Software processes and corresponding models are dynamic entities that must evolve to cope with changes occurred in the enacting process, the software development organisation, the market and the methodologies used to produce software. However, in the everyday practice, software team members do not want total flexibility. They rather prefer to learn about and follow previously defined controlled flexibility, that is, advices on which, where, how and by whom process models and related instances can change/adapt. Process engineers can express these advices within a process model with a domain-specific language (DSL), which complements the core process modelling language with additional controlled flexibility information. Then, software team members can browse and learn on this information in process models and instances, and be guided when performing changes. In this study, the authors propose the use of the semantic web and associated ontology-based technologies to develop and evolve their controlled flexibility DSL for software processes. They use an ontology-based format to define the controlled flexibility-related concepts, descriptions and axioms that specify the formal semantics of their DSL. In addition, the authors provide concrete mappings between these ontology concepts and a unified modelling language class-based DSL metamodel and describe how it supports changes made in the ontology.


The current role of m-health in Public health of people is not clear in improving health systems globally. Objectives: To critically analyze the role of m-health in Public Health globally. Materials and methods: A Systematic Review of studies till December 2012 on m-Health was done. Results and Discussion: Various types of m- health areas are budding with good prospects in Public health improvement. Conclusions: A lot of benefits and utility of m-health in Public Health is possible Globally. This means we can improve health systems globally  to provide quality healthcare to people.


The problem of membrane fouling is a key factor restricting the application of the membrane bioreactor (MBR) in the partial nitrosation (PN) and anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) processes. In this study, the pilot-scale continuous flow MBR was used to start up the partial nitrosation process in order to investigate the change trend of mid-transmembrane pressure (TMP) in the process of start-up, which was further explored to clarify the membrane fouling mechanism in the pilot-scale reactor. The results showed that the MBR system was in a stable operating condition during the partial nitrosation operation and that the online automatic backwash operation mode is beneficial in alleviating membrane fouling and reducing the cost of membrane washing. Particular attention was paid to the influence trend of free ammonia (FA)on membrane fouling, and it was found that the increase in FA concentration plays the most critical role in membrane fouling. The increase in FA concentration led to an increase in the extracellular polymer (EPS), dissolved microorganism product (SMP) and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) concentration. FA was extremely significantly correlated with EPS and SCOD, and the FA concentration was approximately 20.7 mg/L. The SCODeff (effluent SCOD concentration) concentration was approximately 147 mg/L higher than the SCODinf (influent SCOD concentration) concentration. FA mainly affects membrane fouling by affecting the concentration of EPS and SCOD.


The potential surfaces of 1,2,3‐trioxolane (primary ozonide) and 1,2,4‐trioxolane (final ozonide) have been explored by ab initio MO theory using large augmented basis sets. Extensive optimization of geometry has been perfomed with and without polarization functions. Results indicate that the latter are necessary in order to obtain reliable theoretical predictions with regard to the degree and mode of puckering of the two five‐membered rings and with regard to their conformational barriers. Contrary to previous quantum chemical calculations the envelope form (Cs symmetry) of the primary ozonide is found to be the most stable conformation. Pseudorotation is hindered by a barrier of 3.5 kcal/mole which is about half as high as the barrier to planarity (7.7 kcal/mole). Similar barrier heights are calculated for the final ozonide (3 kcal/mole vs 6 kcal/mole), but in this case the twist conformation (C2 symmetry) corresponds to the conformational minimum. The electronic features determining the conformational ...


Introduction. The article examines the motif of heroic duel (combat) as an important segment of the epic plot, and our comparative analysis of the nuclear basis of the motif and its variation list proves instrumental in delineating a structural-meaningful model motif invariant inherent to the epic of Mongolic peoples and depicting military conflicts. The issue has never been dealt with in this perspective. Goals. The work seeks to determine a variation row of the invariant motif in national epic traditions of Buryats, Kalmyks, Mongols, and Oirats. Materials. The variation row to be extracted from Mongolic epic narratives, namely: Buryat uligers of Abai Geser (Ungin version of P. Petrov) and Abai Geser Khubun (Ekhirit-Bulagat version of M. Emegenov), Baga Dorbet and Eelyan Ovla's cycles of the Kalmyk Epic of Jangar, Xinjiang Oirat version of the Jangar, Oirat Mongolian tuuli texts titled Daini Kyurel and Khan Kharangui, and a Khalkha tuuli titled Agiyin Ulan Khan. Methods. To identify the typology and variable interpretations of the motif, the study uses elements of the comparative-typological and comparative-historical methods. The 'heroic duel (combat)' motif model is viewed as an element that hypothetically can act as the most important lever within the plot development mechanism, e.g., evolving from a motif ― a 'simplest narrative unit' ― to a plot, and vice versa. When it comes to identify the motif, its dualistic nature, variety of its properties and features noted by Russian and foreign scientists are taken into account. Results. The comparative insight into the motif of heroic duel (combat) makes it possible to single out the motif as an essential constructive and meaningful element of the plot, examine the degree of productivity and mobility of the motif in genetically related though stadially differing epics, as well as in ones belonging to various taletelling traditions, observe heroic confrontation patterns in epics of Mongolic peoples. Conclusions. The study concludes that motif invariants tend to form a plot basis, while motif variants express certain features (stadial, national, local) of each epic tradition.


Visual perception is not only shaped by sensitivity, but also by confidence, i.e. the ability to estimate the accuracy of a visual decision. There is robust evidence that younger observers have access to a reliable measure of their own uncertainty when making visual decisions. This metacognitive ability might be challenged during aging due to increasing sensory noise and decreasing cognitive control resources. We investigated age effects on visual confidence using a confidence forced-choice paradigm. We determined discrimination thresholds for trials in which perceptual judgements were indicated as confident and for those in which they were declined as confident. Younger adults (19-38 years) showed significantly lower discrimination thresholds than older adults (60-78 years). In both age groups, perceptual performance was linked to confidence judgements, but overall results suggest reduced confidence efficiency in older adults. However, we observed substantial variability of confidence effects across all particpants. This variability was closely linked to individual differences in cognitive control capacities, i.e. executive function. Our findings provide evidence for age-related differences in meta-perceptual efficiency that present a specific challenge to perceptual performance in old age. We propose that these age effects are primarily mediated by cognitive control resources, supporting their crucial role for metacognitive efficiency.


With the rapid growth of multimedia document on the web, cross-modal retrieval has become an important issue. The modality of a query is different from that of the retrieved results in cross-modal retrieval. In this paper, we propose a novel graph model, which not only combines content and semantics similarities through two Markov chains, but also utilizes the interaction between different modalities to attain the whole semantics information of a multimedia document. Content similarity focuses on the original features within each modality, while semantics similarity focuses on the semantic vectors in a common space. Both of them are very significant. Random forests method is used to map the original features into a semantic space. The ranked list for a query is achieved by highlighting an optimal path across the corresponding chain. Experiments on the Wikipedia dataset show that the performance of our model significantly outperforms those of existing approaches for cross-modal retrieval.


The theoretical and experimental analysis of open resonator (OR) with the reflecting diffraction comb grating has been presented. The resonator studied has excitation where is practically close to the monofrequency operating mode. The trend for a realization of millimeter wave oscillation systems with a single resonance response in a wide frequency region, follows from many applied problems, such as a spectroscopy, radio measurement, and mm wave generation. The using of the additional dispersive element in OR is a dominant way of the spectrum rarefaction. For this purpose the reflective diffraction grating are most widely used.


Many types of services involve a sequence in which customers choose a service provider followed by selection of service specifications, that is selecting when and how the service will be performed. Specifications selection can be dominated by the provider, the customer or the customer and provider can jointly select specifications. Customer satisfaction results if specifications selection meets customer expectations of the provider‐customer role. Specifications selection unfolds as a process where information is exchanged between the customer and provider and the provider can be more or less customer oriented. Effective information exchange and a strong customer orientation by the provider contribute to customer satisfaction. Customers make attributions of provider or customer responsibility for specifications selection depending on the type of specifications selection that occurs and provider provision of specifications information. Customers who attribute specification selection to their decisions assume responsibility for the specifications selected.


In view of the limited previous research on impact of leisure lifestyle on people's health in cross-cultural settings, this paper addresses this issue by analyzing the results of three studies conducted in China, Korea, and Japan. The three cross-cultural leisure and health studies operationalize leisure lifestyle as leisure activities, leisure constraints, leisure satisfaction, and health. The three studies also provide expansions of Social Gradient Theory of Life Expectancy (SGTLE), Fundamental Social Cause Theory (FSCT), and Cultural Consonance Theory (CCT) which suggest that leisure activities and leisure constraints have impacts on health cross-culturally. All three studies found that leisure constraints in leisure lifestyle impact well-being, happiness, and stress. Although both the SGTLE and FSCT indicated that socioeconomic status (SES) is related to health, the Japan study did not support both theories. In Okinawa, SES has no impact on health. The findings in Japan study suggest a major revision of SGTLE and FSCT that health is not related to SES. All three studies contribute to our understanding of the relationship between leisure lifestyle and health cross-culturally. Keywords : Leisure lifestyle, health, China, Korea, Japan.


We use a numerical Galactic chemical evolution model and find that the common envelope jet supernova (CEJSN) r-process scenario can account for both the very early average ratio of europium to iron and its evolution at later times in the the Milky Way. In the CEJSN scenario a neutron star (NS) spirals in inside a red supergiant (RSG) star all the way to the core and destroys it. According to this scenario r-process isotopes are nucleosynthesized inside neutron-rich jets that the accretion disk around the NS launches inside the core. The merger of an NS with an RSG core already takes place in the very young Galaxy. We conclude that CEJSNe can be a major contributor to r-process nucleosynthesis.


Requirements engineering is a series of activities which aims to elicit, analyze, evaluate, and document the requirements of a system that is being developed. The activities do not stop after the product is deployed but continues as the users use the product and provide feedbacks to the system and matter how decent the functionalities of a product are, if it cannot address the correct problem and/or opportunities of the stakeholders or users, the product cannot be considered useful. That being said, not all stakeholders are willing to participate in providing useful feedbacks to improve the product after deployment, for many reasons. Gamification is considered as an opportunity that can be utilized to improve the motivation of user to use a product by implementing game design elements into an existing software product, thus increasing user participation to contribute in providing useful feedbacks and evolving requirements of a software product. This research proposes a model to support engineers in motivating users to provide feedbacks using gamification and also Naïve Bayes Classifier to classify user feedbacks into categories needed by the developer to extract the requirements stated in the feedback, such as bug reports, feature request, user experiences, etc.
Kata Kunci—requirements engineering, gamification, Naïve Bayes, user feedback


A shape memory alloy (SMA) with a composition of Ni60Ti40 (wt%) was chosen for the fabrication of active beam elements intended for use as cyclic actuators and incorporated into a morphing aerospace structure. The active structure is a variable-geometry chevron (VGC) designed to reduce jet engine noise in the take-off flight regime while maintaining efficiency in the cruise regime. This two-part work addresses the training, characterization and derived material properties of the new nickel-rich composition, the assessment of the actuation properties of the active beam actuator and the accurate analysis of the VGC and its subcomponents using a model calibrated from the material characterization. The characterization performed in part I of this work was intended to provide quantitative information used to predict the response of SMA beam actuators of the same composition and with the same heat treatment history. Material in the form of plates was received and ASTM standard tensile testing coupons were fabricated and tested. To fully characterize the material response as an actuator, various thermomechanical experiments were performed. Properties such as actuation strain and transformation temperatures as a function of applied stress were of primary interest. Results from differential scanning calorimetry, monotonic tensile loading and constant stress thermal loading for the as-received, untrained material are first presented. These show lower transformation temperatures, higher elastic stiffnesses (60–90 GPa) and lower recoverable transformation strains (≈1.5%) when compared to equiatomic NiTi (Nitinol). Stabilization (training) cycles were applied to the tensile specimens and characterization tests were repeated for the stable (trained) material. The effects of specimen training included the saturation of cyclically generated irrecoverable plastic strains and a broadening of the thermal transformation hysteresis. A set of final derived material properties for this stable material is provided. Finally, the actuation response of a structural beam component composed of the same material given the same thermomechanical processing conditions was assessed by applying a constant bias load and a variable bias load as thermal actuation cycles were imposed.


In this paper, we examine the linguistic phenomenon known as 'depiction', which relates to the ability to visually represent semantic components (Dudis, 2004). While some elements of this have been described for Irish Sign Language, with particular attention to the 'productive lexicon' (Leeson & Grehan, 2004; Leeson & Saeed, 2012; Matthews, 1996; O'Baoill & Matthews, 2000), here, we take the analysis further, drawing on what we have learned from cognitive linguistics over the past decade. Drawing on several recently developed domain-specific glossaries (e.g., STEM1, Covid-192, political domain, Sexual, Domestic and Gender Based Violence (SDGBV)-related vocabulary) we present ongoing analysis indicating that a deliberate focus on iconicity, in particular, elements of depiction, appears to be a primary driver. We also consider the potential implications of the insights we intend to gain from Deaf-led glossary glossary development work in the context of Machine Translation goals, for example, for work in progress on the Horizon 2020 funded SignON project.


If the heart fails to recover sufficient functionality following an infarct, then heart failure develops, an important cause of death in the western world. One obvious therapy is to create more muscle tissue to supplement the damaged myocardium with new functional contractile cells, together with neovasculogenesis. Stem cells repair recipient tissue by differentiating into tissue-specific cells or by creating an environment that stimulates the process of repair by the body's own cells at the site. In animal studies the heart function stabilised following an injection of stem cells in the infarcted area. In 3 non-randomised trials in humans, bone marrow stem cells were injected via the infarcted artery or round the infarcted area; the results indicated an improved heart function. There is currently still insufficient fundamental knowledge about the behaviour of multipotent cells, about the effects of using them for treatment, and about their long-term risk for these cells to be employed in the treatment of patients with a heart infarct.


Coherence of neural activity between circumscribed brain regions has been implicated as an indicator of intracerebral communication in various cognitive processes. While neural activity can be volitionally controlled with neurofeedback, the volitional control of coherence has not yet been explored. Learned volitional control of coherence could elucidate mechanisms of associations between cortical areas and its cognitive correlates and may have clinical implications. Neural coherence may also provide a signal for brain-computer interfaces (BCI). In the present study we used the Weighted Overlapping Segment Averaging method to assess coherence between bilateral magnetoencephalograph sensors during voluntary digit movement as a basis for BCI control. Participants controlled an onscreen cursor, with a success rate of 124 of 180 (68.9%, sign-test p < 0.001) and 84 out of 100 (84%, sign-test p < 0.001). The present findings suggest that neural coherence may be volitionally controlled and may have specific behavioral correlates.


We investigate velocity probability distribution functions (PDF) of sheared hard-sphere suspensions. As observed in our Stokes flow simulations and explained by our single-particle theory, these PDFs can show pronounced deviations from a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. The PDFs are symmetric around zero velocity and show a Gaussian core and exponential tails over more than six orders of magnitude of probability. Following the excellent agreement of our theory and simulation data, we demonstrate that the distribution functions scale with the shear rate, the particle volume concentration, as well as the fluid viscosity.


The Salton Trough represents a complex transition between the spreading center in Baja California and the strike‐slip San Andreas fault system and is one of the most active zones of deformation and seismicity in California. We present a high‐resolution interseismic velocity field for the Salton Trough derived from 74 continuous GPS sites and 109 benchmarks surveyed in three GPS campaigns during 2008–2009 and previous surveys between 2000 and 2005. We also investigate small‐scale deformation by removing the regional velocity field predicted by an elastic block model for Southern California from the observed velocities. We find a total extension rate of 11 mm/yr from the Mesquite Basin to the southern edge of the San Andreas Fault, coupled with 15 mm/yr of left‐lateral shear, the majority of which is concentrated in the southern Salton Sea and Obsidian Buttes and is equivalent to 17 mm/yr oriented in the direction of the San Andreas Fault. Differential shear strain is exclusively localized in the Brawley Seismic Zone, and dilatation rate indicates widespread extension throughout the zone. In addition, we infer clockwise rotation of 10°/Ma, consistent with northwestward propagation of the Brawley Seismic Zone over geologic time.


In the SE of the Armorican Massif (France), the Ordovician-Silurian transition and the lower part of the Silurian are exposed at the locality Les Fresnaies at Chalonnes-sur-Loire. The Silurian graptolitic "phtanites" (black cherts) are richly fossiliferous. Detailed sampling allows a description of the graptolite faunas and a precise stratigraphical analysis of the succession that comprises the whole of the Rhuddanian and Aeronian stages. Both the Llandovery graptolite assemblages and the lithologies of Les Fresnaies are similar to those of other lower Silurian successions throughout peri-Gondwanan Europe, like Portugal, Spain, Sardinia, Bohemia, Germany and Carnic Alps, and in the Middle East (Jordan and Saudi Arabia).


The recommended procedures and criteria for interleukin designations are described. The officially adopted designations are, in sequence, from interleukin-1 to interleukin-10, including interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-1 beta.


Intelligent vehicle perception algorithms often have difficulty accurately analyzing and interpreting images in adverse weather conditions. Snow is a corner case that not only reduces visibility and contrast but also affects the stability of the road environment. While it is possible to train deep learning models on real-world driving datasets in snow weather, obtaining such data can be challenging. Synthesizing snow effects on existing driving datasets is a viable alternative. In this work, we propose a method based on Cycle Consistent Generative Adversarial Networks (CycleGANs) that utilizes additional semantic information to generate snow effects. We apply deep supervision by using intermediate outputs from the last two convolutional layers in the generator as multi-scale supervision signals for training. We collect a small set of driving image data captured under heavy snow as the translation source. We compare the generated images with those produced by various network architectures and evaluate the results qualitatively and quantitatively on the Cityscapes and EuroCity Persons datasets. Experiment results indicate that our model can synthesize realistic snow effects in driving images.


The hospital stay of 100 patients admitted to hospital in 1988 for surgical repair of inguinal and crural hernias was analysed. Fifty-three per cent of patients were over the age of 60 years and more than one half of them has a medical history. There was no mortality and only a single serious complication. The mean hospital stay was 7.6 days, influenced by the age of the patients. The complementary investigations only constituted a small proportion of the cost of the hospital stay. The authors conclude on the necessity for further reduce the length of hospital stay (principal cost factor) and even propose day admission, although this alternative can only be proposed to a minority of patients.


Background: There is limited data about the short-term stroke mortality rates for patients in treatment settings. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the short-term stroke (in hospital, one month, one year) mortality rates in Iran through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Materials & Methods: We searched electronic databases, including three national (IranDoc, Megiran, SID) and four international (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar), from January 1990 to March 2020. We considered all observational studies on stroke mortality, such as cohort and crosssectional studies. Furthermore, the sub-group analyses were performed based on each province and metaregression analysis based on the study's year and patients' mean age. Results: Among 143 studies, 28 were eligible (11 cohort and 17 cross-sectional studies). Based on the random model, the mortality rates for in-hospital, 1-month, and 1-year mortality were reported as 18.71% (95% CI: 15.09%-22.34%), 23.43% (95% CI: 20.08%-26.78%), and 34.44% (95% CI: 32.02%- 36.85%), respectively. The results also revealed that mortality rates were neither related to the year studies conducted nor to the patient's age. Conclusion: Approximately one-fifth of stroke patients in Iran die in the hospital after admission. The mortality rate increased in the one-month and one-year period, and about one-third of the patients died in the first year. Therefore, it is cardinal to focus on programs and solutions in which we can ameliorate mortality in the short-term period after stroke by performing primary specific treatments on patients.


The extent and integrity of wetland ecosystems in New Zealand has declined. Only an estimated 10% of the historic (pre-European) extent of inland palustrine wetlands now remains. A key mechanism for conservation of wetlands is inclusion within the protected area network, including both public and private protected areas. Review of progress in wetland reservation enables evaluation of the success of land purchase, land tenure review and other initiatives to address gaps in the national reserve system. I present the first national assessment of changes in wetland reservation between 1990 and 2013. Potential biases in wetland protection were identified by comparing differences in reservation across wetland type, wetland size, biogeographical region, and altitudinal range. At the national scale 63% of palustrine wetlands are now within protected areas, but this represents only 6% of the historical extent. Between 1990 and 2013 the extent of current wetlands protected in conservation land administered by the Department of Conservation increased from 48% to 60%, a net gain of 29 000 ha. Much of the increase in wetland reservation has occurred in the South Island, partly due to tenure review of high country land (>500 m a.s.l.). There are inconsistencies in reservation between wetland types, with lower coverage of protected areas for swamps, fens and marshes. There are also inadequacies in the completeness of wetland reserves, with a number of wetlands only partially contained within reserve boundaries. I propose a number of options for improving the reservation status of wetlands in New Zealand that will contribute to a more comprehensive, adequate and representative network of freshwater protected areas.


In Making the Social World Searle makes the same claim he made in 1995: that "Human beings along with a lot of other social animals, have the capacity for collective intentionality" (Searle 2010, 43). In this paper I aim to show that Searle's "overattribution" of collective intentionality to non-human animals is unjustified. Firstly, I briefly reconstruct and augment Tomasello & Rakoczy's (2007) criticism that Searle overemphasises the primitiveness of the notion of collective intentionality. Secondly, I will investigate the domain of cooperative behaviour by means of a comparative, crossspecies methodology driven by an enactivist approach. Such an approach can help us to understand (i) why Searle overattributes collective intentionality, (ii) how we can resist such an overattribution, and (iii) why we ought to resist it. Thirdly, I argue that Searle's six conditions of adequacy for any account of collective intentionality are incompatible with his attribution of collective intentionality to non-human animals. Finally, I conclude by noting that Searle's overattribution has important consequences for his system, as it implicates that human uniqueness begins with institutional reality rather than with collective intentionality and social ontology.


Online learning platforms with asynchronous discussion boards provide such a different setting from traditional face-to-face classrooms that they urge educators to investigate online teaching methods. The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to identity the recommended online teaching methods in asynchronous discussion boards, and second, to explore learners' perceptions about the identified teaching methods and correlate the learners' perceptions with learners' characteristics, including computer skills, experiences, and activity ratios in online discussions. Bruner's classification of two modes of analytical and narrative thought was used as a theoretical framework. Accordingly, two teaching methods, narrative and episodic, were identified. Descriptive survey and correlation designs were used to examine the perspectives of 30 purposefully selected online students through two sets of questionnaires with close and open-ended questions. Findings indicated that the narrative with a higher interactivity level, was the preferred method. The interactivity of online instructors and perceived success of courses were moderately correlated. Participants with stronger computer skills preferred teaching methods with lower interactivity. Some participants did not prefer a specific teaching method for performing various instructional tasks but rather preferred combining the narrative and episodic methods. Such findings inform educators about possible changes to improve the quality of online teaching.


Aim: The study was aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitude and use of non-prescription drug among pregnant women in Okwe General Hospital Asaba in Delta State. Study Design: The study was a descriptive cross sectional survey. Place and Duration of Study: Okwe General Hospital Asaba in Delta State, Nigeria. The study was conducted between June to July 2015 Methodology: A semi-structured questionnaire was used and administered to 103 randomly selected pregnant women at Okwe General Hospital Asaba. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 15.0 for descriptive and Chi-square test at p≤0.05. Results: Majority (80.6%) of the respondents had good knowledge of non-prescription drugs with no significant association found between educational level and use of non-prescription drugs, 22.3% were currently taking non-prescription drugs. The most common drugs were analgesics, antihistamines, antacids etc. More than half (53.4%) of the respondents were aware that nonprescription drugs were most harmful in the first trimester and 48.5% were aware of the risks associated with use. Majority (53.4%) of the respondents showed a negative attitude towards the utilization of non-prescription drugs. A significant association was found between the knowledge and attitude of respondents towards the use of nonprescription drugs. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that few pregnant women were currently using non-prescription drugs and a good number had good knowledge on such drugs. Hence health education on the use of non-prescription drugs during pregnancy should be re-enforce which will in turn sustain knowledge and encourage positive attitude among pregnant women.


The paper concerns studying the participation of cyclic nucleotides in the mechanisms of action of cholecystokinin on gallbladder function in man. Cyclic nucleosides (cAMP and cGMP) were identified by radioimmunoassay in the duodenal contents obtained from men in response to intravenous injection of cholecystokinin. The data obtained suggest that the action of cholecystokinin on gallbladder function in man is mediated via cGMP, whereas cAMP is not implicated in the effect of of cholecystokinin on gallbladder function in man. Disturbances in cyclic nucleotide systems may be viewed in the light of the evidence obtained as a possible pathogenetic factor in the development of gallbladder dyskinesia.


In order for efficient post disaster management, it is important to develop a methodology to capture affected areas from remote sensing data. In this paper, the areas damaged by the 2006 Central Java earthquake are identified from the high-resolution satellite images. Based on the field survey for the spectral reflectance of surface materials, the image classification technique is applied to post-earthquake QuickBird images to detect the areas covered with bricks (damaged buildings) and the areas covered with roof tiles (undamaged buildings). The distribution of the building damage is evaluated by computing damage index from the classified images. The severely damaged areas are distributed not only in Bantul and Imogiri, located near the epicenter, but also in Gantiwarno, the southern part of Klaten located 20-30 km away from the epicenter. The distribution of the DI is compared with the damage statistics by the field survey. The result shows that the DI almost agrees with the severe damage ratio.


We present rest-frame far-infrared (FIR) and optical size measurements of active galactic nucleus (AGN) hosts and star-forming galaxies (SFGs) in the COSMOS field, enabled by high-resolution Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA)/1 mm (0.″1–0.″4) and Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/F814W imaging (∼0.″1). Our sample includes 27 galaxies at z < 2.5, classified as infrared-selected AGN (three sources), X-ray selected AGN (four sources), and non-AGN SFGs (20 sources), for which high-resolution Band 6/7 ALMA images are available at 1 mm from our own observing program as well as archival observations. The sizes and star formation rate surface densities measured from both ALMA/1 mm and HST/F814W images show that obscured AGN host galaxies are more compact than non-AGN SFGs at similar redshift and stellar mass. This result suggests that the obscured accretion phase may be related to galaxies experiencing a compaction of their gaseous component, which could be associated with enhanced central star formation before a subsequent quenching driving the formation of compact passive galaxies. Moreover, most of the detected and stacked rest-frame FIR sizes of AGNs in our sample are similar or more compact than their rest-frame optical sizes, which is consistent with recent results of ALMA-detected sources. This might be explained by the fact that the dusty starbursts take place in the compact regions, and suggests that the star formation mechanisms in the compact regions of AGN hosts are similar to those observed in SFGs observed with ALMA.


The emergence of cloud computing has brought new revolution for higher vocational education. Network virtualization based on cloud technology leads to tremendous innovation of the traditional teaching model and diversified web virtual teaching can be achieved by the use of virtualization technology. Moreover, private cloud in school could effectively implement open teaching and research work and make up for the shortage of facilities as well as reduce the working strength of school operation. Existing learning system has been perfected by virtualization technology. As an application of cloud computing, private cloud in school needs to deal with huge amount of data, and meet the high demand for resource scheduling. In this paper, the cloud computing technology based on the study of resource scheduling algorithm is researched; the feasibility of ant colony algorithm applied to cloud task scheduling is analyzed; the basic strategy for resource scheduling algorithm in cloud environment is proposed; the training of cloud system with high availability and load balancing is worked to be implemented. This work may provide some useful ideas for further research.


Upcoming of the 4th generation LTE (Long Term Evolution) which is a standard of the wireless communications that are engaged with the two techniques that are namely Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and Multiple Input and Multiple Output (MIMO). Comparing with Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), we are providing a higher level of spectral efficiency by using the OFDM Multiple Carriers. To overcome the problems of the Inter carrier interference (ICI) and inter symbol interference (ISI), using of the cyclic prefix which uses the available bandwidth of 20% for the loss of the orthogonality between the sub carriers in OFDM. Providing of better orthogonality which is based on the wavelet of OFDM and improving of BER (Bit Error Rate) is also used in it. Increasing of the spectral efficiency we don't require the cyclic prefix which is based on the wavelet system. In the upcoming of the 4th generation LTE, using of wavelets in place of Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) based OFDM is proposed. Using of the wavelets and DFT based OFDM Systems we have compared the performance of the BER.


Events preceding the onset of a are are called 'precursors', and one of the prominent precursors is a newly emerging bipolar region at the surface, which may interact with pre-existing magnetic field in the corona and trigger a flare. Another well-known precursor is the activation, or eruption, of a filament that is composed of relatively cool plasma (around 10000 K), oated in the hot coronal plasma. Both emerging regions and filaments are well observed in Lyman-Alpha and H-Alpha and we expect that their combination might lead to a better identification of the changes at the origin of major flares and CMEs. The objective of the study we present, carried with the LYRA/PROBA-2 instrument (observations of early 2010) and H-Alpha observations (Hida Observatory), is to monitor flares in Lyman-Alpha and to compare sensitivity difference with H-Alpha to develop better precursor indicators on the flaring region. Comparison is also made with classical EUV { X-ray indicators (GOES 1-8 A but also LYRA channels 2- 3, Aluminum 17{80 nm, and 2-4, Zirconium 6{20 nm), showing that Lyman-Alpha flares are equally sensitive and detectable, with the advantage, though, of providing significant precursors. H-Alpha - although 1000 times less intense as a flare than Lyman-Alpha (exemple of C9.9 February 2010 are presented) - is indicative of the precursor elements to study. Many H- Alpha observations sources are available but we preferably use Peru or Hida Observatory data when available since providing velocities (spectroheliograms). This Lyman-Alpha flares and precursors study is pursued with recent observations campaigns with a spare Lyman detector of LYRA. But this interesting possibility to open and watch for flares from a promising region implies, accordingly, to rely on good precursors indications to limit filter's degradation. These observations are pointing the interest for future Lyman-Alpha irradiance measurements coupled, for precursors identification, to solar disk imaging.


In this paper we deal with nonlinear differential systems of the form where for i = 0, 1, …, k, and are continuous functions, and T-periodic in the first variable, D being an open subset of , and ε a small parameter. For such differential systems, which do not need to be of class , under convenient assumptions we extend the averaging theory for computing their periodic solutions to k-th order in ε. Some applications are also performed.


In his seminal book, The Enlightened Economy, Joel Mokyr argued that "in Britain the high quality of workmanship available to support innovation, local and imported, helped create the Industrial Revolution". By these, Mokyr refers to "the top 3-5 percent of the labor force in terms of skills: engineers, mechanics, millwrights, chemists, clock- and instrument makers, skilled carpenters and metal workers, wheelwrights, and similar workmen." This article provides empirical evidence from different sources that supports Mokyr's claim. Mainly, I use evidence on apprenticeship that covers all England between 1710 and 1770 and show that in the eighteenth century the most relevant occupation within this group of "high-quality workmen" was the wright, a workmen who "Erects and installs, in place of use, machinery and other mechanical equipment". I find that the share of apprentices bind to wrights, carpenters, joiners and turners increased throughout the eighteenth century. These findings indicate that this was the relevant group of workmen in a period of mechanization and technological change.


The electrolyte/anode interface in solid oxide fuel cells with La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3–δ electrolytes and composite anodes containing La0.8Sr0.2Cr0.82Ru0.18O3–δ and Ce0.9Gd0.1O2–δ (GDC) was studied using transmission electron microscope Z‐contrast imaging and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The anode/electrolyte interface of an operated cell had numerous defective regions in the electrolyte, immediately adjacent to anode GDC particles. These areas had a different chemical composition than other electrolyte regions and were crystallographically inhomogeneous. These regions were not observed in a cell reduced in hydrogen that was not operated, suggesting that they were the result of combined electrical and chemical potential gradients present during cell operation. Ru nanoparticles were observed on the chromite surfaces of the operated.


While supply chain management concepts are receiving increasing attention in literature and practice, the supply chain management philosophy is supported by a limited theoretical base. The industrial organisation literature related to the advantages, disadvantages and applications of vertical integration and obligational contracts is explored. The industrial organisation literature regarding vertical integration and obligational contracts is related to supply chain management. The advantages and disadvantages which supply chain management shares with vertical integration and obligational contracts are discussed. It is concluded that supply chain management is a way of combining many of the advantages of vertical integration and obligational contracts, while overcoming some of their disadvantages. Using the industrial organisation literature and findings from two case studies, prerequisites are developed for supply chain management, and three competitive situations are described. Supply chain management ho...


This paper describes two of the basic types of thin film magnetic recording heads which have been proposed. The advantages and disadvantages of the heads are discussed. The production techniques and magnetic. materials which have been employed in the manufacture of these heads are critically examined. Finally, the available experimental results on thin-film magnetic recording heads are compared with the theoretical predictions.


The aim of the article is to discuss the applicability and validity of the organisational theory in modern era, regarding the effects generated by its application in the corporate world. For this purpose, the article suggests a method to face the actual challenge in two main themes, enviromental degradation and economic development in communities, through a proposal which involves government policies, institutional civilian control, equity of products and services distribution, and enviromental sustainability. Finally, it is pointed out that organizational theory should contain green elements in its theoretical content and consider alternative models that benefit the welfare of society.


The precise mechanisms and tissue sites involved in the in vivo detoxification of endotoxin remain unresolved. Although a number of studies have indicated that circulating plasma is a principal site of endotoxin inactivation (1–3), it was believed that the complement system was not required for detoxification of endotoxin (1). However, a recent report which demonstrated the increased susceptibility of C6 deficient rabbits to the injection of bacterial endotoxin suggests that complement may be important (4). Endotoxin can activate the complement system either by the classical mechanism proceeding through the activation of C1, C4 and C2 to activate C3, or via the alternate or bypass pathway proceeding through another series of proteins, as yet incompletely defined, to enter the complement sequence directly at the C3 step (5–7). In this study a further attempt is made to evaluate the role of complement in the detoxification of endotoxin, with particular reference to the contribution of the early (C1, C4 and C2) and late acting (C3–C9) complement components.


The Birth of the Board of Ethics of the Constitutional Judges cannot be separated from the effort to uphold a code of ethics and maintain of the dignity of the constitutional judges. Abuse of authority in the judiciary has led to the destruction of the legal system and the non-fulfillment of a sense of justice. Judicial mafias has destroyed the foundation of the authority of the judiciary and undermine the honor and dignity of judges, therefore it is necessary to take concrete measures to restore the authority of the judiciary and maintaining the honor of judges as the main pillars of the judiciary in enforcing law and justice. One concrete step is the need for strengthening the supervisory system of ethics against constitutional judges, the results of which will provide input to the Constitutional Court, whether the monitoring system of ethics against constitutional judges applied so far has been able to maintain the honor, dignity, and constitutional justices, and whether the system has provided legal certainty in its enforcement against violations of the Code of Ethics and Conduct of Constitutional Judges. Strengthening the role of the board of ethics of constitutional judges as guardians of constitutional judges dignity can be constantly improved by opening access to complaints from the public against allegations of ethical violations committed by constitutional judges.


The well-known code division multiple access maximum likelihood receiver (MF-ML) uses a bank of matched filters as a generator of sufficient statistics for maximum likelihood detection of users transmitted symbols. In this paper, the bank of matched filters is replaced by a bank of adaptive minimum mean squared error (MMSE) filters as the generator of sufficient statistics. This formal replacement of the MF bank by the adaptive MMSE filter bank has significant conceptual consequences and provides improvement by several performance measures. The adaptive MMSE-ML receiver's digital implementation is significantly computationally simplified. The advantages of the proposed adaptive MMSE-ML receiver over the MF-ML receiver are: (1) ability to perform joint synchronization, channel parameter estimation, and signal detection where the signal is sent over an unknown, slowly time-varying, frequency-selective multipath fading channel; (2) increased information capacity in a multicellular environment; and (3) significantly improved bit error rate (BER) performance in a multicellular mobile communications environment. The information capacity and the BER of the proposed MMSE-ML receiver are analyzed. Numerical results showing the BER performance of the MMSE-ML receiver in a multipath channel environment are presented.


Fermilab and CERN have a joint R&D program with the goal of building a 5.5-m-long twin-aperture Nb3Sn dipole magnet suitable for installation in the Large Hadron Collider. The first step of this program is the development of a 2-m-long single-aperture demonstration dipole with the nominal field of 11 T at the Large Hadron Collider nominal current of 11.85 kA, 60 mm bore and ~ 20% margin. Prior to the construction of the real magnets, a shorter section of the magnet straight part was assembled to validate the results of the structural finite element analysis and to gain experience with magnet assembly. This paper summarizes the lessons learned from this mechanical model.


In this paper, we introduce a computational procedure that enables autonomous LEO laser trackers endowed with INSs to increase the current accuracy when shooting at middle distant medium-size LEO debris targets. The code is designed for the trackers to throw the targets into the atmosphere by means of ablations. In case that the targets are eclipsed to the trackers by the Earth, the motions of the trackers and targets are modeled by equations that contain post-Newtonian terms accounting for the curvature of space. Otherwise, when the approaching targets become visible for the trackers, we additionally use more accurate equations, which allow to account for the local bending of the laser beams aimed at the targets. We observe that under certain circumstances the correct shooting configurations that allow to safely and efficiently shoot down the targets, differ from the current estimations by distances that may be larger than the size of many targets. In short, this procedure enables to estimate the optimal shooting instants for any middle distant medium-size LEO debris target.


As part of the March issue, the European Respiratory Journal presents the latest in its series of podcasts. Chief editor Marc Humbert discusses the latest report from the Right Heart Thrombi European Registry with Prof. Stavros Konstantinides from the Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (CTH), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.


The radar altimeter prelaunch calibration was commonly carried our by return signal simulator. The principles of return signal simulator, biases such as quadratic phase bias, amplitude and phase biases, delay bias were described in detail in this paper. In the last section the overall system bias on return signal simulator was calculated.


Despite a contemporary socio-culture revolving around cultural consumption of imagery, metaphors, representations and "gaze", photo-elicitation is a rarely used method for social scientists and planners to acquire knowledge. In this paper, we discuss participant-driven photo-elicitation, a process in which participant photos are paired with in-depth interviews. Based upon a review of the literature on photo-elicitation and our own transnational fieldwork experiences with it, we argue that this method has four primary advantages: photos can provide tangible stimuli for more effectively tapping into informants' tacit, and often unconscious, consumption of representations, images and metaphors; produces different and richer information than other techniques; and may also help to reduce differences in power, class and knowledge between researcher and researched. Finally, we argue that this method has unique potential to empower participants' involvement in activities related to local planning for sustainable community development and natural resource management efforts.


Laser processing can show its full capacity in laser multiprocessing systems applications in which the laser is not hindered by the constraints imposed when the laser is inserted in conventional systems without reassessing the overall system design. In these cases the laser process performance up to now was kept at very low levels because conventional systems would not need or accept higher ones. Instead now said performance must be brought to the upper limits inasmuch as the lasers will be the pacesetter for the performance of the new systems freed from all the old design bondage. Hence the importance to get the maximum performance from each process singly and from their combinations. Better understanding and control of the fluidynamic effects becomes mandatory because of their paramount role on process energy efficiency and thus process productivity and more important yet quality, repeatability and transferability. At present one of the dedicated laser multiprocessing systems of greatest interest is the laser cut-weld of which several have made appearance on the market. Next to come are the 'augmented' laser multiprocessing obtained by combining the laser with conventional processes in a manner which takes advantages of unexpected synergies permitted by the laser. In this manner, the system is allowed to outperform, in all aspects from productivity to quality, the already much higher performance of dedicated all laser multi- processing system. One of the most important 'augmented' laser multiprocessing is the cut- bend-weld. It should be clear that these flexible multiprocessing machines tend to grow naturally in multistation cells and their aggregation in isles and complete manufacturing centers; i.e., the first viable realizations of computer integrated manufacturing.


The concept of dynamic strength is closely related to reliability: the probability that a software system does not encounter a latent fault during execution. Dynamic strength is assessed by analyzing the interference between the execution profile, a probability density for system size, and the composite static strength distributions. Composite static strength is the sum of the relative software complexity metrics of each of the system's software modules. Composite static strength is a density function with size as the variate. Latent faults occur in the region of interference when the execution distribution exceeds a critical level of the strength distribution. An important relationship between the execution profile and strength distributions is characterized by the return period function.<<ETX>>


AlGaN-based ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) on AlN/sapphire template were grown by metal organic chemical vapour deposition. The AlN template was characterized by atomic force microscopy and high resolution X-ray diffraction. Atomic force microscopy image shows that the AlN surface is very flat, while high resolution X-ray diffraction results prove the good crystalline quality of the AlN template. A novel structure UV-LED which has several p-AlGaN layers with graded composition is compared with a common structure UV-LED which has a single p-Al0.5Ga0.5N layer. The forward bias voltage at 20 mA driving current for the novel structure UV-LED is nearly 3 V higher than that of the common structure UV-LED, however, the electroluminescence intensity of the former is over two times higher than that of the latter. The total quantum efficiency of the novel structure UV-LED is more than 50% higher than that of the common structure UV-LED. The improvement is considered to be the result of better holes injection efficiency in the novel structure UV-LED. (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


Recent decades have seen increased research interest in the processes and mechanisms related to insect gall richness and host plants. The data set provided here includes 968 records of interactions between galling insects and host plants for the Cerrado biome. The data set comprises 505 species of 222 genera and 67 families of host plants. The botanical families most represented in the data set are Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Malpighiaceae and Melastomataceae, which account for ca. 48.5% of all records and 52% of the total number of species. The gall-inducing insects listed in the data set include 48 species of Cecidomyiidae and one species of Tephritidae. This data set is the first to compile inventories of plant-galling insect communities and information about the diversity and distribution of insect galls and their host plants in the Cerrado. The data set reveals knowledge gaps and opportunities for future research on patterns of diversity and distribution, and provides a basis for generating and testing new ecological hypotheses. Please cite this data paper when using the current data in publications and let us know how the data are used in the publications. There are no copyright restrictions.


Today it is possible to achieve sub-ns level time synchronization on a wireline network while only us-level synchronization can be achieved on a wireless (microwave) link. In this paper we will, first, study the performances of different time synchronization wireline based protocols, such as Precision Time Protocol (PTP), Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE) and PTP White Rabbit (PTP-WR). And then, we will present our results using a wireless link, and determine which radio technology can achieve ns range time synchronization. Our motivation is to qualify a time transfer process operating over microwave link and offering secured GNSS-like time performance.


In the opening paragraphs of Plato's Parmenides (126A–128E) we learn of a work by Zeno which could be read comfortably at a single sitting. As we know from the surviving fragments, it was full of extraordinarily compressed material. So we could hazard the guess that it could not have taken more than an hour or so to read, since the reading was to be a preliminary to extended discussion. Such a length would match that of the earliest works of scientific prose which have survived intact: the Hippocratic treatises. On Ancient Medicine is about 5,000 words; On Airs, Waters, Places about 6,800. A work of even 5,000 words would have contained the originals of all of Zeno's arguments of which we know and many more besides. From the way the book is talked about here we get the impression that it contained the whole of Zeno's oeuvre. The references are to a single work written when Zeno was still 'very young' (say, twenty or a little more). Zeno is made to say it had been 'stolen' from him (i.e. put into circulation by unauthorised third parties) before he had made up his mind to publish. If he had put out other works thereafter we would expect some reference to them to drive home his point that the pugnacious temper of that youthful work should not be thought to represent his present outlook. Diogenes Laertius (9, 26) speaks of βιβλία, but in a context which gives no indication that he is following a reliable source. The four titles listed by Suidas (a very late source, perhaps of the tenth century A.D.) inspire no confidence.


ABSTRACT Background Streptococcus mutans is a major pathogen responsible for dental caries. Arginine is a promising potential caries preventive agent which can inhibit the growth of S. mutans. However, the mechanism whereby arginine inhibits S. mutans growth remains unclear. Aim To assess the impact of arginine-induced metabolomic perturbations on S. mutans under biofilm conditions. Methods We identified 5,933 and 7,413 ions in positive (ESI+) and negative (ESI-) electrospray ion modes, respectively, with a total of 11.05% and 11.58% differential ions subsequently detected in two respective modes. Further analyses of these metabolites led to identification of 8 and 22 metabolic pathways that were affected by arginine treatment in ESI+ and ESI- modes., Results Once or twice daily treatments of S. mutans biofilms with arginine resulted in reductions in biofilm biomass. Significant reductions in EPS production were observed following twice daily arginine treatments. Identified metabolites that were significantly differentially abundant following arginine treatment were associated with glycolysis metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and peptidoglycan synthesis. Conclusions Arginine can reduce S. mutans biofilm growth and acid production by inhibiting glycolysis, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and peptidoglycan synthesis.


Terahertz (THz) communication, which can provide a significant benefit to the developing communication technologies today, comes along with many problems. The most important of these problems are the high path loss and the direct line of sight (LOS) requirement in most of the communication schemes. Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) designs, which can be brought as a solution to the line of sight requirement have been proposed in this research. The unit cells forming these surfaces cannot be designed using metal materials due to the characteristics of electromagnetic waves with THz frequency. Graphene material, according to its controllable surface impedance properties, provides both sufficient reflection conditions and can be used to create units with different reflective phase values with varying impedance values to create the RIS structure. In this study, a certain reflection phase range was obtained on a designed RIS unit cell and RIS structures that can direct the incoming plane wave to various angles using this unit were designed and simulated in CST Microwave Studio 2019 program.


Author(s): Nam, Soohyun | Advisor(s): Janson, Susan L | Abstract: Factors Associated with Insulin Reluctance in Individuals with Type 2 DiabetesbySoohyun Nam, RN, MSN, ANPABSTRACTBackground: There are many barriers to effective diabetes management for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and clinicians. Patients' reluctance to start insulin therapy is one of the barriers to effective management that may be influenced by patients' sociodemographic and psychosocial factors. Significant delay in starting insulin may increase complications and impair patients' quality of life. Little is known about insulin reluctance (IR) and its relationship with associated factors. Purpose: 1) Summarize existing knowledge regarding various barriers to diabetes management from the perspectives of both patients and clinicians; 2) investigate the concept of IR, resistance to using insulin therapy, by describing patients' perceived barriers and their relationships with associated factors; and 3) examine the effectiveness of culturally competent diabetes education (CCDE) among ethnic minorities with T2D.Methods: The first paper was a literature review regarding various barriers to diabetes management. The second study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected from 178 people with T2D, who were 18 years or older, being treated with diabetic oral agents and able to speak English. The participants from general medicine practice clinics completed validated measures: Diabetes Attitude Scale, Diabetes Knowledge Test, Diabetes Self-efficacy Scale, Interpersonal processes of Care and Barriers to Insulin Treatment. Biomedical data were obtained from medical record reviews. The third study was a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of CCDE for ethnic minorities with T2D.Findings: The first paper revealed that patients' adherence, attitude, knowledge about diabetes, culture, language capability, financial resources, comorbidity and social support may affect diabetes management. Clinician barriers to following treatment guidelines include beliefs, attitudes and knowledge, patient-clinician interaction and communication, and the health care system. The second study demonstrated that people with T2D had moderate IR. Fear of hypoglycemia was the strongest barrier to insulin treatment. Women were more reluctant to use insulin than men. Ethnic minorities had more psychological barriers to insulin treatment than whites. Greater diabetes self-efficacy scores predicted significantly less IR and better perceived interaction with the clinician may reduce IR. The third study showed that CCDE appears to be effective in improving glycemic control for ethnic minorities. Word Count: 347


The present book covers topics both on fluvial and lagoon morphodynamics. The first part is dedicated to tidal environments. Topics include an overview of main morphological features and mechanisms of estuaries and tidal channels and a model devoted to investigate flow field pattern and bed topography in tidal meandering channels and a comparison with recent observational evidence of meanders within different tidal environments. The general failure of Bagnold hypothesis when applied to equilibrium bedload transport at even relatively modest transverse slope is demonstrated. A new model is then proposed based on an empirical entrainment formulation of bed grains.


The design and the analysis of an irregular six storey office building are described. The building has an unconventional earthquake resisting system: a precast concrete cross-braced perimeter frame incorporating forcelimiting devices (termed "inserts") in the form of enclosed axially yielding short steel members. A series of inelastic dynamic analyses indicates that the system very effectively combines the inherent strength and stiffness of the cross-braced frame with the energy-dissipating function of the yielding inserts. Cost estimates indicate that the system is a particularly economic one.


Abstract. Numerous applications of hydrological models have shown their capability to simulate hydrological processes with a reasonable degree of certainty. For flood modelling, the quality of precipitation data — the key input parameter — is very important but often remains questionable. This paper presents a critical review of experience in the EU-funded RAPHAEL project. Different meteorological data sources were evaluated to assess their applicability for flood modelling and forecasting in the Bavarian pre-alpine catchment of the Ammer river (709 km 2 ), for which the hydrological aspects of runoff production are described as well as the complex nature of floods. Apart from conventional rain gauge data, forecasts from several Numerical Weather Prediction Models (NWP) as well as rain radar data are examined, scaled and applied within the framework of a GIS-structured and physically based hydrological model. Multi-scenario results are compared and analysed. The synergetic approach leads to promising results under certain meteorological conditions but emphasises various drawbacks. At present, NWPs are the only source of rainfall forecasts (up to 96 hours) with large spatial coverage and high temporal resolution. On the other hand, the coarse spatial resolution of NWP grids cannot yet address, adequately, the heterogeneous structures of orographic rainfields in complex convective situations; hence, a major downscaling problem for mountain catchment applications is introduced. As shown for two selected Ammer flood events, a high variability in prediction accuracy has still to be accepted at present. Sensitivity analysis of both meteo-data input and hydrological model performance in terms of process description are discussed and positive conclusions have been drawn for future applications of an advanced meteo-hydro model synergy. Keywords: RAPHAEL, modelling, forecasting, model coupling, PROMET-D, TOPMODEL


The performance of the velocity filtering method as applied to optical-flow passive ranging under real-world conditions is evaluated. The theory of the 3-D Fourier transform as applied to constant-speed moving points is reviewed, and the space-domain shift-and-add algorithm is derived from the general 3-D matched filtering formulation. The constant-speed algorithm is then modified to fit the actual speed encountered in the optical flow application, and the passband of that filter is found in terms of depth (sensor/object distance) so as to cover any given range of depths. Two algorithmic solutions for the problems associated with pixel interpolation and object expansion are developed, and experimental results are presented. >


background The malignant potential of chronic ulcers and scars secondary to a variety of injuries is well characterized in the medical literature. Furthermore, it has been reported that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐positive patients have a higher incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) than the general population. objective To describe a case of an unusually aggressive morpheaform BCC that developed in a 28‐year‐old HIV‐positive patient. The tumor developed in a scar 25 years after the initial trauma (Marjolin's ulcer). methods Description of a case and review of the literature of Marjolins ulcer. results The tumor was removed in a seven‐stage, 21‐section, micrographically controlled excision. Intraoperatively, perineural invasion of the infraorbital nerve was observed. The postoperative defect was repaired using a full‐thickness skin graft. conclusion Although most malignancies arising within chronic scars are SCCs, BCCs and a number of other tumors have been described. Mohs micrographic surgery was effective in treating this aggressive morpheaform BCC. A high degree of suspicion in any changing healed scar is recommended.


Fresnoite (Ba2TiSi2O8–BTS) thin films were grown on fused quartz, silicon (100), MgO (100), and a-plane sapphire by pulsed laser deposition, and crystallized by subsequent thermal or flash lamp annealing. The corresponding texture evolution of the BTS thin films was studied by X-ray diffraction. The preferential (001) texture of the crystallised BTS films was found to be most pronounced on sapphire substrates. The broad photoluminescence band of the BTS thin films depends only weakly on temperature. The intensity of the BTS luminescence can be as high as that of the most efficient oxide scintillator materials. In order to qualify the fresnoite thin films for photonic applications, we demonstrate infrared-laser direct writing in amorphous BTS films which allows a local crystallisation and patterning. A subsequent considerable enhancement of luminescence intensity can be applied for UV-sensitive marking of nearly any object.


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Sympathetic dysfunction is known to manifest commonly in stroke as cardiovascular and sudomotor dysregulation, but the knowledge so far obtained concerning skin temperature and vasomotor changes in cerebrovascular diseases is contradictory. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate cutaneous temperature in ischemic stroke in a prospective follow-up study.

METHODS
Skin temperature was measured at five sites on each side of the body at rest and after a heating stimulus in 44 patients with a hemispheric infarction, and in 19 patients with a brain stem infarction, in the acute phase and at 1 month and at 6 months after the infarction.

RESULTS
Skin temperatures on the forearm, leg, and foot on the side contralateral to the site of infarction were significantly lower than on the ipsilateral side during the whole 6-month follow-up period. Asymmetrical temperature was associated with the presence of pyramidal tract signs in hemispheric infarction and with the presence of Wallenberg's syndrome in brain stem infarction. In hemispheric infarction, the degree of asymmetrical temperature correlated with the severity of limb paresis.

CONCLUSIONS
A temperature decline in the limbs contralateral to the site of infarction seems to be a frequent, long-lasting consequence of autonomic failure in patients with stroke. The phenomenon seems to be associated with pyramidal tract signs and the presence of Wallenberg's syndrome.


Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) is widely used as a health food and medicine because it is rich in polysaccharides, polyphenols, and flavonoids; it is precisely because noni is rich in these substances that people usually like to soak it in liquor to drink. This study sought to maximize the main active constituents (polysaccharides, polyphenols, and flavonoid s) dissolved in liquor and spirits soaked with noni fruit, using ethanol as the solvent to optimize the extraction conditions using response surface methodology. The highest polysaccharide yield of 16.35% was found at 60 °C for 3.5 h, a liquid-solid ratio of 52 mL/g, and an ethanol concentration of 25%. The optimal extraction conditions for polyphenols were 75 °C for 1.5 h, a liquid-solid ratio of 90 mL/g, and an ethanol concentration of 50%, resulting in a 10.37% yield. The optimum extraction conditions for flavonoids were 75 °C for 1 h, a liquid-solid ratio of 70 mL/g, and an ethanol concentration of 100%, with 1.35% yield. Many active ingredients, including polysaccharides, polyphenols, and flavonoids, were obtained via alcohol extraction of noni fruit, suggesting that liquor and spirits soaked with noni fruit are novel and promising types. This study provides a technical reference for the production of high-quality noni liquor. It is recommended to use the best conditions for the extract of polysaccharides, polyphenols, and flavonoids, and blending them to obtain the desired degree of alcohol.


The present invention relates to one kind of orally disintegrated silibinin tablet for protecting liver cell, stimulating the biological synthesis of protein inside liver cell, promoting recovery of damaged liver cell, resisting fibrillation, capturing free oxygen radical and inhibiting the deposition and infiltration of fat in liver, and its preparation. The orally disintegrated silibinin tablet is prepared with silibinin as main material, and through adding stuffing, disintegrating agent, corrective, flow assistant and other supplementary material, pressing into tablet and other steps. The present invention has the features of low production cost, fast disintegration, good taste, etc.


Deep learning networks have shown impressive performance in object recognition. We used the classification image method to probe whether a deep learning model employs the same features as humans in perceiving real and illusory contours. We adopted a deep learning network, pre-trained with natural images, and retrained the decision layer with laboratory stimuli to perform shape discrimination in the "fat/thin" task. We tested the network with real and illusory contour stimuli contaminated with luminance noise. We found that deep networks trained on natural images can be readily adapted to discriminate between psychophysical stimuli with an extremely high degree of accuracy. However, deep learning networks do not appear to represent illusory contours where they may aid performance in the fat/thin task, a process automatically performed in human vision. This divergence indicates an important difference between the kinds of visual representations formed by deep networks and by humans.


Introduction Patients with large sessile colorectal polyps can be technically challenging to resect endoscopically and have been subject to colorectal resection in the United Kingdom. Our aims were to determine the safety and efficacy of endoscopic resection of large colorectal lesions at a tertiary referral unit. Methods A prospective observational study of all patients referred for endoscopic resection to a single endoscopist. Consecutive patients were included in the study from June 2010 to March 2013. All patients underwent magnification chromoendoscopy and NBI for polyp assessment under conscious sedation. ESD was undertaken for lesions that were LST – non granular, flat and pseudodepressed type and those with type Vi pit pattern. Piecemeal EMR was undertaken for the remainder of the lesions. All patients underwent colonoscopic surveillance at 3 and 12 months by the same endoscopist to check for recurrence at the scar. Results One hundred and fourteen patients underwent 134 endoscopic resections. There were 54 (47.4%) women and 60 (52.6%) men with a mean age of 71.2 (SD = 10.3 years). 120 lesions underwent EMR (89.6%) and 14 had enbloc resection with ESD (10.5%) with complete resection. The mean size of the lesions was 56 mm (SD 37.1mm). The median lesion size was 50mm (range 25–150 mm). Histological analyses revealed 8 hyperplastic lesions, 28 tubular adenomas, 90 tubulovillous adenomas, 3 serrated adenomas and 5 early submucosal invasive cancers invading to the upper third of the submucosa (sm1). Endoscopic diagnosis of the colorectal polyps using magnification colonoscopy identified all patients with cancer correctly with 100% sensitivity. All lesions underwent endoscopic resection with curative intent. Overall, there were 2 patients who sustained intra-procedural perforation (perforation rate overall 1.8%) of the bowel, both of which were closed with endoscopic clips without the need for surgery. 13 patients were admitted to hospital post procedure (9.8%). 6 patients were for medical reasons (2 perforation, 3 self limiting abdominal pain, 1 patient with pericolic inflammation on CT scan and abdominal pain) and 7 patients were admitted for social reasons. Median follow up duration was 8.27 months (range 0.39–34.6 months, IQR 12.04 months). 6 patients had documented recurrence (5.1%) with a median time to detected recurrence being 4.45 months (range 2.83–15.74 months, IQR 11.85 months). Conclusion Endoscopic resection of large colorectal lesions in a tertiary setting is a safe procedure often performed as a day case. Perforations detected during the procedure can be managed endoscopically without the need for surgical intervention. Meticulous technique utilising magnification chromoendoscopy to examine the scar post resection offers a low incidence of recurrence Disclosure of Interest None Declared.


The characterization of the two-dimensional (2D) leaf sheath of the coconut palm Cocos nucifera from digital images is part of a research project that focuses on the feasibility of using a local natural resource, the leaf sheath of the coconut palm C. nucifera (2D), for the development of a green composite material and the analysis of the influence of this type of reinforcement, which has the advantage of being naturally woven, on the properties of the biocomposites obtained. In order to characterize these properties, it is essential to extract information from the leaf sheath samples. This work consists of counting and evaluating the thicknesses and directions of all the fibers that make up the sheath. In simple cases, from sample photographs, we wish to propose a processing chain capable of automating this extraction process. We are interested here only in samples with areas of spacing between the fibers. Therefore, our proposal cannot be a solution for tightly packed fibers. The data are represented by photographs of leaf sheath samples taken with a high-resolution microscope. This results in color images of 3000 × 3000 pixels. In the following, we will call EI a space in which it is possible to locate a pixel by its spatial coordinates, and we will call EC another space in which it is possible to locate the color of a pixel by its colorimetric coordinates. In EI, the set representing the pixels denoting the fiber will be denoted EF and that representing the void areas will be denoted EV. From these starting sets, the work consisted of finding a process that allows the extraction and characterization of points of interest representing the leaf sheath.


Abstract Motivation Single-cell sequencing technology has become a routine in studying many biological problems. A core step of analyzing single-cell data is the assignment of cell clusters to specific cell types. Reference-based methods are proposed for predicting cell types for single-cell clusters. However, the scalability and lack of preprocessed reference datasets prevent them from being practical and easy to use. Results Here, we introduce a reference-based cell annotation web server, CellAnn, which is super-fast and easy to use. CellAnn contains a comprehensive reference database with 204 human and 191 mouse single-cell datasets. These reference datasets cover 32 organs. Furthermore, we developed a cluster-to-cluster alignment method to transfer cell labels from the reference to the query datasets, which is superior to the existing methods with higher accuracy and higher scalability. Finally, CellAnn is an online tool that integrates all the procedures in cell annotation, including reference searching, transferring cell labels, visualizing results, and harmonizing cell annotation labels. Through the user-friendly interface, users can identify the best annotation by cross-validating with multiple reference datasets. We believe that CellAnn can greatly facilitate single-cell sequencing data analysis. Availability and implementation The web server is available at www.cellann.io, and the source code is available at https://github.com/Pinlyu3/CellAnn_shinyapp.


The following two cases are excerpted from Babette Rothschild's newly published book The Body Remembers Casebook: Unifying Methods and Models in the Treatment of Trauma and PTSD (W.W. Norton 2003). The first case advocates creative adaptation of learned methods, in this case EMDR. The second demonstrates the importance of regulating hyperarousal and halting flashbacks to facilitate increased client self- control and clear thinking. Both cases illuminate Rothschild's principle of applying creative common sense to theory. The result is safer trauma therapy and interventions specially tailored to suit the specific needs of individual client situations. (editor abstract)


References 1. Lee AR, Yang S, Shin YH, et al. A comparison of the BURP and conventional and modified jaw thrust manoeuvres for orotracheal intubation using the Clarus Video System. Anaesthesia 2013; 68: 931–7. 2. Hsu HT, Chou SH, Chen CL, et al. Left endobronchial intubation with a doublelumen tube using direct laryngoscopy or the Trachway video stylet. Anaesthesia 2013; 68: 851–5. 3. Chen A, Lai HY, Lin PC, Chen TY, Shyr MH. GlideScope-assisted double-lumen endobronchial tube placement in a patient with an unanticipated difficult airway. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia 2008; 22: 170–2.


An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to measure protein S antigen released into cell culture fluids. We used readily available commercial polyclonal antisera to develop the assay. This assay was sensitive with a detection limit of about 0.086 ng/ml. Between-assay precision (coefficient of variation) at levels of 0.2, 1.1, and 13.9 ng/ml was 14%, 15%, and 11% respectively. Specificity and accuracy were demonstrated from the use of: 1) culture fluids from 3-primary endothelial cell cultures and 7-cell lines known to constitutively produce protein S; 2) 2-cell lines not synthesizing protein S; and 3) from selected samples of normal and protein S deficient plasma. The ELISA described here was about 12-fold more sensitive and 40-fold more cost effective when compared to a commercial ELISA kit. Thus the assay provided a sensitive, specific, precise and economical method useful for the measurement of the nanogram amounts of protein S commonly encountered in cell culture fluids.


It was demonstrated that a series of copolymers consisting of p-phenylenevinylene (PV) and p-phenyleneethylene (PE) units could be prepared from a single monomer, p-(methoxymethyl)benzyl chloride, via chemical vapor deposition polymerization (CVDP) method. The composition of the copolymers can be varied by altering the monomer activation temperature; the higher the temperature, the lower the content of the PV units becomes. The sufficient incorporation of the PE units into the poly(p-phenylenevinylene) backbone caused a significant blue shift in both photoluminescence and electroluminescence. The luminescence properties of the copolymer strongly depend on the amount of the PE units incorporated. The external quantum efficiency of the electroluminescence devices having the configuration of ITO/PEDOT-PSS/copolymer/Al-Li increased as the content of the PV units increased in the copolymer, which can be ascribed to the improved confinement of excitons. For the solar cell based on PPV derivative, the effect of the PCBM concentration on the performance of the solar cell is investigated. The results show that there is no interaction between the MEH-PPV and PCBM phase and the photoluminescence of MEH-PPV is quenched by the incorporation of PCBM. With increasing PCBM concentration, the short circuit current density and the overall energy conversion efficiency of the solar cell have been strongly improved.


Silicon phthalocyanines (SiPc) are showing promise as both ternary additives and non-fullerene acceptors in organic photovoltaics (OPVs) as a result of their ease of synthesis, chemical stability and strong absorption. In this study, bis(3,4,5-trifluorophenoxy) silicon phthalocyanine ((345F)2-SiPc)) and bis(2,4,6-trifluorophenoxy) silicon phthalocyanine ((246F)2-SiPc)) are employed as acceptors in mixed solution/evaporation planar heterojunction (PHJ) devices. The donor layer, either poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) or poly[N-9′-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′-benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT), was spin coated followed by the evaporation of the SiPc acceptor thin film. Several different donor/acceptor combinations were investigated in addition to investigations to determine the effect of film thickness on device performance. Finally, the effects of annealing, prior to SiPc deposition, after SiPc deposition, and during SiPc deposition were also investigated. The devices which performed the best were obtained using PCDTBT as the donor, with a 90 nm film of (345F)2-SiPc as the acceptor, followed by thermal annealing at 150 °C for 30 min of the entire mixed solution/evaporation device. An open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.88 V and a fill factor (FF) of 0.52 were achieved leading to devices that outperformed corresponding fullerene-based PHJ devices.


As global warming makes the Arctic Ocean more accessible, concerns have been raised about the environmental consequences of a possible expansion of commercial fisheries into pristine marine ecosystems. Using a recently released global dataset, we quantify for the first time how fishing activities are responding to diminishing sea ice and a warmer Arctic Ocean. We show that trawling dominates Arctic fisheries and that this activity penetrates rapidly into Arctic shelf areas previously protected by extensive ice-cover as a response to interannual sea ice loss. We model the development of trawling activity under a climate change scenario and use the model to identify areas with high risk of increased trawling activity and estimate the amount of trawling avoided in recently established fishery protection zones. Stronger responsibility must be undertaken by Arctic coastal states to regulate increased fishing pressure and protect vulnerable Arctic shelf ecosystems.


Background
With cell phone use and ownership on the rise, daily circumstances often require individuals to divide attentional resources between walking and a cell phone-related task. This division of attention has been found to detrimentally effect task performance, making pedestrian cell phone usage an increasing safety concern. However, most studies have investigated the impact of dual-tasks on situational awareness and few have focused on tasks other than texting. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of various cell phone-related tasks on lower limb kinematics during walking.

Methods
Fourteen healthy, college-aged subjects completed gait analysis trials in five walking conditions, one single-task walking condition and four dual task conditions: Walk+Converse, Walk+Read (Simple), Walk+Read (Difficult), and Walk+Text. Subjects' movements were recorded with a motion capture system and peak sagittal plane lower extremity joint angles, gait velocity, and stride length were calculated.

Results
Of the eight kinematic outcome measures analyzed, all but one revealed some significant (p < 0.05) differences between dual-task walking conditions. Gait velocity and stride length both decreased due to the addition of the dual tasking, with the magnitude of the reduction becoming more apparent with the increased difficulty of the cell phone-based task.

Conclusion
This study supports a fundamental change to gait kinematics in response to cell phone use while walking, with the magnitude of impact being directly related to the complexity of the secondary task. The significant changes to gait kinematics in complex dual-task situations could present a threat to balance.


Productive scientists tend to hold jobs at prestigious university departments, but it is unclear whether this is because good departments hire the best scientists or because good departments encourage and facilitate research productivity. To resolve this issue, we studied the antecedents and consequences of 179 job changes by chemists, biologists, physicists, and mathematicians. Those who were upwardly mobile showed substantial increases in their rate of publication and in the rate of citation to those publications, while those who were downwardly mobile showed substantial decreases in productivity. Earlier analyses of these job changes found only a small effect of prior productivity on destination prestige. These results suggest that the effect of department affiliation on productivity is more important than the effect of productivity on departmental affiliation.


Passive and active movement therapies are essential in the rehabilitation process post stroke and other neurological disorders. Considering the shortage of therapists and limited insurance coverage, qualified healthcare services are not always available to patients. There is also a lack of compact rehabilitation robots powerful enough to perform forceful stretching of spastic joint and yet flexible enough for backdrivable active movement training with motivating game interface and suitable for clinical/home settings. To address the issues, an affordable and wearable robot has been developed to perform therapeutic rehabilitation with the following three integrated functions: 1) stretching a spastic/stiff joint forcefully and precisely based on the joint resistance. 2) Active movement training by playing customized computer games with assistance or resistance provided by the wearable robot when needed. 3) Biomechanical outcome evaluation. The wearable robot with combined functions of passive and active movement training can potentially provide convenient, user-friendly and motivating rehabilitation to many patients with neurological impairments.


Nb, Ta, and Zr are the favorable nontoxic and allergy-free alloying elements suitable for use in titanium alloys for biomedical applications. Low-rigidity titanium alloys composed of nontoxic and allergy-free elements are receiving considerable attention. The advantage of low-rigidity titanium alloys in the healing of bone fracture and bone remodeling is successfully proven by using tibia of rabbit as a fracture model. Ni-free superelastic and shape memory titanium alloys for biomedical applications are being actively developed. The mechanical properties such as fatigue and fretting fatigue are important from the viewpoint of mechanical properties, which may be collectively referred to as mechanical biocompatibilities in the broad sense, in addition to the rigidity, i.e. Young's modulus. Bioactive surface modifications of titanium alloys for biomedical applications are very important for achieving further biocompatibility.


It is common in crash data recording and safety studies to designate crashes that occurred within a default radius from intersections as having occurred at or been influenced by intersections. The purpose of this study is to investigate thoroughly how intersection attributes affect this safety influence area and how the varied safety influence areas for intersection approaches improve safety analysis. First, a nationwide survey was conducted to review how police officers, crash records technicians, and state safety engineers identify intersection crashes. Data for a sample of 177 four-legged signalized intersections were collected from the state of Florida. On the basis of crash data and the approach features, the intersection's inside area (from the center to the stop bar, used to designate at-intersection crashes) and the safety influence area (measured upstream from the stop bar, used to designate intersection-related crashes) were explored by using classification trees. The research concluded that it is better to define at-intersection and intersection-related safety influence areas for each approach separately, and then to determine intersection influence area and size on the basis of approach features. Among the selected intersections, around 30% of the approaches had at least one intersection-related crash occurring beyond the physical boundary (left-turn lane), and these cases were examined. Test statistics showed that intersection-related crashes defined by a 250-ft boundary (the default used in many states) versus those defined by varied boundaries are significantly different. The approach-level intersection-related crashes were fitted by using the generalized estimating equations with a negative binomial. The significant factors identified were different for the models that used the fixed and the varied boundaries, and the model with varied influence areas had a better performance.


Over the past five years, advances in cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy have fundamentally changed the way soil scientists study carbon, nitrogen and water cycling between the subsurface, plants and the atmosphere. With the continuous evolution of performance, including high precision, low drift and part-per-billion resolution, along with compact, field-deployable and easy-to-use instruments, scientists are increasingly able to leave their labs and make measurements directly in the field. Here we describe how Picarro's Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy technology has been applied to a number of soil applications, including (i) the determination of soil flux measurements by coupling newly developed real-time software with simultaneous measurements of CO 2, CH4, N2O, NH3 and H2O from closed-loop, recirculated soil chambers; (ii) partitioning water loss from evaporation versus transpiration in arid environments using in-situ measurements of ambient atmospheric water vapor measurements, soil water isotopes and the isotopic signature of local transpiration; and (iii) using in-situ measurements of d N and the site preference of N in N2O to constrain N2O emissions in agricultural settings.


On-farm manure-nitrogen (N) losses as ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), nitrogen oxide (NO), nitrogen (N2), and nitrate leaching/ runoff constitute a considerable environmental problem and devaluates manure nutrients. Quantifying N loss fractions [(kg (N loss) (kg manure-N)-1) for animal manure storage systems is critical to develop national or regional emission inventories and mitigation strategies. Emission fractions of NH3-N, N2O-N, NO-N, and N2-N and the loss fraction of nitrate-N leaching/runoff were developed for the primary beef and dairy cattle manure storage systems (i.e., compost, stockpile, feedlot manure pack, liquid tank, slurry pit, and lagoon/earthen storage) in ecoregions of Alberta and Ontario, two of the largest beef production provinces in western and eastern Canada, respectively. Composting has the highest N loss fractions (around 0.5) due to the high air permeability in manure that increases volatilization of NH3 and the nitrification. Beef cattle manure has higher N loss fractions than dairy cattle manure during storage, because beef cattle manure is usually stored as a solid, but dairy cattle manure is generally stored as liquid. The liquid storage system has lower manure-N loss fractions (around 0.1) than a solid manure system (0.15-0.50) in both of Alberta and Ontario. Effects of covering and natural crust formation on N loss fractions from liquid manure storage systems were analyzed. Emission factors derived in this study were significantly different from the fractions recommended by IPCC (2006). This is because the IPCC Tier 1 methodology does not include the spatially and temporally varying conditions of climate, animal feeding, and manure management, etc. when applied to a specific country and region such as Alberta and Ontario Canada.


Intentional play in the education of children with ASD Playing has a vital importance in the child development. Researchers and official documents point their prominent place in Early Childhood Education. However, the hegemonic view on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) certifies that the ability to playing is absent or quite hindered in these individuals. This article aims to reflect on the importance of playing play as an educational strategy to the child with ASD in Early Childhood Education from the assumptions of Cultural-Historical Theory. In order to reach this goal, a literature review was carried out, linked to the experience report of an intervention proposal in the area of Educational Psychology with a four year old child diagnosed with ASD. In the intervention it was possible to note the importance of the adult as mediator in the educational process with a view to the development of higher psychological functions, in the proposition of intentional playful activities, with a focus on language, attention and social interactions.


Squeezed light generation is demonstrated using a new scheme of nonlinear fiber loop mirror. The squeezed light can be generated stably in a compact setup and the phase difference can be changed arbitrarily. Using a 100 ps mode-locked pulse laser at 1.064 µm and 0.85 µm single-mode fiber, the quantum noise reduction of 2.0 dB below the shot noise level is observed in the frequency range of 25–35 MHz. Accounting for the detection efficiency, this corresponds to 2.9 dB squeezing.


The proto-oncogene Bcl3 induces survival and proliferation in cancer cells; however, its function and regulation in ovarian cancer (OC) remain unknown. Here, we show that Bcl3 expression is increased in human OC tissues. Surprisingly, however, we found that in addition to promoting survival, proliferation, and migration of OC cells, Bcl3 promotes both constitutive and interferon-γ (IFN)-induced expression of the immune checkpoint molecule PD-L1. The Bcl3 expression in OC cells is further increased by IFN, resulting in increased PD-L1 transcription. The mechanism consists of an IFN-induced, Bcl3- and p300-dependent PD-L1 promoter occupancy by Lys-314/315 acetylated p65 NF-κB. Blocking PD-L1 by neutralizing antibody reduces proliferation of OC cells overexpressing Bcl3, suggesting that the pro-proliferative effect of Bcl3 in OC cells is partly mediated by PD-L1. Together, this work identifies PD-L1 as a novel target of Bcl3, and links Bcl3 to IFNγ signaling and PD-L1-mediated immune escape.


The VeMAC, a TDMA-based MAC protocol for Vehicular Ad-hoc NETworks (VANET), assigns disjoint sets of the time slots to vehicles moving in opposite directions and to road side units. So the VeMAC protocol reduces the access and merging collisions. Moreover, the VeMAC protocol employs slot release prevention condition which avoids unnecessarily releasing time slots when a node just enters the communication range of each other. Although VeMAC supports reliable and efficient transmission, it is still not full applicable for VANET in parallel transmission. In this paper, we propose an e-VeMAC protocol: an enhanced vehicular MAC protocol to mitigate the exposed terminal problem. The simulation results show that the e-VeMAC protocol supports more parallel transmissions than the VeMAC protocol.