The Trumpet Major is one of Thomas Hardy's minor novels with historical setting, the Napoleonic war. The main character of the novel, John Loveday is a portrait of a character who faces situation that demands a courageous action. As a soldier, John has to deal with many terrifying wars, even he has to be ready to die as the consequence. Yet, when John faces love problem, his courage cannot "talk" so much as it happens during the war. This condition shows that John is ironical and comic. Being interested in John's life, the thesis writer would like to discuss in what ways the main character of the novel is ironical and comic. In the analysis, the thesis writer uses the theories of conflict and characterization to prove that John is ironical and comic. The study discovers that as a soldier, John is a soldier with a great courage, on the other side as a common person, he does not struggle for his own love, he becomes speechless and denies his love.


Nearly 80% of family doctors in New Brunswick and 78% in Nova Scotia are no longer routinely accepting new patients, the 2001 National Family Physician Workforce Survey indicates. Both figures, the highest in the country, are more than 10 percentage points higher than the national average. The survey, which had a response rate of 51% (14 319 respondents), was conducted by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Dr. Les Allaby, president of the New Brunswick Medical Society, isn't surprised by the results. He says New Brunswick has always had one of Canada's highest patient-to-physician ratios, and provincial legislation that limited billing numbers for several years has discouraged new doctors from setting up practices. "New Brunswick has a reputation as being closed [to doctors]," he said.

The province is trying to change that image by hiring a provincial recruiter, something Nova Scotia did several years ago, and it has also set its sights on future graduates by increasing the number of French-language medical seats it funds at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec from 20 to 25. Thirty seats are already sponsored at English-speaking medical schools. Allaby says the province needs to fund at least 10 more seats in both French and English medical schools.

In Nova Scotia, meanwhile, efforts to increase the number of medical students have failed. Dalhousie University had proposed increase from 82 to 90 first-year students, but the province rejected the recommendation.


The Central Library at Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur is exploring computer and allied technological advances for better organisation of information sources and fruitful delivery of information services for almost a decade. The library OPAC of 3 lakh specialised sources is available on campus LAN, ERNET and Web/Internet. An electronic library for accessing electronic databases is also set up to offer information on those sources which are not present in the library. Mention is also made about the computer systems available, computerised operations, electronic databases subscribed, and research projects undertaken so far in the library.


In the past, dendritic polyphenylazomethines (DPA) have been synthesized via the convergent method. However, the convergent method has problems such as difficult terminal-group modifications and an increased number of steps. Therefore, we synthesized the terminal-protected DPA to construct the dendritic structure via the divergent method. The combination of the convergent method and the divergent method easily achieved the rapid synthesis of a higher generation dendrimer. Furthermore, we succeeded in the synthesis of the water-soluble PEG-DPA via the divergent method using the ester-DPA.


Highly crystalline Pt nanoparticles with an average diameter of 5 nm were homogeneously modified on the surfaces of TiO(2) nanowires (Pt-TiO(2) NWs) by a simple hydrothermal and chemical reduction route. Photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) in the presence of Pt-TiO(2) NWs indicates that the photocatalytic activity of TiO(2) NWs can be greatly enhanced by Pt nanoparticle modification. The physical chemistry process and photocatalytic mechanism for Pt-TiO(2) NWs hybrids degrading MB were investigated and analyzed. The Pt attached on TiO(2) nanowires induces formation of a Schottky barrier between TiO(2) and Pt naonoparticles, leading to a fast transport of photogenerated electrons to Pt particles. Furthermore, Pt incoporation on TiO(2) surface can accelerate the transfer of electrons to dissolved oxygen molecules. Besides enhancing the electron-hole separation and charge transfer to dissolved oxygen, Pt may also serve as an effective catalyst in the oxidation of MB. However, a high Pt loading value does not mean a high photocatalytic activity. Higher content loaded Pt nanoparticles can absorb more incident photons which do not contribute to the photocatalytic efficiency. The highest photocatalytic activity for the Pt-TiO(2) nanohybrids on MB can be obtained at 1 at % Pt loading.


Krabbe disease is a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused by a deficiency in galactocerebrosidase. The only effective treatment is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Approximately 85% of Krabbe cases are the infantile subtypes, among which ~20% are late-infantile. Prior studies demonstrated that HSCT is effective for early-infantile patients (0 - 6 months of age) transplanted while asymptomatic, compared to those transplanted while symptomatic. However, no studies evaluated the efficacy of HSCT for late-infantile patients (6 - 36 months). In this prospective, longitudinal study, patients were evaluated at a single site following a standardized protocol. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Differences between groups were estimated using Mixed Regression models to account for within person repeated measures. Nineteen late-infantile patients underwent HSCT (1997 - 2020). Compared to untreated patients, transplanted patients had a longer survival probability and improved cognitive and language function. Gross and fine motor development were most affected with variable results. Asymptomatic patients benefitted the most from transplantation with normal to near-normal development in all domains and some gross motor delays. Among symptomatic patients, those with disease onset > 12 months of age had better cognitive outcomes than untreated patients. Those with disease onset £ 12 months were comparable to untreated patients. We found that HSCT prolongs the lifespan and improves the functional abilities of late-infantile Krabbe patients, particularly for those transplanted before symptom onset. In addition, our findings support prior literature that reclassifies late-infantile Krabbe disease to be symptom onset 12 to 36 months of age.


In the present paper, in order to model rough honing operations, statistical regression correlation models are presented for surface roughness and material removal rate as a function of process variables. Several different models were studied: linear, quadratic, exponential, etc. In addition, Box-Cox transformations were performed to the models so as to improve their fit. Models were compared taking into account two different criteria: R2(Adjusted) coefficient and R2(Predicted) coefficient. Reduced second order models with Box-Cox transformations were found to be appropriate for modeling average roughness and reduced first order models with Box-Cox transformations for modeling material removal rate.


OBJECTIVE
To review the literature addressing the process of relinquishment as it relates to the birth mother.

DATA SOURCES
Computerized searches in CINAHL; Article 1 st, PsycFIRST, and SocioAbs databases, using the keywords adoption and relinquishment; and ancestral bibliographies.

STUDY SELECTION
Articles from indexed journals in the English language relevant to the keywords were evaluated. No studies were located before 1978. Studies that sampled only an adolescent population were excluded. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis.

DATA EXTRACTION
Data were extracted and information was organized under the following headings: grief reaction, long-term effects, efforts to resolve, and influences on the relinquishment experience.

DATA SYNTHESIS
A grief reaction unique to the relinquishing mother was identified. Although this reaction consists of features characteristic of the normal grief reaction, these features persist and often lead to chronic, unresolved grief.

CONCLUSIONS
The relinquishing mother is at risk for long-term physical, psychologic, and social repercussions. Although interventions have been proposed, little is known about their effectiveness in preventing or alleviating these repercussions.


A model is presented which is derived from some observations of Keynes on the nature of capital. The allocation of investment is analyzed in two economies with random demand shocks which are identical except for the types of markets. In the first, the combination of an asset and forward markets realizes the complete set of markets. In the second, the forward markets are replaced by spot markets. Consumers and entrepreneurs are rational and markets clear. A clear definition of the paradox of thrift is proposed and its existence is proven. The substitution of spot markets for forward markets generates fluctuations of the aggregate variables. The equilibrium with fluctuations is not always a constrained Pareto optimum.


Various formulations of Loratadine Chewable tablets containing different pharmaceutical compositions with simple manufacturing procedures were developed by using different excipients. The excipients used here are Lactose, Mannitol, Ethyl cellulose, Microcrystalline cellulose, Maize Starch, Citric Acid, Aspartame, Colloidal silicon dioxide, Magnesium Stearate, D & C Yellow No 10 and Raspberry flavour. Oral chewable tablets are the most preferred among the conventional dosage forms due to its aesthetic appeal and ease of administering to children, which has entered the market. Loratadine is formulated into chewable tablets by wet granulation method using suitable excipients as mentioned earlier, which are evaluated by using simple analytical equipments. The chewable tablet was better presented using artificial sweetener Aspartame and Raspberry flavour as flavouring agent. The chewable tablets are prepared to ensure that they are easily crushed by chewing. The tablets were evaluated for weight variation, hardness, friability; drug content and mouth feel along with in-vitro dissolution. As per monograph, the chewable tablets are not required to comply with disintegration test. Wet granulation process using Mannitol, Lactose, Micro crystalline cellulose (Avicel-CE 15), Ethyl cellulose and Sweeteners and Flavours were found to be simple and robust method to prepare chewable tablets.


Abstract Based mainly on Howard, Burch and Williams' laboratory absorption data for the near infrared H2O and CO2, bands, and on the solar absorption data for the red and near infrared O2 bands, the direct absorption of solar radiation in near infrared atmospheric bands has been estimated. The estimated absorptivities of the H2O bands in the interval from 0.7 to 2.1 μ are in fair agreement with MeDonald's estimates which are based on Fowle's absorption data. However the absorptivities of the H2O bands from 0.7 to 6.3 μ are larger than McDonald's values. CO2 and O2 absorptions become increasingly important in the upper troposphere and in the stratosphere. Average heating (deg C day−1) was also estimated for London's model atmospheres for clear sky conditions, and compared with the similar estimate made by Roach. For the atmosphere above 300 mb the heating estimated in this paper exceeds that estimated by Roach. Conceivable causes of this discrepancy are pointed out.


An analysis has been conducted of the path taken by research on migration and family in Mexico in the past six years (2007-2012), with the aim of highlighting emerging lines, analytical approaches, main concepts and methodological strategies. The results point to the opening up of new fields of reflection, such as the relationship between emotion, affect and migration, and the problems of migrant children, together with the continued existence of fairly consolidated areas. They also show a degree of mainstreaming of the gender approach and a significant yet uneven presence of transnationalism as the most important analytical framework in recent decades, as well as the predominance of qualitative methodological strategies.


We argue that the chiral limit of QCD can be identified with the strong (diffractive dissociation) coupling limit of reggeon field theory. Critical Pomeron scaling at high energy must then be directly related to an infra-red fixed-point of massless QCD and so requires a large number of flavors. This gives a direct argument that the emergence of diffraction-peak scaling, KNO scaling etc. at anti p-p colliders are evidence of a substantial quark structure still to be discovered.


Abstract : The PI and his students have developed novel algorithms for boundary computation, model simplification, fast display and interference detection. These include use of exact arithmetic for robust and accurate boundary computation, development of an interactive solid modeler using parallel algorithms and implementations, simplification with guaranteed error bounds for large polygonal models, occlusion culling, interactive display of large spline models and efficient collision detection between general polygonal models. The resulting algorithms and systems have been applied to a number of applications and the technology has been transferred to a number of research and DOD labs as well as commercial vendors.


The goal of dry electrode development activity within the WP2 is tobuild a dry electrode prototype for brain wave sensing that is comfortable for the user and provides sufficient signal quality. The electrodes are to be utilized in BCI applications, namely Steady-StateVisually Evoked Potential (SSVEP),Event Related Synchronization andDe-synchronization (ERD/ERS),and P300 based BCIs. Due to the statusof the dry electrode technology and our non-encouraging results onthe evaluation of the contactless dry sensors we re-focused our efforts in developing an EEG system using dry electrodes that have galvanic contact to the human scalp. The first goal we set is to reliably detect the alpha brain rhythm (brain waves in the range from 8 to12Hz) as these brain waves are the most prominent ones in the EEG spectrum.The outcome of the evaluation presented here is that the signal quality of dry electrodes is sufficient to reliably measure alpha brainactivity. This is con-firmed through user studies with the medicallycertified amplifier - Mobi from TMSi. However, due to the skin contact problems and high input impedance, reported in the deliverable,robustness of dry-electrode (in combination with the amplifier) hasto be further improved. In particular, the dry electrode design andamplifier front end have to be further optimized.The robustness of the dry electrode-amplifier combination has to befurther improved to achieve a stable signal and reliable performancewhen measuring brain waves of people with long and thick hair. Thefollowing directions for further developments are envisioned:- Optimization of dry electrode design, focusing on- electrode material, i.e., using "bio-approved" materials such asgold and silver/silver-chloride used in this deliverable that willenable low impedance to the skin- number of pins to achieve good contact and increase the comfort- Optimization of amplifier front-end to cope with variation in input impedance- Optimize existing amplifier technology for usage with the developed dry electrodes.


A SCOPING REVIEW OF COMPONENT COSTS OF FOODBORNE ILLNESS AND ANALYSIS OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN STUDY METHODOLOGIES AND COMPONENT COSTS TO THE COST OF A FOODBORNE ILLNESS Taylor McLinden Advisor: University of Guelph, 2013 Dr. Jan M. Sargeant Cost-of-illness (COI) analysis was the first economic evaluation methodology used in the health field, and it aims to identify and quantify all of the costs incurred due to a particular illness. While cost-of-illness studies attract much interest from healthcare policy makers and public health advocates, inconsistencies in study methodologies and cost inventories have made cost-of-illness estimates difficult to interpret and compare, limiting their usefulness. The purpose of this thesis was to use a scoping review approach to systematically explore cost inventories in the cost of foodborne illness literature, and to investigate the association between study methodologies, component costs, and foodborne illness-related factors to the estimated cost of non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. illness, using studies identified in the scoping review. The results indicated high variability in terms of the depth and breadth of individual and societal level component costs, along with a wide range of data sources being used in the cost of foodborne illness literature. Additionally, the number of direct component cost categories included in an estimate, particularly long-term care costs, and the inclusion of chronic sequelae costs were significantly associated with the cost of non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. illness. Therefore, these may be important factors to consider when initiating a cost of foodborne illness study and when interpreting or comparing existing cost of foodborne illness estimates. The results of this thesis can be used to address issues that are believed to be limiting cost-ofillness studies as decision making tools, and to better understand factors which may impact a cost of foodborne illness estimate.


Background Thoracostomach-airway fistula is a rare complication of esophageal-cancer resection. We intended to explore the diagnostic value of multilayer spiral computed tomography (MSCT) in thoracostomach-airway fistula, to enhance its clinical understanding; evaluate an effective, convenient, and non-invasive diagnostic method; and provide the fundamentals for subsequent treatment. Methods The MSCT images and complete clinical data of 216 consecutive patients diagnosed with thoracogastric airway fistula were retrospectively analyzed. Results MSCT was able to determine the exact location, size of the fistula, and the adjacent bronchus between the fistula and bronchus in 192 out of 216 patients with thoracogastric airway fistula. All patients had pulmonary lesions including emphysema (n=68), ground glass density (n=25), bronchial wall thickening (n=28), patchy high densities along the lung texture (n=207), pulmonary consolidation (n=104), atelectasis (n=11), pulmonary nodules (n=53), bronchiectasis (n=19), lobular septal thickening (n=5), cavity (n=14), and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis (n=6). Further, 95 cases showed pleural effusion, 184 showed pleural thickening, 4 had pneumothorax, and 2 had subcutaneous pneumothorax. 12 patients with thoracogastric airway fistula had anastomotic wall thickening (mean: 20.63±9.57, range: 9.19–43.37 mm), while 13 patients showed thoracic gastric wall thickening (mean: 22.83(±)5.58 mm, range: 12.32–31.24 mm) on. 23 patients showed distant metastasis on MSCT. Conclusions MSCT can accurately display the location and size of thoracogastric airway fistula, as well as lung lesions, tumor recurrence, and distant metastasis, and provide the basis for the next therapy.


Purpose
In this paper, with the goal of reducing the fuel consumption of UAV, the engine performance optimization is studied and on the basis of aircraft/engine integrated control, the minimum fuel consumption optimization method of engine given thrust is proposed. In the case of keeping the given thrust of the engine unchanged, the main fuel flow of the engine without being connected to the afterburner is optimally controlled so as to minimize the fuel consumption.

Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the reference model real-time optimization control method is adopted. The engine reference model uses a nonlinear real-time mathematical model of a certain engine component method. The quasi-Newton method is adopted in the optimization algorithm. According to the optimization variable nozzle area, the turbine drop-pressure ratio corresponding to the optimized nozzle area is calculated, which is superimposed with the difference of the drop-pressure ratio of the conventional control plan and output to the conventional nozzle controller of the engine. The nozzle area is controlled by the conventional nozzle controller.

Findings
The engine real-time minimum fuel consumption optimization control method studied in this study can significantly reduce the engine fuel consumption rate under a given thrust. At the work point, this is a low-altitude large Mach work point, which is relatively close to the edge of the flight envelope. Before turning on the optimization controller, the fuel consumption is 0.8124 kg/s. After turning on the optimization controller, you can see that the fuel supply has decreased by about 4%. At this time, the speed of the high-pressure rotor is about 94% and the temperature after the turbine can remain stable all the time.

Practical implications
The optimal control method of minimum fuel consumption for the given thrust of UAV is proposed in this paper and the optimal control is carried out for the nozzle area of the engine. At the same time, a method is proposed to indirectly control the nozzle area by changing the turbine pressure ratio. The relevant UAV and its power plant designers and developers may consider the results of this study to reach a feasible solution to reduce the fuel consumption of UAV.

Originality/value
Fuel consumption optimization can save fuel consumption during aircraft cruising, increase the economy of commercial aircraft and improve the combat radius of military aircraft. With the increasingly wide application of UAVs in military and civilian fields, the demand for energy-saving and emission reduction will promote the UAV industry to improve the awareness of environmental protection and reduce the cost of UAV use and operation.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate factors that might lead French homecare nurses to consider the prescription of high-dose morphine to terminally ill patients to be euthanasia.

METHODS
The researchers conducted an anonymous telephone survey among a random sample of 602 French homecare nurses (response rate = 75 percent) in 2005.

RESULTS
Overall, 27 percent of responding home nurses considered prescribing high-dose morphine to terminally ill patients to be euthanasia. Such an opinion was more frequently held by older nurses, those who had not followed terminally ill patients during the previous three years, and those with less knowledge about pain management involving opioid analgesics.

CONCLUSION
There is an urgent need to strengthen pain management education among French homecare nurses--especially regarding the use of morphine--in order to both improve their technical skills and correct some misconceptions about opioid analgesics.


The potential risk of oil spills is constantly increasing, which required special techniques, equipment and effective response plans as well. Oil booms is the most common equipment used for spilled oil clean-up. However, due to different reasons such as extreme hydrological conditions, unreasonable design or poor handling, the failure of booms can happen. The loss rate of boom is acceptable if it is small enough. In the present paper, the behavior of oil with different viscosity around the oil boom is numerically studied using ANSYS FLUENT software. The shape evolution of oil slicks is presented. The loss rates in given conditions are also determined.


We study offline reinforcement learning (RL) for partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) with possibly infinite state and observation spaces. Under the undercompleteness assumption, the transition kernel can be estimated via solving a series of confounded regression problems. To solve the confounding problem, we select a proper instrumental variable (IV) and solves the IV regression problem to construct confidence regions for the model parameters. We get the final policy via pessimistic planning within the confidence regions. We prove that the proposed algorithm attains an ϵ -optimal policy using an offline dataset containing (cid:101) O (1 /ϵ 2 ) episodes, provided that the behavior policy has good coverage over the optimal trajectory. To our best knowledge, our algorithm is the first provably sample efficient offline algorithm for POMDPs that is not tabular.


Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecological malignancy and despite current treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, reoccurrence of this deadly malignancy is high. Although elevated levels of osteopontin (OPN), a phosphorylated glycoprotein, are always present in the ovaries, recent studies have implicated osteopontin (OPN) protein as a novel biomarker for ovarian cancer. Early detection of ovarian cancer is imperative, and furthermore, novel treatments with fewer adverse effects than current treatments of chemotherapy and radiation, are currently being investigated. Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide that is biodegradable and biocompatible, may serve as a potential alternative treatment for ovarian cancer, and may function by regulating OPN expression. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of chitosan on the expression and localization of OPN in SKOV-3 cells. It was hypothesized that the expression of OPN protein will be down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner. To test this hypothesis, SKOV-3 cells were treated with 0, 50, 100, 250, and 500, ng/mL of chitosan for 48 hours. An MTT assay was performed to determine cell viability and proliferation rate. Cells were harvested; total protein was isolated and then subjected to SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. The localization of OPN was determined using immunocytochemistry, after chitosan treatment of SKOV-3 cells on two-chamber slides for 48 hours. The expression of OPN decreased in SKOV-3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, cell proliferation tended to decrease with increasing dose of chitosan. These data indicate that chitosan may inhibit SKOV-3 cell proliferation by decreasing OPN production and secretion.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4325. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4325


The essay below covers the Epic of Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, and the legend of Nemi forest , both involving the killing of the guardians of the said forests , dominated by cedars in the Near East and by oaks in Central Italy. The guardians most probably impersonated the reverential awe that these vast protohistoric forests inspired in those wishing either to thin or tear them down for the wood they needed.The beliefs expressed both in the epic and in the legend reflect the thinking of mankind at the time, which made no distinction between natural events and supernatural ones.


Objective: The purpose of this research was to identify environmental and personal factors that could be related to the variability in the age of onset of familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) (36–62 years). Methods: A sample was taken of 49 subjects with FAD and with the mutation E280A in the presenilin-1 gene on chromosome 14; the sample was divided into two subgroups: 27 individuals with age of onset of the disease between 36 and 46 years (early onset) and 22 individuals whose disease began between 47 and 62 years (late onset). Information on environmental and personal factors was collected by means of a questionnaire answered by the patients if their clinical condition allowed it, or by their relatives; such information was organized in a categorical way. Comparisons between the two groups for each categorical variable were done by means of the chi-square test. Noncollinear variables that showed statistical significance were included as independent variables in a logistic regression analysis to predict their association with early onset of the disease. Results: Only 5 of the 140 studied variables were different between the two groups in univariate analysis: education, surgical history, type of stressful event, depression, and affective losses. The logistic regression model was constituted by education, depression, and affective losses. High-level education had approximately 15 times more probability of association with an early onset of the disease; both the history of affective losses and depressive symptoms had 4 times more probability of a similar association. Conclusions: The association of high-level education and early onset of the disease could be related to an earlier detection of symptoms, in turn determined by greater intellectual and environmental demands. The occurrence of depression and affective losses has been considered a prodromic manifestation of the disease. Our findings are evidence of high clinical heterogeneity even in a genetically homogeneous group.


This thesis is concerned with the pedagogic relations involved in school-based UCAS practices. It documents how students experience the UCAS process at three sixth form institutions with contrasting catchments and histories and which differently signal the market value of degree subjects to 16–18 year-olds. The thesis explores how a sample of students responded to this messaging, in combination with other resources that they mobilised while deliberating their possible degree subject choices. The research has the following aims: To explore: 1. The way in which UCAS is variously practised, as a tightly bounded and recognisable process in three different school settings. / 2. The terms upon which UCAS as a pedagogic space, positions students as 'degree choosers' in each setting. / 3. How a sample of 16–18 year olds navigate their way through this process in these settings, and the criteria they invoke as they make their choices of the degree subjects they are considering for undergraduate study. / Drawing on insights from Basil Bernstein's conceptual and methodological framework, the thesis argues that UCAS can be conceptualised as a distinct set of pedagogic practices with the potential to signal the market value of degree subjects and disciplinary fields to 16–18 year olds. UCAS is not a neutral process; it is shaped by the pressures and external demands made on both schools and students. Despite this, many of the students across the sample prioritised subjects that they believed would give them ways of being and acting in the world and in particular showed a preference for subjects with moral or self-enlightenment possibilities. The analysis developed throughout this thesis suggests that at a time when the policy focus emphasises economic undergraduate goals, there is a need for alternate insights about students' priorities. The thesis argues that a narrow set of policy or institutional concerns such as employability, social mobility or social reproduction, cannot satisfy the full range of aspirations that were talked about by the students within this study.


We present a new descriptor and feature matching solution for omnidirectional images. The descriptor builds on the log-polar planar descriptors, but adapts to the specific geometry and non-uniform sampling density of spherical images. We further propose a rotation-invariant matching method for the proposed descriptor that is particularly interesting for mobile devices. It permits to reduce the computational complexity in the detection phase by eliminating the orientation assignment and moving it to the feature matching step. We then use a criteria based on the Kullback-Leibler divergence in order to improve the feature matching performance. Experimental results with spherical images show that the new descriptors offer promising performance and improve on SIFT descriptors computed on the sphere or on tangent planes.


African vulture populations are rapidly declining, yet funding and other resources available for their conservation are limited. Improving our understanding of which African vulture species could best serve as an umbrella species for the entire suite of African vultures could help conservationists save time, money, and resources by focusing their efforts on a single vulture species. Furthermore, improving our understanding of the suitability of African vultures as biomonitors for detecting environmental toxins could help conservation authorities to detect changes in ecosystem health. We used a systematic approach based on criteria selected a priori to objectively evaluate the potential of each of the 10 resident African vulture species as (i) an umbrella species for all of the African vulture species, and (ii) an avian biomonitor. For each criterion, we scored the respective African vulture species and summed the scores to determine which species was best suited as an umbrella species and as an avian biomonitor. Our results showed that, overall, certain aspects of vulture ecology (large population sizes, large body sizes, long lifespans, and their ability to be monitored over numerous seasons) support their suitability as biomonitors, while other ecological traits, including their diets and the public's perceptions of vultures, could diminish their suitability. The White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) was the best fit of the 10 vulture species in our assessment as both an avian biomonitor and an umbrella species for all African vulture species. Meanwhile, significant knowledge gaps for other species inhibit their utility as biomonitors. Due to their large home-range sizes, African vultures may only be useful as biomonitors at a regional scale. However, there could be value in using the White-backed Vulture as an umbrella species, as an aid to conserve the entire suite of African vulture species.


Abstract: Sm substituted 0.8BaTiO3-0.2Bi0.5K0.5TiO3 lead free ceramic materials with composition 0.8Ba0.2 (Bi0.5(1x)Sm0.5xK0.5)TiO3 (x=0.01,0.03,0.05) were prepared by conventional solid state reaction method and followed by high energy ball milling process. The X-ray diffraction studies confirm the tetragonal structural of the material at the room temperature. With increase of Sm substitution, density is decreasing. Microstructure studies were done with the help of scanning electron microscope. Temperature and frequency dependant dielectric studies indicate that dielectric constant decreasing with the substitution of Sm. Sm substitution effects the Curie temperature and it is decreasing with increase of Sm substitution. Relaxor behaviour is observed in all the Sm substituted samples. Degree of diffuseness is calculated from the modified Curie-Weiss law and it was found to be increase with the substitution of Sm.


In some data-intensive production department, handling with mass data often needs a large amount of calculations, and the corresponding data storage space requirement are also very large. The existing storage and treatment measure already cannot satisfy the users' demand. And mass data storage in enterprise daily production is also one of the most important steps, therefore, how to efficiently store a great quantity of data, is also one of the most important problems facing enterprises. Massively Parallel Processing technology (MPP) is a very efficient way to store a large mounts of data. This article describes a method that how to use parallel processing technology to store the mass data. And in this method, we also use a structure called MapReduce was put forward by google.


Ureteroscopy is being increasingly utilized in the treatment and management of patients with renal and ureteral stones. Improving stone-free rates with ureteroscopy decreases the need for ancillary procedures and improves patient outcomes and satisfaction. This article reviews contemporary literature regarding the efficacy of a wide range of currently available techniques for improving stone-free rates with this procedure.


The aim of this dissertation was to investigate the feasibility of developing, delivering and outcome of the internet delivery of evidence based manualized intervention, for family members. Family members are often the ones to start feeling the negative effects of a loved one's misuse of alcohol of drugs and service delivery though expanding to recognise the needs of family members, is not yet fully addressing these needs. The 5-Step Method which was developed based on the Stress-Strain- Coping-Support Model offers a way to work directly with family members in addressing their needs. There is evidence available suggests that when the 5-Step Method is delivered in other formats, in a variety of settings, by various health care professionals; that it does lead to positive changes for the family member. The challenge of the 5-Step Method therefore was to make it more widely available. The internet offers an option through which this intervention may be made available to family members. Results of the internet delivery of this intervention show that family members found it acceptable, easy to use, and helpful. It did lead to changes in the way family members cope, as well as reductions in the impact and symptoms. These results suggest that the internet is a viable medium for the delivery of this intervention for family members. The implications of these findings are further discussed with suggestions for future research.


Background: We report 2 patients who have undergone radial keratotomy (RK) preceding ReSTOR® multifocal intraocular lens (IOL; Alcon, Fort Worth, Tex., USA) implantation in their nondominant eyes and TECNIS® monofocal IOL (Abbott Medical Optics, Abbott Park, Ill., USA) in their dominant eyes. Methods: Retrospective review of 2 patients who underwent hybrid monovision with ReSTOR® multifocal and TECHNIS® monofocal IOLs at the time of cataract surgery after a remote history of RK. Results: Implantation of the ReSTOR® multifocal and the TECHNIS® monofocal IOLs was successful, with no reported adverse events. The patients were able to achieve spectacle freedom. Conclusion: We report a novel technique for the management of post-RK patients to optimize their chances for spectacle independence.


OBJECTIVE
Given the public health impact of adolescent alcohol use and heavy episodic drinking, we sought to identify the prevalence of types of alcohol use among national samples of 8th- and 10th grade American students. In addition, a range of known risk factors was used to predict the most problematic type: heavy episodic use.

METHOD
Monitoring the Future data on lifetime, past-year, and past-30-day alcohol use and on past-2-week heavy episodic drinking were available for 505,668 students from 1991 to 2007 (weighted N = 505,853; 51.5% girls; 65.3% White, 12.3% Black, 11.1% Hispanic). Logistic regression was then used in a representative subsample of 110,130 students to predict heavy episodic drinking in the previous 2 weeks.

RESULTS
In the most recent cohorts, about 1 in 10 8th graders and 1 in 5 10th graders had engaged in heavy episodic drinking in the past 2 weeks. Explanatory variables in logistic regression were largely invariant across cohort, grade level, gender, and race/ethnicity, accounting for 48% of the variance in heavy episodic drinking.

CONCLUSIONS
Heavy episodic drinking continues to be a prevalent behavior among the nation's youth, with consistent risk factors over time, highlighting the continued necessity of effective screening and prevention efforts.


Soil bulk density (ρb) data are needed for a wide range of environmental studies. However, ρb is rarely reported in soil surveys. An alternative to obtain ρb for data-scarce regions, such as the Rio Doce basin in southeastern Brazil, is indirect estimation from less costly covariates using pedotransfer functions (PTF). This study primarily aims to develop region-specific PTFs for ρb using multiple linear regressions (MLR) and random forests (RF). Secondly, it assessed the accuracy of PTFs for data grouped into soil horizons and soil classes. For that purpose, we compared the performance of PTFs compiled from the literature with those developed here. Two groups of data were evaluated as covariates: 1) readily available soil properties and 2) maps derived from a digital elevation model and MODIS satellite imagery, jointly with lithological and pedological maps. The MLR model was applied step-wise to select significant predictors and its accuracy assessed by means of cross-validation. The PTFs developed using all data estimated ρb from soil properties by MLR and RF, with R2 of 0.41 and 0.51, respectively. Alternatively, using environmental covariates, RF predicted ρb with R2 of 0.41. Grouping criteria did not lead to a significant increase in the estimates of ρb. The accuracy of the 'regional' PTFs developed for this study was greater than that found with the 'compiled' PTFs. The best PTF will be firstly used to assess soil carbon stocks and changes in the Rio Doce basin.


In this paper torsion of hollow Poroelastic shaft with Elliptical section is developed. Using the boundary equation scheme. It looks for a stress function where satisfied Poisson equation and vanishes on boundary. It also analyzed stress function and warping displacement for the hollow elliptical section in Poroelastic shaft. At the end, the result of elastic and poroelastic shaft in warping displacement and stress function is compared.


In Ref. [3], this author provided a new definition of fuzzy graph that differs from the original definition. In this paper, the author shows how the new definition provides with efficient numerical techniques to repair a failed link or a failed node of a network.


During the Second World War, Indigenous people in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada mobilised en masse to support the war effort, despite withstanding centuries of colonialism. Their roles ranged from ordinary soldiers fighting on distant shores, to soldiers capturing Japanese prisoners on their own territory, to women working in munitions plants on the home front. R. Scott Sheffield and Noah Riseman examine Indigenous experiences of the Second World War across these four settler societies. Informed by theories of settler colonialism, martial race theory and military sociology, they show how Indigenous people and their communities both shaped and were shaped by the Second World War. Particular attention is paid to the policies in place before, during and after the war, highlighting the ways that Indigenous people negotiated their own roles within the war effort at home and abroad.


This paper explores the mythologies contemporary lawyers generate in defence of existing professional structures. Drawing on the history of legal professions, the paper engages critically with professional apologetics, from a perspective influenced by diverse contemporary writings on legal professions including those associated with Richard Abel, Terrence Halliday, and others.


Short-chain fatty acids are produced at high concentration in the colonic lumen and stimulate electroneutral Na+ absorption by activating apical Na+/H+ exchange in colonocytes. We used an epithelial cell line derived from a human colon carcinoma (HT29-18-C1) to study activation of apical and basolateral Na+/H+ exchange by a short-chain fatty acid, propionate. Confluent cell monolayers on membrane filters were loaded with 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5 (and 6)-carboxyfluorescein (a fluorescent pH indicator) and intracellular pH was monitored with a digital fluorescence imaging microscope. Cells acidified by transient exposure to NH4Cl demonstrated both apical and basolateral Na+/H+ exchange. In this condition, apical Na+/H+ exchange was 50% of the total Na+/H+ exchange activity. Similar results were obtained when cells were bilaterally perfused with apical and basolateral propionate in an isosmotic medium (130 mM propionate at each membrane surface). However, apical Na+/H+ exchange was a significantly larger fraction (76%) of the total Na+/H+ exchange activity when cells were acidified by exposure to apical propionate alone. Conversely, in cells acidified by basolateral propionate alone, apical Na+/H+ exchange was 21% of the total Na+/H+ exchange activity. The change in relative activity was observed in individual cells which expressed both apical and basolateral Na+/H+ exchange and occurred rapidly (within 7 min). In the presence of transepithelial propionate gradients, all Na(+)-dependent alkalinization was sensitive to 3 microM 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride, a potent Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor. These results suggest that transepithelial gradients of short-chain fatty acids, which occur in vivo, can cause preferential activation of apical Na+/H+ exchange.


Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is becoming a widely used method to quantify cytokines from cells, tissues, or tissue biopsies. The method allows for the direct detection of PCR product during the exponential phase of the reaction, combining amplification and detection in a single step. Using TaqMan chemistry (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) and the ABI Prism 7700 Sequence Detection System (Applied Biosystems), we validated a large panel of murine and human cytokines, as we as other factors playing a role in the immune system, such a chemokines and apoptotic markers. Although the method allows fast, sensitive, and accurate quantification, different control assays are necessary for the method to be reliable. By construction of complementary DNA (cDNA) plasmid clones, standard curves are generated that allow direct quantification of every unknown sample. Furthermore, the choice of a reliable housekeeping gene is very important. Finally, co-amplification of contaminating genomic DNA is avoided by designing sets of primers located in different exons or or intron-exon junctions. In conclusion, the real-time RT-PCF technique is very accurate and sensitive, allows high through put, and can be performed on very small samples. The development of real-time RT-PCR has resulted in an exponential increase in its use over the last couple of years, and the method has undoubtedly become the standard for quantifying cytokine patterns, clarifying many functional properties of immune cells and their associated diseases.


A young woman with recurrent thrombophlebitis following splenectomy for immune thrombocytopenic purpura and two cesarian sections was found to carry a protein C deficiency. This pathology should be considered in any patient with recurrent thromboembolism even when predisposing factors such as pregnancy and postoperative state may by themselves be responsible for such manifestations.


Abstract : The rise of Islamic militancy in parts of the Sahel and Horn of Africa poses growing threats to regional stability. The appeal of these militants stems from their ability to tap into and persuade marginalized communities, particularly youth, that their grievances can be rectified by the establishment of a more pure Islamist culture. Despite breakthroughs, Islamic militants in Africa typically do not possess great military power and may not seek to govern at the state level. Rather, they tend to be homegrown phenomena, focused on local concerns. Islamic militant organizations in Africa generally only command the support of small minorities within Muslim communities. However, ill-considered interventions, especially those involving Western forces, can reinforce the militants narrative, thereby strengthening their credibility and recruitment.


Neuroscientists and neuroengineers have long relied on multielectrode neural recordings to study the brain. However, in a typical experiment, many factors corrupt neural recordings from individual electrodes, including electrical noise, movement artifacts, and faulty manufacturing. Currently, common practice is to discard these corrupted recordings, reducing already limited data that is difficult to collect. To address this challenge, we propose Deep Neural Imputation (DNI) , a framework to recover missing values from electrodes by learning from data collected across spatial locations, days, and participants. We explore our framework with a linear nearest-neighbor approach and two deep generative autoencoders, demonstrating DNI's flexibility. One deep autoencoder models participants in-dividually, while the other extends this architecture to model many participants jointly. We evaluate our models across 12 human participants implanted with multielectrode intracranial electrocorticography arrays; participants had no explicit task and behaved naturally across hundreds of recording hours. We show that DNI recovers not only time series but also frequency content, and further establish DNI's practical value by recovering significant performance on a scientifically-relevant downstream neural decoding task.


Purpose
This paper aims to look at how participant photography can be used in human resource development (HRD) as a research method that is innovative and inclusive. In published work on traditional photo elicitation methods, the participant is shown previously prepared visual images to create knowledge. This can provoke an inaccurate depiction due to the images being previously prepared. Participant photography differs greatly from the traditional photo-elicitation method. In participant photography, the participant is provided with the opportunity to capture their own visual images of the surrounding environment, allowing for data to be captured through their own eyes. More notably, participants voice their own experiences after taking the photographs as a means for providing rich data for researchers.

Design/methodology/approach
Participant photography is an innovative qualitative research method where the research participant is encouraged to document their lived experiences through images taken by the participant. Additionally, the participants take part in individual interviews and group individual sessions to further explain the images.

Findings
The research findings can lead to deeper insight into the research topic and even accommodate potential issues related to literacy and language barriers. By introducing a new qualitative research method to HRD, the lived experiences can be documented and examined in a new, different and arguably more accurate way.

Research limitations/implications
Literature discussing participant photography in HRD is limited. Although this limitation puts constraints on this study, it creates an opportunity to further define how participant photography can be used in HRD. This method offers a means for HRD researchers and practitioners to focus on the voices of participants to improve organizations.

Practical implications
This study addresses how participant photography can be used in the field of HRD by describing the process of participant recruitment, implementation of the method, participant interviews, group discussion and analysis. Specifically, this study focused on the practical application, including the method's strengths, potential weaknesses and ethical challenges.

Social implications
The method of participant photography has been commonly used in community-based studies, public health projects and medical research projects, yet in ever-changing HRD needs, there are many advantages for the field of HRD to implement this method.

Originality/value
Although the concept of participant photography is still in its infancy in HRD, this study explains how participant photography can be used for both researchers and practitioners to gain a deeper understanding and knowledge of topics related to HRD.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential subacute toxicity of dimethyl disulfide by 3 weeks inhalation in F344 rats. The test article, dimethyl disulfide was exposed by inhalation to male and female rats at dose levels of 0, 5, 25, or 125 ppm/6 hrs/ day for 3 weeks. Five rats/ sex/ group were sacrificed on day 4 after the initiation of treatment, while 5 rats/ sex/ group were sacrificed at the end of treatment period. During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, hematology, serum biochemistry, and gross findings were examined. Slight decreases in body weight gain were noted in both sexes of the highest dose group in a dose dependent manner but were only statistically different from the control animals in males of the group. A slight non-significant reduction in food consumption were also noted in the both sexes of the highest dose group. There were no adverse effects on mortality, clinical signs, hematology, serum biochemistry, and necropsy findings at any dose tested. Based on these results, it was concluded that the 3 weeks repeated dose of dimethyl disulfide by inhalation resulted in suppressed body weight gain and decreased food consumption at 125 ppm of both sexes. In the present experimental conditions, the target organ was not determined in rats. The noobserved-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was considered to be 25 ppm/6 hrs/day for both sexes.


Code reuse techniques can circumvent existing security measures. For example, attacks such as Return Oriented Programming (ROP) use fragments of the existing code base to create an attack. Since this code is already in the system, the Data Execution Prevention methods cannot prevent the execution of this reorganised code. Existing software-based Control Flow Integrity can prevent this attack, but the overhead is enormous. Most of the improved methods utilise reduced granularity in exchange for a small performance overhead. Hardware-based detection also faces the same performance overhead and accuracy issues. Benefit from HPC's large-area loading on modern CPU chips, we propose a detection method based on the monitoring of hardware performance counters, which is a lightweight system-level detection for malicious code execution to solve the restrictions of other software and hardware security measures, and is not as complicated as Control Flow Integrity.


A simple RP-HPLC method using a PDA detector was developed and validated for the analysis and dissolution studies of fexofenadine hydrochloride (FEX) in dosage forms. Mobile phase: triethylamine phosphate 1%, pH 3.2: acetonitrile(ACN):methanol (50:30:20), 210 nm detection, C18 Phenomenex& column. The method was validated regarding accuracy/precision (RSD < 1%), linearity (r2 = 0.9999), and robustness. The method was applied to the determination of the drug in commercial tablet preparations and proved to be fast and reliable for quantification and it was also used for the comparison of dissolution profiles of FEX tablets. When we used the factor f2 as a comparison parameter, all the medium didn't present difference in the formulations, but just in the HCI 0.1 M the formulations showed similar results for the parameters f1/f2 andDE allowing to affirm that the two formulations are similar and with the same performance in vivo.


The causality issues concerning the localization of relativistic quantum systems, as evidenced by Hegerfeld's paradox, are addressed through a proper-time formalism of single-particle operators. Starting from the premise that physical variables associated to the proper-time gauge have a prominent role in the specification of position, since they do not depend on classical parameters connected to an external observer, we obtain a single-particle formalism in which localization is described by explicitly covariant four-vector operators associated with POVM measurements parametrized by the system's proper-time. Among the consequences of this result, we emphasize that physically acceptable states are necessarily associated with the existence of a temporal uncertainty and their proper-time evolution is not subject to the causality violation predicted by Hegerfeldt.


ln this article we describe mechanisms of radicalization relevant to understanding the origins or terrorism. We must immediately acknowledge that the idea of mechunistn IS somewhat different in different domains of social science, sometimes with conflict ing definitions used within a single discipline. 1,2 Here we use mechanism in the gen eral sense traditionally employed in Psychology: "the means or mariner 111 \\ hieh something is accomplished. Thus, the mechanism of vision includes the physica. stimulus and the physiological and neural processes involved ,,~


Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection produces pneumonia with pulmonary alveolar collapse and in some cases sepsis and septic shock. There is no specific treatment for COVID-19. Vitamin C (Vit C), Vitamin E (Vit E), N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and Melatonin (MT) increase the intracellular content of GSH, kidnap free radicals and protect DNA, proteins in the cytosol and lipids of cell membranes. Pentoxifylline (Px) has anti-inflammatory activities. Methods: Here we evaluate the effect of Vit C, Vit E, NAC, and MT plus Px in COVID-19 patients with moderate and severe pneumonia. 110 patients of either sex were included. They were divided into five groups with 22 patients each. Group 1 received Vit C+Px, group 2 Vit E+Px, group 3 NAC+Px, group 4 MT+Px, and group 5 only Px. Oxidative stress markers as Lipid peroxidation levels, evaluation of total antioxidant capacity and nitrites were evaluate by spectrophotometry, and by ELISA assay IL-6 levels. Results: The antioxidant therapy improved the survival scores including SOFA, Apache II, SAPS II, COVIDGRAM and GCS. OS markers in plasma such as LPO (p≤0.04) and TAC (p≤0.03) decreased in COVID-19 patients administered with antioxidants. There was an increase of IL-6 (p≤0.01) and decreases of CRP (p≤0.01) and PCT (p≤0.05) in COVID-19 patients when entering the hospital and the different antioxidants reversed this alteration at the end of the hospital stay. Conclusions: This study confirms the presence of OS in COVID-19 patients. The results suggest that the treatment with antioxidant supplements such as Vit C, E, NAC, and MT plus Px could contribute to the deceleration of the aggressive and lethal development COVID-19. There is evidence that antioxidants in moderate doses decrease inflammation and control of OS; therefore, their use as an adjuvant therapy to improve prognosis is confirmed. The antioxidant therapy can be effective in this pandemia since it improves all of the survival scores including SOFA, Apache II, SAPS II, COVIDGRAM, GCS by lowering the LPO, IL-6, CRP, PCT and increasing systemic TAC.


Increased fire frequency in the Great Basin of North America's intermountain West has led to large-scale conversion of native sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) communities to postfire successional communities dominated by native and non-native annual species during the last century. The consequences of this conversion for basic ecosystem functions, however, are poorly understood. We measured net ecosystem CO 2 exchange (NEE) and evapotranspiration (ET) during the first two dry years after wildfire using a 4-m diameter (16.4 m 3) translucent static chamber (dome), and found that both NEE and ET were higher in a postfire successional ecosystem (20.9±2.6 mmol CO 2 m 22 s 21 and 0.0±1.0 mmol H 2 O m 22 s 22 , respectively) than in an adjacent intact sagebrush ecosystem (21.2±2.3 mmol CO 2 m 22 s 21 and 20.1±0.8 mmol H 2 O m 22 s 22 , respectively) during relatively moist periods. Higher NEE in the postfire ecosystem appears to be due to lower rates of above-ground plant respiration while higher ET appears to be caused by higher surface soil temperatures and increased soil water recharge after rains. These patterns disappeared or were reversed, however, when the conditions were drier. Daily net ecosystem productivity (NEP; g C m 22 d 21), derived from multiple linear regressions of measured fluxes with continuously measured climate variables, was very small (close to zero) throughout most of the year. The wintertime was an exception in the intact sagebrush ecosystem with C losses exceeding C gains leading to negative NEP while C balance of the postfire ecosystem remained near zero. Taken together, our results indicate that wild-fire-induced conversion of native sagebrush steppe to ecosystems dominated by herb-aceous annual species may have little effect on C balance during relatively dry years (except in winter months) but may stimulate water loss immediately following fires.


Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL

The receptor tyrosine kinase c-Met is being investigated as a target for cancer chemotherapy. c-Met and its ligand HGF (hepatocyte growth factor) play important roles in cell growth, survival and migration. Dysregulation of the HGF-c-Met pathway (overexpression, constitutive activation, gene amplification, ligand-dependent activation, mutation or epigenetic mechanisms) can lead to oncogenic changes, and has been described in multiple types of cancer including lung, gastric, and colorectal cancer. For cancer therapies targeting the HGF-c-Met signaling pathway, elevated levels of c-Met expression and increased phosphorylation of c-Met have been explored as both the predictive and PD biomarkers. However, detection of c-Met phosphorylation by IHC in human clinical cancer samples has proven to be extremely challenging.

We have conducted a study aimed at finding a way to detect phosphorylation of c-Met in clinical samples. In the first attempt, we have acquired a set of 30 gastric cancer samples which were fixed in formalin in the presence of phosphatase inhibitors (PhosphoGuardTM fixation kit). While this approach has helped us to improve detection of several other phospho-proteins in tissues, it did not help with the detection of phospho-c-Met. We then hypothesized that this is a very labile phosphorylation which is rapidly lost during the cold ischemia time occurring between the surgical excision of the tissue and its placement in formalin for fixation (which could last 30-60 minutes or longer in the operating room). Studies with xenograft tissues showed that a 15 minute delay in fixation resulted in approximately 50% decrease in c-Met phosphorylation, while a 30 minute delay resulted in almost complete disappearance of phospho-c-Met. We therefore acquired a set of colorectal cancer samples which were placed into formalin within 5 minutes of surgical excision. Using these rapidly fixed samples, we were able to detect strong phosphorylation of c-Met in a small number of samples. The staining pattern for phospho-c-Met correlated with that of phospho-ERK (a downstream signaling molecule in the c-Met pathway) suggesting that the relatively low occurrence of c-Met phosphorylation may reflect the status of activation of this pathway in vivo at a given time point. This work suggests that rapid fixation of human tissues facilitates detection of phospho-c-met and its use as a PD and predictive biomarker in clinical trials.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4126. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4126


This report describes studies of artificial wetlands at Santee, California which demonstrate the capacity of these systems for integrated secondary treatment (BOD and suspended solids removal) and advanced treatment (nitrogen removal) of municipal wastewater effluents. When receiving a blend of primary (1°) and secondary (2°) wastewaters at a blend ratio of 1:2 (6 cm per day 1° : 12 cm per day 2° ), mean removal efficiencies for a complete year of operation from July, 1982 through July, 1983 were 80% for total nitrogen (TN) and 80% for total inorganic nitrogen, with the mean inflow TN level of 21.5 mgl −1 reduced to a mean value of 4.3 mgl −1 in the wetland effluent. The BOD and suspended solids removal efficiencies were 93% and 88% respectively. The mean wetland effluent values for both BOD and suspended solids were below the 10/10 mgl −1 standard for advanced secondary treatment. When primary effluent was the sole source of inflow to the artificial wetlands, BOD and suspended solids levels approaching the quality of a secondary treated effluent (30/30 mgl −1 ) could be attained at an application rate of 6-8.3 cm per day. In this case, mean BOD and suspended solids removal efficiencies for the complete year from July, 1982 through August, 1983, were 78% and 80% respectively, with the effluent levels reduced to mean values of 33 mgl −1 for BOD and 10 mgl −1 for suspended solids. At the application rate of 6 cm per day, our study shows that only 16 acres (6.5 ha) of constructed wetlands would be required to treat 3785 m 3 of primary wastewaters to secondary treatment levels. Data on capital and O&M cost show that artificial wetlands are competitive with other treatment technologies available to small to medium sized communities.


According to medieval canon law, legal rules could be waived, thus avoiding any scandals and therefore preventing a motive for public discord. As regards the custom, this principle was shaped according to the religious and political contingencies, in order to recognize or deny any effects to customary rules. Different solutions were adopted with a view to maintaining social support towards the institutions: it was necessary to take into account both the popular spirit expressed abiding by the customs and the reactions of public opinion to the application or non-application of them. Innocent III helped to figure out the legal relevance of scandals, through the principle that it was essential to avoid at all costs dissents or oppositions in the Christian community: sometimes he uprooted the customs contrary to that of the Roman Church, which were considered dangerous to the unity of faith; other times he secured the application of the rites to which the population showed the greatest attachment. The policy of Innocent III urged, on this point, the remarks of the canonical doctrine: his decretals and the fourth Lateran council constitutions were utilized in the period of the great schism, in order to balance out the need both to maintain the unity within the Church and to respect the different ceremonial practices.

Keywords: Innocent III, scandal, custom, society, consent.


Context: Treatment burden is defined as the workload of healthcare for people with long-term conditions and the impact on wellbeing. Stroke survivors often live with considerable treatment burden because of high healthcare workload alongside deficiencies in care provision that can make navigating healthcare systems and managing health more difficult. Ways of measuring treatment burden after stroke are currently lacking. The Patient Experience with Treatment and Self-Management measure (PETS) is a 60-item patient-reported measure that was developed to measure treatment burden in a multi-morbid population. Although comprehensive, this is not a stroke-specific measure and therefore omits some burdens associated with stroke rehabilitation. Objective: Our aim was to adapt (PETS) (version 2.0, English), a patient-reported measure of treatment burden in multimorbidity, to create a stroke-specific measure (PETS-stroke), and to conduct content validity testing in a UK stroke survivor population. Study Design and analysis: PETS items were adapted to create PETS-stroke, using a previously developed conceptual model of treatment burden in stroke. Content validation involved three rounds of qualitative cognitive interviews with stroke survivors in Scotland recruited through stroke groups and primary care. Participants were asked for feedback on the importance, relevance and clarity of content of PETS-stroke. Framework analysis was used to explore responses. Setting: Community. Population studied: Stroke survivors. Instrument: Patient Experience with Treatment and Self-Management in stroke (PETS-stroke) scale. Results: Interviews (n=15) resulted in changes to the wording of instructions and items; location of items within the measure; answer options; and recall period. The final PETS-stroke tool has 34-items, spanning 13 domains. It includes 10 items unchanged from PETS, 6 new and 18 amended. Conclusions: The development of a systematic method of quantifying treatment burden from the perspective of stroke survivors will allow for the identification of patients at high risk of treatment burden and will aid the design and testing of tailored interventions aimed at lessening treatment burden.


This article reflects upon a body of practice-based research that considers the re-use of images found in printers' waste sheets, and how these can suggest forms of narrative. It specifically investigates the potential of such waste to be the basis for new ornamental forms that could reflect upon cultural exchange between India and the west. Citing examples from the packaging of fireworks and beedis, the author reveals how print and advertising act as powerful signifiers of cultural change and how, in turn, these can be exploited by designers interested in working in cross-cultural contexts. Utilising waste sheets salvaged from printers' works in southern India, and drawing from examples from contemporary music sampling and indigenous Bengali embroidery, the author seeks to re-connect emerging opportunities afforded by digital technologies with traditional craft practice.


Abstract This study explores antecedents to sector based e-business use. Sectoral e-business studies are valuable to understand the absorption of e-business in different economic sectors, the specific challenges of using e-business across different sectors and the potential of different sectors to integrate into the global digital value chain. Drawing from the perceived e-readiness model (PERM) and the Organizational, Technological and Environmental (OTE) framework, an integrated e-business use model is proposed. Data were collected from a survey of firms in the horticulture sector in Australia. Empirical analysis of the integrated model show that e-business use within the horticulture sector is at the initial state of maturity. In terms of the antecedent factors, this research shows that technology competence, financial commitment, perceived environmental e-readiness and organizational size are influential factors that directly affect e-business use. Perceived organizational e-readiness has an indirect influence on e-business use. The implications of these findings to both global IT management and e-business research are discussed. Practitioners such as governments, horticulture associations, growers and growers associations and digital marketplace operators, through understanding these factors affecting e-business use, can make effective decisions to develop their support, capabilities and offerings respectively.


Objective To explore self-emulsifying particle size characterization methods and compare the regularity of various methods. Methods By setting the clarity level of turbidity standard solution, with two less soluble drugs- diterpene lactone compounds Chuanhuning and dihydropyridine drug nifedipine as model drugs, 10-12 clarity level prescriptions were selected from six different ternary phase diagram. Laser particle size scanner was used to determine the particle size, and UV-visible spectrophotometry to determine its absorbance. Three methods of particle size characterization rules were compared by drawing charts. Results There was a positive correlationship among droplet particle size, absorbance and clarity grade of emulsion formed by prescription in the same phase diagram. But, there was no regularity among droplet particle size, absorbance and clarity grade of emulsion formed by prescription in different phase diagram. Conclusion The droplet particle size of emulsion formed by prescription containing the same drugs and excipients in different proportions can be compared by clarity with visual method or absorbance with UV-visible spectrophotometer.


Service-oriented architecture (SOA) and microservices insiders Mike Amundsen, James Lewis, and Nicolai Josuttis share their experiences and predictions with department editors Cesare Pautasso and Olaf Zimmermann.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the acceptability of Aso-Oke for casual and work wear clothes among tertiary institution female staff in Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria. Three different types of Aso-Oke; etu, alaari and sanyan were purchased in Oja-Oba market in Ilorin, Kwara State. Three types of garment design were produced from fabrics; gown, skirt suit and straight line skirt. Structured questionnaires were used as instruments for data collection. Most respondents are also aware of the different types of fabrics, but the majority complains that they did not drape well on the body, though they agreed that if it is well designed, it can be used both as casual and work wear. The bulk of the respondents asserted that the majority of fashion designers did not know how to sew fabrics. Hence, they need more training in the methodology of sewing the fabrics, especially the joining of the strip fabrics and the cutting to prevent fraying. It is recommended that people should be encouraged to set up the weaving shed of Aso Oke in Damaturu or any part of the north east. It will help to diversify culture and serve as a means of livelihood.


Numerous quantum many-body systems are characterized by either fundamental or emergent constraints---such as gauge symmetries or parity superselection for fermions---which effectively limit the accessible observables and realizable operations. Moreover, these constraints combine non-trivially with the potential requirement that operations be performed locally. The combination of symmetry and locality constraints influence our ability to perform quantum error correction in two counterposing ways. On the one hand, they constrain the effect of noise, limiting its possible action over the quantum system. On the other hand, these constraints also limit our ability to perform quantum error correction, or generally to reverse the effect of a noisy quantum channel. We analyze the conditions that local channels should satisfy in the constrained setting, and characterize the resulting optimal decoding fidelity. In order to achieve this result, we introduce a concept of local complementary channel, and prove a new local information-disturbance tradeoff.


A highly electronegative carboxyl-decorated anionic metal-organic framework (MOF), (Me2NH2)2[In2(THBA)2](CH3CN)9(H2O)21 (InOF; H4THBA = [1,1':4',1″-terphenyl]-2',3,3″,5,5',5″-hexacarboxylic acid), with high-density electronegative functional sites was designed and constructed. One unit cell of InOF possesses 12 negative sites that originate from the negatively charged secondary building unit [In(COO)4]- and exposed carboxyl groups on the ligand. The abundant electronegative sites can facilitate the hopping of ions in channels and thus result in highly efficient ion conductivities for various metal ions. Our results show that Li+-loaded materials have a remarkably high ion conductivity of 1.49 × 10-3 S/cm, an ion transference number of 0.78, and a relatively low activation energy of 0.19 eV. The Na+, K+, and Zn2+ ion conductivities of InOF are 7.97 × 10-4, 7.69 × 10-4, and 1.22 × 10-3 S/cm at 25 °C, respectively.


METHODS Yucatan Black pig skin was treated with a 1,540-nm erbium (Er):glass laser (Lux1540, 15 and 30 mJ) and two 1,550-nm Er-doped fiber lasers (Fraxel SR750 and SR1500, 8, 10, and 12 mJ). Histologic sections were examined to determine the depth of damage and to correlate subjects' clinical response. Concurrently, six subjects with photodamaged skin received three split-face and ipsilateral dorsal hand treatments with the 1,540-nm Er:glass laser on one side and one of the 1,550-nm Er-doped lasers (Fraxel SR750) on the other. RESULTS The 1,550-nm Er-doped lasers, using lower fluences and higher densities, produced shallower micro-columns than the 1,540-nm Er:glass device at higher fluences and lower densities (mean depths 250–275 μm vs 425–525 μm, respectively). Blinded assessors found greater overall improvement in pigmentation with the 1,550-nm Er-doped laser and better overall improvement in texture with the 1,540-nm Er:glass laser. CONCLUSIONS Greater densities of shallower damage columns at lower energies may better improve pigmentation, whereas deeper injuries, using higher energies and moderate densities, may better improve texture. This pilot study did not compare similar fluences and histologic damage between the two systems, and newer available systems allow for greater depth of penetration.


By using the ring torsion pendulum method and applying the correct mathematical analysis, surface viscoelasticity measurements were carried out on the monolayers of (1) stearic acid on a 10−4 mol./l. aluminum chloride solution, (2) aluminum distearate on distilled water, and (3) aluminum distearate on a 10−4 mol./l. aluminum chloride solution. It was found that the rheological behavior of 1 and 2 could be analyzed in terms of the four-parameter model and of 3 by the three-parameter model or elasticity. Also, with regard to the values of viscoelasticity, it was shown that at large areas 1 was smaller than both 2 and 3, and at small areas 1 approaches to 3. From the viewpoint of these results, it was concluded that the interacted monolyer of stearic acid with aluminum ion in an underlying solution might be analogous to the monolayer of aluminum distearate with a short chain length adsorbing basic aluminum ion.


The digestibilities of the dry matter (DDM) of 16 herbages and 22 mixtures of grain and hay of known in vivo digestibility were determined by a two-stage in vitro technique, with inocula obtained from sheep fed either hay or a diet of 70 per cent barley and 30 per cent hay; both diets contained 12 per cent crude protein. The in vitro digestions were conducted with or without the addition of ammonium sulphate. The correlations between in vivo and in vitro digestibilities were higher for the herbages and the mixtures with inoculum from sheep fed hay, than with that from sheep fed barley and hay. Adding ammonium sulphate to either inoculum lowered the in vivo-in vitro correlation for the mixtures containing grain but improved the correlation for the herbage samples. The variability between replicate in vitro determinations was not reduced by adding ammonium sulphate to the inoculum from sheep fed hay but was increased for the inoculum from sheep fed a mixture of barley and hay.


Summary form only given. We apply the oscillation-based test strategy to test active RC filters. We develop general guidelines for the design of the oscillation-based test structures and describe in more details the resonator active filler (biquad filter) configuration. It can be shown that some of the derived structures are achieved by simple circuit modification while for the more general case additional feedback loop network is required.


Tissue stiffness is generally known to be associated with pathologic changes. Ultrasound indentation is able to assess the mechanical properties of soft tissues. Conventional ultrasound indentation devices use rigid flat-ended transducers to directly contact with the tissues and typically operate in the frequency ranging between 2 M Hz and 10 MHz. This paper introduced a novel ultrasound indentation system using water jet compression. The water jet served as an indenter as well as a medium for the propagation of the ultrasound beam. High frequency focused transducer was used to measure the indentation deformation at a microscopic level. It has been demonstrated that the system could effectively assess the tissue-mimicking phantoms with different stiffness. Moreover, another advantage of this novel indentation system was to apply C-scan on soft tissues rapidly and conveniently. By applying different pressures on C-scan sequences, the modulus image of the tissue could be obtained. This paper presented the preliminary results on gel phantoms. The spatial resolution and the sensitivity of the measurements, the reproducibility of the results were also discussed


John Climacus (c. 579-649) was abbot of the monastery of Catherine on Mount Sinai. His Ladder was the most widely used handbook of the ascetical life in the ancient Greek Church.


Michael C. Forrest, commonly known as "the father of bright spots," was interviewed by Dolores Proubasta during Calgary 2000 as part of a continuing "Mentoring" series of articles. Forrest started work with Shell in 1955 as a geophysicist, followed by assignments as seismic party chief and offshore Gulf of Mexico geophysical project leader. In the Gulf's Louisiana shelf, Forrest played a major role in several 100-million-barrel Shell discoveries in the early to mid-1970s using "bright spot" seismic technology. In the mid 1980s he was part of the management team that leased many Gulf deepwater (2000 to 6000 ft) prospects now in production. He completed his Shell career as president of Pecten International Company (a Shell USA subsidiary).

On his retirement from Shell in 1992, Forrest joined Maxus Energy Corporation as vice chairman/chief operating officer. He was in a leadership role in Maxus' Venezuela and Bolivia exploration operations where large discoveries have been made. He retired from Maxus/YPF International in 1997 as senior vice president of Business Development and Technology.

Forrest serves on the Board of Trustees for the Institute for the Study of Earth and Man at Southern Methodist University, the American Geological Institute, and is an SEG Trustee Associate. He is a director of Matador Petroleum, a private oil company with U.S. operations, and Tierra Nueva Resources, a private oil company with South American interests. Forrest is corporate advisor for Alliant Geophysical, a seismic data processing company, and a member of the Advisory Board of Chroma Energy, a seismic service company.

How did you get to be known as "father of bright spots" at Shell Oil Company?

My coworkers in Shell like to say that I discovered "bright spots" when I was a seismic interpreter during 1968–69 in the New Orleans office. Improved seismic data quality using digital signal …


Objective Duchesnea indica has been reported for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, its efficacy in sepsis has yet to be reported. In this study, we studied the ability of Duchesnea indica extract (DIE) to rescue mice from septic shock and sepsis. Methods In vitro studies included the measurement of secreted nitric oxide, cell viability, gene and protein expression via real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot, and confocal microscopy in RAW 264.7 cells. In vivo studies include a model of septic shock and sepsis in BALB/c mice induced by a lethal and sub-lethal dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results DIE suppressed the expression of proinflammatory cytokines induced by LPS and prevented the translocation of NFκB into the nucleus of RAW 264.7 cells. It also prevented reactive oxygen species damage induced by LPS in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages. Models of sepsis and septic shock were established in BALB/c mice and DIE-rescued mice from septic shock. DIE also reversed the increase in tumor necrosis factor-α and nitrite levels in the serum of mice induced with sepsis. DIE also prevented the translocation of NFκB from the cytosol into the nucleus in murine lungs. Histopathological damage induced by sepsis was reversed in the testis, liver, and lungs of mice. Conclusion In conclusion, DIE is a suitable candidate for development as a therapeutic agent for sepsis.


ABSTRACT Objectives To investigate the clinical and genetic factors influencing the survival of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients in China. Methods Patients were enrolled in the study between December 2013 and December 2018. Clinical variables were recorded upon patient diagnosis. Causative genes related to ALS were screened by whole-exome sequencing and validated by Sanger sequencing. Each patient was followed up every 3–6 months until the endpoint (death or tracheotomy) or the last connection time on 31 December 2020. Propensity score matching analysis was performed to match the genetic and non-genetic ALS patients. The Kaplan–Meier method and multivariable Cox regression were performed for survival analysis. Results A total of 337 patients, including 32 with genetic ALS and 305 with non-genetic ALS, were enrolled in the study. Before matching, in univariate analysis, age of onset (P < 0.001), site of onset (P = 0.036), diagnostic delay (P < 0.001), ALSFRS-R score at diagnosis (P < 0.001), ΔALSFRS-R (P < 0.001), and causative mutations (P = 0.020) were significant prognostic factors. These factors remained statistically significant after multivariate analysis. After matching, in the multivariate analysis, age of onset (P = 0.003), site of onset (P = 0.014), diagnostic delay (P = 0.007), ALSFRS-R score at diagnosis (P = 0.010), ΔALSFRS-R (P = 0.007), and causative mutations (P = 0.003) were found to be significant prognostic factors. Conclusion Both clinical factors and genetic factors influenced survival in our ALS cohort. Clarifying of the underlying mechanisms is crucial for the development of future therapies.


Genetic and molecular investigations were carried out with Eurasian Drosophila melanogaster populations on the P-M system of hybrid dysgenesis. In 27 strains sampled from France to Middle Asia, a clear gradient exists between Western Europe, in which most modern strains are of the Q type, and eastern areas, in which M-cytotype strains predominate. Molecular analysis on individual flies was performed with two complementary probes of the cloned 2.9-kilobase P element. The results provide evidence for a gradually decreasing frequency of P elements from west to east, but the presence of P-homologous sequences has been ascertained in all of the wild M-cytotype populations analyzed. Moreover, some active P elements with GD sterility potential were revealed in the majority of M-cytotype populations when tested with a highly sensitive reference line. The gradual change in distribution of the polymorphic P family in Eurasia is discussed in relation to the structure of the elements together with the theories of P-M evolution and is interpreted as the present invasion of Eurasian populations by these elements.


In an era of increasing capital mobility and globalisation, the growing integration of financial markets seems to be a key factor of corporate governance convergence. One of the most striking differences between corporate governance systems of different countries is the dissimilarity in the firms' ownership and control that exists across countries. According to the degree of ownership and control, corporate governance systems can be distinguished in outsider systems (characterised by wide dispersed ownership) and insider systems (characterised by concentrated ownership). The transition from a governance approach founded on the shareholder view and oriented to the optimization of economic performance to a policy founded on the stakeholder view and oriented to the appreciation of the interdependence among economic, social and environmental responsibility, seems to be a factor of de facto convergence between outsider and insider systems of corporate governance. The main finding of this chapter is that the effective integration of CSR, sustainability and leadership makes easier the convergence between insider and outsider corporate governance systems. Leadership starts at board level. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability require good corporate governance, grounded on stakeholder engagement, fairness, transparency and accountability. All these principles are related with more externally focused boards and determine a governance approach directed to the growth of sustainable value. In light of the above, this chapter will consider how the social responsibility and the role of the leaders (CEOs, Board of Directors, managers, etc.) can determine a governance approach directed to the growth of sustainable value over time. This is possible through the exploitation of opportunities and the economic and social risk management with which the companies should compete. The achievement of sustainability leadership requires significant changes in the operational guidelines and critical factors for company's success and it imposes the improvement of the internal control systems intended to provide essential support for responsible governance. Therefore, leadership aiming at sustainability (regardless of the corporate governance system) requires CSR to be transferred from top management to the entire organisation, increasing the ability to manage complexity with respect to articulated goals. So, the corporate social responsibility, if properly realized, tends to be a factor of substantial convergence between the different existing systems of corporate governance.


Modelling soil water movement has increased the demand for accurate measurements of soil physical and hydraulic properties. Data on saturated hydraulic conductivity (K), which was measured by using different hydraulic heads, are presented for artificially packed soil columns and for different soil layers of undisturbed soil cores taken from a long-term experiment on conservation tillage. In the majority of the samples in both artificially packed soil columns and undisturbed soil cores, increasing hydraulic head caused significant deviation (i.e. significant positive correlation coefficient between hydraulic head and the measured values of K) from the conventional criterion for Darcy's law that flux remains linear with hydraulic gradient. The study, therefore, emphasis the need to define the hydraulic head for measuring K values to be used for studying water movement in soils, to facilitate efficient utilisation of water resources for irrigating field crops in different soils and under different planting systems and irrigation methods.


The present invention discloses a system and method for monitoring heart activity. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method, comprising: acquiring description information after a series of beat variability in heart rate; specified as being largely irrelevant to atrial fibrillation in the lower end of physiological values change; the physiological value variability intermediate range designated as indicative of atrial fibrillation; specified negative variability indicative of atrial fibrillation in the upper range of physiological values; and determining the correlation variability to atrial fibrillation as described in the set.


Introduction: An association between Intimate Partner Violence ( IPV) against women and negative social and health consequences for children has been observed in multiple studies from around the world. Impaired growth is an important health determinant in children and has been associated with higher morbidity and mortality in children less than 5 years of age. Different forms of violence have been shown to impair the growth of children in diverse countries, especially low-income countries. This study describes the relationship between maternal experience of IPV, maternal characteristics (age, parity, ethnicity, marital status and symptoms of depression) and subsequent child growth. Methods: Existing data that utilized longitudinal study design to collect data from 207 mother-child dyads that were from a low socio-economic status was used for secondary data analysis. The child's weight and length data were converted to WHO growth standard z scores (Weight for Length (WLZ) and Length for Age (LAZ)) at birth and at 24 months. The z scores were assessed in relation to women's IPV exposure status and maternal characteristics.  Linear regression was used to assess the association between prenatal and postnatal maternal variables, child variables (gender and birth order) and child's WLZ and LAZ. Findings: There was no statistical significance in WLZ and LAZ in children who were exposed to maternal prenatal IPV and those not exposed. The following relationships were seen in male children: birth order (p=0.023) and WLZ; Symptoms of maternal depression during pregnancy (p=0.021) and WLZ at 24 months; symptoms of maternal depression after birth (p= 0.049) and WLZ at 24 months and exposure to postnatal violence (p=0.030), specifically emotional violence (p=0.050) and LAZ score. Female children whose mothers were not married had a low LAZ (p=0.009). Conclusion: The growth of male children less than two years is vulnerable to exposure of maternal emotional violence and depression in the pre and postnatal period while height gain of female children is affected by maternal single status. Recommendations : There is need to screen mothers for IPV, specifically emotional violence carefully monitor the growth patterns in their children after birth especially male children


It is aptly said that there are three types of lies… Lies…! Damn lies!! And statistics!!! Medical Researchers at times get stuck into facts, evidences and numbers so much that they seems to miss larger picture… Here are some light moments from relatively dry world of statisticians and epidemiologist!! So Here we Relate…………. Keywords: Facts, evidences, Statistics


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This paper describes a laboratory equipped for the teaching of advanced courses in computer engineering, computer science, information systems, and software engineering. Other related work areas include computer vision, real-time systems, programming languages, and computer architectures. The laboratory has been built around a digital model railroad platform controlled by a client-server system using an object-oriented language. The characteristics of this laboratory are suitable for implementing Web activities for educational purposes. The paper also includes an overview of the system in which most of these topics have been considered and a summary of the relationship with the most relevant international curricula in computing.


Calculations of the dry deposition flux in regional budgets are commonly based on estimates of the dry deposition velocity together with ambient concentration measurements at a reference height for a well-developed one-dimensional boundary layer. Alternate approaches are needed to estimate dry deposition to sensitive systems near major sources. In this study, the dry deposition flux is calculated using a steady-state Gaussian plume model that includes dry deposition. Cumulative frequency distributions of five required environmental variables and covariance relationships between variables are determined in order to perform Monte Carlo simulations of ambient concentrations and deposition fluxes near an area source.


ABSTRACT Nogueira Mendes, R.; Pereira da Silva, C.; Fonseca, C., and Gil, A., 2020. Managing and Monitoring the Recreational Use of Coastal Protected Areas: the Case of Berlengas Nature Reserve (Portugal). In: Malvárez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 123–127. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Coastal protected areas are under pressure due to recreational uses. That requires better and continuous information to ensure an effective and timely management, before irreversible impacts take place. This paper presents the methodology developed under project LIFE Berlengas, which allowed a better estimate of the annual number of visits of Berlengas Nature Reserve. Also took place the development of a barometer of visitors' perception and the construction of a spatial distribution model. Results show a high level of satisfaction with the recreational experience, despite concerns about the 'excess of people'. The project's global outputs give a clear picture of the island's recreational use and problems and provide valuable information for the management of the nature reserve, namely for the determination of carrying capacity.


Bolted busbar connections are a simple and versatile connection method used in battery systems. Copper busbars are widely used for such bolted connections; however, aluminum offers the potential to save weight and cost. To date, the reliability of aluminum connections dimensioned for battery systems and the vulnerability to corrosion accelerants is not established. In this study, bolted aluminum connections were tested under operational and environmental conditions applicable to battery systems. Four bolted configurations (AA1070 and AA6101, with nickel plating or brushed contact surfaces) were exposed to corrosive environments and current-induced thermal cycling. Nickel plating provided a robust contact interface that maintained stable resistance over 6000 cycles across three temperature levels. The nickel plating's electrical performance was unaffected by the corrosive environments, including humidity, salt mist, and hydrogen sulfide exposure. The brushed aluminum configurations produced connections with greater contact resistance variation and achieving a joint performance factor < 1.5 was critical for long-term reliability. The growing appeal of aluminum in battery systems requires verification methods capable of assessing new contact configurations. Currently, corrosion test environments for evaluating aluminum contacts are lacking in the literature. This study provides insights into the performance of bolted aluminum configurations dimensioned for battery systems and provides methodology for accelerated verification of new configurations.


A general procedure for the synthesis of 1-benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines was developed, based on organocatalytic, regio- and enantioselective Pictet-Spengler reactions (86-92% ee) of N-(o-nitrophenylsulfenyl)-2-arylethylamines with arylacetaldehydes. The presence of the o-nitrophenylsulfenyl group, together with the MOM-protection in the catechol part of the tetrahydroisoquinoline ring system, appeared to be a productive combination. To demonstrate the versatility of this approach, 10 biologically and pharmaceutically relevant alkaloids were prepared using (R)-TRIP as the chiral catalyst: (R)-norcoclaurine, (R)-coclaurine, (R)-norreticuline, (R)-reticuline, (R)-trimemetoquinol, (R)-armepavine, (R)-norprotosinomenine, (R)-protosinomenine, (R)-laudanosine, and (R)-5-methoxylaudanosine.