This paper provides evidence on Young Adults' motivations for visiting and not visiting museums. Using purposive sampling, self-administered questionnaires were distributed to respondents in Kedah, Malaysia and Eskisehir, Turkey. Both Kedah and Eskisehir share one similarity – they both have many museums. The findings revealed that in both study contexts, young people tended to visit museums for practical reasons such as to help them prepare homework or a project. They also visit for intrinsic reasons such as to satisfy their curiosity. Both samples also illustrate Davies (2001) contention that awareness is an important precursor to potential visits. On the other hand, both samples are different in reasons for not visiting. While young people in Eskisehir cite emotional reasons for deciding not to visit, young people in Kedah offered more practical ones such as lack of time and interest, or more interested in other activities. The study findings are useful for understanding reasons behind the generally low museum visits among youth. Several managerial implications of the study were also proposed.


Abstract : The Public Security Technical Program (PSTP) Emergency Management (EM) Operations Process Mapping study was designed to build a generic, all-hazard representation of the emergency management operations that provide the foundation of the Canadian government response capability. The project leveraged specific works to design the approach that was used to conduct the study. These works include: capability based analysis, the four-pillared emergency management capability areas (prepare, prevent, respond, recover), the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Target Capability List (TCL), the Canadian Federal Emergency Response Plan (FERP), the US Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) and the Joint Command Decision Support for the 21st Century (JCDS21) and Canadian Forces Experimental Centre (CFEC) Command and Sense (C&S) Team architecture products. The merging of concepts from these sources formed the methodology used capture integrated emergency management operation processes across all stakeholders. This project has produced a series of architecture products that characterise high level generic emergency management response processes situated in an all-hazards environment. As outputs of this study, these products provide a baseline for further research in the area of emergency management. Using the products as templates, investigation with stakeholders will enable the capture of specific processes for a geographical region, an organisation and/or a hazard with a comprehensive and standard framework. The outputs from this study will be used to support future PSTP activities required for program definition, and to facilitate engagement with emergency management (EM) sector authorities from all levels.


Leniency programs contribute to destabilizing collusion but can also be abused and generate perverse effects. This paper develops a simple model capturing this trade-off, which we use to relate the optimal leniency policy (the carrot) to the effectiveness of investigations (the stick). We show that it is always desirable to offer some leniency before an investigation is launched; it is also optimal to offer some leniency once an investigation is underway when investigations are unlikely to succeed in uncovering cartels, absent self-reporting. Our analysis also confirms the usefulness of restricting leniency to the first informant only; in contrast, it does not support prohibiting leniency for repeat offenders.


One major challenge in training Deep Neural Networks is preventing overfitting. Many techniques such as data augmentation and novel regularizers such as Dropout have been proposed to prevent overfitting without requiring a massive amount of training data. In this work, we propose a new regularizer called DeCov which leads to significantly reduced overfitting (as indicated by the difference between train and val performance), and better generalization. Our regularizer encourages diverse or non-redundant representations in Deep Neural Networks by minimizing the cross-covariance of hidden activations. This simple intuition has been explored in a number of past works but surprisingly has never been applied as a regularizer in supervised learning. Experiments across a range of datasets and network architectures show that this loss always reduces overfitting while almost always maintaining or increasing generalization performance and often improving performance over Dropout.


Surface properties of all-inorganic halide perovskites play a crucial role in determining optoelectronic performance of these materials. We investigate the surface energies and electronic structures of cubic CsPbBr3 surfaces systematically using density functional theory (DFT) methods. We calculate the surface phase diagrams of low-index surfaces of CsPbBr3, i.e., (100), (110), (111) surfaces. We found that nonpolar (100) surfaces are more stable than polar (110) and (111) surfaces. The nonpolar CsBr-terminated (100) surface shows the best stability, which is attributed to the effect of surface relaxation and high ionicity of the surface layer. The electronic structures reveal that charge transfer to compensate the polarity raises the energy of polar surfaces, which makes polar surfaces unstable. Furthermore, we found that the modulation of surface chemical composition provides an effective way to compensate polarity and thus make polar surfaces of CsPbBr3 stable. Our results provide physical insights into understanding and further enhancing the surface stability of all-inorganic halide perovskites. This would be helpful in promoting the advancement of all-inorganic halide perovskite-based materials and devices.


In the past, filtered backprojection has been successfully applied to the problem of reconstructing images from x-ray diffraction tomographic data; however, this technique is applicable only under conditions of low x-ray attenuation. We present a more suitable reconstruction strategy for x-ray diffraction tomography, which corrects for x-ray attenuation by using the maps of the linear attenuation coefficient that are generated by x-ray transmission computed tomography. Previously, neither the iterative reconstruction approaches nor attenuation corrections had been applied to x-ray diffraction tomographic data. A Monte Carlo simulation study of photon transport is utilized for evaluating the efficacy of the attenuation-corrected iterative reconstruction algorithm.


Recent reports indicate that Andean frogs of the genera Batrachophrynus and Telmatobius have undergone severe population declines across much of their geographical range, with several factors (e.g., pollution, habitat degradation and destruction, climate change, disease and harvesting) potentially involved in these declines. However, positive identification and quantification of these factors, as well as that of their interactions, are needed in order to better inform future conservation action. Peru is considered a hotspot for these frogs; it is home to at least 40 percent of all known species of Telmatobius and 100 percent of all known species of Batrachophrynus. An assessment of the current state of conservation knowledge of these Andean frogs in this country is provided, including data from both the Global Amphibian Assessment, and Peru's Instituto Nacional de los Recursos Naturales, with special attention to those factors that may affect population status. Specific research and conservation recommendations for these frogs and their habitats are suggested.


Purpose
The implementation of mental health promotion is a core part of the role for all mental health professionals. This involves working with individuals and groups to facilitate the uptake and application of new knowledge, skills and personal attributes. Recently, an Australian intervention that included teaching nurses and educators the skills of mental health promotion was implemented and evaluated. The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of the qualitative evaluation and explore specific attributes of this facilitation, which helps to clarify and articulate a hidden, and taken-for-granted practice.

Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative mixed-methods study was designed to evaluate the perceived skills and attributes necessary for effective facilitation of a mental health promotion program in schools.

Findings
This evaluation revealed that facilitation is more than simply allowing free-flowing discussion amongst participants. For mental health promotion to be effective, the leader needs to be able to balance content delivery with flexibility, to use interpersonal behaviors that support and empower, and be willing to see the self as always learning and growing.

Practical implications
Without explicit training or discussion of facilitation, it is possible that mental health professionals may slip into teaching didactically. Didactic teaching may not empower learners to articulate their own views, or internalize and demonstrate new skills. A facilitative approach is more fitting to the values of twenty-first-century health promotion. Facilitation is a skill that deserves to be taught explicitly within all mental health promotion courses, so that mental health professionals are inspired to teach in ways that are transactional, and empowering.

Originality/value
A facilitative approach is more fitting to the values of twenty-first-century health promotion. This study confirms that facilitation is a skill that deserves to be taught explicitly to all mental health professionals so they are inspired to implement effec"tive mental health promotion.


There are many online platforms that allow people to upload and share cooking recipes with each other. However, within those platforms, many recipes contain the same contents, which can cause many problems and waste a lot of resources. In this work, we tackle the problem of duplicated cooking recipe determination by consider it as a binary classification task, in which we need to classify a pair of recipes into either duplicate or non-duplicate. We proposed a method based on multilayer perceptron (MLP). Our model takes input features from multiple modalities, which are extracted from the input recipes. We conducted experiments on the Rakuten Recipe databaseand observed that the proposed method outperformed the baseline and achieved very high performance for the duplicate recipe determination task.


Identifying impact factors on software development productivity and the static relations between the impact factors and performance has been the main focus in the literature. Insight into the dynamic relation between key factors and performance dimensions would expand and complement the conventional wisdom on software development productivity. This is the first study to present such dynamic relationship based on an Analytical Theory of Project Investment. Through simulation, we have demonstrated the dynamic relationship between project duration, the uncertainty level of the perceived project value, the fixed project upfront cost and software development productivity. The findings provide practitioners with insight into how these factors interact and impact on software development project productivity.


Technology assessment can lead to the rapid application of essential diagnostic technologies and prevent the wide diffusion of marginally useful methods. In both of these ways, it can increase quality of care and decrease the cost of health care. This comprehensive monograph carefully explores methods of and barriers to diagnostic technology assessment and describes both the rationale and the guidelines for meaningful evaluation. While proposing a multi-institutional approach, it emphasizes some of the problems involved and defines a mechanism for improving the evaluation and use of medical technology and essential resources needed to enhance patient care.


In the face of growing human impacts on ecosystems, scientists and managers recognize the need to better understand thresholds and nonlinear dynamics in ecological systems to help set management targets. However, our understanding of the factors that drive threshold dynamics, and when and how rapidly thresholds will be crossed is currently limited in many systems. In spite of these limitations, there are approaches available to practitioners today—including ecosystem monitoring, statistical methods to identify thresholds and indicators, and threshold-based adaptive management—that can be used to help avoid ecological thresholds or restore systems that have crossed them. We briefly review the current state of knowledge and then use real-world examples to demonstrate how resource managers can use available approaches to avoid crossing ecological thresholds. We also highlight new tools and indicators being developed that have the potential to enhance our ability to detect change, predict when a system is approaching an ecological threshold, or restore systems that have already crossed a tipping point.


We explore the phase behaviour of aqueous solutions of the cetyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC) surfactant and in particular the transition from the micellar phase (L1) to the hexagonal columnar phase (H1) by employing all-atom (AA) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for six CTAC concentrations in the range of 34.1 wt% to 70.5 wt%, at the temperature of 318 K and pressure of 1 atm. For the concentrations considered, we examine the spontaneous occurrence of the H1 phase by testing a number of plausible values for the linear density (molecules per unit length) along the cylindrical columns. Using large simulation cells and starting from random initial configurations, the MD simulations demonstrate that the micellar phase occurs for concentrations up to 50.0 wt%, with CTAC molecules self-assembling into a mixture of spherical and rod-like micelles. At even higher concentrations, the system self-organizes into the H1 phase in accordance with the available experimental data. For the analysis of the MD trajectories, we devise a clustering algorithm based on Voronoi tesselation which enables (a) the thorough characterization of the shape and structure of both molecules and assemblies, and (b) the investigation of the positional and orientational order in the system that are further scrutinised using radial pair correlation functions and X-ray diffraction patterns. Our work paves the way for the investigation of the phase behaviour at high concentrations of other surfactants.


Planetary bombardment histories provide critical information regarding the formation and evolution of the Solar System and of the planets within it. These records evidence transient instabilities in the Solar System's orbital evolution, giant impacts such as the Moon-forming impact, and material redistribution. Such records provide insight into planetary evolution, including the deposition of energy, delivery of materials, and crustal processing, specifically the modification of porosity. Bombardment histories are traditionally constrained from the surface expression of impacts — these records, however, are degraded by various geologic processes. Here we show that the Moon's porosity contains a more complete record of its bombardment history. We find that the terrestrial planets were subject to double the number of ≥20-km-diameter-crater-forming impacts than are recorded on the lunar highlands, fewer than previously thought to have occurred. We show that crustal porosity doesn't slowly increase as planets evolve, but instead is generated early in a planet's evolution when most basins formed and decreases as planets evolve. We show that porosity constrains the relative ages of basins formed early in a planet's evolution, a timeframe for which little information exists. These findings demonstrate that the Solar System was less violent than previously thought. Fewer volatiles and other materials were delivered to the terrestrial planets, consistent with estimates of the delivery of siderophiles and water to the Moon. High crustal porosity early in the terrestrial planets' evolution slowed their cooling and enhanced their habitability. Several lunar basins formed early than previously considered, casting doubt on the existence of a late heavy bombardment.


BIONs TM are individually addressable, single channel electrical interfaces that can be injected into one or more muscles through a 12-gauge hypodermic needle. They receive power and command signals from an externally worn RF transmission coil and generate stimulation pulses to activate motor units. In order to reanimate useful function in a paralyzed limb, it is necessary to incorporate sensors and back telemetry to provide voluntary control and sensory feedback signals. We describe and compare several sensing modalities and bi-directional telemetry schemes that have been developed and are being evaluated to support these requirements.


Irradiation effect in three carbon allotropes C60, diamond and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) induced by 170 keV B ions, mainly including the process of the damage creation, is investigated by means of Raman spectroscopy technique. The differences on irradiation sensitivity and structural stability for C60, HOPG and diamond are compared. The analysis results indicate that C60 is the most sensitive for B ions irradiation, diamond is the second one and the structure of HOPG is the most stable under B ion irradiation. The damage cross sections σ of C60, diamond and HOPG deduced from the Raman spectra are 7.78 × 10−15, 6.38 × 10−15 and 1.31 × 10−15 cm2, respectively.


The purpose of the study was to improve the learning outcomes of students in the Indonesian Language Muple Class I Elementary School using picture media. The research conducted was a Classroom Action Research (CAR) in two cycles, with each cycle planning, implementing, observing and reflecting. Each meeting was carried out in a pretest and posttest of 68.42%, in cycle II students who completed after carrying out a post test of 78.90%, these results indicate that the media image can improve student learning outcomes, especially Class I Mupel in SDN 03 Goodness.


Male adults of bean bug, Riptortus clavatus Thunberg (Heteroptera: Alydidae), release aggregation pheromone (AP) which consists of (E)-2-hexenyl (Z)-3-hexenoate (E2HZ3H), (E)-2-hexenyl (E)-2-hexenoate (E2HE2H), and tetradecyl isobutyrate (TI). Variation in the pheromonal secretion were checked by the factors of age, mating status, seasons, body weight and time in a day. There were no significant differences in the amounts of AP secretion by mating, body weight, and time in a day. Higher amount of AP was detected from older males than younger ones. The amount of AP detected was higher in the males collected from April to September than in those collected during October. No AP was detected in the males of November and December. These phenomena in the AP secretion were discussed in relation to food exploitation and reproductive diapause of the bean bug.


Stroke is the third common cause of death in the UK. It is also a leading cause of disability. The recent National Stroke Strategy (Department of Health, 2007) has provided major impetus behind changes in the ways in which stroke is prevented and treated (National Audit Office, 2010). Stroke awareness sits as a significant part of the Strategy, but there are some concerns that the Government's centrepiece campaign to increase public knowledge is not reaching some of the most vulnerable sections of our population, people from black and minority ethnic communities, despite clear evidence of increased risk among some ethnic communities. This paper describes some of the literature, mainly from the United States, which can help nurses working in community settings consider strategies for raising awareness about both stroke knowledge and risk. The paper points to three important themes: initial and prolonged engagement with local communities; self-management and cultural sensitivity.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness on the need for a more comprehensive approach on the interdependence between artificial intelligence (AI) and environmental sustainability. It provides an overview of existing sustainable AI policy initiatives at the national and regional level. More precisely, it discusses whether existing European Union (EU) environmental policies are suitable for the AI era or whether new regulations are needed in this field. Finally, this paper assesses cross-fertilisation opportunities between the EU and non-EU countries.

Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on a qualitative analysis of sustainable applications of AI and the sustainability of AI. Emphasis is laid on the latter, and a "sustainable by design" approach is proposed, which in essence is a prerequisite for transparent, responsible and human-centred AI systems. The analysis primarily focuses on environmental sustainability.

Findings
The majority of studies focus on how to use AI to protect the environment with very little attention paid to sustainable design of AI. On the other hand, the EU's comprehensive approach towards sustainable AI is closest to promoting "sustainable by design" AI. Several ways have been identified in which the EU's actions can be translated beyond its borders.

Research limitations/implications
One of the largest limitations of this study is its moderate scope. This paper is confined to the EU and as such provides a limited assessment of global policies and measures on the interplay between sustainability and AI. Consequently, the paper did not provide an in-depth analysis of environmental policies worldwide that could help provide a better picture of possible cooperation areas or common grounds. Another limitation of this study is that it primarily focuses on environmental aspects and as such accords little attention to the economic and social pillars of sustainability.

Social implications
With less than 10 years to go before reaching the sustainable development goal deadline, this study can help stakeholders better understand what is being done worldwide in terms of sustainable AI. Moreover, given that the technology is still in its early phase, this study can inspire a "sustainable by design" approach to the development of AI technologies.

Originality/value
All national AI strategies published by 1 June 2021 were analysed to identify whether and to what extent they prioritise the interplay between environment and AI. Furthermore, the authors also looked at the EU policy and how it aims to address AI from a sustainable perspective.


Social networking and micro-blogging services, such as Twitter, play an important role in sharing digital information. Despite the popularity and usefulness of social media, they are regularly abused by corrupt users. One of these nefarious activities is so-called fake news - a virus that has been spreading rapidly thanks to the hospitable environment provided by social media platforms. The extensive spread of fake news is now becoming a major problem with far-reaching negative repercussions on both individuals and society. Hence, the identification of fake news on social media is a problem of utmost importance that has attracted the interest not only of the research community but most of the big players on both sides - such as Facebook, on the industry side, and political parties on the societal one. In this work, we create a model through which we hope to be able to offer a solution that will instill trust in social network communities. Our model analyses the behaviour of 50,000 politicians on Twitter and assigns an influence score for each evaluated user based on several collected and analysed features and attributes. Next, we classify political Twitter users as either trustworthy or untrustworthy using random forest and support vector machine classifiers. An active learning model has been used to classify any unlabeled ambiguous records from our dataset. Finally, to measure the performance of the proposed model, we used accuracy as the main evaluation metric.


We study the electromagnetic fields of an arbitrarily moving charged particle and the radiation reaction on the charged particle using a novel approach. We first show that the fields of an arbitrarily moving charged particle in an inertial frame can be related in a simple manner to the fields of a uniformly accelerated charged particle in its rest frame. Since the latter field is static and easily obtainable, it is possible to derive the fields of an arbitrarily moving charged particle by a coordinate transformation. More importantly, this formalism allows us to calculate the self-force on a charged particle in a remarkably simple manner. We show that the original expression for this force, obtained by Dirac, can be rederived with much less computation and in an intuitively simple manner using our formalism.


Aims The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of strain and strain rate imaging for detecting carotid plaques elastic characteristics, and the correlation between plaque fibrous cap strain and acute cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods Seventy-two patients with carotid plaques were enrolled into this cross-sectional study. All patients underwent MRI and were divided into two groups according to the history of ACI: patients with ACI (n=39) and patients without ACI (n=33). High-resolution ultrasound scanner was performed to exam carotid artery intimae-media thickness (IMT), blood flow parameters and plaques. Positive and negative peak of strain and sheer stress on different regions of plaque longitudinal view was measured by strain and strain rate imaging. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the association between ACI and plaque biomechanics index, morphology data or carotid artery parameters. Results Positive and negative peak of strain among regions of interest in patients with ACI were significant different (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Compared with control group, negative peak of sheer stress (SS2) in the half part far away the heart (FA) and middle far away the heart (FM) were significantly higher (p<0.05 respectively) in ACIs. Conclusions Plaque biomechanics in the longitudinal view could be calculated by strain and strain rate imaging, which may provide a more useful quantitative assessment of plaque biomechanics. Therefore, the reliability and clinical importance of these quantitative parameters will be specified by further investigations.


In Bangladesh, two contrasting scenarios regarding the responsiveness of the bureaucrats working at the field level are present. Whereas some bureaucrats reach out to the people and respond to their demands, others remain unresponsive and unapproachable. So, why do the bureaucrats working at the grassroots, while performing under the same rules, same institutional context and reality, perform in two different ways while interacting with citizens? How can these two contradictory sets of understanding regarding bureaucratic responsiveness coexist in Bangladesh? This article attempts to unpack this puzzle by relying on a slightly modified version of historical institutionalism. Building on Bell's model of 'agent-centric institutional change' and by using a modified version of Mahoney & Thelen's framework of institutional change, it argues that dialectical interaction between agents (bureaucrats) and institutions (i.e., rules- both formal and informal, norms that affect the behavior of the agents) within the broader political setting can best explain the variation in behavioral pattern of the bureaucrats. The political context allows agents to exercise discretion in a specific manner in executing their roles and functions while being constrained by institutional rules and norms. The dialectical interaction between structure (political context), agent, and institution determines the current administrative reality, which has allowed the contradiction to emerge and sustain.


In the article the author analyzes the judicial reform in Russia at the present stage and summarizes background improving the legal framework of the judicial system on the basis of the experience gained over a period of two decades of practice of justice. The text presents scientific calculations of the content of the basic ontological characteristics of the Russian judicial system. The author of the article attempts to suggest which scenario will continue to reform the judicial system in Russia. A special place in the study, the author devotes on the constitutional foundations of the new judicial system, entailing significant changes in the theory of constitutional law. The article deals with the concept of "procedural law". The author evaluates the role and place of public prosecution in the state organs, preventing the possibility to interpret the action as lawmakers attempt to create a forensic prosecutorial branch.


Transitions are a natural part of life. Youth grow and develop physically, socially, psychologically, and intellectually during primary and secondary school years. The transition from secondary to postsecondary education is an important transition as youth not only move from high school to college, but also from adolescence to young adulthood. It is a time when young adults naturally desire to become more independent in pursuit of their personal dreams and aspirations. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact that academic, psychological, and social factors on youth with high-incidence disabilities as they strive to make successful postsecondary education transitions. Current trends indicate youth with high-incidence disabilities are graduating from high school and are attending vocational schools, colleges, and universities in increasing numbers. Transition barriers still limit many youth who could otherwise attend institutions of higher education regardless of disability type. Findings suggest academic and psychological factors most significantly predict successful postsecondary education transitions. Recommendations for improved transition planning and parental training are suggested.


On June 24, 2022, at the 35th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress, the amendment to the Anti-monopoly Law of the People's Republic of China was passed. It was decided to go into effect on August 1st. This is the first amendment to China's Anti-monopoly Law since its implementation in 2008. A new purpose was proposed in maintaining an orderly market system. This amendment adds innovation encouragement to the legislative purpose of the Anti-monopoly Law, in line with Xi Jinping's leadership's keynote on state affairs, which has emphasized technological innovation. It is specified in this law that it is responsible. In the 2018 central organizational reorganization, the newly established State Administration for Market Regulation, the Anti-monopoly Bureau, which was in charge of anti-monopoly work that had been distributed among the Ministry of Commerce, Development and Development, and the General Administration of Industry and Trade, was separated into a vice-ministerial level organization and upgraded to the State Anti-monopoly Bureau. The amendment bans monopoly, exclusion, and competition restrictions that abuse administrative power, and strengthens the level of punishment, such as significantly increasing the level of fines and linking antitrust penalties with credit records. Clarify the criteria for screening and classifying managers to strengthen screening of managers related to the national economy and livelihood, while introducing a safe harbor rule to exclude managers from sanctions if they prove that their market share is lower than the anti-monopoly standards made with In addition, managers who provide "substantial help" in concluding and implementing monopoly agreements are also subject to sanctions. The amendment is a review of China's anti-monopoly law enforcement over the past 10 years during the deliberation of the revision of the Chinese anti-monopoly law, and can be seen as a summary of legal practice experience. This is a demand inherent in the development of China's socialist market economy, and can help meet the objective demand of the new development pattern. It is conducive to introducing Chinese anti-monopoly law supervision and strengthening anti-monopoly law enforcement, which will be scientifically and objectively conducive.


This article interrogates the way/s in which rival schools studying hypnotism in late 19th-century France framed what counts as valid evidence for the purposes of science. Concern over the scientific reality of results is particularly situated in the notion of simulation (the faking of results); the respective approaches to simulation of the Salpêtrière and Nancy schools are analysed through close reading of key texts: Binet and Féré for the Salpêtrière, and Bernheim for Nancy. The article reveals a striking divergence between their scientific frames, which helps account for the bitterness of the schools' disputes. It then explores Bernheim's construction of scientific authority in more detail, for insights into the messiness entailed by theorizing hypnotism in psychical terms, while also attempting to retain scientific legitimacy. Indicative of this messiness, it is argued, is the way in which Bernheim's (apparently inconsistent) approach draws on multiple epistemic frames.


INTRODUCTION
Tuberculosis (TB) is the primary cause of death among infectious diseases affecting groups in extreme poverty. Social improvements could reverse this situation in Brazil. This study aims to demonstrate the spatial relationship between social development (SD) and TB mortality in Natal, a city in northeastern Brazil.

METHODOLOGY
Ecological study. The study population comprised TB deaths recorded in the Mortality Information System between 2008 and 2014. The units of analysis were 59 human development units (HDUs). Raw and smoothed mortality rates were calculated using the global empirical Bayes method. Primary components analysis was used to develop the SD indicators. An association between TB mortality and SD was verified using multiple linear regression analysis. Spatial autocorrelation was verified using models with global spatial effects. Analyses were performed using Statistica version 12.0, ArcGIS version 10.2, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0, and OpenGeoDa 1.0.1. The significance level was established at 5% (p < 0.05).

RESULTS
The TB mortality rate with non-random spatial distribution ranged between 0.52 and 8.90 per 100,000 inhabitants. The spatial lag model was chosen because it presented the highest log-likelihood value, lowest AIC, and highest R2. A negative association was found between TB mortality and SD (R2 = 0.207; p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS
The results show a negative association between TB mortality and the high SD indicator. This study can support decision-making in terms of collective projects within public health in order to link the health field to other sectors, aiming for social well-being and human development.


OBJECTIVE
Exposure to traumatic events is associated with increased risk for negative physical health outcomes, but more work is needed to advance understanding of the mechanisms underlying this relationship. As military deployments frequently involve trauma exposure, this issue has clear implications for veteran populations. This longitudinal study examined the role of mental health symptomatology (i.e., PTSD, depression, and anxiety) in the association between war zone stress and postdeployment physical health in Gulf War veterans.

METHOD
Data were collected in three waves over 7 years from a sample of 2,929 (92% male) Army personnel who were deployed to the 1990-1991 Gulf War. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the associations linking war zone stress exposure reported at deployment return with subsequent physical health 6 to 7 years later, including the postdeployment onset of health symptoms and conditions and health functioning. The roles of PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptom severity as potential risk mechanisms linking stress exposure with later health outcomes were examined.

RESULTS
Self-reported higher stress exposure was linked with greater severity of PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. SEM analyses revealed that PTSD symptom severity was the only significant mediator of stress exposure on subsequent physical health.

CONCLUSION
Findings support the unique and significant role of PTSD in the development of physical health problems in the wake of war zone stress for Gulf War veterans. These results suggest that targeted PTSD interventions could reduce or prevent future physical health problems that can result from trauma exposure and mental health sequelae linked to military service. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).


We propose SDFDiff, a novel approach for image-based shape optimization using differentiable rendering of 3D shapes represented by signed distance functions (SDFs). Compared to other representations, SDFs have the advantage that they can represent shapes with arbitrary topology, and that they guarantee watertight surfaces. We apply our approach to the problem of multi-view 3D reconstruction, where we achieve high reconstruction quality and can capture complex topology of 3D objects. In addition, we employ a multi-resolution strategy to obtain a robust optimization algorithm. We further demonstrate that our SDF-based differentiable renderer can be integrated with deep learning models, which opens up options for learning approaches on 3D objects without 3D supervision. In particular, we apply our method to single-view 3D reconstruction and achieve state-of-the-art results.


Through the 'classical' psychopathological symptoms only, one sometimes cannot clearly differentiate between an endogenous and an exogenous psychosis. But through the identification of word field disturbances and sentence field disturbances, which are characteristic schizophrenic symptoms, one can put the diagnosis of schizophrenia in such cases. This diagnosis can be stated through the course of the illness and its therapy.


MDS (Mice Drawer System) is the Facility that will support the research on board the International Space Station (ISS). Funded by ASI with Laben as industrial Prime Contractor, MDS will also permit its utilisation for other research programs with mice. The most attractive feature of MDS is that six mice can he kept separate inside dedicated and isolated cages. This permits to perform six experiments in parallel, one for each mouse. In the first utilisation flight of MDS facility the selected experiment is devoted to study human bone formation and specific countermeasures to prevent osteoporosis using mice under microgravity conditions as a model.


The muscular dystrophies are inherited diseases involving skeletal muscle and, to a variable extent, many other organs of the body. Each presents a distinctive clinical syndrome, and each presumably reflects a distinctive inborn error of metabolism. The precise metabolic defect is not known for any of these disorders. However, recent studies suggest that abnormalities in cellular membranes may help explain clinical deficits in two of the most important disorders, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy and myotonic muscular dystrophy.


It has been well established that occupational exposure to horses increases the risk of allergic sensitization to horse hair, on the contrary very few data have been published in individuals without direct contact with horses. We describe two cases of severe respiratory symptoms triggered by a single direct exposure in two patients with only 4-5 previous short contacts with horses during the entire their life, since they live in urban area of Naples. Cutaneous and serological diagnostic tests showed significant sensitization to horse dander other than some common inhalant allergens. Our report suggests that, in already (but unaware) horse-sensitized patients, the last direct contact with a horse has triggered severe respiratory symptoms. Passive carriage of horse allergen by the clothes of individuals in contact with horses/horse environments or a cross-reactivity between horse allergen (a lipocalin) and the major allergens (also lipocalins) of several furred animals are likely to explain our findings. Some other considerations can be derived by the clinical observation. First, it is likely that allergic sensitization to horse allergens could be more frequent than expected also in subjects without direct exposure to horse because of living in urban areas. Secondly, individuals suspected to be highly atopic or those already sensitized to some pet dander should be tested by SPTs/radio-allergo-sorbent test before the introduction of a pet indoors or, in the case of a big animal as the horse, a direct horse contact/entering into environments containing a horse.


The ability to extrude mucilage upon seed imbibition (myxospermy) occurs in several Angiosperm taxonomic groups, but its ancestral nature or evolutionary convergence origin remains misunderstood. We investigated seed mucilage evolution in the Brassicaceae family with comparison to the knowledge accumulated in Arabidopsis thaliana. The myxospermy occurrence was evaluated in 27 Brassicaceae species. Phenotyping included mucilage secretory cell morphology and topochemistry to highlight subtle myxospermy traits. In parallel, computational biology was driven on the one hundred genes constituting the so-called A. thaliana mucilage secretory cell toolbox to confront their sequence conservation to the observed phenotypes. Mucilage secretory cells show high morphology diversity; the three studied Arabidopsis species had a specific extrusion modality compared to the other studied Brassicaceae species. Orthologous genes from the A. thaliana mucilage secretory cell toolbox were mostly found in all studied species without correlation with the occurrence of myxospermy or even more sub-cellular traits. Seed mucilage may be an ancestral feature of the Brassicaceae family. It consists of highly diverse subtle traits, probably underlined by several genes not yet characterized in A. thaliana or by species-specific genes. Therefore, A. thaliana is probably not a sufficient reference for future myxospermy evo–devo studies.


This paper presents analytical descriptions of the behavior of weakly-guiding/weakly-coupled mode-selective fiber couplers, based on coupled-mode theory. Mode-selective couplers rely on the phase-matching of a higher-order mode in one fiber with the fundamental mode of a second, closely-positioned fiber. Their behavior is shown to be highly-dependent on the principle and azimuthal mode numbers of the higher-order mode, as well as its spatial-orientation. Zero coupling is shown to be possible for an asymmetric higher-order mode even when there is perfect phase-matching. The theory is also numerically simulated, and could assist in the future design of efficient mode-selective couplers for a wide range of optical communications and sensor systems.


In order to improve the stiff and brittle characteristics of pure Bombyx mori (B. mori) silk fibroin (SF) film in the dry state, glycerin (Glyc) has been used as a plasticizer. However, there have been very limited studies on the structural characterization of the Glyc-blended SF film. In this study, 13C Cross Polarization/Magic Angle Spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS NMR) was used to monitor the conformational changes in the films by changing the Glyc concentration. The presence of only 5 wt % Glyc in the film induced a significant conformational change in SF where Silk I* (repeated type II β-turn and no α-helix) newly appeared. Upon further increase in Glyc concentration, the percentage of Silk I* increased linearly up to 9 wt % Glyc and then tended to be almost constant (30%). This value (30%) was the same as the fraction of Ala residue within the Silk I* form out of all Ala residues of SF present in B. mori mature silkworm. The 1H DQMAS NMR spectra of Glyc-blended SF films confirmed the appearance of Silk I* in the Glyc-blended SF film. A structural model of Glyc-SF complex including the Silk I* form was proposed with the guidance of the Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation using 1H–1H distance constraints obtained from the 1H Double-Quantum Magic Angle Spinning (DQMAS) NMR spectra.


Insulin resistance is a state of impaired responsiveness to insulin action. This condition not only results in deficient glucose uptake but increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), stroke, and obesity. The present work investigates the molecular mechanisms of high carbohydrate and fat diet in inducing prediabetic hyperinsulinemia and effect of exercise on InsR signaling events, muscular AChE, and lactate dehydrogenase activity. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into the control (C) diet group, high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) group, high-fat diet (HFD) group, and HCD and HFD groups with exercise (HCD Ex and HFD Ex, respectively). Acetyl choline esterase activity, lactate dehydrogenase activity, total lactate levels, IRS1 phosphorylations, and Glut4 expression patterns were studied in the muscle tissue among these groups. High carbohydrate and fat feeding led to hyperinsulinemic status with reduced acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity and impaired phosphorylation of IRS1 along with increased lactate concentrations in the muscle. Exercise significantly upregulated phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) docking site phosphorylation and downregulated the negative IRS1 phosphorylations thereby increasing the glucose transporter (GLUT) expressions and reducing the lactate accumulation. Also, the levels of second messengers like IP3 and cAMP were increased with exercise. Increased second messenger levels induce calcium release thereby activating the downstream pathway promoting the translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane. Our results showed that the metabolic and signaling pathway dysregulations seen during diet-induced hyperinsulinemia, a metabolic condition seen during the early stages in the development of prediabetes, were improved with vigorous physical exercise. Thus, exercise can be considered as an excellent management approach over drug therapy for diabetes and its complications.


Femicide, the homicide of women, is the seventh leading cause of premature death for women overall. Intimate partner (IP) homicide accounts for approximately 40% to 50% of U.S. femicides. The vast majority of IP femicides are perpetrated by male partners, with .05% of IP femicides in the U.S. perpetrated by female partners. Few studies have examined intimate partner violence (IPV) between female partners and no study (to the authors' knowledge) has examined female-perpetrated IP femicide and attempted femicide in same-sex relationships. This case study examines IP femicide and attempted femicide among a small sample of women in same-sex relationships. The findings call attention to this important women's health issue, expand our contextual understanding of violence in female same-sex relationships, and assist health care, law enforcement, judiciary, service, and advocacy professionals to develop prevention strategies and resources to reduce the risk of serious injury and death among women in same-sex relationships.


Eleven out of twelve species of New Caledonian Helicopsyche described by H. H. Ross in 1975 were re-examined. Extended descriptions of the males include characters of the head, wing, leg and genitalia. The females of H. boularia, H. caledonia, H. edmundsi and H. hollowayi are described for the first time. Larvae of H. arenaria, H. boularia, H. caledonia, H. edmundsi, H. hollowayi, H. kariona and H. lapidaria are newly associated to species and described. Also the pupae of H. arenaria, H. caledonia, H. edmundsi, H. kariona, H. koumaca, H. lapidaria and H. starmuehlneri are described.


This study at a university in Slovakia asked two questions: (1) Does completion of a service-learning course lead to changes in students' social and personal responsibility and their attitudes toward community service? (2) Are personal and social responsibility and attitudes toward community service correlated? Service-learning and the third mission of the university are almost unknown in Slovak higher education, and likewise no relevant test instruments adapted to Slovak conditions currently exist. Consequently, we adopted a scale from abroad—Conrad and Hedin's (1981) Social and Personal Responsibility Scale (SPRS). We also used qualitative research methods. Compared to a control group, the service-learning students had statistically significant higher posttest scores in the Social Welfare, Duty, Performance of Responsible Acts, and Global Responsibility subscales. The research results revealed a need for new measuring tools that are sensitive to the specific context of service-learning implementation in Slovakia.


Even though pancreatic involvement in case of polyarteritis nodosa is uncommon, it reveals infrequently the disease. Furthermore, the occurrence of pancreatic pseudocyst in case of polyarteritis nodosa is rare. One case of intrapancreatic pseudocyst complicating chronic pancreatic during polyarteritis nodosa is reported. CT scan showed non specific intrapancreatic cystic lesion for which the diagnosis of mucinous cystic tumor of the pancreas was considered. After surgical resection, histopathologic analysis led to the diagnosis of intrapancreatic pseudocyst secondary to polyarteritis nodosa.


Abstract The Development of reliable and field-compatible detection methods is essential to monitoring and controlling the spread of any global pandemic. We herein report a novel anti-RNA:DNA hybrid (anti-RDH) antibody-based biosensor for visual, colorimetric lateral flow assay, using gold nanoparticles, coupled with transcription-mediated-isothermal-RNA-amplification (TMIRA) for specific and sensitive detection of viral RNA. We have demonstrated its utility for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection. This technique, which we have named RDH-LFA (anti-RNA:DNA hybrid antibody-based lateral flow assay), exploits anti-RDH antibody for immunocapture of viral RNA hybridized with specific DNA probes in lateral flow assay. This method uses biotinylated-oligonucleotides (DNAB) specific to SARS-CoV-2 RNA (vRNA) to generate a vRNA-DNAB hybrid. The biotin-tagged vRNA-DNAB hybrid molecules bind to streptavidin conjugated with gold nanoparticles. This hybrid complex is trapped by the anti-RDH antibody immobilized on the nitrocellulose membrane resulting in pink color signal leading to visual naked-eye detection in 1 minute. Combining RDH-LFA with isothermal RNA amplification (TMIRA) significantly improves the sensitivity (LOD:10 copies/µl) with a total turnaround time of an hour. More importantly, RDH-LFA coupled with the TMIRA method showed 96.6% sensitivity and 100% specificity for clinical samples when compared to a commercial gold standard reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase-chain-reaction assay. Thus, the present study reports a rapid, sensitive, specific, and simple method for visual detection of viral RNA, which can be used at the point-of-care without requiring sophisticated instrumentation.


Abstract. Land use and land cover change can increase or decrease landslide
susceptibility (LS) in the mountainous areas. In the hilly and mountainous
part of southwestern China, land use and land cover change (LUCC) has
taken place in the last decades due to infrastructure development and rapid
economic activities. This development and activities can worsen the slope
susceptible to sliding due to mostly the cutting of slopes. This study,
taking Zhushan Town, Xuan'en County, as the study area, aims to evaluate the
influence of land use and land cover change on landslide susceptibility at a
regional scale. Spatial distribution of landslides was determined in terms
of visual interpretation of aerial photographs and remote sensing images,
supported by field surveys. Two types of land use and land cover (LUC) maps,
with a time interval covering 21 years (1992–2013), were prepared: the first was obtained by the neural net classification of images acquired in 1992 and the second by the object-oriented classification of images in 2002 and 2013. Landslide-susceptible areas were analyzed using the logistic regression model (LRM) in which six influencing factors were chosen as the landslide susceptibility indices. In addition, the hydrologic analysis method was applied to optimize the partitioning of the terrain. The results indicated that the LUCC in the region was mainly the transformation from the grassland and arable land to the forest land, which is increased by 34.3 %. An increase of 1.9 % is shown in the area where human engineering activities concentrate. The comparison of landslide susceptibility maps among different periods revealed that human engineering activities were the most important factor in increasing LS in this region. Such results emphasize the requirement of a reasonable land use planning activity process.


Biomass production in forests is a key process in the global carbon (C) cycle that is strongly linked to photosynthesis and related leaf traits. Spatially, relationships among leaf traits can vary as a function of climate, soils and species composition. As modeling approaches to estimate C gain improve, the need to understand variability in leaf traits becomes increasingly important. Here, we characterized the relationship between photosynthetic capacity (Amax), foliar nitrogen and leaf mass per area (LMA) within and across species in northern hardwood and evergreen stands of the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, a region that has been underrepresented in past leaf trait studies. Results were used to parameterize a forest ecosystem model (PnET) that has been widely used in the Northeast region to predict ecosystem C fluxes. Within all species, Amax was strongly and positively related to mass-based foliar percent nitrogen (%N). The observed relationship between foliar %N and Amax differed significantly from the previously used model parameterization that was based on leaf trait data from forest stands in Wisconsin, and was largely a function of differences in leaf mass per area. Using site-specific foliar %N and LMA to estimate Amax in PnET improved the estimation of GPP by 5.5% in comparison with GPP estimates derived from an eddy covariance tower.


The structure and behaviour of many social systems are shaped by the interactions among their individuals. Representing them as complex networks has shed light on the mechanisms that govern their formation and evolution. Such representations, however, focus on interactions between pairs of individuals (represented by the edges of the network), although many social interactions involve instead groups: these can be represented as hyperedges, that can comprehend any number of individuals, leading to the use of higher-order network representations. While recent research has investigated the structure of static higher-order networks, little is known about the mechanisms that govern their evolution. How do groups form and develop? How do people move between different groups? Here, we investigate the temporal dynamics of group change, using empirical social interactions collected in different settings. We leverage proximity records from two data-collection efforts that have tracked the temporal evolution of social interactions among students of a university and children in a preschool. We study the mechanisms governing the temporal dynamics both at the node and group level, characterising how individuals navigate groups and how groups form and disaggregate, finding robust patterns across contexts. We then propose a dynamical hypergraph model that closely reproduces the empirical observations. These results represent a further step in understanding the social dynamics of higher-order interactions, stressing the importance of considering their temporal aspect. The proposed model moreover opens up research directions to study the impact of higher-order temporal network patterns on dynamical processes that evolve on top of them.


Satellite altimetry offers opportunities for studying crustal motion of regional and local origins. This is achieved by the precise determination of the rate of change of the sea level from altimetry data combined with tide gauge records of relative sea level change. In this study, we investigate an application of a wavelet-based multiresolution analysis of TOPEX/Poseidon altimetry data (from 1992 to 2002) and tide gauge records to evaluate trends of sea level change in the Baltic Sea. We compare the sea level trends with those estimated via a least-squares (LS) regression approach. The conducted numerical experiments demonstrate that, in contrast to the wavelet-based approach, LS regression tends to underestimate the sea level trends when short and noisy time series are analyzed. In the presence of an anomalous sea level signal, the wavelet-based approach can detect and model this signal and also accounts for this effect on the sea level trend.


The battle to eliminate the scourge of malaria in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) continues unabated. To date there have been notable successes in this fight, with 14 countries so far having succeeded in eliminating malaria (1). Their main priority now is to prevent re-establishment of local malaria transmission in receptive and vulnerable areas. However, local malaria outbreaks have been reported recently from some malaria-free countries in the Region (such as Egypt and Oman), as well as countries in other regions (such as Greece) from 2010 to 2014 (2). Such examples highlight the need for vigilance, continuous assessment of the eco-epidemiological situation, and readiness for prompt and appropriate interventions.


Abstract The purpose of the present study was to select key parameters in good manufacturing practice for production of thawed chilled modified atmosphere packed (MAP) cod (Gadus morhua) fillets. The effect of frozen storage temperature (−20 and −30 °C), frozen storage period (3, 6, 9 and 12 mo) and chill storage periods up to 21 d at 2 °C were evaluated for thawed MAP Barents Sea cod fillets. Sensory, chemical, microbiological and physical quality attributes were evaluated and multivariate data analysis (principal component analysis and partial least-squares regression) applied for identification of key parameters in good manufacturing practice for this product. Frozen storage of up to 12 mo had no significant effect on quality attributes and shelf-life at 2 °C was above 14 d irrespective of the time of frozen storage. As compared to a previous study with Baltic Sea, cod drip losses during chill storage was low for thawed MAP Barents Sea cod and this fish raw material seemed the more appropriate for production of thawed chilled MAP products. Frozen storage inactivation of the spoilage bacteria of Photobacterium phosphoreum was modest in Barents Sea cod, possibly due to high trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) and NaCl contents.


Background Reuma.pt, the Rheumatic Diseases Register from the Portuguese Society of Rheumatology has recently expanded its coverage to Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE) patients, the Reuma.pt/LES. Reuma.pt/LES is a web-based platform launched in September 2012 that simultaneously serves as a nationwide registry and as an electronic medical record. Its aim is to register all patients with SLE and follow them up in a standard manner in order to improve the monitoring and clinical care for patients with SLE while simultaneously increase the knowledge of this disease. Methods The authors present the structure and the functioning of this national project, giving as an example the subpopulation of patients with SLE from two centres in Lisbon (Hospital Santa Maria and Hospital Garcia de Orta) included in Reuma.pt/LES. Results 878 patients from all the country with the clinical diagnosis of SLE were registered in the database Reuma.pt/LES until January 2013. Recorded information includes demographics, work status, life-styles, ACR and SLICC 2012 classification criteria, thrombotic and obstetric manifestations, SLE disease activity at each visit, fatigue scale, health related quality of life measures (SF-36 and EQD5), irreversible damage, comorbid conditions, medication and adverse events. Hospital Santa Maria (Lisbon) and the Hospital Garcia de Orta (Almada) contributed to Reuma.pt/LES with 305 patients, 95,1% females, 80% Caucasians with a mean age of 45.5 ±14.9y. The mean age at diagnosis was 35.9 ±14.9y and the mean disease duration was 10.3 ± 7.3y. SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) at the first evaluation was 3,4 ± 3,8 and current accrual damage assessed by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) was 0,7 ± 1,1. Hypertension was reported in 24% of the patients, diabetes in 8.8% and cardiovascular diseases in 11%. The vast majority of patients was treated with hydroxychloroquine (93.9%) and corticosteroids (prednisolone 44.6%, prednisone 12.4%, deflazacort 18.%). Immunosuppressive drugs were used in about half of the cases (azathioprine in 27%, methotrexate in 15.5%, cyclophosphamide in 7.4%, micophenolate in 5%) and to a lesser extent biological therapies (rituximab in 5.9% and belimumab in 0.98% of the patients). Conclusions Reuma.pt, is a very useful tool, that allows a more efficient patient follow-up, and standardized data collection, storage and analysis, with the ultimate objective of improving patient care and simultaneously scientific research in the field of SLE. Disclosure of Interest None Declared


Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA), an in-vehicle system that can either warn the driver or directly limit the vehicle's speed when the speed limit is reached, is generally believed to have a large potential to increase road safety. However, policy makers hesitate to take policy measures that may increase ISA use. Public acceptance of ISA or policy makers' perception of it is regarded to play an important role in this. This paper aims to increase this insight by reporting car drivers' preferences for ISA policy measures based on stated choice experiment conducted in the Netherlands. Respondents made choices between various implementation strategies (mandatory ISA and voluntary ISA with financial incentives) given a chosen policy measure. The policy measure describes which drivers group (speed offenders, professional drivers or all drivers) is targeted and which ISA type (warning or limiting) is stimulated. The results point out that car drivers especially prefer that policy makers would impose ISA on speed offenders and to a lesser extent also on professional drivers, while they prefer a voluntary ISA for themselves. Use of voluntary ISA can be stimulated by offering financial incentives, of which purchase subsidy is preferred above annual tax cuts. Furthermore, car drivers prefer warning ISA for themselves and also for professional drivers, while they prefer limiting ISA for speed offenders. In addition, the results indicate that females and the older age group prefer ISA policy measures more than males and young drivers, but overall car drivers' preferences seem to be rather homogeneous.


Several years ago while doing routine seismic shooting in a portion of the Sacramento Valley near the town of Elk Grove, several prominent reflection bands were noticed recurring on many of the profiles. Five selected profiles are shown in discussing reflection correlation over this small, comparatively ideal area. Figure 1 shows the general location of the profiles which range from 2 to 8 miles apart. Figure 2 shows three records whose location can be seen by referring to Figure 1. Records 1, 2, and 3 were correlated as shown by events A and B. When the B events are correlated as shown, there is some evidence that in going from record 2 to 3 the A event could correlate with A′. However, when the records are studied more carefully, it appears that the interval between reflection bands thickens and that the events A and B should be correlated as marked on all three records. This correlation was independently substantiated by connecting continuous profile lines. It would appear then that between these three...


Introduction Terrorism in which violence is intentionally directed at civilian targets has indeed become a major cause of morbidity and mortality in some Eastern Mediterranean countries. The aim of this study was to assess the burden and factors associated with this problem in Pakistan. Method Information about suicide-terrorism related events, deaths and injuries was extracted from South-Asian Terrorism Portal for the period from 2002 to October 2009. Results Out of 198 events, civilians were involved in 194 events. Civilian accounted for 74.1 (N=2017) of those died and 93.8% (N=6129) of those injured. In nine districts mortalities were more than 1 death per 100 000 inhabitants per year. Yearly trend showed a shift of attack targets from foreigners and sectarian in 2002–2005 periods toward security forces or general public in 2006–2009 periods. Attacks carried out on public installations (mosque) or gatherings (political) resulted in significantly high (p≤0.02) number of deaths (22 vs 8) and injuries (59 vs 24) per event as compared to security installations. Conclusion Civilian mortalities were 10 times or higher in Pakistani districts than that reported due to such mechanism in USA during 1994–2002 period. Prevention might focus on political negotiation with armed groups and taking appropriate measures for protection of mosques and political gatherings.


AIM
To compare the effect of norepinephrine-dobutamine with dopamine alone on splanchnic perfusion in sheep with septic shock.

METHODS
Twenty sheep with septic shock induced by lipopolysaccharides were divided into two groups. When systolic pressure decreased by 5.3 kPa, basic values of hemodynamic parameters and intestinal intramucosal pH (pHi) were recorded. Each group was randomized to receive an intravenous infusion of norepinephrine-dobutamine or dopamine, and titrated to obtain mean arterial pressure (MAP) > 12 kPa with an optimal cardiac preload. Hemodynamic parameters and mucosal pHi were repeated at 1, 2, 3, and 4 h after basic measurement.

RESULTS
After norepinephrine-dobutamine or dopamine infusion, MAP, cardiac output, and oxygen delivery increased in all animals compared with basic values in both groups (P < 0.05). Compared with baseline values, lactate concentrations decreased at 3 h and 4 h [from (4 +/- 2) mmol/L to (2 +/- 1) mmol/L] in the norepinephrine-dobutamine group (P < 0.05 ). Arterial lactate concentrations had no change in dopamine group, but arterial pH decreased from 7.40 +/- 0.05 to 7.26 +/- 0.06 at 1 h (P < 0.05 ). No difference in pHi was found in dopamine group, but in the norepinephrine-dobutamine group, compared with baseline, pHi increased from 7.19 +/- 0.04 to 7.36 +/- 0.07 at 3 h (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION
Both norepinephrine-dobutamine and dopamine alone could improve systemic hemodynamics in sheep with septic shock, but norepinephrine-dobutamine was better than dopamine on splanchnic perfusion.


Chemokine CC motif ligand 2 (CCL2) is one of the most recognized proinflammatory chemokines, and the expression of CCL2 in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients infected with HIV-1 is significantly higher than that of healthy people. As such, it is seen as an important cause of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). Our previous investigation has confirmed the pathological role of CCL2 in mediating brain damage leading to cognitive dysfunction. Currently, however, research on therapeutic drugs for the central nervous system targeting CCL2 is very limited. Our present study used brain stereotactic technology to induce cognitive impairment in rats by injecting CCL2 (5 ng) into the bilateral hippocampus. To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Tanshinone IIA (25, 50, 75 mg/kg/d) on CCL2-induced learning memory and cognitive impairment in rats, we performed the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition tests (NORT) on the rats. The results showed that Tanshinone IIA significantly alleviated CCL2-induced learning memory and cognitive dysfunction. Further studies on the hippocampal tissue of the rats revealed that Tanshinone IIA treatment significantly increased the activity of SOD and GSH-Px while the level of MDA decreased compared to the model group. Additionally, the relative expression of apoptosis-associated genes caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 and inflammation-associated genes IL-1β and IL-6 in Tanshinone IIA-treated rats was lower than that in model rats. Finally, we confirmed hippocampal neuron loss and apoptosis by Nissl staining and TdT-mediated dUTP Nick end labeling (TUNEL). Taken together, these data imply that Tanshinone IIA can ameliorate CCL2-induced learning memory and cognitive impairment by impacting oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Tanshinone IIA may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of HAND.


We study a dynamic agency problem with two-sided moral hazard: the worker chooses whether to exert effort or shirk; the manager chooses whether to invest in an attention technology to recognize worker performance. In equilibrium the worker uses past recognition to infer managerial attention. An engagement trap arises: absent recent recognition, both worker effort and managerial investment decrease, making a return to high productivity less likely as time passes. In a sample of ex-ante identical firms, firm performance, managerial quality, and worker engagement display heterogeneity across firms, positive correlation, and persistence over time.


Scheduling of dynamic and multitasking workloads for big-data analytics is a challenging issue, as it requires a significant amount of parameter sweeping and iterations. Therefore, real-time scheduling becomes essential to increase the throughput of many-task computing. The difficulty lies in obtaining a series of optimal yet responsive schedules. In dynamic scenarios, such as virtual clusters in cloud, scheduling must be processed fast enough to keep pace with the unpredictable fluctuations in the workloads to optimize the overall system performance. In this paper, ordinal optimization using rough models and fast simulation is introduced to obtain suboptimal solutions in a much shorter timeframe. While the scheduling solution for each period may not be the best, ordinal optimization can be processed fast in an iterative and evolutionary way to capture the details of big-data workload dynamism. Experimental results show that our evolutionary approach compared with existing methods, such as Monte Carlo and Blind Pick, can achieve higher overall average scheduling performance, such as throughput, in real-world applications with dynamic workloads. Furthermore, performance improvement is seen by implementing an optimal computing budget allocating method that smartly allocates computing cycles to the most promising schedules.


This work presents the results of the study of cadets' educational motivation held in Moscow cadet schools. The main goal is to determine the influence of cadets' satisfaction with the military occupational choice on their motivation. It should be realized that military occupations are always associated with danger, hard work and threat to life and health. Therefore, the achievement of high-level professionalism in this field requires high motivation in education. The cadets from 15 to 17 years old (average age = 16.3) were participants of the study (N = 122). The sample was divided into two groups. The first group included cadets fully satisfied with their professional choice. The second group was formed of cadets with the uncertain position regarding their military occupational chose. The data analysis showed that the first group of cadets had higher academic grades in their studies. Their dominant motives were professional (83%), and they strived to achieve positive results from their actions (75%). It was also easier to concentrate on studies for cadets of this group. Cadets from the second group were uncertain in their willing to become military specialists and had lower professional motivation (49%). In their educational motivation the avoiding motives prevailed (80%), which also negatively reflected on their learning. Particularly interesting results indicated that cadets satisfied with the military occupational choice were more inclined to communicate with peers (79%) and considered military occupations prestigious. Cadets not satisfied with their occupational choice tended to communicate less (52%). Thus, the uncertainty in the military occupational choice might cause dissatisfaction and the decrease in educational motivation of cadets. Consequently, psychologists should pay more attention to cadets with a reduced educational motivation to organized their relevant guidance.


Abstract : The numbers of sexual assault cases continue to rise. This increase reveals that it is prevalent in the military. The background and scope of the sexual assault problem starts with the American culture. Perpetrators reside in society communities, businesses, churches, schools, and sports and in the military. In an all-voluntary military, the Armed Services are a reflection of culture and society. Despite a socialized training effort to transition civilians to mission ready Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines through initial entry training, Service Members, at times, exercise extreme poor judgment and ignore values for the sake of self-motivating reasons that lead to sexual assault. There is ongoing debate in Congress over whether the military justice system should change, primarily due to public scrutiny on how senior military commanders handle sexual assault cases. With sexual assault crimes rising across the entire spectrum of American society and with the spotlight on the Armed Services, accountability remains a huge concern until this crime is reduced and eventually eliminated. Leaders at every level must be held accountable to tackle this challenge. This Professional Studies Paper (PSP) examines the impact of culture, leadership, and policy as they relate to sexual assault in society and in the military. This PSP ends with two recommendations for the Department of Defense (DoD) to consider as a means to assist in deterrence, and concludes with the assertion that the DoD may see Congress take civilian control of the military justice system if the numbers of victims continue to rise.


The purpose of this research is to study the structure of a Moroccan consumer's home appliance use and, as a consequence, the different patterns of energy consumption. The data in this study is collected from the open MORED (A Moroccan Building Electricity Dataset) dataset. Machine Learning Algorithms and Data Mining Techniques is employed. The findings of this study enable us to comprehend the behavior of a Moroccan consumer in terms of energy consumption and home appliance use. The Inter-Appliance Association and Peak Hours discovered also will be used to construct an Energy Management System specific to a Moroccan building in the coming years. This can serve to develop the framework for effective Energy Demand Management System (EDMS) while also encouraging end-user participation.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography (DHPLC) in the second level screening of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene.

METHODS
A 9-month prospective study, between June 2008 and March 2009 at Artemisia Fetal Medical Centre, included 3829 samples of amniotic fluid collected from women undergoing mid-trimester amniocentesis.The genetic diagnosis of CF was based on research of the main mutations of the CFTR gene on fetal DNA extracted from the amniocytes, (first level screening) using different commercial diagnostic systems. A second level screening using DHPLC, on the amniotic fluid and on a blood sample from the couple, was offered in case of fetuses heterozygous at first level screening.

RESULTS
Of 3829 fetuses, 134 were found to be positive, 129 heterozygous and 5 affected. Of the 129 couples, following appropriate genetic counselling, 53 requested a second level screening. Through the use of DHPLC, 44 couples were found to be negative, and in nine couples, nine rare mutations were identified.

CONCLUSIONS
The first level screening can be useful to evidence up to 75% of the CF mutations. The second level screening can identify a further 10% of mutant alleles. DHPLC was found to be a reliable and specific method for the rapid identification of the rare CFTR mutations which were not revealed in initial first level screening.


The function of Dicer's helicase domain has been enigmatic since its discovery. Why do only some Dicers require ATP, despite a high degree of sequence conservation in their helicase domains? We discuss evolutionary considerations based on differences between vertebrate and invertebrate antiviral defense, and how the helicase domain has been co-opted in extant organisms as the binding site for accessory proteins. Many accessory proteins are double-stranded RNA binding proteins, and we propose models for how they modulate Dicer function and catalysis.


Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) mainly replicates in avian fibroblasts, and the U3 enhancer region of the long terminal repeats of RSV contains the determinants for its tissue-tropic expression. We describe the cloning and characterization of an avian gene that encodes a protein capable of binding to the enhancer region of Rous sarcoma virus. A PCR-derived probe corresponding to the U3 region of RSV was used to isolate a cDNA clone by screening a chicken cDNA expression library. The cDNA is predicted to encode a polypeptide of 298 amino acids that is homologous to the Y-box (inverted CCAAT) family of DNA-binding transcription factors. This factor, which we refer to as Rous sarcoma virus enhancer factor-II (RSV-EF-II), shows 99% aa identity over a 105-amino-acid stretch that is highly conserved in all Y-box proteins, and is commonly referred to as the cold shock domain. RSV-EF-II selectively binds to single-stranded DNA, and the binding site, as determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assays, consists of the sequence 5' GTACCACC 3' located between nucleotides -112 to -119 in the noncoding strand of the RSV enhancer. Although RSV-EF-II shares considerable homology with the Y-box family of proteins, it does not bind to the inverted CCAAT boxes at positions -65 to -69 and -129 to -133 in the RSV LTR. Northern analysis indicates that RSV-EF-II-specific transcripts are expressed predominantly in avian fibroblasts and muscle tissue. The results of these binding and mRNA expression expriments suggest that RSV-EF-II may play an important role in tissue- and host-specific expression of RSV LTR-driven gene expression. Further, we show that RSV-EF-II acts as a repressor of transcription.


Cryptographic Hash Functions: Theory and Practice.- Cryptographic Hash Functions: Theory and Practice.- Session 1A. Access Control.- Rewriting of SPARQL/Update Queries for Securing Data Access.- Fine-Grained Disclosure of Access Policies.- Session 1B. Public Key Cryptography and Cryptanalysis.- Manger's Attack Revisited.- Horizontal Correlation Analysis on Exponentiation.- Threshold Public-Key Encryption with Adaptive Security and Short Ciphertexts.- Session 1C. Security in Distributed and Mobile Systems.- A Trust-Based Robust and Efficient Searching Scheme for Peer-to-Peer Networks.- CUDACS: Securing the Cloud with CUDA-Enabled Secure Virtualization.- SEIP: Simple and Efficient Integrity Protection for Open Mobile Platforms.- Securing Mobile Access in Ubiquitous Networking via Non-roaming Agreement Protocol.- Compromise-Resilient Anti-jamming for Wireless Sensor Networks.- Session 1D. Cryptanalysis.- On Practical Second-Order Power Analysis Attacks for Block Ciphers.- Consecutive S-box Lookups: A Timing Attack on SNOW 3G.- Session 2A. Authentication.- Efficient Authentication for Mobile and Pervasive Computing.- Security Enhancement and Modular Treatment towards Authenticated Key Exchange.- Federated Secret Handshakes with Support for Revocation.- Session 2B. Fair Exchange Protocols.- An Agent-Mediated Fair Exchange Protocol.- A New Method for Formalizing Optimistic Fair Exchange Protocols.- Unconditionally Secure First-Price Auction Protocols Using a Multicomponent Commitment Scheme.- Session 2C. Anonymity and Privacy.- Proving Coercion-Resistance of Scantegrity II.- Anonymity and Verifiability in Voting: Understanding (Un)Linkability.- A Secure and Practical Approach for Providing Anonymity Protection for Trusted Platforms.- Time Warp: How Time Affects Privacy in LBSs.- Session 2D. Software Security.- Return-Oriented Rootkit without Returns (on the x86).- Experimental Threat Model Reuse with Misuse Case Diagrams.- Automatically Generating Patch in Binary Programs Using Attribute-Based Taint Analysis.- Session 3A. Proxy Cryptosystems.- Identity-Based Proxy Cryptosystems with Revocability and Hierarchical Confidentialities.- Ciphertext Policy Attribute-Based Proxy Re-encryption.- Session 3B. Intrusion Detection Systems.- Hybrid Detection of Application Layer Attacks Using Markov Models for Normality and Attacks.- A Trust-Based IDS for the AODV Protocol.- IDS Alert Visualization and Monitoring through Heuristic Host Selection.- A Two-Tier System for Web Attack Detection Using Linear Discriminant Method.


BACKGROUND
The mesolimbic dopaminergic reward system seems to play a crucial role in reinforcing effects of nicotine. Recently, acute high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of frontal brain regions has been shown to efficiently modulate the mesostriatal and mesolimbic dopaminergic system in both animals and humans. For this reason, we investigated whether high-frequency rTMS would be able to influence nicotine-related behavior by studying rTMS effects on craving and cigarette smoking.

METHOD
Fourteen treatment-seeking smokers were included in a double-blind crossover trial, conducted in 2002, comparing single days of active versus sham stimulation. Outcome measures were rTMS effects on number of cigarettes smoked during an ad libitum smoking period and effects on craving after a period of acute abstinence.

RESULTS
High-frequency (20-Hz) rTMS of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex reduced cigarette smoking significantly (p <.01) in an active stimulation compared with sham stimulation. Levels of craving did not change significantly.

CONCLUSION
High-frequency rTMS may be useful for treatment in smoking cessation.


The problem of detecting the presence of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) using Electroencephalography (EEG) for classification has seen limited study and is addressed with a new approach that seeks to exploit the knowledge of EEG sensor spatial configuration. Two classification models, one which ignores the configuration (model 1) and one that exploits it with different interpolation methods (model 2), are studied. Performance of these two models is examined for analyzing 34 EEG data channels each consisting of five frequency bands and further decomposed with a filter bank. The data are collected from 64 subjects consisting of healthy controls and patients with SAD. Validity of our hypothesis that model 2 will significantly outperform model 1 is borne out in the results, with accuracy 6– 7% higher for model 2 for each machine learning algorithm we investigated. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) were found to provide much better performance than SVM and kNNs.


(a) In percentage terms. (b) Inflation excluding mortgages below 21⁄2 per cent per annum at the end of the year. (c) A fall in annual output. (d) Percentage change, year-on-year. (e) ILO definition, fourth quarter, millions. (f) Percentage change, fourth quarter on fourth quarter. (g) Year, £ billion. (h) Public sector net borrowing, fiscal year, £ billion. (i) OECD countries, percentage change, year-on-year. (j) Volume of total world trade, percentage change, year-on-year. Growth prospects


Readers who are introduced to philosophical analysis by reading the early Platonic dialogues may be puzzled to find that Plato, in his middle and late periods, largely abandons the style of analysis characteristic of early Plato, namely, the 'Socratic elenchus'. This paper undertakes to solve the puzzle. In contrast to what is popularly called 'the Socratic method', the elenchus requires that Socrates, the lead investigator, not have a satisfactory answer to his 'What is F-ness?' question. Here is the bind. Part of what motivates the elenctic inquiry is the natural assumption that one cannot identify F-things unless one has a satisfactory analysis of what it is to be F. But to test the adequacy of suggested analyses of F-ness one needs to be able to identify counterexamples. Together these two points present us with a 'catch-22', which is something the 'paradox of inquiry' in the Meno brings out. In the Theaetetus Plato makes clear that, although the elenchus, including Socratic ignorance, can refute philosophical theses arrived at by other means, it cannot, by itself, give birth to viable philosophical theses. Its legitimate role is therefore only propaedeutic.


Abstract Post-translational modifications of alpha-synuclein (aSyn), particularly phosphorylation at Serine 129 (Ser129-p) and truncation of its C-terminus (CTT), have been implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology. To gain more insight in the relevance of Ser129-p and CTT aSyn under physiological and pathological conditions, weinvestigated their subcellular distribution patterns in normal aged and PD brains using highly-selective antibodies in combination with 3D multicolor STED microscopy. We show that CTT aSyn localizes in mitochondria in PD patients and controls, whereas the organization of Ser129-p in a cytoplasmic network is strongly associated with pathology. Nigral Lewy bodies show an onion skin-like architecture, with a structured framework of Ser129-p aSyn and neurofilaments encapsulating CTT aSyn in their core, which displayed high content of proteins and lipids by label-free CARS microscopy. The subcellular phenotypes of antibody-labeled pathology identified in this study provide evidence for a crucial role of Ser129-p aSyn in Lewy body formation.


INTRODUCTION
Diabetes care at different healthcare facilities varied from significantly better at one setting to no difference amongst them. We examined type 2 diabetes patient profiles, disease control and complication rates at four public health facilities in Malaysia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study analyzed data from diabetes registry database, the Adult Diabetes Control and Management (ADCM). The four public health facilities were hospital with specialist (HS), hospital without specialist (HNS), health clinics with family physicians (CS) and health clinic without doctor (CND). Independent risk factors were identified using multivariate regression analyses.

RESULTS
The means age and duration of diabetes in years were significantly older and longer in HS (ANOVA, p< 0.0001). There were significantly more patients on insulin (31.2%), anti-hypertensives (80.1%), statins (68.1%) and antiplatelets (51.2%) in HS. Patients at HS had significantly lower means BMI, HbA1c, LDL-C and higher mean HDL-C. A significant larger proportion of type 2 diabetes patients at HS had diabetes-related complications (2-5 times). Compared to the HS, the CS was more likely to achieve HbA1c ≤ 6.5% (adjusted OR 1.2) and BP target < 130/80 mmHg (adjusted OR 1.4), the HNS was 3.4 times more likely not achieving LDL-C target < 2.6 mmol/L.

CONCLUSION
Public hospitals with specialists in Malaysia were treating older male Chinese type 2 diabetes patients with more complications, and prescribed more medications. Patients attending these hospitals achieved better LDL-C target but poorer in attaining BP and lower HbA1c targets as compared to public health clinics with doctors and family physicians.


The following specimens have been collected by Dr. Callaway during his more recent investigations into the geology of Anglesey, and placed in my hands, together with the slides prepared from them, for description. In this I have kept in view their bearing on the more important petrological and stratigraphical questions rather than the determination of minute points of only mineralogical interest. 110 (Tywyn ridge, p. 577).—A pinkish and greenish mottled crystalline rock, whose appearance suggests that it is metamorphic rather than igneous. In short, it is extremely like some of the less coarse granitoid members of the Hebridean series of N.W. Scotland. Examined with the microscope, it is seen to exhibit a marked fragmental structure: this, however, I have no doubt, is the result of crushing in. situ. The finer interstitial material between the fragments appears to consist of dark dust, impure epidote, viridite, and here and there a little of a greenish micaceous mineral. The rock itself exhibits the structure of one of the coarse granitoid gneisses (such, for example, as the coarse gneiss already described from the railway-cutting near Llanfaelog, consisting of orthoelase, microcline, and oligoclase or albite, with quartz in rather irregular granules. The last, as is usual in these rocks, contains numerous very minute cavities, generally empty, but now and then showing a tiny moving bubble, together with other enclosures, apparently filmy microliths. The felspar also contains many of the latter. There are a few groups of vermiculites of a chloritic mineral. 111 ("School," west of


This paper engages in a discussion between regulationists and urban scientists with the aim of bringing awareness of the growing role of property markets as drivers of contemporaneous capitalist regimes — a dimension that has not been given sufficient consideration by the French Regulation School. The case of China exemplifies the centrality of land in macroeconomic dynamics. This paper explores this centrality trough the prism of the Development State (DS), a framework that sets China's experience in the broader context of Northeast Asia. Three main characteristics of Johnson's DS framework (1982) are mobilized to highlight the role of property value enhancement in the regime of capital accumulation in China, i.e. the primary focus on GDP growth, state control over capital allocation to the economy, and manifestations of economic nationalism. It is argued that the Chinese state — at both central and local level — has used the mechanism of property value enhancement as a major tool to ensure a smoother economic transition, by encouraging residential investment as a quasi exclusive saving vehicle. Selective strategies in banking credit allocation and restrictions to the development of financial markets, both aiming to maintain state's stranglehold over financial supply to the productive base, have generated the proliferation of a poorly monitored "grey finance" mainly collateralized by land. To keep control over the land rent and ensure its adequate appropriation by domestic players, the state has dramatically restricted foreign inflows of capital in China's property markets, and at the same time, has encouraged outbond investment in real estate to alleviate pressure on saving demand by domestic players. These findings highlight the pivotal role of land/property markets in the construction of fundamental institutional forms defined by the Regulation framework.


The concept of 'public consultation' and the idea of 'democratic deliberation' describe different forms of engagement of various citizens and stakeholders in the governance of science and technology projects (STPs). On the one hand, public consultation is concerned with enhancing the quality of decisions through public understanding of a complex STP. On the other hand, democratic deliberation is concerned with taking quality decisions through communicative action and free argumentation between all parties affected. This article focuses on the STP of the UK Biobank, addressing the following question: which form of upstream engagement is required in governing the next phase of the UK Biobank for the public good of health? Drawing on political theory debates and qualitative evidence, it is argued that although ideal democratic governance of the (next phase of) UK Biobank requires transition from public consultation to democratic deliberation the latter faces practical limitations. Thus, deliberative engagement cannot be full in specific STPs for the public good of health.


We manufacture large-area plasmonic structures featuring 3-dimensional chirality by colloidal nanohole lithography. By varying the polar rotating speed of the samples during gold evaporation, we can fabricate spiral-type ramp nanostructures. The optical properties show chiroptical resonances in the 100 to 400 THz frequency region (750 to 3000 nm), with circular dichroism values of up to 13%. Our method offers a simple low-cost manufacturing method of cm(2)-sized chiral plasmonic templates for chiroptical applications such as stereochemical enantiomer sensors.


The common physics elements behind various transport barrier theories and simulations, and the related experimental observations mainly from tokamaks, are discussed. These include: a hierarchy of the E×B shear effects on turbulence, the role of q profiles, the electron thermal transport mechanism, basic transport barrier dynamics, and the causality of transitions and the possible role of turbulence generated zonal flows.


et al., 2012). Then, a general analytical mesh stiffness model was proposed considering the effect of the gear tooth errors and this method establishes the relationship between the gear tooth errors and the synthesized mesh stiffness, load sharing among different tooth pairs in Abstract In this paper, a potential energy based slice grouping method was proposed to calculate the mesh stiffness for straight beveloid gears with parallel axes. The mathematical mesh stiffness model was derived. The finite element tooth contact model was developed and the loaded tooth contact analysis was conducted to calculate the mesh stiffness. The verification for the mesh stiffness was conducted with the error 3 %, which proves the feasibility and accuracy. Then, the effects of parameters such as pressure angle, pitch cone angle, and profile shift coefficient on the mesh stiffness were investigated. Results show that the normal pressure angle and the tooth width have obvious effects both on the single tooth and synthesized mesh stiffness. When pressure angle is less than 20°, mesh stiffness will be increased with the increase of pressure angle. However, it decreases rapidly when the pressure angle exceeds 20°. Both the single tooth and synthesized mesh stiffness increase obviously as the tooth width increases. The increase of the cone angle and addendum coefficient have a little effect on the single tooth mesh stiffness, but have the obvious incremental effects on the synthesized mesh stiffness. The contact ratio increases obviously with the increase of the addendum coefficient. The profile shift coefficient and the clearance coefficient have unsubstantial effects both on the single and synthesized mesh stiffness.


Summary The Ordovician succession around Tramore is complicated by contemporaneous and later faulting and by widespread intense volcanicity. Early Ordovician NE-SW faulting divides the rocks of the Ribband Group so that to the east of the area the Tramore Group rests unconformably on the Arenig (?) Tramore Shale Formation and in a basin to the west a sequence of intermediate and basic volcanics and volcaniclastics, here named the Ballynaclogh Volcanic Formation, pass conformably into the Tramore Group. A Llanvirn to lower Llandeilo age is suggested for this formation. It is proposed that the remaining five formations of the succession, ranging from lower Llandeilo to Longvillian in age, be termed the Tramore Group. The oldest of these, the Tramore Limestone Formation, marks a relatively stable period before the extensive predominantly acidic volcanicity which dominates the remainder of this group. The relatively thick basinal facies of this formation exposed mainly in coastal sections west of Annestown can be divided into two members: the lower, the Dunabrattin Shale Member and the upper, the Dunabrattin Limestone Member. Variations in the rich shelly fauna of this formation are shown to be partly related to facies change. Overlying this is a sequence of subaqueous acidic tuffs, volcaniclastics, and argillaceous rocks for which the name Carrighalia Formation is proposed. The remaining three formations have been named by Williams (1972, fig. 10) but are redefined in the present study. A brief discussion of the regional correlation of the Tramore Group is included.


Lithium tantalate (LT) single-crystalline fibers with various growth conditions were obtained using the laser-heated pedestal growth (LHPG) method. The fibers can be produced with a diameter down to 70 µm and tens of centimetres in length by using different pulling rates. Preliminary experiments also showed that the LT fibers can be electrically poled for quasi-phase matching. To facilitate wave propagation with low loss, glass-clad LT fibers were fabricated by a co-drawing LHPG method for the first time. A vacuum apparatus was developed to eliminate the bubbles from incongruent evaporation of lithium oxide during the drawing of the glass-clad LT fibers. The glass-clad fibers are classified into two different categories by the measurements of refractive index profiles. One is a step-index fiber and the other is a graded-index fiber. Both fiber types are multimode at present, but single-mode LT fibers could be fabricated with the high-precision control of the LHPG systems.