The financial system is currently in a period of exceptionally rapid technological and organizational change, with the adoption of cloud computing to store and process financial data, artificial intelligence to analyze it, and blockchain to secure it. It is fashionable to assert that digital currencies will be part of that future. But cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are too volatile to possess the essential attributes of money. Stablecoins have fragile currency pegs that diminish their utility in transactions. And central bank digital currencies are a solution in search of a problem.


Melanoma is an aggressive disease. Although about 13% of melanoma cases are diagnosed at metastatic stage, the 5-year survival rate for these patients is 16%. We have previously shown that metastatic melanoma cells express high levels of Wnt5a. Wnt5a is a member of the Wnt family of proteins, which play an important role during development and tumorigenesis. In melanoma, Wnt5a signaling is mediated by an autocrine loop that also modulates the activity of midkine. Midkine is a 16kDa protein that is elevated in many different cancers. Overexpression of midkine promotes the growth, migration, survival and angiogenic capability of the tumors. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the activity of midkine are unknown, especially in metastatic melanoma. We asked whether Wnt5a can positively regulate the functions of midkine to promote the progression of metastatic melanoma. To address this, we analyzed melanoma cells for midkine expression and observed that Wnt5a high melanoma cells also express high levels of midkine. Further, an increase in Wnt5a signaling by treatment with recombinant Wnt5a led to an increased midkine signaling. By performing 3D spheroid assays, we observed that higher expression of midkine is correlated with an increased metastatic ability of the cells. The expression of midkine also correlated with an increased resistance to BRAF inhibitors in BRAF V600E mutated melanoma. This indicates that midkine may signal through MAPK pathway to affect invasion and drug resistance in metastatic melanoma. Developing adjuvant therapies targeting midkine can prolong the overall survival of patients with metastatic melanoma. Citation Format: Amanpreet Kaur, Michael O9Connell, Marie Webster, Reeti Behera, Vanessa Dang, Abibatou Ndoye, Ashani Weeraratna. Midkine as a potential target for combating drug resistance and invasion in melanoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5092. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5092


BACKGROUND
Despite the increasing evidence that income inequality causes reductions in life expectancy in developed countries, this relationship has not been explored in the United Kingdom, where local income data are not routinely available. We have surmounted this problem by employing an ecological design which applies national income data to local mortality and occupational data.

METHODS
This ecological, cross-sectional study used 1991 mortality and Census data on the 366 English local government districts, and 1991 New Earnings Survey data for England, to determine the independent effect of income inequalities within English local authorities on the variation in all cause mortality between them. The subjects were all men and women recorded as economically active in the 1991 Census. We carried out linear regression analyses between all cause, all ages standardized mortality ratios, income inequality indexes and mean income levels of the local government districts. Results Both income inequality and mean income were independently associated with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS
It is likely that income inequality makes an independent contribution to life expectancy in English local authorities. This finding adds further to the international evidence supporting the potentially positive health impact of increasing the scale of redistributive fiscal policies.


In order to establish intraspecific diversity of Pseudallescheria boydii and Scedosporium apiospermum, and to develop tools for their identification, variability within P. boydii and related species was investigated at different levels of diversity. Sequences of the D1/D2 region of large subunit (LSU) and of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene were analyzed for a set of 57 strains, as well as partial sequences of the elongation factor 1-alpha (EF 1-alpha). Incongruence among 3 locus lineages was detected by partition homogeneity test (PHT). The maximum parsimony (MP) tree of the combined sequence data set, with the exception of strain CBS 499.90, formed 3 clades with high bootstrap support, corresponding to previously described nuclear DNA (nDNA)/DNA reassociation groups. These groups are known to differ slightly in predilection and temperature relations. Using Structure software, population genetic analysis revealed 3 clusters within the complex on the basis of multi-locus genotype data. Strain distribution in the clusters was concordant with that in the 3 clades of combined multi-locus MP tree. Recombination among individuals of a clade in evolutional history was found in 2 of the 3 clades. There was population differentiation among the 3 clades. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the intergenic spacer (IGS) region of rDNA gene was added to further characterize subspecific entities. When the IGS regions of 22 strains were digested with the restriction endonucleases Hae III and Mbo I, seven and five distinct patterns were detected, respectively. This subtyping did not reveal any correspondence with geographic origin or clinical appearance. Though we need more evidence to locate the 3 clades of the P. boydii complex at species or population level, the sequence of the D1/D2 region is sufficiently variable for identification of taxa belonging to the P. boydii complex.


Background: Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) is the most common malignant tumor of the urinary system. Ferroptosis is a new type of programmed cell death that is iron-dependent and different from apoptosis, cell necrosis, and autophagy. Studies have indicated that many genes are involved in regulating ferroptosis or markers of ferroptosis. However, the value of genes related to ferroptosis in BLCA remains unclear.Methods: We comprehensively evaluated the differences in ferroptosis genes in patients with BLCA and control samples based on public databases, including mRNA expression, mutations, and copy number variations. The ferroptosis gene expression profile was used for consistent clustering to obtain ferr.clusterA and ferrclusterB. An analysis of differences between groups was performed to obtain ferroptosis-related gene, and then consistent clustering was performed to obtain ferr.gene.cluster A and ferr.gene.clusterB. Subsequently, the random forest algorithm was used to reduce dimensionality, Cox analysis was used to screen characteristic genes, principal component analysis was performed, and the ferroptosis score was constructed to quantify the ferroptosis expression of a single sample.Results: According to the ferroptosis score, the samples could be divided into two groups with significant differences in prognosis, which proves that the ferroptosis expression pattern in a single tumor can predict the prognostic response of patients.Conclusion: In summary, ferroptosis-related genes are significantly related to the progression of BLCA.


From the mechanical standpoint, wiper blades may be thought of as belonging to a category of systems in which some components are forced to slide with friction over each other or over some rough surface. Such systems, which are in widespread use in all areas of modern engineering, exhibit complex dynamic behavior, even when only a small number of degrees of freedom are involved. In this paper we reconsider a well-known, simple mechanical model in which a rigid block connected to a linear spring is free to slide over a rough surface. The surface moves according to a prescribed sinusoidal law. The model, despite its apparent simplicity, proves to be quite useful for studying the main dynamic features of such systems. In particular, herein the equations of motion are solved analytically and the exact sequence of sticking and sliding phases found. The influence on the solution of three dimensionless parameters chosen to describe the system is investigated, and some early indications provided on the set of possible long-term system responses. Lastly, a first evaluation of the different limit cycles for the block's motion is illustrated.


The great changes in business environment, rapid technological development and different approaches to work execution demand
from employees in industry, including woodworking, to constantly develop their capabilities and widen their knowledge.
Education and training are key parts of development of each employee, through which he can gain new knowledge. It is the
key to ensuring their competencies for the job, which in turn leads to greater competitiveness of the companies. The objective
of the research was to assess the level of competencies for different profiles of employees in wood industry production and to
determine the effect of systematic training on the reduction of deficits in competencies. We have established that the biggest
deficits in competencies prior to training were in the fields of development, quality management and control, use of computer
tools and programming and management of CNC technologies. It can be concluded that the state of competencies of production
workers in wood industry is good. Particularly notable is the positive effect of systematic training on the improvement of their
competencies, as there was a significant progress of almost all competencies (by 51.8% on average).


Ground-based thermal-infrared observations have a unique scientific potential, but are also extremely challenging due to the need to accurately subtract the high thermal background. Since the established techniques of chopping and nodding need to be modified for observations with the future mid-infrared ELT imager and spectrograph (METIS), we investigate the sources of thermal background subtraction residuals. Our aim is to either remove or at least minimise the need for nodding in order to increase the observing efficiency for METIS. To this end we need to improve our knowledge about the origin of chop residuals and devise observing methods to remove them most efficiently, i.e. with the slowest possible nodding frequency. Thanks to dedicated observations with VLT/VISIR and GranTeCan/CanariCam, we have successfully traced the origin of three kinds of chopping residuals to (1) the entrance window, (2) the spiders and (3) other warm emitters in the pupil, in particular the VLT M3 mirror cell in its parking position. We conclude that, in order to keep chopping residuals stable over a long time (and therefore allow for slower nodding cycles), the pupil illumination needs to be kept constant, i.e. (imaging) observations should be performed in pupil-stabilised, rather than field-stabilised mode, with image de-rotation in the post-processing pipeline. This is now foreseen as the default observing concept for all METIS imaging modes.


The United States has completed a vast three-decade-long sweep of unprecedented housing achievement. While a relatively small proportion of record production levels was targeted directly to America's poverty population, the latter's housing condition improved markedly as a result of the much-maligned filtering process. But this success will face very serious inhibitors in the future. The breakdown of the traditional political housing alliance, the stagnation of real median family incomes, the growing number of persons under the poverty level, and a housing finance system subject to full market forces and credit competition—for the first time since the New Deal—characterize the early 1980s. Within this context, housing for the middle class is an issue of much more political potency than the housing needs of the poor. But without the reformation of a broad-based housing constituency, one of the great achievements of the last generation—the improvement in the shelter provisions of the poor—must quickly abort.


Parasites are among the most common pathogens recorded in dogs. High prevalence rates are usually reported in stray and shelter dogs, as these animals are less likely to be tested and treated. In this study a survey was carried out on intestinal and lung parasites of stray dogs at the moment of the admission in a shelter in Central Italy. In the period June 2014–June 2015, 262 individual faecal samples were examined. Twelve parasitic taxa were detected. Helminths were more prevalent than protozoa (61.8% and 25.6%, respectively). Ancylostomatidae showed the higher prevalence (40.5%), followed by Giardia duodenalis (21.4%), Toxocara canis (20.6%) and Trichuris vulpis (17.6%). Angiostrongylus vasorum was the most prevalent lungworm (12.6%), Crenosoma vulpis being recorded just in one dog. G. duodenalis had a high prevalence, probably because of the diagnostic techniques adopted, actually the most sensitive available for its detection. Nevertheless, the zoonotic potential of this parasite in dogs appears reduced, as all the isolates were identified as C (24.0%) and D (76.0%) dog specific assemblages. Taeniidae constituted a high potential zoonotic risk, as from the eggs it is impossible to exclude they were Echinococcus granulosus, the most relevant zoonotic parasite in Europe. The present study underline the importance of stray dogs control, aimed at preventing or minimizing parasitic spread and zoonotic transmission.


A field study was conducted in 2002 and 2003 to evaluate the effect of clomazone at 448 g ai/ha plus bensulfuron at 10, 21, 31, and 42 g ai/ha or halosulfuron at 13, 26, 39, and 53 g ai/ha on rice. Herbicide treatments were impregnated onto urea fertilizer and applied at rooting (AR) in a water-seeded production system. Comparison treatments included clomazone AR followed by bensulfuron at 42 g/ha or halosulfuron at 53 g/ha POST. At 7 d after AR (DAAR), rice foliar bleaching decreased from 42% with a single application of clomazone to 23 to 30% with any rate of bensulfuron or halosulfuron impregnated with clomazone. Barnyardgrass and broadleaf signalgrass control did not decrease with the addition of bensulfuron or halosulfuron to clomazone. A single application of clomazone did not control rice flatsedge at 28 DAAR; however, rice flatsedge control was greater than 76% for all bensulfuron and halosulfuron treatments at 28 DAAR. There were no differences in rice yield among herbicide treatments. Nomenclature: Clomazone; bensulfuron; halosulfuron; barnyardgrass, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. #3 ECHCG; broadleaf signalgrass, Brachiaria platyphylla (Griseb.) Nash # BRAPP; rice flatsedge, Cyperus iria L. # CYPIR; rice, Oryza sativa L. 'Cocodrie'. Additional index words: Herbicide tolerance; herbicide-impregnated fertilizer. Abbreviations: AR, at rooting; DAAR, days after AR; DAT, days after treatment; DPRE, delayed preemergence; fb, followed by.


Background: Fine particle (Particulate matter 2.5, PM2.5), as the primary ambient pollutant, is considered harmful to some neurodegenerative diseases, while the specific biochemical mechanism underlying is still unrevealed. Neuronal apoptosis is believed the crucial event in neurodegenerative pathogenesis, but evidence supporting neuronal apoptosis as PM2.5 induced neuronal injury is insufficient. S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase 1 (AMD1) and its related spermidine synthesis have been shown to participate in cellular apoptosis, but its role in PM2.5 exposure induced neuronal apoptosis was rarely reported. To better understand contribution of AMD1 activity and spermidine in PM2.5 exposure induced neuronal apoptosis, may provide novel therapeutic and preventive targets for air pollution associated neurodegenerative diseases.Methods: In the current work, sixteen C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into ambient PM2.5 chamber or filtered air chamber, and the mouse model of whole-body ambient PM2.5 chronic exposure was established. Behavioral and cognitive ability, together with corresponding biomedical index were recorded and tested to evaluated neurotoxicity by PM2.5 exposure in mice. In parallel, PC12 cells and primary hippocampal neurons were applied for PM2.5 treatment to explore the possible cellular and molecular mechanism which may be critically involved in the process. AMD1 activity and cellular spermidine content were modulated by pharmacological approach to examine their participation in PM2.5 triggered neuronal apoptosis, followed by better examination of typical index for mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway signaling.Results: Chronic ambient PM2.5 exposure attenuated spatial learning and memory ability, and triggered neuronal apoptosis together with increased expression of apoptosis-related Bax/Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3. PM2.5 exposure impaired AMD1 expression and spermidine synthesis. AMD1 inhibition could mimick PM2.5 exposure induced neuronal apoptosis. Spermidine supplementation rescued against neurotoxicity and inhibited PM2.5 induced apoptosis, in which mitochondrial pathway signaling.Conclusions: Chronic real-time exposure to ambient PM2.5 led to the reduced the ability of spatial learning and memory in mice. Neuronal apoptosis was the key event in the process of neurodegenerative development induced by PM2.5 exposure. AMD1 and spermidine participated in neuronal apoptosis induced by PM2.5 exposure, which was at least partially dependent on mitochondria mediated pathway.


Numerical analysis is one of the major subjects for the students in the department of mathematics. The present paper studies the three teaching methods in numercial analysis—the instruction on the class, the experiment on the computer, the methods of examination. Then, it concludes that the numerical analysis can be easily learnt by teacher's instruction and the numerical method be clearly shown by electrical courseware. Furthermore, it discusses that the students' mathematical thinking and research ability can be improved by reforming the methods of the experiments and the examination. At last, it gives some practical methods to arouse the students' learning enthusiasm.


The paper considers the specific features of renal involvement developing in chronic infection caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the current possibilities of treatment. It details the clinical and morphological manifestations of HCV-related cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis, and criteria for its diagnosis and prognosis. The author discuss new approaches to treating (severe cryoglobulinemic vasculitis with renal involvement in particular)--antiviral therapy (pegylated interferon-alpha/ribavirin) in combination with biological agents (anti-CD monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab) to achieve clinical, virological, immunological remissions and a response at a molecular level--to eliminate oligo- and monoclonal B lymphocyte proliferation.


In this article we describe the development of machine learning models to assist the CLAS12 tracking algorithm by identifying the best track candidates from combinatorial track candidates from the hits in drift chambers. Several types of machine learning models were tested, including: Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) and Extremely Randomized Trees (ERT). The final implementation was based on an MLP network and provided an accuracy $>99\%$. The implementation of AI assisted tracking into the CLAS12 reconstruction workflow and provided a 6 times code speedup.


BACKGROUND
Surgery is a widely accepted option for the treatment of pharmacoresistant epilepsies of extratemporal origin.

OBJECTIVE
To analyze clinical and epileptological results and to provide prognostic factors influencing seizure outcome.

METHODS
This retrospective single-center study comprises a consecutive series of 383 patients, most of whom had an identifiable lesion on MRI, who underwent resective surgery for extratemporal epilepsy. Data including diagnostic modalities, surgical treatment, histopathology, prognostic factors, and epileptological outcome were analyzed.

RESULTS
Resective procedures were located as follows: frontal (n = 183), parietal (n = 44), occipital (n = 24), and insular (n = 24). In 108 cases resection included more than 1 lobe. Histopatholological evaluation revealed focal cortical dysplasias (n = 178), tumors (n = 110), cavernomas (n = 27), gliosis (n = 42), and nonspecific findings (n = 36). A distinct epileptogenic lesion was detected in 338 (88.7%) patients. After a mean follow-up of 54 mo, 227 (62.5%) patients remained free from disabling seizures (Engel class I), and 178 (49%) were completely seizure free (Engel class Ia). There was no perioperative mortality. Permanent morbidity was encountered in 46 cases (11.8%). The following predictors were significantly associated with excellent seizure outcome (Engel I): lesion visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; P = .02), noneloquent location (P = .01), complete resection of the lesion (P = .001), absence of epileptic activity postoperatively (P = .001), circumscribed histological findings (P = .001), lower age at surgery (P = .008), and shorter duration of epilepsy (P = .02).

CONCLUSION
Surgical treatment of extratemporal epilepsy provides satisfying epileptological results with an acceptable morbidity. Best results can be achieved in younger patients with circumscribed MRI lesions, which can be resected completely.


The paper presents a case of giant retroperitoneal liposarcoma treated in our unit. New diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives for such uncommon tumours are commented upon.


We aimed to elucidate the evolutionary trajectories of gallbladder adenocarcinoma (GBAC) using multi-regional and longitudinal tumor samples. Using whole-exome sequencing data, we constructed phylogenetic trees in each patient, and analyzed mutational signatures. A total of 11 patients including 2 rapid autopsy cases were enrolled. The most frequently altered gene in primary tumors was ERBB2 (54.5%), followed by TP53 (45.5%), and FBXW7 (27.3%). Most mutations in frequently altered genes in primary tumors were detectable in concurrent precancerous lesions (biliary intraepithelial neoplasia, BilIN), but some of them were subclonal. Subclonal diversity was common in BilIN (n=4). However, among subclones in BilIN, a certain subclone commonly shrank in concurrent primary tumors. In addition, selected subclones underwent linear and branching evolution, maintaining subclonal diversity. In combined analysis with metastatic tumors (n=11), branching evolution was identified in 9 (81.8%) patients. Of these, 8 patients (88.9%) had a total of 11 subclones expanded at least 7-fold during metastasis. These subclones harbored putative metastasis-driving mutations in tumor suppressor genes such as SMAD4, ROBO1, and DICER1. In mutational signature analysis, 6 mutational signatures were identified: 1, 3, 7, 13, 22, and 24 (cosine similarity >0.9). Signatures 1 (age) and 13 (APOBEC) decreased during metastasis while signatures 22 (aristolochic acid) and 24 (aflatoxin) were relatively highlighted. Subclonal diversity arose early in precancerous lesions and the clonal selection was a common event during malignant transformation in GBAC. However, selected cancer clones continued to evolve and thus maintained subclonal diversity in metastatic tumors.


The past several years have seen a lot of change in the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES). I would like to take this opportunity to thank Past-President Wanda Reder for the vision and leadership she has provided during the last two years while presiding over the Society and these changes. At the risk of repeating some of her comments from her final column as PES president, it is helpful to briefly review our past accomplishments to help set the vision for where we are headed.


Indian franchising story has just started and it has a long way to go, India would be able to do so with its huge population, the growing aspirations and prosperity of the middle class, changing lifestyles, growing entrepreneurial culture, and the shifting of gears to small cities and towns. All these factors will lead to the growth of a WIN WIN partnership between the brand and franchisee.Franchising in India is still in its nascent stage. Only 10% of the businesses in India are franchised as compared to 70% in the United States. Education sector which accounts for the maximum portion of the total franchised business in India is only 38% franchised as a sector as a whole. Other sectors like retail, food, healthcare etc. go on similar lines.This report has tried to answer these questions by analysis including depth interviews, data analysis tools and behavioral study of franchisors in Bangalore across the major franchising sectors Education, Retail, Food and Professional Services. A franchisor has to be observant while selecting an appropriate partner for his business.This study is conducted through structured questionnaire with a sample size of 100. The study evaluates franchisor and franchisee relation in every aspect of business and also scope of franchise business in Bangalore. The duration of the study is around 60 days and the results showed that there is rapid growth of franchise business in Bangalore.


ABSTRACT Polyembryony is the differentiation and development of multiple embryos in a single seed. This characteristic can provide advantages, as more than one embryo is produced with the same amount of resources, and the probability of establishment of at least one seedling increases. However, sibling seedlings may also increase competition, affecting development and survival. In the present study, the possible advantages and disadvantages of polyembryony were analyzed in the initial establishment of seedlings of Carapa surinamensis (Meliaceae), a tree species that produces monoembryonic or polyembryonic seeds. In this regard, the development of single seedlings was compared with a pair of seedlings emerging from polyembryonic seeds. We compared the development of seedlings attached to or detached from each other and to the seed resources. We observed two levels of competition: (a) for the seed reserves during germination and initial development, as multiple embryos of C. surinamensis share the same reserves, and (b) for external factors, mostly space for root and shoot development, and also for light. Reducing the competition for external factors by separating the siblings was not enough to reduce the effects of competition for seed reserves in the first six months of development. Nevertheless, viable seedlings were produced in all treatments. Thus, depending on sprout management in the nursery, the number of seedlings per seed can be significantly increased by detaching the seedlings, or more vigorous seedlings can be obtained when only one seedling is maintained.


Fibroblasts alter their mode of attachment and focal contact when placed on square arrays of silicon pillars. The pillars had 1-microm diameters with identical surface chemistry. Distance between pillars is 9 microm and height of pillars is 1, 5, or 10 microm on substrates. We found that these micropillars, rather than specific interactions, provided more opportunities for mechanical interlocking of the fibroblasts and acted as physical barriers that restrained cell migration. The cellular morphology and behavior is guidable by the height of pillars. In some cases, the fibroblasts filled in the intervals among several pillars; in others, a pillar protruded visibly through the cell body but did not pierce it, the cells were survived. Therefore, fibroblasts were immobilized upon in situ and the cytoplasma migrated outward to the bottom of the substrate subsequently. Laminin plays a critical role in cell attachment to the basement membrane. The results of laminin expression in fibroblasts suggest that pillar pattern appears to change cellular behavior and affect laminin expression significantly.


A new plasmonic device architecture based on ultrasmooth metallic surfaces with buried plasmonic nanostructures is presented. Using template‐stripping techniques, ultrathin gold films with less than 5 Å surface roughness are optically coupled to an arbitrary arrangement of buried metallic gratings, rings, and nanodots. As a prototypical example, linear plasmonic gratings buried under an ultrasmooth 20 nm thick gold surface for biosensing are presented. The optical illumination and collection are completely decoupled from the microfluidic delivery of liquid samples due to the backside, reflection‐mode geometry. This allows for sensing with opaque or highly scattering liquids. With the buried nanostructure design, high sensitivity and decoupled backside (reflective) optical access are maintained, as with traditional prism‐based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors. In addition, the benefits offered by nanoplasmonic sensors such as spectral tunability and high‐resolution, wide‐field SPR imaging with normal‐incidence epi‐illumination that is simple to construct and align are gained as well. Beyond sensing, the buried plasmonic nanostructures with ultrasmooth metallic surfaces can benefit nanophotonic waveguides, surface‐enhanced spectroscopy, nanolithography, and optical trapping.


Summary Fibrinogen, a major determinant of blood viscosity, is an acute phase protein associated with cardiovascular disease. We studied the association of hypertension with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding the fibrinogen β chain (FGB). Three tagging SNPs (rs1025154, rs4220 and rs1044291) were selected from the HapMap database on Han Chinese. Genotypes were determined in 1,294 unrelated subjects from the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence Study cohort. There were 199 hypertensive subjects at baseline. Among 1,095 subjects normotensive at baseline, 178 developed hyper-tension during a median follow-up period of 6.4 years. Among the three tagging SNPs, rs4220 showed significant association with hypertension at both baseline (odds ratio [OR]=1.49, p=0.004) and at follow-up (OR=1.32, p=0.013). The minor A allele of this SNP was associated with higher plasma fibrinogen level (β=0.144, p<0.001 at baseline and β=0.130, p<0.001 at follow-up). Among subjects normotensive at baseline, this SNP was also associated with the development of hyper-tension in men (OR=1.52, p=0.022), but not in women. The SNP rs4220 in FGB, which leads to the substitution of arginine by lysine at position 448, is independently associated with plasma fibrinogen level and hypertension in Hong Kong Chinese. This suggests a possible causal role of fibrinogen in hypertension development, especially in men.


Background: The brain imaging criteria for subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (SIVD), as proposed by Eurkinjuntti, incorporates the two familiar entities, "the lacunar state" and "Binswanger's disease". However, it has not been proven whether these two subtypes of SIVD have common pathophysiological features. This study investigated the changes of the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the two subsets of SIVD. Methods: 12 SIVD patients with predominant white matter lesions, 13 patients with predominant multiple lacunar infarctions and 17 controls were evaluated. The general cognitive function and the severity of dementia were measured by using the K-MMSE and the clinical dementia rating scale. The patients simultaneously met both the NINDS-AIREN criteria for probable or possible vascular dementia (VaD) and the Eurkinjuntti's brain imaging criteria for SIVD. 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimmer (ECD)-SPECT was performed to measure the rCBF, and statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was applied to the objective analysis of the SPECT data. Results: SPM analysis of the SPECT images revealed that decreased rCBF in the bilateral thalami, anterior cingulated gyri, superior temporal gyri, caudate heads and left parahippocampal gyrus was significant in the patients with SVaD compared to the controls (uncorrected P=0.001). This pattern of rCBF reduction was the same in both the SIVD patients with predominant white matter lesions and with predominant lacunar infarctions. Conclusions: Our study suggests that the two subsets of SIVD proposed by Eurkinjuntti may have a common functional abnormality, and the Eurkinjuntti's criteria offers a solution for researchers to identify the more homogeneous group of VaD patients.


Hatching is a pivotal moment in the life of most animals. Diverse chemical, behavioural and mechanical methods have evolved in metazoans to break the egg membranes. Among them, many arthropod and vertebrate embryos hatch using ephemeral, frequently convergent structures known as egg bursters. However, the evolutionary processes by which hatching mechanisms and related embryonic structures became established in deep time are poorly understood due to a nearly complete absence from the fossil record. Herein we describe an exceptional c. 130‐million‐year‐old association in Lebanese amber composed of multiple neonate green lacewing larvae, Tragichrysa ovoruptora gen. et sp. nov. (Neuroptera, Chrysopoidea), and conspecific egg remains. Egg bursters with a serrated blade bearing a short process are attached to three longitudinally split egg shells. Embryos of extant green lacewing relatives (Chrysopidae) utilize this egg burster morphotype to open a vertical slit on the egg, after which the burster is moulted and left joined to the empty egg shell. Additionally, the new larval species has extremely elongate dorsal tubercles, an adaptation to carry exogenous debris for protection and camouflage also known from other Cretaceous chrysopoids but absent in modern relatives. The present discovery demonstrates that the hatching mechanism of modern green lacewings was established in the chrysopoid lineage by the Early Cretaceous and proves through direct fossil evidence how some morphological traits related to hatching and linked behaviours, at least in insect embryos, have been subject to a high degree of evolutionary conservatism.


A simple systematic procedure to construct the three-level unitary and orthogonal algebras which appear in the bosonic three -level pairing models and for arbitrary choice of level degeneracies is presented. We draw attention to the existence of the three types of dynamical symmetry. The new analytical expressions of the energies are derived. The results presented show very clearly the duality between orthogonal algebras and the quasi-spin algebras for the three-level system with pairing interactions. The seniority selection rules of the transition operators in three level boson system are given. Illustrative calculations are carried out for U21 algebra.


Many coastal areas in Vietnam suffer from erosion. One of the worst affected areas is the Hai Hau beach, located in the Red River delta in northern Vietnam. Over the last hundred years, vast parts of the beach have eroded at an average rate of approximately 25 m per year. Important agricultural land has vanished into the sea and families have been forced to abandon their houses because of the erosion is not explained but suggested reasons are for example dam construction, weak dikes and unfavourable hydrodynamic conditions The wave climate, and thus the sediment transport, in northernVietnam is highly dependent on the two main wind directions from the northeast and the south, because of the winter and ) summer monsoon, respectively . Vietnam is also.subject to sporadic typhoons that cause great damage when they strike the coast, especially in combination with storm surges. Based on a 20-year long wind record from 1976 to 1995, obtained from two islands outside the coast of northern Vietnam, the longshore transport rate over these years was determined by a one dimensional numerical wave model. The model consists of three independent parts: offshore waves, nearshore waves and -longshore sediment transport. This model indicates a southward-directed transport along the Hai Hau beach. In addition, sea maps and satellite photos from the 20th century were compared in order to find out the historic shoreline development generally. The main protection method that is generally used in Vietnam, as well as in Hai Hau district, is sea dikes. These dikes consist of an earth core covered by a revetment layer of cobbles. Unfortunately, these dikes are not strong enough to withstand the impact of harsh waves for any longer periods. Historically, a line of sea dikes has been destroyed at least once every decade. A couple of hundred meters behind the front sea dike typically lies another dike, ready to meet the waves when the first one breaches. Consequently, this defence arrangement is often recognized as a double dike system, but also as a retreat strategy since the erosion problem is not solved, just slowed down. The major cause of erosion is likely not due to human activities (such as dam buildings,or river cut-offs), instead because of the natural properties of Hai Hau coastal area, seasonally bounded longshore currents in combination with weak sea dikes favour erosion.


The effects of human gingival extracts on in vitro, bone resorption were examined and related to the amount of plaque, gingival inflammation and bone resorption present at the time of sampling. Twenty patients with varying degrees of periodontal disease were used in this study. The plaque index and bleeding index were recorded. the marginal gingiva removing surgically and immediately freeze dried. Alveolar bone resorption was then measured from the cemento enamel junction (CFI) to the alveolar bone crest directly during surgical exposure or on radiographs. The bone resorting activity of extracts from freeze dried gingiva was then tested in an in vitro bone resorption assay. No bone resorting activity was noted in 17 of the 18 extracts tested and thus no correlation could be found with the clinical indices. Mean values of the T/C ratios for 18 extracts tested indicate a biphasic suppression of control resorption by the extracts. The extracts suppressed resorption stimulated by known bone resorbing agents. H [eating of the extract prior to testing eliminated this suppressive effect. It is concluded that inhibitors of bone resorption are present in human gingival extracts. Their presence may explain our inability to demonstrate bone resorhing activity in human gingiva.


Consider a collaborative task that requires communication. Two agents are placed in an environment and must create a language from scratch in order to coordinate. Recent work has been interested in what kinds of languages emerge when deep reinforcement learning agents are put in such a situation, and in particular in the factors that cause language to be compositional-i.e. meaning is expressed by combining words which themselves have meaning. Evolutionary linguists have also studied the emergence of compositional language for decades, and they find that in addition to structural priors like those already studied in deep learning, the dynamics of transmitting language from generation to generation contribute significantly to the emergence of compositionality. In this paper, we introduce these cultural evolutionary dynamics into language emergence by periodically replacing agents in a population to create a knowledge gap, implicitly inducing cultural transmission of language. We show that this implicit cultural transmission encourages the resulting languages to exhibit better compositional generalization and suggest how elements of cultural dynamics can be further integrated into populations of deep agents.


In order to improve the performance of the UKF a novel adaptive filter method is proposed. The error between the covariance matrices of innovation measurements and their corresponding estimations/predictions is utilized as the cost function. Based on the MIT rule, an adaptive algorithm is designed to online update the covariance of the process uncertainties by minimizing the cost function. The updated covariance is further fed back into the normal UKF. Such an adaptive mechanism is intended to compensate the lack on the priori knowledge of process uncertainty distribution and improve the performance of UKF for the applications such as active state and parameter estimations. Simulations are conducted with respect to the dynamics of an omni-directional mobile robot, and the results obtained by the proposed AUKF are compared with those by normal UKF to demonstrate the effectiveness and improvements.


ABSTRACT The hepatitis B (HB) awareness level is an important factor affecting the rates of HB virus vaccination. To better understand income-related inequalities in the HB awareness level, it is imperative to identify the sources of inequalities and assess the contribution rates of these influential factors. This study analyzed the unequal distribution of the HB awareness level and the contributions of various influential factors. We performed a cross-sectional household survey with questionnaire-based, face-to-face interviews in 7 Chinese provinces. Responses from 7271 respondents were used in this analysis. Multinomial logistic regression was used for the analysis of contributing factors, and the concentration index was used as a measure of HB awareness inequalities. The HB awareness level varied across participants with different characteristics. Multinomial logistic regression of the explanatory factors of the HB awareness level showed that several estimated coefficients and relative risk ratios were statistically significant for middle- and high-level awareness, except for sex, occupation, and household income. The concentration index of the HB knowledge score was 0.140, indicating inequality gradients disadvantageous to the poor. The contribution rate of socioeconomic factors was the largest (60.8%), followed by demographic characteristics (29.0%) and geographic factors (4.3%). Demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic factors are associated with the HB awareness inequality. Therefore, to reduce inequality, HB-related health education targeting individuals with low socioeconomic status should be performed. Less-developed provinces, especially with high proportions of poor residents, warrant particular attention. Our findings may be beneficial to improve the HB virus vaccination rate for individuals with low socioeconomic status.


Objective To assess day-by-day variability of spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) measurements, providing implications for their reliability in clinical and research studies. Methods Forty-four healthy volunteers and 57 patients with previous myocardial infarction (MI) underwent an 8 + 8 min (spontaneous + paced breathing) recording of ECG and noninvasive arterial pressure on two consecutive days. BRS was computed according to the sequence method (BRS_seq), the original and modified transfer function method (BRS_TF and BRS_TFmod) and the alpha method (BRS_αLF and BRS_αHF). Absolute and relative reliability were assessed by the 95% limits of random variation (LoV) and by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. The sample size needed to detect a clinically relevant change was also estimated. Results In healthy volunteers during spontaneous breathing, BRS_seq, BRS_TF, BRS_αLF and BRS_αHF could not be measured in 18, 3, 2 and 2% of recordings, respectively. By definition, BRS_TFmod could always be measured. The 95% LoV indicated that individual day-by-day changes may range from −50% to +101% for BRS_TFmod (best case) and from −58% to +135% for BRS_αHF (worst case). The ICC ranged from 0.70 (BRS_seq) to 0.76 (BRS_TFmod). The sample size varied from 56 (BRS_TFmod) to 80 (BRS_seq). In MI patients, measurability was lower whereas reliability indexes were similar. Results during paced breathing were similar. Conclusion Day-by-day variability should be taken into account when using spontaneous BRS measurements to detect treatment effects in individual patients. The observed substantial to good relative reliability, as assessed by the ICC, indicates that spontaneous BRS measurements are suitable to detect differences between individuals, which is a prerequisite for proper diagnosis and prognosis.


3'-Phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulphate-dependent enzymes that catalyse sulphation of p-nitrophenol have been purified from rat kidney and stomach mucosa by affinity chromatography on the p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid-agarose conjugate, by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-100. The phenol sulphotransferase (PST) from rat kidney had Mr of 69 000 and that of the stomach enzyme was 32 000. With p-nitrophenol as the sulphate acceptor, the pH optima were 6.4 for the stomach PST and 5.4 and 6.6 for the kidney enzyme. Both enzymes were inhibited by 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol and phenylglyoxal, an arginine specific modifying reagent. Both enzymes readily sulphated p-nitrophenol, 2-naphthol, 1-naphthol and salicylamide and did not act on biogenic amines (e.g. epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin), acid metabolites of catecholamines (e.g. 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid), and O-methylated metabolites of catecholamines. Only the stomach enzyme sulphated such catecholamine metabolites as homovanillic alcohol and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol. In contrast to the brain enzyme, but similarly to the liver enzyme, the kidney and stomach phenol sulphotransferases appear to sulphate exogenous phenolic substrates in preference to potential endogenous substrates.


Road crashes are a growing concern of governments and are rising to become one of the leading preventable causes of death, especially in developing countries. The ubiquitous presence of smartphones provides a new platform on which to implement sensor networks and driver-assistance systems, as well as other intelligent transportation system (ITS) applications. In this study, existing approaches of using smartphones for ITS applications are analysed and compared. Particular focus is placed on vehicle-based monitoring systems, such as driving behaviour and style recognition, accident detection and road condition monitoring systems. Further opportunities for use of smartphones in ITS systems are highlighted, and remaining challenges in this emerging field of research are identified.


Molecular monitoring of markers of antimalarial drug resistance offers an affordable alternative to the in vivo method for the detection of resistance, and has the potential to guide public health policy in a timely manner. However, the optimal way of analyzing and reporting these data, particularly those emanating from areas of moderate to high malaria transmission, has never been fully explored or agreed upon, given the potential of being confounded by coinfections. By using large number of real field samples, we quantified the difference between prevalence and frequency when reporting field data on antimalarial drug resistance obtained by direct counting of haplotypes. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence specific oligonucleotide probing was used to generate point mutations which were used to construct haplotypes. Results indicate that frequency underestimates haplotypes present at low levels while also amplifying haplotypes present at high levels; prevalence on the other hand behaved in a vice versa manner. Both prevalence and frequency are therefore essential, as each may have relevance in different contexts in high malaria transmission settings. Frequency is essential to gauge the impact of intervention on antimalarial drug resistance while prevalence may be more relevant when the aim is to determine parasite clearance. Key words : Molecular markers, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - sequence specific oligonucleotide probing (SSOP), prevalence, frequency.


This review is devoted to the problem of increasing the response rate of
 liquid-crystal (LC) devices based on nematic liquid crystals (NLCs), such as optical
 switches, modulators, adjustable attenuators, and stabilizers for the near-IR region.
 Along with well-known methods such as the regime in which devices operate with
 displacement and dual-frequency addressing of NLCs with sign inversion of the dielectric
 anisotropy, which makes it possible to control the relaxation process, the possibility
 of accelerating the operation by using polymer-dispersed and polymer-stabilized LC
 mixtures is considered. It is shown to be necessary to optimize the supply regimes of
 the LC devices. The dynamic responses of devices that use the electrooptic S and twist
 effects are compared. The prospects of using NLC devices as active components of
 optical-fiber networks are considered.


Aim: Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication can be serious and is reported to be the cause of more than half of all fatal intoxications. In this study, we aimed to identify its genotoxic effects based on sister chromatid exchange (SCE). Materials and methods: CO-poisoned patients presented to the emergency services department were identified. Their demographic characteristics, vital findings, laboratory markers, source of CO gas, risk factors, and smoking habits were recorded. The genotoxic effect was assessed using the SCE method. Results: A total of 38 patients were recruited. Their ages ranged from 16–64 years (mean: 29.79 ± 10.92 years). In all the cases, the source of CO gas was a flash heater. The mean carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level was 25.05 ± 7.15%. Of all the patients, 12 (31.6%) had a the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of less than 15, and an important negative correlation was found between the GCS and COHb level (r = −0.825; p < 0.001). Genotoxicity investigations revealed a significantly higher SCE frequency among patients with high COHb levels compared with that of control subjects with physiological COHb levels (p < 0.001). However, no correlation between increased SCE frequency and COHb level was found (r = 0.16; p = 0.34). Conclusion: CO poisoning was shown to result in genotoxicity via an increase in the frequency of SCE. This study is the first to demonstrate a genotoxic effect of CO independent of other chemicals.


The first review of the various electrolytes currently used and developed for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), both in terms of materials and concepts, is presented. In contrast to the Li-ion battery (LIB), which is a mature technology for which a more or less unanimously accepted "standard electrolyte" exists: 1 M LiPF6 in EC/DMC, the electrolyte of choice for SIBs has not yet fully conformed to a standard. This is true for both materials: salts, solvents, or additives, and concept, using the main track of organic solvents or aiming for other concepts. SIB research currently prospers, benefitting from using know-how gained from 30 years of LIB R&D. Here the currently employed electrolytes are emphasized and their effects on practical SIB performance are outlined, scrutinizing the rationale for specific choices made, salts, solvents, additives, concentrations, etc. for each specific cell set-up and usage conditions.


OBJECTIVE
To identify potential mutation in the MLC1 gene in a Chinese family affected with megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy and subcortical cysts (MLC), and to provide prenatal diagnosis.

METHODS
Genomic DNA of the patients, their parents and younger sister were extracted from peripheral blood. That of the fetus was extracted from an amniotic fluid sample. A total of 12 exons and at least 100 bp flanking the intronic sequence of the MLC1 gene were amplified with PCR. MLC1 mutations were screened by sequencing. Linkage analysis was performed for the family to assure accuracy of prenatal diagnosis.

RESULTS
The two patients were both heterozygote for c.177_178delG (p.Ser60AlafsX5) mutation in exon 2 and c.598-2A>C change in intron 7. The c.177_178delG mutation was inherited from the father, and the c.598-2A>C mutation was inherited from the mother. The younger sister and the fetus have both inherited c.177_178delG from the father but did not inherit c.598-2A>C from the mother. Prenatal diagnosis suggested the fetus to be a carrier for a MLC1 mutation. Linkage analysis was consistent with the result of mutation detection. The fetus was born normal as predicted.

CONCLUSION
The c.598-2A>C is a novel splicing mutation. Prenatal diagnosis through DNA sequencing and linkage analysis were performed for the first time on Chinese patients with MLC.


When it comes to mechanisms of brain functions such as learning and memory mediated by neural networks, existing multichannel electrophysiological detection and regulation technology at the cellular level does not suffice. To address this challenge, a 128-channel microelectrode array (MEA) was fabricated for electrical stimulation (ES) training and electrophysiological recording of the hippocampal neurons in vitro. The PEDOT:PSS/PtNPs-coated microelectrodes dramatically promote the recording and electrical stimulation performance. The MEA exhibited low impedance (10.94 ± 0.49 kohm), small phase delay (-12.54 ± 0.51°), high charge storage capacity (14.84 ± 2.72 mC/cm2), and high maximum safe injection charge density (4.37 ± 0.22 mC/cm2), meeting the specific requirements for training neural networks in vitro. A series of ESs at various frequencies was applied to the neuronal cultures in vitro, seeking the optimum training mode that enables the neuron to display the most obvious plasticity, and 1 Hz ES was determined. The network learning process, including three consecutive trainings, affected the original random spontaneous activity. Along with that, the firing pattern gradually changed to burst and the correlation and synchrony of the neuronal activity in the network have progressively improved, increasing by 314% and 240%, respectively. The neurons remembered these changes for at least 4 h. Collectively, ES activates the learning and memory functions of neurons, which is manifested in transformations in the discharge pattern and the improvement of network correlation and synchrony. This study offers a high-performance MEA revealing the underlying learning and memory functions of the brain and therefore serves as a useful tool for the development of brain functions in the future.


Satellite links operating at frequencies above 10GHz in the tropics typically suffer severe signal degradation due to rain. The study attempts to investigate the impacts of rain on the performance of satellite-Earth links at V-band frequency. Attenuation due to rain at 38GHz had been measured for a period of 20 months in Malaysia. Studies are being conducted to quantify the rain-induced degradations. Preliminary analyses include seasonal variations and the annual cumulative distributions. Obtained results are compared with several prediction models including the ITU-R.


Achieving enduring economic development is the biggest challenge of today's humanity. However, at present, there is a consensus that the digital economy plays a significant role in achieving sustainable economic development. The advancement of the digital enterprise is critical for obtaining socioeconomic stability and growth. In explanation, this study focuses on gaining economic progression through deploying the modern concept of digitalization. The study analyzes the mediating relationship of digital enterprise among e-commerce, digitalization, and digital marketing and their effect on China's economic development while considering sustainability as a moderating variable. The study has used primary data collection techniques, and the study sample size is 400 respondents. The research has used SmartPLS software to measure the relationship through bootstrapping and algorithms. The study has found significant positive mediation of digital enterprise and moderation of sustainability between digital enterprise and economic development. This study suggests the theoretical and practical implications toward political stability, policymakers, and researcher perspective.


Inflammatory pain hypersensitivity is associated with activation of primary afferent neurons. The present study investigated the existence of the inflammasome in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and the functional significance in the development of inflammatory pain hypersensitivity.Tissue inflammation was induced in male C57BL/6 mice with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) or ceramide injection into the hind paw. Behavioral testing was performed to investigate inflammation-induced pain hypersensitivity. Ipsilateral L5 DRG were obtained for analysis. Expression of nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptors (NLRs) was analyzed with real-time PCR. Cleaved interleukin (IL)-1β and NLRP2 expression was investigated with immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Caspase1 activity was also measured. A caspase1 inhibitor and NLRP2 siRNA were intrathecally administered to inhibit NLRP2 inflammasome signaling in DRG.Cleaved IL-1β expression was significantly increased after CFA injection in small sized DRG neurons. The amount of cleaved IL-1β and caspase1 activity were also increased. Among several NLRs, NLRP2 mRNA was significantly increased in DRG after CFA injection. NLRP2 was expressed in small sized DRG neurons. Intrathecal injection of a caspase1 inhibitor or NLRP2 siRNA reduced CFA-induced pain hypersensitivity and cleaved IL-1β expression in DRG. Induction of cleaved IL-1β and NLRP2 in DRG neurons was similarly observed after ceramide injection. NLRP2 siRNA inhibited ceramide-induced pain hypersensitivity.These results confirmed the existence of NLRP2 inflammasome in DRG neurons. Activation of the NLRP2 inflammasome leads to activation of DRG neurons and subsequent development of pain hypersensitivity in various types of tissue inflammation.


The cereal stem borer Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a species endemic to sub‐Saharan Africa. It is a major pest of maize and cultivated sorghum, the main cereal crops on the African mainland. Previous studies using mitochondrial markers revealed the presence of three clades of haplotypes (W, KI, KII) among B. fusca populations. Previous preliminary studies based on a few B. fusca individuals collected from three localities within the Guineo‐Congolian rain forest in Cameroon demonstrated a matching with clade KII, a fairly surprising result because the putative centre of origin of that clade is located 3 000 km away in East Africa. To check this finding, 120 individuals of B. fusca covering several Cameroonian sites belonging to both Guineo‐Congolian rain forest and Afromontane vegetation mosaics were collected. Comparison of cytochrome b sequences using the same marker revealed low mitochondrial diversity (h = 0.483 ± 0.054, π = 0.073 ± 0.061%). Moreover, molecular diversity in the Guineo‐Congolian rain forest zone was lower than that in Afromontane vegetation, which is therefore thought to be the likely starting point for the colonization of other zones in Cameroon. The study showed a moderate but significant structuring between populations (ΦST = 0.034, P<0.001) as well as within and among the two Cameroonian phytogeographical groups considered (ΦSC = 0.000 and ΦCT = 0.051, respectively, both P<0.001). Nested clade phylogeographic analysis indicated that all Cameroonian clades with significant geographical associations were interpreted as a phenomenon of contiguous range expansion. All results suggest that the Cameroonian population of B. fusca is relatively recent and originates from the recent geographical expansion of clade KII.


The introduction of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) is providing member state water resource managers with significant challenges in relation to meeting the deadline for 'Good Ecological Status' by 2015. Overall, instream physical habitat modelling approaches have advantages and disadvantages as management tools for member states in relation to the requirements of the WFD, but due to their different model structures they are distinct in their data needs, transferability, user-friendliness and presentable outputs. Water resource managers need information on what approaches will best suit their situations. This paper analyses the potential of different methods available for water managers to assess hydrological and geomorphological impacts on the habitats of stream biota, as requested by the WFD. The review considers both conventional and new advanced research-based instream physical habitat models. In parametric and non-parametric regression models, model assumptions are often not satisfied and the models are difficult to transfer to other regions. Research-based methods such as the artificial neural networks and individual-based modelling have promising potential as water management tools, but require large amounts of data and the model structure is complex. It is concluded that the use of habitat suitability indices (HSIs) and fuzzy rules in hydraulic–habitat modelling are the most ready model types to satisfy WFD demands. These models are well documented, transferable, user-friendly and have flexible data needs. They can easily be implemented in new regions using expert information or different types of local data. Furthermore, they are easily presentable to stakeholders and have the potential to be applied over large spatial scales. Integral care must be taken in the use of appropriate HSIs as these are the most sensitive part of the modelling and inaccurate results will be gained if not correctly formulated. If representative HSIs are not available, fuzzy rule-based modelling is recommended, but care must also be taken in the designing of the rule sets. For larger-scale modelling or when only few field data are available, generalized habitat models hold promise for quantifying habitat suitability based on average stream characteristics.


We present the first calculation of the Bayesian evidence for different prototypical single field inflationary scenarios, including representative classes of small field and large field models. This approach allows us to compare inflationary models in a well-defined statistical way and to determine the current "best model of inflation." The calculation is performed numerically by interfacing the inflationary code FieldInf with MultiNest. We find that small field models are currently preferred, while large field models having a self-interacting potential of power p>4 are strongly disfavored. The class of small field models as a whole has posterior odds of approximately 3∶1 when compared with the large field class. The methodology and results presented in this article are an additional step toward the construction of a full numerical pipeline to constrain the physics of the early Universe with astrophysical observations. More accurate data (such as the Planck data) and the techniques introduced here should allow us to identify conclusively the best inflationary model.


Costimulatory molecules have been proven to enhance antitumor immune responses, but their roles in prostate cancer (PCa) remain unexplored. In this study, we aimed to explore the gene expression profiles of costimulatory molecule genes in PCa and construct a prognostic signature to improve treatment decision making and clinical outcomes. Five prognosis-related costimulatory molecule genes (RELT, TNFRSF25, EDA2R, TNFSF18, and TNFSF10) were identified, and a prognostic signature was constructed based on these five genes. This signature was an independent prognostic factor according to multivariate Cox regression analysis; it could stratify PCa patients into two subgroups with different prognoses and was highly associated with clinical features. The prognostic significance of the signature was well validated in four different independent external datasets. Moreover, patients identified as high risk based on our prognostic signature exhibited a high mutation frequency, a high level of immune cell infiltration and an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Therefore, our signature could provide clinicians with prognosis predictions and help guide treatment for PCa patients.


Electrical Discharge Machining is a non-traditional method and can be used for the production of micro structures by micromachining. This paper discusses a fuzzy logic model for micro-drilling using EDM. The system uses fuzzy reasoning of the multiple performance characteristics (MPCI) of EDM like Peak Current, Pulse On time Rotational Speed and Pulse off time based on fuzzy logic. The fuzzy model uses fuzzy expert rules, triangular membership function for fuzzification and centroid area method for defuzzification processes using MATLAB fuzzy logic toolbox. The Experimental data used to develop the expert system was collected from the DOE developed for JOEMARS AZ50-JM32 for Hastelloy c 276 as work-piece material and Copper as electrode. The system is easy to use, provides a compact selection of tool based on expert rule and enables unskilled user to select necessary parameters which lead to less electrode wear, better surface quality and high erosion rate.


According to Bourdieu (1984) people with a lot of cultural capital have a lifestyle that expresses their taste for complex cultural products. In contrast, people with less cultural capital show a taste for less complex cultural products. Against this, Peterson and Simkus (1992) argue and show that people with a lot of cultural capital appropriate a taste for a wide range of musical genres, including complex and less complex genres. Thus, Peterson and Simkus coin the concept of the cultural omnivore. In our research we find that as to television viewing, Peterson and Simkus' concept of cultural omnivorousness does not apply.


Abstract. This paper presents a new exoskeleton design for wrist and forearm
rehabilitation. The contribution of this study is to offer a methodology
which shows how to adapt a serial manipulator that reduces the number of
actuators used on exoskeleton design for the rehabilitation. The system
offered is a combination of end-effector- and exoskeleton-based devices. The
passive exoskeleton is attached to the end effector of the manipulator, which
provides motion for the purpose of rehabilitation process. The Denso VP
6-Axis Articulated Robot is used to control motion of the exoskeleton during
the rehabilitation process. The exoskeleton is designed to be used for both
wrist and forearm motions. The desired moving capabilities of the exoskeleton
are flexion–extension (FE) and adduction–abduction (AA) motions for the
wrist and pronation–supination (PS) motion for the forearm. The anatomical
structure of a human limb is taken as a constraint during the design. The
joints on the exoskeleton can be locked or unlocked manually in order to
restrict or enable the movements. The parts of the exoskeleton include
mechanical stoppers to prevent the excessive motion. One passive degree of
freedom (DOF) is added in order to prevent misalignment problems between the
axes of FE and AA motions. Kinematic feedback of the experiments is performed
by using a wireless motion tracker assembled on the exoskeleton. The results
proved that motion transmission from robot to exoskeleton is satisfactorily
achieved. Instead of different exoskeletons in which each axis is driven and
controlled separately, one serial robot with adaptable passive exoskeletons
is adequate to facilitate rehabilitation exercises.


Marine mammals are used increasingly as a vehicle through which environmental compliance is measured. The special status of marine mammals within both statute and public opinion are built upon a foundation of knowledge about the utility of marine mammals as indicators of marine environmental state. Quantifying the risk to marine mammals is therefore an important part of the environment assessments to accompany offshore development and exploration. Poor or sparse data add to the uncertainty surrounding risk assessments but fundamental gaps in basic knowledge of how these animals will respond leads to the need to adopt an adaptive approach to offshore developments in a manner that will allow rapid changes in design or implementation to safeguard these sensitive species.


Warm water flowing through the Indonesian archipelago from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean influences the climate of the surrounding regions. A complex ocean current system weaves its way through a network of passages, shallow seas, and deep basins between the Indonesian islands (1). Every second, this Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) carries ∼15 million m3 of warm, relatively low-salinity water from the tropical Pacific to the Indian Ocean (1–3). The ITF eventually makes its way to the Atlantic Ocean (see the figure), thus contributing to global ocean circulation (1). Through complex but poorly understood feedbacks, including heat and water exchange with the atmosphere, the ITF is influenced by and modulates climate in the Indo-Pacific region (1–4). A shift in the climate regimes of the tropical Pacific and Indian oceans in the mid-1970s—perhaps in response to global warming (5)—highlights the possible importance of the ITF and its connection to climate phenomena such as the monsoons, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).


The effects of Vitex doniana (sweet), black plum, stem bark aqueous extract alone on vital parameters (temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate), and sleeping time as well as the effects of the extract on the same parameters before and after ketamine anaesthesia in rabbits were investigated. Twenty rabbits were randomly separated into four equal groups and were administered 400, 600, 800 and 1200mgkg-1 respectively of the aqueous extract of Vitex doniana (sweet) stem bark intraperitoneally. The temperature, respiratory and heart rates of the rabbits were taken before and after extract administration at 10th, 20th, 30th, 60th and 180th minutes. Fifteen other rabbits were randomly selected and separated into three groups of five each. Group I was administered 50mg/kg of ketamine alone intramuscularly. Groups II and III were administered 200 and 400mg/kg body weight respectively of the extract intraperitoneally 30 minutes prior to the administration of the same dose of ketamine as in group I. Temperature, heart and respiratory rates, as well as onset of, and recovery from, anaesthesia were measured prior to and after the administration of the agents. The administration of the extract alone to rabbits produced increase in temperature and decrease in respiratory rate and in heart rate. The increase in temperature and respiratory rates was associated with presence of reducing sugars in the extract and its analeptic/toxic effects respectively, while the decrease in all the parameters was associated with central nervous system depression. The administration of the extract prior to ketamine administration produced less significant (P 0.05) effect on temperature compared with ketamine used alone. It is therefore concluded that the aqueous extract of Vitex doniana (sweet) stem bark used alone altered the vital parameters while it has a reversal action on respiratory rate and it intensifies the depression of heart rate when used prior to ketamine anaesthesia.


The division of process in short-cycle tasks performed along belt conveyors became a widely sought organizational pattern in manufacturing operations following the emergence of mass production. Later on, when manufacturers had to face the challenge to fulfi ll more diversifi ed demands, the derivation of "mixed-model assembly lines" extended the potential utilization of belt conveyors. However, more recently, a number of organizations are abandoning their utilization and switching to the adoption of work-cell based assembly systems. This article investigates such shift in operations strategy from an international perspective. Firstly, it discusses the experience of electric and electronics industries in Japan, where this trend became a major trend in the late 1990s. To support the understanding of its underpinning rationality, a conceptual review on the advantages and disadvantages of belt conveyor assembly lines is included. Next, it presents an in-depth longitudinal case study of a consumer electric products manufacturer in Brazil that embarked on a program to migrate from the utilization of conveyor lines to the work-cell based assembly system in one of itsplants. The implementation of a pilot work-cell in a kick-off project is analyzed and the prospects of the ongoing efforts to deploy similar maneuver in other facilities is presented.


Located in the Theban Necropolis of the Luxor west bank, the village of al-Qurna was central in the large-scale supply of ancient Egyptian antiquities to private and institutional collectors during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. As a result, the quantity of antiquities being offered for sale to individual travellers diminished steadily. The continuing high demand for Egyptian artefacts under the influence of ever-expanding international tourism and the increasing impact of twentieth-century antiquities legislation gave rise to a new industry at al-Qurna: the production of fakes to be sold as genuine antiques and the production of Egyptian artefacts for sale to international visitors. This article explores the close connections between the archaeological landscape of the Theban Necropolis, international tourism, and the artisanal production and marketing of artefacts of ancient Egyptian design by local craftsmen.


The immune system includes an array of specialized cells that keep us healthy by responding to pathogenic cues. Investigations into the mechanisms behind immune cell behavior have led to the development of powerful immunotherapies, including chimeric-antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Although CAR T cells have demonstrated efficacy in treating blood cancers, issues regarding their safety and potency have hindered the use of immunotherapies in a wider spectrum of diseases. Efforts to integrate developments in synthetic biology into immunotherapy have led to several advancements with the potential to expand the range of treatable diseases, fine-tune the desired immune response, and improve therapeutic cell potency. Here, we examine current synthetic biology advances that aim to improve on existing technologies and discuss the promise of the next generation of engineered immune cell therapies.


Abstract The past decade has seen tremendous progress in the field of artificial intelligence thanks to the resurgence of neural networks through deep learning. This has helped improve the ability for computers to see, hear, and understand the world around them, leading to dramatic advances in the application of AI to many fields of science and other areas of human endeavor. In this essay, I examine the reasons for this progress, including the confluence of progress in computing hardware designed to accelerate machine learning and the emergence of open-source software frameworks to dramatically expand the set of people who can use machine learning effectively. I also present a broad overview of some of the areas in which machine learning has been applied over the past decade. Finally, I sketch out some likely directions from which further progress in artificial intelligence will come.


The difficulties students identified with emotional and behavior disabilities present sometimes strain inclusive educators. General education teachers often find themselves ill equipped to provide effective support for both students with and without disabilities. An effective intervention that may hold promise for included students with academic and behavior problems involves the use of choice; more specifically, consequence choice, which provides students with the ability to select their own reinforcement. The current study examined the effects of choice of reinforcement via a single-subject multielement design with baseline for four students with emotional disturbance or behavior disabilities educated in an inclusion setting. With an increase in task difficulty, the behavior of two students indicated a functional relation between engagement and choice and two additional students demonstrated a functional relation between the presence and absence of reinforcement. Students did not distinguish academic behavior across the course of the study. The difficulty level of the instructional material, as well as the perceived preference of the reinforcers may play a role in study outcomes. Future directions follow study limitations and implications for inclusion practitioners.


As the nasal cavity is the portal of entry for inspired air in mammals, this region is exposed to the highest concentration of inhaled particulate matter and pathogens, which must be removed to keep the lower airways sterile. Thus, one might expect vigorous removal of these substances via mucociliary clearance (MCC) in this region. We have investigated the rate of MCC in the murine nasal cavity compared to the more distal airways (trachea). The rate of MCC in the nasal cavity (posterior nasopharynx, PNP) was ∼3–4× greater than on the tracheal wall. This appeared to be due to a more abundant population of ciliated cells in the nasal cavity (∼80%) compared to the more sparsely ciliated trachea (∼40%). Interestingly, the tracheal ventral wall exhibited a significantly lower rate of MCC than the tracheal posterior membrane. The trachealis muscle underlying the ciliated epithelium on the posterior membrane appeared to control the surface architecture and likely in part the rate of MCC in this tracheal region. In one of our mouse models (Bpifb1 KO) exhibiting a 3-fold increase in MUC5B protein in lavage fluid, MCC particle transport on the tracheal walls was severely compromised, yet normal MCC occurred on the tracheal posterior membrane. While a blanket of mucus covered the surface of both the PNP and trachea, this mucus appeared to be transported as a blanket by MCC only in the PNP. In contrast, particles appeared to be transported as discrete patches or streams of mucus in the trachea. In addition, particle transport in the PNP was fairly linear, in contrast transport of particles in the trachea often followed a more non-linear route. The thick, viscoelastic mucus blanket that covered the PNP, which exhibited ∼10-fold greater mass of mucus than did the blanket covering the surface of the trachea, could be transported over large areas completely devoid of cells (made by a breach in the epithelial layer). In contrast, particles could not be transported over even a small epithelial breach in the trachea. The thick mucus blanket in the PNP likely aids in particle transport over the non-ciliated olfactory cells in the nasal cavity and likely contributes to humidification and more efficient particle trapping in this upper airway region.


We examine the shock of the global crisis on interbank markets in emerging countries and attempt to assess the impact of macroeconomic and financial sector policy announcements on spread changes in six Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. We find that interbank markets in emerging countries have reacted to the global events of 2007-2011; however, the policy initiatives have not been successful in stabilizing the situation. In particular, we show that the actions of central banks have not been effective when liquidity is not a concern. Instead, financial sector policy instruments seem to work better. The weak evidence on international interventions demonstrates their important impact on the stability of interbank markets. Regulators in emerging countries should introduce new instruments for interbank markets where liquidity is not a concern.


Six hundred sera from patients with chronic rheumatic diseases including 429 with rheumatoid arthritis were tested in a blind fashion for IgG antiperinuclear factor using an indirect fluorescent antibody assay on buccal cells. Using the dilution of 1:100 found to be optimal in an earlier study, 283 of the 429 (66%) rheumatoid arthritis sera and 22 of the 171 (13%) control sera were positive for antiperinuclear factor. Titers were higher in the rheumatoid arthritis group than in the control group. A meta-analysis of studies that used sera diluted 1:80 or 1:100 (2853 sera including 939 from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 1539 from patients with other rheumatic diseases and 375 from healthy controls or patients with unclassified rheumatic diseases) yielded a sensitivity of 0.75, a specificity of 0.93, and a positive predictive value of 0.87. These data demonstrate that antiperinuclear factor testing contributes usefully to the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.


Before the discovery of insulin in 1922, treatment of diabetes was limited to palliative methods along with carbohydrate restriction. Bouchardat observed resolution of glycosuria with calorie-controlled diets as well as intermittent fasts (1). From 1914 to 1919, Dr. Frederick Allen placed patients on severely restricted caloric diets (≤500 kcal/day), and that approach was adopted to some extent by Dr. Elliott Joslin until the advent of insulin therapy (1). The biggest issue then was patient compliance, which continues to be important in diabetes management today (1).

Around the time insulin was discovered, the ketogenic diet was promoted to treat epilepsy in children (2). The ketogenic diet can be defined as an eating pattern that includes <50 g carbohydrate per day or in which carbohydrates comprise <10% of calories consumed. In contrast, a low-carbohydrate diet includes 51–130 g carbohydrate per day or ≤25% of calories consumed (3). This case report describes the incorporation of the ketogenic diet in a youth with type 1 diabetes.

A 14-year-old girl presented to our hospital in February 2018 for follow-up of type 1 diabetes after disagreement with her diabetes care provider regarding her choice of the ketogenic diet. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in February 2014, presenting with polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss. She was admitted to a teaching hospital with an A1C of 13.3% and sent home on basal-bolus multiple daily injection insulin therapy. Her medical history was unremarkable, and there was no history of other autoimmune-associated disorders. …


We show how to view certain subclasses of (single-pushout) graph transformation systems as well-structured transition systems, which leads to decidability of the covering problem via a backward analysis. As the well-quasi order required for a well-structured transition system we use the graph minor ordering. We give an explicit construction of the backward step and apply our theory in order to show the correctness of a leader election protocol.


Wildland managers need detailed information about the responses of invasive species to fire and the conditions that increase site invasibility in order to effectively manage fire without introducing or increasing populations of invasive plants. Literature reviews and syntheses of original research are important sources of this information, but the usefulness of a review is limited by the quantity, quality, and geographic coverage of information available when it is written. This study analyzed the information available for 61 syntheses published in the Fire Effects Information System (www.fs.fed.us/database/feis) between 2008 and 2011, covering 74 species of invasive plants in the eastern United States. The study focused especially on the origin of information available in source documents, particularly whether or not it was based on actual observations. We found that observation-based information available on fire and eastern invasive species was sparse, typically came from a small portion of the species' North American range, and had many other limitations. Nine of the 61 reviews contained no observation-based information on fire at all. Observations of postfire abundance of invasive species were constrained by inconsistent metrics and short postfire time frames, making it difficult for reviewers to assess patterns or evaluate the relevance of the research to long-term fire effects and land management strategies. More high-quality information is needed for fire managers to avoid exacerbating problems with invasive plant species. Long-term studies are needed that compare burned and unburned sites, evaluate postfire changes in plant communities, and report burning conditions and fire parameters. Reviews and syntheses of research can be improved by not only identifying patterns and knowledge gaps, but also by reporting the geographic areas represented by studies cited and hedging information so that readers can assess its quality and applicability to local management issues. Managers need to recognize the limitations of scientific information, monitor results of their management programs for consistency with reports in the literature, and adapt plans for future work based on an integration of science-based knowledge and experience.


Very little is known about construction equipment activity on highway projects, which is of concern because nonroad diesel construction equipment is relatively unregulated and is a major contributor to NOX and diesel PM emissions. Estimates of equipment activity are important in order to accurately model the emissions effects of road construction, and construction's actual contribution to regional emissions inventories, as well as to better select and design appropriate mitigation strategies. To help address this gap in knowledge, construction diaries were collected for thirty recently completed Caltrans projects, sampling six typical Caltrans project types. Equipment activity for every project in the sample is categorized with an equipment category, a project phase category and a percent of project completion category. The equipment categories are primarily the NONROAD construction equipment classes, and the phase categories are aligned with the phases in the UCD Emissions Estimation Model. Using this database, we can then estimate means of equipment use based on type of highway project. There are three deliverables that result from this project. First, a database with analytic capabilities is created that is used to manage the projects in the sample and output the next two deliverables. Second, table output is created for each project that aggregates equipment activity by the above categorizations into easily comprehendible charts. Third, the same types of charts are used to create output tables for the average equipment activity for each project type. These data can be used as crude equipment activity estimation models, or can help quality check predictive models.


A new method has been developed for the analysis of nonlinear forced response of bladed disks mistuned by blade anisotropy scatter and for the forced response sensitivity to blade material anisotropy orientations. The approach allows for the calculation of bladed disks with nonlinear friction contact interfaces using the multiharmonic balance method. The method uses efficient high-accuracy model reduction method for the minimization of the computational effort while providing required accuracy. The capabilities of the developed methods are validated and demonstrated using a two-blade model. A thorough study of the influence of the material anisotropy mistuning and its sensitivity on the characteristics of the forced response is carried out using finite element (FE) modes of anisotropy mistuned realistic bladed disk with nonlinear friction joints of blade roots and shroud contacts. The dependency of the nonlinear forced response on excitation level and contact pressure values has been carried out for anisotropy mistuned bladed disks.


Advanced Quantitative Precipitation Information (AQPI) is a synergistic project that combines observations and models to improve monitoring and forecasts of precipitation, streamflow, and coastal flooding in the San Francisco Bay area. As an experimental system, AQPI leverages more than a decade of research, innovation, and implementation of a statewide, state-of-the-art network of observations, and development of the next generation of weather and coastal forecast models. AQPI was developed as a prototype in response to requests from the water management community for improved information on precipitation, riverine, and coastal conditions to inform their decision making processes. Observation of precipitation in the complex Bay Area landscape of California's coastal mountain ranges is known to be a challenging problem. But, with new advanced radar network techniques, AQPI is helping fill an important observational gap for this highly populated and vulnerable metropolitan area. The prototype AQPI system consists of improved weather radar data for precipitation estimation; additional surface measurements of precipitation, streamflow and soil moisture; and a suite of integrated forecast modeling systems to improve situational awareness about current and future water conditions from sky to sea. Together these tools will help improve emergency preparedness and public response to prevent loss of life and destruction of property during extreme storms accompanied by heavy precipitation and high coastal water levels - especially high-moisture laden atmospheric rivers. The Bay Area AQPI system could potentially be replicated in other urban regions in California, the United States, and world-wide.


Objectives: To evaluate the outcomes of pregnancy in young women (<40 years old) with early endometrial cancer or atypical complex hyperplasia who were treated by conservative management followed by assisted reproductive technology (ART). Materials and Methods: Medical charts of 11 patients treated from January 1997 to October 2007 at Asan Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed. These patients had all been treated with progestin and serial dilatation and curettage as primary fertility-preserving therapies. Results: After pathological remission of disease, 10 patients tried to become pregnant by ART, 4 by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, and 6 by controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, with or without intrauterine insemination. Eight women had intrauterine pregnancies, and 6 patients had live births. Patients have been followed up for 9 to 51 months (mean, 21 months) after delivery, with no evidence of tumor recurrence. Conclusions: Fertility-preserving therapy followed by ART can be a good option in well-selected patients with early endometrial cancer who want to become pregnant.


Problem Statement: The children represent a vulnerable age category that is exposed to numerous social risks. Poverty represents a social risk but also a cause of social exclusion for children and youngsters. Purpose of Study: Education represents the key factor of social inclusion for this category of population and preventing school dropout needs to represent the target of social policies. Social policies of support need to ensure coherent strategies in the educational milieu especially in the context of present economic crisis. The children represent the future generation who will support the economy and these social-educational policies circumstances need to support school integration, discrimination prevention and social inequalities.Research Methods: The sociological research was achieved on a group of children and youngsters in 2011 and tried to gather information regarding their opinion towards social policies integration at school level. The methods of research were quantitative methods i.e. the sociological survey. Findings and Conclusions: The social policies of support are mostly perceived negatively without consensual strategies for the crisis time being. The social policies should prevent school dropout therefore breaking the link which specialists entitled the culture of poverty.


Professional development should help a professional person look at life from the first line, with deep knowledge in his field, with his own opinion, with know-how, with a critical sense, with something to say and something to add. This is IDER's philosophy based on having students develop their scientific, technical and human capacities, relating their experiences with the knowledge provided by textbooks, by other professional by other students, by consultations and scientific work. And always at one's own rhythm because IDER has specialized in continuing professional development from afar.


The structure consisting of a horizontal electric dipole above a grounded dielectric slab is examined, primarily from the standpoint of power distribution among the two power-carrying wave components, i.e., surface and space waves. It is shown that surface wave propagation is always in the form of two distinct modes characterized by the same cutoff properties. Also, surface wave excitation efficiency curves are given for a range of parameter variation.


Blood tests and ultrasound scanning are the standard techniques for the diagnosis of liver problems. However, there is no easy assessment of how liver problems affect other parts of the body, such as the spleen, stomach, lung, and gallbladder. Traditional Chinese medicine makes use of pulse analysis to diagnose such conditions. Here, the authors study the pulse spectrum of patients with liver problems, with the goal of using this technique to analyze related conditions.


Abstract How often are politicians confronted with public allegations of integrity violations? Which types of violations, government levels, and parties do these scandals involve? The Political Integrity Index developed in The Netherlands offers information about the number and types of political integrity scandals in the country since 2013. This article presents a brief overview of the relevant literature on integrity and corruption and on political scandals, with a summary of the conceptual framework and methodology used in our research, as well as some of the results. In the years 2013–2019, 355 political integrity scandals were documented, primarily at the local level of government (79%), involving almost all political parties but with the liberal–conservative People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie [VVD]) most prominent (90 scandals), and containing all types of integrity violations, with as the most prominent type "misconduct in the private sphere" (30%). The topic of integrity scandals involving politicians is relevant but nearly absent in research on public integrity and corruption. This is a challenge and an invitation to researchers in other countries to do comparable research, which might result in a theoretically and practically useful international political integrity index. For that research, the framework of the Political Integrity Index seems useful.


A circulating apparatus has been specifically designed for kinetic studies of mineralwater interactions in hydrothermal systems. The equipment can be operated to 350'C and 140 bars with flow rates of 0.5 to 320 mUhr.It can be used in a variety of modes depending on the application: semi-static, continuously-fed stirred tank reactor (CSTR), plug flow and packed-bed. The theory ofoperation and derivation ofkinetic rate laws in each basic mode is outlined. Experimental examples are presented for the dissolution kinetics of calcite, fluorite and magnetite in simple aqueous systems to 350"C and 140 bars using CSTR, packed-bed plug flow and semi-static modes.


Physiotherapist‐led musculoskeletal triage clinics are an effective and efficient means of managing patients presenting with musculoskeletal disorders in primary and secondary care. Data regarding the activity and outcomes of physiotherapist‐led triage in hospital‐based outpatient rheumatology clinics are scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to undertake a service evaluation of activity and outcomes of a physiotherapist‐led rheumatology‐based Musculoskeletal Assessment Clinic (MAC). The primary objective was to quantify the proportion of patients independently managed by the clinical specialist physiotherapists (CSPs).


This abstract describes alternative output aggregates that provide both cross-sectional and temporal comparisons appropriate for the analysis of panel data sets. Several of these multidimensional output indices are constructed using detailed data on agricultural production to illustrate the effects of fixing price weights over time, employing sample average price weights, and choosing between alternative approximations of Divisia indices.


SUMMARY This paper presents measurement results of bit error rate (BER) and soft error rate (SER) improvement on 150-nm FD-SOI 7T/14T (7-transistor/14-transistor) SRAM test chips. The reliability of the 7T/14T SRAM can be dynamically changed by a control signal depending on an operating condition and application. The 14T dependable mode allocates one bit in a 14T cell and improves the BER in a read operation and SER in a retention state, simultaneously. We investigate its error rate mitigating mechanisms using Synopsys TCAD simulator. In our measurements, the minimum operating voltage was improved by 100 mV, the alpha-induced SER was suppressed by 80.0%, and the neutron-induced SER was decreased by 34.4% in the 14T dependable mode over the 7T normal mode.


The accuracy of 3D position estimation using two angles-only sensors (such as passive optical imagers) is investigated. Beginning with the basic multisensor triangulation equations used to estimate a 3D target position, error propagation equations are derived by taking the appropriate partial derivatives with respect to various measurement errors. Next the concept of Gaussian measurement error is introduced and used to relate the standard deviation of various measurement errors to the standard deviation of the target 3D position estimate. Plots of the various error propagation coefficients are generated. These analytical results are verified using a Monte Carlo statistical approach. The result is a set of equations and graphs useful for designing a two-sensor system to meet a required accuracy specification.