The Supreme Court of Canada recently granted leave to appeal in Ernst v. AER. Jessica Ernst, an Alberta landowner and scientist, is claiming that the conduct of the Energy Resources Conservation Board (now Alberta Energy Regulator) breached section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Ernst alleges that her freedom of expression was infringed through a series of actions which prevented her from effectively communicating with the regulator. This paper argues that general statutory immunity provisions should not prevent plaintiffs from recovering public law damages for a regulator's Charter breach when a Court "considers [it] appropriate and just in the circumstances." The history and purpose of subs. 24(1), Canadian jurisprudence culminating in the Supreme Court of Canada's decision in Vancouver (City) v. Ward, and approaches in other jurisdictions all support this interpretation. While the Supreme Court of Canada has held that limitation provisions do apply to bar claims for personal Charter remedies, statutory immunity is not analogous to a limitation period. The Court should not pre-empt claims for damages on the basis that policy considerations justify applying statutory immunity provisions to such claims. The framework developed by the Court in Ward allows sufficient scope for the consideration of countervailing factors such as good governance or the availability of alternative remedies, which might justify denying monetary redress. A court's discretion to provide the appropriate and just remedy for a given Charter breach would be improperly fettered by the application of a general statutory immunity provision. The state cannot dictate the range of remedies provided by the Constitution.


Abstract Human intestinal absorption is a key property for orally administered drugs and is dependent on pH. This study focuses on neutral and amphoteric compounds and their membrane permeabilities across the range of pH values found in the human intestine. The membrane permeability values for 15 neutral and 60 amphoteric compounds at pH 3, 5, 7.4 and 9 were measured using the parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA). For each data series the quantitative structure–permeability relationships were developed and analysed. The results show that the membrane permeability of neutral compounds is attributed to a single structural characteristic, the hydrogen bond donor ability. Amphoteric compounds are more complex because of their chemical constitution, and therefore require three-parameter models to describe and predict membrane permeability. Analysis of the models for amphoteric compounds reveals that membrane permeability depends on multiple structural characteristics: the partition coefficient, hydrogen bond properties and the shape of the molecules. In addition to conventional validation strategies, two external compounds (isradipine and omeprazole) were tested and revealed very good agreement of pH profiles between experimental and predicted membrane permeability for all of the developed models. Selected QSAR models are available at the QsarDB repository (http://dx.doi.org/10.15152/QDB.184).


National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) started to develop H-II launch vehicle in 1983 and succeeded in the 1st flight on February in 1994. Meanwhile, several troubles were experienced in the development of LE-7 which is the 1st stage engine of H-II. The LE-7 is a staged combustion cycle engine with high pressure and high Isp like SSME. Therefore, high delivery pressure and high performance were required for LH2 turbopump, which is the main key component, and caused several troubles in the development. This paper describes the development of LH2 turbopump containing the design description, the contents of some troubles and their counterplans. In addition, some activities to solve turbopump life and endurance will be introduced.


OBJECTIVE: To determine the therapeutic effects of honey versus silver sulphadiazine 1% in the management of burn injuries, in our set up. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental study. SETTING: Burns emergency unit, department of Plastic Surgery Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad - Sindh form January 2002 to December 2003. METHODS: Eighty patients having age range of 4 to 62 years with burn involving 10% to 40% body surface area were studied. Patients presenting with chemical or electric burn, and those with full thickness burn were excluded. Majority of cases was males. Patients were divided in two groups. One group received treatment with honey while other received silver sulphadiazine. Honey used was natural and unprocessed. RESULTS: Patients treated with honey showed rapid wound healing with no apparent local or systemic side effects. Mean duration of healing in honey treated group was 15.3 days. While in other group, mean was 20 days. Patients treated with honey did not develop growth of any pathogenic organism. However, 32(80%) patients treated with silver sulphadiazine showed growth of different pathogenic organisms necessitating the use of systemic antibiotic therapy accordingly. In honey group, only 3(7.5%) patients developed contracture as compared to 7(17.5%) patients treated with silver sulphadiazine. After complete healing, itching/pruritus was complained by 13(32.5%) patients treated with silver sulphadiazine while only 2(5%) patients complained so treated with honey. CONCLUSION: The burn wounds are healed rapidly by using honey with minimum scarring and pigmentation as compared to silver sulphadiazine. Use of honey in these patients can be cost effective in terms of treatment and hospital stay. However, to develop more confidence with the use of honey in burn wound management, more studies with larger sample size are needed.


Cloud computing is a rising computing paradigm in which resources of the computing infrastructure are provided as services through the Internet. Cloud computing is the delivery of multiple computing services through the Internet. Cloud computing provide various services such as software, applications and information over the cloud on demand. Cloud has ability to provide dynamically scalable access for users, and the ability to share resources over the Internet. Cloud checks the authentication of the user without knowing the users identity. The main aim of system is secure data storage on clouds. A basic solution is to encrypt data files, and then upload the encrypted data into the cloud to preserve data privacy. This paper presents a survey of existing techniques with the novelties highlighting the need of intelligent sharing and validating technique for storing files on the cloud. This paper is motivated by arising need to provide high quality of security for the user with validation by using third party authority.  In proposed system we add third party authority with decentralized access management theme to validate integrity of the files stores on cloud.


The purpose of the study is double: on the one part, the presentation and popularization of a scarcely used method in domestic sociology, the contextual analysis, on the other, the presentation of the effects of the cultural and social capital on high-school students' efficiency within an OTKA 2006–2008 research project. The regression models called attention to the importance of the contextual (institution-wide) effects on high-school students' efficiency and performance. This study presents these effects by using Davis's typology and separates the effects on individual and group levels. Among the factors that explain school success are sex, cultural capital brought from home and the students' and their parents' relationship resources (in the case of the last one we accentuate those relationships which are determined by the students' and their parents' religiousness). We came to the results that while boys' school (class) percentage does not have any contextual effect, the percentage of parents with degr...


This article presents an analysis of the way of manifestation of public debt in Romania in the context of the state's economic evolution of the present complex financial media. Under the circumstances of functional market economies, the issues some states faced concerned the high levels of public debt or potential budgetary pressure risks that lead to the idea that sustainability of public finances must be a major challenge at the public political level. In this context, the politics considered to be adequate for approaching the public finances sustainability challenge must have as a basis to start the Strategy of EU, focused on the three components that are the decrease of public debt, the increase of productivity and last but not least, the pensions and welfare systems reform. To ensure some reasonable sustainable levels of public debt, the EU Member States have to accomplish some budgetary strategic objectives on a medium term basis so to ensure a descendent trend of the public debt.


Although Runge-Kutta methods up to order 4 satisfy exactly the same conditions in the case of a single scalar equation as for a general high-dimensional system, the two order theories start to diverge above this order. For example, for order 5, two of the 17 "elementary differentials" from which the Taylor expansions for both the exact and numerical solutions are constructed, coincide and this means that there are only 16 conditions for order 5 in the case of a scalar problem. A method will be presented which exhibits different order behaviours for scalar and high-dimensional problems. The paper will also give a new proof of the first of the Runge-Kutta order barriers.


BackgroundPregnant supports have been designed to prevent structural deviations but may impair blood circulation of the lower limbs, in particular during the last trimester. In this study, we evaluate the effect of different pregnant supports on hemodynamics responses during postural changes and daily physical activities.MethodsTwelve last-trimester healthy pregnant women participated in this study. With randomized supports of casual wear (CW), pelvic band (PB), and pregnant pants (PP), subjects performed postural changes (standing and side lying using sitting as control), daily physical activities (climbing up and down stairs, lifting, sit-to-stand, and 10 min walking), and routine pregnant exercises. Hemodynamic responses including heart rate, blood pressure, stroke volume, cardiac output, local blood flow, and perfusion around the ankle were measured at the end of the 1st and 3rd minute after wearing pregnant supports.ResultsStanding position in CW group showed hemodynamic compensations via increasing diastolic blood pressure (DBP, 1st minute) and heart rate (HR, 3rd minute), whereas there were no significant changes in the PB and PP groups. Side lying position lowered cardiac responses in all groups, with higher blood perfusion in CW and PB, but not in PP. Cardiac variables, blood flows, and perfusions showed no significant difference among pregnant supports during daily physical activities, and routine pregnant exercises. The satisfaction evaluation on daily activities and routine exercises showed no difference among pregnant supports but the preferential pregnant support is PB.ConclusionIt can be concluded that PB offers similar hemodynamic adjustments during postural changes as casual wear. PB support is recommended for pregnant women for daily physical activities, as well as routine exercises. Trial registration: The trial is retrospectively registered in http://www.clinicaltrials.in.th (01/02/2021) with trial no: TCTR20210201003.


The SIGGRAPH conference is an exciting event, but it is often an intimidating experience for first-time attendees. There are so many new terms, new concepts, and new products to try to understand. It is like standing in a room with 100 doors and having no idea which door to open because you have no idea what the label on each door actually means. This leaves new attendees baffled and frustrated about how to spend their time. This course is designed to ease newcomers into the SIGGRAPH conference experience by presenting the fundamental concepts and vocabulary at a level that can be readily understood. Far from being made up of dry facts, this course will also portray the fun and excitement that led most of us here in the first place. Attendees in the course will become well-prepared to understand, appreciate, enjoy, network, and learn from the rest of the SIGGRAPH experience.


Twenty-three patients aged five to 52 years with good clinical histories of severe systemic reactions to hymenoptera stings confirmed by skin tests and RAST levels were treated with specific insect venoms. A more conventional, slow, bi-weekly schedule was used to determine whether they could be as successfully treated as those in earlier studies employing the "Rush desensitization" approach. It was also hoped these subjects would experience fewer untoward reactions. Comparisons of IgG (anti-hyaluronidase and phospholipase) levels pretreatment and after top dose (100 mcg) in all cases showed greater than three-fold rise, indicating protection. RAST IgE rose in most cases and plateaued by six months. Nineteen patients were restung to verify protection. Untoward reactions to injections were low (13%) and easily controlled. The authors conclude that the use of specific freeze dried insect venoms in a slow dose schedule is safe and effective in protecting severely sensitized individuals.


In extreme value theory, there are two fundamental approaches, both widely used: the block maxima (BM) method and the peaks-over-threshold (POT) method. Whereas much theoretical research has gone into the POT method, the BM method has not been studied thoroughly. The present paper aims at providing conditions under which the BM method can be justified. We also provide a theoretical comparative study of the methods, which is in general consistent with the vast literature on comparing the methods all based on simulated data and fully parametric models. The results indicate that the BM method is a rather efficient method under usual practical conditions. In this paper, we restrict attention to the i.i.d. case and focus on the probability weighted moment (PWM) estimators of Hosking, Wallis and Wood [Technometrics (1985) 27 251-261].


. We develop an implementable stochastic proximal point (SPP) method for a class of weakly convex, composite optimization problems. The proposed stochastic proximal point algorithm incorporates a variance reduction mechanism and the resulting SPP updates are solved using an inexact semismooth Newton framework. We establish detailed convergence results that take the inexactness of the SPP steps into account and that are in accordance with existing convergence guarantees of (proximal) stochastic variance-reduced gradient methods. Numerical experiments show that the proposed algorithm competes favorably with other state-of-the-art methods and achieves higher robustness with respect to the step size selection.


religious encounter. As it stands, Religious Traditions is much closer to a work of reference than a work of interpretation. This may have been Isichei's intention, but, given the availability of a growing number of encyclopaedias with short essays on much of her subject matter, an interpretative essay would have been more useful. Nevertheless, Isichei should be commended for attempting such a difficult task, and for writing a series of books that make African religions accessible to undergraduates – a service of great importance to Africanists.


Contents About the Editors * Contributors * Preface * Chapter 1. Biology and Chemistry of Nutrient Availability in the Rhizosphere * Introduction * Influence of Rhizodeposition on Microbial Ecology * Plant Modifications of Rhizosphere Chemistry * Plant Responses to Micronutrient Deficiencies * Microbial Interactions Influencing Plant Nutrition * Bioaugmentation of the Rhizosphere * Conclusions * Chapter 2. Kinetics of Nutrient Uptake by Plant Cells * Introduction * Transport Mechanisms * Control of Uptake * Enzyme Kinetics and Membrane Transport * Dual Isotherms and Multiphasic Kinetics * Induction and Repression of Transport Systems * Root Structure and Observed Kinetics * Conclusions * Chapter 3. Molecular Biology of Nutrient Transporters in Plant Membranes * Introduction * Isolation of Ion Transporters * Common Molecular Features of Plant Nutrient Transporters * Potassium Transport * Sulfate Transport * Phosphate Transport * Nitrogen Transport * Tools for Physiological Studies * Implications for Agriculture and the Environment * Chpater 4. Long-Distance Nutrient Transport in Plants and Movement into Developing Grains * Introduction * Long-Distance Transport in Xylem and Phloem * Pathway of Nutrient Transport into Developing Grains * Conclusions * * Chapter 5. The Significance of Root Size for Plant Nutrition in Intensive Horticulture * Introduction * The Role of Root Size and Container Volume in Nutrient Uptake * Plant Response to Container Volume and Nutrient Concentrations * Effect of Container Volume and Nitrate Concentration on Nitrogen and Water Uptake Rates * Tomato Response to Root Treatments in Hydroponics * Internal Regulation of Nutrient Uptake * Concluding Remarks * Chapter 6. Role of Mineral Nutrients in Photosynthesis and Yield Formation * Introduction * Photosynthesis and Related Processes * Role of Mineral Nutrients in Yield Formation * Conclusions * Chapter 7. The Role of Nutrition in Crop Resistance and Tolerance to Diseases * Introduction * Effect of Disease on Nutrition Status of Plants * Characterizing Nutrient Interactions with Disease * Strategies to Reduce Disease Severity by Improving Nutrition * Mechanisms of Disease Control with Nutrition * Using Nutrition for Disease Control * Examples of Nutrient-Disease Interactions * Summary/Conclusions * Chapter 8. Importance of Seed Mineral Nutrient Reserves in Crop Growth and Development * Introduction * General Considerations * Importance of Phloem Transport and Transfer Cells * Phloem-Mobile Nutrient Elements * Variable Phloem-Mobile Nutrient Elements * Conditionally Phloem-Mobile Nutrient Elements * General Conclusions * Chapter 9. Physiological Mechanisms Underlying Differential Nutrient Efficiency of Crop Genotypes * Introduction * Nutrient Efficiency * Mechanisms of Zinc Efficiency * Modification of Phenotypic Expression of Zinc Efficiency * Mechanisms of Iron Efficiency * Mechanisms of Manganese Efficiency * Mechanisms of Phosphorus Efficiency * Breeding for Nutrient Efficiency * Concluding Remarks * Chapter 10. Breeding Crops for Improved Nutrient Efficiency: Soybean and Wheat as Case Studies * Introduction * Nutrient Efficiency and Tolerance to Ion Toxicity: Inheritancy and Breeding Strategies * Screening Techniques for the Evaluation of Nutrient Efficiency * Summary and Conclusions * Chapter 11. Monitoring Water and Nutrient Fluxes Down the Profile: Closing the Nutrient Budget * Introduction * Measurement of Soil Profile Concentrations of Nutrient Ions * Measurement of Soil Water content * Calculation of Soil Water Fluxes and Drainage * Calulation of Nutrient Fluxes * Field Studies of Nutrient Movement * Conclusions * Chapter 12. Mechanistic Simulation Models for a Better Understanding of Nutrient Uptake from Soil * Introduction * The Soil-Root System * Modeling Approaches * Validation of the Models * Evaluation of Soil and Plant Properties by Sensitivity Analysis * General Conclusions and Final Remarks * Index * Reference Notes Included


TO THE EDITOR: Shields and Rosenthal (1) evaluated the Joint Commission's performance measures for inpatient mental health care and concluded that U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals lag behind others. The authors reported that differences in "admission screening for violence risk, substance use, psychological trauma history, and patient strengths . . . . [provide] troubling evidence of the inferior performance of the VA hospitals in terms of psychiatric services, especially in regard to admission screening for trauma" and that this "warrants deeper investigation and potentially regulatory attention." We agree that the VA is different but suggest that this difference is a strength. As a department striving for the highest quality of care and for continuous improvement as a core value, we are grateful when investigators point out areas for refinement and provide signals that guide corrective action. The VA has a highly successful program to address polypharmacy and is reviewing policies and practices systemwide on use of seclusion and restraint. Prior to drawing conclusions about the comparative quality of VA inpatient care, investigators need to consider key differences between VA and other programs, including case mix and integration of mental health care. The VA is a highly integrated health system. In most non-VA settings, admission requires transition to new institutions, new providers, and a new system of health records. In that context, initiating a full set of admission screens is a necessary step. In the VA, however, those entering inpatient care have, as a rule, received VA outpatient services and have been screened annually for trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol use problems, and other health factors. A patient's screening information is available through the electronic health record (EHR) to providers across care settings. Because of these processes, the VA may report less screening on admission because screening is less necessary. The VA already knows these patients and their histories. Similarly, reportedly low performance on "patients whose postdischarge continuing care plan was transmitted to the next level of care provider upon discharge" may not apply well to the VA. Required information on discharge medications, next level of care, principal discharge diagnoses, and reason for hospitalization is provided for all VA inpatients as part of their discharge summary, rather than as a "care plan," and carried forward to their outpatient providers as part of the VA's seamless EHR. For most veterans, there is no need to create a separate plan or to transmit it to outside providers in a separate system. The Joint Commission measures reviewed in this study were designed to mitigate problems in quality of care inherent in the discontinuous systems that typify most mental health delivery in the United States. By integrating inpatient and outpatient domains unified by a single EHR, the VA achieves unparalleled continuity of mental health care. We are proud of the seamless integration of the largest health care system in the nation. The Joint Commission measures showing differences between VA and others reflect the degree to which our system is successfully integrated.


Sir .—I am writing in regard to the reply by Fikar and Koslap-Petraco to the letter by Jones published in the January 1992 issue of AJDC . 1 In their reply, they stated that the issues facing current concern and importance for children's health are different from those of antiquity. I respectively disagree! While human customs and language have changed with time, human nature and behavior have not. While it is true that our knowledge and understanding of the pathogenesis of disease processes is much more advanced than that of ancient societies, this "enlightenment" is of no value if we do not refrain from life-styles that promote the spread of disease. The fact that we have had a "Renaissance, a Reformation, an Industrial Revolution, an American Revolution, a Civil War, two world wars, a Civil Rights Movement, a Women's Rights Movement, and a Gay Rights Movement" since the Bible was written


1 ABSTRACT The preservative treatment of wood has become an issue and focus for environmentalists, and for environmental and health administrators. Irrespective of scientific evidence to support a benign impact of wood preservatives on the environment, both public and political pressure will probably demand the use of less-toxic chemicals. The dilemma of finding and introducing effective substitutes for the broad spectrum fungicides in current use is discussed. The role of new process development is highlighted in relation to providing "just-in-time" processing and integration of operations. The concept of totally contained treatment is demonstrated. In an era of product development, it is argued that the preservation industry needs to broaden its horizons to provide additional improvements to wood properties. These other properties could include dimensional stabilisation, fire resistance, and improved physical and visual characteristics.


Women face a unique set of challenges in India on account of traditionally held views of their gender, as well as often having lower educational and community status. Gender discrimination has continued to remain an evil in our society. Almost 70% women in South Asia are married at a young age, which is coupled with early childbearing and a lack of decision-making abilities within the traditional family structures, further enhancing their "disadvantaged" position in society. In India, the relationship of status and patriarchal values in addition to the deprived status of women worsens the situation. Despite advances having been made in the active participation of women in the political and economic domain, not much change has been seen in incidences of gender discrimination or dominant patriarchy. Daily interactions ensure that gender stereotypes have a strong influence on our values, judgements and evaluations to an extent that men and women are treated differently in society. A small weaving community, the Devanga community, which has its roots spread across India, practices stereotypes and patriarchal norms which have ensured the existence of male dominance in almost every aspect of decision making. The position of women within this community is worthy of debate and discussion, although no prior research has been conducted on this issue within the Devanga community. This paper draws upon the voices of women from within this community to understand the various levels of discrimination faced by them on a regular basis, along with highlighting male privilege as a cause of perpetuated discrimination and lesser opportunities for girls compared with boys. The reported research study analyzed data obtained from 120 women from the Devanga community through semi structured questionnaires and interviews and adopted an ethnographic feminist perspective to interpret these data. Findings indicate that the voices of women within this community are suppressed due to contributory factors such as orthodox beliefs and practices, male dominance, early marriage, and domestic responsibilities and all of these can be viewed as a barrier to providing educational opportunities to girls. Findings suggest that despite the progress made by women in India, they are still considered to be the single largest group of backward citizens.


We present MistForm, a shape changing fog display that can support one or two users interacting with either 2D or 3D content. Mistform combines affordances from both shape changing interfaces and mid-air displays. For example, a concave display can maintain content in comfortable reach for a single user, while a convex shape can support several users engaged on individual tasks. MistForm also enables unique interaction possibilities by exploiting the synergies between shape changing interfaces and mid-air fog displays. For instance, moving the screen will affect the brightness and blurriness of the screen at specific locations around the display, creating spaces with similar (collaboration) or different visibility (personalized content). We describe the design of MistForm and analyse its inherent challenges, such as image distortion and uneven brightness on dynamic curved surfaces. We provide a machine learning approach to characterize the shape of the screen and a rendering algorithm to remove aberrations. We finally explore novel interactive possibilities and reflect on their potential and limitations.


Duncan's focus is on rural community development, which she says must be seen more broadly as economic development. Rural poverty is different in different places—Duncan notes the persistent poverty of Appalachia and parts of the South, the new poverty of depopulation on the Great Plains, and the less visible but still significant poverty in those parts of rural America that are finding new economic strength. But combating rural poverty is hindered by themes that are consistent across all three types of places: distance, lack of human capital, lack of corporate capital, lack of infrastructure (including tech and communications infrastructure), yearning for the "good old days," and the need for regional thinking and urban-rural connectivity. Duncan sees opportunity for rural America in creation and distribution of energy, provision of "ecosystem services" such as carbon sequestration and watershed protection, eco and cultural tourism, local fresh food and telecommuting.


Introduction: Surgery for pancreatic cancer is associated with considerable morbidity. Both surgeon-related and patient-related factors are important in determining postoperative outcome. Therefore most pancreatic surgery is now carried out in specialist centres. However, patient optimisation is complex since factors that determine postoperative morbidity are less well understood. Objective: To compare preoperative measures of patient comorbidity with length of hospital stay in patients undergoing pancreatic surgery. Patients and methods: 103 patients who underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer (pancreatico-duodenectomy n=87,trial dissection with bypass n=16) had preoperative evaluation of body habitus, systemic inflammatory response (Glasgow Prognostic Score, mGPS) and routine blood analysis. Cardiopulmonary function (CPET) was measured in 54 patients. Length of hospital stay was recorded. Results: The median length of hospital stay was 17 days. 39 stayed ≤ 14 days and 64 >14 days. Length of hospital stay was not associated with body habitus or systemic inflammatory response. However, in patients with CPET, more patients with low anaerobic threshold (p=0.030),high base excess (0.056) and high VE/VCO2 (p=0.022) had a hospital stay >14 days. Prolonged hospital stay was associated with pancreatico-duodenectomy (p=0.027) and anastomotic failure (p Conclusions: CPET was the only pre-operative objective measure that correlated significantly with prolonged hospital stay. Length of stay is a useful surrogate marker of post-operative adverse events. Although CPET does not predict specific complications, it may determine the host response to major surgery and its immediate sequelae.


Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of 15–20 nm size range have attracted attention for producing smart sensing devices as diagnostic tools in biomedical sciences. Citrate capped AuNPs are negatively charged, which can be exploited for electrostatic interactions with some positively charged biomolecules like antibodies. In this paper we describe a method for the low cost synthesis of gold nanoparticles using sodium citrate (Na3Ct) reduction in chloroauric acid (HAuCl4.3H2O) by microwave heating (diameter about 13–15 nm). Gold nanoparticles were functionalized with surface activation by 3-mercaptopropionic acid for attaching antibody. These nanoparticles were then reacted with anti-E. coli O157:H7, using N-hydroxy succinimide (NHS) and carbondimide hydrochloride (EDC) coupling chemistry. The product was characterized with UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and zeta potential. In addition, the binding of antibody-gold nanoparticles conjugates to E. coli O157:H7 was demonstrated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).


Little is known about the origins of dehumanization or the mechanisms through which dehumanization impacts outgroup prejudice. We address these issues by measuring and manipulating animal–human similarity perceptions in a human intergroup context. As predicted, beliefs that animals and humans are relatively similar were associated with greater immigrant humanization, which in turn predicted more favorable immigrant attitudes (Study 1). Those higher in Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) or lower in Universal Orientation particularly rejected animal–human similarity beliefs, partially explaining their increased tendency to dehumanize and reject immigrants. In Study 2, perceptions of animal–human similarity were experimentally induced through editorials highlighting similarities between humans and other animals or emphasizing the human–animal divide. Emphasizing animals as similar to humans (versus humans as similar to animals, or the human–animal divide) resulted in greater immigrant humanization (even among highly prejudiced people). This humanization process facilitated more re-categorization (i.e., inclusive intergroup representations between immigrants and Canadians) and increased immigrant empathy, both of which predicted less prejudicial attitudes toward immigrants. Implications for research, theory, and interventions for dehumanization and prejudice are considered.


How might one approach cultural politics in the English classroom? What might the role of the class text be in these discussions? This article is a snapshot of the author's journey from a pre-service English teacher to her most recent experiences of English teaching. Her pre- service pedagogy indicated a 'minimization' of the role of the text in unpacking cultural politics; the text itself was overshadowed by the important points the teacher was making about critiquing the way the world is socially, culturally and politically organised. In her beginning teaching year, the author was in a remote rural school where she encountered attitudes to hegemonic masculinity and heterosexuality which she felt she did not deal appropriately with. She now believes that more emphasis on how the features of the text itself work to create meaning and construct identities is needed. She recognises the importance of close textual analysis as a way toward engaging in culturally political conversations about constructions of gender and sexuality in media and non-media texts. If she were to have her beginning teaching years over again, she would probably collate a series of contrasting representations of masculinity and femininity from a variety of sources, including popular culture. She would then develop activities based around undertaking textual analysis of the constructions of gender and sexuality, and ask students to identify the different elements in the texts that create meaning, and compare similarities and differences between texts.


We systematically studied surface plasmons reflection by graphene wrinkles with different heights on SiC substrate. Combined with numerical simulation, we found that the geometry corrugation of a few nanometer height wrinkle alone does not causes a reflection of graphene plasmons. Instead, the separated wrinkle from substrate exhibits a nonlinear spatial Fermi energy distribution along the wrinkle, which acts as a heterojunction. Therefor a higher graphene wrinkle induces a stronger damped region when propagating graphene surface plasmons encounter the wrinkle and get reflected.


Macro-level data for the US and 73 trading partners spanning the years 1980 to 2001 is used with a gravity specification to investigate the influence of immigration on bilateral trade. Prior research has identified immigrant stocks as a significant determinant of trade; however, this study indicates that the US immigrant-trade link is driven by immigration from relatively low income countries. A 10% increase in the immigrant stock is found to generate respectively 4.7 and 1.5% increases in domestic imports from and exports to the typical low income home country. The observed link is decomposed into two hypothesized channels–network effects and transplanted home bias. Considerable variation in per-immigrant trade effects is found across home countries: imports from the typical low income home country are estimated to increase by up to $2057 due to transplanted home bias and by as much as $2967 as a result of network effects, while exports rise by up to $910 as a result of networks.


Aim: To determine the prevalence of white spot lesions in orthodontic patients treated with fixed orthodontic appliances at different treatment periods and to reveal the teeth most commonly affected by white spot lesions. Materials and Methods: Forty eight patients (31 females and 17 males) treated with fixed orthodontic appliance were included in this study. The patients were examined for the presence of white spot before insertion of the appliance and after its removal using visual examination. Results: This study showed that there was a significant increase in the formation of white spot lesions along with the increase in treatment duration in male group, while females showed no significant difference in white spots at different durations. The first molars were the most affected teeth by white spots followed by canines and second premolars. Conclusion: This clinical study showed that the teeth in buccal segment were affected by white spots more than incisors and the prevalence of white spots


Abstract Fostering is a difficult task and fostering children who have been sexually abused is additionally complex. This paper is built on practice experience: family therapy with foster parents and foster children, individual counselling and statutory child care. It identifies themes for effective practice in the selection and preparation of foster parents, and in working with sexually abused children and their foster parents during placement.


The cross-lagged effects of dangerous and competitive social worldviews on Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) were examined over a five-month period (N = 165). Analyses indicated that the motivational goal for group-based dominance and superiority indexed by SDO changed as a function of the degree to which the social world was perceived as a competitive place characterized by inequality and resource scarcity. The motivational goal for ingroup conformity and collective security indexed by RWA, in contrast, changed as a function of the degree to which the social world was perceived as a dangerous and threatening place prone to high levels of crime and immoral behavior. These findings are consistent with the causal pathways between social worldviews and ideological attitudes predicted by Duckitt's (2001) model of the dual motivational and cognitive processes underlying prejudice. An unexpected reciprocal effect in which RWA predicted longitudinal change in dangerous worldview was also identified, suggesting that the relationship between these two constructs may be more complex than previously hypothesized. Language: en


This study set out to gain a deeper understanding of how early childhood students, specifically Black boys in first and second grade, would respond to the teaching of historical figures and events traditionally omitted from classrooms. Contrary to general assumptions, these students were able to astutely contribute to classroom lessons, discussions, and interviews about Nat Turner, an enslaved Black American, who led a rebellion in 1831. Employing notions of Black intellectual thought and curricular and pedagogical resuscitation as theoretical frameworks, in addition to critical hermeneutic phenomenology as its methodology, this study highlights the voices of young Black boys often missing in early childhood discourse. Findings indicate that the students expressed a favorable assessment of Nat Turner and his comrades. The statement, "But there is a God," ultimately confronts the unavailability and restricted options for Black humanity in a racist society, but also an awareness testifying to a self-ordained defense of the Black body. This study gives added perspective to the understanding of the early learning process, cultural meaning-making, and connection to a Black educational legacy spanning generations.


Quality control of vaccine batches before their release onto the market is mandatory to demonstrate that they are safe and efficacious. For inactivated vaccines, this is often achieved using immunization challenge tests, requiring large numbers of laboratory animals. Ethical concerns about animal use and the questionable relevance of many animal models for the target species urged for implementation of the 3R's principle (replacement, reduction and refinement of animal use) in vaccine manufacturing and quality control. Increased knowledge of vaccine antigens, implementation of in-process testing, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Quality Assurance in vaccine manufacturing enabled standardized manufacturing processes. Together, these implementations facilitate production of better defined and less variable vaccine batches. Therefore, demonstration of batch-to-batch consistency has been proposed as a new approach for batch release testing. Once consistency in production has been demonstrated by showing that new batches do not differ from previous batches of sufficient quality by measuring a set of crucial parameters, testing of subsequent batches could rely on assessment of these same parameters, ideally by a panel of in vitro tests. This testing strategy is known as the consistency approach which has the potential to abolish the need for animal tests for batch release onto the market.
Potency assessment of inactivated canine Leptospira vaccine batches still relies, to varying degrees among vaccine manufacturers, on the use of in vivo hamster challenge experiments. In view of the 3R principle, there is a clear need for development of novel host specific in vitro tests to study vaccine potency and/or immune activation.
Pathogenic Leptospira are the causative agents of leptospirosis, an emerging bacterial zoonosis, potentially affecting all vertebrates, including humans and dogs. Leptospira spp. are Gram-negative spirochetes found in water and soil and comprise of saprophytic and pathogenic species. Numerous Leptospira serovars have been identified based on the carbohydrate structure of the leptospiral LPS. Vaccination of dogs against Leptospira is recommended to protect the animals against potentially fatal infection and to prevent transmission to the environment. Commercially available Leptospira vaccines consist of inactivated whole bacteria of different serovars. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognising LPS epitopes of specific Leptospira serovars were developed for quantification of Leptospira antigen in vaccines using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), for quality control purposes. Although this LPS-based ELISA is a reproducible and affordable alternative to the animal batch release test, it is serovar specific, which means that mAbs need to be developed for each serovar. Furthermore, this method does not provide any information about the protective immune responses induced by inactivated Leptospira vaccines.
The purpose of the studies described in this thesis was to develop cell-based assays to determine the immunostimulatory properties of inactivated canine Leptospira vaccines and individual serovars in vitro, and to assess the applicability of these assays for future routine quality control testing. Aspects of innate immunity and its response to inactivated Leptospira vaccines in the dog were investigated and described in Chapters 2, 3 and 4, while Chapter 5 addresses the examination of adaptive immune responses induced by these vaccines.


FEW STUDIES concerning adrenocortical function in children with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas have been reported. In two patients, di Sant'Agnese et al 1 noted an increased excretion of urinary 17-ketosteroids (17-KS) in response to corticotropin, a normal reduction of urinary electrolyte excretion during salt restriction, and little response of sweat electrolytes to desoxycorticosterone administration. Siegenthaler et al 2 have demonstrated normally elevated urinary aldosterone levels, but persistently pathological sweat electrolyte concentrations during salt restriction in one child, and normal control urinary aldosterone levels in four children with this disease. Recently, Lietman and di Sant'Agnese 3 reported studies on ten patients with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas. These studies yielded the following observations: (1) normal urinary aldosterone levels during control and salt-restriction periods in eight patients, (2) the lack of a decrease in sweat electrolyte concentrations during salt restriction in all patients, and (3) normal oral glucose response tests, urinary


Sexual reproduction can promote genetic diversity in eukaryotes, and yet many pathogenic fungi have been labeled as obligate asexual species. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that cryptic sexual programs may exist in some species, and that efficient mating requires the necessary developmental switch to be triggered. In this study we investigate Candida tropicalis, an important human fungal pathogen that has been reported to be asexual. Significantly, we demonstrate that C. tropicalis uses a phenotypic switch to regulate a cryptic program of sexual mating. Thus, diploid a and α cells must undergo a developmental transition to the mating-competent form, and only then does efficient cell-cell conjugation take place resulting in the formation of stable a/α tetraploids. We show that both the phenotypic switch and sexual mating depend on the conserved transcriptional regulator Wor1, which is regulated by temperature in other fungal species. In contrast, C. tropicalis mating occurs efficiently at both 25 °C and 37 °C, suggesting that it could occur in the mammalian host and have direct consequences for the outcome of an infection. Transcriptional profiling further reveals that ≈400 genes are differentially expressed between the two phenotypic states, including the regulatory factor Wor1. Taken together, our results demonstrate that C. tropicalis has a unique sexual program, and that entry to this program is controlled via a Wor1-mediated, metastable switch. These observations have direct implications for the regulation and evolution of cryptic sexual programs in related fungal pathogens.


Recent reports indicate that AIDS is increasing among Asian and Pacific Islander populations. Data from 249 women sampled from nine Asian and Pacific Islander communities in San Diego County from 1993 to 1995 were examined to determine what factors contributed to perceived susceptibility to HIV infection and having had an HIV test. Thirteen percent of women sampled were classified as high risk for HIV infection, while half of the women reported perceived susceptibility to HIV. Years in the United States and ethnicity appeared to be effect modifiers of the relationship between risk behaviors and perceived susceptibility. In the multivariate model, high school education or greater, age of 30 or more, participation in risk behaviors, and knowing an HIV-positive person were significantly associated with perceived susceptibility. Reliability of self-reported sexual behavior was somewhat low, while the reliability of data relating to injection drug use and needle sharing was high.


The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of circular RNA WW and C2 domain-containing protein 3 (circWWC3) in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). The clinicopathological data were collected for patients with ccRCC treated between January 1, 2012, and February 31, 2014, at The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University Hospital (Shijiazhuang, China). A total of 150 patients who underwent nephrectomy were included in the study. Analysis of stored tissues and long-term follow-up data was performed. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to detect the relative circWWC3 expression in fresh-frozen cancerous and adjacent para-cancerous tissue samples from patients with ccRCC. A χ2 test was used to analyze the association between circWWC3 expression levels and the clinicopathological parameters of the patients. A Cox proportional risk regression model was used to analyze the clinical factors affecting patient prognosis. The survival curve was plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the association between circWWC3 expression levels and patient survival status was tested using the log-rank test. circWWC3 expression in cancerous tissues was higher than that in the adjacent normal tissues. Additionally, circWWC3 expression was significantly associated with T stage (P=0.005) and pathological grade (P=0.033). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that overall survival (OS) was associated with T stage, pathological Fuhrman grade and circWWC3 expression levels (all P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis also yielded similar results in patients with ccRCC (P<0.05). Moreover, the OS time of patients with high circWWC3 expression was significantly shorter than that of patients with low circWWC3 expression. In conclusion, high circWWC3 expression is an independent risk factor affecting patient prognosis, and is expected to be an important prognostic biomarker and novel therapeutic target for patients with ccRCC.


A devastating tsunami struck Palu Bay in the wake of the 28 September 2018 Mw = 7.5 Palu earthquake (Sulawesi, Indonesia). With a predominantly strike‐slip mechanism, the question remains whether this unexpected tsunami was generated by the earthquake itself, or rather by earthquake‐induced landslides. In this study we examine the tsunami potential of the co‐seismic deformation. To this end, we present a novel geodetic data set of Global Positioning System and multiple Synthetic Aperture Radar‐derived displacement fields to estimate a 3D co‐seismic surface deformation field. The data reveal a number of fault bends, conforming to our interpretation of the tectonic setting as a transtensional basin. Using a Bayesian framework, we provide robust finite fault solutions of the co‐seismic slip distribution, incorporating several scenarios of tectonically feasible fault orientations below the bay. These finite fault scenarios involve large co‐seismic uplift (>2 m) below the bay due to thrusting on a restraining fault bend that connects the offshore continuation of two parallel onshore fault segments. With the co‐seismic displacement estimates as input we simulate a number of tsunami cases. For most locations for which video‐derived tsunami waveforms are available our models provide a qualitative fit to leading wave arrival times and polarity. The modeled tsunamis explain most of the observed runup. We conclude that co‐seismic deformation was the main driver behind the tsunami that followed the Palu earthquake. Our unique geodetic data set constrains vertical motions of the sea floor, and sheds new light on the tsunamigenesis of strike‐slip faults in transtensional basins.


Isopach maps of the Triassic-Lower Liassic volcano-sedimentary successions in the Oujda Mountains (eastern Morocco) have been drawn and complemented by the study of the directions of the doleritic dykes. New interpretations of the dynamics of this part of the northern Gondwana margin during the beginning of the Mesozoic rifting are proposed. The tectonic pattern of the Oujda Mountains was controlled by the conjugate motion of N070 degrees E-N090 degrees E (Atlasic) and N150 degrees E-N160 degrees E faults. This extensional regime led to the differentiation of several strike-slip or pull-apart basins delimited by conjugate faults: Oujda, Ahajfoune, Oued El Himer, Tiouli, North Jerada and Metroh depocentres. Some of these are distinct from the others and have sustained a differential subsidence. They have undergone a differential subsidence but this is almost always balanced by the rate of sedimentation and by the basaltic flows which underline the palaeostructures.


Flicker is one of the artificial distortions of MPEG-2 coded video caused by the display's gamma characteristics and depends on the picture texture. In order to improve the picture quality, we have developed a technique of reducing the flicker by display gamma simulations in the decoded pictures. The effectiveness was confirmed by experiments. The process is less complex, and the implementation of this technique in digital TV receivers is expected to improve the coded picture quality.


In this book we discuss the behaviour of direct sum decomposition in additive categories and in particular in categories of modules. In the first part, we investigate the ring theoretical properties that play a main role in the theory of factorization in additive categories, like the exchange property, semilocality and Goldie dimension. We stress the importance of the latter and we investigate with care the infinite case of the dual Goldie dimension of rings. In the rest of the book, we use a more categorical approach, studying the behaviour of direct sum decomposition in additive categories. We study classes of categories where the direct sum decomposition behaves regularly, underlining the role played by semilocal endomorphism rings. We analyze the peculiar behaviour of direct sum decomposition in some categories of modules, where the uniqueness of the decomposition is obtained up to two permutations, and we notice how this phenomenon is due to the presence of endomorphism rings of type two. In the last chapter we investigate what happens when we pass from finite direct sum of indecomposable objects to infinite direct sums both at a categorical and a monoid theoretical level.


This paper studies the asymptotic behaviour as of the transition density of a diffusion process on a smooth manifold. The results are stated in the language of differential geometry. We look at applications of the asymptotic formulae to the local structure of diffusion processes and to spectral theory.


Final berry mass, a major quality factor in wine production, is determined by the integrated effect of biotic and abiotic factors that can also influence berry composition. Under field conditions, interactions between these factors complicate study of the variability of berry mass and composition. Depending on the observation scale, the hierarchy of the impact degree of these factors can vary. The present work examines the simultaneous effects of the major factors influencing berry mass and composition to create a hierarchy by impact degree. A second objective was to separate the possible direct effects of factors on berry composition from an indirect effect mediated through their impact on berry mass. Vine water and nitrogen status of six blocks of Cabernet franc vines planted on sandy or gravelly soils were monitored over two years. Berries were analyzed from veraison to harvest. At each sampling date, fresh berry mass, berry seed mass and number, sugar content and concentration, and malic acid concentration were recorded. All studied factors significantly impacted final berry mass, but vine water status had the largest effect. The interaction between factors sometimes hid significant effects on berry compounds. Nevertheless, we showed by means of appropriate statistics that all factors had a direct impact on berry sugar and malic acid concentrations, although their order of impact varied with the metabolites considered. Conversely, the effect of factors significantly impacting berry sugar content is mediated through their impact on fresh berry mass.


On 4 May 2013, Mr Justice Field handed in a judgment in WM Morrison Supermarkets, dismissing an application by a number of the defendants within the MasterCard group for an immediate stay of the…


A primary, ACE-Asia objective was to quantify the interactions between aerosols and radiation in the Asia-Pacific region. Toward this end, radiometric and related aerosol measurements were made from ocean, land, air and space platforms. Models that predict aerosol fields guided the measurements and are helping integrate and interpret results. Companion overview's survey these measurement and modeling components. Here we illustrate how these components were combined to determine aerosol radiative. impacts and their relation to aerosol properties. Because clouds can obscure or change aerosol direct radiative effects, aircraft and ship sorties to measure these effects depended on predicting and finding cloud-free areas and times with interesting aerosols present. Pre-experiment satellite cloud climatologies, pre-flight aerosol and cloud forecasts, and in-flight guidance from satellite imagery all helped achieve this. Assessments of aerosol regional radiative impacts benefit from the spatiotemporal coverage of satellites, provided satellite-retrieved aerosol properties are accurate. Therefore, ACE-Asia included satellite retrieval tests, as part of many comparisons to judge the consistency (closure) among, diverse measurements. Early results include: (1) Solar spectrally resolved and broadband irradiances and optical depth measurements from the C-130 aircraft and at Kosan, Korea yielded aerosol radiative forcing efficiencies, permitting comparisons between efficiencies of ACE-Asia and INDOEX aerosols, and between dust and "pollution" aerosols. Detailed results will be presented in separate papers. (2) Based on measurements of wavelength dependent aerosol optical depth (AOD) and single scattering albedo the estimated 24-h a average aerosol radiative forcing efficiency at the surface for photosynthetically active radiation (400 - 700 nm) in Yulin, China is approx. 30 W sq m per AOD(500 nm). (3) The R/V Brown cruise from Honolulu to Sea of Japan sampled an aerosol optical depth gradient, with AOD(500 nm) extremes from 0.1 to 1.1. On the Pacific transit from Honolulu to Hachijo AOD(500 nm) averaged 0.2, including increases to 0.4 after several storms, suggesting the strong impact of wind-generated seasalt. The AOD maximum, found in the Sea of Japan, was influenced by dust and anthropogenic sources. (4) In Beijing, single scattering albedo retrieved from AERONET sun-sky radiometry yielded midvisible SSA=0.88 with strong wavelength dependence, suggesting a significant black carbon component. SSA retrieved during dust episodes was approx. 0.90 and variable but wavelength neutral reflecting the presence of urban haze with the dust. Downwind at Anmyon Island SSA was considerably higher, approx. 0.94, but wavelength neutral for dust episodes and spectrally dependent during non dust periods. (5) Satellite retrievals show major aerosol features moving from Asia over the Pacific; however, determining seasonal-average aerosol effects is hampered by sampling frequency and large-scale cloud systems that obscure key parts of aerosol patterns. Preliminary calculations using, satellite-retrieved AOD fields and initial ACE-Asia aerosol properties (including sulfates, soot, and dust) yield clear-sky aerosol radiative effects in the seasonal-average ACE-Asia plume exceeding those of manmade greenhouse gases. Quantifying all-sky direct aerosol radiative effects is complicated by the need to define the height of absorbing aerosols with respect to cloud decks.


We proposed a method based on microwave magnetic dipole transitions to prepare samples of atoms with well defined position and velocity. Each microwave pulse corresponds to a position measurement for the atoms and two pulses separated by a given delay result in a velocity measurement. The method gives velocity sensitivity approaching that obtained with Raman transitions but it is easier to implement. Moreover, it has the advantages that it also selects in position and has less demanding experimental requirements. The method can be demonstrated in a magneto-optical trap.


Multimodular matrix converters (MMMCs) built with three- to single-phase modules have emerged as a candidate for high-power applications. In order to reach higher voltage and power levels, constituent modules of an MMMC are fed by isolated secondary windings of a phase-shifting transformer, while their outputs are connected in series to supply the load. This paper presents a new modulation strategy for the MMMC. Unlike previously proposed strategies that aim to simultaneously fabricate sinusoidal output voltage and input current, the new method only focuses on generating multilevel output voltage waveforms. Nonetheless, because power balance among modules on a same output phase is guaranteed, and owing to the harmonic elimination capability of the phase-shifting transformer, sinusoidal input current with good quality can still be achieved. Compared with previous methods, the proposed strategy cannot adjust the input power factor but is simpler, more straightforward, and associated with lower switching losses. Its use makes possible the employment of an indirect module structure that significantly reduces the total number of switches and, thereby, the overall semiconductor cost and eliminates the need for complex device commutations, which is essential in direct matrix converter modules. The presented concepts are verified by simulation and experimental results.


In this paper, we propose a novel pattern-recognition system to identify and classify buried objects from ground-penetrating radar (GPR) imagery. The entire process is subdivided into four steps. After a preprocessing step, the GPR image is thresholded to put under light the regions containing potential objects. The third step of the system consists of automatically detecting the objects in the obtained binary image by means of a search of linear/hyperbolic patterns formulated within a genetic optimization framework. In the genetic optimizer, each chromosome models the apex position and the curvature associated with the candidate pattern, while the fitness function expresses the Hamming distance between that pattern and the binary image content. Finally, in the fourth step, the problem of the recognition of the material type of the identified objects is approached as a classification issue, which is solved by means of an opportune feature-extraction strategy and a support vector machine classifier. To illustrate the performances of the proposed system, we conducted a thorough experimental study based on GPR images generated by a GPR simulator based on the finite-difference time-domain method so as to construct different acquisition scenarios by varying the number of buried objects, their position, their size, their shape, and their material type. In general, the obtained experimental results show that the proposed system exhibits promising performances both in terms of object detection and material recognition.


The use of terms such as 'Anglo-Jewry', 'British Jewry', 'the Jewish com? munity', 'the Jewish public' and 'the Jewish population' as though they are all synonymous is common today. This imprecise use of language and concepts is indicative of the lack of intellectual rigour which is common in dealing with society, so I must establish my own terms and concepts here with more clarity and at greater length than would otherwise be necessary. I shall use the term 'British Jewry' for the totality of members of the Jewish public and rely wherever possible on the term 'population' for aggregates of individual Jews. I shall restrict my own use of the term 'community' to Jewish institutional or corporate activities. For a social scientist operating in a contemporary urban context Gans' definition of a community is most helpful. He uses the term when referring to an aggregate of people who occupy a common and bounded territory within which they establish and participate in common institutions.1 In other words, common social institutions, sodalities or representative bodies equal a com? munity. Professor Maurice Freedman agreed, stating: 'In so far as there is a set of institutions, ritual and secular which mark out a distinct sphere of Jewish social life, there exists a Jewish community.2 Anglo-Jewry is heterogeneous in the geographical and cultural origin of its members and the history of their migration. Jewish numerical strength varies in different parts of the country, and peculiar local conditions all affect various subgroups differently and give way to one process or another with varying time-sequences and in different combinations. However, we must be aware that our analytic framework inevitably biases how we interpret the historical dynamic. This dilemma was clearly set out by Ernest Krausz in a paper to the second Conference of Jewish Life in Britain in 1977. He stated:


To identify protein kinases that are regulated by cell volume, we examined protein phosphorylation in hypertonically shrunken aortic endothelial cells. Shrinkage reversibly increased, and swelling decreased, phosphorylation of a 19-kDa cytoskeletal protein identified as myosin light chain (MLC) by immune precipitation and immunoblotting. Shrinkage also increased MLC phosphorylation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, rat aortic smooth muscle cells, and human dermal fibroblasts. Phosphorylation was blocked by ML-7, an inhibitor of MLC kinase (MLCK). Neither inhibition of protein kinase C nor inhibition of myosin phosphatase (with calyculin) altered MLC phosphorylation. Peptide mapping of MLC indicated phosphorylation by MLCK. Na-K-2Cl cotransport activation paralleled MLC phosphorylation in hypertonic medium. Na-K-2Cl was stimulated by low concentrations of ML-7 with no further stimulation by hypertonic shrinkage and was inhibited by higher concentrations, paralleling inhibition of MLC phosphorylation. Shrinkage-induced phosphorylation of the cotransporter was not blocked by ML-7. We conclude that cell volume regulates MLC phosphorylation by MLCK. MLCK influences Na-K-2Cl cotransport but independently of cotransporter phosphorylation. These data suggest an important link between cell volume, volume-regulatory transporters, and the contractile state of the cytoskeleton.


Background: IDH gene mutation in gliomas is associated with younger age and better survival. IDH1 mutation has also been demonstrated to cause global hypermethylation and G-CIMP phenotype in astrocytes. However, the effects of IDH mutation and hypermethylation on molecular ontogeny and DNA copy number alterations in gliomas remain unknown. Here we describe a detailed analysis of copy number alterations (CNA) comparing IDH mutated (IDHmut) and IDH wild-type (IDHwt) gliomas of different grades. Method: CNAs were detected by molecular inversion probes (OncoScan FFPE Express, Affymetrix) and analyzed with Nexus Copy Number Software (BioDiscovery). DNA was extracted from 94 patient FFPE glioma samples including Grade II-III IDHwt (n=17) and IDHmut (n=28), and Grade IV: IDHwt (n=25) and IDHmut (n=24). Chromothripsis was determined in individual samples using stringent criteria of at least ten distinct CNAs within a single chromosome. Results: General analysis of CNAs between IDHmut versus IDHwt grade IV (glioblastoma) samples validated prior observations that IDHwt GBM have high frequencies of Chr7 amplification (including EGFR) and loss of Chr10 (including PTEN). The frequency of these specific alterations in IDHmut grade IV tumors was significantly lower. Other CNAs that were significantly different were gain of 19q12, and loss of 14q11 and 22q13 in IDHwt, and gain of 11q21, 10p11, 8q21, 12p13, 1q23, 11q and loss of 11p15, 3p, and 19q13 in IDHmut. Overall, both IDHwt and IDHmut grade IV tumors demonstrated more CNAs compared with lower grade tumors. Inspection of data from individual samples suggested that a higher number of samples from the grade IV IDHmut demonstrated frequent CNAs within individual chromosomes, indicative of chromothripsis. Using stringent criteria of ten distinct CNAs per chromosome, we found a significantly high incidence of chromothripsis events were observed in Grade IV IDHmut compared to IDHwt (p=0.0374). There was also a trend towards higher incidence of chromothripsis in grade IV versus grade I-III IDHmut tumors, but this did not reach statistical significance. Analysis of CNAs at the p53 locus at 17p13 demonstrated that cases with chromothripsis across all tumor grades had a significantly higher incidence of copy number loss or LOH at this locus compared to cases without chromothripsis (p=0.0368). Conclusions: CNA analysis showed significant differences in CNAs between IDHwt and IDHmut, indicating significant differences in molecular ontogeny. Significant CNA increases and increased chromothripsis in Grade IV IDHmut gliomas suggests that malignant transformation of low grade gliomas may occur through accumulation of genomic instability and genomic catastrophe. Since IDH mutation is thought to be an early event in gliomagenesis, it is possible that the global hypermethylation and other epigenetic alterations induced by IDH mutation in these tumors is mechanistically related to chromosomal instability and chromothripsis. In addition, higher incidence of LOH and copy number loss at the p53 loci in the cases with chromothripsis suggests a potential cooperative role between IDH1 and p53 in this process. Ongoing studies are aimed at further determining the contribution of p53 and ATRX mutation to this phenomenon. Citation Format: Howard Colman, Mariko Sato, Clinton C. Mason, Kristin Diefes, Lindsey Heathcock, Lisa Abegglen, Ken Aldape, Joshua D. Schiffman. Chromothripsis and gene-specific copy number aberrations associated with mutation of IDH1 in glioma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Chromatin and Epigenetics in Cancer; Jun 19-22, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A08.


This article explores the place of madḥ amidst other traditional Arabic poetic themes in Africa with particular reference to Ibn Nafi' panegyric ode on his sūfi mentor. It analyses the salient poetic features of supplicatory panegyric in Nigeria and the extent of its patronage by Yoruba 'Ulamā. The study proceeds to chronicle the genesis of the fraternity between the poet and his patron. Analysing the structural pattern adopted for the composition, the author discovers that the poem is triggered not only by spiritual impulse but also betrothal connection between the author and his patron.


Active chiral plasmonics have attracted a considerable amount of research interest for their power to switch the handedness of chiral metamaterials and the potential applications in highly integrated polarization sensitive devices, stereo display fields, and so on. In this work, we propose a kind of active chiral metamaterial absorber (ACMA) composed by planar anisotropic chiral metamaterials (PACMs) and a metal layer. Our in-depth theoretical analysis indicates that the circular conversion dichroism (CCD) from PACMs plays a crucial role to achieve the active chiroptical effect. The CCD effect can enable a differentiated microcavity-interference effect between the left and right circular incident lights and results in a chiroptical effect related to the equivalent optical length between the PACMs and the metal layer. In simulations, a high-performance ACMA, which are composed by the 'Z'-shaped PACMs, is designed, and the maximum reflection CDR from ACMA can reach 0.882. Meanwhile, the minimum reflection CDR can reach to 0, resulting a very large adjustable range of from 0 to 0.882. The maximum modulation sensitivity, which is defined as Mn=∂CDR/∂n and Md=∂CDR/∂d, can reach to about 1368.252 for d=100um and 0.06157 nm-1 for n=4.5,respectively. In addition to the active chiroptical effect, the designed ACMA also shows excellent performance as a sensor, such as when it is being used as a highly-sensitive temperature sensor. In that case, the minimum detected precision can reach approximately 3.067 * 10-8 °C, if VO2 is used to fill the FP cavity.


By acquiring the conditions for the usage of the pre-accession funds of the European Union, concretely the instrument for rural development (Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance in Rural Development - IPARD), The Republic of Serbia (RS) will have a chance to improve the position of its agricultural farms and the conditions of its rural areas. Agriculture is specifically important for the economy in RS, and the rural population makes up almost one-half of the population, which additionally enlarges an interest in these funds. In addition, the objective of the research is to identify the effects of the usage of the IPARD funds on the development of the rural areas, respectively the socio-economic progress of the rural population. A qualitative descriptive analysis on the basis of the empirical data was used. The basic conclusions are that, thus, structured funds will have a limited impact on the reduction in the development inequalities and the achievement of the parity living conditions between the rural and the urban areas. Namely, the dominant focus of the IPARD funds on the investments in agricultural farms and enterprises, and not in rural households, limits the level of their impact on the rural development in RS.


An ensemble of simulations performed with a coarse resolution 3‐D climate model driven by various combinations of external forcing is used to investigate possible causes for differences noticed in two recent simulations of the climate of the past millennium using General Circulation Models (GCMs). Our results strongly suggest that differences in sensitivity (equilibrium and transient climate response) could be responsible for temperature changes that differ by more than a factor of two between two models. In addition, the spin‐up procedure could explain some differences between the simulations during the first centuries of the second millennium. The choice of the forcing reconstruction is found to play a smaller role for the differences in the simulated climate, in the model configurations analyzed here. Furthermore, at decadal scale, internal climate variability can mask the differences associated with different forcing reconstructions.


We summarize progress on algorithms and software knowledge acquisition from large, distributed, autonomous, and semantically disparate information sources. Some key results include: scalable algorithms for constructing predictive models from data based on a novel decomposition of learning algorithms that interleaves queries for sufficient statistics from data with computations using the statistics; provably exact algorithms from distributed data (relative to their centralized counterparts); and statistically sound approaches to learning predictive models from partially specified data that arise in settings where the schema and the data semantics and hence the granularity of data differ across the different sources.


STUDY OBJECTIVES
To review our experience with indications, timing, and results of pulmonary resection in infants.

DESIGN
Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING
Thoracic Surgery Department, Chest Diseases Hospital, Kuwait.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION
Forty-seven infants with congenital lung diseases were treated with pulmonary resection from January 1993 to December 2000.

RESULTS
The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 90 days (range, 7 days to 11 months). Thirty-four patients were male (72%). Congenital lobar emphysema, congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation, pulmonary sequestration, and atelectasis were seen in 26, 10, 6, and 5 patients, respectively. The indications for surgery were respiratory distress in 32 patients (68%), respiratory tract infections in 12 patients (26%), and the presence of asymptomatic chest radiographic findings in 3 patients (6%). A lobectomy was performed in 42 patients (89%), bilobectomy in 2 patients (4%), left pneumonectomy in 1 patient (2%), and excision of a mass in 2 patients with extralobar sequestration (4%). An emergency lobectomy was performed in seven patients (15%). Only one postoperative death occurred following a left pneumonectomy for extensive congenital adenomatoid malformation due to pulmonary hypertension. Four patients (9%) had postoperative complications: atelectasis (n = 2), prolonged air leak (n = 1), and pneumothorax (n = 1). Mean follow-up was 4 years (range, 1 to 5 years) for all patients. None of the patients had any physical limitations.

CONCLUSION
Pulmonary resection is indicated for the majority of patients with congenital lung malformations. In case of severe respiratory distress, an emergency lobectomy can be performed safely.


When approaching nursery rhymes, they appear as a concrete, limited and cohesive collection shared by all English-speaking countries packaged in colorful books or fun, animated Youtube channels. Yet they have truly been something that was alive: a group of productions that changed and increased throughout time, drawn from and shared with different languages and cultures, accommodated or purged, considered to hide secret meanings and, subsequently, fossilized in print. They pre-date literary culture although, since society has become literary, nursery rhymes have been generally approached either from the folkloric ethnography field through a collection and analysis of rhymes, their variations and their influences; or as a means to an end, taking into account their possible usage in phonological awareness, literacy and first and second language acquisition. Few have intended to answer what exactly nursery rhymes are, how they work and why it is that they have existed for so long. Understanding nursery rhymes offers essential knowledge of their position in children's literature, children's agency and the shared discourse between adults and children. It also illustrates how the relationship between adults, infants, communication and connection has preserved its essential features.


This book addresses the fields of biodegradation, environmental degradation, and photochemical degradation. The purpose of the book is to establish guidelines for terminology, nomenclature, characterization techniques and methodology, mechanisms of degradation, standard reference materials, and issues and needs. This is the first scientific book of this nature based on the findings of the world's leading scientists (academic, industrial, and federal) in this field. Hard data is presented and soft data is identified under issues and needs. New areas covered are such topics as: biodegradation with in vivo applications, environmental degradation, including anaerobic, aerobic, characterization techniques and methodology, photochemical degradation, and secondary issues associated with degradation. This publication contains information vital to environmental scientists and engineers, biomaterials scientists, pharmaceutical technologists, and chemists.


The text presents analysis of the census of homeless and it discusses other experiments to bring an overview of the number of this people and information of their problems. It is looking for answers on the questions to what specifically can this census and information about homeless of regional management serve and how to effectively use this data for improving a situation of people affected by social exclusion and whether such attempts have a factual meaning. The text discusses the possibility of a theoretical concept of homelessness as an important indicator about the state of human society which can be used for planning of social policy. The text is based on the theoretical definition of the concept of social exclusion and poverty. It is necessary to proceed in the data collection among the homeless in accordance with ethical principles of research and it is also necessary to interpreted data as well.


Although the central role of classical mechanics in physics teacher education is undisputed, divergent interests and perspectives from different disciplinary cultures might exist when thinking about how to best support pre-service teachers' professional development. In this article, we report the results of an exploratory mind map study to investigate which classical mechanics topics are regarded essential for physics teacher education according to N = 29 experts from different physics disciplines. The participants' mind maps were analyzed using a category system and frequency analysis was applied. The results hint at similarities and differences in terms of key topics to be addressed in physics teacher education on classical mechanics according to experts from different physics disciplines, e.g., in terms of the depth of mathematics considered relevant for physics teacher education.


The effective removal of oil contaminants from wastewater, especially dispersed tiny oil droplets, is an emerging technology, yet remains challenging. Core–shell structured nanoparticles with magnetic cores and hydrophobic shells have been explored for oil removal, but the adsorption capacity is unsatisfactory due to the low surface area and smooth surface. Herein, superhydrophobic magnetic core–shell mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles with dendritic architecture (Fe3O4@DMONs) were fabricated in a step-by-step condensation process, which could realize the rapid and efficient separation of dispersed tiny oil droplets from oil-in-water emulsions, giving a separation efficiency of higher than 98.1%. Meanwhile, thanks to the magnetically responsive property, the dispersed Fe3O4@DMONs could be collected simply by applying a magnetic field. In addition, the mesoporous structure as well as the dendritic architecture afforded Fe3O4@DMONs large adsorption capacities for various oils, ranging from 1.37 to 2.04 g g−1. Fe3O4@DMONs showed good reusability with the remaining separation efficiency of 97.9% during five separation cycles for a cyclohexane-in-water emulsion. Furthermore, Fe3O4@DMONs could also adsorb a water-soluble dye in an oil-in-water emulsion with an adsorption efficiency up to 89.4%. Therefore, Fe3O4@DMONs hold promising potential as candidates for the practical purification of industrial wastewater.


For the purposes of this study, we will construct a static monopolistically-competitive computable general equilibrium model to quantify the endogenous productivity spillovers from foreign and domestic firms, using the Chinese economy as a case study. Our simulation results indicate: (i) that the net spillover effects are positive in terms of national total output, GDP and welfare; (ii) that both state-owned and privately-owned firms benefit, but that private firms benefit more; (iii) that industries with large volumes of foreign direct investment (FDI) do not necessarily observe the largest spillover effects; and (iv) that the spillover effects become more prominent when the initial market structure is more concentrated.


Abstract Because of interest in monitoring crop response to weed interference, greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate interference of purple and yellow nutsedge on the growth, development, and spectral response of cotton and soybean. Cotton fresh weight was reduced 9 to 42% compared with the control when grown with yellow and purple nutsedge. Fresh weight of soybean was reduced 27 to 60% when it emerged simultaneously with yellow nutsedge and 45 to 63% when it emerged 7 d after yellow nutsedge. Soybean fresh weight was reduced 30 to 35% when it emerged simultaneously with purple nutsedge and 44 to 72% when it emerged 7 d after purple nutsedge. Reflectance data were analyzed using wavelet transformation techniques with the HAAR mother wavelet. Nine extracted features from the cotton and soybean leaf reflectance measurements were used to classify single-leaf cotton and soybean reflectance measurements to predict whether cotton or soybean was growing in the presence or absence of purple and yellow nutsedge. After training the system, the ability to separate leaf reflectance measurements of crops growing weed free from those growing in the presence of purple and yellow nutsedge was tested using cross-validation with the nearest mean classifier. Cross-validation accuracy results for cotton were 62 to 70%. Cross-validation accuracy for soybean and yellow nutsedge was similar, regardless of emergence, and ranged from 60 to 71%. Features extracted from the soybean reflectance measurements were not as effective in classifying soybean leaf reflectance measurements based on the presence or absence of purple nutsedge. A decrease in accuracy was observed for both simultaneous and delayed soybean emergence in purple nutsedge fresh weight categories from more than 2,560 g to more than 3,420 g. Overall, the system correctly classified soybean emerging simultaneously with purple nutsedge 58 to 74% and soybean emerging 7 d after purple nutsedge 53 to 67%. These results indicate the potential of differentiating crops under stress using spectral reflectance, although refinements to the system must be made before it is field ready. Nomenclature: Yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus L. CYPES; purple nutsedge, Cyperus rotundus L. CYPRO; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr.; cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L.


OBJECTIVE: To determine whether radio-opaque markers can be used to assess mouth-to-stoma transit time (MSTT) in ileostomates. DESIGN: Criterion standard. SETTING: Metabolic research unit. SUBJECTS: Five volunteer ileostomates. RESULTS: MSTT assessed by radio-opaque markers (11.3 to 12.5 h) was significantly longer (P < 0.5) than that calculated by ileal recovery of dietary starch (6.5 to 8.8 h), the criterion standard. CONCLUSION: Radio-opaque markers are unsuitable for measurement of MSTT in ileostomates.


A method proposed by Matsunaga [Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 238103 (2007)] is applied to simple stochastic models and two model proteins composed of 46 amino beads with three different kinds of residues. The method, which is based on the combination of the principal component analysis and the finite size Lyapunov exponent, characterize the coarse-grained dynamics in different spatiotemporal hierarchies in protein dynamics. The application of the method to model proteins reveals that the low-indexed (large-variance) principal components carry less-divergent, regularized dynamics at the coarse-grained scales on a less-frustrated energy landscape, whereas this less-divergent nature is less pronounced for a protein model with a more frustrated energy landscape. It is also revealed that our technique can differentiate the collective motions on the projected principal component space inherent to the system and the apparent collective behavior which can appear even in high-dimensional stochastic systems.


The long-term results of neurectomy are evaluated in 70 symptomatic Morton's neuromas in 53 patients with an average postoperative follow-up of 4.8 years, and a maximum of 8.6 years. The presentation, number, and location of neuromas in this series, in some instances, coincides with previous publications. Neurectomy, by means of a dorsal approach, provided 93% patient satisfaction at long-term follow-up.


Distributed systems commonly replicate data to enhance system dependability. In such systems, a logical update on a data item results in a physical update on a number of copies. The synchronization and communication required to keep the copies of replicated data consistent introduces a delay when operations are performed. In time-constrained systems or systems distributed over a bandwidth-constrained area, such operational delays generally prove unacceptable. Asynchronous data replication is commonly used to mitigate these delays. We look to develop a general solution for the introduction of an adaptive data replication scheduler to optimize asynchronous replications based on a user-developed priority model in overloaded situations. The solution uses a multi-layer perceptron neural network to mimic the behavior of a historically optimal scheduler through functional approximation with its evaluation through simulation.


This study examined the effects of six weeks of strength training, balance training, and a combination of both on dynamic balance in older adults. Fifty-one seniors (17 males and 34 females) between the ages of 60 and 93 years (73.2 + 7.9 yrs) participated. Four groups, three treatment groups [strength training (ST), balance training (BT), and a group which combined strength and balance training (SAB)] and a control group (Control), were tested on measures of dynamic balance, strength, and flexibility before (pre-test) and after six weeks of exercise training (post-test). Measures of dynamic balance included the 8-Foot-Up and Go Test and the combined score on the Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale (FAB-Scale). Lower and upper body strength and flexibility were assessed using components of the Senior Fitness Test ( chair stand, arm curl, sit and reach, and back scratch test). A repeated measure MANCOV A showed no significant differences between groups for measures of dynamic balance. Repeated measure ANOVA's with Post Hoc comparisons indicated upper body strength and lower body flexibility increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the ST and SAB group while upper body flexibility decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the ST group compared to all other groups. Although all treatment groups exhibited a trend for improvement, results suggest six weeks of exercise training, regardless of type, was not sufficient to elicit significant changes in dynamic balance in the present sample of older adults. © 2009 Californian Journal of Health Promotion. All rights reserved.


We propose three constructions of classically verifiable non-interactive proofs (CV-NIP) and non-interactive zero-knowledge proofs and arguments (CV-NIZK) for QMA in various preprocessing models. 1. We construct an information theoretically sound CV-NIP forQMA in the secret parameter model where a trusted party generates a quantum proving key and classical verification key and gives them to the corresponding parties while keeping it secret from the other party. Alternatively, we can think of the protocol as one in a model where the verifier sends an instance-independent quantum message to the prover as preprocessing. 2. We construct a CV-NIZK for QMA in the secret parameter model. It is information theoretically sound and zero-knowledge. 3. Assuming the quantum hardness of the leaning with errors problem, we construct a CVNIZK for QMA in a model where a trusted party generates a CRS and the verifier sends an instance-independent quantum message to the prover as preprocessing. This model is the same as one considered in the recent work by Coladangelo, Vidick, and Zhang (CRYPTO '20). Our construction has the so-called dual-mode property, which means that there are two computationally indistinguishable modes of generating CRS, and we have information theoretical soundness in one mode and information theoretical zero-knowledge property in the other. This answers an open problem left by Coladangelo et al, which is to achieve either of soundness or zero-knowledge information theoretically. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first dual-mode NIZK for QMA in any kind of model.


Using the language of operated algebras, we construct and investigate a class of operator rings and enriched modules induced by a derivation or Rota-Baxter operator. In applying the general framework to univariate polynomials, one is led to the integro-differential analogs of the classical Weyl algebra. These are analyzed in terms of skew polynomial rings and noncommutative Groebner bases.


Abstract Construction organizations have a common practice to purchase and to deliver required materials to construction sites about one month before activities start. This leads to uneconomical inventory on site and contractors' warehouses. This paper investigates the feasibility in implementing material management in construction. United Kingdom and Hong Kong are selected for the investigation as one has a long implementation period and another one is just implementing material management as noted by interviewed contractors. Questionnaires and structured interviews are conducted. It is found that United Kingdom construction industry benefits are more significant than that in Hong Kong. This can stimulate interests in implementing material management in Hong Kong. Respondents from Hong Kong claimed that their companies will be willing to implement material management where practicable. This study can also help countries currently implementing material management. From that, waste generation can be reduce...


Background: Given the increased emphasis on active learning in psychology, it is important to use data to enhance these experiences. In learning courses, both live animals and virtual training laboratories have been found to enhance learning, but less research has examined student preferences. Generally, live rats are preferred, but students may resist these experiences. Additionally, both laboratory types have drawbacks. Objective: This study examined student preferences for learning laboratory experiences. Method: The current study surveyed students to understand preferences between laboratory experiences and within a virtual program. Specifically, students were asked preference for species and between realistic and cartoon versions. Results: Participants preferred live animals, but the difficulties of working with live animals may require the use of virtual laboratory programs. For those programs, students preferred realistic dogs. Additionally, based on these preferences a pilot program was designed and tested in a class. The students supported the inclusion of the program for similar classes and provided feedback for improvement. Conclusions: Live animal laboratories are worthwhile when feasible, but well-designed virtual programs can be beneficial for engaging and impactful learning experiences. Teaching Implications: Instructors should consider using live or virtual animal laboratories for psychology of learning courses.


Treatment of conifer stumps with a control agent effectively prevents Heterobasidion spore infections in summer cuttings and protects the residual stand and the next tree generation from damage caused by Heterobasidion root rot. Thus far, stump treatment experiments have been carried out in mineral soils, and no information is available on the efficacy of stump treatment agents in boreal peatland conditions. In the present study, biological and chemical control agents (Phlebiopsis gigantea and urea, respectively) were tested in Scots pine and Norway spruce stands subjected to thinning, cap cutting, and clearcutting on drained peatland in Central Finland. The control efficacy of urea was high in both spruce and pine stumps (on average 99.5 and 85.3%, respectively), while the efficacy of P. gigantea was highly variable on both tree species and ranged from full protection down to negative control effect, i.e., there were more Heterobasidion infections on the treated than untreated half of the stumps. The moisture content of the stump wood or the thickness of the peat layer did not affect the control efficacy of either control agent. These results emphasize a need for further studies to determine the reasons for the unsteadiness of the biological control in peatland conditions.


This paper proposes a methodology for the optimal design of water distribution systems based on genetic algorithms. The objective of the optimization is to minimize the capital cost, subject to ensuring adequate pressures at all nodes during peak demands. The proposed method is novel in that it involves the use of a pipe index vector to control the genetic algorithm search. The pipe index vector is a measure of the relative importance of pipes in a network in terms of their impact on the hydraulic performance of the network. By using the pipe index vector it is possible to exclude regions of the search space where impractical and infeasible solutions exist. By reducing the search space it is possible to generate feasible solutions more quickly and hence process much healthier populations than would be the case in a standard genetic algorithm. This results in optimal solutions being found in a fewer number of generations resulting in a substantial saving in terms of computational time. The method has been tested on several networks, including networks used for benchmark testing least cost design algorithms, and has been shown to be efficient and robust.


Since 2007, we have offered single collimators for mini beams of sizes 5, 10 and 20 µm as well as a 300 µm scatter-guard to accommodate the fully focused beam. The advantages of varying the beam size were obvious, better signal/background ratio and the capability to raster with a coarse, larger beam, then fine tune with one of the mini-beam options. The mini beams proved to be a technical and popular success; however, the switching of the single collimators often involved staff intervention. The single mini-beam collimators were the precursors to the development of a triple collimator. This implementation incorporated two mini-beam collimators and a 300 µm scatter-guard on one post. The design was improved by consolidation of fabrication from a single piece of molybdenum block. It significantly improved the robustness, ease of initial alignment, reduction of background and increased automation. However, experimenters were still left with a choice of either a (5, 10 and 300 µm)- or a (10, 20 and 300 µm)-triple collimator. Recently, a quad collimator was developed and fabricated to provide a selection of mini beams of 5, 10 and 20 µm and a 300 µm scatter-guard, on a single post. We will present the mechanical design of multi-collimators, results of measured beam flux through the collimator pinholes.


This work proposes a design of rectenna for Wi-Fi energy harvesting application at 2.42GHz. The proposed antenna includes a modified rectangular patch and two circular radiating elements with partial ground, and adopts a total area of 80×80mm2. With the partial ground structure, the proposed antenna shows a better reflection coefficient (S11) at 2.42GHz. The proposed antenna is a modified conventional patch antenna that shows its improved suitability for Wi-Fi energy harvesting at the targeted band. For rectenna, an impedance matching circuit based on microstrip transmission lines, radial stubs, and enhanced Greinacher voltage doubler rectifier circuits are designed. The rectifier circuit occupies a total area of 25×25mm2. The antenna part of the rectenna exhibits quite good S11 < −10 dB and 3.94 dB peak gain. To validate the design experimentally, a prototype of the proposed rectenna is also fabricated. The measured result indicates that at the resonant frequency the rectenna achieves the peak efficiency of 78.53%, and the output voltage is 4.7V at 0 dBm input power.


The cold desert soil has been discovered at first time in southern ridgeof Mount Harding, Grove Mountains of interior East Antarctica Ice Sheet. Based on the micro structural observation, dominant characteristics of quartz grains include: distinct surface stria and fractures, and clean features of frost action at both of crystal margins and micro crannies of quartz grains. These features show a pedogenesis environment of few water, short transportation and frost action, revealing a warmer climatic event existed in this region.