This paper presents an analytical formulation and a finite element analysis of the behavior of multilayer unbonded flexible risers. The finite element model accurately incorporates all the fine details of the riser that were previously considered to be important but too difficult to simulate due to the significant associated computational cost. All layers of the riser are separately modeled, and contact interaction between layers has been accounted for. The model includes geometric nonlinearity as well as frictional effects. The analysis considers the main modes of flexible riser loading, which include internal and external pressures, axial tension, torsion, and bending. Computations were performed by employing a fully explicit time integration scheme on a parallel 16-processor cluster of computers. Consistency of simulation results was demonstrated by comparison with those of the analytical model of an identical structure. The close agreement gives confidence in both approaches.


An important effect of steroids on angiogenesis in asthma

The vascular changes which occur in airways diseases such as asthma are starting to attract considerable attention from the respiratory research community. In addition to the vascular engorgement which occurs as part of the acute inflammatory process, several groups have demonstrated increased new vessel formation (angiogenesis) in chronic asthma.1–3 Not only does this occur in adult asthma, but recent studies suggest it is a prominent feature of childhood asthma, suggesting that vascular remodelling may occur relatively early in the asthmatic process.4 The increased airway wall thickening produced by the expanded vasculature causes enhanced airway narrowing on stimulation with constrictor agents, thereby contributing to bronchial hyper-responsiveness. Furthermore, the increased blood flow may increase inflammatory cell trafficking and exudation and transudation of cytokines and mediators and contribute to airway hyper-responsiveness by supporting the increased airway smooth muscle mass which is a key feature of asthma histopathology.5

There are a number of candidate angiogenic factors for these changes, perhaps the most important of which are vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-1, distinct molecules which act together at different stages of angiogenic processes in several biological systems.6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13, …


In this research an ozonator prototype has been built to produce ozone, consists of air pump, gas flowmeter, an ozone reactor, and a glass pipe of nozzle. The most important part of the device is the reactor which consisting three main parts; 5 mm alloy electrode connected to a high voltage generator in the form of electrical gas stove lighter, 1 mm copper negative electrodes connected to the ground and a glass plasma discarge. The ozone gas formed is flowed to a container consisting of methyl orange solution 20 ppm at wave lenght of 470 nm. The concentration of ozone is determined by spectrophotometry method. The ozonator is characterized by ozonation periode variation of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes with the voltage used 3,5 volt, voltage variation of 3, 4, and 5 volts and flow rate variation of 227, 363, 464, 662, 864, and 1060 mL/min at the voltage used 3.5 volt. The result showed that the longer period and the higher voltage used for ozonation, the higher the ozone gas produced. The concentration of ozone obtained in this research is 0.76 ppm reached at 363 mL/min with 20 minutes ozonation duration.


ABSTRACT This article serves as an introduction to the special issue 'A Local to Global Perspective on Resource Governance and Conflict'. It advances the debate on natural resource governance and conflict by bringing together three different strands of literature with the aim of developing a local to global research perspective and framework for analysis. First, this article reviews and identifies research gaps in the literatures on (1) the resource curse, (2) environmental security and (3) the large-scale acquisition of land and natural resources. Second, it addresses the previously identified research gaps by developing a local to global research perspective and a corresponding analytical framework. The final section of this contribution summarises the key findings of the articles presented in the special issue and outlines their policy implications.


Background: Cervical abrasion is a multifactorial process due to the use of abrasive dentifrices along with improper brushing patterns. An extensive lesion may cause loss of structural integrity of tooth and esthetically unacceptable. The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of cervical abrasion with age, gender, and oral hygiene practices among workers in a spinning mill, Kerala. The study also aimed to identify the buccolingual measurements of each abraded tooth using the Community Abrasion Index of Treatment Needs (CAITN) probe. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study where 366 subjects (257 males and 109 females) above 20 years of age were selected using a random sampling technique. Data was collected from the assessment form comprising demographic data and oral hygiene practices of the subjects. Clinical examination for abrasion and buccolingual measurements of abraded tooth recorded using CAITN probe. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS 26.0. for calculating descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and binary logistic regression. Results: The overall prevalence of abrasion was 37.2% and 97.7% of subjects with abrasion had sensitive teeth and were statistically significant. Age, gender (males) and combined horizontal and vertical method of brushing technique were strongly associated with the cervical lesion (P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age group, gender, combined horizontal and vertical method of brushing, and presence of sensitive tooth was associated with the abrasion. Conclusion: It is concluded that the severity of the abrasion is an age-related phenomenon associated with combined horizontal and vertical strokes of brushing and is common among the male population. Dentinal hypersensitivity is also more prevalent with cervical abrasion. The novel CAITN probe can be used as an effective tool to assess the cervical abrasion and its treatment needs.


Background: Kalanchoe daigremontiana is an attractive model system for the study of the molecular mechanisms of somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis competence due to its formation of plantlets with adventitious roots on the leaf margins that are derived from somatic embryos. The suppression subtractive hybridization technique was used to investigate gene expression during asexual reproduction. Leaves from plants subjected to drought stress provided the source of 'Tester' DNA, and leaves from plants grown under normal conditions provided the 'Driver' DNA for subtractive hybridization. Results: A total of 481 high quality ESTs were generated, which clustered into 390 unigenes. Of these unigenes, 132 grouped into 12 functional categories, suggesting that asexual reproduction is a complicated process involving a large number of genes. The expression characteristics of selected genes from the SSH library were determined by real-time PCR and were classified into five groups, suggesting that gene expression patterns during asexual reproduction are complex. Up-regulation of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase suggested that a decrease in cytokinin levels promotes the initiation of plantlet formation. Many other genes, such as inorganic pyrophosphatase and glutamate decarboxylase, play important roles in gene regulation during asexual reproduction. Conclusion: Our results provide a framework and unified platform on which future research on asexual reproduction in K . daigremontiana can be based. This represents the first genome-wide study of asexual reproduction in K. daigremontiana .


Theoderic the Great has long been considered a supremely able ruler whose reign ushered in a period of unprecedented peace and prosperity to the Italian peninsula. A common explanation for this was his ability to provide justice swiftly and equitably by means of a highly Romanized judiciary. But as in the later empire, corruption and venality posed serious challenges, as did problems associated with the limitations of a pre‐modern government. While Theoderic attempted to remedy these structural weaknesses through the creation of new offices, the available evidence challenges long‐held assumptions as to just how successful he was in this regard.


Dipolar cycloadditions between nitrilimines (2) and the cyano group of activated nitriles (3) were exploited in aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate as reaction media in the presence of a surfactant. Short reaction times and mild conditions were experienced affording 1-aryl-5-substituted 1,2,4-triazoles.


Spontaneous reports (SRs) of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) remain the basis of pharmacovigilance systems. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of SRs received by the Pharmacovigilance Unit of Beira Interior, in Central Portugal. The second objective was to identify factors associated with complete SRs. SRs received between 1 January 2017 and 31 October 2019 were analyzed. SR information was classified as "mandatory" or "recommended" criteria. SR were then grouped into three categories (well, slightly, and poorly documented). Association between "well documented" SR and confounding variables was estimated using a multiple logistic regression model. The results showed 22.4% of SRs are "well documented", and 41.2% are "poorly documented". Most of the complete SRs correspond to non-serious ADRs (55.8%), with a negative association between complete SRs and serious ADRs (OR = 0.595, [95% CI 0.362–0.977], p = 0.040). There is also a significant association between complete SRs and e-mail notification (OR = 1.876, [95% CI 1.060–3.321], p = 0.002). The results highlight the small amount of SR documentation sent to pharmacovigilance systems. There is an association between non-serious ADRs and complete SRs. These results reinforce the need for training for notification of ADRs and that these SRs include as much information as possible for an effective drug risk management.


INTRODUCTION
Information regarding adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of new medications is based on clinical studies of selected populations. The reporting of ADRs from real-life use following the marketing of new active substances is instrumental for the continuous evaluation of their benefit-risk balance. The aim of this study was to determine the number and nature of ADR reports in Iceland and compare with other Nordic countries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Reports of ADRs from 2013 to 2016 were examined using the Icelandic Medicines Agency´s database. The total number and seriousness of ADRs by ATC-classification of drugs were compared with data published in the 2013 to 2015 annual reports from the Swedish, Danish and Norwegian Medicines Agencies. Comparison of sales between countries was examined.

RESULTS
The number of ADR reports in Iceland was between 36 to 104 per 100 thousand inhabitants/year, with less than 10% defined as serious. This compares to 58 to 133 ADR reports per 100 thousand inhabitants in the other Nordic countries, with 38% to 64% of ADRs classified as serious. In Iceland, ADR reports were more common for medications in ATC-class A and less common for classes B, J and L compared to the other Nordic countries. Sales of medications were comparable between these nations.

CONCLUSION
There is great variability in the number of ADRs reported annually in Iceland. The drugs reported are within different ATC-classes and the proportion of serious ADRs is low compared to the other Nordic countries. This is not explained by different sales volumes. Key words: adverse drug reaction, pharmacovigilance, ADR reporting, side effects. Correspondence: Hrefna Guðmundsdóttir, firstname.lastname@example.com.


A thermoregulator for a helium cryostat and helium-level indicator are described that are based on an MK-64 programmable picket calculator with a built-in analog-digital converter. The temperature and helium-level sensors are TVO carbon resistors. The MK-64 makes it possible to maintain or change by program a temperature in the range of 1.2-77/sup 0/K with an accuracy of 0.05-0.5/sup 0/K and also to output to the calculator display and peripheral devices the temperature and any function of temperature. The calculator display indicates the presence of helium in the cryostat and the level of the helium tank.


In the rational dynamics of the complex projective plane, we construct a full 2-shift family of holomorphic stable manifolds of a periodic indeterminate point with two periodic orbits.


We propose a Y splitter in a two-dimensional photonic crystal with a triangular lattice of air holes suitable for mechano-optical switching. Full switching between the two output ports can be achieved at a certain wavelength owing to the presence of a resonant central cavity with well-chosen symmetry. Experimental results confirm the operation of the device and its potential as an ultracompact mechanical switch.


The Caco-2 cell line and its subclone TC7 are frequently used for studying human intestinal transport and metabolism of xenobiotics. We have investigated the expression of soluble sulfotransferases (SULT) in parental Caco-2 and TC7 cells by immunoblotting. SULT1A1, SULT1A2, SULT1A3, SULT1B1, SULT1C1, SULT1C2, and SULT2A1 were expressed in both cell lines. SULT2B1a, SULT2B1b, and SULT4A1 were absent. SULT1E1 protein was found in TC7 but not in Caco-2 cells. Other differences in SULT between the cell lines were minor. More important was the influence of differentiation. Expression of the various SULT forms was low or not detectable in cultures just reaching confluence but then increased strongly. Likewise, the rate of sulfation of the model substrate 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene was increased with increasing culture duration. Benzo[a]pyrene-1-sulfate and -3-sulfate were formed in both cell lines when benzo[a]pyrene was used as a substrate. A further metabolite, 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene-glucuronide, was detected in TC7 but not in parental Caco-2 cells. Cytochrome P450 inducers enhanced the conversion of benzo[a]pyrene to these metabolites without altering mRNA levels of major phenol-conjugating SULT forms (SULT1A1, SULT1A3, and SULT1B1). Overall, differentiated Caco-2 and TC7 cells are rich sources of SULT, as is human intestinal mucosa. The SULT pattern is most similar to that found in small intestine, although levels of SULT1A1 and SULT1B1 are lower, and those of SULT1C1 are higher in Caco-2 and TC7 cells than previously found in intestinal samples. The differentiation-dependent expression of SULT in the cultured cells reflects the in vivo situation, where SULT expression is focused to differentiated enterocytes.


To the Editor: The juxtaposition of the Personal Perspectives of Dr. Tracy on direct–to-consumer genetic testing and the Current Commentary that provides us with the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) Statement on direct-to-consumer genetic testing was very timely.1,2 This is an issue that is likely to grow in importance for our practices. One has only to look at the Internet sites that offer this testing to understand that women seem to be disproportionately targeted as potential consumers of these services. In expressing our concerns as obstetricians and gynecologists about direct-to-consumer testing, we should be clear that these do not arise from a potential loss of control or revenue. It is also important that our position not be the same for each direct-to-consumer test and may not necessarily be totally concordant with our position on direct-toconsumer genetic testing in general. For example, I would guess that the majority of obstetricians and gynecologists strongly support access to home pregnancy testing. Neither article explores why direct-toconsumer genetic testing may appeal to a growing segment of consumers. A variety of factors could be important. Although this might be the result of aggressive marketing by for-profit companies, we should also consider whether direct-to-consumer testing is filling a void in the care we provide. If so, we should ask ourselves whether this failure is due to limitations of our knowledge, expertise, or the time to address these issues. It also seems likely that the quest for privacy of genetic information is probably an important source of the appeal of direct-to-consumer genetic testing. While I strongly believe that electronic access to patient information can improve the quality and safety of care, I am not sure we have given enough consideration to protecting selected information in these systems that patients may want restricted. The availability of a patient's genetic test results to anyone who has access to their electronic medical record is likely to only increase the appeal of direct-to-consumer genetic testing. I think it is time for us to try to understand why some patients find direct-to-consumer genetic testing appealing, so that we can address these issues and better meet the needs of our patients.


In order to decide on an education necessity, one has to answer the question "What and who do we organize a certain educational process or system for and why do we organize it in a certain way and not otherwise?". In order to decide on an education necessity one must also answer the question "What social problems does the educational process or system we devised solve?". The problem of permanent vocational training is important in sustaining the vocational conversion of the working class. A change of views and mentality is desirable regarding vocational training, in the sense that people need to be more aware of the importance of permanent learning, more motivated in order to broaden their horizon and more willing to develop their professional skills.


The authors herein report their personal experience in the management of 21 patients with iatrogenic perforation of the esophagus, collected in a fifteen-year period. The etiology was more commonly a hiatal surgical procedure (28.6%), following diagnostic endoscopy (19%), endoscopic dilatation for achalasia (19%) and foreign body (19%). Consequently, 47.6% of the lesions were located in the abdominal, 28.6% in the thoracic and 23.8% in the cervical esophagus. Treatment was set up at surgery in 28.6%, within 6 hours in 47.6% and within 48 hours in 9.6%. Conservative medical management was successfully carried out in three cases (14.2%). As a result of their policy of "tailored" treatment on single lesion characteristics (size and location, underlying esophageal diseases, early or delayed diagnosis) they report an overall mortality rate of 28.6%, the prognosis being worse in thoracic (50%) than in abdominal perforations (30%). Based on this series and on a literature review the authors suggest that the best management should be "tailored" to single patients characteristics. Early diagnosis and treatment are the most important prognostic factors.


A study of the one-dimensional molecular chain (MC) with two single-particle degenerate states is presented. We establish connection of the MC with the Ising model with phononic interactions and investigate properties of the model using a transfer-matrix method. The transfer-matrix method offers a promising pathway for simulating such materials properties. The role of degeneracy of states and phononic interaction is made explicit. We analyze regimes of the system and parameters of the occurring crossover. Here, we present exact results for the magnetization per spin, the correlation function, and the effective volume of the system. We demonstrate the possibility of the existence of two peaks in the specific heat capacity thermal behavior.


Background: Waterpipe and cigarette are two products of tobacco consumption, tobacco use has detrimental effects on the oral cavity, numerous studies around the world have reported a significant relationship between smoking and increase dental caries and viable count of cariogenic bacteria, Materials and Methods: unstimulated saliva was collected from 84 subjects and divided equally into three groups waterpipe smokers, cigarette smokers, and non-smokers all of the participants are adult male aged between 25-60 years, dental caries was measured by use DMFT index, while S.mutans and S.sobrinus were isolated by using a selective medium SB 20M (Sugar bacitracin-20 modified) agar Results: this present study showed a significant (p≤0.01). higher DMFT, DT, MT, and FT among cigarette smokers group than both waterpipe smokers and non-smokers groups. The viable count of S mutans was significantly (p≤0.01).higher in the cigarette smokers group followed by the waterpipe smokers group and then the non-smoker's group, while the viable count of S sobrinus showed no statistical differences (P>0.05) between groups. The correlation of DMFT with S.mutans, and S sobrinus count, were significantly positive (p ≤0.05), in the cigarette smokers group only Conclusion: Dental caries increase in cigarette smokers, where the DMFT and S mutans viable count are less affected by waterpipe than cigarette smoking, a positive correlation is found between DMFT and .mutans streptococcus count only in cigarette smokers


The catalytic function and thermal stability of wild-type and mutant recombinant human pancreatic beta-cell glucokinase was investigated. The mutants E70K and E300K, which are thought to be the cause of impaired insulin production by the pancreatic beta-cell and decreased glucose uptake by the liver of patients with maturity-onset diabetes of the young, were found to be functionally indistinguishable from the wild-type, i.e. their kcat.S0.5, inflection point and h were normal. However, these two mutants showed markedly reduced stability under a variety of test conditions. Glucokinase instability, not low enzyme catalytic activity, may be the cause of diabetes mellitus with E70K and E300K mutants.


AbstractIn this paper, an unusual rainfall in Beijing that occurred on 4 September ('9.4') 2015 is studied to clarify the reasons for such a strong rainfall in autumn. It was indicated that various factors, including stationary westerlies disturbance (i.e. low in the west and high in the east), forward-titling trough, warm shear line, unstable stratification and convective available potential energy release, low level jet as well as a series of mesoscale convective systems produced the strong rainfall. Ordinarily, this situation is uncommon in autumn.


The hypothesis that the coefficients on variables of religious affiliation are jointly equal to zero can frequently be rejected at conventional levels of statistical significance (i.e., religion matters), but no robust relationship between adherence to major world religions and national economic performance is uncovered, using both cross-national and subnational data. The results with respect to Islam do not support the notion that it is inimical to growth. On the contrary, virtually every statistically significant coefficient on Muslim population shares reported in this paper—in both cross-country and within-country statistical analyses—is positive. If anything, Islam promotes growth. Author's note: I would like to thank Scott Holladay, Paul Karner, and Josh Catlin for essential research assistance. Fred Bergsten, Jari Eloranta, Howard Pack, Dave Richardson, and seminar participants at the Korea Development Institute, the East Asia Economics Association meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Middle East Technical University, and the Institute for International Economics offered helpful comments on an earlier draft. Copyright 2003 Institute for International Economics. All rights reserved.


Multisystem interactions are well established in neurological disorders, in spite of conventional views that only the central nervous system (CNS) is impacted. We review evidence for mutual interactions between the immune and nervous systems and show how these seem to be implicated in the origin and progression of nervous system disorders. Well-established immune system triggers leading to autoimmune reactions are considered. Of these, aluminum, a known neurotoxicant, may be of particular importance. We have demonstrated elsewhere that aluminum has the potential to induce damage at a range of levels in the CNS leading to neuronal death, circuit malfunction, and ultimately system failure. Aluminum is widely used as an adjuvant in various vaccine formulations and has been implicated in a multisystem disorder termed ?autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants? (ASIA). The implications of aluminum-induced ASIA in some disorders of the CNS are considered.?We propose a unified theory capturing a progression from a local response to a systemic response initiated by disruption of water-based interfaces of exposed cells.


Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to suggest a strong structuration based framework for the study of management accounting change. Design/methodology/approach - A retrospective field study was designed to investigate the impact of the 2008 financial crisis on budgeting and control practices of Greek hospitality organisations. Conduct analysis addresses agents' perceptions of the changes upon themselves. Context analysis explores the changing context, and how the agents modified their in-situ control structures accordingly. The framework is demonstrated through one case study. Findings - The agents in the case, triggered by the crisis, gradually come to criticise the way they practice budgeting. The first response is to practice budgeting more normatively, but later they criticise and modify these norms. As their formal mentalities co-mediated action, variance management became pro-active rather than reactive. Variations in the ways agents draw upon structures – unreflectively or critically – and on how they act to reproduce structures – routinely or strategically – characterise change in management accounting practice. Agents' reasoning and conduct leading to action is local, and these local changes in conduct and context are significant in understanding management accounting change. Originality/value - This framework for studying management accounting change balances structural conditions of action, with action and interaction. It can be used to study how, why, and by whom institutionalised management accounting practices may change.


Particle image velocimetry (PIV), a technique commonly used at macroscopic length scales to measure velocity fields of particle-seeded flows, is adapted to measure velocity fields in microfluidic MEMS devices, where micron-scale spatial resolution is critical. Adapting PIV to the microscopic level presents a number of challenges, including visualizing tracer particles that are smaller than the wavelength of light and minimizing errors due to the Brownian motion of the tracer particles. High numerical aperture video microscopy is used to record the faint signals from fluorescent 300 nm particles. Innovative ensemble averaging and adaptive spatial shifting algorithms are used to extract maximal information from the recorded images. The PIV technique is used to measure a low Reynolds number Hele-Shaw flow around an 8 μm human red blood cell. The velocity vector field presented has a maximal spatial resolution of 3.2 × 3.2 × 1.5 μm.


The increased utilization of flexible structure systems, such as flexible manipulators and flexible aircraft in various applications, has been motivated by the requirements of industrial automation in recent years. Robust optimal control of flexible structures with active feedback techniques requires accurate models of the base structure, and knowledge of uncertainties of these models. Such information may not be easy to acquire for certain systems. An adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy inference Systems (ANFIS) use the learning ability of neural networks to adjust the membership function parameters in a fuzzy inference system. Hence, modelling using ANFIS is preferred in such applications. This paper discusses modelling of a nonlinear flexible system namely a twin rotor multi-input multi-output system using ANFIS techniques. Pitch and yaw motions are modelled and tested by model validation techniques. The obtained results indicate that ANFIS modelling is powerful to facilitate modelling of complex systems associated with nonlinearity and uncertainty.


In recent years, there is a growing interest in the investigation of using potassium to treat virus infections. In the region of infection, there is a biological observation of extracellular potassium level being typically very low whereas the intracellular potassium levels are much higher. There are numerous biological studies showing that elevated potassium levels in the extracellular membrane tends to block virus infections. A recent effort in this direction is a collaborative research conducted by mathematicians and biologists from the University of Texas at El Paso, New Mexico State University, and the University of New Mexico, where we develop a mathematical model that demonstrates the blocking effect extracellular potassium has on the Myxoma virus in rabbits. In this thesis, we will conduct preliminary analysis of the mathematical model proposed in this project, with an empha-sis on answering the question whether this model is capable of predicting the potassium blocking effect on virus infections at all. More specifically, this model is composed of a system of parameterized ordinary differential equations for various cell number densities and reaction-diffusion equations for virus and potassium concentrations. Particularly for the latter, we establish lower and upper bounds for the virus and potassium concentrations using a comparison principle, and show that the model admits positive and thus biological relevant solutions. Furthermore, the upper bounds are given in closed-form expression of model parameters and they help us provide an affirmative answer to the fundamental question raised before. Such a positive answer motivates the implementation of a computational method for the numerical simulation of the model, and we present some simulation results confirming our prediction in the last part of the thesis.


Contrary to popular belief, recent research rejects the notion that most or even many children and youth are over-scheduled and are suffering as a result. In fact, less than one in ten could be described as overscheduled. Moreover, our research indicates that only six in ten children and youth participate in organized out-of-school activities at any given time, and links involvement in those extracurricular activities with positive social, behavioral, and psychological outcomes.


Nineteenth century Britain was an age of rapid technological, political and societal change. This was also reflected in the media: Industrially-produced print media opened a mass market with publications for almost any (niche-) interest one could think of. The societal changes also resulted in a growing need for orientation which in many publications was answered using the semantics of the heroic. As guiding figures, heroes were supposed to offer role models for a variety different readerships. By analysing Chambers's Journal, Fraser's Magazine and Leisure Hour, this study analyses different conceptions of the heroic on the Victorian print market and shows how the heroic was used for different didactic, social and political purposes in addressing different readerships within the context of changing power structures.


Doing business in Africa can pose practical challenges to foreign businesses and their lawyers. Apart from the institutional loopholes that could easily be identified within the African business environment, the laws themselves could equally be problematic. The challenge of understanding the context of African business laws such as the OHADA sales law (which maintains a deep rooted connection with French domestic laws) vis-a-vis a more familiar and relatively sucessful uniform sales law such as the Vienna Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods(CISG)inspired this book by Mana Tita. The avoidance or termination of sale of goods contracts typifies the sort of legal problems businesses are bound to face in Africa. So, from a comparative approach, this research endeavor seeks to open the doors of an unassessed academic and practical question on the new OHADA sales law approach on the right of avoidance in comparison to the CISG. Academics and practitioners shall be inspired to re-examine the position of the OHADA sales law as far as the right of avoidance is concerned and to pinpoint the effects it poses on international trade in the African continent.


Recent studies have firmly established that cellular uptake of nanoparticles is strongly affected by the presence and the physicochemical properties of a protein adsorption layer around these nanoparticles. Here, we have modified human serum albumin (HSA), a serum protein often used in model studies of protein adsorption onto nanoparticles, to alter its surface charge distribution and investigated the consequences for protein corona formation around small (radius ∼5 nm), dihydrolipoic acid-coated quantum dots (DHLA-QDs) by using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. HSA modified by succinic anhydride (HSAsuc) to generate additional carboxyl groups on the protein surface showed a 3-fold decreased binding affinity toward the nanoparticles. A 1000-fold enhanced affinity was observed for HSA modified by ethylenediamine (HSAam) to increase the number of amino functions on the protein surface. Remarkably, HSAsuc formed a much thicker protein adsorption layer (8.1 nm) than native HSA (3.3 nm), indicating that it binds in a distinctly different orientation on the nanoparticle, whereas the HSAam corona (4.6 nm) is only slightly thicker. Notably, protein binding to DHLA-QDs was found to be entirely reversible, independent of the modification. We have also measured the extent and kinetics of internalization of these nanoparticles without and with adsorbed native and modified HSA by HeLa cells. Pronounced variations were observed, indicating that even small physicochemical changes of the protein corona may affect biological responses.


Background: We investigated the efficacy of a combination therapy with tamoxifen citrate and a natural composite containing Tribulus terrestris, alga Ecklonia bicyclis and polymers of d-glucosamine and n-acetyl d-glucosamine in treating male idiopathic infertility.

Methods: In this prospective, randomized double blind, placebo-controlled study, we enrolled ninety infertile men at our department of urology at University Federico II of Naples. Mean age was 29.2 ± 7.8 [± SD]. Inclusion criteria consisted of the repeated exhibition of oligoasthenozoospermia (OA) without detectable cause (unexplained OA). Patients were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: Group A (n=30) receiving tamoxifene citrate (20 mg/day) and a natural composite with an antioxidant and androgen-mimetic action (150 mg of alga Ecklonia Bicyclis, 396 mg of Tribulus terrestris and 144 mg of polymers of d-glucosamine and n-acetyl d-glucosamine); Group B (n=30) receiving tamoxifene citrate (20 mg/day) and Group C receiving placebo (n=30). We evaluated the number of spontaneous pregnancies, sperm volume, concentration, sperm total motility, sperm forward progressive motility, normal sperm morphology.

Results: After 6 months of therapy the number of spontaneous pregnancies was markedly higher in the Group A (13 pregnancies, 33.3%) then the other two groups: Group B (6 pregnancies, 20%) and Group C (4 pregnancies, 13.3%). Sperm concentration improved in the Group A from a mean 8.49 × 106 cells/ml ± 5.57 at baseline to 22.1 × 106 cells/ml ± 1,63 (p ≤ 0.001). In the Group B there was an improvement from a mean 7.98 × 106 at baseline to 14.43 × 106 cells/ml ± 3,43 (p=0.002). Group C did not see a statistically significant improvement of sperm number, from a concentration of 9.65 × 106 cells/ml ± 6.54 to 10.53 × 106 cells/ml ± 8.5 (p=0.0025). In Group A, sperm total motility improved from 31% ± 11% at baseline to 40% ± 14% (p=0.007) whilst the forward progressive motility slightly improved from 5% ± 3% to 9% ± 4% (p=0.0034). In the group B and C, there were not reported statistically significant changes of motility.

Conclusions: The combination therapy with tamoxifen citrate and the natural compound with an andorgen-mimetic and antioxidant action leads to a higher incidence of pregnancy rates and gives a statistically significant improvement of semen parameters comparing with the single use of tamoxifen citrate and with the control group.


The problem of subgroups is ubiquitous in scientific research (ex. disease heterogeneity, spatial distributions in ecology...), and piecewise regression is one way to deal with this phenomenon. Morse-Smale regression offers a way to partition the regression function based on level sets of a defined function and that function's basins of attraction. This topologically-based piecewise regression algorithm has shown promise in its initial applications, but the current implementation in the literature has been limited to elastic net and generalized linear regression. It is possible that nonparametric methods, such as random forest or conditional inference trees, may provide better prediction and insight through modeling interaction terms and other nonlinear relationships between predictors and a given outcome.
This study explores the use of several machine learning algorithms within a Morse-Smale piecewise regression framework, including boosted regression with linear baselearners, homotopy-based LASSO, conditional inference trees, random forest, and a wide neural network framework called extreme learning machines. Simulations on Tweedie regression problems with varying Tweedie parameter and dispersion suggest that many machine learning approaches to Morse-Smale piecewise regression improve the original algorithm's performance, particularly for outcomes with lower dispersion and linear or a mix of linear and nonlinear predictor relationships. On a real actuarial problem, several of these new algorithms perform as good as or better than the original Morse-Smale regression algorithm, and most provide information on the nature of predictor relationships within each partition to provide insight into differences between dataset partitions.


Abstract Context: Sweet taste receptors (STRs) involve in regulating the release of glucose-stimulated glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Our in vivo and in vitro studies found that 3-deoxyglucosone (3DG) inhibited glucose-stimulated GLP-1 secretion. Objective: This study investigated the role of STRs in 3DG-induced inhibition of high glucose-stimulated GLP-1 secretion. Methods: STC-1 cells were incubated with lactisole or 3DG for 1 h under 25 mM glucose conditions. Western blotting was used to study the expression of STRs signaling molecules and ELISA was used to analyse GLP-1 and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels. Results: Lactisole inhibited GLP-1 secretion. Exposure to 25 mM glucose increased the expressions of STRs subunits when compared with 5.6 mM glucose. 3DG decreased GLP-1 secretion and STRs subunits expressions, with affecting other components of STRs pathway, including the downregulation of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 5 (TRPM5) expression and the reduction of intracellular cAMP levels. Conclusion: 3DG attenuates high glucose-stimulated GLP-1 secretion by reducing STR subunit expression and downstream signaling components.


ABSTRACT Primary flow-vector criteria (symmetrical ripple marks) derived from a sequence of sublittoral to possible shoreface sediments of Late Triassic age in South Wales yield well-defined orientations which are nearly identical at a number of widely separated outcrops and attest the prevalence of northwest-southeast oscillatory flow in this region. The bivalves Modiolus hillanus (J. Sowerby) and Rhaetavicula contorta (Portlock) occur abundantly in this sequence and at a few horizons these fossils display preferred orientations which are broadly consistent with the ripple data. However the fossil orientation patterns are not, in general, directly compatible with published experimental data and it is suggested that this discrepancy results from subsequent modification of origina wave-formed patterns in response to weak unidirectional (current) flow, possibly induced by tidal or longer period currents, which otherwise has left no discernible evidence in the fine-grained sediments.


ABSTRACT Acts of terrorism, moral panics, and negative stereotypes contribute to racialised and Islamophobic ascriptions of Muslimness in Western contexts. In educational institutions such representations occur in the curriculum, in conflict between peers, and in prejudiced and discriminatory behaviour of teachers. For adolescents identified or self-identifying as Muslims in schools, these challenges have been interpreted as cues that prompt identification processes, such as identity declaration, internal seeking, and religification. This paper contributes to this theoretical framework by suggesting that the concept of disidentification may provide further insights into the multi-faceted aspects of Muslimness as a minoritised identity and individuals' negotiation of them. Disidentification includes disassociation with Islam, and shifts in self-positioning in regard to representations of Islam and minoritised conferrals related to it. Using rich interview data generated with adolescents in England, we argue that different ways of self-understanding and self-representing a minority identity contribute to the contestation of Muslimness in the form of both identifying and disidentifying behaviours and discourses.


The first-step reaction mechanisms of d3-methoxy (OCD3) species on H-ZSM-5 zeolite with benzene and cyclohexane were directly observed by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Only toluene was produced in the gas phase at the beginning, simultaneous with the consumption of methoxy species on the surface at 473 K. Acidic OH groups were formed in place of d3-methoxy groups for the reaction with benzene, while OD groups were recovered for the reaction with cyclohexane, similar to the case of light olefins. Thus, the presence of different methylation mechanisms of methoxy species is confirmed; the CD3 unit reacted with benzene as in the cases of amines and dimethyl ether, but the CD2 unit reacted with cyclohexane and light olefins, leaving one of the deuterium atoms on the zeolite. The difference of these mechanisms in activation energy is also estimated and used for further discussion on the mechanisms.


Carotid endarterectomy was performed on 73 occasions using the following regimen during the operative period: (1) general anesthesia with normothermia, (2) maintaining a normal or slightly elevated arterial oxygen tension (Pao2, (3) maintaining a normal or low arterial carbon dioxide tension (Pco2), (4) maintaining systemic arterial pressure (SAP) at normal or slightly elevated levels, (5) employing a bypass shunt in all cases, and (6) utilizing transient systemic anticoagulation with heparin. The rationale for this regimen is explained in terms of current concepts of cerebral blood flow and metabolism. No new neurological deficit has appeared after operation using these techniques.


Despite growing use of patient-facing technologies such as patient portals to address information needs for outpatients, we understand little about how patients manage information and use information technologies in an inpatient context. Based on hospital observations and responses to an online questionnaire from previously hospitalized patients and caregivers, we describe information workspace that patients have available to them in the hospital and the information items that patients and caregivers rate as important and difficult to access or manage while hospitalized. We found that patients and caregivers desired information-such as the plan of care and the schedule of activities-that is difficult to access as needed in a hospital setting. Within this study, we describe the various tools and approaches that patients and caregivers use to help monitor their care as well as illuminate gaps in information needs not typically captured by traditional patient portals.


This paper describes the incremental effects of a group cognitive behavioral training (CBT) program, over and above the effect of receiving cash grants - on reducing depression and anxiety, as well as improving wellbeing among SME entrepreneurs in conflict-affected parts of Pakistan. Entrepreneurs in the treatment group received the intervention as well as cash grants, whereas those in the control group received only cash grants. The study, conducted with 235 SME entrepreneurs, found that CBT leads to improvements in mental health outcomes in the short term. Three months after the intervention, analysis of pooled data across two follow-up rounds (at 5 weeks and 3 months after) show that entrepreneurs in the treatment group experience statistically significant (at 10 percent level) reduction in the intensity and prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms (measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale) and higher levels of wellbeing (measured by the WHO-5 Well-being Index) compared to the control group. Entrepreneurs in the treatment arm experienced a substantial decline in the odds of experiencing depression and anxiety compared to those in the control group (odds ratio of 0.46 for treatment group relative to control group), though the results are only statistically significant when data is pooled. Effect was marked for those experiencing mild and moderate levels of depression and anxiety indicating the clinical value of such low-touch early interventions. An end line survey is planned at 18 months to assess the longer-term impact of the intervention on mental health and wellbeing as well as its impact on business performance.


Based on the increasing application requirements for the efficient adsorption of wastewater pollutants, graphene oxide-carbon nanotube/activated carbon (GO-CNT/AC) composites are constructed from the optimal microstructure matching of GO, CNTs, and AC materials by solution impregnation and freeze-drying methods. Three-dimensional structures with nano-micro hierarchical pores are established, with GO and CNTs uniformly dispersed on the AC surface, effectively restrain the agglomeration. The added CNTs played a "spring" role, supporting the gap between the GO sheets and AC matrix. Meanwhile, stable links are formed between GO, CNTs, and AC, realizing the synergistic matching of the microstructure, which provides abundant active absorption sites beneficial for improving the adsorption performance. The influences of the CNT contents, adsorbent amounts, methylene blue (MB) concentrations, and pH values on the adsorption property of GO-CNT/AC composites are systematically investigated. The results show that when the pH value of the MB solution is 13, the CNT concentration is 3 mg/mL and the MB concentration is 200 mg/L, the adsorption property of the composite is the best, with an adsorption capacity of 190.8 mg/g and a removal percentage of 95.4%. Compared with the raw AC, the adsorption capacity and removal percentage of the composites are increased by 73.9% and 72.8%, respectively. The GO-CNT/AC composites exhibit excellent cyclic adsorption performance, with a cyclic stability of 91.8% after six rounds of adsorption–desorption cycles. The kinetic analysis shows that the adsorption process conforms to the PSO kinetic model. By fitting of the IPD model, the adsorption mechanisms of the GO-CNT/AC composites are divided into two adsorption stages and described respectively. This study provides a new way to achieve highly efficient adsorption of pollutants in wastewater.


Abstract The high prevalence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), its morbidity and mortality continue to fare a huge burden in the intensive care unit. More than 40 years ago, experimental studies have highlighted that, albeit essential, mechanical ventilation could be harmful to lungs and more recently to the diaphragm. Despite life-saving advances in mechanical ventilation (such as low tidal-volume ventilation, neuromuscular blockers agents, or prone positioning), a recent international observational study reported that most ARDS patients were not appropriately monitored. The monitoring capabilities of ventilators, in particular the simple interaction of the patient and the mechanical ventilation, are very powerful but are underutilized. This lack of monitoring may contribute to the persisting poor outcome of patients with ARDS. Providing a more careful ventilation is a priority to improve patients' outcomes. To achieve this goal, it is of paramount importance to better understand the complex relationship between the patient and the ventilator: the impact of ventilator settings on lungs during passive controlled ventilation, but also of patient's breathing efforts on lungs during assisted ventilation. In this review we present available tools to monitor respiratory mechanics at the bedside aiming at optimizing and personalizing mechanical ventilation. Hopefully, this careful management can decrease mortality of patients with ARDS in the future.


Xia et al. do an excellent job developing a new method for using the equivalent point source method in the frequency domain. The transformation from a varying datum to flat datum has always been a major problem in potential fields data. This is because the existing methods to perform this transformation have tended to be cumbersome, time‐consuming, and expensive. I congratulate the authors for this breakthrough technology.


This paper proposes a methodology for the development of collaborative (agent-based) production systems, using high-level Petri nets. The proposed methodology supports the development life-cycle from specifications analysis through to design-validation and implementation of collaborative and re-configurable production systems and their control systems, in an integrated manner. It covers a wide spectrum of application domains, ranging from intelligent mechatronic devices to multi-agent distributed manufacturing control systems.


Trauma-informed care assumes an understanding of trauma is integrated in all aspects of service delivery and care. In women with substance use disorders (SUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the disorders are treated simultaneously. Existing evidence in this sector points to the need for a gender-specific program approach to drug and alcohol disorders and health workers who have the knowledge, skills, expertise, and confidence to deliver these programs for women. The objective of this review is to identify characteristics associated with outcomes for SUD and PTSD and the experiences and needs of women in treatment contexts. A narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed literature from 2003 to 2013 was undertaken, with retrieved documents assessed using an inclusion/exclusion criterion and quality appraisal guided by critical assessment tools. Concepts were analysed thematically. Eleven papers were found that related to the topic under study. This review found that trauma-informed care models can lead to reduced alcohol and drug severity symptoms, improved abstinence rates, and reduced PTSD symptoms. However, a trauma-informed approach may be the most beneficial for women with severe SUD and PTSD symptoms. Trauma-informed care appears to be a promising treatment for women with SUD and PTSD. However, this appears to be mediated by client baseline characteristics and treatment program composition. This highlights the need for proper baseline assessment and flexible treatment programming delivered by a well-supported workforce.


This article provides a very brief overview of how some major mechanical properties of biological tissue and their substitutes can be described and quantified in basic form in order to understand their physiological functioning from the viewpoint of tissue regeneration, then allowing new developments in tissue engineering. After shortly reviewing the main rheological properties we have focused on the related phenomena of mass and momentum transport through tissue, considering the poroelastic characteristics of these media. Using very rough approach, it is shown how the biphasic nature of these media can influence mechanical stresses and nutriment feeding of the imbedded cells.


Researchers working with NASA's MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging ( MESSENGER) spacecraft report the frequent detections of Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) waves at the edge of the innermost planet's magnetosphere. In six different sets of magnetic field measurements made by the orbiter as it passed through Mercury's magnetopause, the boundary that separates the planet's magnetosphere from the solar wind plasma in the magnetosheath, Sundberg et al. detected the magnetic field oscillations characteristic of fully developed KH waves. These waves form when fuids of different speeds travel alongside each other—in this case, the magnetosphere and magnetosheath plasmas—and promote mixing of the plasmas on larger spatial, and shorter time, scales than diffusive transport. The observations, which span the frst 88 days of MESSENGER's time in orbit, bring Mercury alongside Earth, Saturn, and Venus as planets for which such KH waves are of importance.


Background: Given the effect of various factors on the use of communication patterns by couples, this study aimed to determine the most common communication pattern among couples and related factors in Sari, northern Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 520 people (260 couples) in Sari. Data were collected using a demographic–fertility factors questionnaire, Enrich couple scale, communication patterns questionnaire, general health questionnaire (GHQ-28), and NEO personality inventory. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 25 using descriptive and inferential statistics (multiple regression model). Results: While the mean (standard deviation) age of women included in the study was 34.08 (7.71) years, the mean age of men was 39.13 (9.18) years. The most common communication patterns in both women and men was the mutual constructive communication, whereas the lowest frequent communication pattern was the demand/withdraw communication in both men and women. Marital satisfaction had a significant positive correlation with mutual constructive communication pattern in women and men (P = 0.001). In addition, a significant inverse correlation was observed between the number of marriage to date, women's age, and spouses' demand/withdraw communication pattern with mutual constructive communication pattern in women. Also, a significant inverse correlation was observed between flexibility (P = 0.047), number of marriages (P = 0.013), and the wives' age (P = 0.005) with mutual constructive communication pattern in men. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, it is necessary to recognize the factors related to couples' communication patterns in order to improve the communication patterns so that marital conflicts could be avoided while a more effective communication is established.


This article explores how resistance and power are intertwined within the field of mainstream Swedish feminism, by analyzing some of its more visible expressions and strategies. These feminist resistance strategies could be described as circulating resistance (e.g., the #metoo campaign), public assemblies, the more subtle "disciplinary resistance", and state feminism. The article illustrates how these different forms of resistance fuel different reactions from movements that reiterate different discourses of "anti-genderism". In addition, some forms of feminism (state feminism and feminist disciplinary resistance) sometimes develop into, or overlap with, different technologies of power.


The article deals with the use of suggestive techniques, which by influencing the conscious and subconscious sphere of future music arts teachers through the use of verbal and non-verbal, external and internal means of influence, will contribute to the disclosure of their inner potential, the development of creative thinking as well as the realization of their abilities into the practical activities. The author defines various spheres of the suggestive techniques use, in particular, in the process of future music teachers training and provides own interpretation of the concept of "suggestive technique in the music-performing training of future music teachers". In addition, the author offers methodological developments aimed at conducting creative music-performing activities #x201C; suggestopedic self-training of self-regulation skills along with suggestopedic method of forming the skills in artistic interpretation of a musical work, which is presented as a chain of suggestopedic classes, where each stage corresponds to a certain interpretation phase. Furthermore, it is noted that the developed methodological toolkit with the complex involvement of suggestive techniques with a number of methods, tools and approaches to art education along with the varied application of these methods in the process of students' professional training, methods of performing reliability formation and innovative methods, provides to carry out pedagogical influence on independence as well as performing activities effectively. Admittedly, the introduction of typical suggestopedic forms of classes (concert sessions, classes involving related arts, class performances, storytelling, play sessions) into the methodological toolbox brings additional aesthetic coloring into the interpretative processes, which, in combination with the globalization of the learning material, have led to the reconsidering of musical works artistic interpretation techniques on the whole.


Equations have been developed that relate induced polarization (IP) in shaly sands to measurable petrophysical parameters. The induced-polarization process has been modeled in terms of two mechanisms: clay counterion displacement and membrane blockage. The resulting equations can be used to determine shaliness, brine conductivity, and oil saturation from in-phase and out-of-phase conductivities. Laboratory measurements have confirmed the IP dependence on these variables, as well as on temperature.


Background Malaria in pregnancy is still a major health issue in Nigeria, accounting for about 33% of cause of maternal death. Despite massive efforts to make insecticide-treated net (ITN) available to pregnant women in Nigeria, the use is still low. This study was conducted to identify facilitators and inhibitors for the use of ITN/long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) among pregnant women in Nigeria. Methods Data were obtained from the 2011 State-Specific HIV & AIDS, Reproductive and Child Health Survey conducted in 18 states of Nigeria. The survey was a population-based study among men and women of reproductive age living in households in rural and urban areas of Nigeria. Multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select eligible respondents. The sample size per state was 960 respondents. Data were collected between October and November 2011. The analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results A total of 11.5% of the respondents were pregnant at the time of the survey of which 73.2% lived in rural location and approximately 70% were either not educated or attained at most a primary school education. A total of 93.2% of respondents have heard of net, 82.6% were confident that they can hang or use a net, and 64.6% owned an ITN/LLIN in their household while the actual use was just 19.2%. We found education, location (urban–rural), confidence to use a net, and knowledge that the use of a net can protect a pregnant woman from malaria to be significant at 5% level. The number of nets owned per household, the length of time the net is owned, age, and marital status were not significant. Multiple logistics regression shows that pregnant women who are confident to hang or use a net were almost ten times more likely to use a net than those who do not know, while those who know that the use of an ITN/LLIN can protect a pregnant woman from malaria were almost two times more likely to use a net than those who do not know. Conclusion In general, while owning a net facilitates its use, ownership does not necessarily translate to usage. Owning more than one ITN/LLIN per household was not significant in the use of an ITN/LLIN by pregnant women in this study, neither was the length of time the net was owned. This study shows that increasing the number of nets owned per household might not be a critical decider on whether the net will be used or not. We recommend massive education on the use of ITN. Skill building on use and increasing knowledge on the benefits of using nets may contribute to improving ITN use among pregnant women in Nigeria.


Background:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major health challenge, with an increasing morbidity and mortality worldwide. COPD is associated with several comorbidities, including skeletal muscle loss and dysfunction and osteoporosis, which impact the patient's quality of life and increase the risk of falls and fractures. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a core management for COPD and has been proven to improve dyspnoea, exercise capacity, and quality of life. The PR programme includes patient education, exercise training, and psychosocial/behavioural intervention that aim to reduce COPD symptoms and enhance the patient's quality of life. COPD guidelines recommend that patients with COPD who have Medical Research Council dyspnoea score of grade 3 or worse should be referred to PR. However, the pattern of PR referral in the UK is unknown. Large primary care data may provide the opportunity to explore the patterns of PR referral among the population of patients with COPD. Furthermore, to evaluate the quality of the PR service, the clinical outcomes of patient performance after PR should be assessed. Data from a recent UK National COPD audit programme PR workstream may facilitate quality control by allowing comparisons of patients' performances between different programmes.

Method:

A systematic review was undertaken to assess the impact of PR on two outcomes: survival and falls (balance). Using The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database, a large database of UK primary care records, the recording of the PR events among patients diagnosed with COPD were analysed. A survival analysis was also conducted, which compared patients with records of PR and those without. Using this large dataset, a comparison of the incidence of falls between age- and sex-matched patients with COPD and individuals without COPD was conducted. Subsequently, the UK National COPD audit programme PR workstream data were used for two investigations. First, due to the differences in the capacities of PR programmes across the UK, the effect of these variations on the clinical outcomes associated with PR was investigated. Second, the number of patients who underwent PR assessment and performed a practice exercise walk test during PR baseline assessment, along with its association with the clinical response of PR, were investigated.

Results:

An assessment of PR recording in THIN showed that only 9.8% of patients with COPD have ever had a coded PR record. The systematic review demonstrated some evidence of the benefits of PR on balance but it had no effect on survival. However, the survival evidence from the THIN primary care data analysis found that patients with a record of PR on at least one occasion were 22% less likely to die than those with no record [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.78; 95% CI 0.69 – 0.88]. The investigation of the incidence of falls in THIN showed that patients with COPD were 55% more likely to have a recorded incidence of a fall than the non-COPD subjects (aHR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.50 to 1.59) The investigation of the National COPD audit programme data showed that larger PR programmes with high staff/patient ratios were better at enrolling patients within three months of referral and achieved minimal clinical importance differences in the 6-minute walk test. Only 22.6% of patients who were assessed for PR had a practice exercise walk test at assessment. The practice walk test was significantly related to better baseline exercise distance, better enrolment and completion rates, and better improvement in dyspnoea scores.

Conclusion:

The low incidence of PR recording among patients with COPD in UK primary care records demonstrates the need for further strategies to improve pulmonary rehabilitation recording. Moreover, the demonstrated increased risk of falls in patients with COPD in THIN suggests a need for fall risk assessments at COPD diagnosis. The audit analysis demonstrated an enrolment delay more than 90 days of referral at small PR programmes, which could worsen the patient's condition. Furthermore, the second audit analysis found that a substantial proportion of patients who were assessed for PR had not had a practice exercise walk test at their baseline assessment. The analysis also demonstrated its role in maximising the PR benefits and suggested the importance of issues that limit its application to PR programmes.


We show that a basic difference between the electron- and hole-doped cuprates is their proximity to two different quantum critical points in a 2D free fermion system on a square lattice and that the spin dynamics observed recently for the first time in the electron-doped Nd2-xCexCuO4, very different from that in the hole-doped cuprates, can be understood as a consequence of this effect.


Ethanolysis of PKO has been done by the addition of ethoxide ion solution {ethanol 90% containing 1% (w/w PKO) of NaOH} to 100 g PKO at the ratio of 1.0; 1.2; or 1.4 (w/w), each with the addition of glycerol 10% (w/w PKO) at 55-60°C, stirred at 1000 rpm for 3, 6, 9, or 12 minutes. Careful observation is done on the yield and monoglyceride, diglycerides, and triglycerides distribution patterns in the PKO ethanolysis products. The average yield of all treatments resulted in a value of 44.91% (± 4.47%; w/w). The yield of ethanolysis of PKO with the ratio of 1.4 (w/w) is better than with the ratio of 1.0 (w/w) and 1.2 (w/w), while 6 minutes shown a better result for the PKO ethanolysis time reaction compared to 3, 9, or 12 minutes. The average of glycerides, esters, monoglycerides, internal standard, diglycerides, and triglycerides in overall treatments, shows 6.09, 55.02, 7.07, 2.55, 23.54, and 5.73%, respectively. Group of monoglyceride (MG) and diglyceride (DG) compounds in PKO ethanolysis products, both obtained on average with the best treatment at ethanolysis time for 3 minutes for a ratio of 1.0 (w/w), each at 7.74% (w/w) and 30.60% (w/w).


The white matter contains long-range connections between different brain regions and the organization of these connections holds important implications for brain function in health and disease. Tractometry uses diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) to quantify tissue properties along the trajectories of these connections. Statistical inference from tractometry usually either averages these quantities along the length of each fiber bundle or computes regression models separately for each point along every one of the bundles. These approaches are limited in their sensitivity, in the former case, or in their statistical power, in the latter. We developed a method based on the sparse group lasso (SGL) that takes into account tissue properties along all of the bundles and selects informative features by enforcing both global and bundle-level sparsity. We demonstrate the performance of the method in two settings: i) in a classification setting, patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are accurately distinguished from matched controls. Furthermore, SGL identifies the corticospinal tract as important for this classification, correctly finding the parts of the white matter known to be affected by the disease. ii) In a regression setting, SGL accurately predicts "brain age." In this case, the weights are distributed throughout the white matter indicating that many different regions of the white matter change over the lifespan. Thus, SGL leverages the multivariate relationships between diffusion properties in multiple bundles to make accurate phenotypic predictions while simultaneously discovering the most relevant features of the white matter.


The low value of the speed of sound in dilute granular media permits the study of the properties of supersonic flows for a wide range of Mach numbers. In this paper, we report the experimental observation of a subsonic–supersonic transition in a vibrated granular gas. The shock fronts studied are obtained by simply pushing a rectangular obstacle into the granular gas for different obstacle velocities. The supersonic regime is characterized by the formation of normal shock waves whose width increases when the Mach number decreases to values close to 1. The bimodal model proposed by Mott-Smith in the 1950s provides a good description for the velocity distributions as well as the macroscopic quantities for shock waves in molecular gases but remains inadequate for dissipative media like granular gases and plasmas. Here by examining the shock front structure for a wide range of Mach numbers, we adapt the Mott-Smith bimodal description to a dissipative medium. By using balance equations from granular kinetic theory and taking into account different dissipation sources, the proposed model allows us to understand how this dissipation modifies temperature, mean velocity and volume fraction profiles through the shock front.


Objective To explore the effectiveness of formative evaluation in the mentoring of student nursing interns in an emergency department. Methods A total of 144 intern nursing students in the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital in Fuzhou were selected as the study subjects from July 2020 to February 2021. Adopting quasi-experimental studies methods, the students were divided into the experiment group (n = 74) and the control group (n = 70), based on their practicing rotation times. Formative evaluation methods such as in-person interviews, clinical scenario simulations, and clinical operation skills exams were conducted in the experiment group, while traditional summative evaluation methods were adopted for the control group. At the end of the intern period, a unified examination paper on professional knowledge concerning the emergency department, a cardiopulmonary resuscitation skill assessment, and a self-rating scale of self-directed learning was employed to evaluate professional theory performance, clinical practice ability, self-directed learning ability, and academic satisfaction among the nursing students, respectively. Results The professional theoretical performance, clinical practice ability assessment scores, academic satisfaction, and self-directed learning abilities of the nursing students were significantly higher in the experiment group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The application of formative evaluation during the mentoring of student intern nurses in an emergency department improved their professional theoretical performance, clinical practice skills, academic satisfaction, and self-directed learning abilities.


Over the past decades, transplantable cell lines have been an affordable model for studying the biology and effect of chemotherapeutic drugs on tumors. However, numerous studies have shown that these cell lines are not heterogeneous enough and cannot reflect the drug resistance of tumors that occurs in some patients. Primary cell line cultures isolated from solid tumors have become widespread in personalized cancer therapy. This review discusses the basic methods for the preparation and cultivation of primary cell lines. A brief description is given of the methods for the disaggregation of tumor material using enzymatic, chemical and mechanical dissociation. The systems of cultivation of primary cell cultures. The selection of an appropriate dissociation method and cultivation is important to preserve the benefits of primary culture in preclinical studies.


Background The Austrian Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases started a surveillance project in 2010 to evaluate the gonococcal resistance in Austria. Methods In 2010 and 2011 a national network of 39 centres was established to collect 1569 gonococcal isolates and the anamnestic data of the patients. Gonococcal culture plates were sent from the participating laboratories to the Outpatient´s Center in Vienna, where gonococcal resistance testing was performed by disc diffusion test, agardilution breakpoint technique, agardilution, and Etest. The following antibiotics were tested: cefixime, ceftriaxone, penicillin, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, tetracycline, spectinomycin, and gentamicin. Results were interpreted according to CLSI and EUCAST guidelines. Results In Vienna, 1456 isolates were collected, whereas 111 strains were sent from the federal states. Of all collected isolates 87% were genital, 5% pharyngeal, and 7% rectal isolates, respectively. Gonococci were collected more often from men (56%) than from women, 10% of men reported homosexual contacts. A concurrent infection with Chlamydia trachomatis was observed in 15% of all patients. While 2010 all isolates displayed susceptibility to third generation cephalosporines, in 2011 7 gonococcal strains were resistant to cefixime (MIC > 0.125 µg/ml) but still susceptible to ceftriaxone (MIC ≤ 0.125 µg/ml). Furthermore, an increase of MIC values for cefixime as well as for ceftriaxone was observed in 2011. Resistance to azithromycin increased from 1% in 2010 to 1.5% in 2011. Resistance to quinolones was detected in 58% in 2010 rising to more than 60% in 2011, respectively. Conclusion Third generation cephalosporines still represent the most appropriate drug for gonococcal therapy. As Azithromycin resistance is low in Austria it is suitable for alternative therapy especially in case of coinfection with C. trachomatis. Due to the increasing MIC values for cephalosporines and the rising rates for azithromycin resistance it is highly recommended to determine the resistance pattern of the respective gonococcal strain by culture performance.


ABSTRACT Capsule: There is a substantial gain in precision and accuracy of geolocator locations when using a light stalk. Aims: Light stalks or tubes increase the accuracy of geolocators when tracking migrant birds because they reduce potential shading of the light sensor by feathers but may increase detrimental tag effects. We aimed to determine how adding light stalks to geolocator tags increased accuracy and precision of locations. Methods: We quantified how precision and accuracy of geolocator locations was affected by comparing variation of sunrise and sunset times from tags with variable length light stalks (6 of 0 mm, 8 of 5 mm and 21 of 10 mm). Tags were fitted to Whinchats Saxicola rubetra in central Nigeria (the known location to compare accuracy), and variance in latitude and longitude of geolocator estimated locations were also compared across light stalk lengths during spring migration stationary locations, and at breeding sites in Eastern Europe, for both Geolight and FlightR methods. Results: Without a light stalk, the standard deviation of sunset and sunrise times increased by 50% and 100%, respectively (i.e. less precise): confidence intervals for latitude were larger by about 4.3 degrees at non-breeding low latitudes and 1.8 degrees at stop-over latitudes, or confidence intervals for longitude were larger by 2.3 degrees, dependent on analysis method. Estimated sun elevation angles were significantly less accurate and so calculated non-breeding locations were significantly less accurate by about 8 degrees of latitude. Precision in sunrise, sunset times, latitude and longitude, was similar when using a 5 mm or 10 mm stalk. Conclusions: The results show a substantial gain in precision and accuracy of low latitude geolocator locations when using a light stalk that brings the sensor above covering feathers. There is no advantage from longer light stalk lengths than those necessary to just expose the light sensor above the feathers, at least for small passerines.


Introduction: Children with medical complexity (CMC) require highly specialised care, often from multiple providers and over many years. This paper describes the first 18 months of development of the Kids Guided Personalised Services (GPS) Integrated Care Program (the Program). This Program aims to improve health care experience; communication and to streamline provision of care. Discussion: Key enablers across the Program were put in place and 5 individual project streams were used to implement change. An extensive formative evaluation process was undertaken to truly understand all perspectives in developing the Program. Conclusion/Key Lessons: This Program supports families who are caring for CMC by developing shared care models that bring together local health services with the tertiary hospitals. The methodology used has resulted in comprehensive system change and transformation; reduced presentations to the Emergency Department (ED), avoidable admissions and travel time. A challenge remains in meaningfully engaging primary health care providers.


Background: patients w ith acquired immune deficiency syndrome usually face cardiovascular complications which worsen the course of the infectious disease. Cardiac tamponment is one of those complications that can lead to death, if it is not solved at the right moment. Objective: to present the case of a patient w ith preceding acquired immune deficiency syndrome and symptoms of cardiac tamponment. Clinical case: a twenty-five year old black female patient, at the tenth week of pregnancy, who received two-year antiretroviral drug treatment for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. She began having sudden and low intensity dyspnea, which was increasing later, precordial pain, and palpitations. Consequently, she was admitted in the emergency room. Conclusions: cardiac tamponment is one of the serious complications that can arise in the patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. If it is not treated quickly, it can cause these patients ́death. DeCS: CARDIAC TAMPONADE; ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME; CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES/complications; YOUNG ADULT; CASE STUDIES. ___________________________________________________________________________________


The rare earth output is concentrated in limited number of countries including China. Also the necessity for development of non-rare earth motor is getting signified due to the rapid increase of rare earth price and resource weaponizing policies. Non-rare earth motor is generally designed as spoke type PMSM (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor) in order to maximize the power density. Such spoke type PMSM has advantage in concentrating the flux but demonstrates lower efficiency compared to permanent magnet using Nd (Neodymium) permanent magnet. Therefore, applications with strong necessity for efficiency need rotor structure having improved efficiency compared to spoke type PMSM. Hence, this study suggested fan-shape type PMSM with somewhat lower power density but maximized efficiency. Fan-shape type PMSM is a rotor shape demonstrating outstanding reduction of iron loss compared to existing spoke type. Thus, this study analyzed the improvement of efficiency and reduction of loss arising from the suggested shape through parameter calculation.


Background: Early infectious flexor tenosynovitis has been treated with urgent surgery by most surgeons since Bunnell wrote the first textbook of hand surgery in 1945. Some surgeons have good experience with non-surgical management of early presenting disease in some cases. Methods: This retrospective chart review included 12 inpatients with early infectious flexor synovitis who received conservative treatment with antibiotics, immobilization, and elevation without surgical drainage. Results: The mean time to resolution of infective symptoms for the 12 patients was 5 days (range: 2-11 days) for those receiving conservative management. Half of them required hand therapy. Eight of the 12 patients had good documentation of a full return of hand function. Conclusions: In some patients with early infectious flexor synovitis, urgent surgery may not be required. We present a brief synopsis of 12 such cases.


AIM
To evaluate the relationship between leptin and systemic inflammation in acute pancreatitis.

METHODS
Consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis were included. Body mass index and serum samples were obtained at admission. Leptin, TNF-alpha, IL-6, -8 and -10 levels were determined by ELISA. Severity was defined according to Atlanta criteria.

RESULTS
Fifty-two (29 females) patients were studied. Overall body mass index was similar between mild and severe cases, although women with severe pancreatitis had lower body mass index (P = 0.04) and men showed higher body mass index (P = 0.05). No difference was found in leptin levels regarding the severity of pancreatitis, but higher levels tended to appear in male patients with increased body mass index and severe pancreatitis (P = 0.1). A multivariate analysis showed no association between leptin levels and severity. The strongest cytokine associated with severity was IL-6. Correlations of leptin with another cytokines only showed a trend for IL-8 (P = 0.058).

CONCLUSION
High body mass index was associated with severity only in males, which may be related to android fat distribution. Serum leptin seems not to play a role on the systemic inflammatory response in acute pancreatitis and its association with severe outcome in males might represent a marker of increased adiposity.


The Central Himalayan Region (Nepal Himalayas), comprised of two clear sub-parallel mountain ranges, is atypical location for studying the impact of rugged topography on spatio temporal variations of precipitation. The relationship between topography and diurnal cycles of rainfall have been investigated utilizing 13-year (1998–2010) high resolution (0.05° × 0.05°) Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR) data. An investigation of diurnal cycle of precipitation revealed an afternoon maximum during the pre-monsoon season (March–May) and midnight–early morning maximum during the summer monsoon season (June–August)over the southern slopes of the Himalayas. The summer monsoon exhibited a robust spatial variation of diurnal cycle of precipitation, during afternoon-evening time, primary rainfall peak appeared along the Lesser Himalayas (~2,000–2,200 m above mean sea level), while early-morning rain in contrast showed maximum concentration along the southern margin of the Himalayas (~500–700 m above MSL). An afternoon-evening rainfall peak was attributed to higher rain frequency, whereas early-morning rainfall peak was attributed to fewer but rather intense rainfall. It is suggested that, confluence between down slope and moist south easterly monsoon flow triggers convection near the foothills of the Himalayas during early morning period. The results further suggested the morning precipitation moves southward in the mature monsoon season. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/njst.v15i2.12116 Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 15, No.2 (2014), 57-64


It is crystal clear for countries to thrive and for industries to compete with themselves there is need for product diversification, these create a niche for foreigners to contribute both in capital and technical skill, this will further lead to exchange of currency across borders and it will also facilitate growth in the receiving country. This propelled this paper on external debt, exchange rate, foreign investments and economic growth inter-relationships. Further empirical evidence from Nigeria, 1981-2018. The study made use of autoregressive distributed lag bond test (ARDL) as the statistical technique. It was revealed that foreign investment to total exports ratio has a positive and an insignificant relationship with external debt to total exports ratio, the result agreed with the earlier anticipated apriori expectation, but the insignificant relationship arises as a result of instability identified between naira to other foreign currency, it also arises as a result of the increase identified with prices of goods and services in the country. It does appear that there is need for foreign investors to participate in the country and for this to take place policies on investment friendly environment will need to be reviewed and corrective measures that will improve the policy will need to be put in place this environment will stimulate and boost foreign participants which will in the long run boost the value of the local currency and make the foreign market of the country to be competitive.


Rukun Tetangga (RT) is the smallest unit within the scope of government. As the smallest unit does not mean it does not have some problems with regulation or anything else. The problem is about the family data when the head of RT is in a position that requires him to search for data quickly, but in a conventional way that is by looking at each Family Register Card from the community who live in that RT. In addition to problems with data, within the scope of the RT also difficulties in delivering information effectively and efficiently. The smaRT application is one solution to solve the problem. This app also has many functions to enhance the RT performance. The other function is how to know about upcoming events and communicate with each other by mobile everytime and everywhere. An android application of RT information system developed using waterfall methodology with java mobile programming language, which can run in the android studio, and using firebase as an online database. The system to be built is that can provide information effectively, quickly and accurately. BlackBox testing method selected. Based on the testing result concluded that the test has shown the output and the process in accordance with the design of this program application. The results of this test can be said that this application program can work properly and correctly.
Keywords : RT, Android, Waterfall, Blackbox


Low malathion concentrations influence metabolism in Chironomus sancticaroli (Diptera, Chironomidae) in acute and chronic toxicity tests. Organophosphate compounds are used in agro-systems, and in programs to control pathogen vectors. Because they are continuously applied, organophosphates often reach water sources and may have an impact on aquatic life. The effects of acute and chronic exposure to the organophosphate insecticide malathion on the midge Chironomus sancticaroli are evaluated. To that end, three biochemical biomarkers, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), alpha (EST-α) and beta (EST-β) esterase were used. Acute bioassays with five concentrations of malathion, and chronic bioassays with two concentrations of malathion were carried out. In the acute exposure test, AChE, EST-α and EST-β activities declined by 66, 40 and 37%, respectively, at 0.251 µg L-1 and more than 80% at 1.37, 1.96 and 2.51 µg L-1. In chronic exposure tests, AChE and EST-α activities declined by 28 and 15% at 0.251 µg L-1. Results of the present study show that low concentrations of malathion can influence larval metabolism, indicating high toxicity for Chironomus sancticaroli and environmental risk associated with the use of organophosphates.


ABSTRACT Macular edema is a leading cause of functional visual loss in retinal vascular or ocular inflammatory diseases. Because persistent macular edema can lead to irreversible retinal damage, multi-approached treatment should be considered to achieve complete resolution of macular edema. With an enhanced understanding of its pathophysiology, numerous therapeutic options have been developed for the management of macular edema over the decades. Although medical therapies account for the mainstay of treatment, surgical approaches with vitrectomy can play an important role in the management of macular edema, depending on its mechanism of fluid accumulation. The index review focuses on the efficacy of surgical therapy for macular edema secondary to various ocular diseases including diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, and retinal vein occlusion, and consequently provides the evidences that may expand the knowledge and support the employment of surgical options.


Between 24 March and 5 June 2010, the Hyperion hyperspectral imager and Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA's Earth Observing 1 (EO‐1) spacecraft obtained an unprecedented sequence of 50 observation pairs of the eruptions at Fimmvörðuháls and Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland. This high acquisition rate was possible only through the use of data flow streamlined by using the autonomously operating NASA Volcano Sensor Web (VSW). The VSW incorporates notifications of volcanic activity from multiple sources to retask EO‐1 and process Hyperion data to extract eruption parameters from high spatial and spectral resolution visible and short‐wavelength infrared data. Physical changes in eruption style and magnitude were charted as the eruptions ran their course. Rapid data downlink and automatic data‐processing algorithms generated a variety of products which are compared with estimates from ground‐based observations and post‐eruption in situ measurements. Estimates of effusion rate from heat loss measurements underestimate actual effusion rate (while still following broad eruption rate trends) but are closer to in situ estimates for effusive eruptions (Fimmvörðuháls) than explosive, ash‐rich eruptions (Eyjafjallajökull). During the later stages of the 2010 eruption, VSW‐generated products were rapidly delivered to end‐users in Iceland to aid in the assessment of risk and hazard. The success of the VSW led to Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) in situ sensors being incorporated into the VSW, and in May 2011 an IMO seismic alert autonomously triggered EO‐1 observations of a new eruption at Grímsvötn volcano. Finally, the VSW demonstrates an autonomy‐driven, multi‐asset, spacecraft retasking and data processing system that maximizes science return, a desirable capability for future NASA missions.


A new type of motor in which a scheme involving electronic tubes is used to perform a function similar to that of a commutator is described in this paper. The motor operates at variable speed and is supplied from a 3-phase power system. A 400-hp motor of this type has been built and is ready For commercial use.


SIR,-We are all in debt to the organizers and to the Prophit scholars for their skilled attack from an epidemiological angle on the disease which alone causes approximately 40% of deaths occurring in the age group 15-24. It is, however, in reference to the policy suggested in your leading article (June 19, p. 1189), a policy which might be adopted by those responsible for health supervision in young adults, that I should like to discuss certain points. How far is it practical, even with an aim so important as the early diagnosis of tuberculosis, to keep all young adults under general medical surveillance, to carrv out graded tuberculin testing, and when necessary x-ray them ? Among contacts, medical students, or nurses, where a special risk of exposure is recognized, it may be reasonable, and is in any case likely to be demanded because of their special knowledge of such matters. Among healthy young adults, whether in industry, the armed Forces, at the university, or elsewhere, the problem is different. In proportion to their intelligence they require an explanation of the reasons for carrying out the Mantoux test, and this entails giving information from which the seeds of anxiety might grow. If 60-85% of these young adults are Mantoux-positive there are few health services equipped to carry out full-size chest x-ray examinations on so large a proportion. If the proportion of Mantoux-negatives were more than a small one, follow-up testing of Mantoux-negatives at four-monthly intervals would not be feasible with present facilities, and if the interval is longer the procedure loses value. Before advising the general introduction of Mantoux testing for all young adults, would it not be wiser to restrict its use to annual surveys until such time as the position in this country approaches, if it ever does, the present situation among university students in the U.S.A., where at some universities onlytIO-15/% are positive reactors ? Because this proportion is manageable, the general policy in the U.S.A. is to prefer the Mantoux test to x-ray examination as the routine, but these circumstances do not apply in this country. Here it would as yet .be premature in my opinion to attempt to apply the Mantoux test to the general population for the purpose of controlling tuberculosis as opposed to that of carrying out a survey. There is an additional advantage in waiting. More information may become available concerning the value of the test when high dilutions are used. If the proportion of positives should remain high in this country, the best use of the test might well beas a test of sensitivity, in contrast to its current use to determine the presence or absence of living tubercle bacilli in the body. At the present time we stand in particular need of published information concerning the proportion of Mantoux-positive young adults among groups of the population who are not exposed to special risk of infection. During a recent pilot investigation here on 41 undergraduates of average age 22.5 years, 35 showed a positive reaction (consisting of oedema up to 5 mm. diameter with surrounding erythema) to 0.1 ml. of 1:10,000 dilution of old tuberculin.-I am, etc.,


The microarchitectural design space of a new processor is too large for an architect to evaluate in its entirety. Even with the use of statistical simulation, evaluation of a single configuration can take excessive time due to the need to run a set of benchmarks with realistic workloads. This paper proposes a novel machine learning model that can quickly and accurately predict the performance and energy consumption of any set of programs on any microarchitectural configuration. This architecture-centric approach uses prior knowledge from off-line training and applies it across benchmarks. This allows our model to predict the performance of any new program across the entire microarchitecture configuration space with just 32 further simulations. We compare our approach to a state-of-the-art program-specific predictor and show that we significantly reduce prediction error. We reduce the average error when predicting performance from 24% to just 7% and increase the correlation coefficient from 0.55 to 0.95. We then show that this predictor can be used to guide the search of the design space, selecting the best configuration for energy-delay in just 3 further simulations, reducing it to 0.85. We also evaluate the cost of off-line learning and show that we can still achieve a high level of accuracy when using just 5 benchmarks to train. Finally, we analyse our design space and show how different microarchitectural parameters can affect the cycles, energy and energy-delay of the architectural configurations.


Spring phytoplankton blooms in the southern North Sea substantially contribute to annual primary production and largely influence food web dynamics. Studying long-term changes in spring bloom dynamics is therefore crucial for understanding future climate responses and predicting implications on the marine ecosystem. This paper aims to study long term changes in spring bloom dynamics in the Dutch coastal waters, using historical coastal in-situ data and satellite observations as well as projected future solar radiation and air temperature trajectories from regional climate models as driving forces covering the twenty-first century. The main objective is to derive long-term trends and quantify climate induced uncertainties in future coastal phytoplankton phenology. The three main methodological steps to achieve this goal include (1) developing a data fusion model to interlace coastal in-situ measurements and satellite chlorophyll-a observations into a single multi-decadal signal; (2) applying a Bayesian structural time series model to produce long-term projections of chlorophyll-a concentrations over the twenty-first century; and (3) developing a feature extraction method to derive the cardinal dates (beginning, peak, end) of the spring bloom to track the historical and the projected changes in its dynamics. The data fusion model produced an enhanced chlorophyll-a time series with improved accuracy by correcting the satellite observed signal with in-situ observations. The applied structural time series model proved to have sufficient goodness-of-fit to produce long term chlorophyll-a projections, and the feature extraction method was found to be robust in detecting cardinal dates when spring blooms were present. The main research findings indicate that at the study site location the spring bloom characteristics are impacted by the changing climatic conditions. Our results suggest that toward the end of the twenty-first century spring blooms will steadily shift earlier, resulting in longer spring bloom duration. Spring bloom magnitudes are also projected to increase with a 0.4% year−1 trend. Based on the ensemble simulation the largest uncertainty lies in the timing of the spring bloom beginning and -end timing, while the peak timing has less variation. Further studies would be required to link the findings of this paper and ecosystem behavior to better understand possible consequences to the ecosystem.