In the conditions of fourth industrial revolution, it is very difficult to find new entrepreneurship ideas and windows. This paper delves into the modern ways to do entrepreneurship like digital, green, medical, educational, social, creative or art. Some creative and critical thinking techniques for entrepreneur windows are discussed and their implementation in education has been drawn. They include lateral thinking, the six thinking hats, simplify and their suggested usage for classes as role-playing games, puzzles and quizzes. A connection between leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation and creative thinking has been drawn. On that basis, a conclusion about usage of creative thinking techniques in educational centres to build up entrepreneurship and leadership skills has been done.


Let two classes and on an interval be given. In the paper, we find necessary and sufficient conditions for the -variation of any function in the -class, over a neighbourhood of every regular point, to tend to zero as the neighbourhood decreases. Bibliography: 10 titles.


Optical accuracy is a primary driver of parabolic trough concentrating solar power (CSP) plant performance, but can be damaged by wind, gravity, error during installation, and regular plant operation. Collecting and analyzing optical measurement over an entire operating parabolic trough plants is difficult, given the large scale of typical installations. The Distant Observer (DO) software tool uses images and video to measure surface slope in the parabolic mirror and absorber tube offset from the ideal focal point. DO has been adapted for fast data collection using low-cost commercial drones, but until recently still required substantial human labor to process large amounts of data. A new method leveraging deep learning and computer vision tools can drastically reduce the time required to process images. This method identifies the featureless corners of trough mirrors to a high degree of accuracy. Previous work has shown promising results using computer vision. The combined deep learning and computer vision approach presented here proved effective, and has the potential to further automate data collection and analysis, making the tool more robust. This method automatically identified 74.3% of mirror corners within 2 pixels of their manually marked counterparts and 91.9% within 3 pixels. This level of accuracy is sufficient for practical DO analysis within a target uncertainty. DO successfully analyzed video of over 100 parabolic trough modules collected at an operating CSP plant, and can provide plant operators and trough designers with valuable insight about plant performance, operating strategies, and plant-wide optical error trends.


The inter-relating topics of social capital, co-operation and spheres of exchange are examined in the context of case-studies of two very different community currency systems in the North of England. Participant observation, informal interviews and a questionnaire are complemented by the analysis of transaction records, using social network analysis.

On a practical level, this research shows that community currency systems can be used to promote well-being, but that their success is greatly influenced by organisational culture and practices, and particularly by whether members are encouraged to set up transactions for themselves, and to form partnerships based upon direct reciprocity.

The theoretical findings are of wider relevance. First of all I examine the amorphous concept of social capital, and suggest replacing it by two separate concepts: social cohesion and social reach, defined and measured using social network analysis.

Turning to co-operation, I find that individuals with directly reciprocal social ties tend to cluster together, forming a network with a highly right-skewed degree distribution and a clear core-periphery structure, at the heart of which are a number of long-lasting Simmelian ties. This process relies on individuals being able to trade widely and change partners at will, while their behaviour is bounded by commonly held values relating to trust, equality and fairness. There are few examples of triad 030C, suggesting that if indirect reciprocity occurs at all, it is in conjunction with direct reciprocity, and/or in the form of a broken chain (with someone who mainly gives at one end, and someone who mainly receives at the other).

Finally, although policy-makers are often keen to pigeonhole citizens' behaviour as either 'economic' or 'social', a better model may be that of overlapping spheres of exchange. While some activities clearly take place in the sphere of the market economy, and others in the sphere of the gift economy, certain types of behaviour (e.g. transactions between members of community currency systems) may exist in the interstices of the spheres.


The in situ organization of the inner dynein arms of Chlamydomonas axonemes was investigated by analyzing a number of tilt-series thin-section electron micrographs taken with improved fixation and staining protocols. The use of mutant axonemes lacking the outer dynein arms and the radial spokes enabled us to detect a novel feature: inner-arm projections arranged in two rows. The arrangement of projections within each row was deduced by making a model that fitted both tilt-series longitudinal thin-section images and cross-section images. The model suggested that, within a repeating unit of 96 nm, one of the two rows, positioned more centrifugally, consists of four discrete domains and the other, positioned more centripetally, consists of three pairs of globular structures. Whereas the centripetal row resembles the inner-arm arrangement reported previously, the centrifugal row appears to have been identified for the first time in this study. These findings make necessary the re-examination of the arrangement of various inner-arm subspecies within the axoneme.


the patients with a local recurrence had a high rectal cancer, where the risk of lateral spread is low. Several had received preoperative radiotherapy which reduces the overall risk of local recurrence. Also, the definition of local recurrence is inadequate, since nothing is mentioned concerning radiological definition of additional lateral lymph node metastases or surgical and/or histopathological confirmation of the suspected pelvic recurrence. Four out of six cases in which lateral involvement was identified were reviewed by the authors and were found not to have lateral residual tumour; these tumours 'appeared to involve the lateral fascia'. Lateral residual tumour may not have been a major cause of local recurrence in this highly selected group of patients, where many had had high tumours, many had incomplete mesorectal excision and many had received radiotherapy. However, the authors' conclusion is not justified for locally recurrent rectal cancer in general. The results are not convincing enough to dismiss lateral lymph node dissection in low advanced rectal cancer. Prospective follow-up of all patients with low T3 or T4 rectal cancer is necessary to estimate the true risk of lateral lymph node tumour invasion and to assess if a less radical approach is justified. S. Tanaka and T. Mori Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital, Sumida Kotobashi 4-23-15, Bunkyo Honkomagome 3-18-22, Tokyo 130 8575, Japan DOI: 10.1002/bjs.5417


Context: Osteoporosis occurs not only in the lumbar bone, femur, and radius but also occurs in the mandibular bone. Therefore, osteoporosis is a disease that required attention from the dentists. Aims: To determine the ratio of Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor kB-Ligand:Osteoprotegerin (RANKL:OPG) expression and the ratio of osteoclasts:osteoblasts number in the mandibular bone of the osteoporosis rat models. Methods: The research subjects used were 20 Rattus novergicus, which were randomly divided into two groups, namely ovariectomy (OVX) and sham surgery (SHS). Twelve weeks after surgery, the animals were terminated and mandibular bone specimens were taken for histological examination of osteoclasts, osteoblasts, RANKL, and OPG expression. An examination of estrogen levels in the blood of the research subjects was also carried out. All data obtained were tested statistically using a t-test. Results: There was a decrease in the amount of estrogen in the OVX group rather than SHS (p = 0.005). In the SHS group, the RANKL:OPG expression value ratio was 0.51 ± 0.15, while in the OVX group was 0.86 ± 0.22 (p = 0.001). In the SHS group, the ratio of osteoclasts:osteoblasts number was 0.012 ± 0.004, while in the OVX group was 0.061 ± 0.023 (p = 0.001). Conclusions: A decrease in estrogen significantly induces the ratio of RANKL:OPG and osteoclast:osteoblasts in the mandibular bone.


This research focused on the relationship between visitors' interest in jazz music as a motive for attending a jazz music festival and their subsequent personal expenditures during the festival. In addition, the study examined how a number of other factors influenced the spending behavior at the festival. The results show that people who are more interested in jazz music spend more money during the festival than those who are less interested. The tentative explanation suggested for this relationship is that those very interested in jazz music spend more money on concerts and other arrangements. The results also reveal that, among other things, length of stay, respondents' geographical location, household income, and household size affect the amount of personal expenditures during the festival. Finally, some outlines for future research are suggested, and the results' implications for festival managers are briefly discussed.


We examine the behavior of a closed oscillating universe filled with a homogeneous scalar field and find that, contrary to naive expectations, such a universe expands to larger volumes during successive expansion epochs. This intriguing behavior introduces an arrow of time in a system which is time reversible. The increase in the maximum size of the universe is closely related to the work done on or by the scalar field during one complete oscillatory cycle which, in turn, is related to the asymmetry in the scalar field equation of state during expansion and collapse. Our analysis shows that scalar fields with polynomial potentials $V(\ensuremath{\varphi})=\ensuremath{\lambda}{\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{q},$ $qg1,$ lead to a growing oscillation amplitude for the universe: the increase in amplitude between successive oscillations is more significant for smaller values of q. Such behavior allows for the effective recycling of the universe. A recycled universe can be quite old and can resolve the flatness problem. These results have strong bearing on cosmological models in which the role of dark matter is played by a scalar field. They are also relevant for chaotic inflationary models of the early universe since they demonstrate that, even if the universe fails to inflate the first time around, it will eventually do so during future oscillatory cycles. Thus, the space of initial conditions favorable for chaotic inflation increases significantly.


Driveable area detection is a key component for various applications in the field of autonomous driving (AD), such as ground-plane detection, obstacle detection and maneuver planning. Additionally, bulky and over-parameterized networks can be easily forgone and replaced with smaller networks for faster inference on embedded systems. The driveable area detection, posed as a two class segmentation task, can be efficiently modeled with slim binary networks. This paper proposes a novel binarized driveable area detection network (binary DAD-Net), which uses only binary weights and activations in the encoder, the bottleneck, and the decoder part. The latent space of the bottleneck is efficiently increased (×32→×16 downsampling) through binary dilated convolutions, learning more complex features. Along with automatically generated training data, the binary DAD-Net outperforms state-of-the-art semantic segmentation networks on public datasets. In comparison to a full-precision model, our approach has a ×14.3 reduced compute complexity on an FPGA and it requires only 0.9MB memory resources. Therefore, commodity SIMD-based AD-hardware is capable of accelerating the binary DAD-Net.


During the sampling of particulate mixtures, samples taken are analyzed for their mass concentration, which generally has non-zero sample-to-sample variance. Bias, variance, and mean squared error (MSE) of a number of variance estimators, derived by Geelhoed, were studied in this article. The Monte Carlo simulation was applied using an observable first-order Markov Chain with transition probabilities that served as a model for the sample drawing process. Because the bias and variance of a variance estimator could depend on the specific circumstances under which it is applied, Monte Carlo simulation was performed for a wide range of practically relevant scenarios. Using the 'smallest mean squared error' as a criterion, an adaptation of an estimator based on a first-order Taylor linearization of the sample concentration is the best. An estimator based on the Horvitz–Thompson estimator is not practically applicable because of the potentially high MSE for the cases studied. The results indicate that the Poisson estimator leads to a biased estimator for the variance of fundamental sampling error (up to 428% absolute value of relative bias) in case of low levels of grouping and segregation. The uncertainty of the results obtained by the simulations was also addressed and it was found that the results were not significantly affected. The potentials of a recently described other approach are discussed for extending the first-order Markov Chain described here to account also for higher levels of grouping and segregation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Artemisia afra is a plant whose medicinal attributes have been known for many decades in South, Central, and Eastern Africa. Folklore study indicates that aqueous extracts and infusions of the plant have been used to alleviate many diverse illnesses including diabetes mellitus (1). However, there appears to be no scientific data on its hypoglycemic activity, hence the need for the present study. Pharmacological screening of an ethanol-insoluble solid (AAG1) isolated from the leaves of Artemisia afra collected in Kenya indicates that this could be one of the possible hypoglycemic principles. CT-MS and NMR measurements indicated that AAG1 was a mixture of three long chain fatty esters with molecular formulae CH88O2 (649), C46H9202 (676), and C48H9602 (704). The possible structural formulae were deduced from the fragmentations as:


Multiple enchondromatosis (Ollier's disease) is a rare disease characterized by widespread enchondromas. In general, the short tubular bones of the hand are involved, with progressive lesions resulting in cosmetic problems and functional deformities. Diaphysectomy and reconstruction with structural autografts or allografts are usually recommended in the treatment of extensive enchondromas involving the fingers. Curettage and grafting and ray amputation are other surgical procedures that can be applied depending on the severity of involvement. A 25-year-old woman with enchondromatosis presented with severe swelling and deformities on her fingers in both hands. The majority of the lesions were managed by diaphysectomy and reconstruction with structural grafts; ray amputation, curettage and grafting were performed for more severe lesions. During a long-term follow-up (left hand 6 years, right hand 5.5 years) cosmetic and functional results were acceptable.


The Standard Model (SM), the current theory of elementary particles and interactions, has been extremely successful in predicting and describing experimental results. The prediction of the electron's anomalous magnetic moment served as an early triumph of quantum electrodynamics, and one success after another has followed, including the discovery of the weak interaction gauge bosons W± and Z, and more recently the discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in 2012. In spite of the success of the theory, though, there are phenomena which it does not explain, such as the dark matter and dark energy making up most of the universe. Extensions of the SM aiming to address its shortcomings typically predict observable deviations from the theory. Although theories predicting significant deviations from the SM in the energy regime so far explored can be immediately excluded, theories that predict deviations at higher, unexplored energies are still viable. Therefore, exploring physics at such energies is crucial in order to improve our understanding of nature at the most fundamental level. Currently, experimental data at the energy frontier are provided by the LHC experiments. In this thesis, we present a search for new physics in final states with one lepton and missing transverse energy using data from the ATLAS detector. No significant deviations from SM predictions are observed in the transverse mass distribution. The search is interpreted in terms of the production of hypothetical heavy, charged bosons, and also in terms of the production of dark matter particles in association with a leptonically decaying W boson. Limits on the cross sections and relevant mass scales of these processes are presented. In the case of new charged boson signal, the Sequential Standard Model (SSM) and the W ∗ reference model are considered. The SSM is a reference model widely used to represent new gauge bosons, of which the charged ones are usually denoted W ′, related to hypothetical symmetries of nature and the associated interactions. The W ∗ boson is a common occurence in theories addressing the unreasonably large radiative corrections to the Higgs boson mass, and differs significantly from the new gauge bosons in its interactions with the SM fermions. We find that new charged bosons are excluded at 95% CL for masses up to 3.28 TeV in the case of the SSM W ′ boson and 3.21 TeV in the case of the W ∗ reference model. As a search for dark matter particles, the analysis is found to be competitive with ATLAS searches in other final states, in particular in the case of constructive interference in the so-called D5 effective field theory (EFT). Limits at 90% CL on the suppression scale in the effective coupling between dark matter particles and quarks are presented. For low dark matter particle masses, where collider searches are particularly sensitive, the limits extend to 1.4 TeV in the D9 EFT and 1.2 TeV in the D5 EFT in the case of constructive interference.


An interesting trend in the continuing convergence of information technologies is the emergence of the Internet as a content provider in its own right, as opposed to its simply being one of many delivery channels. For example, it is increasingly the primary source for items such as court rulings and software releases. Unfortunately the IP protocols normally employed for reliable data transfer are of the point-to-point type and not well suited to large-scale one-to-many dissemination. Sudden rushes to obtain new items can cause severe traffic congestion and degrade network service across a whole region. Even worse, sites which are routinely popular cause routine congestion. Broadcast technologies should be able to provide a better solution in terms of scalability. The Internet has a mature protocol suite for IP multicast and more recently the traditional wireless broadcast industry has started moving from analog to digital transmission formats. However, in both these cases the emphasis in protocol development has been on support for continuous media, which requires timeliness of delivery rather than bit-perfect data integrity. A further problem with the new digital broadcast channels is their lack of support for integration with the Internet. This paper examines some of the issues involved in providing both reliable and scalable dissemination across broadcast channels and describes the DABWeb architecture for Internet content dissemination via digital broadcast.


Recent research has advocated the use of a covariance matrix of image features for tracking objects instead of the conventional histogram object representation models used in popular algorithms. In this paper we extend the covariance tracker and propose efficient algorithms with an emphasis on both improving the tracking accuracy and reducing the execution time. The algorithms are compared to a baseline covariance tracker and the popular histogram-based mean shift tracker. Quantitative evaluations on a publicly available dataset demonstrate the efficacy of the presented methods. Our algorithms obtain significant speedups factors up to 330 while reducing the tracking errors by 86-90% relative to the baseline approach.


Abstract : In many extreme emergency scenarios, such as natural or manmade disasters, the rescuers may face difficulty using traditional legacy networks due to destruction or collapse of infrastructure in such events or in case of remote disaster locations. The nature of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) makes them suitable to be utilized in the context of an emergency for various rescue teams. However, the security and reliability of the mobile ad hoc based communications can be decisive in the effectiveness and efficiency of rescue missions in extreme emergency cases. Furthermore, these stringent requirements propagate through to upper layers that include transport and application layer. In this paper we propose a framework for handling the P2P overlay serves different purposes and combines different technologies. The general functionalities of the framework are structured and unstructured overlays in MANETs. In addition, we propose a new suite of protocols called PEACE 1 Security Platform (PSP) that can address the key research challenges surrounding fast, reliable and secure MANETs for supporting emergency services in extreme catastrophic events.


A methodology for the design of network security based on the ISO 7498-2 security architecture is defined. The methodology enforces a problem-centered approach by explicitly defining separate specification, design, and implementation phases. In the specification phase, design constraints are identified and the required services are determined. In the design phase, the services are placed within the security architecture, the service primitives are defined, and the underlying service mechanisms and protocols are designed. In the implementation phase, a hardware and software solution is developed, the system is tested and verified, and required accreditation and certification are obtained. The methodology is illustrated by considering an application for an imaginary company. General conclusions regarding the feasibility of defining a network security methodology are presented.<<ETX>>


Burn severity can be mapped using satellite data to detect changes in forest structure and moisture content caused by fires. The 2001 Leroux fire on the Coconino National Forest, Arizona, burned over 18 pre- existing permanent 0.1 ha plots. Plots were re-measured following the fire. Landsat 7 ETM+ imagery and the Differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (� NBR) were used to map the fire into four severity levels immediately following the fire (July 2001) and 1 year after the fire (June 2002). Ninety-two Composite Burn Index (CBI) plots were compared to the fire severity maps. Pre- and post-fire plot measurements were also analysed according to their imagery classification. Ground measurements demonstrated differences in forest structure. Areas that were classified as severely burned on the imagery were predominantly Pinus ponderosa stands. Tree density and basal area, snag density and fine fuel accumulation were associated with severity levels. Tree mortality was not greatest in severely burned areas, indicating that theNBR is comprehensive in rating burn severity by incorporating multiple forest strata. While theNBR was less accurate at mapping perimeters, the method was reliable for mapping severely burned areas that may need immediate or long-term post-fire recovery.


Amyloid-β (Aβ) plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), as oligomeric Aβ induces loss of postsynaptic AMPA receptors (AMPARs) leading to cognitive deficits. The loss of postsynaptic AMPARs is mediated through the clathrin-dependent endocytosis pathway, in which endophilin2 is one of the important regulatory proteins. Endophilin2, which is enriched in both the pre- and postsynaptic membrane, has previously been reported to be important for recycling of synaptic vesicles at the presynaptic membrane. However, the role of endophilin2 in oligomeric Aβ-induced postsynaptic AMPAR endocytosis is not well understood. In this study, we show that endophilin2 does not affect constitutive AMPAR endocytosis. Endophilin2 knockdown, but not overexpression, resisted oligomeric Aβ-induced AMPAR dysfunction. Moreover, endophilin2 colocalized and interacted with GluA1, a subunit of AMPAR, to regulate oligomeric Aβ-induced AMPAR endocytosis. Thus, we have determined a role of endophilin2 in oligomeric Aβ-induced postsynaptic AMPAR dysfunction, indicating possible directions for preventing the loss of AMPARs in cognitive impairment and providing evidence for the clinical treatment of AD.


Duplin was originally isolated as a negative regulator of beta-catenin-dependent T-cell factor (Tcf) transcriptional activity in the Wnt signaling pathway. However, Duplin knockout mice exhibit embryonic lethality at 5.5-em day, suggesting that Duplin has important roles other than as a negative regulator of the Wnt signal. To identify new roles of Duplin, the Duplin-binding proteins were screened. PIAS3, which is a SUMO E3 ligase and acts as an inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3), was identified as a Duplin-binding protein. Duplin was sumoylated, but PIAS3 affected neither the sumoylation of Duplin nor its ability to inhibit Tcf-4 activity. Like PIAS3, Duplin suppressed the leukemia-inhibitory factor (LIF)-induced STAT3 transcriptional activity. Duplin did not affect the LIF-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation or nuclear localization of STAT3 but inhibited the formation of complex between STAT3 and DNA. Although STAT3 is not modified with SUMO, PIAS3 inhibited the STAT3 activity in a manner partially depending on its SUMO E3 ligase activity. Duplin suppressed the LIF-dependent STAT3 activity independently of sumoylation. These results demonstrate that Duplin inhibits not only Tcf-4 but also STAT3, suggesting that Duplin may act as a repressor for multiple transcriptional factors.


Aims: This study aimed to evaluate some relevant serum biochemical and hematological changes in concentration level involved firefighters in comparison to normal controls. Materials and Methods: This study involved two groups of male firefighters to participate in the study. The first group included 50 firefighters from Dammam while the second group included 50 firefighters from Khobar. An additional control group of 50 male nonfirefighters from both cities was included in the study. Blood samples were collected from all participants and investigated for some relevant biochemical, hematological differences and blood heavy metals between the three studied groups. Results: The results obtained showed that there were statistically significant differences in liver function, serum lipid profile, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, iron and ferritin, and blood picture in firefighters as compared with normal control group, while there were no statistically significant differences in the levels of blood heavy metals in firefighters as compared to normal controls. These results indicate that fire smoke mainly affects serum biochemical and hematological parameters but does not affect serum heavy metals levels. Conclusion: Such results might point out to the need for more health protective and prophylactic measures to try to avoid such hazardous health effects that might endanger firefighters under their highly drastic working conditions, and firefighters must be under continuous medical follow-up through a standard timetabled medical laboratory investigations to allow for the early detection of any biochemical or hematological changes.


To move one step forward toward a Galactic distribution of planets, we present the first planet sensitivity analysis for microlensing events with simultaneous observations from space and the ground. We present this analysis for two such events, OGLE-2014-BLG-0939 and OGLE-2014-BLG-0124, which both show substantial planet sensitivity even though neither of them reached high magnification. This suggests that an ensemble of low to moderate magnification events can also yield significant planet sensitivity, and therefore probability, for detecting planets. The implications of our results to the ongoing and future space-based microlensing experiments to measure the Galactic distribution of planets are discussed.


Efforts to predict civil war onset, its duration, and subsequent peace have dramatically increased. Nonetheless, by standard classification metrics the discipline seems to have made little progress. Although some remedy is promised by particular cross-validation strategies and machine learning tools, which increase accuracy rates substantively, predictions over time remain challenging. In this research note we provide evidence that the predictive performance of conflict models is plagued by temporal residual error. We demonstrate that standard classification metrics for binary outcome data are prone to underestimate model performance in a Binary-Time-Series-Cross-Section context when temporal prediction error is high. We approach this problem as a Modifiable Temporal Unit Problem and propose to evaluate the predictive performance of this type of model in differently sized temporal windows. While retaining the ability of models to leverage disaggregated data for prediction, we provide a parsimonious aggregation approach that allows researchers to evaluate the time frame in which predictive models perform best. We demonstrate this procedure in Monte Carlo experiments and with existing empirical studies.


Image mosaic is one of important technologies for image processing. It is normally used to make up a seamless and high resolution image. There are some algorithms that deal with the image mosaic. But the most make simply two or more images seamlessly form a large image for a holographic scenic display. The post-processing on the photo from a traffic accident scene is required to reflect and allow inspectors to accurately determine the actual distance between objects in the scene. Therefore the images taken from the traffic accident scene need to be corrected before being spliced to each other. The image correction allows the information on the scene to be correctly displayed. The splicing on the corrected images ensures a thorough view and complete information gain that covers the whole scene.


The PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) tumour suppressor is a phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)] 3-phosphatase that plays a critical role in regulating many cellular processes by antagonizing the phosphoinositide 3-kinase signalling pathway. We have identified and characterized two human homologues of PTEN, which differ with respect to their subcellular localization and lipid phosphatase activities. The previously cloned, but uncharacterized, TPTE (transmembrane phosphatase with tensin homology) is localized to the plasma membrane, but lacks detectable phosphoinositide 3-phosphatase activity. TPIP (TPTE and PTEN homologous inositol lipid phosphatase) is a novel phosphatase that occurs in several differentially spliced forms of which two, TPIP alpha and TPIP beta, appear to be functionally distinct. TPIP alpha displays similar phosphoinositide 3-phosphatase activity compared with PTEN against PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3), PtdIns(3,5)P(2), PtdIns(3,4)P(2) and PtdIns(3)P, has N-terminal transmembrane domains and appears to be localized on the endoplasmic reticulum. This is unusual as most signalling-lipid-metabolizing enzymes are not integral membrane proteins. TPIP beta, however, lacks detectable phosphatase activity and is cytosolic. TPIP has a wider tissue distribution than the testis-specific TPTE, with specific splice variants being expressed in testis, brain and stomach. TPTE and TPIP do not appear to be functional orthologues of the Golgi-localized and more distantly related murine PTEN2. We suggest that TPIP alpha plays a role in regulating phosphoinositide signalling on the endoplasmic reticulum, and might also represent a tumour suppressor and functional homologue of PTEN in some tissues.


A short memory test that provides analogs of everyday activities was used to investigate the relationship between everyday memory, cognitive abilities, participation in social, domestic, and leisure pursuits, and health status among 94 community-dwelling people aged between 70 and 93 years. Multiple regression analysis revealed that while fluid intelligence was a significant predictor of performance on most of the memory items, age was also a significant predictor of performance on prospective and verbal memory items, over and above the effects of intelligence. Crystallized intelligence and years of formal education showed little predictive power, but an index of participation in social and domestic activities was a good predictor of verbal, visual, and spatial memory items. It is concluded that cognitive decline in aging involves more than a simple decline in fluid intelligence.


To investigate the role of three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) in pediatric tracheobronchial diseases. Eleven male, six female patients aged from two weeks to 12 years (mean age, 3.3 years) were referred to spiral CT with a preliminary diagnosis of foreign body aspiration, extrinsic airway compression, acquired tracheoesophageal fistula, post-intubation stenosis, and bronchial erosion by a cavitary lung lesion. Tracheobronchial tree was scanned with 3 mm collimation, 1.5/1 pitch, 1.5 mm reconstruction interval, and standard reconstruction algorithm. Surface-rendered three-dimensional images and virtual bronchoscopic images were created from the axial raw data. Three-dimensional and virtual bronchoscopy findings were compared with findings of bronchoscopy. Virtual bronchoscopy revealed the level of obstruction in five patients with foreign body aspiration, but failed to disclose the nature of the aspirated foreign body and distinguish between a foreign body and mucoid obstruction. Virtual bronchoscopy correctly ruled out foreign body aspiration in four patients. Axial CT images also showed extraluminal findings including atelectasis, air trapping, peribronchial thickening, and infiltrations. In a patient with tracheitis virtual bronchoscopy failed to identify necrotic plaques observed in bronchoscopy. In patients with extrinsic compression, three-dimensional images showed the site and degrees of stenosis, whereas axial images revealed the cause of compression. In one patient, an anomalous tracheal bronchus was demonstrated on three-dimensional and virtual bronchoscopy images. Three-dimensional CT can localize tracheobronchial obstructions accurately. Virtual images may eliminate the need for invasive bronchoscopy in patients with questionable foreign body aspiration. Inability to evaluate the mucosal changes remains an important disadvantage of this technique.


Negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) degradation and recovery have been investigated for 7-50-nm non-nitrided oxides and compared to thin 1.8- and 2.2-nm nitrided oxides from a dual work function technology. A wide regime of stress fields from 2.5 to 10 MV/cm has been covered. Thermal activation has been studied for temperatures from 25 degC to 200 degC. The NBTI effect for the nitrided oxide is larger than for non-nitrided oxides. The percentage of threshold shift V th which is ldquolostrdquo during a long measurement delay-which is the quantity leading to curved V th versus stress-time curves and to errors in extrapolated lifetimes-is about equal for nitrided or thick non-nitrided oxides. The fraction of recovered V th is strongly dependent on stress time but only weakly dependent on stress field. Recovery in thick oxides leads to exactly the same problems as for non-nitrided oxides, and clearly, a fast measurement method is needed. The effect of short-term threshold shifts has been studied for extremely short stress times down to 200 ns.


Various modal methods are frequently used to investigate the vibration pattern in construction elements of a building in the low frequency range. The experimental determination of time average transmission and reflection coefficient has been developed for the large scale building structures. In this study, we investigate a mock up of a wall/floor junction. The wave approach is combined with the continuity equation. In this fashion both the flexural wave propagation and the in-plane wave motion can be captured. The miss-match impedance was also an important factor, since there is a change of material in the junction. The goal of using scattering matrix formulation is to separate the transmitted wave and the reflected wave as the structural wave propagates towards a wall/floor junction, but also to calculate the rate of wave conversion. One type of junction has been studied with the help of accelerometer matrices: the T junction of the floor/wall structure with its reinforcement beams. (Less)


This article presents substantiation assessment criteria as an evidentiary framework for evaluating contested substantiation of child maltreatment in child protection practice. To accomplish this purpose, the article discusses contested substantiation and judicial outcomes in contested cases as a means of underscoring the criteria's evidentiary relevance. The article presents conceptually and empirically driven substantiation assessment criteria and highlights their relevance for guiding substantiation decisions, evidentiary hearings, and future research in contested substantiation of child maltreatment.


This paper reviews the origin of self-study, described the material basis for the existence of self-learning, and based on self-learning theory analysis the conditions which the independent learners must have. On this basis, this paper introduced the self-learning environment and quality of modern Chinese university students. It also explored positioned the self-learning in college English teaching. Finally, we proposed the self-learning mode with integration of traditional teaching.


Optimization methods are essential in solving complex problems across various domains. In this research paper, we introduce a novel optimization method called Gaussian Crunching Search (GCS). Inspired by the behaviour of particles in a Gaussian distribution, GCS aims to efficiently explore the solution space and converge towards the global optimum. We present a comprehensive analysis of GCS, including its working mechanism, and potential applications. Through experimental evaluations and comparisons with existing optimization methods, we highlight the advantages and strengths of GCS. This research paper serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and students interested in optimization, providing insights into the development and potential of Gaussian Crunching Search as a new and promising approach.


The words broadcasting, unicasting and multicasting are the well familiar terms in the field of communications and are very important in describing various parameters in designing the system. In the field of communications, the applications which involve broadcasting needs an antenna of high directivity and should use the power effectively (low side lobes). Where in applications that needs unicast-reception mainly needs high directivity (Zone of reception) and low interference (low side lobes) antennas. There are some special applications like tracking radars, surveillance antennas demand patterns with special characteristics (Beam widths). Due to the non complexity in implementation and ability to produce symmetrical-high directive beams, generally planar array antennas are used in above mentioned applications. Planar antennas, with compromise in increased number of elements and size, produces high directive beams. Other way of generating desired beam pattern is by synthesizing the antenna radiation pattern. Schelkunoff polynomial synthesis method is one being used in linear array design for suppressing radiation in undesired directions, there by increases the directivity. In order to produce the desired beam with high directivity this paper proposes a planar array design method and also extends the schelkunoff polynomial method (confined as linear array synthesismethod) to planar array design to produce cost effective high directive antennas. The radiation pattern characteristics Directivity, 3dB beam width, Null-Null beam width and side lobe levels are used to analyse the performance of proposed design and algorithm.


Isolated acquired factor VII deficiency is a rare coagulopathy. It has been reported in 31 patients with malignancy, sepsis, postoperatively, aplastic anemia, and during bone marrow transplantation. We discuss, through a new case of acquired factor VII deficiency, the characteristics of this disease when it is associated with acute myeloid leukemia. Acquired factor VII deficiency in hematological diseases can be caused by intensive chemotherapy, infections, or hepatic dysfunction. The best treatment in developing countries remains corticosteroids associated with plasma exchange, frozen plasma, and antibiotics.


The correct delineation of geographical and landscape ecological units, being the fundamental territorial domains of both physical and human geography, is very important from the aspect of several other related disciplines as well. It is hard to tell how distinct landscape units, or landscape ecological units can be, from a statistical point of view. The present study investigates how well-defined (definable) geographical units (landscapes, landscape types) are in a statistical and mathematical sense. Since landscape forming factors do not exhibit distinct boundaries either, during the analysis it is better to consider them as ecotones. Integration of factors, and the unclear interpretation of present landscape boundaries do further complicate the sound mathematical evaluation of the studied geographical units. In order to resolve these problem GIS techniques were applied.


Asbestos is known to stimulate gene expression in a variety of cell types via downstream intracellular signaling cascades. This mechanism includes the mitogen-activated protein kinases, which can lead to increased transcriptional activation of genes related to cell proliferation, apoptosis and inflammation.

Objectives: To quantify and to compare the expression of ERK2 and p38α in pleural mesotelial cells (PMC) exposed to crocidolite or chrysotile fibers.

Material and methods: C57/Bl6 mice received intrapleural injection of crocidolite or chrysotile fibers (3.0 ug/cm2) or PBS (control). After 1, 7, 14 and 30 days the animals were euthanized and PMC were extracted. ERK2 and p38α levels were measured by ELISA. Results are expressed in mean ± SD using t-test (p <0.05).

Results: In the control group ERK2 and p38α levels were undetectable. Both crodidolite and chrysotile stimulated PMC to produce kinases, as shown in the table.

View this table:

Conclusions: Our data demonstrated that crocidolite produced higher levels of ERK2 and p38α than chrysotile, in a time-dependent fashion. More studies are needed to examine whether activation of this pathway is functionally linked to cell inflammation and cellular apoptosis induced by asbestos fibers and its role in the carcinogenesis of mesothelioma.


Motivation plays a very important role in enhancing the students' English learning performance. Therefore, the research aim is to investigate learning motivation at University for Natural Resources and Environment to find out whether motivation has any impact on students' English learning in order that English teaching together with learning at the school can improve. 290 students and seven English teachers were invited to take part in the questionnaire survey. The findings demonstrated that students have positive towards English learning and motivational activities. They were both extrinsically and intrinsically motivated in the English subject. However, they had many difficulties in succeeding in the English subject and their English learning was influenced by various elements, among which two main factors influencing their English learning most were their personal ways of studying and the heavy learning curriculum with difficult textbooks. Teachers' attitudes as well as their perceptions toward learning motivation are positive since they all find the necessity of motivation in improving students' English performance.


BACKGROUND
Dexamethasone is administered to some preterm infants with chronic lung disease to facilitate weaning from mechanical ventilation. Heart rate characteristics (HRC), including heart rate variability (HRV), may be impacted by glucocorticoids and may predict extubation readiness. A commercially available monitor developed for sepsis detection continuously calculates HRV and an HRC index, which are inversely related.

OBJECTIVES
Determine the impact of dexamethasone on HRV and the HRC index, in relation to extubation success.

METHODS
We identified 109 preterm infants who received dexamethasone while on mechanical ventilation and had HRC index monitoring data available. Average hourly HRV and HRC index were compared the day before and the day after initiation of dexamethasone in three groups: infants who remained on mechanical ventilation, those who were successfully extubated, and those who were extubated and required reintubation in < 3 days.

RESULTS
There was a significant increase in HRV and decrease in the HRC index the day after dexamethasone was started (HRV 16.2±0.5 vs 27.6±1.1 ms; HRC index 1.51±0.11 vs. 0.79±0.06 mean SE, p < 0.001). The 63 infants who were extubated within a day of starting dexamethasone had significantly higher HRV compared to those who remained on mechanical ventilation. There was no difference in HRV or its change with dexamethasone in the 45 infants who remained successfully extubated compared to the 18 infants who required reintubation within 3 days.

CONCLUSION
Dexamethasone improves HRV and lowers the HRC index in preterm infants with chronic lung disease on mechanical ventilation.


In recent years, the need for changes in the current consumption and development patterns has become evident. To achieve this, it is necessary to innovate, create, and devise new methodologies and ways of thinking that allow for a reorientation towards economically prosperous, socially equitable, and environmentally reasonable practices. The purpose of this study is to identify sustainability variables within the framework of the innovation system concept, and to propose a methodology for diagnosing regions and identifying their gaps in a sustainability-oriented innovation system. The methodology was based on a literature review of different documents, where sustainability variables related to innovation were extracted from this search, consisting of the identification of concepts made by different authors regarding what should be considered an innovation system aligned with sustainable development. These concepts were identified as study variables and a questionnaire was formulated based on them, which was reviewed by experts to determine their relevance and congruence. After obtaining the final questionnaire, which was subsequently referenced as the diagnostic tool, it was applied in a Colombian study region consisting of the states of Quindío and Risaralda, with sustainability stakeholders. As a result, a great lack of knowledge on the subject on the part of the respondents, low accessibility to sources of information, and a high percentage of disarticulation between policies were found, which led to the conclusion that the evaluated region has a low understanding of sustainability. Based on the information discussed in this research, it can be concluded that there are currently no specific methodologies to measure the sustainability of a region or territory. Therefore, the tool is determined to be a guide for the measurement of sustainability in the context of innovation in any region. Finally, from the studies reviewed, the potential to include sustainability in the innovation systems of a region was detected, enabling economic development, the production of goods and services, and strengthening the socio-environmental considerations involved in the adequate use of natural resources and the increase in the quality of life.


Female budgerigars, provided with nest-boxes and exposed to male vocalizations, lay more rapidly under a 14 L: 10 D photoregime than under regimes involving shorter light periods, though some birds will lay even when kept under continuous darkness. The photoperiod affects principally the interval between nest-box entry and egg-laying. Birds with previous breeding experience lay sooner than naive birds.


This descriptive study examines the lifestyle factors influencing Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) patients in Teaching Hospital (TH) Jaffna. Jaffna has considerable incidence of CHD and there were high rates of admissions of acute and chronic CHD patients at TH Jaffna (Annual Hospital Statistics, 2014). Many cardiac treatments are available to prevent CHD in Jaffna but the incidences are still high. It is assumed that an active lifestyle may help to prevent these conditions. This study observed the lifestyle factors such as dietary habits, pattern of exercise, habit of smoking and alcohol intake. The study has been carried out at the cardiology unit and all medical units of the TH Jaffna from the 15th of November to the end of December 2014. 150 CHD patients were administered a questionnaires which were used to collect data. Convenience sampling technique was used to collect the sample. This study has shown that CHD patients at TH Jaffna were initially affected by lack of exercises (75%). Participants who followed an unhealthy dietary habit were 69% and participants who habitually smoked were 37% and alcoholics were 29%. This study revealed that most of the participants do not perform any exercise and follow unhealthy food habits. A significant number of participants are influenced by smoking and few of them are at risk of CHD by alcohol consumption.


BACKGROUND
The extent of communication skills training (CST) in American oncology fellowship programs is unknown.

METHODS
A survey was sent to program directors of medical oncology, radiation oncology, gynecologic oncology, and surgical oncology training programs regarding (1) the presence and method(s) of CST in their programs, (2) their attitude about mandatory CST, and (3) their attitude about a mandatory assessment of communication skills competence as a prerequisite for specialty certification.

RESULTS
Only a third of programs contained some form of CST. Surgical oncology programs were particularly lacking. Lack of faculty time was cited as the major barrier to implementing CST. A majority of program directors support mandatory CST but not a core competence requirement for certification.

CONCLUSIONS
There is a current deficiency in CST in American oncology fellowship training. Given the importance of communication skills in the provision of high-quality cancer care, initiatives to address this deficiency are a priority.


BACKGROUND
Leg ulceration is a common, chronic, recurring condition. The estimated prevalence of leg ulcers in the UK population is 1.5 to 3 per 1000. Venous ulcers (also called stasis, or varicose ulcers) comprise 80 to 85% of all leg ulcers. Electromagnetic therapy is sometimes used as a treatment to assist the healing of chronic wounds such as venous leg ulcers.

OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of electromagnetic therapy on the healing of venous leg ulcers.

SEARCH STRATEGY
For this first review update, we searched the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register (last searched October 2005); CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2005, Issue 4); MEDLINE (1966 to October 2005); EMBASE (1980 to October 2005); and CINAHL (1982 to October 2005).

SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials comparing electromagnetic therapy with sham electromagnetic therapy or other treatments.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
For the original review, details of eligible studies were extracted and summarised using a data extraction sheet. Attempts were made to obtain missing data by contacting authors. A second reviewer checked data extraction. Meta-analysis was applied to combine the results of trials where the interventions and outcome measures were adequately similar. For this first update, two reviewers independently scrutinized the results of the search to identify relevant RCTs and obtained full reports of potentially eligible studies. In the case of disagreements, a final decision was made either after discussion between two reviewers or consultation with a third party (a member of the Cochrane Wounds Group).

MAIN RESULTS
This update identified no new trials. A total of three eligible RCTs were identified by the original review. Two trials compared the use of electromagnetic therapy with sham therapy and one trial compared it with standard topical treatments. One trial found a difference in healing rates of borderline statistical significance between electromagnetic therapy and sham therapy, although the direction of treatment effect was consistently in favour of electromagnetic therapy, the difference was not statistically significant.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
There is currently no reliable evidence of benefit of electromagnetic therapy in the healing of venous leg ulcers. Further research is needed.


INTRODUCTION
Childcare centers (CCCs) with good quality standards can be effective in reducing the risk of diseases being easily spread from person to person. The aim of the present study's program, adapted from a method used by the United Nations Development Program, was to increase the capacity of local administrators(s) and heads of CCCs to improve quality standards.

METHODS
This study was quasi-experimental, with a one group pretest-post-test design. In this study the authors describe the effects and impacts of the program in Chonburi Province in eastern Thailand. Six LAs and 48 CCC heads were trained regarding (1) knowledge of the Thai Department of Health quality standards, (2) implementation and assurance and (3) program evaluation. The program consisted of three sequential participatory workshops. Effects at the center level were increased overall knowledge of quality standards of CCCs (QCCC), and developed skills of improvement plans. The impact at the center level was CCCs achieving the QCCC. At the child level it was the reduction in the period prevalence of three diseases and two symptoms.

RESULTS
The significant (p<0.05) effects and impacts at the center level were increased overall knowledge of QCCC in LAs and CCC heads and increased overall managerial skills of CCC heads. At the child level, the period prevalence of chickenpox and diarrhea symptom were reduced.

CONCLUSION
Participatory capacity building is an appropriate way to enhance the managerial skills of LAs and heads of CCCs for improving quality of CCCs to meet the local authority and the Ministry of Public Health quality standards.


Counselling children is a highly acclaimed text, widely used in practical skills training of counsellors, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, nurses and teachers. The book presents the theory and practice of counselling in straightforward, jargon-free terms. Now in its second edition and including two new chapters, the book Counselling Children includes specific counselling skills for use with children, a new integrated model of counselling, how to select and use a range of media, activities and play when counselling children, and the benefits and practicality of combining individual work with children, and family therapy.Counselling Children alsofeatures photocopiable worksheets to use when helping children in specific areas such as developing self-esteem or managing emotions. The third edition due for publication in 2007 will include chapters focussing on counselling children in groups.


Happy, healthy cows simply excel in all forms of cow performance. They give more milk, live longer and more handsomely repay the farmer for their keep than their sick, injured and unhappy colleagues.


In the past few years, three-dimenional (3D) subtomogram classification and averaging has become an important tool in cryo-electron tomography (CET). This technique allows to resolve higher resolution structures of targets that can not be reconstructed by single-particle methods. Based on previous approaches, we present a new dissimilarity measure between subtomograms named Thresholded Constrained Cross-Correlation (TCCC). TCCC has shown to improve results for Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNR) lower than 0.1. This allows to analyze macromolecules in thicker samples like whole cell or lower the defocus in thinner samples to push the first zero of the Contrast Transfer Function (CTF). TCCC uses statistics of the noise to automatically select only a small percentage of the Fourier coefficients to compute the cross-correlation. The thresholding has two main advantages in the cross-correlation score: first, reduces the influence of the noise; second, avoids the missing wedge normalization problem since we consider the same amount of coefficients for all possible pairs of subtomograms. You can download the code to test TCCC here:


Potato virus Y (PVY) is a serious plant pathogen, causing severe yield losses worldwide on members of the Solanaceae, including potato, pepper, tomato and tobacco. During the last two decades new virus strains have been detected, including those representing recombinants between N- and O-strains, now designated PVY NTN and PVY N -Wilga, respectively. The question of whether recombination is easily induced in nature by mixed infections of potato might be answered by an investigation of strains appearing under isolated conditions such as those in New Zealand. More than 30 PVY isolates collected during the last 20 years were characterized biologically, serologically and using molecular biological approaches. The New Zealand population of PVY isolates was mainly composed of PVY N and PVY O . To date no recombinant strains have been found among the isolates tested. Similarly, experiments performed with these isolates on potatoes under greenhouse conditions with mixed infection PVY N /PVY O did not result in signs of recombination. This raises the question as to the driving force for the appearance of recombinant strains. It also demonstrates the efficacy of plant quarantine measures in New Zealand over the past 20 years.


The wading bird communities in lacunar systems are mainly structured based on the availability and distribution of feeding resources and appropriate conditions for their reproduction and establishment. As a result, in a given habitat, each species selects, according to the possibilities of its behavioral repertoire, the best way to explore the available resources. In this work, we investigate aspects of habitat selection and diurnal activity of seven species at Lagoa da Pampulha, an artificial lake situated in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Southeast Brazil. The data was taken through the study of interference of some biotic and abiotic variables on the community dynamics. The results showed a segregation of the species in guilds, in accordance with the patterns of preference or rejection of habitats, partially reflecting the method used by them in resource exploration. In this context, four groupings are considered: (1) Dendrocygna viduata and Amazonetta brasiliensis; (2) Ardea alba and Phalacrocorax brasilianus; (3) Ceryle torquatus and Chloroceryle amazona; and (4) Egretta thula. Moreover, regarding the studied variables, the species segregate mainly as a function of the presence or absence of aquatic plants and water quality. In general, the depth of the water column was a secondary factor in the choice of habitat. However, depending on the species, these variables presented different degrees of interference in this choice. With relation to the activity period of each species, there is a great diurnal variation in the activity patterns, particularly in the hours of larger incidence of solar radiation, suggesting a bimodal rhythm of activities.
Keywords: Lagoa da Pampulha, Wading birds, Habitat selection, Diurnal activity.


Editors Dr K. M. Knowles Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK Professor A. L. Greer Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK Professor P. S. Riseborough Department of Physics, Barton Hall, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122-6082, USA


This letter proposes a three-phase phase-locked loop (PLL) algorithm relying on an adaptive Clarke transform (CT) under amplitude and/or phase angle unbalanced condition. Analytical expressions for coefficients of matrix associated with the adaptive CT are derived and used to generate orthogonal signals. An auxiliary algorithm is also proposed to track the actual amplitudes and phase angle deviations. Unlike the conventional CT relying on constant coefficients, the adaptive CT can generate accurate orthogonal signals from the three-phase voltages including phase angle and/or amplitude imbalances. As a result, the proposed PLL is not affected by the unbalanced phase angles with/without amplitude imbalances. The advantages of the proposed adaptive CT-based PLL method is illustrated by both simulation and experimental results.


Following the global COVID-19 pandemic, the number of scientific papers studying the virus has grown massively, leading to increased interest in automated literate review. We present a clinical text mining system that improves on previous efforts in three ways. First, it can recognize over 100 different entity types including social determinants of health, anatomy, risk factors, and adverse events in addition to other commonly used clinical and biomedical entities. Second, the text processing pipeline includes assertion status detection, to distinguish between clinical facts that are present, absent, conditional, or about someone other than the patient. Third, the deep learning models used are more accurate than previously available, leveraging an integrated pipeline of state-of-the-art pretrained named entity recognition models, and improving on the previous best performing benchmarks for assertion status detection. We illustrate extracting trends and insights, e.g. most frequent disorders and symptoms, and most common vital signs and EKG findings, from the COVID-19 Open Research Dataset (CORD-19). The system is built using the Spark NLP library which natively supports scaling to use distributed clusters, leveraging GPUs, configurable and reusable NLP pipelines, healthcare specific embeddings, and the ability to train models to support new entity types or human languages with no code changes.


The use of multiple channels for transmissions has raised several challenges, for example, multi-channel hidden terminal problem, channel switching delay, and control channel saturation problem. Dedicated control channel techniques simplify channel coordination by eliminating the need for synchronization, however the control channel may become the bottleneck for the performance of the network. A better trade off which can solve the coordination problem, and can mitigate the control channel bottleneck is desirable. Least Channel Variant Multi-channel MAC (LCV-MMAC) is a multi-channel MAC based on IEEE 802.11 MAC. The novel part of this protocol is the channel assignment technique, where a mechanism to avoid unnecessary channel assignment and thus channel switching is used. Further, LCV-MMAC avoids channel contention when the control channel is highly saturated. In this paper, we explore the properties of LCV-MMAC through extensive simulations with the help of ns-2, and compare it with popular existing multi-channel MAC protocols in different mobile and static random topologies. Experimental results validate that LCV-MMAC achieves significantly better aggregated throughput, and fairness index than other multi-channel MAC protocols in different random network scenarios.


In recent years, photovoltaic energy has become a popular alternative to traditional fossil fuels due to its renewable and sustainable nature, and the incentives provided by countries to encourage research and development in this field have accelerated the implementation of photovoltaic roofs. One important factor in maximizing the efficiency of solar panels is their orientation to harness maximum irradiation with minimum roof area. In this article, an optimizer-supported east–west-oriented solar power plant installation is experimentally presented to utilize more solar energy with less area compared to wide-area south orientation. Furthermore, an analysis of different angle placements is simulated by PVSOL and PVGIS to test the robustness of the presented approach, and the pros/cons of the features of the east–west and south orientation are discussed comparatively. The obtained results are promising for the ideal placement of solar systems along with the use of optimizers to further enhance their performance, and for the minimization of the economic return of such an investment.


Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and its development and progression are affected by various factors. The aim of the present study was to identify the risk factors for SHPT in patients with CKD. A retrospective study was performed in 498 patients (305 males and 193 females) with CKD, observed in the The First Hospital of Jilin University between January 2008 and December 2012. The demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected. Patients were divided into the SHPT group (n=424) with elevated serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) expression levels and the control group (n=74) with normal serum PTH expression levels. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were employed to explore the risk factors for SHPT. Serum PTH expression levels in women with CKD were significantly higher than in men (P=0.047). Serum PTH expression levels were positively correlated with the expression levels of serum creatinine (P<0.01), phosphorus (P<0.01), C-reactive protein (P<0.05), triglyceride (P<0.05), cholesterol (P<0.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<0.05), but were negatively correlated with the expression levels of hemoglobin (P<0.05), calcium (P<0.01) and CO2 combining power (P<0.01) in patients with CKD. Multivariate analysis showed that the serum expression levels of creatinine [µmol/l; odds radio (OR), 1.003; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.002-1.004; P=0.001] and phosphorus (mmol/l; OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.254-3.826; P=0.006) in patients with CKD significantly influenced serum PTH expression levels. The SHPT risk factors include female gender, low calcium, high phosphorus, acidosis, anemia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and micro-inflammation, with blood phosphorus and creatinine being independent risk factors.


This research aims to obtain information about the influence of emotional intelligence on the ability of students' mathematical problem-solving. This research was conducted at Junior High School State for class eight students. This research is a quantitative survey research with descriptive analysis method. The data obtained is data from the retrieval of the questionnaire then analyzed the results. The results showed that there was an influence of emotional intelligence on students' mathematical problemsolving abilities because the value t count 15.76 > t table 2.021 with a significant level of α = 5%.


Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI can non-invasively measure regional ventilation by mapping the spin-density of inhaled gas, thus providing insights into regional disease pathophysiology. However, the quantitative accuracy of 129Xe ventilation imaging is reduced by B1-inhomogeneity causing spatial variations in both coil sensitivity and nonequilibrium magnetization decay. These can cause lung function impairment to be either over or underestimated. We demonstrate these artifacts can be mitigated by generating flip angle maps from paired 2D-spiral images acquired in the same held breath. This yields quantitatively comparable results to those obtained with a conventional, 2D gradient recalled echo sequence in substantially reduced acquisition times.


Proceedings: AACR 107th Annual Meeting 2016; April 16-20, 2016; New Orleans, LA

Introduction: The receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is overexpressed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and a subset of solid tumors, including lung, breast, ovarian, colon, and pancreatic cancers, as well as sarcoma. Limited adult tissue expression and its absence in normal leukocytes makes ROR1 a promising cancer therapeutic target. We have developed a Dual-Affinity Re-Targeting (DART®) protein for redirecting T lymphocytes to lyse tumor cells via monovalent recognition of ROR1 on tumors and CD3 on T cells. ROR1 x CD3 DART protein was engineered for improved half-life with the incorporation of a modified Fc domain, lacking effector function.

Methods: The ROR1 x CD3 DART protein was stably expressed in CHO cells and purified to homogeneity by a standard antibody platform. Bispecific binding was evaluated by ELISA and SPR analysis. In vitro functional studies were performed with lymphoma and solid tumor cell lines in the presence of primary human T cells. Tumor growth inhibition was evaluated in NOD/SCID/IL-2 gamma chain KO (NOG) mice coimplanted with human T cells and either mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) or lung cancer cell lines (5:1 effector : target cell ratio) followed by treatment with ROR1 x CD3 DART protein by intravenous (IV) administration. In vivo activity was also evaluated in human PBMC-reconstituted NOG/B2m deficient mice bearing established intradermal tumor xenografts following IV treatment with ROR1 x CD3 DART molecule. Pharmacokinetic analysis of the DART molecule was performed in human neonatal Fc receptor (hFcRn) transgenic mice.

Results: The ROR1 x CD3 DART protein displayed the expected bispecific binding for ROR1 and CD3 antigens and retained the affinity and specificity of the parent mAbs. The DART molecule mediated dose-dependent lysis of ROR1-positive MCL and solid tumor (breast, lung, and osteosarcoma) cell lines through recruitment of human T cells. DART molecule-mediated killing of ROR1-expressing target cells was accompanied by target-dependent T-cell activation and cytokine release; however, no activity was observed in the absence of target cells and no cytokine release was observed with human PBMCs alone. The ROR1 x CD3 DART protein displayed extended circulating half-life after administration to hFcRn-transgenic mice. In mouse efficacy studies, the growth of HBL-2 (MCL), HOP-92 (lung cancer), or NIH-1975 (a lung cancer line resistant to erlotinib) cells co-implanted with human T cells in NOG mice was inhibited by treatment with the ROR1 x CD3 DART protein at doses in the mcg/kg range. The ROR1 x CD3 DART molecule also demonstrated antitumor activity with high complete response rates in human PBMC-reconstituted mice bearing established HBL-2 cell xenografts.

Conclusion: The promising in vitro and in vivo activity of the Fc-bearing ROR1 x CD3 DART molecule supports further investigation as a potential candidate for the cancer treatment.

Citation Format: Bhaswati Barat, Gurunadh Chichili, Valentina Ciccarone, James Tamura, Sergey Gorlatov, Michael Spliedt, Francine Chen, Scott Koenig, Paul Moore, Ezio Bonvini, Ralph Alderson, Syd Johnson. Development of a humanized ROR1 x CD3 bispecific DART® molecule for the treatment of solid and liquid tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1489.


Background Endometriosis is a debilitating gynecologic disease characterized by the implantation of endometrial tissue in ectopic locations, with signs of severe and chronic inflammation. The new knowledge on endometriosis has highlighted the value of secondary prevention through the early diagnosis and treatment of lesions to reduce serious consequences, first of all, infertility and chronic pelvic pain. The purpose of this study is to assess the reliability and validity of the questionnaire, as a tool to precociously identify women with endometriosis, to prevent the progression of symptoms. Method We reviewed the literature and selected risk factors, symptoms, and phenotypic traits of the women affected by endometriosis to create the questionnaire divided into 8 modules, with 47 questions. A total of 151 women completed the questionnaires: 51 patients who have endometriosis (the cases) and 100 matched women without endometriosis (the controls). After data collection, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results We retained four of the significant variables from a step-down logistic regression, namely chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia with VAS≥3, painful defecation, and acne, to develop a final "predictive" logistic model achieving 90.2% sensitivity and 75% specificity. Conclusion Our pilot study demonstrated that the questionnaire provides a powerful tool for the secondary prevention of endometriosis.


The Shockley-Queisser limit is the maximum power conversion efficiency of a conventional solar cell based on a single semiconductor junction. One approach to exceed this limit is to harvest hot electrons/holes that have achieved quasi-equilibrium in the light absorbing material with electronic temperatures higher than the phonon temperature. We argue that graphene based materials are viable candidates for hot carrier chromophores. Here we probe hot electron injection and charge recombination dynamics for graphene quantum dots (QDs, each containing 48 fused benzene rings) anchored to the TiO₂(110) surface via carboxyl linkers. We find ultrafast electron injection from photoexcited graphene QDs to the TiO₂ conduction band with time constant τ(i) < 15 fs and charge recombination dynamics characterized by a fast channel (τ(r1) = 80-130 fs) and a slow one (τ(r2) = 0.5-2 ps). The fast decay channel is attributed to the prompt recombination of the bound electron-hole pair across the interface. The slow channel depends strongly on excitation photon energy or sample temperature and can be explained by a "boomerang" mechanism, in which hot electrons are injected into bulk TiO₂, cooled down due to electron-phonon scattering, drifted back to the interface under the transient electric field, and recombine with the hole on graphene QDs. We discuss feasibilities of implementing the hot carrier solar cell using graphene nanomaterials.


The article explores ideas of religious pedagogy with special attention to religious socialization in various communities, especially in the meeting with the Other. It is suggested that religious education should not only shape coherent identity but should also include ecumenical, interreligious, intercultural, social and civic dimensions.
After short description of ideas, purposes and tasks of contemporary religious pedagogy the article concentrates on the idea of inclusion in the meeting with the Other. Religious socialization is an essential component in the development of inclusive religious education. Different ecumenical, interreligious, intercultural, social and civic tasks are profitable for contemporary religious pedagogy. The article emphasizes that social inclusion with religious characteristics shouldn't be only a matter of concern in school education or generally religious education but should be pursued also by other organizations, including the Church.  The Church as community of believers should pursue what is common and should resist any exclusion. It should be not only a bridge between believers and unbelievers, but also between many diverse social, religious and cultural groups.


Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL

Introduction: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a cytologically malignant tumour of the central nervous system, associated with poor prognosis and fatal outcome (5 year survival, <6%). GBM cancer stem cells (CSCs), which can be identified using the immunocytochemical marker CD133, are associated with poor prognosis. The gastrin receptor, CCK2R, is also expressed in glioblastoma cell-lines and promotes cancer progression. In this study we investigated the functional role of these two molecules in GBM to elucidate any potential therapeutic benefits.

Materials and methods: A panel of glioblastoma cells was grown either as monolayers, or, to provide a 3D in vitro tumour model, as neurospheres, which enrich for the cancer stem cell phenotype. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to quantify CD133 and CCK-2R gene expression over time in these cultures, and flow cytometry (FACS) to investigate expression at the protein level. CD133 and CCK-2R promoter reporters were constructed in pGL4 and promoter activity quantified using luciferase assays. Gene knockdown or specific inhibitors were used to investigate the role of these genes in glioblastoma cell tumorigenicity in vitro (using MTT, wound-healing, and neurosphere formation) and in an in vivo xenograft model.

Results: CD133 and CCK-2R gene and protein expression were higher in the more tumorigenic glioblastoma cell-line, U251, compared with the less tumorigenic line, U373. For both markers, higher gene expression correlated with higher promoter activity and FACS demonstrated the presence of a small population of positively-stained cells. Expression of both genes was upregulated during neurosphere formation, which was accelerated in hypoxia. Knockdown of CD133 and CCK-2R inhibition in cell line U251 reduced neurosphere-forming potential (p<0.05). Knockdown of CD133 also significantly reduced migration (p<0.001) and increased susceptibility to the chemotherapeutic agent etoposide (p<0.05).

Conclusions: CD133 and CCK-2R expression correlate with tumorigenic potential of GBM cells and are upregulated during neurosphere formation, which enriches for cancer stem cells. CD133 knockdown and CCK-2R inhibition reduced neurosphere formation. In addition, CD133 knockdown reduced GBM invasive capacity, and increased resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Therefore, use of CD133 and CCK-2R-targeted therapies, in combination with established standard of care may improve GBM patient outcome.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3397. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3397


Twriyah in a speech or word contains multiple meanings having different interpretations of its primary meaning. This article represents the linguistic and connotative concept of Twriyah and T'ryd in the light of Qur'an, hadith, Sirat, the views of various jurists. By analytical study of the available literature it is concluded that there is difference between using Twriyah and Falsification. There are several rules which regulate the use of Twriyah in special circumstances. All Messengers of Allah have never give false statements in any case, however they often used Twriyah in their statements. This article elaborated the various meanings and situations of Twryh in the light of Islamic teachings.


This thesis discusses the importance of self-selection to understand how individuals behave and respond to incentives. Individuals self-select themselves into their preferred contracts in a number of ways. Labour contracts are a clear example where individuals choose a job according to its characteristics, whilst also aligning to their personal preferences and skills. The reasons why a worker chooses a job can predict how likely she or he will respond to different incentives, such as financial or social incentives. The economics wage efficiency theory predicts that a higher wage can both attract more productive workers and enhance performance. Laboratory experiments have constituently proven this theory, showing that when employers pay workers a 'fair' wage, workers reciprocate by working harder, as in a gift exchange fashion. Other studies have argued that social incentives can be equally effective at achieving the same goal: employers that donate a portion of their profits to charity, often known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), can be attractive to workers and motivate them to work harder even at wages that are lower than competitor employers. More recently the gift exchange theory was challenged by field experiments that found little evidence of reciprocity.
In the first chapter on this thesis, I argue that an important gap has not been addressed by the literature, namely, how sorting mechanisms can affect reciprocal behaviour. In lab experiments, employers and workers are often randomly and bilaterally matched in every round of a game. Whilst outside the controlled laboratory environment, workers choose the employer they want to work for and then decide how hard they are willing to work. To address this gap, I designed a modified version of the gift exchange game – the most commonly used game to study experimental labour markets – where two employers and one worker are randomly grouped together. In this experiment employers can use their initial capital to make wage offers to workers and donate any percentage of their potential profits to charity (i.e. the level of CSR). In the control group workers are randomly matched to one of the two employers, as in other standard laboratory settings. In the treatment group, in every round workers can choose an employer from a set of two competitors, before determining their level of effort.
The first key result I found is that workers always choose the employer offering the higher wage. Furthermore, workers choose the employers offering a higher level of CSR only when the wage offer is identical to that of a competitor. I also find that wages have a larger marginal effect than CSR at enhancing workers' effort. The second contribution of this chapter is its reconciliation of the mixed evidence between field experiments and lab experiments. I find that the presence of competition among employers reduces the level of reciprocity from workers. I argue that workers already reciprocate higher wage offers by choosing an employer over a competitor, hence feeling less pressure to work harder once in the job.
Based on findings from the first experiment, I returned to the lab to test the role of competition and self-selection in a modified version of the earlier gift exchange game, this time without the presence of CSR. The results of this second experiment are the topic of Chapter 2. I again find that the presence of competition reduces reciprocity, supporting findings from Chapter 1. Another contribution of this chapter is the study of how external wage offers affect workers' behaviour. In the control condition of the experiment workers cannot select their preferred wage offer and are randomly matched to one of the two employers, but they can still see the offer of the unmatched employer. I find that this external wage offer influences workers' behaviour as a reference point: after controlling for all other factors, when workers are randomly matched to the employer offering a higher wage they provide higher levels of effort. More striking and significant is the evidence of loss aversion: subjects were more responsive to subjective losses than gains – that is, being paired to an employer who offered a lower wage was more 'painful' to the worker and led to a stronger (negative) reaction, than being paired to the higher offer employer, which led to a weaker (positive) reaction. In other words, workers penalised more employers that offered a lower wage than rewarding employers that offered a higher wage. Previous studies showed that reference points can influence workers' effort. These include a target income they set for themselves or the amount other similar workers earn. In this experiment we show that another important reference point is the wage offered by another employer. If the current employer offers a wage that is above that of an external employer, workers will reciprocate by working harder, beyond the reciprocal response that would have occurred without the presence of the outside offer. If the wage offer is lower than that of a competitor, the worker will punish the employer with significantly lower effort.
In the last section of the second chapter I compare results from the two experiments and show that in a competitive environment employers must compete more aggressively by offering higher wages to attract and motivate workers. Shifting resources away from wage offers to increase the level of CSR can lead to lower levels of reciprocal behaviour from workers and, consequently, reduce employers' earnings. Employers interested in engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives as a Human Resources Management strategy to attract and motivate workers should consider how different types of workers will have varied responses to social incentives compared to more traditional financial incentives. Moreover, employers should understand the characteristics of the job that attracted their workforce in the first place so as to design incentives that reflect their preferences.
In the last chapter of this thesis I explore the role of self-selection in determining the effectiveness of defaults. Defaults proved to influence behaviour across a range of areas, from retirement savings to organ donations. Perhaps the main reason why defaults are effective is that individuals have a strong tendency to remain in their current situation rather changing to an alternative option. This is often referred to as 'status quo bias'. Seeing as this bias strongly influences human behaviour, it is important to understand why and how individuals self-select into a situation or contract in the first place in order to design effective defaults. At the same time, a key challenge presented by defaults is that they can
reduce an individuals' sense of control, and be ineffective or counterproductive if they do not reflect the decision-maker's preferences and past behaviour.
I study the role of defaults in a previously unexplored setting where a preference for control might be stronger than in other contexts: charitable giving. I analyse results of a field experiment ran by an NGO hosting an online peer-to-peer microlending platform. Lenders who had their loans fully repaid, but did not take any action for more than a year, received an email inviting them to use their money by a certain date in any way they preferred – withdraw, lend, donate or leave idle. In two treatment groups, lenders were told that if they did not take any action by the given date, their money was automatically going to be donated to the organisation ('default donation') or re-lent to a group of borrowers on their behalf ('default loan'). Results show that both defaults were more effective at increasing the proportion of individuals giving to charity and the average amount given, compared to a simple ask. However, the default loan treatment was significantly more effective than the default donation. This suggests that to influence behaviour without risk of backfiring, defaults should be designed to consider individuals' past behaviour and self-selection. Government agencies, not-for-profit, and private sector organisations interested in implementing defaults should first aim to understand why and how individuals find themselves in a specific situation or contract in the first place. Defaults that reflect a decision-maker's preferences have a higher chance of achieving their intended objectives. Preferences can often be elicited by observing past behaviour. Furthermore, it is important to understand that choices made in the past can influence behaviour as reference points. Testing and evaluating different types of defaults can help improve their effectiveness and avoid counterproductive consequences.
The three chapters in this thesis can be considered as individual standalone papers. The reader can review each chapter separately without loss of context. Each chapter includes an introduction, a literature review and hypotheses, and a discussion of the results from the experiments. Recommendations for future research and policy are discussed in the conclusions of each chapter.


Objective In this study, we sought to explore the effectiveness of bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on depressive symptoms and dysfunction of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Materials and methods One hundred and thirty-six adults with MDD were administrated drugs combined with 3 weeks of active rTMS (n = 68) or sham (n = 68) treatment. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) was to elevate depression severity at baseline and weeks 4. To test the influence of rTMS on the HPA axis, plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and serum cortisol (COR) were detected in pre- and post-treatment. Results No statistical significance was found for the baseline of sociodemographic, characteristics of depression, and psychopharmaceutical dosages between sham and rTMS groups (p > 0.05). There was a significant difference in the HAMD-17 total score between the two groups at end of 4 weeks after treatment (p < 0.05). Compared to the sham group, the rTMS group demonstrated a more significant score reduction of HAMD-17 and sleep disorder factor (HAMD-SLD) including sleep onset latency, middle awakening, and early awakening items at end of 4-week after treatment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, total score reduction of HAMD-17 was correlated with a decrease in plasma ACTH, not in COR, by rTMS stimulation (p < 0.05). Conclusion Bilateral rTMS for 3 weeks palliated depression via improvement of sleep disorder, and plasma ACTH is a predictor for the efficacy of rTMS, especially in male patients with MDD.


Abstract Paper aims to enhance the performance of bit error rate (BER) in wireless communication based on the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system of vertical Bell laboratories layered space-time (VBLAST) algorithm. The VBLAST algorithm uses zero-forcing (ZF) and the minimum mean square error (MMSE) to evaluate the BER of wireless communication. MIMO VBLAST techniques function as an adaptive filter and can minimize the interference and multipath fading in the received signal of the channel. Physical layer network coding (PNC) is a new technique used to exploit the spatial diversity of the MIMO VBLAST system to improve the throughput and performance of wireless communication. The bit-error-rate (BER) of proposed VBLAST MIMO with PNC with binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) and quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) modulation over the additive white Gaussian noise and Rayleigh fading channel are analyzed. The performance of both BPSK and QPSK modulation in two and four antennas are compared. From the simulation results, it was found that the proposed scheme MIMO VBLAST PNC has a 45.2 % higher BER performance compared to the traditional MIMO scheme with an increase in the BER using MMSE and ZF respectively in both two and four antennas.


ber 11. On discharge, he was referred to the care of his family physician with the recommendation that the dose of cortisone of about 25 mg. every other day be con- tinued for some time. The patient's family reported that he remained cheerful, active, orientated and free from all delusional or hallucinatory difficulty. It is now six months since the treatment was discontinued and his family report that the patient has maintained his improvement.


A small assemblage of remains of the toothed whales (Mammalia: order Cetacea, suborder Odontoceti) from the Middle Miocene (Badenian) deposits of the Fore-Carpathian Depression in Poland is analyzed. Their typical occurrence site within the Pinczow Limestones on the southern slopes of the Holy Cross Mountains (Central Poland) has yielded the teeth belonging probably to the delphinid genus Lagenorhynchus , the vertebrae and a fragment of bulla tympani of indeterminable delphinids, and the teeth of the porpoises Phocoena sp. All these delphinid and phocoenid remains were buried in deposits which formed under very shallow marine conditions, close to the shore. Commented in this report are also occurrences of the delphinid remains in deposits of the Fore-Carpathian Depression slightly younger (localities Leszcze near Pinczow, and Dzierzyslaw in the Upper Silesia region) than the Pinczow Limestones and which are underlying the Gypsum Member, still of Middle Miocene (Badenian) age.


Reliable multicast is especially difficult to achieve in IEEE 802.11 CSMA/CA networks when a large number of unicast stations are contending with the multicast transmissions. Motivated by capacity problems in a sports infotainment product the authors developed early multicast collision detection (EMCD) specifically tailored to accommodate a large number of legacy terminals in multiple overlapping cells. The algorithm is based on the fact that in the absence of hidden terminals two stations must start their transmissions simultaneously to cause a collision. A station using EMCD introduces an early pause in the multicast transmission, performs a clear channel assessment (CCA), and if another sender is detected, schedules a retransmission. We have evaluated our method using simulations. Results show that EMCD increases the multicast reliability even at relatively moderate network loads.


Abstract The Fire and Fire Surrogate study—a replicated, manipulative experiment—sought the most economically and ecologically efficient way to restore the nation's fire-maintained ecosystems. As part of this study, we conducted a 3-year mark–recapture study, comprising 105,000 trap-nights, to assess demographic responses of cotton mice (Peromyscus gossypinus) to Fire and Fire Surrogate treatments at the Gulf Coastal Plain site, where longleaf pine was the ecosystem to be restored. We compared competing models to evaluate restoration effects on variation in apparent survival and recruitment over time, space, and treatment, and incorporated measures of available source habitat for cotton mice with reverse-time modeling to infer immigration from outside the study area. The top-ranked survival model contained only variation over time, but the closely ranked 2nd and 3rd models included variation over space and treatment, respectively. The top 4 recruitment models all included effects for availability of source habitat and treatments. Burning appeared to degrade habitat quality for cotton mice, showing demographic characteristics of a sink, but treatments combining fire with thinning of trees or application of herbicide to the understory appeared to improve habitat quality, possibly creating sources. Bottomland hardwoods outside the study also acted as sources by providing immigrants to experimental units. Models suggested that population dynamics operated over multiple spatial scales. Treatments applied to 15-ha stands probably only caused local variation in vital rates within the larger population.


This study presents a novel neural network model to explore its application in automatically interpreting subsurface faults from seismic images. A Wavelet Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model that incorporates discrete wavelet decomposition is presented, and its capability in segmenting subsurface faults is analyzed.
 In this study, different neural network models are developed to compare their performance in segmenting subsurface faults. Sliced 2D seismic images are used as the input of the models. Pre-interpreted images with fault locations are used as the output of the models. Different CNN models are created using different pooling methods, including a traditional U-Net model with average pooling method, and an advanced Wavelet CNN model using wavelet pooling method. The results show that the Wavelet CNN model, which incorporates discrete wavelet transformation as the pooling layer, has the best performance comparing to traditional models in segmenting subsurface faults from input seismic images. It is more effective in saving edge features during pooling operations and outperforms the traditional U-Net model in segmenting subsurface faults from seismic images.


Innovation is crucial for growth and business development, and represents a reliable way through which to gain competitiveness within the marketplace. Open innovation is expressed through three different processes: the acquisition of external technology (inbound innovation); the external exploitation of technology (outbound innovation); and coupled innovation. Based on a comprehensive and systematic review of the literature best able to detect the main thematic areas of the research topic, the aim of this paper is to investigate how the paradigm of open innovation influences firm performance and to provide suggestions for future research avenues.