ABSTRACT    Autism is a behaviorally defined disorder associated with characteristic impairments in social interactions and communication, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors and interest. Its prevalence was once thought to be 2/10 000, but recently several large autism prevalence reviews revealed that the rate of occurrence was roughly 30/10 000. While it has been considered a developmental disorder, little is certain about its etiology. Neuroanatomical studies at the histological level in the brains of autistic patients provide many arguments in the etiology of autism. Results from postmortem and imaging studies have implicated many major structures of the brain including the limbic system, cerebellum, corpus callosum, basal ganglia and brainstem. There is no single biological or clinical marker for autism. While several promising candidate genes have been presented, the critical loci are yet unknown. Environmental influences such as rubella virus, valproic acid, and thalidomide exposure during pregnancy are also considered important, as concordance in monozygotic twins is less than 100% and the phenotypic expression of the disorder varies widely. It is thus hypothesized that non‐genetic mechanisms contribute to the onset of autistic syndrome. In light of these ambiguities, hope is held that an animal model of autism may help elucidate matters. In this article, we overview most of the currently available animal models for autism, and propose the rat with mild and transient neonatal hypothyroidism as a novel model for autism.


Climate change is expected to affect air temperature and watershed hydrology, but the degree to which these concurrent changes affect stream temperature is not well documented in the tropics. How stream temperature varies over time under changing hydrologic conditions is difficult to isolate from seasonal changes in air temperature. Groundwater and bank storage contributions to stream flow (i.e., base flow [BF]) buffer water temperatures against seasonal and daily fluctuations in solar radiation and air temperature, whereas rainfall‐driven runoff produces flooding events that also influence stream temperature. We used a space‐for‐time substitution to examine how shifts in BF and runoff alter thermal regimes in streams by analyzing hydrological and temperature data collected from similar elevations (400–510 m above sea level) across a 3,500‐mm mean annual rainfall gradient on Hawai'i Island. Sub‐daily water temperature and stream flow gathered for 3 years were analyzed for daily, monthly, and seasonal trends and compared with air temperature measured at multiple elevations. Results indicate that decreases in median BF increased mean, maximum, and minimum water temperatures as well as daily temperature range. Monthly and daily trends in stream temperature among watersheds were more pronounced than air temperature, driven by differences in groundwater inputs and runoff. Stream temperature was strongly negatively correlated to BF during the dry season but not during the wet season due to frequent wet season runoff events contributing to total flow. In addition to projected increases in global air temperature, climate driven shifts in rainfall and runoff are likely to affect stream flow and groundwater recharge, with concurrent influences on BF resulting in shifts in water temperature that are likely to affect aquatic ecosystems.


The concept of component miniaturization is core in the production of sensitive components of the micro, nano and meso-scale. Vibration assisted micro-end milling is a miniaturized machining method that effectively produce these components. This paper presents the linear and nonlinear models describing the vibratory behavior of the sensitive system bearing in mind the amplitude stability phenomenon. The linear case is considered and solved analytically, the non-linear case is solved using differential transform method. With the aid of the developed solutions, parametric studies are carried out and the results are discussed. It is hope that the present study will help the manufacturing industry's desire for maximizing metal removal rates while maintaining acceptable surface finish and tool life especially in the micro machining of various components for industrial applications, medical and energy industries.


Apoptosis, the terminal morphological and biochemical events of programmed cell death, is characterized by specific changes in cell surface and nuclear morphology. In addition, DNA fragmentation in an internucleosomal pattern is detectable in mass cultures of apoptotic cells. However, DNA fragmentation and nuclear morphological changes may not necessarily be associated events. In this study, we examined OVCAR-3 and KB human carcinoma cells using time-lapse video phase-contrast microscopy to characterize the surface and nuclear morphological features of apoptosis in response to treatment with either taxol or ricin. The surface morphological features of apoptosis were the same in both cell types and with both drugs. Using an in situ nick-translation histochemical assay, these single cells were also examined for DNA strand breaks during apoptosis. Surface morphological changes demonstrated discrete stages of cell rounding, surface blebbing, followed by cessation of movement and the extension of thin surface microspikes, followed much later by surface blistering and cell lysis. Nuclear features examined by DAPI cytochemistry demonstrated apoptotic nuclear condensation very early in this sequence, usually at the time of initial surface blebbing. The nick-translation assay, however, demonstrated DNA strand breaks at a much later time, only after the formation of separated apoptotic bodies or after final cell lysis. This study points out the differences between surface and nuclear morphological changes in apoptosis, and the large temporal separation between nuclear morphological changes and major DNA fragmentation detectable by this in situ technique. This result suggests caution in using in situ nick-translation as a direct correlate of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in apoptosis.


Abstract A 12-week-old sexually intact female domestic Dumbo rat ( Rattus norvegicus ) was presented for dystocia. The animal had maloccluded incisors, mucohemorrhagic vulvar discharge, and no evidence of obstruction of the pelvic canal. The animal was treated parenterally with calcium and oxytocin and provided supportive care. Controlled vaginal delivery under general anesthesia was unsuccessful. The animal was humanely euthanized and was diagnosed with bacterial placentitis on necropsy. Histopathologic examination revealed abundant filamentous, Gram-negative, Giemsa-positive bacteria associated with the placenta, endometrial surface, and uterine vessels of the dam, and alveolar spaces of multiple fetuses. Aerobic bacterial culture of placental tissues revealed small pure gray colonies of Gram-negative, rod-shaped, and filamentous bacteria. Polymerase chain reaction targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA gene followed by sequencing identified the etiologic agent as Streptobacillus moniliformis , the causative agent of rat bite fever and a zoonotic disease that historically has been considered a nonpathogenic commensal organism of the rat. The current report documents placentitis attributed to S. moniliformis infection in a rat and is consistent with reports in mice and humans that this organism may be an opportunistic pathogen of the female reproductive tract; it also suggests that S. moniliformis can cause primary disease in a rat.


Seed dormancy is an adaptive trait that does not allow the germination of an intact viable seed under favorable environmental conditions. Non-dormant seeds or seeds with low level of dormancy can germinate readily under optimal environmental conditions, and such a trait leads to preharvest sprouting, germination of seeds on the mother plant prior to harvest, which significantly reduces the yield and quality of cereal crops. High level of dormancy, on the other hand, may lead to non-uniform germination and seedling establishment. Therefore, intermediate dormancy is considered to be a desirable trait as it prevents the problems of sprouting and allows uniformity of postharvest germination of seeds. Induction, maintenance, and release of seed dormancy are complex physiological processes that are influenced by a wide range of endogenous and environmental factors. Plant hormones, mainly abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA), are the major endogenous factors that act antagonistically in the control of seed dormancy and germination; ABA positively regulates the induction and maintenance of dormancy, while GA enhances germination. Significant progress has been made in recent years in the elucidation of molecular mechanisms regulating ABA/GA balance and thereby dormancy and germination in cereal seeds, and this review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the topic.


Introduction: Physical exercise is receiving increasing interest as an augmentative non-pharmacological intervention in Parkinson's disease (PD). This pilot study primarily aimed to quantify individual response patterns of motor symptoms to alternating exercise modalities, along with non-motor functioning and blood biomarkers of neuroplasticity and neurodegeneration. Materials & Methods: People with PD performed high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and continuous aerobic exercise (CAE) using a crossover single-case experimental design. A repeated assessment of outcome measures was conducted. The trajectories of outcome measures were visualized in time series plots and interpreted relative to the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and smallest detectable change (SDC) or as a change in the positive or negative direction using trend lines. Results: Data of three participants were analyzed and engaging in physical exercise seemed beneficial for reducing motor symptoms. Participant 1 demonstrated improvement in motor function, independent of exercise modality; while for participant 2, such a clinically relevant (positive) change in motor function was only observed in response to CAE. Participant 3 showed improved motor function after HIIT, but no comparison could be made with CAE because of drop-out. Heterogeneous responses on secondary outcome measures were found, not only between exercise modalities but also among participants. Conclusion: Though this study underpins the positive impact of physical exercise in the management of PD, large variability in individual response patterns to the interventions among participants makes it difficult to identify clear exercise-induced adaptations in functioning and blood biomarkers. Further research is needed to overcome methodological challenges in measuring individual response patterns.


OBJECTIVE
To detect the presence of endothelial injury in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) via enhanced levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and soluble thrombomodulin (sTM).

METHODS
Case patients were from Xuanwu Hospital (Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China), and all of them met clinical criteria for SARS. Healthy controls were some of the hospital employees. Endothelial injury bio-markers tPA and sTM were detected by commercial ELISA-methods.

RESULTS
Classic plasma markers of endothelial injury, tPA and sTM significantly elevated in SARS patients in comparison to controls [t-PA: 1.48 +/- 0.16 nmol/L versus 0.25 +/- 0.03 nmol/L (P<0.0001), and sTM: 0.26 +/- 0.06 nmol/L versus 0.14 +/- 0.02 nmol/L (P<0.05)]. The only patient who died had extremely high levels of these endothelial injury markers (t-PA: 2.77 nmol/L and sTM: 1.01 nmol/L). The likelihood ratio analysis indicated the excellent discriminating power for SARS at the optimal cut-point of 0.49 nmol/L for tPA and 0.20 nmol/L for sTM, respectively. Significant numerical correlations were found among these endothelial injury markers in SARS patients. The numerical coefficient of correlation Pearson r between t-PA and sTM was 0.5867 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION
Increased plasma concentrations of tPA and sTM in patients with SARS suggest the possibility of endothelial injury. SARS patients might need anticoagulant therapy or fibrinolytic therapy in order to reverse intraalveolar coagulation, microthrombi formation, alveolar and interstitial fibrin deposition. It may not only provide a useful treatment and prognostic index but also allow a further understanding of the pathological condition of the disease.


Black band disease (BBD) is a complex, polymicrobial disease that consists of cyanobacteria, sulfide- oxidizing and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), and heterotrophic bacteria. The cyanobacterium Roseofilum reptotaenium has been implicated as the primary pathogen of BBD, but other consortium members may be secondary pathogens that are necessary to the development of the disease. It is known that populations of the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio are present in BBD and that these populations generate sulfide within the band as a byproduct of dissimilatory sulfate reduction. It is also known that exposure of healthy corals to sulfide leads to cell lysis and coral tissue death. Previous work showed that when freshly collected BBD, which easily infects healthy corals, is exposed to sodium molybdate, a specific inhibitor of sulfate reduction, infection does not occur. In this study we examined the effect of sodium molybdate on infection of corals by a unialgal culture of R. reptotaenium. Coral fragments of Montastraea cavernosa and Siderastrea siderea were transferred into two experimental aquaria, one a control with only artificial seawater (ASW) and the second containing ASW and 2mM sodium molybdate. Small mats of cultured R. reptotaenium were inoculated onto the surface of experimental coral fragments. Both M. cavernosa (n = 6) and S. siderea (n=4) became infected and developed BBD-like infections in the control tank, while there were temporary attachments to, but no successful infection of M. cavernosa (n=3) or S. siderea (n=2) in the experimental tank containing sodium molybdate. The results of this study reveal that a secondary pathogen is essential to the infection process and development of BBD in scleractinian corals. Specifically, SRB such as Desulfovibrio are required for the development of BBD on the coral host. This is the first step in understanding the roles of secondary pathogens in a complex, polymicrobial coral disease. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (Suppl. 3): 1-9. Epub 2014 September 01.


Abstract To gain insight into the process of applying two guidance strategies – face-to-face (F2F) or e-guidance strategy (EC) – of a Participatory Ergonomics (PE) intervention and whether differences between these guidance strategies occur, 12 construction companies were randomly assigned to a strategy. The process evaluation contained reach, dose delivered, dose received, precision, competence, satisfaction and behavioural change of individual workers. Data were assessed by logbooks, and questionnaires and interviews at baseline and/or after six months. Reach was low (1%). Dose delivered (F2F: 63%; EC: 44%), received (F2F: 42%; EC: 16%) were not sufficient. The precision and competence were sufficient for both strategies and satisfaction was strongly affected by dose received. For behavioural change, knowledge (F2F) and culture (EC) changed positively within companies. Neither strategy was delivered as intended. Compliance to the intervention was low, especially for EC. Starting with a face-to-face meeting might lead to higher compliance, especially in the EC group. Practitioner Summary: This study showed that compliance to a face-to-face and an e-guidance strategy is low. To improve the compliance, it is advised to start with a face-to-face meeting to see which parts of the intervention are needed and which guidance strategy can be used for these parts. Trial registration: ISRCTN73075751


Target: analysis of migration flows in modern Russia and identification of possible threats to economic security and social stability associated with population migration. Methods: a systematic approach, population analysis, comparative analysis, generalization and interpretation of the results. Results and discussion: On the basis of official statistics and expert estimates, an analysis of the situation in the field of population migration in Russia was carried out, the main directions of population redistribution were identified, the need for adjusting the socio-economic policy in regions experiencing significant migration was substantiated. Conclusions. Conclusions are drawn about the possible increase in the negative impact of migration processes on the socio-economic development of the Russian Federation as a whole and individual regions, in particular, which requires their detailed study in order to take measures to optimize migration flows and adjust social and economic policies.


Abstract Land abandonment is a complex multi-dimensional process with interlinked economic, environmental and social aspects. This paper presents a case study of an isolated hill sheep farming community in SW Ireland, where a combination of low incomes, ageing population, lack of successors and strong environmental constraints are perceived to be among the main factors leading to their demise. However, the uplands they have grazed for generations are of high nature conservation value, and depend on active management to maintain both their ecology and landscapes. The research, which is based on a combination of interviews and farming systems research, highlights the misfit between what the mountain can produce, light hill lamb, and what the globalised market demands. The paper argues that if 'farming for conservation' is the new function of such farming systems, then we should consider decoupling public goods payments from agricultural subsidies, along with integrating agriculture in disadvantaged areas within a broader rural development framework. The research aims to fill the gap between macro policy and the micro reality of an upland community on a self-declared 'tipping point'.


In this study, a methodology for the selection of speed limits in sections enforced with automated section speed enforcement systems (ASSESs) has been proposed. Results of the speed control system have been assessed by speed monitoring after the system implementation in the Italian Motorway A3 Naples-Salerno. The speed limits were selected taking into account the average of the following values: (1) minimum design speed; (2) minimum speed consistent with the available stopping sight distance; and (3) operating speeds before the ASSES implementation. The first two criteria take into account safety whereas the third criterion takes into account the mobility needs. The speed limits selected with these criteria were then refined basing on: maximum difference between the section speed limit and the minimum speed evaluated with criteria 1 and 2, evaluation of critical conditions, and consistency between the speed limits and the highway function. Overall, non compliance to the speed limits was equal to 50%. Non compliance was higher for heavy vehicles (60-70%) than for light vehicles (32-65%). Non compliance of light vehicles was much higher in the sections with the most constrained alignments (64% in sections with speed limit equal to 80 kph vs. 34% in sections with speed limit equal to 100 kph). Higher compliance to the speed limits, according to the authors' belief, might be achieved by a better strategy of communication and information to the road users and a speed limit management strategy synergic between the highway agency and the Police.


Frailty is a state of vulnerability to stressors resulting in higher morbidity, mortality and healthcare utilization in older adults. Frailty impact on healthcare utilization in patients with T2DM is not well characterized. The aim of this study was to determine in a community cohort of older patients (65 years and older) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) whether frailty is associated with healthcare utilization. Community dwelling Veterans with T2DM underwent frailty assessment with the validated 5-item FRAIL Scale (frail ≥ 3; pre-frail 1-2; robust 0 points) between January 2016 and December 2017. At one year follow-up, we aggregated data on patients with a least one primary care visit, hospitalization and/or ER visit. Binomial logistic regression was used to examine the association between frailty and emergency department (ED) visits or hospitalizations. Among 868 patients (mean age 74 ± 7 years, 98% men), 31% were robust, 36% prefrail, and 33% frail. Over a mean follow-up period of 274 ± 90 days, 1221 primary care visits, 396 ED visits, and 219 hospitalizations occurred. Frailty was associated with an increased risk for ED visits (odds ratio: 1.73, 95% CI 1.19-2.52) and an increased risk for hospitalizations (odds ratio: 3.88, 95% CI 1.18-8.22). The population-attributable risk associated with frailty was 51% for ED visits and 40% for hospitalizations. In conclusion, frailty is a strong predictor of ED visits and hospitalizations in older patients with T2DM. As frailty is a potentially treatable condition, it should be part of the clinical evaluation of patients with T2DM. Disclosure S. Priyadarshni: None. S. Nelluri: None. Z. Rahaman: None. M.J. Mintzer: None. S. Dang: None. W. Valencia: None. J.G. Ruiz: None.


This research study is to investigate crucial factors such as service quality and brand loyalty of the Smartphones users in District Vehari, Punjab, Pakistan. Participants of research study are the students of higher education institutes in District Vehari, Punjab, Pakistan. For the explanation of this research study Independent variable is the four dimensions of customer service quality such as Value-added-services, Mobile devices,Price,Customer services and dependent variable brand loyalty. Researcher has used both explanatory and descriptive approach on this survey based research study. Questionnaire as instrument of data collection is formed by a synthesis of existing constructs in relevant literature. Non-probability technique such as convenience sampling is used for sample design and collected data put in SPSS software version 20 for drawn the deductive conclusion. A series of statistical techniques i.e. frequency distribution, reliability, validity, regression and correlation are conducted to test the hypotheses. The findings show that service quality dimensions as a whole on brand loyalty are significant, since the 14.5 percent of the total variance is explained. Four service quality dimensions are proved to have positive effects on brand loyalty. Those are Value-added-services (standard beta, .155, p, 0.27) Price (standard beta .184, p, 0.009), Mob devices (standard beta .188, p, 0.007), and Customer services (standard beta .158, p, 0.023). Value of research study it is of great importance for mobile operators in an emerging market such as that of Pakistan, to understand what the drivers of brand loyalty are. The present study produced useful findings, which can be utilized by Smartphones provider managers, in their effort to develop and implement successful customer loyalty strategies. The future research study could examine other factors such as trust, attractiveness of alternatives, brand experience and brand image. Moreover, the investigation of the mediation role of switching costs on the link between customer service quality and brand loyalty could enhance the research model. Keywords: Services quality, Brand loyalty (BL), Mobile devices (MOBDEV), Value-added-services (VADS), Customer services (CUSER).


Abstract In the field of neuropsychiatry, neuroinflammation is one of the prevailing hypotheses to explain the pathophysiology of mood and psychotic disorders. Neuroinflammation encompasses an ill-defined set of pathophysiological processes in the central nervous system that cause neuronal or glial atrophy or death and disruptions in neurotransmitter signaling, resulting in cognitive and behavioral changes. Positron emission tomography for the brain-based translocator protein has been shown to be a useful tool to measure glial activation in neuropsychiatric disorders. Recent neuroimaging studies also indicate a potential disruption in the choroid plexus and blood-brain barrier, which modulate the transfer of ions, molecules, toxins, and cells from the periphery into the brain. Simultaneously, peripheral inflammatory markers have consistently been shown to be altered in mood and psychotic disorders. The crosstalk (i.e., the communication between peripheral and central inflammatory pathways) is not well understood in these disorders, however, and neuroimaging studies hold promise to shed light on this complex process. In the current Perspectives article, we discuss the neuroimaging insights into neuroimmune crosstalk offered in selected works. Overall, evidence exists for peripheral immune cell infiltration into the central nervous system in some patients, but the reason for this is unknown. Future neuroimaging studies should aim to extend our knowledge of this system and the role it likely plays in symptom onset and recurrence.


The purpose of the study was to analyze professional literature sources devoted to the influence of homocysteine on the development of vascular disorders. The role of homocysteine as a biomarker of vascular pathology is considered. Materials and methods. Bibliosemantic and analytical methods were used in the study. The analysis of the specialized literature (47 sources) was carried out using information in the scientific-metric databases MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. Results and discussion. Homocysteinemia is a pathological condition associated with quite serious consequences for the body; the endothelium of vessels suffers mostly: systemic endothelial dysfunction develops (including disruption of the synthesis and exchange of the endothelium-relaxing factor – nitric oxide), oxidative stress, activation of platelet aggregation, hypercoagulation occurs (due to a decrease in the activity of heparin, thrombomodulin and an increase in the activity of thromboxane A2). The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in Ukraine is quite high and reaches 10% among healthy adults, 2% among young people and adolescents, from 13% to 43% in patients with cardiovascular pathology. The C677T polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene is widespread among the population of Ukraine (40.7%). Researchers believe that hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent and modifiable risk factor for vascular pathology. Conclusion. Homocysteine is recognized as one of the markers of vascular pathology. Scientists consider the activation of oxidative stress, damage to the endothelium, stimulation of the proliferation of smooth muscle cells, and pro-inflammatory effects to be the main mechanisms of vascular damage in hyperhomocysteinemia. The described pathological changes are accompanied by a violation of the regulation of vascular tone, mostly due to a decrease in the synthesis of nitric oxide. Unbalanced synthesis of nitric oxide causes and potentiates oxidative stress, the processes of atherothrombogenesis. The professional literature presents enough scientific data that convincingly prove the role of homocysteine in the development of cardiovascular and neurological pathology. However, there is a small number of studies devoted to the relationship between hyperhomocysteinemia and periodontal diseases, and the pathogenetic mechanisms of the influence of hyperhomocysteinemia on the development of vascular disorders in coronavirus disease are not fully disclosed


The treatment of morphoeic (or sclerosing) basal cell carcinoma (mBCC) of the face is associated with high rates of incomplete excision and recurrence. A principal risk factor for incomplete resection is the grade of surgeon. We did a prospective, randomised study of 40 consecutive patients with mBCC of the face. The extent of the tumour was assessed under standard conditions by consultant surgeons and compared with assessments by resident surgeons with the help of the Varioscope®, a combination of microscope and loupe glasses with strong illumination and a maximal magnification of 7×. The data from a former retrospective study of all excisions of mBCC of the face during a five-year period at the hospital served as control. Residents with the support of the Varioscope® achieved a rate of incomplete excisions similar to that of consultants under standard conditions. There was a significant reduction of the rate of incomplete resections by resident surgeons thanks to high magnification and good lighting (p=0.02). High magnification and good lighting were useful in learning how to recognise skin changes associated with mBCC of the face and achieving a low rate of incomplete excisions.


In this work, we proposed a novel receiver with three stages circuits, i.e., voltage-conversion, data-sampling and data-holding. The simulation results revealed that the receiver designed in this method reduced the rising and falling time of the input data from 700 ps to 140 ps in data-sampling circuit. It suggests that the accuracy and resolution for sampled data were improved.


: Authentication is the process to validate the user identity and to grant some resources or services to the user. Authentication process uses many factors like password, biometrics, or One Time Password. Multifactor authentication model always gives higher security than single-factor authentication model. Fingerprint Hash code is not used for full security or authentication purpose but it can be combined with other security elements like password or OTP in order to enhance security. Fingerprint Hash code acts as a key, which can uniquely identify every person. So it can be replaceable with user-id or username and can work along with text-based or picture based or pattern based passwords. In this paper based on focus group interaction, first, we define an Ideal Authentication System. The Ideal Authentication System used in this study consists of different components like Ideal Security, Ideal User-Friendly, Ideal Input, Ideal Process, and Ideal Performance Evaluation Matrices. In this paper, we also compare new Multifactor Authentication Model based on Fingerprint Hash code, OTP, and Password with existing authentication systems. The traditional user-id, password-based internet/mobile banking system, Apple iPhone X face recognition system, HDFC OTP Checkout for online transactions and Indian Aadhaar card registration process are the different existing systems used in this study to compare with the new model.


A solid-state reference electrode (SSRE) was fabricated by layering a silicone rubber (SR) film containing KCl on an AgCl surface, then a perfluorinated ionomer film, and finally a polyurethane-based membrane containing an ionophore, a lipophilic ionic additive, and a plasticizer, respectively. The addition of SiCl4 to the polyurethane-based membrane layer enhanced the strength of the membrane in an aqueous solution. The morphologies of the membranes were studied separately by SEM. The fabrication of the Ag/AgCl electrode through this layer-by-layer polymer coating improved the electrode stability enormously. In addition, the potential drift of the SSRE according to the pH of the medium was minimized by introducing a H+-ion-selective ionophore (tridodecylamine; TDDA) into the outmost polymer membrane. The cyclic voltammetric and potentiometric responses using the SSRE and a conventional reference electrode, respectively, were consistent. The SSRE exhibited little potential variation even in the case of the addition of very high concentrations of various salts, such as Na salicylate, LiCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, KNO3, NaCl, and NaHCO3. The practicability of the proposed SSRE was tested for the determination of blood pH and pCO2 in a flow cell system. The SSRE fabricated in the present study was stable over two years.


To date, most research on the characteristics of glacial debris flow along the Sichuan–Tibet railway has focused on numerical simulations and remote sensing, resulting in a lack of direct experimental data from debris flow samples. Therefore, in the present study, a field investigation was conducted along the Sichuan–Tibet railway, and 55 samples of glacial debris flow deposits were systematically analyzed to determine their grading and rheological properties. This is the first systematic experimental study on glacial debris flow deposits. The results showed that the proportion of coarse particles was high and the proportion of fine particles was low in the glacial debris flow along the Sichuan–Tibet railway. The average gravel and sand contents were 37.8% and 58%, respectively, and the average contents of silt and clay were 3.7% and 0.47%, respectively. The average fractal dimension was 2.1507, which is much greater than that of viscous debris flow. Under the same gravity and shear rate, the stress of typical glacial debris flow was significantly less than that of viscous debris flow, whereas the variability of the stress was more significant. These findings will contribute to revealing the movement rules and disaster risk of glacier debris flow along the Sichuan–Tibet railway and have considerable theoretical and practical significance for ensuring safety during both its construction and later operation.


Using the Flying Spot Technique (FST) we have studied minority carrier transport parallel and perpendicular to the surface of amorphous silicon films (a-Si:H). To reduce slow transients due to charge redistribution in low resistivity regions during the measurement we have applied a strong homogeneously absorbed bias light. The defect density was estimated from CPM measurements. The steady-state photocarrier grating technique (SSPG) is a 1-dimensional approach. However, the modulation depth of the carrier profile is also dependent on film surface properties, like surface recombination velocity. Both methods yield comparable diffusion lengths when applied to a-Si:H.


Isolated subclavian artery arising from the pulmonary artery is exceedingly rare. Most cases are associated with other forms of congenital heart disease and typically present with subclavian or pulmonary steal syndromes. We report the case of a patient with pulmonary hypertension which masked the isolated subclavian artery, allowing it to masquerade as another common congenital heart lesion.


Six macrotidal beaches located on two Chilean coastal islands (Santa María and Mocha, SE Pacific Ocean) were investigated in spring 2001 (29 October–3 November) to verify the role of the food supply (in terms of quantity and biochemical composition of the organic matter) on the abundance and diversity of the macro- and meiobenthic communities inhabiting the beaches. Samples of sediment were collected from the intertidal zone of the three beaches of each island investigated. The total organic matter content of the sediment did not differ between the islands, whereas the phytopigment and protein contents were significantly higher on Mocha (2.3±0.9 and 75±21 μ g g−1, mean values of the three beaches±SE, respectively) than on Santa María (0.5±0.2 and 50±16 μ g g−1, mean values of the three beaches±SE). The macro- and meiofaunal assemblages displayed the highest abundances on Mocha (821±223 and 561±194 ind. 10 cm−2, respectively). The abundance of both assemblages was correlated with the quality of the food supply, and significant correlations were observed with the phytopigment content (Spearman-rank R=0.645 p<0.01 and R=0.934 p<0.001 for the macro- and meiofauna, respectively). The results of the present study suggest that food availability may play a key role in structuring benthic communities of the oceanic beaches of Chilean coastal islands. A single observation is not enough to fully understand the real mechanisms that shape the beach communities, however, the snapshot image we collected during this study suggests that the role of food availability in shaping benthic beach communities may be as important as that played by the hydrodynamic conditions.


Theory predicts that individuals' sexism serves to exacerbate inequality in their society's gender hierarchy. Past research, however, has provided only correlational evidence to support this hypothesis. In this study, I analyzed a large longitudinal data set that included representative data from 57 societies. Multilevel modeling showed that sexism directly predicted increases in gender inequality. This study provides the first evidence that sexist ideologies can create gender inequality within societies, and this finding suggests that sexism not only legitimizes the societal status quo, but also actively enhances the severity of the gender hierarchy. Three potential mechanisms for this effect are discussed briefly.


"... Society's most important investment is in the education of its people. We suffer in the absence of good education: we prosper in its presence." (Donald J. Johnston) Entrepreneurial answer (proactivity, innovativeness, capacity to assume risk, and managing change) of university is a chance for active participation in development of the society, in which knowledge becomes a right and an obligation for all. Entrepreneurial answer offers a formula for institutional development of university in which university defines and determines its autonomy, ensures diversified financing (and thus decreases its dependence on the state), develops new university departments and activities in accordance with society's demand, and leads to structural changes, which are ensuring better university's capacity in responding to changes. In order for that to be possible, the assumption is that university is unique, but also subsidiary and autonomous, and responsible towards the environment in which it operates. The role of entrepreneurial university is emphasized in the Triple Helix concept of regional development, using current discussion on interconnection and functioning of three forces (actors) in society: university, business sector and government (Blenker et al. 2006 ; Etzkowitz et.al. 2000 ; Etzkowitz and Leydesdorff 1999). Integrating discussions about the characteristics of entrepreneurial university stated by various authors (especially Clark 1998 and Gibb 2005) with knowledge on functioning of entrepreneurially oriented organizations (e.g. Lumpkin and Dess 1996), a model of entrepreneurial university is developed. By comparing the model of entrepreneurial university with situation at the J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, it is concluded that some elements of this model are now present at the university: some of the periphery institutions, there is diversified financing ; interdisciplinarity of teaching is manifested through several university interdisciplinary graduate programs ; connections between individual elements of the model exist at the Osijek University, as well as some of the connections with value components of the model (autonomy and responsibility of university), but these are insufficiently developed and aren't contributing in the full sense to the development of the model. The goal of this paper is to see whether J.J. Strossmayer University in Osijek is entrepreneurial and what needs to be done in order for it to become entrepreneurial and why it is important to any university with particular focus on this University.


In this paper we propose a generalization of deep neural networks called deep function machines (DFMs). DFMs act on vector spaces of arbitrary (possibly infinite) dimension and we show that a family of DFMs are invariant to the dimension of input data; that is, the parameterization of the model does not directly hinge on the quality of the input (eg. high resolution images). Using this generalization we provide a new theory of universal approximation of bounded non-linear operators between function spaces. We then suggest that DFMs provide an expressive framework for designing new neural network layer types with topological considerations in mind. Finally, we introduce a novel architecture, RippLeNet, for resolution invariant computer vision, which empirically achieves state of the art invariance.


The Semantic Web envisions a distributed environment with well-defined data that can be understood and used by machines. This machine-understandable knowledge allows intelligent agents to automatically take decisions and perform tasks on our behalf. In the past, different Semantic Web policy languages have been developed as a powerful means to describe a system's behavior by defining statements about how the system must behave under certain conditions. With the growing dynamics of the Semantic Web the need for a reactive control based on changing and evolving situations arises. This paper presents preliminary results towards a framework for the specification and enforcement of reactive Semantic Web policies, which can be used in order to allow agents to automatically perform advanced and powerful tasks, which can neither be addressed by existing Semantic Web policy languages nor by recent efforts towards reactivity on the Semantic Web.


Fast product innovation and creativity is driving the development strategies of the most nations enjoying high economic growth. The development of fast innovative new products needs to be based on a close alignment between technology, products and markets, with a focus on achieving increased aggregate value. This paper is dealing with important technological and organizational integration variables of new organizational products and with the motivation of workers to innovate.


The article presents selected issues related to delegalization of political parties. The political parties are indispensable institutions in the systemic life of a democratic state. The authors analyze selected judgments of the European Court of Human Rights related to the standards of delegalization of political parties. The authors conclude that in the existing case law of the ECHR, the main focus is on the external activities of political parties. In determining whether a political party is undemocratic, the focus is primarily on the aims and practices of the party.


This paper examines the causal relationship between carbon ( 2 CO ) emissions and economic growth in seven SAARC countries using time series data for the period from 1972-2012. We applied Vector Error Correction Modeling (VECM) approach. We have also applied Augmented DickeyFuller (ADF) and Phillips-Perron (P.P) test and Johansen's cointegration approach to check time series properties and cointegration relationship of the variables. Results exhibit a cointegration relationship between environmental pollution and economic growth. Results also show that the estimated coefficients of 2 CO emissions have positive and significant impacts on GDP in the long run. These results will help the environmental authorities to understand the effects of economic growth on environment for degradation and manage the environmental problems using macroeconomic methods.


Coherent combination of the power of several semiconductor lasers fabricated on the same substrate has been the subject of an intense research effort in recent years, the main moti vation being to obtain higher power levels than those available from a single laser in a stable radiation pattern. Best results reported so far include 2.6 Watts cw emitted power and less than 1° far-field angle (in the array plane) in arrays where all the lasers are electrically connected in parallel. A different type of coherent array, where each element has a separate contact, has been recently demonstrated. While requiring the more complex two-level metallization technology, applying a separate contact to each laser provides an additional degree of freedom in the design and the operation of monolithic arrays. The separate contacts can be employed to tailor the near-field and far-field distributions and to compensate for device-to-device nonuniformities. Furthermore, the control of the cur rents of the array elements allows the performance of a variety of other functions, such as beam scanning, spectral mode control, wavelength tuning and control of the mutual coherence between array elements.


We describe the preparation and characterization of photonic colloidal crystals from silica spheres with incorporated luminescent [Mo(6)Br(14)](2-) cluster units. These structures exhibit strong angle-dependent luminescent properties. The incorporation of one or several planar defects in the periodic structures gives rise to the creation of a passband in the stopband. In the energy range of this passband, an increase of the emission intensity has been found.


Three years after restoration treatment, total trout density increased 59 percent from pre-treatment conditions and approached that of relatively undisturbed reference streams. Improvements in most streams were followed by increasing and sustained trends in total trout density, although individual stream population responses varied between native and non-native species and among treatment sites based on environmental and human use factors.


This work aims to provide a mechanical model for the Propagation Saw Test (PST) based on the Euler-Bernoulli beam, allowing a description of the slab and weak layer stress states in the quasistatic regime. We assume an elastic-perfectly brittle model as constitutive law for both the snow slab, which can fracture for high tensile stresses, and the weak layer, which can fail under compressive or shear stress. The stress evolution is mainly determined by the crack length, which is initially created by the saw and, subsequently, increases due to weak layer failure in case of self-propagation. Thanks to the proposed method, the two main test outcomes -full propagation (END) and slab fracture (SF)can be found as observed in field experiments. Moreover, the PST parameters can be studied separately, providing a powerful tool to understand the dependence of the outcome from numerous quantities in the test, both geometrical and mechanical.


While perhaps best known as 'The Great Emancipator', Abraham Lincoln could also be called a theoretical ancestor of the New Rhetoric. Lincoln's mastery of language in 'The Gettysburg Address' reveals a deft application of what would come to be known among rhetorical scholars as epistemic rhetoric--over 100 years later. This article discusses the lesser-known side of Lincoln as rhetorician and argues that the sixteenth President of the United States prefigured the course of a nation in a two-minute speech at a Pennsylvania cemetery.


A comprehensive, GIS-based modeling approach was developed to enable accurate prediction of nutrient loads in watersheds throughout the state of Pennsylvania; particularly those watersheds for which stream monitoring data do not exist. This approach relies on the use of statewide GIS data sets for deriving reasonably good estimates for various critical model parameters that exhibit considerable spatial variability within the state. Data manipulation and subsequent simulation modeling is managed via an interface (called AVGWLF) between a popular desktop GIS software package (ArcView) and the Generalized Watershed Loading Function (GWLF) model. The modeling approach was tested in thirty-two (32) watersheds throughout Pennsylvania, and a statistical evaluation of the accuracy of the load predictions was made. Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients of correlation derived for the calibration and verification watersheds ranged in value from 0.92 to 0.97 for both nitrogen and phosphorus when considering mean annual loads. The median N-S values for nitrogen varied between 0.64 to 0.70 for monthly, seasonal, and year-to-year load estimates; and for phosphorus they varied between 0.61 and 0.72.


In this paper, BN interfacial phase was prepared on SiC fiber surface and CVD SiC gradient coating was prepared on the surface of SiCf/SiC-CMCs composite. CVD SiC coatings were fabricated by the pyrolysis of methyltrichlorosilane (MTS) in hydrogen at a low pressure of 5-10kPa. The ratio of MTS to hydrogen is 1 to 12.Oxidation behaviour is examined by placing the material with coats in air. The oxidizing temperatures were varied from 100C to 1200C. Optical microscope and SEM were used to observe the surface morphology and microstructure of coatings. XRD was used to characterize the phase composition. The results indicated that the Oxidation of SiC/SiC-CMC is the most serious at 800C. Tensile strength test shows that the fracture strength of the material is the lowest and with the increase of temperature to 1200C, the tensile strength of the material increases. Tensile strength test shows that the fracture strength of the material is the lowest and with the increase of temperature to 1200C, the tensile strength of the material increases.


SCIENTIFIC research establishments and those supplying animals for use in scientific procedures are required under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to appoint a Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS) who is responsible for advising on the health and welfare of animals used and bred within these establishments. NVS work may be full time or part time, employed or self-employed. The author of this article spends approximately one-fifth of his time as an NVS for a local tertiary education establishment, and the remainder in general veterinary practice. He has found this combination immensely satisfying: not only do his NVS duties provide a refreshing contrast to his day-to-day clinical work, but he has also acquired new skills and expertise that he has been able to channel back into the practice. Moreover, he relishes the opportunity that his role as an NVS gives him to influence animal welfare - something that is not always easy to achieve in general practice.


Information fusion has become a powerful tool for challenging ap- plications such as biological prediction problems. In this paper, we apply a new information-theoretical fusion technique to HIV-1 protease cleavage site prediction, which is a problem that has been in the focus of much interest and investigation of the machine learning community recently. It poses a difficult classification task due to its high dimensional feature space and a relatively small set of available training patterns. We also apply a new set of biophysical features to this problem and present experiments with neural networks, support vector machines, and decision trees. Application of our feature set results in high recognition rates and concise decision trees, pro- ducing manageable rule sets that can guide future experiments. In particu- lar, we found a combination of neural networks and support vector machines to be beneficial for this problem.


This paper discusses barriers to higher education and distance learning in a prison environment and suggests innovative pedagogical and technological improvements.

Offenders are an extremely vulnerable layer of society; they are far more likely to have truanted or been excluded from school and are more likely to have left school with no qualifications. Often the standard classroom environment offered in prison is not appropriate or is not at the required level to meet their individual educational needs. Access to higher education (HE) and distance learning (DL) are required to develop the confidence and skills to gain meaningful employment on release and to open new doors to rehabilitation.

The authors of this paper each completed longitudinal offender learner studies evaluating HE pedagogy within a UK prison setting. Pike conducted in-depth & informal interviews, observational studies, questionnaires and longitudinal studies with 91 prison learners and staff (tutors, co-coordinators, managers, and librarians) across 15 UK prisons. Irwin's ethnographic study collected 35 prisoner biographies within the Maghaberry Prison in Northern Ireland over a 5 year period. The findings of these studies (Pike, 2007B, Irwin, 2008A) identified barriers for educators in a prison environment and potential pedagogical and technological routes to engaging prisoners in HE learning (e.g. flexible pedagogy, safe yet innovative e-learning platforms and distance education models).

The authors have used their knowledge from their independent research and their experiences as practitioners, to discuss the issues identified at a series of international workshops at the 5th Pan Commonwealth Forum on Distance Education in July 2008. The presenters at the workshops, which included the authors, came from England, Northern Ireland, Spain, France and India. They formed a study group to debate the benefits and the barriers to HE and DL for offenders, security staff and educators. This paper links some of the findings from the international workshops to transnational research and develops arguments for 'best practice' which are debated within a national and international policy context. Recommendations for improved pedagogy and technology are proposed.


The study was carried out to investigate the pigments (chlorophyll and anthocyanin), total phenol, flavonoid and mineral (K+) content in water apple fruit affected by gibberellic acid. The lowest amount of chlorophyll was observed in the control treatment. The highest chlorophyll content was found at 60 ppm GA3. The most effective concentration to earlier maturity of water apple fruit was 60 ppm of GA3. Moreover, flavonoid content was observed higher in 60 ppm GA3 than control, 30 and 90 ppm GA3 concentration. However, the most effective concentration for flavonoid content was in the 60 ppm GA3. Fruit K+ content was significantly increased by GA3 treatments, especially at 60 ppm. Anthocyanin compounds were found increasing trend while increasing the maturity development.


Abstract Synaptic vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane to release neurotransmitter following an action potential, after which new vesicles must refill vacated release sites. How many vesicles can fuse at a single active zone, where they fuse within the active zone, and how quickly they are replaced with new vesicles is not well-established. To capture synaptic vesicle exocytosis at cultured mouse hippocampal synapses, we induced single action potentials by electrical field stimulation then subjected neurons to high-pressure freezing to examine their morphology by electron microscopy. During synchronous release, multiple vesicles can fuse at a single active zone; this multivesicular release is augmented by increasing the extracellular calcium concentration. Synchronous fusions are distributed throughout the active zone, whereas asynchronous fusions are biased toward the center of the active zone. Immediately after stimulation a large fraction of vesicles become undocked. Between 8 and 14 ms, new vesicles are recruited to the plasma membrane and fully replenish the docked pool, but docking of these vesicles is transient and they either undock or fuse within 100 ms. These results demonstrate that recruitment of synaptic vesicles to release sites is rapid and reversible.


The enhance benefit use of reactive power additional supplied by synchronous based distributed generators to reduce real power loss in distribution system is studied in this paper. Objective is to compare the amount of loss reduced between the constant power factor (CPF) and the optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) schemes. The former is a traditional scheme of controlling reactive power with a specified constant power factor whereas framework of the proposed ORPD is formulated for optimizing real power loss whose obtained result is the amount of reactive power injected hourly. A linear programming is adopted in accordance with sensitivity factors to solve for the optimal solution of the ORPD scheme. Several scenarios of a 38-bus radial distribution system together with ten load profiles recorded from the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA)psilas substation in Thailand are examined. Analysis of these two schemes are performed to verify the worth and feasibility for implementing the proposed scheme in a real system.


Human noroviruses (NoVs) are a major cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis. Although histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) have been implicated in the initial binding of NoV, the mechanism of that binding before internalization is not clear. To determine the involvement of NoVs and HBGAs in cell binding, we examined the localization of NoV virus-like particles (VLPs) and HBGAs in a human intestinal cell line and the human ileum biopsy specimens by immunofluorescence microscopy. The localizations of Ueno 7k VLPs (genogroup II.6) and each HBGA (type H1-, H2- and Leb-HBGAs) on the human intestinal cell line, Caco-2, were examined by confocal laser-scanning microscopy. To explore any interactions of NoVs and HBGAs in vivo, fresh biopsy specimens from human ileum were directly incubated with NoV VLPs and examined by immunofluorescence microscopy. We found that VLP binding depended on the state of cell differentiation, but not on the presence of HBGAs. In differentiated Caco-2 cells, we detected no type H1 HBGAs, but VLPs bound to the cells anyway. We incubated fresh biopsies of human ileum directly with VLPs, a model that better replicates the in vivo environment. VLPs mainly bound epithelial cells and goblet cells. Although the incubations were performed at 4°C to hinder internalization, VLPs were still detected inside cells. Our results suggest that VLPs utilize molecule(s) other than HBGAs during binding and internalization into cells.


Mitochondrial genes have been extensively used for phylogenetic research on pikas but mtDNA introgression cannot be ignored in genus Ochotona . Therefore, samples of different species of pikas were used to observe gene introgression. Total 47 samples from three sub genera were used. Two mitochondrial ( CYT B and COI ) and five nuclear gene segments ( RAG1, RAG2, TTN, OXAIL and IL1RAPL1 ) were sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses was carried doing Maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian analyses in RAxML v7.4.2 and BEAST v1.8.3, respectively. Molecular species delimitation was done by BPP analysis. The posterior predictive checks was carried to distinguish a mitochondrial-introgression scenario with an incomplete-lineage-sorting scenario which was implemented in JML 1.3.0. The coalescent species tree was obtained from ∗BEAST analyses and the posterior of species trees, branch lengths and population sizes from *BEAST was simulated in JML analysis. The result showed conflicting gene trees between mtDNA and nDNA gene tree. The evidence of hybridization was observed between Ochotona curzoniae from Qinghai plateau and O. cansus from Lintan Gansu, China. But there is no evidence of gene flow between two pika species ( O. syrinx and O. sp.1 species) inhabits sympatric in Qinling Mountains, Shaanxi. Therefore caution should be taken using mtDNA data for phylogenetic analysis and species delimitation. Keywords : mtDNA, nDNA, species delimitation, gene introgression, Ochotona .


Abstract In our study we analysed clinical and neuropsychological data in a cohort of 57 Sardinian patients with FTD (55 apparently unrelated and two belonging to the same family), who underwent genetic screening for the C9orf72 mutation. Eight out of 56 patients were found positive for the C9orf72 mutation representing 14% of the entire cohort and 31.6% of the familial cases (6/19). C9orf72 mutated patients differed from the other FTD cases of the cohort for a younger age of onset, higher frequency of familial history for FTD and higher prevalence of delusional psychotic symptoms and hallucinations. In the neuropsychological assessment, C9orf72 mutated patients differed from non-mutated for the high frequency of visuospatial dysfunction regarding constructional apraxia (p = 0.02). In conclusion, our study confirms that Sardinian FTD patients have peculiar genetic characteristics and that C9orf72 mutated patients have a distinctive clinical and neuropsychological profile that could help differentiate them from other FTD patients. In our cohort we found that constructional apraxia, rarely reported in FTD, can properly discriminate between C9orf72 mutated and non-mutated patients and contribute to broaden the neuropsychological profile in frontotemporal dementia associated with this mutation.


In aquatic environments, dams are considered one of the main threats to fish species, acting as an environmental filter for certain functional traits. Although there is some predictability in the composition of the functional traits in reservoirs, it is hypothesized that the environmental filters imposed by evolutionary processes, linked to the characteristics of the basins, are determinant for the functional composition of the traits in reservoirs. For this we performed a PCoA using the functional traits composition matrix of the reservoirs. We used PERMANOVA to test the difference in functional composition between basins. We performed the same process for the species composition matrix to compare the patterns. In this study, there were taxonomic and functional differences among reservoirs inserted in different basins. It was observed that the basin is a determining factor for the functional structure of fish assemblage in reservoirs. When compared, functional and taxonomic structures follow the same pattern, although functionally the reservoir tends to be more similar. These results reinforce the idea that reservoirs act as filters for functional traits (e.g., related with reproduction, feeding and habitat use), although there is a great influence of evolutionary processes related to the basin's characteristics and origin of the ichthyofaunistic province.


This adaptation of a dissertation achieves the elusive goal of readability in combination with a reference apparatus that contributes to the value of the whole. Its focus lies at the intersection of church history, religious sociology, missiology, and biography, none of which is thoroughly developed but all of which contribute insights of value. What happens when a small religious group, whose membership only recently reached thirty-three hundred, takes root in the Hapsburg heartland, a region marked by more than four centuries of a rigid and intolerant union of church and state? Add to this the cataclysms of World War I, the period of National Socialism culminating in World War II, and a schism over the group's relation to powerful governmental structures. The question of how a firmly integrated society relates to small groups remains alive, even in the absence of the kind of social integration characteristic of the past. Heinz gives a credible account and analysis of why Austrian Adventists were supportive of Nazism in its early stages, disregarding the Nazi oppression of the Adventist church in nearby Germany. What remains enigmatic is that today, when world Adventist membership equals the total population of Austria and Adventists have been active in the country for more than a century, Seventh-day Adventists remain officially unrecognized in Austria despite its identification with modern values and secular Western orientation. Heinz helps us understand how this can be the case.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study how the online temporary crowd shares knowledge in a way that fosters the integration of their diverse knowledge. Having the crowd integrate its knowledge to offer solution-ideas to ill-structured problems posed by organizations is one of the desired outcomes of crowd-based open innovation because, by integrating others' knowledge, the ideas are more likely to consider the many divergent issues related to solving the ill-structured problem. Unfortunately, the diversity of knowledge content offered by heterogeneous specialists in the online temporary crowd makes integration difficult, and the lean social context of the crowd makes extensive dialogue to resolve integration issues impractical. The authors address this issue by exploring theoretically how the manner in which interaction is organically conducted during open innovation challenges enables the generation of integrative ideas. The authors hypothesize that, as online crowds organically share knowledge based upon successful pro-socially motivated interaction, they become more productive in generating integrative ideas.

Design/methodology/approach
Using a multilevel mixed-effects model, this paper analyzed 2,244 posts embedded in 747 threads with 214 integrative ideas taken from 10 open innovation challenges.

Findings
Integrative ideas were more likely to occur after pro-socially motivated interactions.

Research limitations/implications
Ideas that integrate knowledge about the variety of issues that relate to solving an ill-structured problem are desired outcomes of crowd-based open innovation challenges. Given that members of the crowd in open innovation challenges rarely engage in dialogue, a new theory is needed to explain why integrative ideas emerge at all. The authors' adaptation of pro-social motivation interaction theory helps to provide such a theoretical explanation. Practitioners of crowd-based open innovation should endeavor to implement systems that encourage the crowd members to maintain a high level of activeness in pro-socially motivated interaction to ensure that their knowledge is integrated as solutions are generated.

Originality/value
The present study extends the crowd-based open innovation literature by identifying new forms of social interaction that foster more integrated ideas from the crowd, suggesting the mitigating role of pro-socially motivated interaction in the negative relationship between knowledge diversity and knowledge integration. This study fills in the research gap in knowledge management research describing a need for conceptual frameworks explaining how to manage the increasing complexity of knowledge in the context of crowd-based collaboration for innovation.


Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a serious side-effect of controlled ovarian stimulation. Inhibin A and inhibin B, as putative predictors of OHSS development in the same stimulation cycle, were evaluated. A cohort of 428 in-vitro fertilization (IVF) patients was followed. Fifteen patients with severe OHSS were compared with matched (age, follicle number) controls. Serum samples were obtained at five time points from the start of ovarian stimulation until >/= 3 days post-embryo transfer and analysed with specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Inhibin A in the OHSS group showed a continuous increase with a significant elevation 3 days prior to oocyte aspiration (ASP-3) and onwards. Maximal concentrations were detected at embryo transfer and the concentrations remained high at >/= 3 days post-embryo transfer. Inhibin A concentrations in the control group showed a transient elevation (significant increase at ASP and embryo transfer). Inhibin A in the OHSS group was significantly higher than in controls only at the time point where OHSS had developed (>/= 3 days post-embryo transfer), and declined during OHSS treatment. Overall, there was a positive correlation between the number of follicles and inhibin A concentrations at ASP-3 until embryo transfer in the control group but not in the OHSS group. The concentrations of inhibin B in both groups increased from the start of ovarian stimulation, with peak values at ASP-3, and then a decline. Inhibin B was significantly higher in OHSS patients at ASP-3 and at ASP. Inhibin B at ASP-3 was correlated with the total number of follicles in both the OHSS group and the control group.


This paper will focus on the increasing staff-student-librarian collaboration, and integration of information literacy (IL) teaching, within a Primary Initial Teacher Education undergraduate course. These developments arose from an action research project which started during the academic year 2010-11. The aim of the research was to evaluate the impact of the IL teaching upon students' confidence in their abilities to find, select and use information. Results of the first research cycle (2010-11) indicated that overall, the teaching had a positive and desirable impact upon students' confidence. However, staff and student feedback suggested that mutual expectations, and the consistency and timing of support, were important factors in the development of students' IL skills. During the analysis of our initial findings, we will focus our discussion around two identified themes which relate to these issues – role and collaboration – and share our experiences from the second and third cycles of the research, which led to a transformation of IL teaching for our students in 2013-14. This paper charts our four-year journey, sharing the ideas and opportunities realised through the project and through increased collaboration as a teaching team and with our students. This paper is based on a presentation given at LILAC 2014.


Abstract Rapid growth of the human population has led to various problems, such as massive overload of wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, optimal control of these plants is a relevant subject. This contribution analyses control of a cascade of ten biochemical reactors using simulation results with the aim to design optimal and predictive control strategies and to compare the achieved control performance. The plant represents a complicated process with many variables involved in the model structure, reduced to the single-input and single-output system. The first implemented approach is linear offset-free model predictive control which provides the optimal input trajectory minimising a quadratic cost function. The second control strategy is robust model predictive control with similar features as model predictive control but including the uncertainty of the process. The final approach is generalised predictive control, mostly used in the industry because of its simple structure and sufficiently good control performance. All considered predictive controllers provide satisfactory control performance and remove the steady-state control error despite the constrained control inputs.


The detection of fast neutrons has important applications in a variety of fields including geospace, solar, and planetary physics. Though neutrons are ubiquitous products of nuclear interactions, they are challenging to detect and the measurements typically suffer large backgrounds. High-energy neutrons (> 50 MeV) pose even greater challenges because the traditional double scatter technique based on a time-of-flight (ToF) is limited by the finite flight path and active detector sizes limited by small satellite platforms. At these high energies, the proton recoil is likely to escape the detector volume, degrading the energy and angular resolution. Scintillator-based technologies have a proven record for detecting and measuring fast neutrons. They have high stopping power, good energy resolution, and fast timing properties. By dramatically increasing the segmentation of scintillator arrays (down to hundreds of sub-mm fibers) proton-tracking can be achieved, effectively supplanting the ToF measurement, thereby eliminating the need for widely separated detectors, thereby greatly increasing the detection efficiency. It reduces the scale size of the detector from that necessary for time of flight to the proton range in dense matter. Modern readout devices such as silicon photomultipliers offer an ideal alternative to photomultiplier tubes given their inherently compact size, fast response, and low operating voltages. The Solar Neutron TRACking (SONTRAC) Concept, based on scintillating-fiber bundles, would provide high-resolution imaging of fast neutrons at energies where the bulk of solar and magnetospheric neutrons resides. Recent development and performance of the SONTRAC Concept are presented.


ABSTRACT Despite the escalating opioid epidemic, as little as 11% of patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) receive medication-assisted treatment (MAT), the best-practice intervention for OUD. Many patients do not receive education about the benefits of MAT and thus hold negative beliefs about MAT, which reduces MAT uptake. Shared decision-making (SDM) helps engage patients in beneficial treatment decisions but is not systematically integrated into MAT counseling. A structured SDM session guide for front-line counselors, with a health-record template using a collaborative documentation (CD) approach, was developed and its feasibility and acceptability was pilot-tested. The session guide (CD MAT Tool) contains a training manual and session templates. Counselors (n = 11) were trained with the CD MAT Tool and used it with their patients (n = 9). Qualitative interviews and focus groups with counselors and patients demonstrated high feasibility, acceptability, and positive session impact of the CD MAT Tool. Implications for further research and practice use are discussed.


Abstract Introduction: Depression, anxiety, agitation and sleep disorders are highly prevalent in the general population, but few persons receive psychiatric care. Methods: Our aim was to study the views of 690 German pharmacists on "over-the counter" (OTC) drugs for these indications. Results: They reported dispensing OTC medication to an average of 12 customers per day, and this corresponded to almost one quarter of the medications provided for these indications. Herbal drugs and complex homeopathic formulations were used most frequently. Patients preferring OTC substances were described as being younger, with shorter durations of illness and less severe symptoms, and more skeptical regarding psychopharmacology. While genuine pharmacological effects were considered as most relevant, pharmacists were highly aware of placebo and interpersonal factors. Symptoms, comorbidity and advice on drug intake were prominent topics during pharmacy consultations. Conclusion: German pharmacists report dispensing large amounts of OTC drugs for anxiety, agitation, sleep disturbances or depression. It is unclear whether this constitutes a rational and cost effective method to deal with mild courses of high prevalence diseases or must be seen critically.


In this paper, the reliability properties of bandgap-engineered SONOS (BE-SONOS) devices with various processing methods are extensively studied. BE-SONOS employs a multilayer O1/N1/O2/N2/O3 stack, where O1/N1/O2 serves as a bandgap-engineered tunneling barrier that provides an efficient hole-tunneling erase but eliminates the direct-tunneling leakage. BE-SONOS can overcome the fundamental limitation of the conventional SONOS, for which fast erase speed and good data retention cannot be simultaneously achieved. In this paper, a comprehensive understanding of BE-SONOS reliability is reported, including the processing effects of the critical ONO barrier (O1/N1/O2), the trapping layer (N2), and the top blocking oxide (O3). Moreover, the capability of dielectric scaling is also evaluated. Lower P/E voltages, good P/E cycling endurance, and data retention are maintained when N2 and O3 are further scaled to 60 . The results in this paper provide design and processing guidelines for optimizing the performance and reliability of BE-SONOS flash memory devices.


Hearing loss relates to missing certain sounds. The problem is certain sounds in the hearing nerve in our brain do not get enough stimulation. The nerves need stimulation. When it is not stimulated, the nerve stops working. When the nerve stops working, there arises complexity in our hearing nerves, which processes sounds that we hear. Similar to exercising which we do to keep your body healthy, our ears also need to hear sounds and recognize them to function at its best. So, the longer waiting time prior to hearing aids purchase, or to wear them, the less stimulation the brain and hearing nerves get. The speech recognition becomes worse. Studies by WHO shows that nearly 40% of the age group in between age group 55-74 yrs (McCormack A. & Fortnum H., May2013) suffers from this type of problem. If we compare with vision impairment Hearing Impairment users do not take this matter quite seriously. The problem of Hearing Loss is not only restricted to senior citizens but all age groups. Once the nerve is affected, there is no way to reverse the damage. There are also other side effects of not wearing Hearing aids. These include higher risk of cognitive decline, forgetfulness, depression, low performance at work leading to income, less productivity and the list goes on. The factors which responsible for non-acceptance are not single but rather they are multi faced. Starting from financial problems, Physical looks, Perception, discomfort, are some of the few reasons. In this paper has tried to identify the factors which are responsible for this challenge. There needs to be further research and findings which can provide more factors responsible. Major studies in this field in the near future can identify many other factors which are even date beyond our knowledge.


To help determine the systems requirements for a 300-kWe space nuclear reactor power system, a mission and spacecraft have been examined which utilize electric propulsion and this nuclear reactor power for multiple transfers of cargo between low earth orbit (LEO) and geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO). A propulsion system employing ion thrusters and xenon propellant was selected. Propellant and thrusters are replaced after each sortie to GEO. The mass of the Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV), empty and dry, is 11,000 kg; nominal propellant load is 5000 kg. The OTV operates between a circular orbit at 925 km altitude, 28.5 deg inclination, and GEO. Cargo is brought to the OTV by Shuttle and an Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV); the OTV then takes it to GEO. The OTV can also bring cargo back from GEO, for transfer by OMV to the Shuttle. OTV propellant is resupplied and the ion thrusters are replaced by the OMV before each trip to GEO. At the end of mission life, the OTV's electric propulsion is used to place it in a heliocentric orbit so that the reactor will not return to earth. The nominal cargo capability to GEO is 6000 kg with a transit time of 120more » days; 1350 kg can be transferred in 90 days, and 14,300 kg in 240 days. These capabilities can be considerably increased by using separate Shuttle launches to bring up propellant and cargo, or by changing to mercury propellant.« less


Abstract The Holocene sedimentary facies of the Fenland are described using a lithological database and new cores recovered as part of the Land-Ocean Interaction Study. Landward, the Holocene sequence is dominated by mud facies with intercalated peat layers, whereas the seaward areas are sand-dominated. The sedimentological characteristics of the mud facies are homogeneous and are similar for the whole sequence. Glacial deposits located north of The Wash are thought to be the main sediment sources. The sand facies generally fines upwards and the chemistry reflects this change. However, elemental ratios show only slight variations between the two facies implying a general constancy of sediment provenance. The evolution of the Fenland has been dominated by three main events. Firstly, the initial post-glacial transgression, which started c. 7850 cal. bp. Secondly, the sedimentary infilling of the embayment with rising sea-level; deposition of intertidal clastic sediments alternating with peat accumulation. Thirdly, renewed expansion of tidal flat areas between c. 2750 and 1500 cal. bp forming the final clastic fill.


Background: There is some recent in vitro study reported that IL-8 mRNA gene had over expression when Helicobacter pylori was co- infected. In the Northern Thai population, we found independently IL-8 mRNA gene expression significantly rising level in gastric tissue biopsies when comparing to AGS cell line, and mainly in non-cag A H. pylori infection or without H. pylori infection. Aim: The author aim to demonstrate the IL-8 mRNA gene expression level in vitro and in vivo study in the same host in order to see the change of its level in primary culture cell in same host gastric cancer patients, tissue biopsy, and AGS cell line. The comparative level before and after chemotherapy treatment were targeted for clinical response prediction. Material and Methods: The control background of corpus normal epithelial and gastric adenocarcinoma biopsy tissues were treated for primary cell culture with single cell isolation technique. The histopathology, background atrophy, and H. pylori infection was confirmed. Biopsy tissues from tumor site also were collected at the same time before and after chemotherapy treatment in patient who received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy by FOLFOX IV regimen due to locally advance stage and unresectable tumor. The IL-8 mRNA gene expression was tested by relative quantitation real time RT-PCR. Results: IL-8 mRNA gene expression can be significantly higher up-regulated level to 1.5-2.2 folds in gastric cancer tissue biopsy comparing to from 0.35-1.16 fold of primary culture cell without H. pylori infection when comparing to normal background of gastric epithelial tissue, and AGS cell line. The IL-8 mRNA gene expression down-regulated level is also remark decreased and/or undetected after chemotherapy treatment in correlation with patients who had well clinical response as a preliminary result. Conclusion: We first demonstrated that the IL-8 mRNA gene expression is detected in primary gastric adenocarcinoma cell and its up-regulated level in tissue biopsies independently related to H. pylori infection in the same gastric cancer host background. The pilot sample size is needed to confirm in further clinical trial on chemotherapy as a new biomarker for advance gastric cancer treatment. Citation Format: Sirikan Limpakan (Yamada), ML.Bandhuphat Chakrabandhu, Shunji Kato, Pattama Wongsirisin. IL-8 mRNA gene expression up-regulated level in both primary culture cell and tissue biopsy from gastric cancer patient without Helicobacter pylori infection and down- regulated level predict clinical response after chemo [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2091. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2091


In a very recent paper, M. Rahman introduced a remarkable family of polynomials in two variables as the eigenfunctions of the transition matrix for a nontrivial Markov chain due to M. Hoare and M. Rahman. I indicate here that these polynomials are bispectral. This should be just one of the many remarkable properties enjoyed by these polynomials. For several challenges, including finding a general proof of some of the facts displayed here the reader should look at the last section of this paper.


In-situ characterization and quantification of natural gas hydrate occurrences remain critical research directions, whether for energy resource, drilling hazard, or climate-related studies. Marine multicomponent seismic data provide the full seismic wavefield including partial redundancy, and provide a promising set of approaches for gas hydrate characterization. Numerous authors have demonstrated the possibilities of multicomponent data at study sites around the world. We expand on this work by investigating the utility of very densely spaced (10's of meters) multicomponent receivers (ocean-bottom cables, OBC, or ocean-bottom seismometers, OBS) for gas hydrate studies in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere. Advanced processing techniques provide high-resolution compressional-wave (PP) and converted shearwave (PS) reflection images of shallow stratigraphy, as well as P-wave and S-wave velocity estimates at each receiver position. Reflection impedance estimates can help constrain velocity and density, and thus gas hydrate saturation. Further constraint on velocity can be determined through identification of the critical angle and associated phase reversal in both PP and PS wideangle data. We demonstrate these concepts with examples from OBC data from the northeast Green Canyon area and numerically simulated OBS data that are based on properties of known gas hydrate occurrences in the southeast (deeper water) Green Canyon area. These multicomponent data capabilities can provide a wealth of characterization and quantification information that is difficult to obtain with other geophysical methods.


In this study, two sh2 sweet corn cultivars (i.e., the initial seed dry weight for FT018 and TB010 was 0.16±0.02 g/grain and 0.09±0.01 g/grain, respectively) were used to determine the physiological characteristics of seed reserve utilization in germination. The data implied that the weight of mobilized seed reserve (WMSR) and seed reserve utilization efficiency (SRUE) increased with seed germination. FT018 exhibited higher SRUE than TB010 due to its sufficient energy production for growth. Sugar (sucrose and fructose) contents were at different levels in the germinating seed of sh2 sweet corn. The protein content and number of protein species were highest in the early stage of germination. Enzyme activity in the germinating seed indicated that enzymes for starch and sugar hydrolysis were important and that enzyme activities significantly differed at each germination stage and between the cultivars under dark conditions. Succinate dehydrogenase, sucrose synthase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase accumulated in the late germination stage. Thus, appropriate efforts should be focused on improving the seed reserve utilization in sweet corn by identifying the physiological mechanism of germinating seed.


A weighted linear regression model with impercise response and p-real explanatory variables is analyzed. The LR fuzzy random variable is introduced and a metric is suggested for coping with this kind of variables. A least square solution for estimating the parameters of the model is derived. The result are illustrated by the means of some case studies.


The nature of the most abundant components of the Universe, dark energy and dark matter, is still to be uncovered. I tackle this subject considering a novel cosmological probe: the neutral hydrogen emitted 21cm radiation, observed with the intensity mapping technique. I analyse competitive and realistic dark energy and dark matter models and show how they produce distinctive and detectable effects on the 21cm signal. Moreover, I provide radio telescope forecasts showing how these models will be distinguishable in an unprecedented way.


Medical students are the intended audience of this Boston University School of Medicine work, the first edition of which was published in 1970, under the leadership of Chester Keefer. It should also prove quite useful to residents, practicing physicians, and other health professionals. Emphasis is on the essentials, not the minutiae of practice. It has about one third the content of texts such as Cecil or Harrison , but emphasizes those aspects that constitute the "core" of medicine. By spending an hour a day, the reader should be able to digest this material during a 12-week medicine clerkship. Thereafter, it will serve as a useful general reference. The introduction to each organ system includes a list of learning objectives, indicating types of clinical situations for which the student should develop an approach and facility. The reader is guided through several patient treatment problems at the end of each organ system, keyed


Patient Data is critical in healthcare domain and it should be secure, consistent and coded for the secure transfer from one potential user to another. SNOMED CT (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine — Clinical Terms) is a standardized reference terminology that consists of millions of SNOMED CT concepts with SNOMED CT codes. This paper describes the extraction of natural language concepts from free text discharge summary reports and mapping with SNOMED CT codes. For the evaluation of the medical concepts, we selected 300 discharge summaries corpus provided by University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre, and compared it with the SNOMED CT concept file which is preprocessed and cleaned file listing SNOMED CT concepts. In this paper we present the ongoing research on SNOMED CT concept extraction from discharge summaries using natural language processing and introducing SNOMED CT core concepts as a gazetteer list for concept extraction. Out of 390023 concepts, 21563 concepts were found in the test set of discharge summaries from SNOMED CT core concepts gazetteer list.


The Authors present (5) cases of gingival tattooing resulted by rapport between argentum amalgam and prosthetic reconstruction with aurum or combination. Theu concluded is opportune to substitute the stumps reconstructions in amalgam with other materials not cause of electrogalvanism. So we avaid principally the antiaesthetic aspect of pigmentation.


Abstract The aim of this study is to identify the role of Tet1-mediated DNA demethylation in the neurotoxicity caused by unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) in vitro. Primary neuronal cells after cultured for 72 h were exposed to UCB (0–100 μmol/L) for 24 h. Following exposure to UCB cytotoxicity was determined with the methyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caspase-3 activity in neuron cells were measured with the corresponding assay kits. The expression of Tet1 and Klotho was determined with RT-PCR at mRNA level and western blot at protein level. Our results showed that UCB can cause time-dependent and dose-dependent reduction of cell viability of neuronal cells, induce oxidative stress through increasing the production of ROS and increase caspase-3 activity. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analysis showed that UCB can inhibit Tet1 and Klotho expression in cultured neuronal cells at both the mRNA and protein level, respectively. These results are first to suggest UCB may, in part, exert its neurotoxicity through alteration of the neuronal antioxidant status and inhibition of Klotho and Tet1 gene expression. The elevation of DNA methylation in global genome through inhibition of Tet1 gene expression may, in part, play an important role in the neurotoxicity caused by UCB in vitro.


Tumor heterogeneity makes the diagnosis and treatment of endometrial cancer difficult. As an important modulator of gene expression, DNA methylation can affect tumor heterogeneity and, therefore, provide effective information for clinical treatment. In this study, we explored specific prognostic clusters based on 482 examples of endometrial cancer methylation data in the TCGA database. By analyzing 4870 CpG clusters, we distinguished three clusters with different prognostics. Differences in DNA methylation levels are associated with differences in age, grade, clinical pathological staging, and prognosis. Subsequently, we screened out 264 specific hypermethylation and hypomethylation sites and constructed a prognostic model for Bayesian network classification, which corresponded to the classification of the test set to the classification results of the train set. Since the tumor microenvironment plays a key role in determining immunotherapy responses, we conducted relevant analyses based on clusters separated from DNA methylation data to determine the immune function of each cluster. We also predicted their sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs. Specific classifications of DNA methylation may help to address the heterogeneity of previously existing molecular clusters of endometrial cancer, as well as to develop more effective, individualized treatments.


Dynamic psychotherapy is a method of treatment for psychiatric disorders and emotional problems that comprises a spectrum of approaches ranging between supportive and analytic peripheries. Although they are deployed in differing degrees and manners, all forms of dynamic psychotherapy derive their therapeutic powers from five components: support, hope, a certain kind of listening, insight, and guidance. Attentive listening is particularly important, while insight, although essential, is a complex phenomenon whose therapeutic value may be overestimated. In spite of claims to the contrary, some degree of guidance is universal. The use of cognitive-behavioral techniques is not incompatible with dynamic psychotherapy and can sometimes be useful. If certain limitations are accepted, dynamic psychotherapy can make a potent contribution to the alleviation of emotional distress and disorder.


In this paper, we study the concept of interval-valued fuzzy set on the family SSX,E of all soft sets over X with the set of parameters E and examine its basic properties. Later, we define the concept of interval-valued fuzzy topology (cotopology) τ on SSX,E. We obtain that each interval-valued fuzzy topology is a descending family of soft topologies. In addition, we study some topological structures such as interval-valued fuzzy neighborhood system of a soft point, base and subbase of τ and investigate some relationships among them. Finally, we give some concepts such as direct sum, open mapping and continuous mapping and consider connections between them. A few examples support the presented results.


Family has always been an important aspect of the Italian way of life from antiquity to the present. Since the Roman Republic was an oligarchic state, the governing class had always been identified with families. The family pride in state affairs were advertised in the most public part of the Roman house, the atrium, by way of busts, wax masks and shield portraits of the notable ancestors; trophies and wall-paintings illustrating the notable achievements of the family; and family trees and shrines to the Lares, Penates and Genius. These paraphernalia reminded the inhabitants of the household of the family pride, to which they must be loyal and whose expectations they must fulfill. Augustus, within the process of his institution as the sole ruler of the empire, extensively employed familial concepts as a propaganda tool. He praised the Roman family as a traditional Roman institution within the context of the restoration of order and unity of the Republic. His definition as an autocrat above the senate was made through a familial concept, Pater Patriae. Augustus, as Pater Patriae, controlled and ordered his empire as Roman fathers managed their families. His dynasty was linked to Aeneas and Romulus by way of contemporary legends. Through these legends, he was defined as divinely ordained to reinstitute peace and order, in a way refound the honored tradition of Roman nation as his ancestors had in the past. His monuments in Rome, therefore, featured the imperial dynasty not only as a symbol of order and unity of the empire, but also as a token of the continuity of the reinstituted peace implied by these legendary familial connections. During the time of the successors of Augustus, monuments representing the imperial family became widespread both in Rome and in the provinces with the aim of heralding and ensuring the continuity of the imperial rule. Within this framework, two examples from Asia Minor, the propylon of the Sebasteion at Aphrodisias and the reconstructed Hellenistic gate of Perge, will be the focus of this paper, to argue how these monuments in their local contexts created a framework through which Greek cities defined themselves as part of the Roman Empire through familial associations. Both of these examples are gates in the form of aedicular facades, which featured statues belonging to the contemporary emperor and his dynasty in their aedicular units. Within this context, the imperial family was a symbol of the order and unity of the Roman Empire and its continuity like in Rome. In addition to the imperial family, these facades also featured tutelary deities of Aphrodisias and Perge. By inclusion of tutelary deities of cities to the otherwise dynastic sculpture repertoire, it was implied that these cities were tied to the empire with similar ties that links an individual to his/her family. In Aphrodisias, Aphrodite was identified as the ancestral mother of the divine rulers hinting at Greek roots of the imperial dynasty through Aeneas. In Perge, statues of the Greek heroes of the Trojan War implied Trojan roots of the Roman Empire through Aeneas. So, through these associations, a Greek framework was formulated for the alien authority of the Roman emperor. Ultimately, it can be stated that the aedicular facades in these cities can be thought of as large-scale versions of the familial paraphernalia in the atria of Roman houses. Sebasteion Gate at Aphrodisias and the reconstructed Hellenistic Gate at Perge set up stages on the colonnaded avenues of their cities, representing their city as an extension of the empire. Through this representation not only subjugation to the unity of the empire was legitimized through the family metaphor, but also willful loyalty and devotion to the alien authority of the Roman emperor was sealed through the evocation of a common ancestry.


The expanded use of new information technologies has significantly affected both the initiation and the maintenance of professional education. This trend is especially valuable for relatively isolated countries such as Taiwan, where architectural education could be vastly improved by encouraging regular interaction with faculties and practicing professionals outside the country. New, far-reaching information and communication technologies (ICTs) can facilitate such exchanges. This article 1) explores how ICTs hold a promise of transforming the process of professional education in architecture; 2) examines the issues and difficulties of implementing ICT in the teaching of professional architecture, and 3) discusses how instructional technology and school reform can, under the right conditions, become mutually reinforcing partners in supporting student learning, specifically in rapidly developing nations like Taiwan.. Particular attention is given to the increased potential for collaborative work that crosses international and cultural boundaries, molding studies and exercises to the interests of students and teachers rather knowledge that has recently evolved, and how this maximized use will benefit architectural education.