The pollen morphology of 45 specimens of 29 species of the genus Astragalus L. of the section Onobrychoidei DC. distributed in Turkey was studied with light and electron microscopies. The pollen is generally 3-colporate. Pollen of the section is prolate, subprolate, and prolate-spheroidal. Size varies, with the polar axis ranging from 23.4 to 42.6 μm and the equatorial axis from 14.3 to 36.4 μm. The outline is elliptic or compressed oval in the meridional section, versus trilobulate and sometimes tetralobulate in the polar optical section. Sculpturing is usually microreticulate, rarely reticulate or rugulate in the meridional optical section, and psilate and perforate (with irregular or circular perforations) in the polar optical section.


This study investigated the effect of educational level and of the syntactic representation of numbers in Arabic on the task of transcoding two-digit numbers from dictation. The participants were primary, junior-high, and high school pupils and higher education students. All spoke Arabic as a mother tongue. They performed a transcoding task, namely writing two-digit numbers from dictation. Units first\decades first writing patterns were collected depending on the differential syntactic structures of the two-digit number dictated (decades first: whole tens; units first: teen numbers; identical units and decades, remaining two-digit numbers). The findings reveal that in general, Arabic speakers adopt a decades-first writing pattern for two-digit numbers, especially when it is consistent with the syntactic structure of two-digit numbers, as in whole-tens numbers. This decade-first writing pattern is more evident and consistent in junior-high school, high school, and higher education than in primary school due to the improvement in mathematical skills and second and third languages. However, this pattern is modulated by the syntactic complexity of the unit–decade structure. This complexity is more pronounced in two-digit numbers whose processing is more dependent on numerical syntax. Thus, whole-tens numbers, teen numbers, and identical-decade–unit numbers are less complex than the remaining two-digit numbers.


Stenosis of the intracranial internal carotid arteries is an extremely dangerous condition, according to a retrospective study from the Cleveland Clinic. At the recent Joint Conference on Stroke and Cerebral Circulation in New Orleans, David Marzewski, MD, reported that 40% of these patients die during the five years after diagnosis. Others at the meeting agreed with Marzewski that the dire prognosis of this condition emphasizes the importance of a multicenter, randomized trial that is currently in progress to determine whether external carotid-internal carotid (EC-IC) bypass surgery or antiplatelet therapy can improve life expectancy. Sixty-nine patients seen at the Cleveland Clinic between 1966 and 1977 who had greater than 50% angiographically proved stenosis of an intracranial internal carotid artery were identified by Marzewski, neurologist Anthony Furlan, MD, neurosurgeon John Little, MD, and radiologist Michael Modic, MD. The diagnosis in 24 cases was transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and in 22 cases, stroke.


Abstract We prove the concavity of classical solutions to a wide class of degenerate elliptic differential equations on strictly convex domains of the unit sphere. The proof employs a suitable two-point maximum principle, a technique which originates in works of Korevaar, Kawohl and Kennington for equations on Euclidean domains. We emphasize that no differentiability of the differential operator is needed, but only some monotonicity and concavity properties.


MgGa layered double hydroxides (Mg/Ga = 2–4) were synthesized and used for the preparation of MgGa mixed oxides and reconstructed hydrotalcites. The properties of the prepared materials were examined by physico-chemical methods (XRD, TGA, NH3-TPD, CO2-TPD, SEM, and DRIFT) and tested in aldol condensation of furfural and acetone. The as-prepared phase-pure MgGa samples possessed hydrotalcite structure, and their calcination resulted in mixed oxides with MgO structure with a small admixture phase characterized by a reflection at 2θ ≈ 36.0°. The interaction of MgGa mixed oxides with pure water resulted in reconstruction of the HTC structure already after 15 s of the rehydration with maximum crystallinity achieved after 60 s. TGA-MS experiments proved a substantial decrease in carbonates in all rehydrated samples compared with their as-prepared counterparts. This allowed suggesting presence of interlayer hydroxyls in the samples. Acido-basic properties of MgGa mixed oxides determined by TPD technique did not correlate with Mg/Ga ratio which was explained by the specific distribution of Ga atoms on the external surface of the samples. CO2-TPD method was also used to evaluate the basic properties of the reconstructed MgGa samples. In these experiments, an intensive peak at T = 450°C on CO2-TPD curve was attributed to the decomposition of carbonates newly formed by CO2 interaction with interlayer carbonates rather than to CO2 desorption from basic sites. Accordingly, CO2-TPD method quantitatively characterized the interlayer hydroxyls only indirectly. Furfural conversion on reconstructed MgGa materials was much larger compared with MgGa mixed oxides confirming that Brønsted basic sites in MgGa catalysts, like MgAl catalysts, were active in the reaction. Mg/Ga ratio in mixed oxides influenced product selectivity which was explained by the difference in textural properties of the samples. In contrast, Mg/Ga ratio in reconstructed catalysts had practically no effect on the composition of reaction products suggesting that the basic sites in these catalysts acted similarly in aldol condensation of acetone with furfural. It was concluded that the properties of MgGa samples resembled in a great extent those of MgAl hydrotalcite-based materials and demonstrated their potential as catalysts for base-catalyzed reactions.


False and nuisance alarms are major problems in the process industry. Generalized delay-timer is an effective technique to improve the performance of an alarm system. However, due to the increasing intermediate states, computation of the performance indices, false alarm rate (FAR), missed alarm rate (MAR) and expected detection delay (EDD), is hard and unsolved for generalized delay-timer. In this paper, we first propose a general formula to compute FAR and MAR by adequately reconsidering the internal relationship between the no-alarm state and the alarm state for generalized delay timer. Then the computation of EDD is discussed via the probability of alarm or no-alarm at samples by iteration.


In order to assess hemodynamic changes in early phases of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, muscle tissue oxygen tensions were determined in 7 newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetic patients and in 6 healthy control subjects matched for sex, age and weight. Muscle tissue oxygen tension was measured by polarrographic needle probes while breathing ambient air and oxygen enriched air with an oxygen concentration of 40 per cent as well. Three times during the experiment, heart rates, blood pressures, blood glucose concentrations, and capillary oxygen tensions were obtained. Heart rate, blood pressure, peripheral and autonomic nerve functions did not differ between the 2 groups studied. While breathing ambient air, muscle tissue oxygen tensions were significantly (p = 0.025) higher in the diabetic patients than in the control subjects. In contrast to the control subjects, diabetic patients did not increase muscle tissue oxygen tensions after inhalation of oxygen enriched air despite of an equal increase in capillary oxygen tensions (2p less than 0.05). Local tissue hypoxia does not seem to be a leading cause of hemodynamic abnormalities in the early phases of diabetes.


The predictions of neutralist and selectionist hypotheses have been tested many times in the past, but mostly using data only from organisms such as vertebrates, with generally low to average heterozygosities. The more recent discovery of particularly high levels of genetic variation in marine sponges and coelenterates provides an opportunity to use data from such species to contribute further to the understanding of the determinants of heterozygosity in natural populations. Therefore, 23 species of sponges and coelenterates from temperate, tropical and boreal waters were analysed by gel electrophoresis for an average of 14.3 enzyme loci per species.

Mean heterozygosity values for each species were unusually high, ranging between 0.106 and 0.401. The means and variances of the heterozygosity estimates showed reasonable correlation with neutralist predictions (with both the stepwise mutation and the infinite alleles models). Population sizes were generally difficult to estimate with any confidence, but, for one sponge species for which this was possible, levels of heterozygosity again were similar to neutralist predictions, although the same was not apparently true for three species of sea anemone. No differences were found between heterozygosity levels of tropical and temperate species of sponges and coelenterates, thus apparently contradicting the selectionist 'trophic resource stability' and 'temporal environmental variation' hypotheses. Conversely, however, the consistently high levels of genetic variation found in coelenterates and sponges may be argued to be related to common biological characteristics, such as sessile life, great evolutionary 'age', limited ability to disperse and probable low homoeostatic capability.

Our results seem, overall, to agree well with neutralist expectations for species with large, stable population sizes. Also, the mean heterozygosities, their variances and the observed and expected proportions of polymorphic loci seem to fit well with predictions based on the neutralist hypothesis. However, the selectionist 'environmental grain' and the 'shifting balance' hypotheses fit the data equally well. As with much earlier work, the problems in distinguishing between the various predictions of selectionist or neutralist ideas make it both difficult and unwise to draw definite conclusions.


This paper studies the welfare consequences of a vertical merger that raises rivals' costs when downstream competition is à la Cournot between firms with constant asymmetric marginal costs. The main result is that such a vertical merger can nevertheless improve welfare if it involves a downstream firm whose cost is " low enough". This is because by raising the input price paid by the non-merging firms the merger thereby shifts production away from those relatively inefficient producers in favor of the more efficient firm. However there is a tradeoff between the gain in productive efficiency and the loss in consumers' surplus caused by a higher downstream price which follows a higher input price. It is also shown, through an example, that this result extends to price competition with differentiated products. JEL Classification: L13, L4.


Objective: Highlight the experience of going into the field, not only as a way to gather information and to determine the quality of the data on which findings, analysis and conclusions are based, but also as an integrating element of the research process that allows for a more specific interpretation of reality. Method: Experiences of Pregnant Teens in the Kennedy District of Bogota: Wanting to Become Pregnant But Not so Soon describes the qualitative study and the background for the research, in addition outlining the stages that involved field work. Conclusion: As a method, going into the field implies more than access to data. It demands dialectic action between theory and practice, as field work requires theoretical-methodological training and preparation, besides being based on a variety of research techniques and tools.


Abstract : Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a revolutionary security technology that exploits the laws of quantum mechanics to achieve information-theoretical secure key exchange. QKD is suitable for use in applications that require high security such as those found in certain commercial, governmental, and military domains. As QKD is a new technology, there is a need to develop a robust quantum communication modeling and simulation framework to support the analysis of QKD systems. This dissertation presents conceptual modeling QKD system components using the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism to assure the component models are provably composable and exhibit temporal behavior independent of the simulation environment. These attributes enable users to assemble and simulate any collection of compatible components to represent QKD system architectures. The developed models demonstrate closure under coupling and exhibit behavior suitable for the intended analytic purpose, thus improving the validity of the simulation. This research contributes to the validity of the QKD simulation, increasing developer and user confidence in the correctness of the models and providing a composable, canonical basis for performance analysis efforts. The research supports the efficient modeling, simulation, and analysis of QKD systems when evaluating existing systems or developing next generation QKD cryptographic systems.


We study the decomposition of a multivariate Hankel matrix as a sum of Hankel matrices of small rank in correlation with the decomposition of its symbol σ as a sum of polynomialexponential series. We present a new algorithm to compute the low rank decomposition of the Hankel operator and the decomposition of its symbol exploiting the properties of the associated Artinian Gorenstein quotient algebra . A basis of is computed from the Singular Value Decomposition of a sub-matrix of the Hankel matrix . The frequencies and the weights are deduced from the generalized eigenvectors of pencils of shifted sub-matrices of Explicit formula for the weights in terms of the eigenvectors avoid us to solve a Vandermonde system. This new method is a multivariate generalization of the so-called Pencil method for solving Pronytype decomposition problems. We analyse its numerical behaviour in the presence of noisy input moments, and describe a rescaling technique which improves the numerical quality of the reconstruction for frequencies of high amplitudes. We also present a new Newton iteration, which converges locally to the closest multivariate Hankel matrix of low rank and show its impact for correcting errors on input moments. We study the decomposition of a multi-symmetric tensor T as a sum of powers of product of linear forms in correlation with the decomposition of its dual as a weighted sum of evaluations. We use the properties of the associated Artinian Gorenstein Algebra to compute the decomposition of its dual which is defined via a formal power series τ. We use the low rank decomposition of the Hankel operator associated to the symbol τ into a sum of indecomposable operators of low rank. A basis of is chosen such that the multiplication by some variables is possible. We compute the sub-coordinates of the evaluation points and their weights using the eigen-structure of multiplication matrices. The new algorithm that we propose works for small rank. We give a theoretical generalized approach of the method in n dimensional space. We show a numerical example of the decomposition of a multi-linear tensor of rank 3 in 3 dimensional space. We show a numerical example of the decomposition of a multi-symmetric tensor of rank 3 in 3 dimensional space. We study the completion problem of the low rank Hankel matrix as a minimization problem. We use the relaxation of it as a minimization problem of the nuclear norm of Hankel matrix. We adapt the SVT algorithm to the case of Hankel matrix and we compute the linear operator which describes the constraints of the problem and its adjoint. We try to show the utility of the decomposition algorithm in some applications such that the LDA model and the ODF model.


The Copley Medal is awarded to Professor Georg e Charles de Hevesy, For. Mem. R. S., for his distinguished work on the chemistry of radioactive elements and especially for his use of isotopes as tracers in the study of biochemical problems. Hevesy was one of the last to join the distinguished company of discoverers of elements in the classical tradition. In 1923, in collaboration with Coster, he established the occurrence of the element with atomic number 72 in zirconia minerals, and called it hafnium. This was shown to be a close analogue and constant comparison of zirconium, but a method of separation by chemical means was devised. The atomic weight was found to be 178·6, and the X-ray and optical spectra were fully described.


BACKGROUND
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) CCAT1 and SOX2OT have been shown to play important regulatory roles in cancer biology. Tumor biomarkers need to be detectable in easily accessible body fluids, should be characterized by high specificity, sufficient sensitivity, and robustness against influencing factors. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical significance of serum CCAT1 and SOX2OT as a biomarker in the screening of NSCLC.

RESULTS
CCAT1 and SOX2OT were shown to be detectable in the cellular fraction of peripheral human blood, showing serum levels of CCAT1 and SOX2OT were significantly increased of cancer patients as compared to cancer-free controls. The ROC curves illustrated strong separation between the NSCLC patients and control group, with an AUC of 0.846 (95% CI 0.766-0.926; P < 0.001) for CCAT1 and 0.787 (95% CI: 0.691-0.883; P < 0.001) for SOX2OT. However, the combination of SOX2OT and CCAT1 yielded an AUC of 0.894 (95% CI: 0.825-0.963; P < 0.001), which was significantly improved as compared to CCAT1 or SOX2OT alone. Moreover, the interaction between lncRNAs and some functional proteins, such as TTF1, p63, Ck7, K-ras, EGFR, may contribute to the tumorigenesis.

CONCLUSION
Our results demonstrated that increased serum CCAT1 and SOX2OT could be used as a predictive biomarker for NSCLC screening, and that combination of CCAT1 and SOX2OT had a higher positive diagnostic efficiency of NSCLC than CCAT1 or SOX2OT alone.


Abstract Sperm competition is an important force driving the evolution of sperm design and function. Inter- and intraspecific variation in sperm design are strongly influenced by the risk of sperm competition in many taxa. In contrast, the variation among sperm of one male (intramale variation) is less well understood. We investigated intramale variation in sperm design in passerine birds and found that risk of sperm competition is negatively associated with intramale variation. This result is the first clear evidence that variation among sperm within an individual male is influenced by postcopulatory sexual selection. Our finding has important implications for male traits under pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection.


Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL

Statistics released by the American Cancer society indicates that colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer cases and related deaths in America. In addition to dietary preferences and lifestyle habits, exposure to toxicants such as benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is one of the major contributing factors to the development of sporadic colon cancer. Our laboratory has validated the ApcMin mouse model to study BaP-induced colon carcinogenesis. Ongoing studies in our laboratory are focused towards elucidating the anticarcinogenic effects of resveratrol (RVT) against colon tumors. Our studies thus far have shown a decrease in the incidence, size, and number of adenomas formed in the colon of mice exposed to BaP and RVT, compared to BaP exposure alone. Since biotransformation of toxicants is one of the key steps for initiating carcinogenesis, the objective of this study was to investigate whether RVT exposure simultaneously or prior to BaP treatment alters BaP biotransformation and bioavailability in ApcMin mice. The BaP treatment consisted of BaP-only administration (in peanut oil) at a dose of 100 μg/kg body weight (bw) via oral gavage over a 60 day period (group I); BaP (100 μg/kg bw) co-administered with RVT (in 10% ethanol + 90% deionized water) at a dose of 45 μg/kg bw (group II); RVT administered for 1 week prior to BaP dosing (group III). Blood, colon and liver samples were collected at the end of exposure period. The expression of BaP biotransformation enzymes (CYP1A1, CYP1B1 and GST) in liver and colon were assayed at the level of protein and enzyme activities. Plasma, liver and colon tissue samples were analyzed by reverse phase-HPLC for BaP metabolites. Resveratrol exposure both prior to- and concurrent with BaP exposure caused a decrease in the expression and activity of CYP1A1/1B1 enzymes and an increase in GST enzymes both in liver and colon. Additionally, our studies revealed a decrease in concentrations of organic (Phase I) metabolites in plasma, liver and colon in mice that received RVT + BaP compared to mice that received RVT alone. In contrast, an opposite trend was noted with aqueous (Phase II) metabolites registering an increase in mice that received RVT + BaP compared to mice that received RVT alone. Between the two RVT-treatment strategies, concurrent administration of RVT appeared to limit BaP bioactivation compared to RVT treatment prior to BaP exposure. In summary, our results suggest that RVT provides a preventive effect against BaP-induced colon cancer initiation and progression in ApcMin mice (funded by NIH grants 5T32HL007735-12, 1F31ES019432-01A1 and 5RO1CA142845-O2).

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5459. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5459


Abstract Objective: Although the efficacy of systemic corticosteroids (SCs) in acute asthma exacerbations is well established, the fact that many children still require admission to hospital and that SCs have a slow onset of action are cause of concern. For this reason, the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) as a therapy added to SCs has been explored, with no clarity about its cost-effectiveness. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of ICS in addition to SCs (ICS + SCs) compared to standard therapy with SCs for treating pediatric asthma exacerbations. Methods: A decision-analysis model was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of SCs compared to ICS + SCs for treating pediatric patients with acute asthma exacerbations. Effectiveness parameters were obtained from a systematic review of the literature. Cost data obtained from hospital bills and from the national manual of drug prices. The study was carried out from the perspective of the national healthcare system in Colombia. The main outcome of the model was avoidance of hospital admission. Results: For the base-case analysis, the model showed that compared to SCs, therapy with ICS + SCs was associated with lower total costs (US$88.76 vs.US$97.71 average cost per patient) and a lower probability of hospital admission (0.9060 vs. 0.9000), thus showing dominance. Conclusions: This study shows that compared with standard therapy with SCs, ICS + SCs for treating pediatric patients with acute asthma exacerbations is the preferred strategy because it was associated with a lower probability of hospital admission, at lower total treatment costs.


During the evaluation of multi-source information system, uncertainty exists widely. In order to use and process the uncertainty and improve the creditability of system evaluation, this paper based on the cloud theory, studied the mapping method between nature variable and quantity variable. At the same time, the paper promoted a novel evaluation method of system performance based on the cloud theory. Finally, an example validates the process and feasibility of the method. The method exploits new application field for the cloud theory.


Remarkable advances in surface hydrosilylation reactions of C=C and C=O bonds on hydride-terminated silicon have revolutionized silicon surface functionalization. However, existing methods for functionalizing hydride-terminated Si nanocrystals (H-SiNCs) require long reaction times and elevated temperatures. Herein, we report a room-temperature method for functionalizing H-SiNC surfaces within seconds by stripping outermost atoms on H-SiNC surfaces with xenon difluoride (XeF2 ). Detailed analysis of the reaction byproducts by in situ NMR spectroscopy and GC-MS provided unprecedented insight into NC surface composition and reactivity as well as the complex reaction mechanism of XeF2 activated hydrosilylation.


Aims To ascertain whether social risk factors have a significant association with complex ADHD and assess the relative role played by biological risk factors and coexisting neurodevelopmental disorders. This will enable a better understanding of factors that complicate management of ADHD and thus facilitate optimal management. Methods 102 patients with a diagnosis of ADHD were identified using a computerised coding system. Each case was assessed individually using computer system entries and case notes. A specially designed proforma was used to identify the following risk factors: social risk factors (e.g. parenting issues, child protection concerns) biological risk factors (e.g low birthweight, antenatal use of drugs/alcohol) coexisting neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g. autistic spectrum disorder, Tourette's syndrome) Patient outcomes were separated into two groups: Easy to manage (ETM) – no additional measures needed (only school support, parental support, medication) Difficult to manage (dtm) – additional emotional/behavioural problems necessitating input from external agencies. Results Social risk factors were present in the majority of cases (70%), and were more prevalent in the DTM group (82%), than in the ETM group (53%). Abstract G149(P) Table 1 Prevalence of risk factors in the 2 outcome groups There was a significant difference between the outcomes seen in the SR group (66%) and the NSR group (32%). The χ2 value for this difference was 8.752 (p < 0.05). Abstract G149(P) Graph 1 Prevalence of social risk factors in the 2 outcome groups. The difference between the percentages of patients with DTM versus ETM outcome was not significant in the BR group (55% & 45% respectively) or the NDD group (57% & 43% respectively), but was significant in the SR group (66% & 34%). Conclusion The SR group was significantly more difficult to manage compared to the BR group and NDD group. There was a marked difference in outcome seen in the SR group, compared with the NSR group. The majority of DTM cases involve social risk factors, some of which are potentially modifiable. Although the presence of biological risk factors and coexisting disorders cannot be altered, early identification and amelioration of adverse social risk factors can potentially modify their effect and hence improve outcome.


Two zero-phonon lines with wide linewidth on R1- and unknown colour centres have been observed in the magnesium-doped lithium fluoride crystals coloured by electron beam bombardment at 200 K in the measured temperature range of 10-77 K. The R1- zero-phonon line can be nearly completely bleached using the normal spectrophotometer light at 10 K. An obvious spectral burning hole in the absorption profile of the R1- zero-phonon line of colour centres in the coloured lithium fluoride crystals has been obtained by using the spectrophotometer light adjusted to narrower bandwidth at 10 K. The optical bleaching of the zero-phonon line can be partially recovered by annealing the crystals to room temperature for a short time period or irradiating the crystals with ultraviolet light above 40 K, and nearly complete restoration can be obtained after the ultraviolet light irradiation and storage in the dark for a long time at room temperature.


This paper presents a theoretical investigation of the movement of liquid droplets and slugs in hydrophobic microchannels and develops a compact model for this type of two-phase flow. This model is used in the prediction of pressure drop and liquid water coverage ratio, key parameters in the operation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC), the primary motivation for this work. A semiempirical, periodic-steady two-phase separated flow compact model is formulated to characterize the slug flow behavior. The momentum equation includes the effects of acceleration, friction and surface tension on the pressure drop. The model considers spatial changes in slug velocity through the use of a force balance formulation. The model uses a departure scheme that computes slug size and shape at entrainment. The steady state slug flow compact model is capable of predicting liquid water coverage ratio and pressure drop using liquid and gas flow rates and advancing/receding triple point contact angles as its only inputs. The results indicate that the pressure drop increases as the droplet formation frequency increases.


From the study of relation between specimen' s shape and plastic indicator for isotropic material, the concept of equivalent diameter is introduced, and the quantitative relationship between plastic indicator and the ratio of gauge length to equivalent diameter is established. Using the concept of equivalent diameter, the quantitative relationships between elongation and physical dimensions of sheet specimen for several materials have been established through least squares fitting. Standardization of specimen is suggested to eliminate the differences in elongation resulting from different specimens used.


Study Design. Retrospective review. Objective. To investigate the role of lower limbs compensation with progressive sagittal malalignment. Summary of Background Data. Although lower limb compensatory mechanisms are established response to progressive sagittal malalignment, their specific role and potential impact on surgical planning has not been evaluated. Methods. Single center retrospective review of full body x-rays was performed in patients of age >20 years. Parameters were measured with dedicated software. Population was stratified by 50 mm intervals of sagittal vertical axis (SVA) and one-way ANOVA was performed to compare P.shift (P.shift = anteroposterior translation of the pelvis vs. the feet) across SVA groups. Anteroposterior offset of each vertebra in relation to a vertical line extended from the distal tibial metaphysis (TM) was investigated. Linear regression was performed to predict pelvic tilt (PT) using Knee angle (KA) and P.shift, whereas controlling for pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis mismatch (PI-LL) and SVA. Results. A total of 2124 patient visits were included (PI = 55.1 ± 14.1°, PT=21.0 ± 11°, PI-LL=6.3 ± 17.3°, SVA = 29 ± 51 mm). With progressively increased SVA, P.shift decreased from 30 to −100 mm (all P < 0.005). Analysis of vertebral offset from the distal tibial metaphysis revealed that T9 was aligned with the TM line across all SVA groups. Prediction of PT based on PI-LL and SVA yielded R2=0.76 (P < 0.001). Subsequent addition of KA and P.shift as independent parameters using hierarchical multiple regression led to significant improvement in R2, demonstrating the independent role of lower limbs parameters in PT prediction. KA and P.shift had a positive standardized coefficient (all P < 0.05). Conclusion. Lower limb compensatory mechanisms increase with progressive sagittal malalignment. Anteroposterior translation of pelvis allows the T9 vertebra to remain in line with the ankle ("conus of economy"). Lower limb compensatory mechanisms are positive predictors of PT and thus do not require additional consideration in surgical realignment planning. Level of Evidence: 3


Gravitational waves are predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity as well as other theories of gravity. The rotational stability of the fastest pulsars means that timing of an array of these objects can be used to detect and investigate gravitational waves. Simultaneously, however, pulsar timing is used to estimate spin period, period derivative, astrometric, and binary parameters. Here we calculate the effects that a stochastic background of gravitational waves has on pulsar timing parameters through the use of simulations and data from the millisecond pulsars PSR J0437–4715 and PSR J1713+0747. We show that the reported timing uncertainties become underestimated with increasing background amplitude by up to a factor of � 10 for a stochastic gravitational-wave background amplitude of A = 5×10 15 , where A is the amplitude of the characteristic strain spectrum at one-year gravitational wave periods. We find evidence for prominent low-frequency spectral leakage in simulated data sets including a stochastic gravitational-wave background. We use these simulations along with independent Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) measurements of parallax to set a 2–sigma upper limit of A � 9.1 × 10 14 . We find that different supermassive black hole assembly scenarios do not have a significant effect on the calculated upper limits. We also test the effects that ultralow–frequency (10 12 –10 9 Hz) gravitational waves have on binary pulsar parameter measurements and find that the corruption of these parameters is less than those due to 10 9 –10 7 Hz gravitational waves.


Subspace tracking is an efficient method to reduce the complexity in estimating the signal subspace required in subspace-based multiuser detection algorithm. Recursive least square (RLS)-based subspace tracking algorithms such as the PAST algorithm can be used to estimate the signal subspace adaptively with relatively low computational complexity. However, it is shown in this paper that subspace estimation using conventional autocorrelation matrix is very sensitive to impulse noise. A new robust correlation matrix, based on robust statistics, is proposed to overcome this problem. Moreover, a new robust PAST algorithm is developed, again using robust statistics, for robust subspace tracking. A new restoring mechanism is also proposed to handle long bursts of impulses, which sporadically occur in communications systems. Simulation results show that the proposed robust subspace tracking-based blind multiuser detector performs better than the conventional approach, especially under consecutive impulses. The adaptation of the proposed scheme in a dynamic multiple access channel, where users may enter and exit the shared mobile channel, is also found to be satisfactory.


This book provides an overview of the principles underlying participatory budgeting. It analyzes the merits and demerits of participatory budgeting practices around the world with a view to guiding policy makers and practitioners on improving such practices in the interest of inclusive governance. This publication includes five regional surveys, and seven country case studies can be found on the accompanying CD ROM. The study explains that participatory budgeting has been advanced by budget practitioners and academics as an important tool for inclusive and accountable governance and has been implemented in various forms in many developing countries around the globe. It adds that through participatory budgeting, citizens have the opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of government operations, influence government policies, and hold government to account. However, participatory processes also run the risk of capture by interest groups. Captured processes may continue to promote elitism in government decision making. This book examines the potential and perils of participatory budgeting, as observed from practices around the globe. It is divided into three parts. Part I presents the nuts and bolts of participatory budgeting. Part II surveys experiences with participatory budgeting in various regions of the world. Part III (Vol. 2) is on the CD ROM accompanying this book, and it examines case studies of practices in seven countries.


Objectives: Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is known to induce the myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) to stimulate the progression of uterine cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of G-CSF and the MDSCs in the invasion and the metastasis of uterine cervical cancer. Methods: We first established cervical cancer cell lines stably transfected with G-CSF expression vector (ME180-GCSF) or control vector (ME180-control). Then, using mice subcutaneously inoculated with ME180-control or ME180-GCSF cells, the effect of G-CSF on the induction of MDSCs (CD11b+Gr1+ cells) and the metastatic activity of cervical cancer cells. The association of MDSCs infiltration and the clinical outcome was also assessed immunohistochemically using tumor samples obtained from cervical cancer patients. Finally, using MDSCs isolated from the spleen of the ME180-GCSF-bearing mice, we investigated whether the MDSCs facilitate the invasive or metastatic activities of uterine cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo. Results: 1) ME180-GCSF-derived tumors contain greater number of MDSC, more frequently develop lymphovascular space invasion, and developed greater number of metastatic tumors than ME180-control-tumors. 2) Immunohistochemical analyses using human samples revealed that increased MDSC counts were significantly associated with deep stromal invasion and lymphovascular space invasion. 3) MDSCs were recruited into cervical cancer via CXCL12-CXCR4 axis. 4) Coincubation of MDSCs with ME180 cells increased the invasive activity of ME180 cells. 5) The depletion of MDSCs significantly decreased the invasive and metastatic activities of ME180 cells. Conclusions: Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) facilitates metastasis by recruiting MDSCs. MDSCs and CXCL12-CXCR4 axis might be promising therapeutic targets in patients with uterine cervical cancer. Citation Format: Tomoyuki Sasano, Seiji Mabuchi, Ryoko Takahashi, Hiromasa Kuroda, Kenjiro Sawada, Tadashi Kimura. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) facilitates metastasis of uterine cervical cancer by recruiting myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) via CXCL12-CXCR4 axis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 438. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-438


Elsewhere in this report, Ji and Palacharla (1994) show the difficulty of obtaining angledependent reflectivities by conventional prestack methods such as profile imaging. Imaging by wavefront synthesis is a good alternative to achieve such a goal. One of the wavefront synthesis methods is controlled illumination (Rietveld and Berkhout, 1992; Berkhout, 1992). This method consists of two steps, areal shot record synthesis and areal shot record migration. Angle-dependent reflectivity images can be obtained by combining the field shot records in such a way that the related areal source wave field has a predefined shape, like a constant ray parameter or a constant incidence angle at the target depth level. I tested the algorithm with the Marmousi data.


Two problems associated with adaptively biased simulations are considered: overfilling and time scale estimation. First, a simple and computationally efficient procedure for limiting the bias fill-depth of any adaptive biasing potential is introduced. The resulting bias potential floods only up to a specified level and avoids bias accumulation in higher regions of free energy. Second, hyperdynamics can be invoked in combination with this depth-limited bias potential to estimate time scales. We argue that allowing the bias to equilibrate to a set depth is one crux in efficient hyperdynamics application. In both simple (alanine dipeptide) and complex (ligand residence) test cases, the useable boost factors are 6-8 times larger when the bias fill depth is directly controlled, as opposed to controlling the update frequency. Update frequency has emerged as a proxy for controlling the fill height of adaptive biases, with infrequent metadynamics being an example. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is shown to be insufficient for determining the trustworthiness of a hyperdynamics simulation, and a more robust strategy is described. Overfill limiting and hyperdynamics have been added to the fABMACS project.


A new class of liquid fluorescent organic salts was designed and prepared through via a strategy of ionic liquidization. These new ionic liquid materials exhibited strong green fluorescence and remarkable solvent-dependent photoluminescence under UV irradiation. Their physicochemical properties, especially the fluorescent behaviour, were studied intensively.


Roles of various infections, neoplasms and granulomatous diseases in fever of unknown origin were studied in 22 patients. Bacterial infections were responsible in seven (32 percent), herpes viruses in five (23 percent), neoplasms in four (18 percent) and granulomata in two (9 percent) cases. Patients with herpes infections had initially no clinical or routine laboratory clues to viral involvement, and were given an intensive workup for 5 to 15 days. The diagnosis was made on the basis of cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus lgM antibody titers.


Mass-independent isotopic signatures for δ 33 S, δ 34 S, and δ 36 S produced in the photolysis of sulfur dioxide exhibit a strong wavelength dependence. Photolysis experiments with three light sources (ArF excimer laser (193 nm), mercury resonance lamp (184.9 and 253.7 nm), and KrF excimer laser (248 nm)) are presented. Products of sulfur dioxide photolysis undertaken with 193-nm radiation exhibit characteristics that are similar to sulfur multiple-isotope data for terrestrial sedimentary rock samples older than 2450 Ma (reported by Farquhar et al. [2000a]), while photolysis experiments undertaken with radiation at other wavelengths (longer than 220 nm and at 184.9 nm) exhibit different characteristics. The spectral window between 190 and 220 nm falls between the Schumann-Runge bands of oxygen and the Hartley bands of ozone, and its absorption is therefore more sensitive to changes in altitude and atmospheric oxygen content than neighboring wavelengths. These two observations are used to suggest a link between sulfur dioxide photolysis at 193 nm and sulfur isotope anomalies in Archean rocks. This hypothesis includes the suggestion that UV wavelengths shorter than 200 nm penetrated deep in the Earth's atmosphere during the Archean. Potential implications of this hypothesis for the chemistry, composition, and UV absorption of the atmosphere are explored. We also explore the implications of these observations for documentation of bacterial sulfur metabolisms early in Earth's history.


Purpose Acute symptomatic pituitary apoplexy is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition. However, pituitary apoplexy can also present with milder symptoms and stable hemodynamics. Due to the rarity of this inhomogeneous condition, clinical studies are important to increase the knowledge. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive cases of pituitary apoplexy being admitted between January 1st, 2005 and December 31st, 2019 at the Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, for symptoms, results of magnetic resonance (MRI), biochemistry, management and mortality. Results Thirty-three patients were identified with pituitary apoplexy, 18 were men (55%) and mean age was 46.5 (17.2) years. The incidence of symptomatic pituitary apoplexy was 1.6 patients/year (0.76 patients/1,000,000 inhabitants/year). The majority presented with headache (n=27, 82%) and hormonal deficiencies (n=18, 55%), which were most frequent in men. ACTH deficiency was present in nine patients (27% but 50% of those with hormonal deficiencies). All had the characteristic findings on MRI. Only three patients (9%) required acute pituitary surgery, while eight were operated after more than one week. Seven (21%) were on antithrombotic therapy. None of the patients died in the acute course. During follow-up (7.6 ± 4.3 years) none of the hormonal deficiencies regressed and 3 patients died from non-related causes. Conclusion Our study confirmed the rarity and the symptoms of this condition. Surprisingly, only 3 patients needed acute neurosurgical intervention, perhaps due to milder cases and a general intensified treatment of precipitating factors. An early awareness and in severe cases decision on pituitary surgery is of utmost importance to avoid severe complications.


Background: Previously, our team identified a seven-gene mutation panel in urine sediment to discriminate UBC from benign urological diseases. In the present study, we aimed to validate the panel in an expanded and close to natural population cohort of hematuria. Also, we tried to optimize the panel by incorporating methylation biomarkers. We performed external validation to investigate the robustness and stability of the novel panel. Methods: Patients with urothelial carcinomas and controls were prospectively recruited in clinical trial ChiCTR2000029980. The mutation panel was validated in the expanded cohort(n=333) from Hunan multicenter. Several UBC-specific methylation biomarkers were identified by comprehensive analyses of a series of TCGA, GEO and an independent cohorts, and examined in the expanded cohort. Random Forest algorithm was used to construct an optimal panel. External validation of the optimal panel was carried out in Beijing single center cohort(n=89). NGS technique was used to analyze the DNA point mutations and MS-PCR for methylation.Results: The AUC, sensitivity and specificity of the mutation panel in expanded cohort were 0.81, 0.67 and 0.90, respectively. After screening, only cg16966315, cg17945976 and cg24720571 were left for further analysis. The optimal panel consisted of cg24720571 and 8 point mutations, including TERT 228(G_A), FGFR3 568(C_T), TERT 250(G_A), FGFR3 099(A_G), PIK3CA 091(G_A), PIK3CA 085(A_G), PIK3CA 082 (G_A) and HRAS 874(T_C). The AUC, sensitivity and specificity of the optimal panel in training group were 0.89, 0.84 and 0.79, respectively, and in test group were 0.95, 0.91 and 0.95, respectively. In the external validation, the AUC, sensitivity and specificity were 0.98, 0.93 and 0.93, respectively.Conclusions: The optimal panel was obviously superior to previous mutation panel and showed a highly specific and robust performance. The optimal panel may be used as a replaceable approach for early detection of UC.Trial registration: This research was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(ChiCTR2000029980).


A 62-year-old man visited our hospital for a regular follow-up of a known liver cirrhosis. Laboratory tests revealed recently elevated total and direct bilirubin levels. Imaging studies showed two small hepatic cysts (2.7 and 2.9 cm in the largest diameter) compressing both central intrahepatic ducts, respectively. Obstructive jaundice caused by the cysts was diagnosed. Sclerotherapy of the cysts was performed with 100% ethanol after aspiration of the cyst contents. An follow-up CT obtained after 3 months showed decreased cyst size and improved bile duct dilatation. It is known that obstructive jaundice due to a hepatic cyst is rare, and the cysts were unusually large and centrally located. We report a case of obstructive jaundice caused by very small hepatic cysts that was successfully treated with sclerotherapy.


In this paper we implement a Local Linear Regression Ensemble Committee (LOLREC) to predict 1-day-ahead returns of 453 assets form the S&P500. The estimates and the historical returns of the committees are used to compute the weights of the portfolio from the 453 stock. The proposed method outperforms benchmark portfolio selection strategies that optimize the growth rate of the capital. We investigate the effect of algorithm parameter m: the number of selected stocks on achieved average annual yields. Results suggest the algorithm's practical usefulness in everyday trading.


Significant corneal swelling was observed during eight hours of corneal contact lens wear in 12 volunteers successful in wearing the initial lenses prescribed. Following one week of daily wear, average increase in corneal thickness was 0.024 mm. Significant change in average corneal thickness occurred also at two to three weeks, six to eight weeks, and six months. Incidence of significant corneal swelling during eight hours of contact lens wear decreased with increasing periods of daily wear. Epithelial edema accompanied corneal swelling in ten of 20 eyes, decreased more rapidly than corneal swelling, and disappeared before corneal thickness had returned to baseline value. There was frequent association between corneal swelling and decreased oxygen uptake of the cornea following eight hours of wear. No simultaneous change was observed in average tear osmolarity with an increase in average corneal thickness.


This paper is a summary of some new measurement techniques that have been developed recently at the National Bureau of Standards for measurement of proportional limit of elasticity, machine stiffness, critical stress intensity, and crack velocity. These seemingly unrelated measurements all result from the rational basis of a single type of equation relating specimen and machine kinetics. In a regime of linear elasticity, the concept of a limit beyond which the specimen elastic gage length displacement is no longer proportional to load is referred to as proportional limit if the gage length begins to exhibit plastic deformation, and is referred to in a precracked specimen as critical stress intensity if the crack begins to extend in length. Multiaxial plastic yielding is also discussed. Machine stiffness and crack velocity are other measurements which can be obtained through the specimen-machine equation. The relationship of the new stiffness measurement to the International Standards Organization (ISO) proposed method and advantages of the new method are discussed. Methods of measuring stiffness in constant load rate and constant strain rate tests are outlined. A method of measuring the proportional limit or critical stress intensity which does not use a displacement gage of any type is also given; this should prove useful in hostile environments. Other related topics discussed include loading transients and rate sensitivity.


The well known treatment of asymptotically flat vacuum fields is adapted to pure radiation fields. In this approach we find a natural normalization of the radiation null vector. The energy balance at null infinity shows that the mass loss results from a linear superposition of the pure and the gravitational radiation parts. By transformation to Bondi-Sachs coordinates the Kinnersley photon rocket is found to be the only axisymmetric Robinson-Trautman pure radiation solution without gravitational radiation.


Today, data centers are the main source of providing cloud services through a service level agreement (SLA). Most research papers for cloud resource management concentrate on how to reduce host energy consumption and SLA violation (SLAV) to minimize operational cost. However, they do not consider the amount of penalty that cloud provider should pay to users because of SLAV. In this paper, we propose a new penalty‐aware and cost‐efficient method that considers cloud resource management as a cost problem. In this method parameters such as user budget, penalty, and host energy consumption cost play an important role in minimizing operational cost which leads to higher profit for cloud provider. The simulation results with CloudSim show that our proposed method minimizes operational cost compared to the prior resource managements. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The medicalization of deviant behaviors during childhood is usually presented as an effective strategy to deal with troublesome children, but the problems associated with medicalization are not frequently exposed. Even so, the process of medicalization is complex and may present many negative results. In this context, our aim is to discuss these difficulties. First, we present an overview of the relationship between medication and childhood. After that, we discuss some positive and negative aspects of medicalization. Finally, we conclude that framing a child under a psychiatric diagnosis is often more beneficial for the society and the child's surroundings than it is for the child herself.


A language is a system, i.e. a set of relations or rules which are involved in the formation of sounds, word patterns, and sentences. A language is also learned, which means that it is governed by social and cultural conventions, and subject to individual appropriation. This study takes the example of English which has evolved into various forms. Linguistically, it is questionable whether we deal with several systems depending on the variety studied, or with a single system inside which any movement is reflected in the other relations of the set, and cause more or less major changes. It is then hypothesized that heterogeneous and personal linguistic facts allow the linguist to understand the relations between competence and performance. The paper's aim is neither to describe the origin of any given linguistic fact, nor to expose deviance. It addresses the issue of the underlying operations applied by individuals within a linguistic system to interpret and produce utterances.


Perimenopause is the period during which a woman passes from reproductive to non-reproductive stage and it covers 4-7 years before and after menopause. Periods occur late or early, and the flow becomes heavier or lighter than previous. Acharya Sushruth has divided Madhyamavastha (middle age) into 4stages and the age between 41-70 yrs. comes under Parihani stage (deterioration) where there is deterioration of dhatus (body tissues) occur. In Samhitas various symptoms are described in the context of Yonirogas (gynecological disorder) which can be seen in perimenopausal period. The present case report documents the efficacy of Ayurvedic treatment in improving the perimenopausal symptoms. A case was taken for study with symptoms of shortened menstrual cycle of 15days, prolonged heavy bleeding associated with pain in lower abdomen during menses, backache and loss of appetite. The patient was given Pushyanug churna, Rasayan churna vati, Chandraprabhi vati, Singhnand guggulu after meal two times a day orally and syrup M liv before meal two times a day orally for three months. Ayurveda offers effective modalities and herbal formulations for the management of perimenopausal symptoms without any side effects. The drugs used in this case are having Deepana (appetizer), Pachana (digestive), Anulomana, Shothahara (anti-inflammatory), Raktprasadan (blood purifier), Balya (strengthen) and Rasayana (rejuvenation) properties and results showed there was a marked improvement in symptoms like pain was reduced, and cycle was regularized with moderate bleeding. Therefore, it could be a safe alternative to the modern drugs. Key wordsPerimenopause, Raktayoni, Dhatukshaya, Rasayan churna vati


Following the remarkable success of diffusion models on image generation, recent works have also demonstrated their impressive ability to address a number of inverse problems in an unsupervised way, by properly constraining the sampling process based on a conditioning input. Motivated by this, in this paper, we present the first approach to use diffusion models as a prior for highly accurate 3D facial BRDF reconstruction from a single image. We start by leveraging a high-quality UV dataset of facial reflectance (diffuse and specular albedo and normals), which we render under varying illumination settings to simulate natural RGB textures and, then, train an unconditional diffusion model on concatenated pairs of rendered textures and reflectance components. At test time, we fit a 3D morphable model to the given image and unwrap the face in a partial UV texture. By sampling from the diffusion model, while retaining the observed texture part intact, the model inpaints not only the self-occluded areas but also the unknown reflectance components, in a single sequence of denoising steps. In contrast to existing methods, we directly acquire the observed texture from the input image, thus, resulting in more faithful and consistent reflectance estimation. Through a series of qualitative and quantitative comparisons, we demonstrate superior performance in both texture completion as well as reflectance reconstruction tasks.


We consider the integration of heterogeneous data under a global RDF graph data model, based on the knowledge expressed in an ontology describing the concepts relevant for an application, and a set of entailment rules which characterize the logical relationships between these concepts. We consider both standard RDF Schema rules and user-specified ones. We propose a data integration architecture to compute certain query answers in this setting. Existing approaches to query answering in the presence of knowledge (expressed here in the ontology and the entailment rules) involve either the materialization of inferences in the data or the refor-mulation of the query. Both approaches have well-known drawbacks. We introduce a new approach to query answering , based on a reduction to view-based query answering. This approach avoids both materialization in the data and query reformulation. We define restrictions of our general architecture under which our method is correct, and formally prove its correctness.


Students commencing a science degree are most often interested in a particular discipline and see themselves graduating as a biologist, a chemist, a mathematician or physicist etc. (McInnis et al., 2000 & our own student surveys). In preparing for a major restructure of the Bachelor of Science at the University of Newcastle, we realized we needed to gently change the perceptions of commencing student about their potential graduate destinations. Our goal for students is to make explicit the full range of contemporary workforce relevant options, rather than emphasize only those that align with the existing 'stereotypes' about what scientists do. A more-than-disciplinary approach in teaching science knowledge and skills not only provides essential embedded transferable or entrepreneurial skills but also allows our graduates to open up broader career opportunities.

The restructured Bachelor of Science degree was designed around an explicit more-than-disciplinary approach, with first-year having a multidisciplinary focus, the second year being an interdisciplinary year and third year students engaging in a transdisciplinary capstone experience.

This presentation will discuss how the Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Newcastle will explicitly give our students the skills and knowledge to navigate the more-than-disciplinary journey in becoming a contemporary scientist.


Zoonotic Visceral Leishmaniasis (ZVL) is one of the world's deadliest and neglected infectious diseases, according to World Health Organization. This disease is one of major human and veterinary medical significance. The sandfly and the reservoir in urban areas remain among the major challenges for the control activities. In this paper, we evaluated five control strategies (positive dog elimination, insecticide impregnated dog collar, dog vaccination, dog treatment, and sandfly population control), considering disease control results and cost-effectiveness. We elaborated a mathematical model based on a set of differential equations in which three populations were represented (human, dog, and sandfly). Humans and dogs were divided into susceptible, latent, clinically ill, and recovery categories. Sandflies were divided into noninfected, infected, and infective. As the main conclusions, the insecticide impregnated dog collar was the strategy that presented the best combination between disease control and cost-effectiveness. But, depending on the population target, the control results and cost-effectiveness of each strategy may differ. More and detailed studies are needed, specially one which optimizes the control considering more than one strategy in activity.


The resonance profile of the Sr 5p1/2ns states and angular dependence of ejected electrons have been studied by using three-step excitation scheme. Energy levels and widths of the 5p1/2ns states with n ranging from 7 to 10 are measured. The electrons originated from the decays to different ionic states are resolved with the time-of-flight detector.


The coalition government in Iceland launched the 20/20 Moving Iceland Forward Initiative in 2009. The results of the data collection and the analysis that took place as part of that initiative led to the strategic vision, Iceland 2020. One of the objectives set out in Iceland 2020 is to simplify, reduce and integrate major policies and plans of Ministries and agencies that have been developed in recent years. The basis of this work was the analysis of 11 major policies and plans with the aim of developing concrete recommendations on how policy and planning needs to change within the Icelandic Public Administration. The results of the analysis was that 198 criteria's were analysed, 18 criteria's for each of the 11 policies. 108 fulfilled the criteria (55%), 52 partially fulfilled it (26%) and 38 were not present (19%). In general, the strength of the Icelandic administration is mainly in the preparation, analysis, goals and objectives setting during the policy process. The weaknesses lie in the lack of connection with funding, poor implementation and insufficient monitoring and evaluation. This paper sets out proposals for a new vision and methodology on how public policy and planning within the Icelandic Public Administration should be executed. They include adding perspective and practices to the process by reducing policies and plans; linking policies and planning within Ministries to the national budgetary process and guidelines to ensure that performance measurement and monitoring is always available.


For sustainability of environment, legislations in EU, USA, Japan and Australia require manufacturers to take back their products at the End of Life (EOL) and recycle them. The concept of 6R (reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, redesign and remanufacture) is very important for this issue, while reuse has the highest energy and material recovery efficiency. In this study, an integrated product information model has been developed in UML to provide necessary information for any future decision making activities in the EOL stage, such as the replacement analysis of any used part or subassembly.This product information model represents not only product structure but its function, behavior, and their associations in different abstract levels to support replacement analysis of an existing component with a new or a used component available to company. This representation schema provides necessary information for any future decision making activities in the EOL stage, such as the replacement or reuse of any part or subassembly. In an analysis of replacement for a faulty component with a used or new component, this model provides all of the associations of the existing artifact with other artifacts and the environment, not just functional and space requirements, and the relevant modification(s) of the associated objects has to be verified.Copyright © 2013 by ASME


Estimation of the differential entropy from observations of a random variable is of great importance for a wide range of signal processing applications such as source coding, pattern recognition, hypothesis testing, and blind source separation. In this paper, we present a method for estimation of the Shannon differential entropy that accounts for embedded manifolds. The method is based on high-rate quantization theory and forms an extension of the classical nearest-neighbor entropy estimator. The estimator is consistent in the mean square sense and an upper bound on the rate of convergence of the estimator is given. Because of the close connection between compression and Shannon entropy, the proposed method has an advantage over methods estimating the Renyi entropy. Through experiments on uniformly distributed data on known manifolds and real-world speech data we show the accuracy and usefulness of our proposed method.


Education
As active learning continues to replace traditional lectures, a new dimension of learning needs to be measured: social activity. Specifically, how are students interacting with and learning from their peers? Wiggins et al. developed and validated a 16-item survey to measure multiple facets of student experience in active-learning classrooms. The Assessing Student Perspective of Engagement in Class Tool (ASPECT) was designed to be widely applicable for different types of active learning and allows for the comparison of relative student engagement levels across various active-learning strategies. As researchers begin to investigate what makes active learning effective, tools such as ASPECT will provide insight into potential barriers presented by active learning, as well as strategies that increase engagement of all students.

CBE Life Sci. Educ. 10.1187/cbe.16-08-0244 (2017).


Currently, stingless bees' populations are declining due to environmental degradation. In this context, the authors have developed a research project in the central-western region of Mexico with the goal to generate strategies for conservation and sustainable manage‐ ment of stingless bees. The chapter aims to present the process of this investigation and its main results in terms of a) local knowledge and management strategies of stingless bees, and b) the social process of technological appropriation of meliponiculture by beekeepers. We recognized specific knowledge on the biology and ecology of stingless bees that result in a system for identifying species and management strategies of wild populations of these bees based on the extraction of nests. The implementation of an innovative productive activity based on the principles of meliponiculture and current techniques has been well received by producers, which has led to the formation of the Meliponicultores Michoacanos del Balsas Association, which grows five species of stingless bees. The research suggests that conservation associated with the use of bees (integral meliponiculture) can be enhanced in the region. Faced with the loss of biodiversity and environmental crisis, it is essential to maintain and enhance local knowledge of stingless bees and management practices. This represents an alternative to develop management schemes that allow the raising and breeding of these bees, while its products are obtained.


One of the most severe threats to world health is the Candida species. Many non-Candida species are the major cause of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). During the development of VVC, the host environment and Candida vaginal colonization are assumed to be out of balance, and this might be owing to physiological or non-physiological changes. Host-related and behavioral risks have been connected to VVC. Novel antifungal medications with particular molecular targets may be developed with the use of molecular tools in epidemiological research and the study of resistant Candida species. Using the Vitek-2 Antifungal Susceptibility System, this review will explain the many approaches used to identify and characterize Candida species isolated from vulvovaginal candidiasis patients.


We find an algorithm to compute the cohomology groups of spherical vector bundles on complex projective K3 surfaces, in terms of their Mukai vectors. In many good cases, we give significant simplifications of the algorithm. As an application, when the Picard rank is one, we show a numerical condition that is equivalent to weak Brill-Noether for a spherical vector bundle.


Extra-label drug use in food animal medicine is authorized by the US Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act (AMDUCA), and estimated withdrawal intervals are based on published scientific pharmacokinetic data. Occasionally there is a paucity of scientific data on which to base a withdrawal interval or a large number of animals being treated, driving the need to test for drug residues. Rapid assay commercial farm-side tests are essential for monitoring drug residues in animal products to protect human health. Active ingredients, sensitivity, matrices, and species that have been evaluated for commercial rapid assay tests are typically reported on manufacturers' websites or in PDF documents that are available to consumers but may require a special access request. Additionally, this information is not always correlated with FDA-approved tolerances. Furthermore, parameter changes for these tests can be very challenging to regularly identify, especially those listed on websites or in documents that are not publicly available. Therefore, artificial intelligence plays a critical role in efficiently extracting the data and ensure current information. Extracting tables from PDF and HTML documents has been investigated both by academia and commercial tool builders. Research in text mining of such documents has become a widespread yet challenging arena in implementing natural language programming. However, techniques of extracting tables are still in their infancy and being investigated and improved by researchers. In this study, we developed and evaluated a data-mining method for automatically extracting rapid assay data from electronic documents. Our automatic electronic data extraction method includes a software package module, a developed pattern recognition tool, and a data mining engine. Assay details were provided by several commercial entities that produce these rapid drug residue assay tests. During this study, we developed a real-time conversion system and method for reflowing contents in these files for accessibility practice and research data mining. Embedded information was extracted using an AI technology for text extraction and text mining to convert to structured formats. These data were then made available to veterinarians and producers via an online interface, allowing interactive searching and also presenting the commercial test assay parameters in reference to FDA-approved tolerances.


This paper investigates the unknown input observability problem in the nonlinear case. Specifically, the systems here analyzed are characterized by dynamics that are nonlinear in the state and linear in the inputs and characterized by a single unknown input and multiple known inputs. Additionally, it is assumed that the unknown input is a differentiable function of time (up to a given order). The goal of the paper is not to design new observers but to provide a simple analytic condition in order to check the weak local observability of the state. In other words, the goal is to extend the well known observability rank condition to these systems. Specifically, the paper provides a simple algorithm to directly obtain the entire observable codistribution. As in the standard case of only known inputs, the observable codistribution is obtained by recursively computing the Lie derivatives along the vector fields that characterize the dynamics. However, in correspondence of the unknown input, the corresponding vector field must be suitably rescaled. Additionally, the Lie derivatives must be computed also along a new set of vector fields that are obtained by recursively performing suitable Lie bracketing of the vector fields that define the dynamics. In practice, the entire observable codistribution is obtained by a very simple recursive algorithm. However, the analytic derivations required to prove that this codistribution fully characterizes the weak local observability of the state are complex and, for the sake of brevity, are provided in a separate technical report. The proposed analytic approach is illustrated by checking the weak local observability of several nonlinear systems driven by known and unknown inputs.


The effects of three sulfonate gemini surfactants with different hydrophobic chain lengths (8, 10, and 12 carbon atoms) on the optical properties of a fluorene-based conjugated cationic polymer poly{[9,9-bis(6'-N,N,N-trimethylammonium)hexyl]-fluorene-phenylene} bromide (PFP) dissolved in DMSO-water solutions (4% v/v) or water were investigated, respectively. When surfactants with PFP dissolved in DMSO-water solutions (4% v/v) are incubated, a decrease in photoluminescence (PL) intensity and a red shift of emission maxima are obtained at low surfactant concentrations. Intriguingly, two different Stern-Volmer constants (KSV1 and KSV2) are obtained and analyzed in detail for the first time. Further increase in the surfactant concentration enhanced PL intensity, and distinct blue shifts of both absorption and emission maxima are observed. Importantly, the turning point between the emission quenching and enhancement is closely related to the hydrophobic chain length: the longer the chain length, the earlier the turning point appears. Simulation studies provide strong evidence to explain these phenomena. Surface tension measurements show more insight on the interactions between PFP and surfactant. On the contrary, no emission quenching is obtained at low surfactant concentrations for PFP dissolved in water.


The $e$-beam column which is intended on defects inspection is considered. The defects which are to be examined or potentially might be examined at inspection stage are briefly considered. Interrelations between the system parameters is ascertaining and the ways of optimization and the technical requirements to the system in whole are discussed. As a result, we find the optimal combinations of the system parameters for the purpose.


While the accumulation of persistent contaminants in marine mammals can be attributed directly to their prey, the role of metabolism in shaping patterns is often overlooked. In the present study, the authors investigated the role of metabolic transformation in influencing polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) patterns in offshore and nearshore groups of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) and their prey. Congener profiles and principal components analysis (PCA) revealed similar PCB and PBDE patterns in beluga whales feeding either offshore or nearshore, despite divergent contaminant patterns in the putative prey of these two feeding groups. The clustering of PCBs into metabolically derived structure–activity groups (SAGs) and the separation of metabolizable and recalcitrant groups along principal component 1 of the PCA revealed the important role of metabolic transformation in shaping PCB patterns in beluga. Lack of metabolism for congeners with high ortho‐chlorine content was revealed by metabolic slopes equal to or greater than 1.0. Metabolic slopes for all other SAGs were less than 1.0 (p < 0.001), suggesting metabolism of congeners with ortho‐meta and meta‐para vicinal hydrogens via induction of cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP1A/2B/3A). Metabolic indices less than 1.0 for PBDEs (p < 0.001) suggested that beluga metabolized these poorly understood flame retardants. The strikingly similar PCB patterns in a captive beluga and free‐ranging beluga from the Beaufort Sea provide additional evidence that metabolic transformation is a dominant driver of contaminant patterns in beluga. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2013;32:1132–1142. © 2013 SETAC


The use of mutual information (MI) based alignment to map changes in liver shape and position from exhale to inhale was investigated. Inhale and exhale CT scans were obtained with intravenous contrast for six patients. MI based alignment using thin-plate spine (TPS) warping was performed between each inhale and exhale image set. An expert radiation oncologist identified corresponding vessel bifurcations on the exhale and inhale CT image and the transformation for identified points was determined. This transformation was then used to determine the accuracy of the MI based alignment. The reproducibility of the vessel bifurcation identification was measured through repeat blinded vessel bifurcation identification. Reproducibility [standard deviation (SD)] in the L/R, A/P, and I/S directions was 0.11, 0.09, and 0.14 cm, respectively. The average absolute difference between the transformation obtained using MI based alignment and the vessel bifurcation in the L/R, A/P, and I/S directions was 0.13 cm (SD=0.10 cm), 0.15 cm (SD=0.12 cm), and 0.15 cm (SD-0.14 cm), respectively. These values are comparable to the reproducibility of bifurcation identification, indicating that MI based alignment using TPS warping is accurate to within measurement error and is a reliable tool to aid in describing deformation that the liver undergoes from the exhale to inhale state.


I. Geology. The Upper Lias (G 3) of Bredon Hill is shown on the Geological-Survey map as more than 300 feet in thickness. It is said to be as much as 380 feet thick, whereas at Wotton-under-Edge, some 36 miles to the south, it is said to be only 10 feet. But at the former locality the Inferior Oolite (G 5) is represented as resting directly on the Upper Lias (G 3); at the latter locality there is shown, between Inferior Oolite and Upper Lias, a development of some 150 feet of strata called 'Midford Sand' (G 4)—the Cotteswold Sands overlain by the Cephalopod-Bed. The question often presented itself to my mind—Were the two so-called 'series' of Upper Lias the same, or was not the Upper Lias of Bredon Hill really much more than the Upper Lias of Wotton, so that there was not a true comparison? Was it not an argillaceous condition of the sands and the overlying Cephalopod-Bed? Some few years ago I was able to answer this question partly in the affirmative. On the north slope of Bredon Hill, I found in some argillaceous stones in a gateway, many feet below the yellow limestone of the Inferior Oolite, portions of ammonites indicative of beds contemporaneous with the Cephalopod-Bed of the Cotteswolds: they indicated strata of the hemeræ Moorei, dispansi, and Struckmanni. When the Cotteswold Naturalists' Field-Club visited Overbury on the south side of Bredon Hill, in 1902, the members found in the gravel-pit many ammonites confirming my


This study investigated sex differences and personality factors associated with gambling behavior in a non-clinical sample of young men and women. The participants were 212 university students (62 men and 150 women) and their mean age was 18.7 years. The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) was used to assess problem gambling behavior and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory Form S (College Age) was used to assess personality traits. The results indicated that men were more likely to endorse indicators of gambling problems than were women, with sex differences in different endorsed gambling activities. Of the five personality factors investigated, low Openness to experience and low Agreeableness were most strongly associated with higher scores on the SOGS, indicative of potentially problematic gambling behavior. Further analysis illustrated that for men in particular, low Openness to experience was a key personality factor in relation to higher SOGS scores.


Objectives: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is described as the existence of nephrotic-range proteinuria along with edema, hyperlipidemia and hypoalbuminemia. NS is estimated to be 15 time more frequent in children as compared to adults. Relapse is a major problem while managing nephrotic children. This study was aimed to find out the frequency of relapse in children with first episode of steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) during the first 12 months, after completion of 6 months steroid therapy. Study Design: Descriptive case series study. Setting: Department of Paediatric Nephrology, The Children's Hospital & the Institute of Child Health, Multan. Period: From February 27, 2018 to February 27, 2019. Material and Methods: A total of 55 children, aged 1 to 10 years, diagnosed with SSNS, 1st presentation of NS (based on history) and who successfully completed 6 months steroid therapy, were enrolled. They were taught to check proteinuria at home by dipstick method and enter daily results on the follow up card provided from the Nephrology department of the hospital. The outcome variable, that is relapse, was noted on the Proforma. Results: Amongst 55 children, gender distribution showed 38 (69.1%) male and 17 (30.9%) females. Children with body weight <20 kg were 33 (60%) and those having ≥20kg were 22 (40%).  Patients with age <6 years were 54.5% and patients with age ≥6 years were 45.5%. Mean age was 5.93± 3.36 years. Frequency of relapse was noted to be 78.2% and patients who did not relapse within 1 year of completion of treatment were 21.8%. Conclusion: Nephrotic syndrome is a common presentation of childhood renal problems and is major cause of morbidity in our set up. Relapses are frequently associated with SSNS and most of the patients relapse within 1 year of completion of treatment. Relapses are more common in male children as compared to female children.


In this study, to enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the polymer solar cells (PSCs), Gold (Au) and Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) are incorporated into the PEDOT:PSS and P3HT/PCBM active layers respectively. PSCs with a constant CuO-NP content were fabricated with varying amounts of Au NPs. Addition of Au NPs increased the power conversion efficiency by up to 18% compared to a reference cell without Au-NPs. The short circuit current( J sc ) of the cells containing 0.06 mg of Au NPs was measured at 7.491 mA/cm 2 compared to 6.484 mA/cm 2 in the reference cells with 0.6 mg of CuO nanoparticles; meanwhile, the external quantum efficiency(EQE) increased from 53% to 61%, showing an enhancement of 15.1%. Au-NPs improved the charge collection at the anode, which results in higher short circuit current and fill factor. However, the strong near field surrounding Au-NPs due to localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) effect is not distributed into the active layer. Instead, it is spread horizontally through the PEDOT:PSS layer, thus minimizing the light absorption in the active layer.


In this article, the author explores five African American students' racial, mathematical, and technological identity construction and how these identities shape each other and the sense of agency exhibited in the process. Data collection for the study included classroom observations and interviews, including a task-based interview. The stories told by the participants, their solutions for the mathematical tasks, and their participation in the figured world of mathematical learning illuminated their sense of identity and agency. An analysis of the data revealed that the participants' positioning and authoring of their identities were influenced by how they negotiated and interpreted the constraints and affordances in the figured worlds in which they participated. It is through this process of negotiation and interpretation that the participants exhibited a sense of agency, or lack thereof, which, in turn, shaped their opportunities to participate in mathematics and hence the authoring of their mathematical identities.


Author(s): Phillips, Christian Dyogi | Advisor(s): Hero, Rodney; Lee, Taeku | Abstract: The United States' population is rapidly changing, but the ways in which political scientists measure and understand representation have not kept apace. Marginal shifts in descriptive representation over the past two decades have run counter to widely espoused ideals regarding political accessibility and democratic competition. A central assumption often made by academics, and the public, has been that groups which are otherwise disadvantaged in politics may leverage their communities' numerical size as a political resource to gain influence. To this end, many studies of racial descriptive representation find that a larger minority population is associated with a higher likelihood of a racial minority running for and/or winning. However, these positive relationships between population growth and descriptive representation are tempered by an extensive literature documenting limits on racial minority groups' political incorporation. Moreover, current frameworks for understanding group competition or patterns of descriptive representation are silent about whether shifts in racial demographics may also have an effect on the balance of representation between women and men. These contradictions in debates over representation, and how groups gain influence, undermine the notion that eventually, marginalized groups will be fully incorporated into politics. White women have had de jure access to the voting franchise in the United States since 1920. In the intervening period, women have made up approximately half the population, and outnumbered male voters in every presidential election since 1964. Yet, women have held a quarter or less of all state legislative seats across the country for well over two decades, and only reached 100 members of Congress in 2014. The case for eventual incorporation is similarly dubious when we consider the racial composition of elected bodies. The racial balance of American communities is in flux largely due to Asian and Latina/o immigration, which will continue to be the case into the forecastable future. Presently, Asian Americans and Latina/os make up 23 percent of the U.S. population and are the two fastest growing racial groups in the country. Members of these immigrant communities hold less than ten percent of all state legislative seats, and a similar fraction of seats in the 115th Congress. Taken together, these yawning gaps between presence in the population and representation in elected office strongly suggest that "time" alone may be an insufficient remedy for underrepresentation. Moreover, for those who are living in the United States now, the current demographic makeup of state legislatures—which includes over 7500 elected seats nationally—raises doubts about their representative legitimacy. Asian American and Latina/o women and men typically have socioeconomic experiences, political perspectives and policy priorities that are distinct from that of their most likely descriptive representative—a White man. At the same time, state legislatures have been veritable policy engines for bills and resolutions related to immigration and immigrants in recent years. The National Council of State Legislatures reports that in 2015 state legislatures enacted 216 laws and passed 274 resolutions related to immigrants and immigration. Even as these bodies write, debate, and pass legislation targeting immigrant communities, Asian Americans and Latina/os are rarely in the room. Researchers increasingly point to the scarcity of female or racial minority candidates as a key explanatory factor, but seldom examine issues related to race and gender at the same time. As a result, the extant scholarship obscures the outsized effects that White men's candidacies have in defining American elections, and overlooks the distinct challenges that women of color face in getting on the ballot. This dissertation examines the intersecting roles of race and gender in elections, with particular attention to how they may be changing as immigrant communities become a larger proportion of the American population. I analyze the Gender Race and Communities in Elections dataset, which encompasses all state legislative general election winners and candidates from 1996-2015, and includes demographic information for candidates and their district populations. This original dataset provides the first opportunity to simultaneously analyze descriptive representation in state legislatures, for women and men in the four largest racial groups, at the national level. I also present the results of a national survey of state legislators, and in-depth interviews with political elites, in order to reveal race-gendered, informal, processes of candidate development and deterrence. I also show that practical opportunities to compete in elections are sharply, and simultaneously, constrained by candidates' race and gender. These constraints are most evident in the lopsided distribution of racial populations across districts, the uneven candidate development efforts of civic and political organizations, and the dominance of men in elite political networks, across racial groups. Based on my examination of Asian American and Latina/o candidates in elections, I advance a Race-Gendered Model for understanding the persistence of underrepresentation in state legislatures. I conceptualize elections as competitions for descriptive representation, and account for the disparate social and political experiences of women and men from different racial groups. Within this framework, race and gender simultaneously constrain potential candidates' access to elections, producing a frequent absence of competition for descriptive representation. This model uses an intersectional approach to explain why Asian American and Latina/o women and men do not run more often, and why the majority of ballots are made up exclusively of White male candidates. I demonstrate that the increasing "strength in numbers" of Asian American and Latina/o communities has primarily served as a resource for increasing the racial diversity of men in statehouses—to the limited extent that racial diversity has increased at all. I also show that the most advantaged descriptive group, White men, benefits from an absence of competition in most electoral contests. At the same time, the fastest growing groups of women—Asian Americans and Latinas—are also the groups most frequently excluded from competing. The Race-Gendered Model expands the intellectual terrain available to answer longstanding questions in the study of women and racial minorities' underrepresentation. Along the way, I argue that it is necessary to simultaneously consider why White men's overrepresentation is similarly persistent. More broadly, the theory of competition presented in this dissertation shifts away from a central focus on the advantages and disadvantages groups face during election campaigns. Instead, I argue that the choices voters face in electing a descriptive representative are limited long before election day.


Desorption of H2O (ν = 0) following 157‐nm irradiation of amorphous solid water on a lunar impact melt breccia was measured with resonance‐enhanced multiphoton ionization. Photofragments of vibrationally excited water were detected with nonresonant ionization. The average cross section for H2O (ν = 0) removal and destruction at 0.1 Langmuir (1 L = 10−6 Torr∙s) H2O exposure was measured to be (7.1 ± 1.9) × 10−19 cm2. Cross sections were also measured at 0.3, 1, 5, and 10 L exposures. Because these cross sections increase drastically with decreasing water coverage, water is not expected to remain intact as H2O on the sunlit lunar surface. Instead, photons are likely to cause H2O to desorb or dissociate. The OH+ fragment of H2O (ν*) increased in intensity with increasing irradiation as hydroxyl groups built up on the surface and then recombined. The OH+ signal eventually began to decrease after a dose of 5 × 1018 photons cm−2. Under these conditions, the cross section for H2O (ν*) photodesorption was measured to be 6.4 × 10−20 cm2 for an initial exposure of 5 L H2O.


Background: Residencies serving non-English-speaking populations face the challenge of language training in addition to usual resident education issues. The clinic for the Lawrence Family Medicine residency is based in a 45,000-person Community Health Center serving a majority Spanish-language preference population. Although translators are available, they increase visit time for patients. Description: Three successive intern classes and one faculty member (n = 24) participated in a preresidency, 10-day immersion program at a nearby language institute; thrice-monthly classroom instruction for a year; and personal instruction during continuity clinics by a teacher/translator during the R1 year. Results: An independent examiner tested participants (average age = 29.5; 15 female) using a competency examination based on American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages scoring. Prior Spanish preparation averaged 2 years in high school and 1 year of college, but was variable. Results were compared with Tukey's Honestly Significant Differences test of repeated measures. All individuals improved following immersion, 4.8 to 6.3, (p <.01), and 6 months of reinforcement, 6.3 to 7.4 (p <.05). The first cohort (n = 7), including those entering with little Spanish ability, scored at a level permitting use of five verb tenses after 2 years (cost = $5,035.00/resident). Conclusions: This study demonstrates significant improvement in Spanish competency after 10-day immersion, and continued improvement following 6 months of reinforcement.


The failure of any equipment in coal mine will directly affect the safety of coal mine staff and directly threaten the safe operation of the mine. When coal mine equipment is running in a complex and changeable environment, a single fault feature is difficult to accurately reflect the fault, which is easy to lead to misjudgment and missed judgment. Using a combination of AHP and evidence theory can improve the accuracy and reliability of the evaluation. This method determines the weight of each evaluation factor through AHP. In this process, D-S evidence theory is used to fuse and modify the expert scoring data. The synthesis rule of D-S evidence theory is used to determine the risk value of coal mine equipment. The experimental results show that: compared with the single signal fault diagnosis method, this method can diagnose the equipment fault more effectively, improve the accuracy of fault diagnosis, and be applied in the fields with higher requirements for fault identification accuracy. The method is applied to the safety risk assessment of the mine. The results show that the mine construction is at a good level, which is consistent with the mine construction and verifies the model's credibility.


All bilinear natural operators with Nijenhuis tensor domain an codomain which are secondary invariants are found. 1.1 This short note aims to demonstrate the power of the secondary invariants theory on the Nijenhuis tensor case. Why, whereas other problems of the invariants theory are an aim of extraordinary interest, secondary invariants, which are without question worthy to note, have not been systematically studied yet. The theme was opened by Jin Vanzura and this paper is, as far as I know, first publication containing solution of this theory. What do we call a secondary invariant? Let us reason about a common domain: smooth left action of a Lie group on a smooth manifold1, where a number of invariant mappings can be defined on. A secondary invariant (with respect to invariant mapping f and invariant set A) is a mapping which is invariant on the inverse image of A with respect to / and defined on some neighbourhood of this set. If Codom(f) c A then every secondary invariant with respect to / and A is an invariant in the conventional meaning. If / is a polynomial and A is a set of single point of some Euclidean space, then the secondary invariant with respect to / and A is an invariant whose area of invariance is algebraic manifold but a general case can be very unusual and not very easy to study. 1.2 Let us recall well known correspondence between natural operators and invariants of type fibers (2,3) and let us introduce some useful notations: X is a smooth manifold and T is the tangent functor. F^X indicates the fibre bundle associated with the manifold of frames of order r over X whose type fibre is Q, as well as TrX indicates the manifold of r-jets with the source at origin of Rn and the target in X and X(X) denoted the set of all sections of TX —> X. The set of all smooth sections of FQ(X) will be indicated by C°°FQ(X). Gn is the r-th order differential group in the dimension n with canonical jets coordinates (a)l...jp)u iu


Texture segmentation can be considered the most important problem, since human can distinguish different textures quit easily, but the automatic segmentation is quit complex and it is still an open problem for research. In this paper focus on implement novel supervised algorithm for multitexture segmentation and this algorithm based on blocking procedure where each image divide into block (16×16 pixels) and extract vector feature for each block to classification these block based on these feature. These feature extract using Box Counting Method (BCM). BCM generate single feature for each block and this feature not enough to characterize each block ,therefore, must be implement algorithm provide more than one slide for the image based on new method produce multithresolding, after this use BCM to generate single feature for each slide.