


This paper presents the upper human body pose modelling using windowing and template matching techniques. Indoor image sequences are used as input. Silhouette and colour features are extracted in the human body parts detection stage. The head and torso pose are estimated using windowing technique. Meanwhile the upper and lower arms are estimated using template matching technique. Each body part is represented by rectangular shape where its sizes depend on the predetermined approximation. The proposed techniques are tested using 30 image sequences from different users. These techniques can overcome self-occlusion, hand crossing and it is adaptive to illumination changes.


We report on the detection of seven bursts from the periodically active, repeating fast radio burst (FRB) source FRB 180916.J0158+65 in the 300–400 MHz frequency range with the Green Bank Telescope (GBT). Emission in multiple bursts is visible down to the bottom of the GBT band, suggesting that the cutoff frequency (if it exists) for FRB emission is lower than 300 MHz. Observations were conducted during predicted periods of activity of the source, and had simultaneous coverage with the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) and the FRB backend on the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) telescope. We find that one of the GBT-detected bursts has potentially associated emission in the CHIME band (400–800 MHz) but we detect no bursts in the LOFAR band (110–190 MHz), placing a limit of on the spectral index of broadband emission from the source. We also find that emission from the source is severely band-limited with burst bandwidths as low as ∼40 MHz. In addition, we place the strictest constraint on observable scattering of the source, <1.7 ms at 350 MHz, suggesting that the circumburst environment does not have strong scattering properties. Additionally, knowing that the circumburst environment is optically thin to free–free absorption at 300 MHz, we find evidence against the association of a hyper-compact H ii region or a young supernova remnant (age <50 yr) with the source.


Since the West Sea experiences a big difference in tides, the output power of the small marine hydroelectric power plant varies with the tide. When an induction generator is used here for small hydroelectric power, the reactive power capacitor should be installed at the generator main bus to compensate for the changes in power. As such, the sizing method for the power compensation of the induction generator is reviewed and an optimal method for compensation is suggested. The self-excitation minimum capacitor capacity method, which prevents high voltages, and the power factor automatic control method, which retains a power factor of greater than 90% are reviewed. The compensation effect of reactive power is confirmed through a case study.


The weighted Maximum Satisfiability problem (weighted MAX-SAT) is a NP-hard problem with numerous applications arising in artificial intelligence. As an efficient tool for heuristic design, the backbone has been applied to heuristics design for many NP-hard problems. In this paper, we investigated the computational complexity for retrieving the backbone in weighted MAX-SAT and developed a new algorithm for solving this problem. We showed that it is intractable to retrieve the full backbone under the assumption that . Moreover, it is intractable to retrieve a fixed fraction of the backbone as well. And then we presented a backbone guided local search (BGLS) with Walksat operator for weighted MAX-SAT. BGLS consists of two phases: the first phase samples the backbone information from local optima and the backbone phase conducts local search under the guideline of backbone. Extensive experimental results on the benchmark showed that BGLS outperforms the existing heuristics in both solution quality and runtime.


members of the Salvation Army, Growing Together, ed. by Shaw and Helen Clifton (The Salvation Army [1984], £ 1.50, pp. 142, ISBN 0-85412-445-4), is described as 'a Salvationist guide to courtship, marriage and family life'. It is precisely that. The treatment of the various aspects of a big subject is set within the context of the Salvation Army discipline with its strict requirement of its married officers. The official statements on marriage and the family issued by the Army are reproduced at the end of the volume. They reflect a deep conviction about the importance of marriage. 'The strengthening and encouragement of the institution of marriage remains an essential precondition for sound family life which is, in turn, crucial to a stable society.' One interesting feature of the book is that testimony comes from Salvationists in different parts of the world, so we get glimpses of many different cultures. Yet the firm insistence on high standards is equally evident in all the contributions. The advice given is sound and the attitude to sexual questions wholesome and straightforward. The single page on homosexuality, however, is quite inadequate and does not grapple with the latest Christian thinking on the subject. But this is a book that may be commended for many beyond the ranks of the Salvation Army. KENNETH G. GREET


Background Different theories of the link between socio-economic status (SES) and mental illness have been postulated. In particular, two theories of this association, social causation and social selection, differ in the implied causal pathway. The authors employ behavior genetic modeling to consider evidence for both social selection and social causation in the relationship between income variation and internalizing disorders. Method Behavior genetic modeling was used to estimate the presence of gene–environment interaction (GxE, social causation) in the presence of gene–environment correlation (rGE, social selection). Participants were members of a sample of 719 twin pairs from the Midlife in the United States study. Four internalizing (INT) syndromes were assessed: major depression (MD); generalized anxiety disorder (GAD); panic attacks (PA); neuroticism (N). SES was measured with total family household income. Results One factor best accounted for the variance shared between MD, GAD, PA and N. The etiology of variation in INT changed from high to low levels of income, with unique environmental factors playing a larger role in INT variation at lower levels of income. Across levels of income, rGE between income and INT was modest (low income ra=0.39 to high income ra=0.54), implying a selection process operating through genetic effects linking lower income with INT psychopathology. Conclusions Findings support social causation by suggesting that low income contributes significantly to environmental variation in INT. Modest support was found for social selection, but should be extended using longitudinal designs. Effective interventions for internalizing psychopathology may differ depending on income.


This paper examines the impact of input and output prices in the process of enterprising decisionmaking
for meat production in Greece by means of econometric modelling. For estimating supply
elasticites, econometric methods are used, namely a 'naive' expectations model form. Cointegration
analysis is used for investigating the actuality of a long-run relationship between the variables of interest.
The statistical results show that the estimated supply models possess desirable statistical properties and
the estimated supply elasticities are credible. The estimated elasticities are consistent with a priori expectations
and are superior to other estimates because proper procedures have been used (cointegration tests
have established the existence of long-run relationships).


Background: Next-generation sequencing has been leading the genetic study of human disease for the past 10 years, generating a huge amount of sequence variant data, which are stored in variant call format (VCF) files. The aim of the study was to reassess the utility of VCF files for reanalysis.
Methodology: This is a descriptive observational study of Saudi patients with undiagnosed genetic conditions. VCF files from 20 samples were referred to the molecular laboratory by physicians for reanalysis using variant interpretation software.
Results: Seven cases (n = 20) have been reported differently from the outside laboratory. This accounts for almost 35% of all cases and is mainly due to the ability to gather more information about the patient's phenotype. One whole-genome sequence (WGS) case changed from inconclusive to negative. In addition, we identified variants related to the patient's phenotype in six cases; two of them were WGS and four were whole-exome sequence, all reported as negative before the reanalysis.
Conclusion: Comprehensive phenotyping of individuals is a crucial step in identifying candidate phenotype-related variants. We outline the benefit obtained from access to the patient's medical records and communication with referring physicians.


Innate immunity is the first line of defense in guarding the host against foreign pathogenic invaders. Cells of the innate immune system express pattern recognition receptors, such as toll-like receptors (TLRs), that recognize com- mon molecular patterns of bacteria and viruses. However, along with the recognition of foreign pathogens, TLRs have also been shown to respond to endogenous substrates including; RNA released from dead or dying cells, oxidized mole- cules such as low density lipoproteins, and free fatty acids. When TLRs are triggered, signal transduction occurs resulting in increased expression and production of various cytokines and costimulatory molecules. TLR activation due to the rec- ognition of self endogenous antigen has been implicated in perpetuating multiple autoimmune responses by skewing im- mune responses toward strong proinflammation. TLR activation can prime an adaptive immune response, potentially pos- sessing the ability to signal the generation of autoantibodies and autoreactive lymphocytes. Therefore, TLRs, their associ- ated signaling molecules, and their triggered cytokines, are prime candidates for future research in type 1 diabetes (T1D) and autoimmunity. Recently, inflammation has been shown to be a component of type 2 diabetes (T2D). In T2D, signal- ing through TLRs, in association with free fatty acids, is correlated with insulin resistance. Furthermore, TLRs and their associated signaling molecules are increased in the adipose tissue of T2D patients where inflammatory cells can accumu- late. This review focuses on innate immunity and TLR involvement in both T1D and T2D. Therapeutic measures to ma- nipulate TLR signaling, the expression of signaling components, and inflammatory cytokines may help to alleviate the disease process.


The Next Linear Collider is an electron-positron accelerator unprecedented in its size, energy, and tight tolerances. We describe the suite of simulation tools which are widely used in designing and modelling the performance of the NLC. In order to achieve a uniform beamline description and permit simulation of all facets of the collider, an extended version of the Standard Input Format (xSIF) has been developed and implemented in MAD and DIMAD. We discuss several enhancements to the MAD and DIMAD calculation engines necessary to properly simulate the most challenging regions of the facility. We also describe enhancements to LIAR which allow it to be used as the tracking engine for a tuning/feedback simulation written in MATLAB. Finally, we discuss the additional software needed to model the beam stabilization and tuning processes.


This paper is devoted to a research on the cultural significance of Pandora, the first woman in Greek civilization, as given in the Theogony and Works and Days of Hesiod. It is necessary, first of all, to establish the status of Hesiod and his works as canonical, part of the so called Panhellenic poetics, which reflected as well as shaped the polis ideology regarding woman. Woman in this ideology is conceived as the factor of otherness accounting for the irredeemable alienation of mankind from the happy commensality which they once enjoyed with the immortal beings (section 1). The creation of woman by Zeus as a punishment for mankind was prompted by Prometheus' deceptive division of the sacrificial meat at Mekone and his stealth of fire to mankind Therefore the introduction of woman into this world coincided with the creation of civilization. The cultural significance of Pandora is that her introduction brought mortality and deficiency to the human conditions and thenceforth human beings needed women to perpetuate the species and had to cultivate the land to survive. There existed a close connection between sacrifice (which defines the relationship between the divine and the mortal), agriculture (the relationship between men and nature) and marriage (the relation between male and female). These kinds of activities were regarded by the Greek as constitutive of civilization, marking them from the barbarians and the wild nature, but they were also signs that revealed this loss of onetime fellowship with gods (sections 2 & 3). The origin of woman as such and woman with such an origin have an implication for the Greek view of sexuality and reproduction, which presupposes an economy of scarcity and a zero-sum view of resources. Therefore, Hesiod regarded that female sexuality did not lead to productivity but to the destruction of man's substance, in property as well as in health. Child, encoded as "hope" and perceived as the only redemption in a world full of pains and evils, should be limited to a single one. The function of child is conceived in terms of the maintenance of the dynamics of masculine acquisition and so fatherhood was debased to a kind of instrument in order to protect the accumulation of wealth within the patrilineage. The pessimistic tone implied in this economy of scarcity becomes even clearer if one compares it with similar passages in the Genesis, an utterly different perspective, revealing the will of God which encouraged Adam and Eve to cover the world with their offspring and to enjoy the very abundance that God promised and created for them (section 4). Works and Days provides us with an excellent narrative on this economy of scarcity. The key term to this kind of construction is the pithos (jar) that went with Pandora, which can be interpreted either as the storing jar that preserved the property as well as the womb that produced and housed the child. This corresponds to the Greek cultural configuration of female body as consisting of an upper exist and a lower exist. Pithos in this sense should be potentially (re-) productive. Yet, if the Greek woman was construed as voracious in food, so was she in sex (section 5). Her creation was seen as unwelcome, but necessary in this kind of human conditions because she could produce the only hope in a world of disappointment. In the Theogony Hesiod took a different drive, with a stress on the close relation between sex and power. This main theme is the myth of succession crisis, which saw a son overthrow his father by a control of female sexuality. If Zeus could finally establish a lasting regime, this is attributed to Zeus in his success in the incorporation of female sexuality within himself and reduced the role of goddesses to nothing other than kourotrophos, the foster-mother of the child, and thus deprived them of ability for birth. Therefore, the patriarchy of Zeus is based on a full control of female sexuality. This denial of woman's productivity constitutes an act of matricide. A tentative conclusion is therefore reached: Hesiod's myth of Pandora is ultimately a myth of order and ordering, in its sublimation of man's fear of female sexuality into an cultural ideal (section 6). The final section (section 7) is an excursus on Semonides of Amorgos, with an inquiry into his radical approach toward the concept of woman as complete "otherness", a denial of Hesiod's opinion that there was a category that could be named as genos gynaikōn. This is a further step in the debasement of woman. A Chinese translation (section 8), based on Greek text, of his Iambic Satire on Woman is attached to this section as a coda to this essay on the myth of Pandora.


We obtain experimental evidence that suggests that promisors are more likely to keep promises the more they were relied on by a promisee; that this effect is anticipated by promisees, who accordingly strategically overinvest to lock promisors into keeping their promises (psychological lock-in); and therefore that legal enforcement can reduce overinvestment as promisees do not need to make use of the extralegal mechanism of psychological lock-in when the legal regime induces promisors to perform instead. These results contrast with the central prediction of the holdup literature that underinvestment results in the absence of legal enforcement.


In this paper, an attempt is made to predict the hourly mass of jaggery during the process of drying inside greenhouse dryer under the natural convection mode. Jaggery was dried until the constant variation in the mass of jaggery. Artificial neural network (ANN) is used to predict the mass of the dried jaggery on hourly basis. Solar radiation, ambient temperature and relative humidity are input parameters for the prediction of jaggery mass in each hour in the ANN modelling. The results of the ANN model are also validated with experimental drying data of jaggery mass. The statistical parameters such as root mean square error and correlation coefficient (R2) are used to measure the difference between values predicted by the ANN model and the values actually observed from the experimental study. It was found that the results of the ANN model and experimental are shown fairly good agreement.


Background: Training orthopaedic surgery residents is time consuming and expensive. The objective of the current study was to determine the time and costs associated with teaching orthopaedic residents to perform an open carpal tunnel release (CTR). Methods: A retrospective chart review of a single orthopaedic hand surgeon's outpatient surgical cases over 18 mo was performed. One hundred-six isolated open carpal tunnel releases were identified. Seventy-seven were performed while training orthopaedic surgery residents, and 29 were performed by the attending surgeon alone. Standard demographics, post-graduate year (PGY) of training, and surgical times were abstracted from the charts. Results: The time (minutes) required to perform a CTR for PGY-2, 3, and 4 when compared to the attending surgeon was 13.8±3.5 (P=0.012), 16.4±4.9 (P<0.001) and 13.1±4.2 (P=0.044), respectively, with a resident average of 13.7±4.2 min. The attending surgeon required 10.4±4.2 min, which is 3.3 min less than the average resident time (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference when comparing surgical times between resident years of training. Conclusions: Orthopaedic surgical residents on average required 32% more surgical time to perform an open CTR. Total ambulatory operating room and anesthesia charge was approximately $137/min at our institution with a collection rate of 27% resulting in a per minute cost equal to $37/min. The 77 cases performed while training residents added an additional $34,811.70 in charges with a resultant $9,401.70 in reimbursement. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective review.


Using Marcuse's theory of the total mobilization of advanced technology society along the lines of what he calls "the performance principle," I attempt to describe the complex composition of class oppression in the classroom. Students conceive of themselves as economic units, customers pursuing neutral interests in a morally neutral, socio-economic system of capitalist competition. The classic, unreflective conception of the classroom responds to this by implicitly endorsing individualism and ideals of humanist citizenship. While racism and cultural diversity have come to count as elements of liberal intelligence in most college curricula, attempts to theorize these aspects of social and individual identity and place them in a broader content of class appear radical and inconsistent with the humanistic notion that we all have control over who we are and what we achieve. But tags such as "radical" and "unrealistic" mark a society based on the performance principle. Marcuse allows us to recognize a single author behind elements of psychology, metaphysics, and capitalism. The fact that bell hooks hits upon a similar notion suggests that we might use Marcuse's theory of the truly liberatory potential of imagination to transform and reconceive our classrooms so that the insidious effects of class, racism, and individualistic apathy might be subverted. Specifically, I outline and place into this theoretical context three concrete pedagogical practices: (a) the use of the physical space of the classroom; (b) the performance of community through group readings and short full-class ceremonies, and (c) the symbolic modeling represented by interdisciplinary approaches to teaching. All three of these practices engage students in ways that co-curricularly subvert class (and, incidentally, race divisions) and allow students to imagine, and so engage in, political action for justice as they see it.


This paper reflects on the University of Western Sydney's Bachelor of Design teaching studio, officially recognised as the Rabbit Hole, and its impact on student learning. The award-winning Rabbit Hole's learning environment incorporates participatory design methods and a work integrated learning framework that facilitates situated learning experiences, where live projects with real-world outcomes bridge the gap between academia, community and industry. This study employs qualitative methods to explore the impact of the Rabbit Hole's curriculum on student learning and subsequent graduate experience, with a focus on demonstrating how the Rabbit Hole fosters socially responsible emergent designers through working on live projects. This paper affirms the need for design pedagogy that is underpinned by studio teaching that focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration and professional practice.


The blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) are two closely related tight endothelial cell barriers that control the movement of molecules and cells between the blood and the central nervous system (CNS). This feature is partly due to the presence of tight intercellular junctions between opposing endothelial cells (ECs) that limit the diffusion of molecules and restrict the passage of immune cells. This latter phenomenon is the primary driver for the observed immune privilege of the brain and retina. The breakdown of these barriers is a feature of many disorders of the CNS including Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke. At a molecular level, the breakdown of the BBB and BRB involves disengagement of intercellular junctions and a consequent increase in barrier permeability. Increased entry of macromolecules and/or immune cells through the BBB in pathological states have been extensively described in the literature. These events can be mediated by a paracellular route or a transcellular route of entry. Leukocyte migration from the blood, across the vascular wall and to the underlying tissue, occurs both in inflammation and immunosurveilance. The multi-step paradigm that explains this process, involves a series of interactions between leukocytes and endothelial cells with the involvement of chemokines. Chemokines were originally discovered as mediators of immune cell chemoattraction to sites of injury or inflammation. Immune cells are known to express receptors for chemokines and their behavior can be governed by receptor engagement with the various chemokine ligands. ECs express chemokine receptors raising the possibility that these cells can respond following exposure to chemokines. 5 Since chemokines are heavily involved in inflammatory processes, we have investigated the role of the chemokines CCL4, CXCL8 and CXCL10 on BBB endothelial cell function. We observed that the chemokines studied induced signaling events in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and in an immortalised human brain endothelial cell line (hCMEC/D3). All chemokine treatments resulted in phosphorylation of the MAPKs and CCL4 resulted in a significant translocation of these proteins to the nucleus of hCMEC/D3. The distribution of junctional proteins ZO-1 and VE-cadherin were altered in response to chemokine treatments. VE-cadherin total protein was not affected by chemokines but there was internalization of the protein following treatments. There was evidence that the cytoskeleton, in the form of stress fibers, was also modulated by these chemokines. In hCMEC/D3 treatment with the chemokines CCL4 and CXCL10 resulted in an increased transendothelial cell monolayer permeability and an increase in the rate of migration of CD4+ T lymphocytes across the monolayer. In vivo there was also evidence that CCL4 induced increased permeability in the BBB. Taken together, these results indicate that that these chemokines may contribute to the opening of the BBB and the pathogenesis of neuroinflammatory diseases.


This study aimed to investigate Pseudomonas aeruginosa that cause surface and core tonsils from patients suffering from acute or chronic tonsillitis. A total of 130 samples represented by 100 sample from surface tonsillitis and 30 sample from core tonsillitis after tonsillectomy were referred to Al-sader medical city and Al-Hakim general hospital in Al-Najaf province (Ear, Nose and Throat unit), within period from September 2016 to February 2017.These patients ranged from 2-60 years .A (70) of them were males .A( 60 )were females.The result indicated , 25 from all surface tonsillitis were  pseudomonas aeruginosa ,but not present this bacteria in core tonsillitis .Genetic ,study some genes encoding to virulence factors and responsible for pathogenesis to Pseudomonas aeruginosa by using PCR and electrophoresis. The results indicated ,all P. aeruginosa isolate contain AlgD , RpoS gene that responsible for polysaccharide (alginate) and alpha factor in RNA polysaccharide and responsible for encoding many virulence factor respectively and present high percentage from PsIA ,PelA gene from P. aeruginosa isolate that encoding to biofilm formation .


Use of electron microscope fractography in the study of fatigue crack propagation under spectrum loadings is based on the evaluation of 7075-T651 aluminum alloy specimens from an experimental program. Microscopically established crack propagation data by striation spacing measurements are shown to provide cycle-to-cycle evidence of crack propagation behavior under spectrum loading that normally cannot be established under macroscopic observation. Crack propagation rate retardation and acceleration is illustrated through fractographic striation measurements. Contribution and interaction of various loads of a transport wing loads spectrum are illustrated fractographically from the test program.


The Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa - Lecythidaceae) is considered a product with high economic value, being a food widely appreciated for its nutritional qualities. Although previous studies have reported the biochemical composition of Brazil nut oil, the knowledge regarding the phospholipid composition exhibits a disagreement: the composition of fatty acids present in the structures of phospholipids is reported as being different from the composition of the free fatty acids present in the oil. In this work, solid phase extraction (SPE) was employed to provide a fast extraction of the phospholipids from Brazil nuts, in order to compare the phospholipid profile of the in nature nuts and their fatty acids precursor present in the oil. The major phospholipids were characterized by mass spectrometry approach. Their fragmentation pattern through direct infusion electrospray ionization ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-IT-MS 2 ) proved to be useful to unequivocal characterization of these substances. High resolution (HR) experiments through ESI using a quadruple time of flight mass spectrometry (QTOF) system were performed to reinforce the identifications.


Editor,—Most fatal events in patients with ischaemic heart disease occur outside hospital and therefore the greatest opportunities for reducing mortality from acute coronary events lie in the prehospital setting1. In their recent paper Soo and colleagues2 published the results of a study to determine whether survival after cardiac arrest outside hospital was influenced by the availability of different grades of ambulance personnel and other health professionals. We are concerned with their conclusions about technician-only crews, and we wish to make some more general comments about their paper.

We feel that the data presented by Soo et al did not support their statement that "provision of defibrillation plus basic life support by technicians appears to be inadequate compared with the complementary early provision of advanced cardiac life support by paramedics". Clearly, in the population studied, overall …


In the Mid-West region of Madagascar, yields in upland rice remain low due to both low soil fertility and high weed pressure in fields. Increasing managed biodiversity inside crop rotation may be an option to reduce weed pressure in cropping systems. The effect of managed biodiversity was studied in a field experiment carried out in Ivory (19°33'18.90"S, 46°24'53.08"E), with a randomized block design with four replications during two years. Three rainfed rice based rotations (Rice // Groundnut = RA, Rice // Sorghum + Vigna unguiculata =RSV, Rice//Mucuna cochinchinensis + Crotalaria spectabilis = RMC) combined with two levels of fertilization (Low Fertilization = manure vs. High Fertilization = manure + fertilizer) were compared to a rainfed rice monoculture. Each crop or crop mixture in the rotation was grown every year on plots measuring 45.9 m². Each year, weed and rice biomass were measured at each weeding date. Rice biomass was also measured at flowering and harvest. Rice yield and its components were measured at harvest. Weed flora was observed the second year to analyse potential change in weed communities according to fertilization and/or crop rotation. The first year, weed biomass and rice yield were higher in highly fertilized treatments than in lowly ones. In highly fertilized treatments, weeds did not affect yield and weed biomass was positively correlated to rice yield. On contrary, fertilization had no effect on weed biomass the second year. The highest and lowest weed biomass were observed on RA and RMC treatments respectively. Lowest rice yields were observed in RSV and RA treatments, in highly and lowly fertilized treatments respectively. In lowly fertilized treatments, weed biomass reduces significantly rice yield. Finally, rotation had more impact than fertilization on weed flora. Biodiversity may have positive effect on cropping systems performances but it depends largely on the introduced species.


In this paper, the application of space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) technique is proposed for a two-phase full bridge voltage source inverter (VSI) having reduced number of switches. For the switching sequence, only symmetric SVPWM is considered in order to minimize the harmonic contents of the output current. By using software, three level switching patterns are determined for the six power transistors and the two-phase output voltages are applied to a balanced two-phase load. The experimental results are found good to apply in any type of practical two-phase load.


The incidence of pathology associated with alcoholism in the general population is approximately 12%, but among patients it is much higher. In hospitals, the pathology associated with alcoholism is 42% for men and 35% for women. Alcoholism and drug addictions are serious social problems. They lead to organism destroying and even to death. Alcohol cause the metabolic changes in whole organism and disturb it homeostasis. This can cause: the incidence of alcohol-related cancer such as cancers of pharynx, larynx, esophagus and liver. Alcohol abuse can lead to alterations in brain structure and functions and in some cases, to neurodegeneration, it can also lead to liver disease, pancreatic disease, ischaemic heart disease. The aim of this article is to disseminate practical knowledge on the subject of problems associated with alcoholism found in oncology practices.


The need for information transmission at ever increasing data rates is moving satellites to the millimeter-wave (MMW) bands. The efficient transmission of information requires linear systems. For satellites transmission linear, high-power amplifiers (HPAs) are essential in both orbit and on the ground. This paper describes linearizers that have been developed for the use with TWTAs at Q (43.5–45.5 GHz) and the new V (47–52 GHz) satellite bands. This paper will also discuss linearizer work for even higher bands that will be needed in the near future. Today's TWTA linearizers can provide all the frontend functions needed by an HPA including upconversion, gain, commandable attenuation, commandable predistortion, and the RF power for direct drive. The use of linearization at MMW is discussed and measured characteristics of the linearizers such as power transfer and carrier to intermodulation (IM) ratio (C/I) shared. Linearized MMW TWTAs are shown to achieve an AM/PM of <2°/dB, and at 3-dB output power backoff with a 16QAM signal, an adjacent channel power ratio of >30 dB with an error vector magnitude of <2%.


This work presents a case study of wafer probe test cost reduction by multivariate parametric testset optimization for a production RF/A device. More than 1.5 million tested device samples across dozens lots and hundreds of parametric measurements are analyzed using a new automatic testset minimization system. Parametric test subsets are found that can be used to predict infrequent wafer probe failures. Multivariate test models are generated to justify removal of ineffective tests, screen failures with minimal test cost, and demonstrate that some frequently passing tests are safe drop candidates. The proposed method is evaluated using parametric test data from an RF/A IC currently in production, showing how to reduce test cost and uncover tradeoffs between test escapes and overkills during high volume wafer probe screening.


Although the debate about the effects of the regulation of wages is long lasting, little attention has been paid to the role played by minimum wages in inter-temporal contexts with endogenous fertility. This paper investigates such effects within a standard OLG model of neoclassical growth. Some new results, so far escaped closer scrutiny, emerge: introducing a regulated wage may, despite the unemployment occurrence, (i) have a favourable impact on both capital accumulation and output per capita; (ii) reduce the population growth rate. This occurs more likely when a sufficiently high capital share as well as significant unemployment benefits do coexist. Moreover we show that such results also hold even with exogenous fertility and lump-sum taxation on the elderly. Therefore, we conclude that under suitable conditions the Stigler's (1946) result that the regulation of wages always causes a production loss may be violated, that is, in a dynamical context a regulated-wage economy may perform better than a market-wage economy, and the higher is the unemployment rate the higher is the (neoclassical) economic growth. Furthermore, we argue that the minimum wage may also be treated as a policy parameter to control population growth.


Case Report A 70-year-old housekeeper, with a previous history of chronic irritant contact dermatitis on the hands, had been diagnosed as having seborrheic dermatitis in the ear canal 1 year ago. She had applied several topical medicaments, including PanotileA eardrops, with remissions and relapses. Suddenly, 4 weeks before presentation, she developed worsening itchy erythematoedematous vesicular dermatitis in the right ear canal and on the ear. She stopped topical therapy with PanotileA eardrops, with clearance of the lesions within a week. The GEIDC standard series, PanotileA, and its excipients (Table 1) showed positive patch test reactions (ππ) at 2 and 4 days to PanotileA, and its active ingredients furaltadone chlorhydrate 1% pet. and neomycin sulfate


A case of scurvy presenting in a patient with Crohn's disease is reported. A normal response to replacement therapy is seen. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) deficiency was found in 7 out of 10 patients with clinically quiescent Crohn's disease, 4 of whom had an adequate oral intake of vitamin C. There was no significant difference in oral intake between patients with Crohn's disease and matched controls but there was a significant difference (P less than 0.001) in leucocyte ascorbic acid levels. It is recommended that patients with Crohn's disease be screened for vitamin C deficiency and receive prophylactic vitamin C supplements daily.


[1] Redistribution of air masses due to atmospheric circulation causes loading deformation of the Earth's crust, which can be as large as 20 mm for the vertical component and 3 mm for horizontal components. Rigorous computation of site displacements caused by pressure loading requires knowledge of the surface pressure field over the entire Earth surface. A procedure for computing three-dimensional displacements of geodetic sites of interest using a 6 hourly pressure field from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction numerical weather models and the Ponte and Ray [2002] model of atmospheric tides is presented. We investigated possible error sources and found that the errors of our pressure loading time series are below the 15% level. We validated our model by estimating the admittance factors of the pressure loading time series using a data set of 3.5 million very long baseline interferometry observations from 1980 to 2002. The admittance factors averaged over all sites are 0.95 ± 0.02 for the vertical displacement and 1.00 ± 0.07 for the horizontal displacements. For the first time, horizontal displacements caused by atmospheric pressure loading have been detected. The closeness of these admittance factors to unity allows us to conclude that on average, our model quantitatively agrees with the observations within the error budget of the model. At the same time we found that the model is not accurate for several stations that are near a coast or in mountain regions. We conclude that our model is suitable for routine data reduction of space geodesy observations.


The Solvent-Mediated Anhydrous to Monohydrate Phase Transition (SMPT) of citric acid in water was monitored using in situ Raman spectroscopy and image analysis. The solid phase composition, solute concentration, and crystal size distribution were measured during experiments designed to investigate the different steps of the SMPT process: dissolution of the metastable form, nucleation, and growth of the stable form. A Population Balance Model (PBE) was developed to depict the time evolutions of the two populations of particles involved. Nucleation and growth phenomena were analyzed and described through simplified kinetic laws. The related kinetic parameters were estimated through the nonlinear least squares minimization of model-experiments prediction errors. The overall PBE model was finally found to satisfactorily describe the SMTP process; the time variations of the solute concentration and solid phase composition in particular. It is clearly shown that the secondary nucleation of stable monohydrate particles depends on both the supersaturation and the overall solid content. Surprisingly, as far as the nucleation of stable particles in the presence of metastable solid is concerned, the rate of particle generation was found to exhibit identical dependency on the metastable and stable content, a feature which remains to be further investigated and explained.


Artificial intelligence (AI) presents new challenges for the user experience (UX) of products and services. Recently, practitioner-facing resources and design guidelines have become available to ease some of these challenges. However, little research has investigated if and how these guidelines are used, and how they impact practice. In this paper, we investigated how industry practitioners use the People + AI Guidebook. We conducted interviews with 31 practitioners (i.e., designers, product managers) to understand how they use human-AI guidelines when designing AI-enabled products. Our findings revealed that practitioners use the guidebook not only for addressing AI's design challenges, but also for education, cross-functional communication, and for developing internal resources. We uncovered that practitioners desire more support for early phase ideation and problem formulation to avoid AI product failures. We discuss the implications for future resources aiming to help practitioners in designing AI products.


Adopting a qualitative case study approach of a renewable energy company in South Africa, the research investigated community engagement within the tripartite relationship of a wind farm, the communities, and the local government. It was found that local government played a moderating role in the community engagement efforts of the wind farm which had to comply with certain engagement protocols determined by local government. Local government also played a mediating role in corporate community engagement, as the wind farm developed their engagement strategy in alignment with local government's policies and acted as a 'dot-connector' between local government and communities. The wind farm played a reciprocal mediating role on local government's own engagement with their communities in the face of local government's inefficiencies and complemented service delivery outcomes. The wind farm's engagement strategy thus enabled local development which was appreciated by communities and local government.


Background In 2013, WHO stated that unless low-income countries become the generators, rather than the recipients, of health research data there will never be any real improvement in the devastating public health challenges these countries face. The Global Health Network was cited as an important agent for change in addressing this need. The Global Health Network built an innovative digital platform, generating and supporting communities of practice focused on global health research. We have established a vast online knowledge-sharing resource, so far visited by more than 1.5 million frontline healthcare workers and researchers globally. Over 400,000 times online modules were taken by users from our target countries using our Training Centre, which offers a wide range of high-quality research skills courses. We also support skills development through regionally-led activities. Here we present how our approach is applied to support preparedness for epidemic outbreaks in Africa. Methods A community of practice was set up for the EDCTP2 ALERRT programme on The Global Health Network platform (https://alerrt.tghn.org/). It provides a mechanism for research staff to work together, share ideas, methods and approaches to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration. The ALERRT community of practice platform hosts training courses, help topics, templates, guidance – everything that is needed to run a good clinical study. The initial set of resources is available now, others are being developed following the knowledge gap analysis. In addition, our online platform offers free participation in the Professional Development Scheme – a unique framework to track research skills development. Results The ALERRT capacity development community of practice was launched in April 2018. We will present how this regionally-championed initiative is being taken up and what difference it is already making to the community of researchers.


Primary gastrointestinal melanoma is a rare tumor with a frequency of 1 new case per 5–7 years. Over the past 100 years, there have been no more than 25 reported cases of primary melanoma of the stomach and colon. The rarity of the disease and nonspecific clinical features pose diagnostic challenges. The tumor is characterized by an aggressive growth and early metastasis. Case description. We present a rare clinical case of primary gastrointestinal melanoma with metastatic involvement of the adrenal glands, liver and retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Conclusion. To date, treatment standards for primary gastrointestinal melanoma have not been developed and are the subject of debate. However, palliative chemotherapy used for the treatment of primary skin melanoma may lead to disease stabilization in patients with gastrointestinal melanoma.


While reporting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load (VL) using dried blood spot (DBS) in the BioMerieux NucliSENS platform, application of the hematocrit correction factor has been suggested. In this cross-sectional study from the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory of Zimbabwe, we assessed whether hematocrit correction (individual and/or mean) in DBS results improved the correlation with plasma VL and prediction of VL non-suppression (≥1000 copies per ml in plasma). Of 517 specimens during August–December 2018, 65(12.6%) had non-suppressed plasma VL results. The hematocrit correction factor ranged from 1.3 to 2.0 with a mean of 1.6, standard deviation (SD: 1.5, 1.7). The intraclass correlation (ICC) for mean (0.859, 95% CI: 0.834, 0.880) and individual (0.809, 95% CI: 0.777, 0.837) hematocrit corrected DBS results were not significantly different. The uncorrected DBS results had a significantly lower ICC (0.640, 95% CI: 0.586, 0.688) when compared to corrected DBS results. There were no significant differences in validity, predictive values, and areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves for all three DBS results when predicting VL non-suppression. To conclude, hematocrit correction of DBS VL results improved agreement with the plasma results but did not improve prediction of VL non-suppression. The results were not significantly different for individual and mean corrected results.


SEM microfractographies of Zircaloy-4 are studied by fractal analysis and the time-series method. We first develop a computer application that associates the fractal dimension and lacunarity to each SEM micrograph picture, and produce a nonlinear analysis of the data acquired from the quantitatively evaluated time series. Utilizing the phase space-embedding technique to reconstruct the attractor and to compute the autocorrelation dimension, the fracture surface of the Zircaloy-4 samples is investigated. The fractal analysis method manages to highlight damage complications and provide a description of morphological parameters of various fractures by calculating the fractal dimension and lacunarity.


In this paper, we initiate a first information-theoretic study on multilevel NAND flash memory channels with intercell interference. More specifically, for a multilevel NAND flash memory channel under mild assumptions, we first prove that such a channel is indecomposable and it features asymptotic equipartition property; we then further prove that stationary processes achieve its information capacity, and consequently, as the order tends to infinity, its Markov capacity converges to its information capacity; eventually, we establish that its operational capacity is equal to its information capacity. Our results suggest that it is highly plausible to apply the ideas and techniques in the computation of the capacity of finite-state channels, which are relatively better explored, to that of the capacity of multilevel NAND flash memory channels.


Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPV) is a leading cause of death in unvaccinated and susceptible cat populations. The present study aims to determine the prevalence of FPV and associated risk factors in pet and stray cats in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria. A cross sectional survey was conducted involving two hundred cats sampled randomly. Commercial test Kit FASTest® PARVO Strip® was used for the detection of FPV in the faeces of the pet and stray cats. The prevalence in pet and stray cats were 4.0% (CI =0.0204, 0.0769) and 9.5% (CI = 0.0617, 0.1436) respectively. All the apparently healthy cats did not test positive for FPV. However, the prevalence of FPV in the sick cats was 13.5% (CI = 0.0945, 0.1893). The male and female cats had prevalence of 7.0% (CI = 0.0422, 0.1141) and 6.5% (CI = 0.0384, 0.1080) respectively. Feline Panleukopenia Virus was found to be more prevalent in cats that were less than 6 months with 10% (CI = 0.0657, 0.1494) and 3.5% (CI = 0.0171, 0.0705) in cats greater than 6 months old. A strong and significant association was found (χ2 = 103.565; P < 0.0001) between age groups and the status of infection. There was a strong and significant association (χ2 = 217.768; P < 0.0001) between gender and the type of management system of these cats. The present study has demonstrated for the first time the presence of FPV in pet and stray cats in Maiduguri, Nigeria.


Self-governing irrigation systems are integral to global food security and face serious problems under climate change. This is particularly true in areas expected to become more arid such as the Southwestern United States, where restrictive water rights are strictly enforced. Adaptations to these dual climatic and legal challenges include user-selected rules. In particular, during water shortage self-governing irrigation systems often change water allocations between members and rotate water delivery. However, it is unclear how these rules interact with each other as configurations and with contextual factors, such as the degree of water scarcity. It is also unclear how these rules influence outcomes between irrigators closer to the water source and those farther from it. How might different configurations of rules interact with water availability to produce outcomes along an irrigation system's canal network? This study addresses this question by exploiting a natural experiment in water distribution and allocation rules during shortage among a stratified sample of 60 snowmelt dependent irrigation systems in the San Luis Valley of Colorado during a four-year drought period from 2011-2014. A key finding is that the combination of rotational delivery and flexible water allocations produces the most equal crop growth between irrigators at the head and tail of the irrigation system at all levels of water availability. The marginal productivity of water at the head and tail end of irrigation systems at all levels of water availability is also equalized under this configuration. These results suggest a greater likelihood of ongoing collective action, important for climate change adaptation. However, rotation with flexible allocations is outperformed by other configurations depending on context. These findings highlight the configurational relationships between rules, further illustrate interactions between rules and physical context, and caution against panaceas in water resource management and climate change adaptation.


T. S. Kostadinov et al. discuss the results from applying a novel method for determining the global distribution and dynamics of phytoplankton functional types (PFTs) from satellite remote sensing. The methodology to this approach was previously published in the Journal of Geophysical Research (Kostadinov et al., 2009) and this manuscript focuses on the application on this methodology to 10-years of SeaWiFS data with a focus on marine ecology.


Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is used for the treatment of an increasing number of autoimmune diseases. Clinical observations on IVIg‐treated patients have revealed a modulation of T cell populations and functions in these patients. In vitro studies aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying the effects of IVIg on T cells led to the conclusion that IVIg directly affected lectin‐activated T cell functions. However, more recent studies have suggested the absence of a direct effect of IVIg on T cells. In the present work, we revisited the effect of IVIg on T cells using lectin‐stimulated human T cells and showed that IVIg inhibited T cell functions only when added simultaneously with the activating lectin. Further, we showed that IVIg depleted from lectin‐reactive IgG was no longer inhibitory, suggesting that the effect of IVIg on T cells was the consequence of lectin neutralization, possibly by interaction with glycans present in F(ab′)2 portion of IgG molecules. Our results challenge the previously widely accepted notion that IVIg exerts its anti‐inflammatory effects by acting directly on T cells and suggest that effects of IVIg observed in treated patients are rather a consequence of the recently reported inhibitory effect of IVIg on antigen presentation.


PRESENTATION: Janice will speak on the Modeling Across the Curriculum (www.mac.concord.org) and the Making Thinking Visible (http://mtv.concord.org) projects. In the MAC project, we are investigating how technology can be used to promote deep understanding of science content and of the nature of science and the nature of models while fostering inquiry skills and improving attitudes toward science learning in physical science, biology, and chemistry classes. We are aslo addressing how we can harness technology in order to scale up this type of intervention up on a broad scale. In the MTV project, Janice will address how we can promote students' content knowledge and epistemological knowledge using WISE (Web-based Inquiry Science Environment; Linn & Hsi, 2000) in an authentic context of studying plate tectonics.


The goal of this study is to examine the theoretical capability of bimaterial lattices as thermally driven actuators. The lattices are composed of planar non-identical cells. Each cell consists of a skewed hexagon surrounding an irregular triangle; the skew angles of the hexagon and the ratio of the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) of the two component materials determine the overall performance of the actuator. Such a cell has three tailorable CTEs along the lines connecting the points where adjoining cells are connected. Each individual cell and a lattice consisting of such cells can be strongly anisotropic in terms of thermal expansion. While these lattice cells have been used as stress-free connectors for components with differing CTEs, they have not been explored for their actuation capacity. This paper develops models for bimaterial lattices that can be used as mechanical actuators for valves, switches and differential motion. A general procedure for lattice design includes drawing of its skeleton, which identifies the points at which a lattice cell is connected to other cells or substrates; calculation of three CTEs in each cell depending upon the functionality desired; choosing lattice materials; and finding of the skew angles for each cell as solutions of three nonlinear algebraic equations. By changing materials and geometry, we can determine the change of their configuration when the temperature changes. This paper illustrates the concepts with several examples: a two-cell lattice that is connected to a substrate that functions as a lever in a switch; a three-cell lattice that serves as a valve; and a lattice that controls the maximum total deflection of two adjoining parts of a structure.Copyright © 2015 by ASME


Background Shoulder complaints are the third most common cause of musculoskeletal problems. Subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) is the most frequent cause of shoulder pain. SIS is a clinical syndrome that indicates pain and pathology relating to the subacromial bursa and rotator cuff tendons within the subacromial space. Objective The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to examine the diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests for diagnosing SIS. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted to identify all studies that examined the diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests for SIS test with surgery as the reference standard. The methodological quality of selected studies was assessed using the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS) tool. Studies were combined using a bivariate random effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the variance of logit transformed sensitivity and specificity. Results Our systematic literature search yielded 16 articles. Ten studies with 1684 patients are included in the meta-analysis. The Hawkins-Kennedy test, Neer's sign, empty can test are shown to be useful for ruling out rather than ruling in SIS, with greater pooled sensitivity estimates (range 0.69–0.78) than specificity (range 0.57–0.62). A negative Neer's sign reduces the probability of SIS from 45% to 14%. The drop arm test and lift off test have higher pooled specificities (range 0.92–0.97) than sensitivities (range 0.21–0.42) indicating that they are useful for ruling in SIS if the test is positive. The methodological quality of the studies included ranges from moderate to good. However, the time delay between the clinical test and the reference test is not optimal in some studies and it is unclear if the assessors were blinded to outcome of index and reference tests. Discussion This is the first systematic review to examine the diagnostic accuracy of these common clinical tests, with a surgical diagnosis as the reference standard. However, there is a need for future high quality prospective cohort studies in primary care settings to investigate the diagnostic utility of these clinical tests. Conclusion This systematic review quantifies the diagnostic accuracy of three clinical tests for SIS. Application of these tests as diagnostic tools may serve to improve appropriate diagnosis and management of individuals with shoulder complaints.


Deoxydecanucleotides having a recognition sequence of Bgl II and Sau 3AI, and their 7-deazaadenine analogs were synthesized. The decanucleotides containing 7-deazaadenine in place of adenine were partially resistant to the hydrolysis by Sau 3AI and strongly resistant to that by Bgl II. A new hypothesis on the mode of recognition and cleavage of specific nucleotide sequences by Bgl II, recognizing one strand and cleaving the other strand, is presented.


Objectives: Hypocalcemia is the most common complication and acute parathyroid gland insufficiency is the main cause of it after thyroidectomy. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the recovery time of parathyroid gland function and patient characteristics, preoperative and postoperative electrolyte changes, and intraoperative parathyroid findings in patients with postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Methods: Patients who underwent total thyroidectomy (TT) with or without central neck dissection ± lateral neck dissection with a parathyroid hormone (PTH) value of <15 pg/mL within the postoperative 4th hour were included in this study. Postoperative calcium level of <8mg/dL was defined as biochemical hypocalcemia and a PTH value of <15 pg/mL was defined as hypoparathyroidism. The patients were divided into three groups according to the time of PTH recovery (>15 pg/mL); within the first 24 hours, between one day and 30 days, after 30 days, respectively. Results: One hundred eleven patients (mean age, 49.3±14.4 years) consisted of Groups 1, 2 and 3, including 19 (16F, 3M), 67 (54F, 13M) and 25 (19F, 6M), respectively. Vitamin D deficiency rates for Groups 1, 2, 3 were 41.7%, 53.1% and 88.2%, respectively (p=0.018). Postoperative day 0 PTH values were 11.69±2.79pg/mL, 6.92±3.45 pg/mL, 4.99±2.36 pg/mL, (p<0.001). Biochemical hypocalcemia rates of Groups 1, 2, 3 on postoperative day 1 were 15.8%, 53.7%, 64%, (p=004) respectively, and calcium values were 8.68±0.67 mg/dL, 8.15±0.66 mg/dL, 7.75±1 mg/dL, (p=0.014), respectively. Magnesium values on postoperative day 1 and 7 for Groups 1, 2, 3 were 1.85±0.1 mg/dL, 1.77±0.17 mg/dL, 1.64±0.17 mg/dL, (p=0.005), and 1.86±0.16mg/dL, 1.82±0.21mg/dL, 1.59±0.15mg/dL (p=0.001), respectively. PTH values on postoperative day 1 and 7 in Groups 1, 2, 3 were 20.5±6.4 pg/mL, 7.06±4.35 pg/mL, 4.66±3.26 pg/mL (p<0.001), and 31.04±10.54pg/mL, 18.72±13.84pg/mL, 4.55±4.9pg/mL (p<0.0001), respectively. Parathyroid function improved in 106 patients, and permanent hypoparathyroidism developed in five patients (4.5%). Conclusion: Hypoparathyroidism can recover rapidly in the first 24 hours in patients with a PTH value of around 10 pg/mL at postoperative 4th hour. As the number of preserved parathyroids increased, recovery time decreased. In patients with postoperative hypoparathyroidism, postoperative low magnesium levels may be associated with delayed recovery of parathyroid function.


The steeply falling end of the cosmic ray spectrum now extends up to ≈ 3 × 10 eV (see Ref. [1] for a recent survey), three orders of magnitude higher than the highest energy achieved by hadron colliders. Direct measurements using sophisticated equipment on satellites or high altitude balloons are limited in detector area and in exposure time. Ground-based detectors with large apertures make such a low flux detectable after a magnification effect in the upper atmosphere. Namely, the incident cosmic radiation interacts with atomic nuclei of the air molecules and produces extensive air showers which spread out over large areas. This indirect method of detection bears a number of serious difficulties in the interpretation of the recorded data. In particular, since many variables are involved the processes describing the shower development are intrinsically complicated, numerical simulation of the giant cascades has to be performed. The most important source of fluctuations in Monte Carlo simulations such as corsika [2] and aires [3] are the depth and characteristic of the first few inter-


Classifying items using temporal data, i.e. several readings of the same attribute in different time points, has many applications in the real world. The pivotal question which motivates this study is: ''Is it possible to quantify behavioural change in temporal data? And what is the best reference point to compare the behaviour change with?". The focus of this study will be in applications in economics such as playing many rounds of public goods games and share price moves in the stock market.

There are many methods for classifying temporal data and many methods for measuring the change of items' behaviour in temporal data. However, the available methods for classifying temporal data produce complicated rules, and their models are buried in deep decision trees or complex neural networks that are hard for human experts to read and understand. Moreover, methods of measuring cluster changes do not focus on the individual item's behaviour rather; they concentrate on the clusters and their changes over time.

This research presents methods for classifying temporal data items and measuring their behavioural changes between time points. As case of studies, public goods game and stock market price data are used to test novel methods of classification and behaviour change measure.

To represent the magnitude of the behaviour change, we use cluster validity measures in a novel way by measuring the difference between item labels produced by the same clustering algorithm at each time point and a behaviour reference point. Such a reference point might be the first time point, the previous time point or a point representing the general overall behaviour of the items in the temporal data. This method uses external cluster validity indices to measure the difference between labels provided by the same clustering method in different time points rather than using different clustering methods for the same data set as it is the case for relative clustering indices.

To create a general behavioural reference point in temporal data, we present a novel temporal rule-based classification method that consists of two stages. In the first stage, initial rules are generated based on experts' definition for the classes in the form of aggregated attributes of the temporal readings. These initial rules are not crisp and may overlap in their representation for the classes. This provides flexibility for the rules so that they can create a pool of classifiers that can be selected from. Then this pool of classifiers will be optimised in the second stage so that an optimised classifier will be selected among them. The optimised classifier is a set of discrete classification rules, which generates the most compact classes over all time points. Class compactness is measured by using statistical dispersion measures or Euclidean distance within class items.

The classification results of the public goods game show that the proposed method for classification can produce better results for representing players than the available methods by economists and general temporal classification methods. Moreover, measuring players' behaviour supports economists' view of the players' behaviour change during game rounds. For the stock market data, we present a viable method for classifying stocks according to their stability which might help to provide insights for stock market predictability.


The paper describes the design of a strain gauge on a cantilever with implanted layers. In the paper, the physical model of implanted strain gauges is characterized and basic technological steps are described. Simulation using CoventorWare (MEMCAD) program is used to verify the mechanical properties and temperature distribution in cantilever structures. A suitable electric bridge connection of the structure for evaluation of electric parameters of strain gauges at mechanic deformation and different temperatures has been designed. On realized structures, basic parameters have been measured such as the dependence of electric parameters of strain gauges on mechanical deformation, temperature dependence at different mechanical load, temperature stability of output parameters, and temperature dependence of pn junctions in the structure. From the measured data, piezoresistive coefficients of deformation sensitivity, linearity, hysteresis, temperature coefficients of resistance, etc. have been calculated. The measured characteristics show very good linearity, small hysteresis and very good sensitivity.


Ria Novosti , 15 Sep 2013. India successfully conducted a second test flight of an Agni-5 long-range ballistic missile able to carry a nuclear warhead, NDTV television channel has reported. The missile was launched from Wheeler Island, in the Bay of Bengal, off the Odisha coast, at 08.43 a.m. local time. India previously successfully tested Agni-5 in April 2012. Agni-5 is a three-stage missile designed to carry a 1.5-ton warhead with a range of 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles). It has been dubbed "China-killer" by media as it is capable of hitting major Chinese cities such as Beijing. The development of Agni-5 began in 1983. More tests are to be conducted before the missile is ready for deployment, most likely in 2017, the report said. New Delhi is already working on Agni-6, which will have a longer range, The Times of India reported. The country's armed forces possess nuclear charge carriers based on land (different range missile Agni and Prithvi 2), and air (Dassault Mirage-2000 aircraft and SEPECAT Jaguar). They also aspire to obtain ones based on sea.


It has been demonstrated on unrestrained rats that the analgesic effect of clofelin is primarily determined by the influences on the processes of adrenergic but not opioidergic mediation. The functional heterogeneity of receptor substrates involved in the realization of the hemodynamic (alpha 2-) and emotional-behavioral (alpha 1-) components of the analgesic effect of clofelin is suggested.


The potato was introduced to Europe from the Andes of South America in the 16th century, and today it is grown worldwide; it is a nutritious staple food eaten by millions and underpins food security in many countries. Unknowingly, potato virus Y (PVY) was also introduced through trade in infected potato tubers, and it has become the most important viral pathogen of potato. Phylogenetic analysis has revealed the spread and emergence of strains of PVY, including strains causing economically important diseases in tobacco, tomato and pepper, and that the virus continues to evolve with the relatively recent emergence of new damaging recombinant strains. High-throughput, next-generation sequencing platforms provide powerful tools for detection, identification and surveillance of new PVY strains. Aphid vectors of PVY are expected to increase in incidence and abundance in a warmer climate, which will increase the risk of virus spread. Wider deployment of crop cultivars carrying virus resistance will be an important means of defence against infection. New cutting-edge biotechnological tools such as CRISPR and SIGS offer a means for rapid engineering of resistance in established cultivars. We conclude that in future, human activities and ingenuity should be brought to bear to control PVY and the emergence of new strains in key crops by increased focus on host resistance and factors driving virus evolution and spread.


Suppressing bones on chest X-rays such as ribs and clavicle is often expected to improve pathologies classification. These bones can interfere with a broad range of diagnostic tasks on pulmonary disease except for musculoskeletal system. Current conventional method for acquisition of bone suppressed X-rays is dual energy imaging, which captures two radiographs at a very short interval with different energy levels; however, the patient is exposed to radiation twice and the artifacts arise due to heartbeats between two shots. In this paper, we introduce a deep generative model trained to predict bone suppressed images on single energy chest X-rays, analyzing a finite set of previously acquired dual energy chest X-rays. Since the relatively small amount of data is available, such approach relies on the methodology maximizing the data utilization. Here we integrate the following two approaches. First, we use a conditional generative adversarial network that complements the traditional regression method minimizing the pairwise image difference. Second, we use Haar 2D wavelet decomposition to offer a perceptual guideline in frequency details to allow the model to converge quickly and efficiently. As a result, we achieve state-of-the-art performance on bone suppression as compared to the existing approaches with dual energy chest X-rays.


The potential possibility of intergrowth of two bulk crystals to single crystal was demonstrated on the example of beryl, Be3Al2Si6O18, growing under hydrothermal conditions. The result has practical importance because it allows increase of the yield of useful product on a single growth cycle. The fine structure and composition of the area adjacent to the splicing boundary was investigated. It was demonstrated that the influence of the intergrowth border of two crystals spliced in parallel is entirely analogous to the affect of a twin boundary. This analogy extends as well on the specific morphology of the growth front generated by the boundary as on the growth velocity of the surfaces adjacent to the boundary that is increasing 3–10 times. In addition we show that the spliced crystals tend to align near single crystal orientation. The assumption on the nature of the driving forces of such impact was made. We also suggest assumptions about the nature of these orientational forces.


Among all cancers, lung cancer has the highest rate of mortality in the western world, both in men and women. The poor lung cancer survival rates argue powerfully for new approaches to control this disease, such as chemoprevention, which has been defined as the use of agents that reverse, suppress, or prevent lung carcinogenesis. Over 80% of lung cancers are attributed to tobacco and carcinogens from cigarette smoke, which unquestionably links nicotine addiction and lung cancer. Epidemiologic studies show that not more than 15% of heavy smokers will ultimately develop lung cancer. That 85% of heavy smokers will not develop lung cancer points to differences in susceptibility. Diet and genetically determined factors seem to play an important role in modulating individual susceptibility and are closely linked to the chemoprevention approach. Despite encouraging data from experimental and epidemiologic studies, the evidence for a positive effect in the human situation is still controversial. However, recent developments in molecular biology and increased insight in lung carcinogenesis have led to the potential of more specifically targeted intervention and optimism for new, successful chemopreventive approaches.


This epidemiological survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of Hepatozoon, Babesia and Theileria infection in the Iriomote cat (IC) and the Tsushima leopard cat (TLC). Blood samples from 43 ICs and 14 TLCs were collected between November 2002 and January 2012. Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing analyses detected a Hepatozoon felis infection prevalence of 72.0% (31/43 cats) and 100% (14/14 cats) in ICs and TLCs, respectively. The degree of Hepatozoon parasitemia observed on blood smears ranged from 0.1 to 4.7%. However, no cases had obvious clinical signs of hepatozoonosis. Neither Babesia- nor Theileria-infected wildcats were detected in this study.


This paper illustrates the essential role of the transmission network in achieving efficient electricity markets. An optimally managed network characterized by an adequate capacity level induces efficiency gains not only as it widens the potential market for the least costly plants, but also as it enlarges the set of competing suppliers for the end users, thereby generating a pro-competitive effect. Combining theoretical models and empirical applications, this paper characterizes the network optimal capacity and defines the properties of its "optimal " management. Finally, it evaluates the compatibility of the current Italian and European legal framework with the goal of efficiency maximization, meanwhile indicating a number of appropriate modifications.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to summarise and evaluate the literature on digital consumer behaviour and attitudes towards digital piracy. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a review and synthesis of the academic literature on the subject, using the authors' unique "pro-forma" approach to the evaluation of individual papers. Findings – A major limitation in the studies reported became apparent. They are almost exclusively concerned with the behaviours and attitudes of young people. There is a dearth of studies looking at demographic differences, and also a lack of longitudinal work. Given these constraints, the literature strongly suggests that social and situational factors impact on the likelihood of illegally obtaining digital content more than ethical considerations. Anonymity is a strong indicator, "de-individualising" people and releasing them from traditional societal constraints and making the digital world far different from the physical one. The literature is ambiguous on whether punishment acts as a deterrent. Practical implications – The main point that comes out of these studies is that the digital world is not the same as the physical world. It is changing basic assumptions about the idea of ownership, sharing, and copying content. Laws prohibiting all unauthorised downloading potentially criminalise millions of people, so new and creative business models are needed to resolve the problem. Originality/value – The authors believe this to be the first systematic review of current literature in this area since the issue became topical with the Pirate Bay trial and the Government's Digital Britain report.


The comprehensive guide to planning and implementing your Cisco IP Telephony system, as shown by the experts. Understand how to work through the different implementation phases of a Cisco IP telephony solution Plan your implementation with tools and guides from the most seasoned experts in the industry Avoid pitfalls in the process with best-practice suggestions and other tips derived from years of actual implementation experienceCisco IP Telephony: Planning, Design, Implementation, and Operation of the IP Telephony Network, is a guide for network engineers as they go through the deployment of a Cisco IP telephony (IPT) solution. Although an IPT system brings several benefits to an organization, understanding all the components of that system is necessary for a successful implementation. Engineers tasked with implementation must also keep in mind that the architecture they are installing must be scalable in the future. The authors of this book, Ramesh Kaza and Salman Asadullah, have taken an approach to address the questions that come to these engineers while planning, designing, implementing, and operating the Cisco IPT solutions. The deployment process has been divided into four phases: Planning, Design, Implementation, and Operation (PDIO). Each phase provides specific details about the tasks involved and best practices for successful implementation of the IPT solution.This book also contains pre-designed questionnaires and assistance tools that will help engineers determine the requirements of each phase of the PDIO cycle. This book is written by experts from Cisco with extensive experience in implementing these solutions. Readers are provided step-by-step explanations, specific details, and best practices acquired by the authors while working with the top Cisco IPT customers.


B cell immunity involves clonal proliferation, differentiation of selected progeny into memory/effector cells, and activation-induced cell death (AICD) of others. Clonal expansion and contraction occur in human B2 cell cultures activated by surrogate C3dg-Ag and IL-4 ± BAFF (J Immunol 175:6143). The mechanism was here studied. Pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins were assessed by immunoblotting prior(d3-4) or during (d5-6) AICD and by immunostaining CFSE-labeled cells. Evidence of lesser Bim but elevated p53 and downstream proteins suggested p53-mediated apoptosis, perhaps triggered by expressed activation-induced cytosine deaminase (AID) (J Immunol 185:5300). This was reinforced by findings that AICD is reduced (but not ablated) by p53 siRNA or genetic deficiency in p53 or AID, in similarly activated mouse cells. A significant drop in Bcl-2 in dividing blasts preceded AICD and its importance was substantiated by greater clonal burst size in Bcl-2 TG-cultures. In germinal centers (GC), p53 is repressed by Bcl-6, resulting in infrequent p53 mutations in GC lymphomas (Phan et al., Nature 432:635). Our study suggests that B cell tumors with a higher incidence of p53 mutations may arise from inflamed peripheral tissues. In the latter, recirculating B cells will encounter C3dg-coated microbes or apoptotic cells and IL-4 and BAFF from innate immune system cells. The latter milieu would foster T cell-independent B cell growth and encourage positive selection of p53 mutants.


We have numerically analyzed the asymmetric separation flow control over a slender body aiming to improve the controllability of high-angle-of-attack flight; in this study, the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator is used as flow control device. A Reynolds averaged Navier Stokes/large-Eddy Simulation hybrid method (RANS/LES) is adopted with a high-order compact spatial difference scheme. First, the characteristics of flow field were investigated for various angles of attack. The asymmetricity of the flow field becomes stronger with higher angle of attack. In addition, the flow separation point is changed depending on the angle of attack, axial position and body side (starboard or port side). Next, numerical simulations of the flow field controlled by the plasma actuator were conducted. Plasma actuators are located circumferential position of ±80 degrees, ±100 degrees or ±120 degrees. We investigated the influence of the positional relation between the flow separation point and the actuator location on the side force control. As a result, it is shown that the circumferential position of the plasma actuator is important and should be chosen from the position and distance from the flow separation point. In addition, it is considered that the plasma actuator at closer position to the body apex has a stronger impact on the flow field.


The authors present an overview of Goldner's concept of clubfeet pathology and treatment. Goldner stresses the role of the talus in this foot deformity. According to this author full correction of the deformity can be achieved only by posterior, medial, plantar and lateral release.


The convergence between telecommunications and computing industries enabling the provision of Internet/net centric products and services has seen the emergence and collapse of the first phase applications services provisioning (ASP) industry. This paper discusses the findings of a longitudinal research program comparing traditional and applications outsourcing methods and practices. Preliminary research has uncovered a mismatch between vendor hype about the benefits of the ASP business model, and customer caution in adopting the solution. Developing a taxonomy of net sourcing approaches, the paper argues that scale, scope and integration are three key areas which must be addressed by vendors in their business plans. With the advent of web services as a new IT architecture, it is suggested applications outsourcing will extend to business processes outsourcing as important challenges relating to scale, scope and integration will be overcome.


Recent attention has highlighted the importance of oral microbiota in human health and disease, e.g., in Parkinson's disease, notably using shotgun metagenomics. One key aspect for efficient shotgun metagenomic analysis relies on optimal microbial sampling and DNA extraction, generally implementing commercial solutions developed to improve sample collection and preservation, and provide high DNA quality and quantity for downstream analysis. As metagenomic studies are today performed on a large number of samples, the next evolution to increase study throughput is with DNA extraction automation. In this study, we proposed a semi-automated DNA extraction protocol for human salivary samples collected with a commercial kit, and compared the outcomes with the DNA extraction recommended by the manufacturer. While similar DNA yields were observed between the protocols, our semi-automated DNA protocol generated significantly higher DNA fragment sizes. Moreover, we showed that the oral microbiome composition was equivalent between DNA extraction methods, even at the species level. This study demonstrates that our semi-automated protocol is suitable for shotgun metagenomic analysis, while allowing for improved sample treatment logistics with reduced technical variability and without compromising the structure of the oral microbiome.


Background : SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cystein) is a secreted glycoprotein that interacts with extracellular matrix protein and acts as a regulator of critical cellular functions such as proliferation and cell migration. An increasing number of studies have shown altered expression of SPARC in several malignancies. However, the role of this potential biomarker in breast cancer development and progression is controversial. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is known for its poor prognosis and high recurrence probability. There is a need for prognostic biomarkers to guide treatment decisions for this subtype. Objective : To explore the association between SPARC and the prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer. Methods : In this study, a total of 211 samples of triple-negative breast lesions from 2004 to 2008 were collected in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. SPARC expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using an immunoreactive score (IRS) from patients with up to 10 years clinical follow-up data. The current study set out to examine both the expression of SPARC in primary tumor tissue and to demonstrate if a link existed between the levels of SPARC and the clinical outcome. Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate HRs and 95%CI, stratified on tumor grade, TNM stage, lymph node status and vascular invasion. Results : High SPARC expression (IRS≥3) was observed in 52.1% of all primary tumors. Patients expressing low levels of SPARC had better disease-free survival (DFS) (HR=0.632, 95%CI:0.405-0.987, P = 0.044) as well as overall survival(OS)(HR=0.576, 95%CI:0.351-0.946, P = 0.029) compared to those with high SPARC expression levels.Furthermore, the presence of high SPARC expression was an independent prognostic factor for both DFS (HR=1.67, 95%CI:1.04-2.69, P=0.034) and OS(HR=1.77, 95%CI:1.04-3.01, P=0.037) of triple-negative breast cancer patients, stratified on tumor grade, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and vascular invasion, with adjustment for age, hormonal status, tumor size, adjuvant radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusion : Our results suggest that the presence of higher SPARC expression could be an indicator of high aggressiveness and may be a strong prognostic factor for triple-negative breast cancer. Citation Format: Zhu A, Yuan P, Du F, Ding X, Xu B. Impact of high SPARC expression of a primary tumor as a strong risk factor for disease recurrence and overall survival in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-07-60.


ABSTRACT Facebook groups are spaces where women form communities and share their lived experiences. These peer-created and peer-moderated groups have 'closed' security settings, indicating that interactions within the group are to be considered private. They attract membership from women who desire safe, 'trusted', gender-specific spaces, though as this article demonstrates, these perceived 'safe spaces' are often fraught with difficulties. This article considers Facebook groups as intimate spaces which traverse the public and private, potentially allowing women to remove the mask of motherhood and draw on 'lay-expertise' and support. Drawing on three studies of closed Facebook groups, for Australian 'mum bloggers' and readers, Australian Defence Force partners, and migrant mothers in Australia, this article considers women's motivations for creating and participating in shielded online spaces, how expectations of privacy and safety in these spaces are created and maintained, and the consequences when these expectations are breached. Situating the groups in the context of societal surveillance of mothers, migrants and military families, and expectations of intensive social reproductive labour, the authors consider both the liberatory potential of the groups and their limitations as vehicles for social change.


Abstract. Within coastal systems, sand dunes are the only natural barriers able to counteract erosive processes. Since their equilibrium is often threatened by human activities and high vulnerability of the coastal environment, dunes require increasing attention and specific monitoring. Located between the mainland and the sea, dunes are unique residue habitats for some plant and animal species. In particular, their vegetation is important because it has a consolidation function and promotes the vertical dune accretion. A georeferenced vegetation classification can be useful to define the advancements or erosion stage of the dune, usually based only on the geometric reconstruction. The proposed study aims to compare the classifications performed with some combinations of two of the last generation sensors and traditional image processing techniques. High spectral resolution satellite image (WorldView-2) and a multispectral orthophoto, obtained from data acquired by an unmanned aerial vehicle, were used. Objects and pixel algorithms were applied and the results were compared by a statistical test. Using the same bands, the findings show that both data are suitable for monitoring the evolutionary dune status. Specifically, the WorldView-2 pixel-based classification and UAV object-based classification provide the same accurate results.


Device-free Wi-Fi indoor localization has received significant attention as a key enabling technology for many Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Machine learning-based location estimators, such as the deep neural network (DNN), carry proven potential in achieving high-precision localization performance by automatically learning discriminative features from the noisy wireless signal measurements. However, the inner workings of the DNNs are not transparent and not adequately understood, especially in the indoor localization application. In this paper, we provide quantitative and visual explanations for the DNN learning process as well as the critical features that the DNN has learned during the process. Toward this end, we propose to use several visualization techniques, including 1) dimensionality reduction visualization, to project the high-dimensional feature space to the 2D space to facilitate visualization and interpretation, and 2) visual analytics and information visualization, to quantify relative contributions of each feature with the proposed feature manipulation procedures. The results provide insightful views and plausible explanations of the DNN in device-free Wi-Fi indoor localization using the channel state information (CSI) fingerprints.


Since the serendipitous discovery of heavy-chain antibodies in Camelidae 20 years ago, the smallest single-domain antigen-binding fragment, known as VHH or nanobody, has received growing attention. In comparison with traditional antibodies, VHHs performs equally high specificity and affinity and low toxicity to targets, and has the ability to inhibit the formation of enzymes and enter the receptor gap. Hence, VHHs has been recently regarded as the highly valued protein and applied in multiple fields, including fundamental research, diagnosis, therapeutics, food science, etc. Today, based on the past achievements, an increasing number of academic and industrial groups begin to explore innovative VHH applications. In this review, we make a thorough retrospect of the unique features and explore novel implementations of VHHs in diverse forms in different fields. In addition, we also propose the potential future issues and problems of VHHs in many fields.


Antibody deficiency is a type of primary immunodeficiency that often manifests as primary hypogammaglobulinemia, with or without repeated infections. Although primary immunodeficiency appears to be contrary to autoimmunity, they usually occur simultaneously, and the specific pathogenesis remains unknown. We herein describe an adult patient with autoimmune manifestations and recurrent infections. The case was characterized by a sustained decrease in serum immunoglobulin A, accompanied by decreased T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, monocytes, and platelets in the peripheral blood and the presence of antinuclear and anti-SSA antibodies. Whole-exome sequencing for the patient revealed two spontaneous mutations in GATA2 (c.1084C>T) and STAT5B (c.1924A>C). This case report provides evidence that mutations in the GATA2 and STAT5B genes may be pathogenic in primary immunodeficiency and provides genetic evidence for the possible pathogenesis of primary immunodeficiency with autoimmune symptoms. However, further studies are needed to confirm the causal relationship.


K-anonymity is a simple yet practical mechanismto protect privacy against attacks of re-identifying individuals by joining multiple public data sources. All existing methods achieving k-anonymity assume implicitly that the data objects to be anonymized are given once and fixed. However, in many applications, the real world data sources are dynamic. In this paper, we investigate the problem of maintaining k-anonymity against incremental updates, and propose a simple yet effective solution. We analyze how inferences from multiple releases may temper the k-anonymity of data, and propose the monotonic incremental anonymization property. The general idea is to progressively and consistently reduce the generalization granularity as incremental updates arrive. Our new approach guarantees the k-anonymity on each release, and also on the inferred table using multiple releases. At the same time, our new approach utilizes the more and more accumulated data to reduce the information loss.


The formulation of visions into practical projects is an important part of the professional expertise of landscape architects. This expertise includes the gathering, structuring, improvement and utilization of knowledge. Project models have been developed to provide tools for the implementation and governance of projects, as well as means of learning, reflection and survey of individual projects.
The aim of this thesis is to describe some general project models and their theory, and to describe practical, real-life examples of project models used within landscape architecture. Questions asked are:

• How do the processes of idea to construction in landscape architectural projects lool like? Do project models have a relevance for the mission of landscape architects?

• Is a common project model used within such projects, or is the project model varying depending on e.g. the responsible project leader, the type of project and other factors?

The methodologies used have been literature studies on project models and structured interviews with two landscape architects at White Architects, Goteborg (case study). The particular features of three different project models (a so-called Common Model, PROPS, and Sneda Vagen) were analysed. Reflections on the different project phases of two landscape architecture projects were made after interviews. Taken together, the current work emerged into a definition of important factors for successful projects within landscape architecture.

The theories on optimal project models which bring creative ideas into successful final results are not limited to one particular professional area. The Common Model and the PROPS model have large similarities, for example the different project phases. On the other hand, PROPS has been further developed, taking into consideration the increased needs of larger clients, bigger organizations, documentation and follow-up. The Sneda Vagen model has parallel subprojects which provide time advantages and efficiency. This model then puts large demands not only on very well defined sub-goals but also on an extensive and meticulous pre-planning study.

The variety of available models is an illustration that a project can evolve from idea to final product in multiple ways. Since every project is unique and has special characteristics, each project may develop its own process. This was also demonstrated in the results of the two White projects. The two projects had similar project model phases, but also major differences depending on project type, size and participants.
Multiple project models and the uniqueness of a specific project make it difficult to establish generalized truths about which model would be the best and which model would be optimal for landscape architecture. On the basis of the present study, it is suggested that a project model provides a good structure and support for a company, organization or team. The structure facilitates the roles and responsibilities of the project partners. Documentation of the results in the project phases provides a tool for learning where good experiences may be used in future work. A working project model adapted to the needs of the organization and its clients may be cost-efficient. On the basis of the reflections made on the literature and the case study, specific prerequisites for a successful project model and project results, are: engaged project partners and individuals, well developed communication and a meticulous planning in an early stage. These factors act in concert with the promotion of creativity.


1T'-MoTe2 has gained considerable attention owing to its topological character. This material undergoes spatial inversion symmetry at 300 K. A structural transition to the Td phase, which is represented by a kink in the resistivity, was observed below 250 K without inversion symmetry along the c-axis, while superconductivity was observed at 0.1 K. Substitution of Se into this material suppressed the appearance of the kink structure and increased the superconducting transition temperature to 2 K, which is consistent with previously reported results on polycrystalline samples. However, a specific heat jump was observed in the obtained single crystals, which did not exhibit kink structures in their resistivity. The results suggest that the Td structure was not suppressed entirely after Se substitution and that superconductivity was achieved without inversion symmetry.