A comprehensive dynamic model of the three-level Neutral Point Diode Clamped (NPC) converter, based on the generalized state-space averaging method, is presented. The developed model mathematically describes (i) the reason for and (ii) the impacts of the system parameter tolerances on the drift/imbalance of the DC-side capacitor voltages. Then, based on the developed model (i) a novel controller to prevent DC capacitor voltage drift/imbalance and (ii) a decoupled current controller in the dq-frame are designed. The paper also presents a feed-forward control to eliminate the coupling between the voltage balancer and the current controller. The accuracy of developed NPC converter model and the effectiveness of the proposed controls are verified by time-domain simulations of a study system in the PSCAD/EMTDC environment.


The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) have been used as predictors in post-baccalaureate study. Results of the test are a verbal, a quantitative and an analytic score. The verbal and quantitative scores have been used more extensively in research than the analytic score. Analytic scores have been found to be predictive of admission to graduate study and advancement to Ph.D. candidacy when used in combination with other predictor variables (Mowsesian & Hays, 1985). The analytic score has also found to be related to areas of study, with physical science majors obtaining higher mean analytic scores (GRE Interpretation Pamphlet, 1988). However, it would be advantageous to identify what constructs, beyond reasoning abilities, may be related to the analytic examinations. The establishment of a relationship with a singular, valid, and reliable construct would be beneficial. The construct of need for cognition was examined in this study. Need for cognition is defined as an individual's "tendency to engage in and enjoy thinking." p. 116 (Cacioppo & Petty, 1982). The research attempted to identify a relationship between the need for cognition and a measure of a subject's analytic ability. Analytic ability was measured by using two 25-item tests consisting of questions similar to those found on the analytic section of the GRE. Need for cognition was measured using the 18-item Need for Cognition Scale (NCS) developed by Cacioppo, Petty, and Kao (1984). Descriptive and correlational analysis of the data were used to identify relationships and describe the obtained data. All descriptive correlations were Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients (r) and the level of significance was established at .05 for all computations. The predicted relationship between need for cognition and analytic scores was expected to be strongly and positively correlated, with subjects high in need for cognition obtaining higher analytic scores. The results did not support this predicted relationship. The research did support previous information that higher mean analytic scores occur in various disciplines. It was also hypothesized that if need for cognition is related to analytic scores then those disciplines with higher analytic score means should include subjects with high need for cognition. There were no significant correlations between need for cognition and any of the demographic or computed variables. Possible reasons for lack of support for the hypotheses and indications for future research were discussed.


This article is based upon my keynote presentation to the 42nd ANZCIES Conference held at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane from November 26 – 28, 2014. It explores the ways in which an assemblage of transcultural and postcolonial theories allow us to productively unsettle Education at a time when dominant neoliberal discourses risk driving us back to conservative, monocultural, Westernized educational policies. Based on my recent book (Manathunga, 2014), this article summarizes the ways in which I drew upon a bricolage of postcolonial, Indigenous, feminist, social and cultural geography theories (which I have loosely categorized as 'Southern' theories) about time, place and knowledge to reimagine intercultural doctoral supervision. It demonstrates how I found that assimilationist approaches to supervision are based upon the absence of history, geography and other cultural knowledge, while transcultural pedagogies are founded upon the centrality of place, the presence of past, present and future time and a deep respect for diverse cultural knowledges.


Long strands of DNA can be trapped and concentrated near the inlet of a microfluidic channel by applying a pressure gradient and an opposing electric field. The mechanism for trapping involves a migration of DNA perpendicular to both the fluid flow and the electric field. Migration leads to a highly nonuniform distribution of DNA within a cross section of the channel, with the bulk of the DNA concentrated in a thin (10 μm) layer next to the walls of the channel. This highly concentrated layer generates an electrophoretic flux toward the inlet to the device, despite the much larger fluid flow in the opposite direction. In this paper, the extent to which DNA can be trapped and concentrated by this means has been characterized by fluorescence measurements. At short times (<2 hours) nearly all the incoming DNA remains trapped within the device until the electric field is turned off. The DNA largely accumulates near the inlet, but after 30–60 minutes additional DNA starts to accumulate deeper into the channel. Eventually DNA leaks from the device itself, but ≈80% of the incoming DNA can be retained for up to 5 hours. Optimizing the electric field strength can increase the amount of DNA that can be trapped, but the efficiency is not affected by the channel cross‐section.


This paper studies the H/sub 2/ optimal deconvolution problem for periodic finite impulse response (FIR) and infinite impulse response (IIR) channels. It shows that the H/sub 2/ norm of a periodic filter can be directly quantified in terms of periodic system matrices and linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) without resorting to the commonly used lifting technique. The optimal signal reconstruction problem is then formulated as an optimization problem subject to a set of matrix inequality constraints. Under this framework, the optimization of both the FIR and IIR periodic deconvolution filters can be made convex, solved using the interior point method, and computed by using the Matlab LMI Toolbox. The robust deconvolution problem for periodic FIR and IIR channels with polytopic uncertainties are further formulated and solved, also by convex optimization and the LMIs. Compared with the lifting approach to the design of periodic filters, the proposed approach is simpler yet more powerful in dealing with multiobjective deconvolution problems and channel uncertainties, especially for IIR deconvolution filter design. The obtained solutions are applied to the design of an optimal filterbank yielding satisfactory performance.


1. Biosynthetic sodium (N-acetyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine NO-β-d-glucosid)-uronate is hydrolysed completely by purified mouse urinary β-glucuronidase into the products N-acetyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine and glucuronic acid. The hydrolysis is inhibited by saccharo-(1→4)-lactone. These results not only confirm the identity and purity of the substrate but also establish it as a substrate for β-glucuronidase. 2. Mammalian and bacterial β-glucuronidase preparations hydrolysed the substrate at a rate one-fifth of that for (phenolphthalein β-d-glucosid)uronic acid under the optimum conditions of hydrolysis for each source. 3. The pH optimum is 4·1 and the Michaelis constant, Km, is 3·3×10−4m with purified mouse urinary β-glucuronidase as the enzyme source acting on the NO-β-d-glucosiduronic acid. The aglycone after extraction into chloroform was quantitatively determined spectrophotometrically at its absorption maximum (256mμ). 4. The hydrolysis was studied as a function of time and temperature. 5. From a consideration of the chemical and enzymic properties of this NO-β-d-glucosiduronic acid it is possible to suggest its catabolism in vivo.


Abstract Oscillatory flow past two circular cylinders in side-by-side and tandem arrangements at low Reynolds numbers is simulated numerically by solving the two-dimensional Navier–Stokes (NS) equations using a finite-element method (FEM). The aim of this study is to identify the flow regimes of the two-cylinder system at different gap arrangements and Keulegan–Carpenter numbers (KC). Simulations are conducted at seven gap ratios $\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}G$ ( $G=L/D$ where $L$ is the cylinder-to-cylinder gap and $D$ the diameter of a cylinder) of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and KC ranging from 1 to 12 with an interval of 0.25. The flow regimes that have been identified for oscillatory flow around a single cylinder are also observed in the two-cylinder system but with different flow patterns due to the interactions between the two cylinders. In the side-by-side arrangement, the vortex shedding from the gap between the two cylinders dominates when the gap ratio is small, resulting in the gap vortex shedding (GVS) regime, which is different from any of the flow regimes identified for a single cylinder. For intermediate gap ratios of 1.5 and 2 in the side-by-side arrangement, the vortex shedding mode from one side of each cylinder is not necessarily the same as that from the other side, forming a so-called combined flow regime. When the gap ratio between the two cylinders is sufficiently large, the vortex shedding from each cylinder is similar to that of a single cylinder. In the tandem arrangement, when the gap between the two cylinders is very small, the flow regimes are similar to that of a single cylinder. For large gap ratios in the tandem arrangement, the vortex shedding flows from the gap side of the two cylinders interact and those from the outer sides of the cylinders are less affected by the existence of the other cylinder and similar to that of a single cylinder. Strong interaction between the vortex shedding flows from the two cylinders makes the flow very irregular at large KC values for both side-by-side and tandem arrangements.


In this paper, in order to provide a useful piece of information about inter-laboratory calibration study using in vitro bioassay in Japan and its evaluation method, outline and results of inter-laboratory calibration study for dioxins in food/feedstuff using DR-CALUX (Dioxin-Responsive Chemical-Activated LUciferase gene eXpression) assay with 21 participants were reported. The interlaboratory calibration study was divided into three phases. In Phase I, pure chemical mixtures consisted of PCDDs/PCDFs and Co-PCBs were analyzed. The TeCDD equivalents calculated using DR-CALUX assay (CALUX-TEQs) were equivalent to the theoretical CALUX-TEQs calculated chemically using concentrations of PCDDs/PCDFs and Co-PCBs and CALUX relative potencies to 2,3,7,8-TeCDD for these samples. Although lowest concentration sample indicated about 0.3 pM CALUX-TEQs per well, its reproducibility was comparatively good. During Phase II, cleaned sediment and food/feedstuff extracts prepared by organizer were analyzed. Decreases of interlaboratory reproducibility were observed with decrease of CALUX-TEQs in samples. In Phase II, samples indicating wide dispersion had low concentrations which were almost less than 0.3 pM CALUX-TEQs per well. In consideration of results for Phase I, although the limit of quantification for DR-CALUX assay was about 1 pM in general, 0.3 pM CALUX-TEQs per well might be the real limit of quantification. In Phase I and II, dispersion of data wasn't depending on a type of sample or dilution effect. In Phase III, whole fish oils and feedstuffs were extracted, cleaned, and analyzed by each participant according to protocol delivered by the organizer. The CALUX-TEQs were almost equivalent to the WHO-TEQs for these samples. Interlaboratory reproducibility tended to be higher than those during phase I and II. Increases of it were also observed with decrease of concentration in samples. The results demonstrated that the extraction and cleanup processes cause a major variation. From this study, it was indicated that Z-score provides useful information for identifying the cause of dispersion of data for each phase.


Neonatal intracranial teratoma is rare and early attempts at surgical treatment are not usually successful. We describe an exceptionally rare case of neonatal intracranial tumor in the lateral ventricle composed of multiple cysts with little mass content which was highly suspected of teratoma and treated successfully by microsurgery. A 55-day-old male was admitted to our hospital with complaints of convulsive seizure. Examination found no obvious neurological deficit except mild enlargement and bulging of anterior fontanel. There were no abnormal laboratory findings. Computerized tomography with contrast medium revealed an 8 cm multicystic lesion with little mass content in the right lateral ventricle and hydrocephalus. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the cystic content as slightly higher in intensity than CSF on the T1-weighted image and of higher intensity than CSF on the T2-weighted image. The cyst wall was enhanced on T1-weighted image with gadolinium. The aqueduct was obstructed by compression due to the intraventricular cyst. A right occipitoparietal craniotomy was performed, which disclosed a hair in the cyst wall, two huge cysts, and independence of the intracystic lesion from the lateral ventricle. The tumor was removed except for a small part adjacent to the pineal region, from which the tumor had presumably originated. Mature teratoma was highly suspected on the basis of the hair in the cyst wall and histological examination of the specimen, which revealed hamartomatous tissues derived from two germ cell layers. After surgery, his hydrocephalus was improved and convulsive seizures were reduced remarkably. He was discharged ten days later and is being followed up. Reoperation will be performed if regrowth of the residual tumor occurs.


Prospective college students use a small set of socioeconomic factors in deciding on an institution to attend. These factors are further narrowed when their regional context is sparsely populated and substitution choice is low. This study found that proximity and scholarships influence student choice of university in geographically isolated areas.


Rotational spectra of the CH(2)CFO radical in the (2)A(") ground state with resolved fine and hyperfine structures have been observed for the first time by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Rotational transitions are analyzed using the ordinary rigid asymmetric top Hamiltonian for doublet species with three nuclear spins. Seventeen molecular constants including the fine and hyperfine coupling constants have been determined. The CH(2)CFO radical is confirmed to be a planer molecule in the ground electronic state since it has a small positive inertial defect. From the hyperfine coupling constants of protons, the unpaired electron density on the CH(2) carbon atom is estimated to be about 85%. Thus, the formylmethyl-type resonance form (CH(2)CF=O) is a dominant structure in the ground electronic state, and fluorine substitution has negligible effect on the C-C-O pi conjugate system.


Although decomposition procedure is a common approach to handle computational complexity which is caused by large scale production scheduling problems, in order to extend the applicability of the decomposition approach, the overall problem should be decomposed on which criterion is always a problem. Also how to improve decomposition approach's computational efficiency and resultant effectiveness is still a challenging task in this field. With the purpose of improving decomposition approach's efficiency and decreasing computational complexity for job shop scheduling problems, a new dynamic local focusing approach which has a machine-based divided criterion focused on the longest active chain is proposed in this paper. Not liking the used decomposition procedure, the proposed one does not decompose a job shop into cells at the very beginning. It dynamically classifies the machines, which process operations on the identified longest active chain of the whole problem as one focused cell (decomposed sub-problem). The schedule is improved by redefining, adjusting and solving the focused cell schedule which is updated iteratively with the entire schedule's longest active chain in this dynamic procedure. The proposed approach is tested on make-span minimum benchmark job shop scheduling problems. Test results show that the algorithm is capable of efficiently generating good schedules.


In the 21 st century, gender representation in video games has improved as a response to growing criticisms of stereotyped, denigrating portrayals of women. Despite this progress, some of these depictions persist in female characters who appear in the medium, even within the independent (indie) video game scene. Examining Red as the protagonist of the independent role-playing game Transistor (Supergiant Games, 2014) through a semiotic lens, this paper investigates whether her character is in accordance with the prevailing trend of gender representation, especially as it pertains to sexualization and objectification. This paper argues that rather than sexualizing Red, the narrative and visual aspects of Transistor characterize her as a complex, powerful heroine. Moreover, she initially expresses a high level of autonomy in the game, subverting the damsel-in-distress trope. However, she ultimately loses her agency and succumbs to her dependency towards her male lover. As such, Red embodies contradictory concepts of empowerment and helplessness. This indicates that despite originating from an independent studio, the portrayal of Transistor 's protagonist is still in line with the broader paradigm of gender representation in video games. Specifically, it challenges certain harmful stereotypes of women while reaffirming some of them.


Health Economics combines economic concepts with empirical evidence to enhance students' economic understanding of how health care institutions and markets function. It views the subject in both microeconomic and macroeconomic terms, moving from the individual and firm level to the market level to a macroeconomic view of the role of health and health care within the economy as a whole. This student solutions manual for Health Economics provides answers to the odd-numbered exercises.


In this paper, we would like to propose an improved algorithm for task scheduling in grid environment with metaheuristic ant colony optimization method considering the cost and time parameters from quality of service. The proposed algorithm is evaluated by using the required cost and time parameters to carry out the task. With implementation these parameters in the simulate environment, we can create situation that scheduling task will be done with better position and achieve high performance on computational grids. Finally the experiment and simulated results will show that the proposed heuristic scheduling algorithm performs significantly to ensure high throughput, reduced time and cost. Also proposed algorithm is more efficient in the grid environment. This proposed algorithm is more efficient than the adaptive ACS and MOACO algorithms.


Information-based regulation occurs when regulators use information to drive changes in behaviours in order to achieve public policy objectives. Information-based regulation has emerged as an alternative way to regulate firms compared with more traditional direct command-and-control and market-based policy instruments within the contemporary regulatory state. Despite growing international interest, challenges remain in understanding the roles for regulators in information-based regulation, the functions of regulators in shaping and leveraging information flows, and the administrative capacities required to fulfil them. Based on a systematic review methodology, this article synthesises the findings of 130 peer-reviewed articles in the environmental, energy and food policy areas. It develops a typology of functions for regulators and outlines the new administrative capacities required in the contemporary regulatory state, particularly in standard setting, assurance and intermediation, and smart data management. Points for practitioners Regulation by information is becoming popular in many part of the world beyond its original genesis in the US and other developed countries. The design and implementation of such schemes creates new challenges for regulators. Our review integrates relevant research in three policy areas (environment, food and energy) and develops a new typology of functions performed by regulators. The article is the first to discuss how the roles and functions of regulators need to change in the contemporary information and regulatory environment. It also emphasises the importance of regulatory involvement in information-based regulation, which has traditionally been seen as a deregulatory approach.


Quality of work life is vital resource that enhances the organizational performance. In this regard, quality of work life has become an area of interest as a fundamental issue that fosters employee's requirement. This study aims to investigate the level and relationship between Pay and Privileges, Infrastructure, Employees Expectation and attitude about work Environment on quality of work life amongst executives working in various public-sector organization in Kingdom of Qatar. The study is quantitative in nature and population for the current research was consisted about 310 executives of public-sector companies in Qatar. The obtained results via correlation and linear regression showed that there is a high significant relationship between all the four variables with quality of work life. This study contributes to the existing literature and suggests some human resource development strategies to public sector institutions on how to improve their employees' Quality of work life.


The syndrome of chronic critical illness has well-documented emotional, social, and financial burdens for individuals, caregivers, and the health care system. The purpose of this article is to provide experienced acute and critical care clinicians with essential information about the prevalence and profile of the chronically critically ill patient needed for comprehensive care. In addition, pathophysiology contributing to chronic critical illness is addressed, though the exact mechanism underlying the conversion of acute critical illness to chronic critical illness is unknown. Clinicians can use this information to identify at-risk intensive care unit patients and to institute proactive care to minimize burden and distress experienced by patients and their caregivers.


This thesis applies a stochastic programming approach to the techno-economic analysis of a wind farm coupled with a pumped storage facility. The production of an optimal day-ahead generating schedule is considered. Wind forecasts contain an element of random error, and several methods of addressing this uncertainty in the optimization process are compared. The methods include robust and reliabilitybased design optimization in addition to a combination of both approaches, and results indicate that reliability-based design optimization is best-suited to this particular problem. Based on a set of wind forecast error scenarios and historical data, a probability-weighted forecast wind generation scenario set is developed. Reliability constraints are imposed to meet a minimum of 80% of the generating schedule time intervals. This methodology is applied to a case study on Vancouver Island. Preliminary results show that when compared to the base case of a standalone wind farm on Vancouver Island, a wind farm coupled with pumped storage can prove to be economically competitive with pumped storage capital costs below $1.53 million/MW installed pumped storage capacity and a firm energy price of $130/MWh.


Current hydraulic fracture models are mainly based on elastic theories, which fail to give accurate prediction of fracture parameters in plasticity formation. This paper proposed a fluid–solid coupling model for fracture propagation in elastoplastic formations. The rock plastic deformation in the model satisfied the Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion and plastic strain increment theory. The coupled model is solved by using extended finite-element method(XFEM) and the cohesive zone method (CZM). The accuracy of the model is verified by comparing the calculated results with existing models. The influences of stress difference, friction angle and dilation angle on fracture shape (length, width), injection pressure, plastic deformation, induced stress and pore pressure are investigated. The results indicate that compared with elastic formation, fracture shape in elastoplastic formation is wider and shorter and fracture propagation is more difficult with greater breakdown pressure and extending pressure. Plastic deformation also cause blunt fracture tip. High stress difference or low friction angle formations tend to occur large plastic deformation area and form wide and short fracture. Compared with friction angle, dilation angle is less sensitive to plastic deformation and fracture parameters and geometry. For the formation with high stress difference and friction angle, plasticity effects on fracture propagation should not be ignored.


Autobiographical Recollections of the 'Family Childhood': The Adventures of Dzherik by Natalia Nusinova This article offers a detailed cross-reading of Natalia Nusinova's Adventures of Dzherik (2009), which is discussed as both an example of contemporary chil- dren's literature and an autobiographical text. The novella is placed into the broader context of contemporary discussion over the nature of autobiograph- ical genre, directly addressing the issue of the place of autobiography within the boundaries of children's literature. Special attention is given to the multi- modal function of this text as a combination of verbal and visual components. The story that combines fact and fiction and written for the dual audience of children and adults, relates to the complexity of soviet childhood experience as it is being presented through the eyes of a child and commented on by the adult author. (Translated from German by Marina Balina)


Adoption of automated heat detection technologies is increasingly popular in the dairy industry. Generally speaking, farmers invest in only one technology on the assumption that this system will find most, if not all, cows in heat. It is, however, known that these technologies do not find all cows in heat. It has been suggested that automated heat detection may improve when sensor data are combined, where this involves combining different sensor measurements, e.g. linking activity with rumination data. So far, the option of combining different technologies has not been studied for the obvious reason that no commercial farms are using technologies from several suppliers. The Smart Dairy Farming (SDF) project, a Dutch initiative, brings together technology providers, knowledge institutions and dairy farms to improve the longevity of dairy cows by developing innovative tools to improve animal health, reproduction and feeding strategies. The SDF project offers a unique opportunity to research whether combining different sensing technologies improves automated heat detection. To do this, progesterone profiles were created by daily measurement of progesterone in milk from 31 cows, over a 24-day period, at two farms participating in the SDF project. One automated heat detection technology is used on both farms, and each farm has a second, different, technology running simultaneously. Heat alerts generated and farmers' observations were compared with progesterone profiles. The data were used to provide insight into the following issues: do heat detection technologies provide alerts for cows in heat; when do they alert for heat events; how do farmers use the information from the heat detection technologies; and whether the exact timing of true heat may be improved by combining heat alerts. Finally, possible explanations will be studied for those heat events that remain undetected by both oestrus detection systems and farmers' observations.


ABSTRACT Healthcare professionals are increasingly expected to work in interprofessional teams. Students therefore need opportunities to learn and practise skills that will allow them to be effective team members when they enter the workforce. This article summarises an interprofessional learning experience for 289 undergraduate and graduate students representing 13 programmes in a College of Health Professions (CHP) at a US public university. The half-day workshop provided an opportunity for participants with no prior interprofessional education to collaborate in a problem-solving case study and to inform students of other professions about their professions. Faculty members from all CHP programmes collaborated in writing the case study and facilitating student discussions during the event. Attitudes related to interprofessional collaboration and professional roles were assessed prior to and after workshop participation. A paired t test showed a statistically significant difference in four attitude questions. Participants reported a significant increase in understanding the roles of other professionals in healthcare and community situations. They also reported an increased understanding of the benefits and challenges of working in interprofessional teams. This event successfully introduced participants to interprofessional collaboration and provided them the opportunity to share their professional expertise and understand the expertise of others.


A chance meeting throws amiable fast-food worker Sam in the path of sinister necromancer Douglas, who quickly deduces that Sam is a fellow necromancer and gives him an ultimatum: join Douglas and live, defy Douglas and watch the destruction of his life. Though Sam ostensibly has a week to choose, Douglas isn't the patient sort, and before the week is up Sam is cooling his heels in Douglas' dungeon along with Brid, a hot werewolf-fey hybrid who doesn't take well to captivity. Sam, meanwhile, is still trying to make sense of his own identity: he can see ghosts, raise the dead, and draw power through blood rituals, and his own mother is now afraid of him, but does that mean he's evil? Top-notch action and horror elements coexist with emotional depth: Sam's sense of betrayal upon learning of his suppressed heritage, his brief, painful visit to his estranged father's new family, his budding romance with Brid, and his close, easy friendship with coworker Ramon are all drawn with nuance and unsentimentalized warmth. The conceit of song lyrics as chapter titles, though not explicitly supported by plot or character, is justified by the lyrics' often hilarious tonal dissonance and savvy twists on pop culture, as when the severed, reanimated, and seriously peeved head of Sam's friend Brooke is delivered to his apartment as a warning in a chapter entitled "Brown Paper Packages, Tied Up with String." This juxtaposition, in fact, is indicative of the approach throughout, as debut novelist McBride uses razor-sharp gallows humor to both alleviate and augment the situational horror. The richness of the supernatural underworld, complete with politics, history, and personal vendettas, is another draw, and honorable, desperate, smart-alecky, clueless Sam is the perfect vehicle for entry. Readers seeking a thoughtful, original, and compelling supernatural adventure need look no further. CG


Model criticism is an important stage of model building and thus goodness of fit tests provides a set of tools for diagnostic checking of the fitted model. Several tests are suggested in literature for diagnostic checking. These tests use autocorrelation or partial autocorrelation in the residuals to criticize the adequacy of fitted model. The main idea underlying these portmanteau tests is to identify if there is any dependence structure which is yet unexplained by the fitted model. In this paper, we suggest mixed portmanteau tests based on autocorrelation and partial autocorrelation functions of the residuals. We derived the asymptotic distribution of the mixture test and studied its size and power using Monte Carlo simulations.


This paper introduces a combinatorial construction of a class of iteratively decodable codes, an approach diametrically opposed to the prevalent practice of using large, random-like codes. Our codes are well-structured and, unlike random codes, can lend themselves to a very low complexity implementation. A systematic way of constructing codes based on Steiner systems and the Z/sub /spl nu//, group is presented, and a hardware efficient encoding algorithm is proposed. A substantial performance improvement of high-rate Steiner codes over the existing schemes used in magnetic recording systems is demonstrated.


Received Dec 22, 2021 Revised Jan 23, 2022 Accepted Feb 24, 2022 One of the key strategies to stop the increase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases is vaccines. The uncertainty and refusal of Filipinos to get the COVID-19 vaccine will be a crucial barrier to achieve the immunization coverage required for population protection. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the knowledge and attitude of the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology students and faculty and staff towards the COVID-19 vaccine. A descriptive study approach and total sampling were adopted. A questionnaire was constructed to accumulate data on the respondents' profile, knowledge, attitude and source of information about the vaccine for COVID-19. Informed consent and permission to conduct were acquired. Various statistical tools were used to analyze the data. The respondents were knowledgeable and had positive attitude towards the COVID-19 vaccine. Their primary source of information was from social media on the internet and television. There is a positive association between their attitude and knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccine, which means that they are closer to having a positive attitude when they are knowledgeable about the COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, health education campaigns to increase their knowledge or awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine should encourage them to receive a COVID-19 vaccine shot.


Several studies have been conducted which have examined the communication patterns and interpersonal relationships among minority patients and their physicians. These studies suggest that there are differences in the care received from physicians based on the racial and cultural background of the patient. However, little is known about the interpersonal relationships and communication patterns of AA couples coping with a breast cancer diagnosis and their physicians. This report presents the outcomes of a qualitative study undertaken to examine the perceptions of breast cancer care rendered by physicians to African American couples. The AA couples involved in the study reported that the care they received was compassionate, competent, comprehensive and comparable to other women. Each of these qualities was identified by as being essential to quality patient care.


Social networks have positioned themselves in today's society as the means through which teachers interact, communicate and share knowledge. The aim of the present study was to explore the format and contents present in Twitter publications that Spanish "educational influencers" use in their interaction with their followers. This investigation presents a qualitative design with a sample of 10 Spanish influencers of the educational scope, who were selected for having over 15,000 followers and over 5,000 tweets published. A qualitative analysis based on an inductive system of categories revealed that the topics that are most frequently addressed by these influencers are the complaints, concerns and reflections of teachers in online teaching, teaching strategies, activities and learning resources.


* Abbreviation:
 PWS — : Prader-Willi syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a common neurogenetic obesity syndrome that is complicated by hypotonia, poor feeding, and failure to thrive in early infancy, followed by hyperphagia, obesity, and profound social defects later in life.1 Autopsy studies have shown a significant reduction in the number and volume of oxytocin-producing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in individuals with PWS.2 Given the importance of oxytocin in regulating social interactions and mother-infant bonding, it has been postulated that treatment of PWS with oxytocin may improve poor feeding and social behaviors in infants. This was tested in the study presented by Tauber et al3 in this issue of Pediatrics .

PWS results from lack of expression of paternally inherited genes on chromosome 15q11-q13, due to deletion of the paternally inherited region, to maternal uniparental disomy (ie, both copies inherited from the mother), or to an imprinting defect. Magel2 is one of the affected genes located on 15q11-q13, and Magel2 mutations have been found in individuals with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and some features of PWS.4 Magel2 -deficient mice …

Address correspondence to Nancie J. MacIver, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, 3000 Erwin Rd, Ste 200, DUMC Box 102820, Durham, NC 27710. E-mail: nancie.maciver{at}duke.edu


In order to coexist with existing legacy wireless systems, the transmit power spectral density (PSD) of ultra-wideband (UWB) impulse radio systems is limited. The coverage range of the UWB systems is then confined within a few meters. One possible way to achieve a greater coverage is a short-range multihop relaying strategy. This paper proposes a two-hop UWB relay system using multiple detect-and-forward relays, each of which is equipped with multiple antennas. Each multiple-antenna relay performs spatial diversity reception with partial-Rake scheme in the first hop, and decides whether or not to perform spatial transmit diversity with partial-pre-Rake scheme in the second hop. This leads not only to low complexity at the receiver, but also to reduced error propagation. Moreover, we derive the outage probability of the proposed relay system based on the IEEE 802.15.3a channel model. The effects of using multiple relay antennas, relays, and Rake/pre-Rake fingers on the outage performance are demonstrated. The tradeoffs among the numbers of relay antennas, relays, and Rake/pre-Rake fingers are also investigated. Numerical results show that it is best to use multiple relay antennas to improve the outage performance of the proposed system. Furthermore, in general, increasing the number of relays is more beneficial than increasing the number of Rake/pre-Rake fingers.


Amplifying landslide hazards in the backdrop of warming climate and intensifying human activities calls for an integrated framework for accurately evaluating landslide susceptibility at fine spatiotemporal resolutions, which is critical for the mitigation of increasingly high landslide disaster risks. Yet, dynamic landslide susceptibility mapping is still lacking. Using high-quality data, from 14,435 landslides and non-landslides, we developed an efficient holistic framework for evaluating landslide susceptibility, considering landslide-relevant internal and external factors based on cloud computing platform and algorithmic models, which enables dynamic updating of a landslide susceptibility map at the regional scale, particularly in regions with highly complicated topographical features such as the Hengduan Mountains, as considered in this study. We compared Classification and Regression Trees (CART), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Random Forest (RF) classifiers to screen out the best portfolio model for landslide susceptibility mapping on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. We found that the Random Forest (RF) classifier integrated with synergy mode had the best modeling performance, with 90.48% and 89.24% accuracy and precision, respectively. We also found that forests and grasslands had the controlling effect on the occurrence of landslides, while human activities had a notable inducing effect on the occurrence of landslides within the Hengduan Mountains. This study highlights the performance of the holistic landslide susceptibility evaluation framework proposed in this study and provides a viable technique for landslide susceptibility evaluation in other regions of the globe.


Cold-formed steel (CFS) connections are commonly fastened using self-tapping self-drilling screws. Though screw manufacturers typically provide the strength of their screws, the stiffness of these connections is typically not reported. While modern design codes are strength-based, stiffness is increasingly necessary to characterize cold-formed steel system response in seismic applications. The full force-displacement response of the fastened connections is required for energy dissipation analysis. Historically, researchers and engineers have conducted experimental testing to determine connection behavior. However, repeatedly conducting this type of experiment is time consuming and expensive. This work aims to create robust finite element models that can successfully predict the force-displacement response of single lap steel-tosteel shear connections, without requiring tests. Five models of single lap screw connections were created using the finite element program ABAQUS/CAE. The thickness of the two CFS plies used in the connection varied for each model. These models were validated using experimental results of identical screw connections. Stiffness is the focus of the work herein, though strength results are also provided. During the development of the models, it was found that the contact parameters defined between the screw and the CFS plies had the most significant effect on the connection stiffness. To further investigate the effect of each contact parameter on the stiffness of the models, a parametric study was also conducted. In general, the results of the modelling program showed good agreement with the stiffness found in the tests. This work represents a promising first step in finite element characterization of cold-formed steel fastened connections.


Work discipline, work environment, and work spirit variables have significant influence towards teachers and employees' performance at SMP Perintis, Pancoranmas Subdistrict, Depok municipality. F-count is higher than Ftable (5,118 > 3,13). Work spirit has dominant influence towards teachers and employees' performance (t-count > t-table). Work discipline has significant influence towards performance (t-count 2,295 > t-table 1,729 by means of test point � = 5%). It means that significant influence abides. By reliability as high as 1,729, performance can be increased as high as 0,4032.Work environment variable has just low influence towards performance (t-count 0,433 < t-table 1,729 by means of test point � = 5 %). Job satisfaction variable has significant influence towards performance (t-count 2,759 < t-table 1,729 by means of test point � = 5%).


The hydrographic properties and circulation along sections at 80°E and 32°S in March, 1995, in the Indian Ocean are described very briefly. A halocline was well‐developed in the tropics. A westward coastal jet of fresh Bay of Bengal water was present at the sea surface at Sri Lanka with eastward flow of saline Arabian Sea water below. The Equatorial Undercurrent was well developed as were the deep equatorial jets. The Indonesian throughflow jet presented a large dynamic signature at 10 to 14°S coinciding with a strong front in all properties to great depth. Its mid‐depth salinity minimum is separated from that of the Antarctic Intermediate Water. The Subantarctic Mode Water of the southeastern Indian Ocean imparts its high oxygen ventilation signature to the whole of the transects, including the tropical portion. The deepest water in the Central Indian Basin is pooled in the center of the basin, and its principal source appears to be the sill at 11°S through the Ninetyeast Ridge. Northward deep water transports across the 32°S section were similar to those observed in 1987 but the deep water was lower in oxygen and fresher than in 1987. Upper ocean waters at 32°S were more saline and warmer in 1995.


A change emerges in hospital landscape due to health political measures, which in consequence also influences the pre-clinical medical care of emergencies. The main focus of this study was to gather information about emergency medical care after traffic accidents on the basis of data of Bavarian emergency medical services. In Bavaria, in 2006 it was necessary to call an emergency doctor in the case of 14.261 traffic accidents. Predominantly the patients were provided by land-based life saving appliances, air rescue services were only applied in 19.1 % of the cases. 47.6 % of patients being involved in a traffic accident were transported into a primary health care hospital. A prehospital interval of more than 60 minutes was calculated in 20 % of emergency care. 96.2 % of the patients were transported to hospitals of tertiary or maximum supply by air rescue services. The life saving appliances' readiness for action is however restricted to daylight. A further limitation appeared for routine office hours in hospitals: Only 36.7 % of accidents occurred in this time frame. An increase of hospitalizations in clinics of maximum supply appeared from 2002 until 2006 while simultaneously the prehospital period was extended. To assure a sufficient medical care of seriously injured persons further on, a fulltime and area-wide expostulation of efficient facilities is necessary. For this purpose it is necessary to establish regional trauma networks as well as emergency medical service at night time. Beyond that, a cost efficient compensation of the structural, personnel and logistic expenses has to be assured.


OBJECTIVE—We previously reported that people prenatally exposed to famine during the Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944–1945 have higher 2-h glucose concentrations after an oral glucose tolerance test in later life. We aimed to determine whether this association is mediated through alterations in insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, or a combination of both. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We performed a 15-sample intravenous glucose tolerance test in a subsample of 94 normoglycemic men and women from the Dutch Famine Birth Cohort. We used the disposition index, derived as the product of insulin sensitivity and the first-phase insulin response to glucose as a measure of the activity of the β-cells adjusted for insulin resistance. In all analyses, we adjusted for sex and BMI. RESULTS—Glucose tolerance was impaired in people who had been prenatally exposed to famine compared with people unexposed to famine (difference in intravenous glucose tolerance test Kg value −21% [95% CI −41 to −4]). People exposed to famine during midgestation had a significantly lower disposition index (−53% [−126 to −3]) compared with people unexposed to famine. Prenatal exposure to famine during early gestation was also associated with a lower disposition index, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS—Impaired glucose tolerance after exposure to famine during mid-gestation and early gestation seems to be mediated through an insulin secretion defect.


Cochlear implants are a recognised treatment for severe and profound hearing losses, and can greatly improve speech discrimination in a quiet listening environment. However, poor specificity of neural excitation resulting from wide current spread within the cochlea leads to inadequate complex pitch perception, affecting speech discrimination in noisy environments and music perception. Tripolar is a stimulation mode with a greater degree of current focusing than the monopolar mode currently used in the clinic. The overall aim of the experiments in this thesis was to evaluate the potential of tripolar stimulation mode to improve complex pitch perception compared to monopolar stimulation mode in a group of Advanced Bionics cochlear implant listeners.First, the place specificity of tripolar and monopolar stimulation was compared using a psychophysical forward masking task with a dual-electrode masking stimulus to limit off-site listening. An overall improvement in the place specificity of tripolar compared to monopolar stimulation indicated that current focusing may provide more independent transmission of temporal information from different electrode places. This conclusion was unaffected by the degree of residual masking which, although measurable, was similar in both modes. Second, the effect of current focusing on delivery of independent temporal patterns was evaluated, specifically whether transmission of fine temporal information about interpulse intervals was improved using tripolar over monopolar stimulation. No advantage was found for current focusing in the delivery of temporal patterns on either a single electrode site, or across-electrodes. Third, the effect of mode on complex pitch perception was investigated by comparing a tripolar with a monopolar listening program. Results showed no improvement in pitch ranking ability from current focusing using sung vowel stimuli, and further suggested that a cue related to the centroid of excitation was providing a stronger cue to pitch than the temporal modulations available in both modes in this group. In conclusion, tripolar stimulation, on average, improved place specificity using forward masking, but not temporal cues to pitch using the methods chosen to evaluate this. Furthermore, current focusing did not improve the ability to rank sung vowels based on pitch over monopolar mode. Current focusing, therefore, was not found to enhance perception of complex harmonic pitch in this group. However, a degree of inter-participant variability in amount of benefit from current focusing observed in this series of experiments suggests that it may be useful for some cochlear implant listeners if a predictive measure of benefit were developed.


The progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is quite variable, ranging from very mild or subclinical forms (approx. 10%) to rapidly progressing and debilitating forms (10-15%). The majority of patients present with an intermediate stage with episodes of exacerbation separated by periods of relative inactivity, which evolves to progressive functional losses. To optimise the therapeutic management of early RA it is necessary to perform periodic evaluations of the clinical and laboratory test responses to the treatment instituted, as well as the parameters indicating disease prognosis. Composite measures are frequently used to evaluate the disease activity score (DAS), including the response criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), the response criteria and the DAS according to the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the composite indices of disease activity (CIDsA): DAS, the index of disease activity based on 28 joints (DAS 28), the simplified disease activity index (SDAI) and the clinical disease activity index (CDAI). The evaluation of prognosis includes investigation of the absence or occurrence of disease and joint damage remission. Due to the multifaceted nature of RA, no single clinical or laboratory parameter is able to describe satisfactorily the level of inflammatory activity or the disease prognosis at any given time.


Fluorescence spectroscopy, combing analysis, and texture analysis with a dual-cantilever bending accessory have been employed to study the effect of pretreatments on the thermal damage of hair. The pretreatments, applied to hair as 1% aqueous solutions, included a cationic polymer (PVP/DMAPA acrylates copolymer), a protein hydrolyzate (hydrolyzed wheat protein), and a cationic surfactant (quaternium 70). Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to probe the content of tryptophan (Trp) in hair, which is gradually destroyed by the application of curling irons at 132°C and 152°C. All pretreatment materials were found to reduce the extent of Trp decomposition by 10-20% as a result of 4-12 min of thermal exposure. Surface damage has been quantified by combing analysis and has shown that the use of PVP/DMAPA acrylates copolymers or a cationic surfactant can suppress an increase in combing forces, which is observed in unmodified hair subjected to thermal exposure. The variation in stiffness of hair tresses has been studied by texture analysis with a dual-cantilever bending accessory. From the texture analysis, an increase in the stiffness ratio of the fiber assemblies was evident for polymer-modified and intact (unmodified) hair


This study aims to describe the results of the applicationof cooperative learning model type of student team achievement division. The subject matter of heat and its displacement in class VIIIE odd semester SMP Negeri 11 Kupang city year of teaching 2018/2019. Specificialy, the aim that want to be reached is: 1) to decribes the abillity of teacher in the learning management by applying coperative learning type of student team achievement division. 2) To describe the cooperative skills of learners in learning activities by implementing cooperative learning type of student team achievement division. 3) To describes the indicator result completeness of learning by applying coperative learning type of student team achievement division. 4) To describes
completeness of learning result by applaying coperative learning tipe of student team achievement division. 5) To describes the respons from student to learning activities by applying coperative learning type of student team achievement division. The kind of this research is descriptive research, subject in this research is teacher
(researcher) and students from class VIIIE SMP Negeri 11 Kupang city year of teaching 2018/2019 that aggregate are about 25 students. The subjeck of study is determined by using purposive sampling technique is the technique of determining the sample with certain considerations. Research design used is one-group pretest dan post tes design. The technique of data collection is observation, test, and inquiry. While the instrumens in this research is sheet
management supervision of learning of approaching skill proces. The test of learning result sheet of rating of aspective aspect and psicomotor and of sheet of filling resposn of student. The analysis data technique in this research is descriptive analysis that is cover average score, proposaition, and presentation. Based on the result on analysis descriptive data research and research discussion, Obtained that learning by applying coperative learning type of student team achievement division. The
subject matter of heat and it's displacement in class VIIIE odd semester SMP Negeri 11 Kupang city year of teaching 2018/2019 is optimal. Specificially is obtained the ability of the teacher to manage learning activities that include: lesson planning, instructional implementation, and
evaluation of learning that everything is in good category. Skills cooperative learners include: being in charge, taking turns and sharing tasks, encourage participate, ask/answer, and active listening, in general and on average are on the limits of effectiveness defined. Indicators of learning outcomes prepared everything finished product. While indicators of affective and psychomotor learning out comes overall conclusion. The response of students towards learning by implementing cooperative learning model tipe of student team achievement division is generally very good


The remarkable sensitivity of activation analysis has been exploited in studies of the electrolyte equilibrium of the fluids of the inner ear. The dynamic equilibrium between perilymph (which is a fluid of the extracellular type, with sodium predominating over potassium) and endolymph (in which potassium ions greatly outnumber sodium ions) is linked with the functions of hearing and balance. Reliable estimates of the concentrations of sodium and potassium have been obtained by activation analysis of small samples of fluid (2-10 pul.) obtained from experimental animals, and there are grounds for hoping that this technique also may be extended before long to man.


There is an increasing demand to cloud services in the market. In terms of cost and benefit, it is obvious that cloud services lowered investment cost and fixed cost for businesses. Thus, an economic perspective towards cloud services is required for strategic decisions. In this paper, a preliminary evaluation of cloud services was presented, and the common economic issues were identified. Regarding to these issues, the latency was addressed from the economic perspective, and a testing environment was created and implemented in 5 different cases. The results were given in the paper outlining impact of latency in terms of concurrent users and bandwidth allocation. Finally, an alternative cost estimation was proposed.


Notch stress formulae are derived for the application of a notch stress approach to the fatigue assessment of spot welds. A keyhole notch is assumed to describe the edge of the weld spot between the overlapping plates. The stress fields at the keyhole notch under singular' and non-singular' in-plane loading modes inclusive of the stress concentration factors K t are derived from the relevant Airy stress functions. The formulae are applied to typical loading cases of spot welds and compared with finite element solutions. Fatigue-effective notch stresses inclusive of fatigue notch factors K f are calculated by applying the microstructural support hypothesis of Neuber. The notch stresses at the keyhole are also derived for out-of-plane shear loading based on the relevant harmonic stress functions. The multiaxial notch stresses at the weld spot edge are thus completely described.


A printed super-wideband (SWB) antenna that consists of an elliptical monopole and a trapezoid ground plane is presented. By introducing a tapered microstrip impedance transformer and implementing a semi-ring feed interface to the radiation patch, the bandwidth of the antenna is enhanced. The results demonstrate that the measured 2:1 VSWR bandwidth is from 1.08 to 27.4 GHz with a ratio bandwidth of 25:1. The antenna has a stable radiation pattern over this frequency band. It is suitable for wireless communication applications.


Tazobactam (3, C10H12N4O5S) is an effective inhibitor of bacterial beta-lactamases. It crystallizes with unit cell dimensions a = 10.230 (2) A, b = 14.396 (2) A, and c = 17.291 (2) A in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). Compared to the related inhibitor sulbactam (2), which lacks the triazole ring, crystalline tazobactam exhibits very similar beta-lactam geometry and the same S(1) envelope conformation of the thiazolidine ring. However, in both independent molecules of 3 a triazole ring nitrogen atom accepts an intermolecular hydrogen bond; similar interaction by this moiety of 3 with a hydrogen-bond donor on the enzyme, which is impossible for 2, could account for its enhanced inhibitory power. Semiempirical molecular orbital calculations show pronounced negative potential there. Molecular mechanics supports the hypothesis that the carboxyl group can rotate freely and the triazole ring can "flip".


Realist, no-collapse interpretations of quantum mechanics, such as Everett's, face the probability problem: how to justify the norm-squared (Born) rule from the wavefunction alone. While any basis-independent measure can only be norm-squared (due to the Gleason-Busch Theorem) this fact conflicts with various popular, non-wavefunction-based phenomenological measures - such as observer, outcome or world counting - that are frequently demanded of Everettians. These alternatives conflict, however, with the wavefunction realism upon which Everett's approach rests, which seems to call for an objective, basis-independent measure based only on wavefunction amplitudes. The ability of quantum probabilities to destructively interfere with each other, however, makes it difficult to see how probabilities can be derived solely from amplitudes in an intuitively appealing way. I argue that the use of algorithmic probability can solve this problem, since the objective, single-case probability measure that wavefunction realism demands is exactly what algorithmic information theory was designed to provide. The result is an intuitive account of complex-valued amplitudes, as coefficients in an optimal lossy data compression, such that changes in algorithmic information content (entropy deltas) are associated with phenomenal transitions.


Despite the excellent results of total hip arthroplasty, the number of patients who need a revision operation is increasing. Moreover, reconstructive surgeons now are faced with complex primary cases for which a total hip arthroplasty may not have been considered in the past, such as hips with a previous arthrodesis or severe dysplasia3,9,33,40,58,66. These arthroplasties present many challenges, foremost of which is the management of bone abnormalities and of bone loss in particular. Therefore, the preoperative evaluation and description of bone deficits are of great importance.

A number of investigators have produced systems for classification of bone loss about the hip48,49. These systems have been devised in order to quantify the severity of femoral bone loss, to explain the indications for particular revision arthroplasty techniques, and to assess the results of these interventions8,55. Many of these classification systems are similar in principle, yet are described differently. Without a unified classification system that has been proved to be reliable, valid, user-friendly, and widely accepted, it is exceedingly difficult to compare the various reconstructive techniques that are currently available. Such a system should help to guide the surgeon to the best treatment option for the deficit that is encountered. It also should help the surgeon to determine the appropriate approach, the implants that should be available, and the type of bone graft that may be needed.

In this review, the preoperative evaluation of femoral bone loss after total hip arthroplasty is summarized and the most commonly used classification systems are described.

Before attempting to revise a hip replacement that has associated bone loss, the surgeon should have a complete and logical preoperative plan. Many factors have to be considered, such as the …


Limited data are available regarding the spinal projections of afferent fibers in the phrenic nerve. We describe a method that robustly labels phrenic afferent spinal projections in adult rats. The proximal end of the cut phrenic nerve was secured in a microtube filled with a transganglionic tracer (cholera toxin β-subunit, CT-β, or Cascade Blue) and tissues harvested 96-hrs later. Robust CT-β labeling occurred in C3-C5 dorsal root ganglia cell bodies and phrenic afferent projections were identified in the mid-cervical dorsal horn (laminae I-III), intermediate gray matter (laminae IV, VII) and near the central canal (laminae X). Afferent fiber labeling was reduced or absent when CT-β was delivered to the intrapleural space or directly to the hemidiaphragm. Soaking the phrenic nerve with Cascade Blue also produced robust labeling of mid-cervical dorsal root ganglia cells bodies, and primary afferent fibers were observed in spinal grey matter and dorsal white matter. Our results show that the 'nerve soak' method effectively labels both phrenic motoneurons and phrenic afferent projections, and show that primary afferent project throughout the ipsilateral mid-cervical gray matter.


In the rapidly developing world, the contamination of soil, water and air become a serious threat for our environment. Answer lies in adaptation of clean and green technology to remediate the polluted sites in a sustainable ways without depleting the natural resources. This process of Phytoremediation and Rhizomediation has proved to help in amending water and soil pollution successfully without any side effect and help in maintaining the health of environment. There are several methods of Phytoremediation and Rhizoremediation with much option to be chosen for specific types of contaminant and medium. These are eco-friendly method which would help to safeguard natural resources without causing any harm or depleting the quality of environment, which offers the possibility to destroy or render harmful various contaminants by using natural biological activity of plants and microbes to degrade organic compounds in to simple inorganic compounds. The paper deals with recent advancement in the field of Phytoremediation and Rhizomediation and their significant role in combating environmental pollution.


Nowadays, a lot of food ingredients are marketed as dietary supplements for health. Because the effectiveness and mechanisms of these compounds have not been fully characterized, they might have unknown functions. Therefore, we investigated the effect of several food ingredients (Bergamottin, Chrysin, L-Citrulline and β-Carotene) known as health foods on adipocyte differentiation by using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In this study, we found that Bergamottin, a furanocoumarin isolated from grapefruit juice, promotes adipocyte differentiation. In addition, Bergamottin increases the expression of adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory adipokine, and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ), a nuclear receptor regulating adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory activity of Bergamottin was demonstrated by its inhibition of the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), an inflammatory transcription factor. Stimulation of mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) decreased the expression of the endogeneous NF-κB inhibitor, IκBα. Treatment with Bergamottin further decreased the TNF-α-induced change in IκBα expression, suggesting that Bergamottin mediated the inhibition of NF-κB activation. In addition, Bergamottin decreased the TNF-α-induced increase in the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory adipokines, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-6. Taken together, our results show that Bergamottin treatment could inhibit inflammatory activity through promoting adipocyte differentiation, which in turn suggests that Bergamottin has the potential to minimize the risk factors of metabolic syndrome.


The management of interference has been, and still is, the main concern in spectrum policy. Historically, interference has been dealt with by heavy regulation under an administrative control regime. Over the last decades, a new approach has been put forward based on users' "property rights," better able to cope with rapidly changing technological environment. The issue of how to deal with interference across bands, however, remains crucial: What obligations should be put on users so as to keep interference at a socially acceptable level? Also, given that some unwanted emissions are bound to occur, how can private parties be provided with the right incentives to invest in high-quality reception technology? This article assesses how well different regulatory regimes can lead to efficient outcomes. It develops an economic model of spectrum interference and identifies the efficient solution. A regime where spectrum users have the power to enjoin intruding emissions beyond a predefined level ("property rights protection") is compared to a regime where users are forced to bear with intruding emissions, but are entitled to economic compensation for the harm suffered ("liability rules protection"). The analysis suggests that different regimes may perform differently under different circumstances depending on the cause of interference and, critically, on whether the services are organised as an open- or a close-architecture system. This suggests that regulators should pay more attention to the specific features of the different bands, and that the appropriate spectrum management regime should be designed to recognise these differences.


The relevance of this topic is due to the lack of study of the history of the formation of two mutually exclusive concepts of God, tanzih akyda (impropriety) and tashbih akyda (likening God to created) and the influence of this process on the formation and development of the Hanbali madhhab in Russian history and religious studies. The influence of Israiliyat, individual stories and beliefs inherent in some Jewish and Christian sects on the formation of the teachings of anthropomorphic sects is also noted. In this regard, the special role of neophytes, who formally accepted Islam and actively introduced Israelism, was noted. This applies primarily to Kab al-Akhbar and Wahb Ibn Munabbih. The subject of the study is tanzih akida and tashbih akida, the influence of Israiliyat on its formation and its role in the history of the Hanbali madhhab. Due to the fact that our research is primarily of a philosophical and religious nature, we applied research methods adopted in these Humanities. As a result, we studied the processes of influence of Israiliyat on the formation of tashbih akyda and came to the conclusion that it had a great impact on the formation of the Hanbali madhhab and the historical features of its development. Particular emphasis was placed on the fact that Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbali, the eponym of Hanbali madhhab, held the aqida of unlikening God to created, but some of his disciples, who were followers of some anthropomorphistic sects, brought tasbih aqida mazhab, which was formed largely under the influence of Israiliyat. This has led to the fact that for many centuries, under the name of Hanbali madhhab, researchers unite two groups of people who profess a diametrically opposite concept of God. This research occupies an important place in religious studies, history and philosophy, because it reveals new aspects of the formation and historical development of this madhhab. There is also shown the Israiliyat  influence on the formation of tasbih aqida and religious-philosophical doctrine, which at the turn of XIII – XIV centuries was preached by a famous religious figure from Syria – Ahmad Ibn Taymiyah, known for having the key influence on the formation of the Wahhabi sect in Arabia. The scope of the research results includes: theoretical development of courses and textbooks on the history of Islam, Islamic theology and sectarianism, etc. Practical application of the research results is possible in the development of methods for resolving religious and political conflicts of modern times, mainly between Sunnis and Shiites, as our research helps to understand the origins of their appearance and the formation of religious and political differences.Key words: Islam, Muslim, Israiliyat, tanzih aqida, tasbih aqida, Kab al-Ahbar, Wahb Ibn Munabbih, Hanbali madhhab, Ahmad Ibn Imam Hanbali, Ibn al-jawzi, the history of Baghdad


The ambiguous mechanism of electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) greatly hinders their industrial applications toward renewable and clean energy conversion. Here, we elaborately prepared a cobalt sulfide catalyst to perform a comprehensive study of the OER performance under neutral/alkaline conditions. The combination of synchrotron-based operando X-ray spectroscopic investigations and electron microscopy observations captured a chameleon-like structural self-optimization on the cobalt sulfide oxygen evolution electrocatalyst in both neutral and alkaline electrolytes. Driven by the actual working conditions (pH gradient, electrical potential, etc.), distinct catalytic sites could be activated dramatically. In particular, the CoOOH supported on a single-walled carbon nanotube (CoOOH-SWCNT) with residual S species was identified as the true catalyst under alkaline conditions rather than the entirely transformed CoOOH-SWCNT, while the oxygenated CoS-SWCNT (O-CoS-SWCNT) was formed as the true catalyst under neutral conditions. Undoubtedly, such a mechanism of opening different locks with different keys and its microstructural advantages together guarantee the high catalytic activity in different electrolytes. This work provides a promising catalyst as well as sheds light on the very essence of the structural self-optimization process of catalysts. It makes a significant contribution to the advancement of OER relevant studies in the future while providing new ideas for the fields of chemistry and catalysis.


The genetic variation of Meishan, Huainan, Tongcheng, Bamei, Hezuo and Largewhite pigs were analyzed by RAPD markers. Twenty-four single polymorphic primers were selected out of 276 primers by amplifying six pool DNA. The index of Shannon were 0.178672, 0.17781,0.15995, 0.14549,0.16949, 0.14159 respectively; Hpop was 0.16216, Hsp was 0.2534. The phylogenetic tree was constructed using NJ and UPGMA. The results indicated that the phenylogenetic relationship of the six pig breeds was consistent with their distribution.


The stethoscope has been used for many years, and has been very effective to diagnose certain cardiologic and pulmonologic sounds. For many years healthcare professionals would listen quietly to patients internal organs so they could diagnose from specific sounds of such internal organs. The objective is to develop a Peripheral Interface Controller based digital Stethoscope to capture the heart sound. The proposed designed device consists of following hardware stages: Front-end pickup circuitry, PIC18F2550 microcontroller, (128x64) graphic LCD and a Serial EEPROM. The captured data can be sent to PC for software analysis using LabVEIW. A digital stethoscope would help healthcare professional record their findings on a Serial EEPROM. Once the data is stored, the healthcare professionals can hear and plot the graph. This would be quick and more effective since there is a visual and audio representation to diagnose such cardiologic sounds.


The SCALE-XSProc multigroup (MG) cross section processing procedure based on the CENTRM pointwise slowing down calculation is the primary procedure to process problem-dependent self-shielded MG cross sections and scattering matrices for neutron transport calculations. This procedure supports various cell-based geometries including slab, 1-D cylindrical, 1-D spherical and 2-D rectangular configurations and doubly heterogeneous particulate fuels. Recently, this procedure has been significantly improved to be applied to any advanced reactor analysis covering thermal and fast reactor systems, and to be comparable to continuous energy (CE) Monte Carlo calculations. Some reactivity bias and reaction rate differences have been observed compared with CE Monte Carlo calculations, and several areas for improvement have been identified in the SCALE-XSProc MG cross section processing: (1) resonance self-shielding calculations within the unresolved resonance range, (2) 10 eV thermal cut-off energy for the free gas model, (3) on-the-fly adjustments to the thermal scattering matrix, (4) normalization of the pointwise neutron flux, and (5) fine MG energy structure. This procedure ensures very accurate MG cross section processing for high-fidelity deterministic reactor physics analysis for various advanced reactor systems.


U Chordomas are locally aggressive neoplasms with an extremely high propensity to recur locally following resection, despite adjuvant therapy. This biological behavior has led most authors to conclude that en bloc resection provides the best chance for the patient's prolonged disease-free survival and possible cure. The authors present a case of an extensive upper cervical chordoma treated by en bloc resection, reconstruction, and long-segment stabilization. Total spondylectomy of C2‐4 with sacrifice of the right C2‐4 nerve roots and a segment of the right vertebral artery was performed. The inherent anatomical complexities of en bloc resection in the upper cervical spine are discussed. To the authors' knowledge, this represents the first report of an en bloc resection for multilevel cervical chordoma.


Background : Depression occurring after delivery of a baby can be missed especially in resource constrained environments. Constraint in personnel and a low diagnostic index are probable reasons. A low diagnostic index or delay in diagnosis and treatment of postpartum depression (PPD) has adverse consequences on the family dynamics. Objective : The study aimed at determining the burden of postpartum depression that was missed after the first postnatal follow up visit at a tertiary hospital in Makurdi, Nigeria. Methods : A cross-sectional study of postpartum women at the immunization clinic at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi using the a semi-structured questionnaire containing the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) to assess for depression with a diagnostic cut off of 10 was done. Results : Three hundred and thirty postpartum women were assessed and the burden of PPD that was missed during a postnatal visit was 27.6%. No correlation was found between any social or economic demographics and PPD. Conclusion : The prevalence of missed PPD in Makurdi is high (27.6%), hence the need for high diagnostic index of suspicion and routine screening by the primary care physicians. Social or economic demographics alone should not be criteria for its suspicion. Key words : missed postpartum depression, determinants, prevalence


After studying 151 publications on the topic of buyer-supplier relationships over a 20 year period, Terpend, Tyler, Krause and Handfield [1]point out that the concept of sustained competitive advantage deserves more emphasis by researchers investigating value extraction form buyer-supplier relationships. Research should identify the types of practices and the conditions likely to gain a firm a competitive advantage and consider the durability of those advantages. This paper builds upon this call and argues that the capabilities that lead to competitive advantage for fish feed producers lie in finding and approving new raw materials. These firms have traditionally spent millions of dollars on analysing new protein sources and testing them regarding digestibility, growth enhancement, health issues etc. It is now time to realise that more focus need to be put towards the supplier delivering these raw materials, and the value that can be gained through supplier development. By introducing group wide supplier relationship management such as common supplier development programs, the case company managed to improve their purchasing process, which ultimately put top management in a better position to take strategic purchasing decisions. Research limitations referring generalizability and reliability of results are acknowledged.


FPGA based implementations of two classes of pseudo random number(PRN) generator, intended for use in Monte Carlo methods for finance, are presented. FPGA implementations potentially offer reduced cost and improved performance compared to general purpose processor (GPP) systems such as PCs or mainframes. The first class of PRN generator, which includes the mersenne twister, uses generalized feedback shift registers (GFSRs). The second class is based on multiplication of fixed precision integers (with overflow). In both cases we compare a high quality generator and a generator with minimal resource usage. Comparisons of FPGA resource usage, data throughput and the quality of the generated series are given with a view to applications in high performance computing (HPC) for computational finance. The two classes of generator are shown to be complementary in their use of FPGA resources.


Inspired by the successful operation of the 11 T Nb/sub 3/Sn experimental dipole magnet MSUT, a new large bore 10 email@example.com K Nb/sub 3/Sn model dipole magnet is under development in The Netherlands. For application in this system, Shape Metal Innovation (SMI) has developed a new "Powder in Tube" type of Nb/sub 3/Sn conductor with an increased number of filaments. At a strand diameter of 0.9 mm, the diameter of the filaments after reaction for only 33 hours at 675/spl deg/C has been reduced to about 20 microns. The non-copper critical current density has been measured to be as high as 1890 A/mm/sup 2/ at 10 email@example.com K.


Background and purpose: Asthma in adults remains a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and increased health care costs. Asthma action plans (AAPs) have demonstrated improved health outcomes in this populace; however, AAPs continue to be underused by providers. This article aims to re-emphasize the importance of AAPs for adults and refresh providers on the effectiveness and methods to use this indispensable tool. Methods: A literature search of MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, and CINAHL was performed, and subsequent findings were reported. Conclusions: With proper involvement and inclusion of the patient in the creation of an AAP, adult patients can greatly improve their self-management capabilities through its use. Implications for practice: By recognizing the importance and success of AAPs for adults, providers can improve their personal practice through increased AAP delivery. Understanding today's available platforms and formats for AAPs will allow providers a widened subject knowledge base and increased adaptation of patient AAP needs for the adult population. Increased provider knowledge can potentially increase AAP use for adults, as well as improve overall patient outcomes.


Objectives. To determine the effect of a 6 gram intravenous bolus of magnesium sulfate on maternal cerebral blood flow in women with preeclampsia. Study Desiqn. Velocity-encoded phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging studies were performed on twelve preeclamptic women prior to and immediately after infusion of a 6 gram magnesium sulfate loading dose. Cerebral blood flow was determined at the bilateral proximal middle and posterior cerebral arteries. Study participants returned 6 weeks postpartum for a non-pregnant measurement of cerebral blood flow. The Wilcoxon paired-sample test was used with statistical significance defined as p<0.05. Results. There was no significant difference in cerebral vessel diameter nor blood flow for any of the examined arteries between the pre- and post magnesium sulfate therapy states. Conclusions. The absence of a significant difference in cerebral blood flow of the middle and posterior cerebral arteries before and after infusion of a 6 gram loading dose of magnesium sulfate in women with preeclampsia could suggest the absence of vasoconstriction of the large cerebral arteries in preeclampsia and question the role of magnesium sulfate as a vasodilator of these arteries.


: Rhodanese is a multifunctional, mitochondrial enzyme which primary function is the protection of the electron transport system from the deleterious effect of cyanide. It carries out the said primary function, by catalyzing the conversion of the cyanide to thiocyanate, a less toxic compound. The enzyme is also implicated in preventing the formation of inorganic sulfide, a highly neurotoxic substance and in the synthesis of sulfur-containing macromolecules. The activity of the ubiquitous enzyme has been reported in soil, bacteria, plants and animal tissues. The aim of this research is to establish the presence of the cyanide detoxifying enzyme, Rhodanese, in marine aquatic life, especially in the liver of a typical marine fish, Lutjanus goreensis that subsists on other fishes and shrimps which in turn, feed on planktons and some lower organisms of the aquatic food chain. The fish liver Rhodanese, purified 11.4 fold with activity recovery of 9.03%, had a specific activity of 19.7µMmin -1 mg -1 enzyme protein. The invitro cyanide detoxifying enzyme, thiosulphate sulphur transferase (E.C. 22.214.171.124), followed a non-sequential ping-pong mechanism in the formation of thiocyanate from cyanide and thiosulphate. From the kinetic studies, the V max of the enzyme catalysis was 5.0µM/minute while the Km values for thiosulfate and cyanide were 5.88mM and 11.11mM respectively. The optimum pH of the fish liver Rhodanese enzyme was 8.2, with the pH range of 8.0 to 8.4. The optimum temperature of the enzyme was 35 0 C. The molecular weight of the fish liver Rhodanese was 37,153 daltons, using the gel filtration technique. From the foregoing, it is evident that the Rhodanese enzyme is present in the liver of the tropical marine fish with an appreciable activity level that is possibly attributable to the feeding habit of the fish.


Although poor sleep has been found to correlate with deteriorations in romantic relationships, its causal impact on interpersonal conflict has not previously been studied. Therefore, 30 couples were randomly assigned to either a single night of total sleep deprivation or a night of normal sleep to test the effects of sleep deprivation on couples' conflict. After the experimental night, all participants discussed a topic of recurrent conflict for 15 minutes. We collected pre- and post-conflict measures of cortisol, self-reports of feelings and satisfaction with the conflictual discussion. Multilevel analyses revealed higher cortisol levels during conflict and less positive affect prior to and after the conflict for sleep-deprived couples compared to couples in the control condition. Additionally, higher cortisol levels during the conflict predicted lower satisfaction about the content of the conflict among sleep-deprived couples. These findings provide initial evidence for a causal negative impact of sleep deprivation on couples' conflicts.


This work concerns the identification of the structure of a genetic network model from measurements of gene product concentrations and synthesis rates. In earlier work, we developed a data preprocessing algorithm that is able to reject many hypotheses on the network structure by testing certain monotonicity properties for a wide family of network models. Here, we develop a geometric interpretation of the method. Then, for a relevant subclass of genetic network models, we extend our approach to the combined testing of monotonicity and convexity‐like properties associated with the network structures. The theoretical aspects and practical performance of the enhanced methods are illustrated by way of numerical results. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The aim of this paper is to establish a nonparametric estimation of some characteristics of the conditional distribution. Kernel type estimators for the conditional cumulative distribution function and the successive derivatives of the conditional density are introduced of a scalar response variable Y given a Hilbertian random variable X when the observations are linked with a single-index structure. We establish the pointwise almost complete convergence and the uniform almost complete convergence (with the rate) of the kernel estimate of this model. Asymptotic properties are stated for each of these estimates, and they are applied to the estimations of the conditional mode and conditional quantiles.


Introduction: Behavioral activation therapy (BAT) is designed to help individuals' approach and access sources of positive reinforcement in their life, which can serve a natural antidepressant function and efforts to help depressed people reengage in their life through focused activation strategies. Methods: In this study, 60 individuals were selected and randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received behavioral activation treatment, including eight treatment sessions and 5 weeks later, a follow-up study was conducted. The data were collected, using a Beck Depression Inventory-II and behavioral activation system (BIS)/ behavioral inhibition system (BAS) Carver and White questionnaires, before the intervention and after the intervention and five weeks after the intervention. SPSS 23 and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used for data analysis. Results: Results showed a significant increase in the two components of the BAS including reward seeking and response to reward in the intervention group, which indicates an increase in positive affect and appetitive motivation for reward seeking and decreases the risk of depression. Also, the results showed a significant decrease in the BIS and depression in the intervention group, which indicates a decline in experiencing negative emotions. Conclusion: The implementation of BAT will cause depressed people to try to maximize future rewards and it's effective in improving the reward seeking and reward response in depressed people because this treatment will increase the positive reinforcement and lead to learning cues that predict possible rewards in environments.


We consider a passive star coupler network, employing wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), where stations are equipped with fixed transmitters and tunable receivers. In such networks, the efficiency of the protocol for coordinating the data transmission between the transmitter and receivers is of critical importance. In this paper, we address this issue and propose a novel hybrid dynamic reservation protocol (HDRP) which combines the attractive features of the Aloha and reservation protocols. At low load, HDRP follows the Aloha protocol, thus eliminating the unnecessary delay caused by the signaling that is required in reservation schemes. At high load, when the performance of the Aloha protocol begins to decline, HDRP automatically switches over to reservation mode where slots may be reserved in advanced. The protocol displays intriguing behavior during the transition phase, as demonstrated by simulation studies. It is also shown that the protocol can attain a throughput of 1 for uniform traffic, as desired. Furthermore, as bandwidth is reserved based on demand, HDRP exhibits far superior performance than pre-assigned TDM schemes. This is particularly true for non-uniform traffic. Additionally, the simplicity of the protocol, as no state information needs to be stored, makes it highly feasible for implementation.


In robotics, one important objective is the ability to teach the robot new skills and have it reason about the current tasks at hand without explicit programming. Indeed, this idea is central to open-ended development, developmental robotics and autonomous mental development. One approach to this issue is to have the robot learn from its own past experience, which would help the robot adapt to changing environments. However, in a learning process, a critical issue to both robots and biological creatures is efficient use of the limited resources available for survival. A robot, operating in a complex, unstructured environment, will encounter many percepts and typically most of them are not relevant to the current task. This suggests the need for a capability to focus attention on the smaller number of items that are relevant to the task. Thus, prefrontal cortex working memory models may be a good fit for learning to associate perception and action, and perhaps other concepts as well, in order to perform a task.
Many of the systems in the literature have only crude perceptual capabilities and as a result, the environments are usually very simplified by modifications, such as by using artificial percepts. Such systems may fail in complex, uncontrolled environments, especially under changing lighting conditions. Thus, successful task execution strongly depends on a reliable perceptual system in these types of environments.
In this work, a novel implementation of a perceptual system, which operates on an extremely high dimensional feature space, is combined with a biologically inspired working memory model. The perceptual system does not rely on any parametric techniques (i.e., computing eigenvectors, covariance matrices, etc.) and the computational cost does not depend strongly on the number of dimensions. Only vision is used, as the main sensory input for the system. The resulting system initially learns basic behaviors and skills, which in turn, are used to learn more complex behaviors. The success of the system is demonstrated with a vision guided navigation task in a complex, noisy, and unmodified environment.


This study examined peer group influence on university student drinking in China and the indirect effects of peer pressure and self-efficacy for alcohol self-regulation. A total of 951 undergraduate university students (first, second and third year) from a university in central China completed questionnaires asking about perceived peer pressures, self-efficacy for alcohol self-regulation, and drinking frequency. Analysis of their answers showed that the drinking frequency among physical education (PE) students was higher than among the comparison group (History students). The PE students perceived greater peer pressure, and had lower self-efficacy for alcohol self-regulation, both of which contributed directly to drinking frequency. Path analysis indicated indirect effects of peer pressure and self-efficacy for alcohol self-regulation on the association between peer group membership and drinking frequency. This suggested that skills training to increase self-efficacy for alcohol self-regulation in culturally-specific settings have the potential to both directly and indirectly lower drinking rates in peer groups with high peer pressure and higher than normal drinking.


Achievement of a balanced federal budget by 2002 was a high priority for the 105th Congress and the President. After months of negotiations and debate, starting in February 1997 and ending in July 1997, congressional leaders and the White House forged a consensus on legislation to accomplish this goal. The legislation, signed into law by President Clinton on August 5, 1997, sets "caps" on discretionary spending, constrains entitlement programs, and on balance reduces federal taxes.


The bronchopathogenic potential of crocidolite asbestos and four man-made mineral fibres have been compared. Groups of rats received, respectively, a single intratracheal instillation of UICC crocidolite asbestos, Rockwool 115-4, Carborundum CEF 100, Basaltwool-Isolyth, or Mineralwool-Isolyth dusts into the right lower lobe. At intervals, from 2 days up to 6 months after the treatment, lung histology was performed on animals from each group. Bron chial effects of crocidolite asbestos and the different man-made mineral fibres revealed more quantitative than qualitative differences. In accordance with the literature, inflammatory and regressive lesions were found to dominate the early phase of reaction. Later, adenoma-like structures developed as a result of two different pathomechanisms: (1) Bifurcational, central interception of long fibres and consecutive scarring granulomas induced polypous-papillomatous mucosal proliferations and partition of the bronchus into small, ciliary epithe lial lined lumina. (2) In the chronic phase of reaction, budding and prolifera tion of the mucosal cells resulted in many small lumina in the wall and round the bronchi, without any scar formation. The increased dividing activity in the mucosa, the abnormalities of the secretion, the metaplasia and local prolifera tion of the epithelium, basement membrane disintegration, and changes of the extracellular matrix are typical of mucosal preneoplasias. As a result of the different lesions, first of all the adenomatoid proliferations, and then focal and irreversible remodelling of the bronchial tree had occurred by the end of the experiments.


Academic Language and Learning (ALL) work involves collaborations between ALL lecturers and discipline lecturers. Charged with working alongside discipline lecturers to embed academic language and learning within the curriculum, ALL lecturers are faced with negotiating our place within these shared spaces. We identify important factors that shape the success of these collaborations. This includes uncertainties about how much time and information we are given to prepare and teach into the courses, the extent to which our suggestions and comments on the ways content is delivered, or assessments conducted, are welcomed or can be accomm-odated, and the extent to which we are included in the day to day communications and running of the course. In this paper we reflect on three collaborative teaching experiences involving first-year students. The literature describes different forms of collaborative approaches. Using these as a starting point, we extend our understanding of these practices by identifying and elaborating what we have found to be key dimensions of ALL lecturers and discipline lecturers working together. Personalities, experiences, and individual philosophies of learning of both discipline and ALL lecturers along with practical considerations come into play and contribute to what sometimes feels like an idiosyncratic and ad hoc approach to our work.


Local ecological knowledge (LEK) has been researched in the past to examine how it can aid and support
 scientific ecological knowledge (SEK). SEK is often seen as the preferred and superior type of knowledge when
 dealing with environmental changes. However, both of these types of knowledge are not segregated within individuals
 but are dependent on age, experience with the fishery, experience with a scientific organization, and/or perception
 of changes in the environment based on lived experiences. Interactions between LEK and SEK users is valuable to the
 conservation that is needed to protect these fish species and is dependent on how well these groups are sharing their
 knowledge and communicating with one another. For this study, I have examined the exchange of knowledge on steelhead
 trout within Idaho between anglers, Idaho Fish & Game, and the Office of Species Conservation. If these three groups
 are sharing SEK and LEK effectively, despite generational and organizational differences, then the variation between
 groups should be low. In addition to the exchange of knowledge, I have looked at communication, the meaning behind
 each group's knowledge, and how age and experience play a factor into their perception of change. Of those that
 responded to the questionnaire, there were 26 angler respondents, 21 Idaho Fish & Game respondents, and 6 Office of
 Species Conservation respondents. Statistical tests indicated that there was a significant difference in LEK scores
 between groups, and there was low communication between the Office of Species Conservation and anglers. There was a
 significant difference in where these groups reported that most of the mortality for steelhead occurred, and age and
 experience did not have an impact on LEK scores. These results indicate that there is variation between groups' LEK
 which could be due to variations in LEK between groups. How groups define local can cause variation between groups' LEK.