Results from an experimental study on the rapid measurement of thermal conductivity of chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) diamond films are presented. The classical thermal comparator method has been used successfully for the measurement of thermal conductivity of bulk materials having high values of thermal resistance. Using samples of known thermal conductivity, a calibration curve is prepared. With this calibration curve, the comparator can be used to determine thermal conductivity of unknown samples. We have significantly modified and extended this technique for the measurement of materials with very low thermal resistance, i.e., CVD films with high thermal conductivity. In addition to the heated probe, the modified comparator employs a thermo-electric cooling element to increase conductive heat transfer through the film. The thermal conductivity measurements are sensitive to many other factors such as the thermal contact resistances, anisotropic material properties, surrounding air currents and temperature, and ambient humidity. A comprehensive numerical model was also developed to simulate the heat transfer process for the modified comparator. The simulations were used to develop a 'numerical' calibration curve that agreed well with the calibration curve obtained from our measurements. The modified method has been found to successfully measure the thermal conductivity of CVD diamond films.


This article addresses the need to establish a comprehensive conceptual framework for analysing healthcare systems and their transformations. It begins by offering an overview of the current state of the art in the field, pointing to the literature's absence of conceptual robustness in the definition of system types. By exploring the dimensions 'financing', 'provision' and 'regulation' of healthcare, the article then proceeds deductively in line with the 'Weberian method of ideal-types' to establish a taxonomy of 27 healthcare systems, of which three can be identified as 'ideal-types'. When applying this concept, not only can differences between healthcare systems be analysed, but also changes over time. The article concludes by identifying three forms of healthcare system transformation.


Several methods of quantifying prepulse inhibition (PPI) of eyeblink responding were compared in adult volunteers. Blink-eliciting stimuli were noise bursts at 85 or 100 dB, and prepulses were also noise bursts, at 55 or 70 dB and lead intervals of 60 or 120 ms. PPI was evaluated by comparing reactivity on prepulse and control trials within participants using the following methods: (1) difference between reactivity on prepulse and control trials; (2) reactivity on prepulse trials divided by that on control trials (proportion of control); (3) difference between reactivity on prepulse and control trials, divided by that on control trials (proportion of the difference from control); (4) range correction (maximum minus minimum reactivity, divided by the range of reactivity), across all control and prepulse trials; (5) z scores across all prepulse and control trials. Prepulses inhibited eyeblink response magnitude in all cases. Proportion of difference was the method least affected by differences in control reactivity, and is the preferred method to use when quantifying PPI, both from a practical and a neurophysiological perspective.


Fourier transform infrared spectrometer was used to collect infrared spectra of Cortex Phellodendri from six different regions. Original spectra were preprocessed by carrying out appropriate baseline correction and five-points smoothing, and the averaged spectra of Cortex Phellodendri from the six origins were analyzed. As a result, the averaged spectra looked quite similar. The normalized spectra were selected to construct principal component analysis model in the range of fingerprint region 1800 - 500 cm(-1), and according to the model, the first three principal components accounted for 98% of the variance information in the fingerprint region, and each sample was able to form distinct cluster in the principal component space, then the identification of Cortex Phellodendri from the six regions was basically achieved; besides, to some extent, the sparse density of the samples distribution reflected the genetic relationship. The loading factors of the model were analyzed, and the results indicated that the differences between Cortex Phellodendri samples mostly depended on the contents of protein, carbohydrates, lipids, alkaloids, sterols, obaculactone, oba-cunone, and obacunonlc acid. On the whole, combined with principal component analysis, FTIR provides an effective way to evaluate the herbal Cortex Phellodendri rapidly and nondestructively, which also reflects the content difference of material composition.


Abstract. Continuous measurements between July 2012 and
December 2015 at the Henties Bay Aerosol Observatory (HBAO; 22∘ S,
14∘05′ E), Namibia, show that, during the austral wintertime,
transport of light-absorbing black carbon aerosols occurs at low level into
the marine boundary layer. The average of daily concentrations of equivalent
black carbon (eBC) over the whole sampling period is 53 (±55) ng m−3. Peak values above 200 ng m−3 and up to
800 ng m−3 occur seasonally from May to August, ahead of the dry
season peak of biomass burning in southern Africa (August to October).
Analysis of 3-day air mass back-trajectories show that air masses from the
South Atlantic Ocean south of Henties Bay are generally cleaner than air
having originated over the ocean north of Henties Bay, influenced by the
outflow of the major biomass burning plume, and from the continent, where
wildfires occur. Additional episodic peak concentrations, even for oceanic
transport, indicate that pollution from distant sources in South Africa and
maritime traffic along the Atlantic ship tracks could be important. While we
expect the direct radiative effect to be negligible, the indirect effect on
the microphysical properties of the stratocumulus clouds and the deposition
to the ocean could be significant and deserve further investigation,
specifically ahead of the dry season.


The Pd atom in each of the two title compounds, [Pd(NO(3))(2)(C(2)H(6)OS)(2)], (I), and [Pd(NO(3))(2)(C(4)H(8)OS)(2)], (II), coordinates two O atoms from two nitrate ligands and two S atoms from dimethyl sulfoxide (dmso) and thioxane (systematic name: 1,4-oxathiane) ligands in a pseudo-square-planar cis-geometry. In the dmso complex, the distances to palladium are Pd-O 2.067 (2) and 2.072 (2) A, and Pd-S 2.2307 (11) and 2.2530 (8) A. The corresponding distances in the thioxane complex are Pd-O 2.053 (3) and 2.076 (2) A, and Pd-S 2.2595 (9) and 2.2627 (11) A. Both compounds may be regarded as dimers with an inversion centre, where one of the coordinating nitrate O atoms in one molecule also interacts with the Pd atom in the adjacent molecule, with Pd-O distances of 2.849 (9) and 3.31 (3) A in (I) and (II), respectively.


This study applies multilevel logistic regression to Demographic and Health Survey data from 22 sub-Saharan African countries to examine whether the relationship between child mortality and family structure with a specific emphasis on polygyny varies cross-nationally and over time. Hypotheses were developed on the basis of competing theories on the relationship between child health and family structure. Although children of mothers in polygynous marriages are more likely to die than those of mothers in monogamous unions the relationship is constant across time. Familial factors including education socioeconomic status (SES) and urban residence accounted for most of the observed cross-national variation associated with polygyny. Consequently improving maternal education and household SES would greatly benefit child health in sub-Saharan Africa. (authors)


We have developed a wafer fusion technology to achieve integration of semiconductor materials and heterostructures with widely disparate lattice parameters, electronic properties, and/or optical properties for novel devices not now possible on any one substrate. Using our simple fusion process which uses low temperature (400-600 C) anneals in inert N{sub 2} gas, we have extended the scope of this technology to examine hybrid integration of dissimilar device technologies. As a specific example, we demonstrate wafer bonding vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) to transparent AlGaAs and GaP substrates to fabricate bottom-emitting short wavelength VCSELs. As a baseline fabrication technology applicable to many semiconductor systems, wafer fusion will revolutionize the way we think about possible semiconductor devices, and enable novel device configurations not possible by epitaxial growth.


【Objectives: The purpose of this article was to investigate the current practice of diabetes education along with the specific interventions, process, and outcomes in community health centers in Korea. Methods: Data were collected by a mail questionnaire from September 20, 2012 to December 20, 2012. Among 253, a total of 161 responded, constituting a 63.3% return rate. Results: Primary staff of diabetes education was the nurse and respondents recognized their role largely as a director. More than half of respondents provided education to people with type 2 diabetes by group. Most common service offered was nutrition therapy and the majority of respondents used printed materials. Among 4 criteria of outcomes, eating (nutrition), knowledge scores, blood pressure, and patients' survey on satisfaction were collected most frequently. Nearly three quarters of respondents were not participated in activities for quality improvement and outcomes were not reported properly. Conclusions: The results are able to draw ideas for organizing diabetes education programs and evaluating outcomes in community heath centers. This article has significance that it is the first comprehensive survey of diabetes education practice in community health centers and provides a baseline for establishing national standards of diabetes self-management education.】


Four Al2O3-Al composite coatings were successfully fabricated on AZ91D alloy by plasma sprayed with changing ratios of Al2O3 and Al mixed powders, respectively. XRD results indicate that all the composite coatings are composed of γ-Al2O3, α-Al2O3, and Al. SEM and EDS analysis find that Al2O3-Al composite coatings present the interlaced structures of Al and Al2O3 bands. VIDAS image analysis reveals that the porosities of the composite coatings are increased by adding Al2O3. In the composite coatings, the hardness of Al is about 62 HV and that of Al2O3 is up to 1380 HV. The electrochemical polarization tests testify that Al2O3-Al composite coatings can effectively protect AZ91D alloy from corroding in a chloride environment. The wear test results confirm that the wear resistance of Al2O3-Al composite coatings is markedly superior to that of AZ91D alloy. The excellent protection degrees are attributed to their particular compositions, microstructures, and properties. Moreover, the effect of Al2O3 contents on the microstructures and protection performances of Al2O3Al composite coatings was also studied and discussed in detail.


In this paper, we present an image compression algorithm that is capable of significantly reducing the vast amount of information contained in multispectral images. The developed algorithm exploits the spectral and spatial correlations found in multispectral images. The scheme encodes the difference between images after contrast/brightness equalization to remove the spectral redundancy, and utilizes a two-dimensional wavelet transform to remove the spatial redundancy. The transformed images are then encoded by Hilbert-curve scanning and run-length-encoding, followed by Huffman coding. We also present the performance of the proposed algorithm with the LANDSAT multispectral scanner data. The loss of information is evaluated by PSNR (peak signal to noise ratio) and classification capability.


The government's prosecution of National Health Laboratories indicates that clinical laboratories may be held legally accountable for billing for unnecessary services when the lack of medical necessity is known. A laboratory's legal risk increases significantly when the laboratory induces physicians to order unnecessary tests. Clinical laboratories must scrutinize their marketing activities--particularly those related to custom profiles--to ensure they do not mislead physicians into ordering tests that are not required.


Closed formed expressions for buffered interconnect delay approximation have been around for some time. However, previous approaches assume that buffers are free to be placed anywhere. In practice, designs frequently have large blocks that make the ideal buffer insertion solution unrealizable. The theory of Otten (1998) is extended to show how one can model the blocks into a simple delay estimation technique that applies both to two-pin and to multi-pin nets. Even though the formula uses one buffer type, it shows remarkable accuracy in predicting delay when compared to an optimal realizable buffer insertion solution. Potential applications include wire planning, timing analysis during floorplanning or global routing. Our experiments show that our approach accurately predicts delay when compared to constructing a realizable buffer insertion with multiple buffer types.


To investigate the imaging characteristics of sarcoidosis and Hodgkin's lymphoma based on mediastinal enlarged lymph node using spectral CT and evaluate whether the quantitative information can improve the differential diagnosis of these diseases. This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Overall, 21 patients with sarcoidosis and 39 patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma were examined with CT spectral imaging during the arterial phase (AP) and venous phase (VP). The CT values on 40 to 140 keV monochromatic images and iodine (water) concentrations of enlarged lymph nodes were obtained in AP and VP. Iodine concentrations (ICs) were normalized to the iodine concentration in the aorta. The differences in normalized iodine concentrations (NICs) and hounsfield units (HU) curve slop (λHU) were calculated. Anatomical distribution of mediastinal lymph nodes and morphologic features were also compared. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to help establish threshold values for the parameters required for the significant differentiation of sarcoidosis from lymphomas. The CT values on 40 to 100 keV monochromatic images in AP and 40 to 50 keV in VP were higher in sarcoidosis than those in Hodgkin's lymphoma, the differences were statistically significant (P < .05); NICs during the AP and λHU during the AP (VP) in patients with sarcoidosis differed significantly from those in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Receiver operating characteristic curves analysis showed that the monochromatic CT value on 40 keV in AP had the highest sensitivity (71.4%) and specificity (100%) in differentiating sarcoidosis from Hodgkin's lymphoma. The anatomic distribution, coalescence, calcification, compression, enhancement pattern and enhancement degree of the mediastinal enlarged lymph node differed significantly between the groups (P < .05). The combination of monochromatic CT value, NICs and λHU had higher sensitivity and specificity than did those of conventional qualitative CT image analysis during the combined phases. CT spectral imaging has promising potential for the diagnostic differentiation of Hodgkin's lymphomas and sarcoidosis. The monochromatic CT value, iodine content and λHU could be valuable parameters for differentiating Hodgkin's lymphomas and sarcoidosis based on mediastinal enlarged lymph node.


In a trend for sustainable engineering and functionalization of surfaces, we explore the possibilities of gas phase processes to deposit nanocomposite films. From an analysis of pulsed plasma polymerization of maleic anhydride in the presence of nanocellulose whiskers, it seems that thin nanocomposite films can be deposited with various patterns. By specifically modifying plasma parameters such as total power, duty cycle, and monomer gas pressure, the nanocellulose whiskers are either incorporated into a buckled polymer film or single nanocellulose whiskers are deposited on top of a polymeric film. The density of the latter can be controlled by modifying the exact positioning of the substrate in the reactor. The resulting morphologies are evaluated by optical microscopy, AFM, contact angle measurements and ellipsometry.


Contains 475 original and previously unpublished biological drawings showing the external and internal anatomy of 80 species that are frequently studied in the laboratory in zoology and marine biology courses. They are accompanied by notes on the classification, life cycle, and habitat of each speci


ABSTRACT Political communication is a dynamic, interdisciplinary field that has grown in stature and reach in recent decades, becoming more international in scope and orientation while gaining respect in political science as a legitimate area of inquiry. In the evolving and participatory media-politics landscape, it becomes important to ask how the cross-disciplinary project of political communication research is keeping pace with changing conditions that provide a greater structural role for the press in politics and new technology in the enactment of citizenship. To track these trends in research, this paper reports the results of a longitudinal content analysis of research articles published in the journals Political Communication and the International Journal of Press/Politics for the period 1996-2016. For each year, we selected one issue at random and examined all research articles in that issue, excluding reviews, invited theme essays, and commentaries. Altogether, 229 articles were included in the analysis. Results indicate a noticeable increase in the internationalization of political communication research over the 20-year analysis period, a slight decrease in research expressing a negative evaluative tone toward the media over time, and consistent growth in the percentage of articles with a media-centric focus, defined as positioning the press as a central consideration in the study and regarding news media as central to democratic life. In light of these findings, the unique interpretive lenses that researchers adopt depending on discipline are explored in relation to ongoing developments in political communication research.


We show theoretically and empirically that the managerial organization of multiestablishment firms is interdependent across establishments. To derive our result, we study the effect of geographic frictions on firm organization. In our model, we assume that a CEO's time is a resource in limited supply, shared across headquarters and establishments. Geographic frictions increase the costs of accessing the CEO. Hiring middle managers at one establishment substitutes for CEO time, which is reallocated across all establishments. Consequently, geographic frictions between the headquarters and one establishment affect the organization of all establishments of a firm. Our model is consistent with novel facts about multiestablishment firm organization that we document using administrative data from Germany. We exploit the opening of high-speed railway routes to show that not only the establishments directly affected by faster travel times but also the other establishments of the firm adjust their organization. Our findings imply that local conditions propagate across space through firm organization.


Cobalt pentacyanonitrosylferrate on the aminopropylsilica silica gel surface (SiCoNP) was previously prepared following two steps. The electrochemical behavior of SiCoNP modified electrode showed two redox couples, the first and second redox couples were observed at anodic potential (Epa)1 = 0.36 and 0.60 V vs. Ag/AgCl attributed to the oxidation of Co(II) to Co(III) and Fe(II)(CN)5NO/Fe(III)(CN)5NO, respectively. The modified carbon paste electrode with SiCoNP was tested in the hydrazine electrooxidation. In the hydrazine electrooxidation, the H+ release was observed and the two metal centers are involved in this process. The proposed mechanism has been described and based on studies of the effect of hydrogen ion concentration in the redox process of bivalent compound formed. Thus a large increase in hydrogen ion concentration promotes the formation of an intermediate electroactive species with an anodic peak at 0.56 V. The nature of this species is not well established but may be related to protonation of cyanide or NO groups present. The modified graphite paste electrode presented a limit of detection of 2.38×10-4 mol L-1 and amperometric sensitivity of 1.37×10-6 A.mol-1.L.


With the increasing public awareness of the complexity of road safety phenomenon, much more detailed aspects of crash and injury causation rather than only crash data (e.g., the number of road fatalities) are extensively investigated in the current road safety research. Safety performance indicators (SPIs), which are causally related to the number of crashes or to the injury consequences of a crash, are thus rapidly developed and increasingly used. Furthermore, to measure the multi-dimensional concept of road safety which cannot be captured by a single indicator, the exploration of a composite road safety performance index is attractive and desirable. This study proposes a hierarchical fuzzy TOPSIS method to combine the multilayer SPIs into one overall index by incorporating experts' opinions. Using the number of road fatalities per million inhabitants as a relevant point of reference, the proposed method has proven valuable as an alternative way in creating a composite road safety performance index for a set of European countries. Meanwhile, it effectively handles experts' linguistic expressions instead of crisp values and takes the layered hierarchy of the indicators into account which is seldom considered in the current index research.


The Boolean Decision tree model is perhaps the simplest model that computes Boolean functions; it charges only for reading an input variable. We study the power of randomness (vs. both determinism and non-determinism) in this model, and prove separation results between the three complexity measures. These results are obtained via general and efficient methods for computing upper and lower bounds on the probabilistic complexity of evaluating Boolean formulae in which every variable appears exactly once (AND/OR tree with distinct leaves). These bounds are shown to be exactly tight for interesting families of such tree functions. We then apply our results to the complexity of evaluating game trees, which is a central problem in AI. These trees are similar to Boolean tree functions, except that input variables (leaves) may take values from a large set (of valuations to game positions) and the AND/OR nodes are replaced by MIN/MAX nodes. Here the cost is the number of positions (leaves) probed by the algorithm. The best known algorithm for this problem is the alpha-beta pruning method. As a deterministic algorithm, it will in the worst case have to examine all positions. Many papers studied the expected behavior of alpha-beta pruning (on uniform trees) under the unreasonable assumption that position values are drawn independently from some distribution. We analyze a randomized variant of alphabeta pruning, show that it is considerably faster than the deterministic one in worst case, and prove it optimal for uniform trees.


The Afro-Latin@ Reader focuses attention on a large, vibrant, yet oddly invisible community in the United States: people of African descent from Latin America and the Caribbean. The presence of Afro-Latin@s in the United States (and throughout the Americas) belies the notion that Blacks and Latin@s are two distinct categories or cultures. Afro-Latin@s are uniquely situated to bridge the widening social divide between Latin@s and African Americans; at the same time, their experiences reveal pervasive racism among Latin@s and ethnocentrism among African Americans. Offering insight into Afro-Latin@ life and new ways to understand culture, ethnicity, nation, identity, and antiracist politics, The Afro-Latin@ Reader presents a kaleidoscopic view of Black Latin@s in the United States. It addresses history, music, gender, class, and media representations in more than sixty selections, including scholarly essays, memoirs, newspaper and magazine articles, poetry, short stories, and interviews.

While the selections cover centuries of Afro-Latin@ history, since the arrival of Spanish-speaking Africans in North America in the mid-sixteenth-century, most of them focus on the past fifty years. The central question of how Afro-Latin@s relate to and experience U.S. and Latin American racial ideologies is engaged throughout, in first-person accounts of growing up Afro-Latin@, a classic essay by a leader of the Young Lords, and analyses of U.S. census data on race and ethnicity, as well as in pieces on gender and sexuality, major-league baseball, and religion. The contributions that Afro-Latin@s have made to U.S. culture are highlighted in essays on the illustrious Afro-Puerto Rican bibliophile Arturo Alfonso Schomburg and music and dance genres from salsa to mambo, and from boogaloo to hip hop. Taken together, these and many more selections help to bring Afro-Latin@s in the United States into critical view.

Contributors : Afro–Puerto Rican Testimonies Project, Josefina Baez, Ejima Baker, Luis Barrios, Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Adrian Burgos Jr., Ginetta E. B. Candelario, Adrian Castro, Jesus Colon, Marta I. Cruz-Janzen, William A. Darity Jr., Milca Esdaille, Sandra Maria Esteves, Maria Teresa Fernandez (Mariposa), Carlos Flores, Juan Flores, Jack D. Forbes, David F. Garcia, Ruth Glasser, Virginia Meecham Gould, Susan D. Greenbaum, Evelio Grillo, Pablo "Yoruba" Guzman, Gabriel Haslip-Viera, Tanya K. Hernandez, Victor Hernandez Cruz, Jesse Hoffnung-Garskof, Lisa Hoppenjans, Vielka Cecilia Hoy, Alan J. Hughes, Maria Rosario Jackson, James Jennings, Miriam Jimenez Roman, Angela Jorge, David Lamb, Aida Lambert, Ana M. Lara, Evelyne Laurent-Perrault, Tato Laviera, John Logan, Antonio Lopez, Felipe Luciano, Louis Pancho McFarland, Ryan Mann-Hamilton, Wayne Marshall, Marianela Medrano, Nancy Raquel Mirabal, Yvette Modestin, Ed Morales, Jairo Moreno, Marta Moreno Vega, Willie Perdomo, Graciela Perez Gutierrez, Sofia Quintero, Ted Richardson, Louis Reyes Rivera, Pedro R. Rivera , Raquel Z. Rivera, Yeidy Rivero, Mark Q. Sawyer, Piri Thomas, Silvio Torres-Saillant, Nilaja Sun, Sherezada "Chiqui" Vicioso, Peter H. Wood


Of the many possible reasons for truth-telling, Walter Weir cites the most compelling for the advertiser-it is the only way that works more than once. Advertising, he says, is a "form of communication which prepares the reader for the actual experience he will have when he uses the product. If a product, through unsatisfactory performance-or performance that fails notably to live up to advertising claims, enjoys only a one-time purchase, selling costs become prohibitively high." Although he makes impassioned pleas for better writing and for a more creative, imaginative approach to selling, he reminds us that "it is in the product, not the advertising, where the difference must eventually be found." The trouble with most advertising, says the author, is that it presents the reader or viewer with a false dichotomy-he can buy the product and live happily ever after, or reject it and thus prove himself a complete and utter nincompoop. In addition to his well-stated philosophical position, Walter Weir makes a specific suggestion for encouraging truth in advertising-an ABC (Audit Bureau of Criticisms), to be administered by distinguished former advertising executives, with a supporting staff of lawyers, marketing researchers, social scientists, and communication specialists.


A boiler is the device in which steam is generated by applying heat energy to water. Generally, a boiler consists of water container and some heating devices. To generate steam, the steam boiler is subjected to huge thermal and structural loads. The objective of the paper is to perform a 3D model and stimulate the boiler using ANSYS software to determine the loads and deflections on it. To obtain maximum efficient operation condition of the boiler, it is important to design a structure that can withstand the operating conditions of the thermal and structural loads on the boiler. ANSYS Workbench Model NX 8.0 was used to design the 3D model and also used for the analysis. The modeling process includes the static structural analysis, steady-state thermal analysis and modal analysis. The activities in the ANSYS modeling was categorized into three processes, namely, the preprocessor, the solution and the post processor. Generation of the model was conducted in the preprocessor, which involves material definition, creation of a solid model, and the meshing. In the solution stage, analysis type was defined and the boundary conditions were specified and the solution was done. The results were generated from the post processor stage. From the analysis, it was concluded that the steam boiler has stresses and deflections within the design limits of the material used. Hence, the designed steam boiler is safe under the given operating conditions. The result obtained shows a maximum tensile stress and deformation of the boiler as 308.90 MPa and 1.93 mm respectively. From the results, the tensile stress obtained is below the yield strength of the material used, which makes it safe for operation under those conditions.


OBJECTIVE
The present study determined the test-retest reliability of the adolescent version of the Questionnaire of Eating and Weight Patterns (QEWP-A) and examined gender differences in QEWP-A responses.

METHOD
The QEWP-A was administered to 106 male and female adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 in a classroom setting and readministered 3 weeks later under the same conditions. Adolescent responses were classified into no diagnosis (ND), nonclinical binge (NCB), and binge eating disorder (BED) diagnostic categories.

RESULTS
BED diagnoses were rare, but nonclinical levels were observed. Significant levels of stability for males and females were observed over a 3-week time period (phi = 0.42). Male and female differences were examined. Female responses changed significantly at the second testing.

DISCUSSION
The implications for these results regarding the utility for the QEWP-A are reviewed.


Abstract Olive moth, Prays oleae, is one of the most important phytophagous of olive cultivation in the Mediterranean basin. Its control is based on the application of chemical insecticides, sometimes combined with the release of natural enemies. The need for application is established according to population thresholds. How-ever, the wide range of environmental conditions requires the adoption of comple-mentary elements that allow the adequate time of applications to the phenological stages responsible for the damage. During the years 2013, 2014 and 2015, weekly observations of the insect phenology have been performed in 10 plots of olive trees at different altitudes (253 m to 1017 m) in the province of Jaén (southern Spain), recording daily temperature variations at 4-hour intervals. This has allowed deter-mining the thermal integrals for the three insect generations and to specify the in-fluence of the altitude on its development periods, more especially in those corre-sponding to the philophagous and carpophagous generations. This knowledge has allowed the development of a model-chronogram for the adjustment of treatment dates based on crop altitude.


The colon is a site of allergic reaction to food proteins. The most common manifestation is allergic proctocolitis. Although frequent in infancy, it may also affect older children. The diagnosis of allergic proctocolitis is mainly based on clinical and histological grounds, but there is a risk of overdiagnosis; challenge is strongly recommended to avoid unnecessary and expensive formula or changes in maternal diet that may discourage continuation of breast-feeding. The benign clinical course and the spontaneous resolution in most infants suggest the need for further prospective studies to validate markers that allow the identification of those children needing a dietary approach. It remains to be assessed whether lymphoid nodular hyperplasia of the colon is a manifestation of food allergy. Finally, allergic proctitis may present clinically with refractory constipation; the true prevalence of food allergy–related constipation remains to be assessed.


The Amazon River dolphin Inia geoffrensis occurs throughout the basins of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers and is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Using satellite tracking data from eight dolphins (one female and seven males) in the Peruvian Amazon, we demonstrate that these dolphins inhabit a variety of habitat types and have core areas and home range areas of variable magnitudes. To gain a better understanding of how threats affect these dolphins, we examined the distance of dolphin records to locations of current and potential future anthropogenic threats. On average, dolphin home ranges overlapped with fisheries by 89%. Dolphins were found at an average distance of 252 km from the nearest proposed dam and 125 km from the nearest proposed dredging site. Given that many of these threats are still in the planning stage, we advise the government to consider the negative effects these activities have already had on other riverine species before proceeding. Additionally, efforts should be made to expand river dolphin tracking programmes to span multiple seasons, to track more females at our study sites and to increase the numbers tracked overall in other areas to improve our knowledge of the species' movement patterns.


BackgroundIn Infants, nonshivering thermogenesis from brown adipose tissue provides an important source of heat for thermoregulation. Infants are known to have a high susceptibility to hypothermia during anesthesia. To investigate whether this could be due to an inhibition of nonshivering thermogenesis by anesthetics, the effect of preincubation with volatile anesthetics on the norepinephrine-induced heat production of brown adipocytes was investigated. MethodsBrown adipocytes from hamsters were isolated with a collagenase digestion method and preincubated with volatile anesthetics. The cells were stimulated with norepinephrine, and heat production, measured as oxygen consumption, was monitored polarographically. ResultsNorepinephrine addition led to a 20-fold increase in the rate of oxygen consumption (thermogenesis). However, preincubation of cells with 3% halothane reduced the response to norepinephrine by more than 70%. The potency of norepinephrine (the median effective concentration) was not affected by halothane. Full effect of halothane was reached quickly, and after halothane withdrawal, the thermogenic response recovered, although rather slowly. Halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane were approximately equipotent inhibitors of thermogenesis, with concentrations of approximately 0.7% resulting in 50% inhibition. The inhibitory effect of 1% halothane was unaffected by the presence of 74% nitrous oxide, but nitrous oxide alone also reduced thermogenesis. ConclusionsVolatile anesthetics severely attenuated the thermogenic response to norepinephrine of isolated brown-fat cells. It is inferred that brown-adipose-tissue heat production is reduced during (and probably also some time after) anesthesia. Because infants are dependent on brown-fat-de-rived nonshivering hermogenesis for thermal balance, the inhibition by volatile anesthetic agents of brown-adipocyte heat production may at least partly explain the susceptibility of infants to hypothermia during and after anesthesia.


We characterize two weight inequalities for general positive dyadic operators. We consider both weak and strong type inequalities, and general (p,q) mapping properties. Special cases include Sawyers Fractional Integral operator results from 1988, and the bilinear embedding inequality of Nazarov-Treil-Volberg from 1999. The method of proof is an extension of Sawyer's argument.


Six varieties of Erianthus arundinaceus were assessed as potential energy crops and compared with switchgrass. Bioethanol and biomethane were produced as well. The chemical composition, elemental composition, and heating values were close to those of switchgrass except for a higher cellulose content. All varieties scored higher than 110, suggesting excellent potential as an energy crop. Pretreatment resulted in almost complete hydrolysis and achieved a higher glucose yield. In particular, E33 and E19 yielded 337.4 g and 332.4 g glucose, respectively, from 1.0 kg of feedstock compared with 312.1g/kg for switchgrass. E33, E49, and E19 exhibited a higher ethanol yield of 144.2 g/kg, 146.9 g/kg, and 149.6 g/kg feedstock, respectively, at a solids loading of 15%. No obvious influences could be observed on anaerobic digestion performances. A 16.3%, 14.6%, 14.0%, and 13.1% higher yield on cumulative methane could be obtained from E17, E23, E33, and E6, respectively, compared to switchgrass. Bioethanol and biomethane could be maximally obtained from E19 (6820 kg/ha) and E17 (3916 m3/ha), respectively. Thus, they are specially recommended for bioethanol and biomethane production, respectively. E33 can be suggested as a flexible variety for yielding relatively high bioethanol (6008 kg/ha) and biomethane (3409 m3/ha).


In this paper, the effect of surface roughness on the both normal and inclined droplet impact is investigated experimentally by image processing.  The impingement of water droplets with 2.9 mm diameter and 1m/s velocity impacting on three types of stainless steel surfaces with respective arithmetic average surface roughness values of 2.24 μm (Smooth), 6.04 (Medium) and 30.2 (Rough) is examined using a high-speed camera. The dynamic behavior of the impact including droplet deformation, the maximum spreading diameter and length, contact angle and the number of fingers are studied. Experimental results demonstrate that rough surfaces not only prevent secondary droplet formation but also decrease the number of fingers formed around the droplet in the normal droplet impact. Considering the inclined droplet impact scenarios, the asymmetric spreading of droplet on inclined surfaces avoids the secondary droplet formation by decreasing the fluid kinetic energy. In the inclined impact, fingers are formed around the droplet perimeter like the normal impact. The only difference between impacts onto the inclined surfaces is a gradual decrease of the number of fingers by increasing the incline angle. The experimental results are compared with those of the analytics available in the literature for the normal droplet impacts. Next, a simple analytical model for droplet impact on an inclined surface is developed; the predictions from this model was also compared to those of measurements. Calculated values from the analytical models agreed well with experimental data for both normal and inclined impact scenarios.


According to the Statement of Financial Accounting Concepts (SFAC) No. 1, the earnings information is a major concern for measuring performance or accountability of management. Earnings information also helps the owner or other party in measuring the power company's earnings in the future. This has created an opportunity for management to take action that can make financial reports into looks better, the manager's actions sometimes conflict with the company's goals. In defiance of the one form is earnings management (earnings management) (Mohammad Sani et all 2012). Earnings management is the impact on the freedom of a manager to choose According to Healy and Wahlen (in Theresia, 2005) earnings management is the management's efforts to change the financial statements intended to mislead shareholders who want to know the company's performance or to effect a financial report containing the earnings information. Earnings management is the impact of a manager the freedom to select and use certain accounting methods when record and organize information in the financial statements. The concept of corporate governance is in essence calls for better transparency to all users of financial statements. Based on these financial statements, it will be seen whether the performance of the company has good governance and effective (good corporate governance) and the governance of whether it can reduce the opportunistic behavior of management within the company (Cornett et all , 2008). The study concluded that an independent commissioner has positive effect but not significant to earnings management or profit management. Sylvia Veronica N.P. Siddharta Sirregar and Main (2005), the proportion of independent directors and a significant negative effect on the income smoothing (earnings management) oporunitis. Cornet et.al (2006). Institutional ownership has no significant effect on earnings management. The bigger the stake, the smaller the earnings management practices that occur. Palestine (2006) and Nuryaman (2008) Companies with free cash flow (free cash flow) is high will have greater opportunities to make profit management, because the company indicated face greater agency problems (Chung et al, 2005). Free cash flow or free cash flow is defined as cash flow actually available for distribution to shareholders and creditors after the company invested in fixed assets and working capital needed to sustain the operations of the company. Brigham and Daves (2003) The object of research in this study is perbankan.Industri banking industry has different characteristics with other industries. The banking industry has tighter regulation than any other industry, for example, a bank must have a Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) minimum and provide financial statements as a healthy determination whether or not a bank by Bank Indonesia Free cash flow Variable positive influence on income smoothing practices. according Negrea (2009) good corporate governance is the proportion of independent board significant positive effect on earnings management. Muh.Arief Ujiyantho (2007) Partially independent board which is a negative effect on earnings management. Is'da Rahmawati (2013) Based on the background that has been presented, the consistency is not the research that has been there a reason to re-examine the research title "Effect of Free Cash Flow and Good Corporate Governance (GCG) Profit Management Of The Banking Companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange Year 2010-2013 "to be important to investigate.


This study is conducted based on analysis of 397 companies from Romania. The study evaluates the impact of ERP solutions on the financial performance of companies, viewed from the perspective of the business model, in the sense of decreasing expenditures or increasing revenues and turnover. Using the Least Squares method (OLS) and the Difference in Difference model, the study results show that there is a strong correlation between the implementation of ERP solutions and the increase in turnover, respectively the decrease in revenues. The results obtained do not reveal an influence of the ERP implementation on the expenditures.


Attention is directed towards the recently developed unilateral tests of saccular and utricular function. Together with the now widely used head-thrust test and the standard caloric test for semicircular canal function, these provide for a more comprehensive unilateral examination of labyrinth function. The efficacy of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) as a direct unilateral test of saccular function is currently being demonstrated in an increasing number of reports. Furthermore, the relevant neuronal pathways have been delineated in animal studies, so that all evidence points to the validity of the VEMP as a saccule-mediated response. Concerning utricular function, considerable headway has been made using the unilateral centrifugation paradigm. Testing is performed with a variable radius rotary chair with constant velocity rotation about the earth-vertical axis. Displacing the head by 3.5-4 cm from the rotation axis, the eccentrically positioned utricle is stimulated unilaterally by the resultant centrifugal force. This paradigm can be employed to elicit a utriculo-ocular response (UOR) or to permit measurement of the subjective visual vertical (SVV). More recently, it has also been demonstrated that testing during normal, on-centre yaw axis rotation is often sufficient to localise peripheral otolith dysfunction by means of SVV estimation. This test mode can be easily integrated into routine clinical testing. To illustrate the efficacy of such differential testing, the findings from two patients are presented that demonstrate for the first time an isolated unilateral utricular dysfunction.


Abstract. Gaining a holistic understanding of extreme weather, from its physical drivers to its impacts on society and ecosystems, is key to supporting future risk reduction and preparedness measures. Here, we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art, knowledge gaps and key open questions in the study of extreme weather events over the vulnerable eastern Mediterranean. This region is situated in a transition zone between subtropical and mid-latitude climates. Extreme weather is mainly governed by the large-scale atmospheric circulation and its interaction with regional synoptic systems, i.e., Cyprus Lows, Red Sea Troughs, Persian Troughs, 'Sharav' Lows, and high-pressure systems. Complex orographic features further play an important role in the generation of extreme weather. Most extreme weather events, including heavy precipitation, cold spells, floods and wind storms, are associated with a Cyprus Low or Active Red Sea Trough, whereas heat waves are related with either the Persian Trough and Sub-Tropical High-pressure systems in summer, or the 'Sharav' Low during spring time. Heat waves and droughts are projected to significantly increase in both frequency and intensity. In future decades, changes in heavy precipitation frequency and intensity may vary in sign and magnitude depending on the scale, severity and region of interest. There are still relatively large uncertainties concerning the physical understanding and the projected changes of cold spells, wind storms and compound events, as these types of events received comparatively little attention in the literature. We further identify knowledge gaps that relate to the societal impacts of extreme weather. These gaps mainly relate to the effects extreme weather may have on mortality, morbidity and infrastructure in the eastern Mediterranean. Research is currently limited in this context, and we call to strengthen the database of analyzed case-studies. We trust that this can only be suitably accomplished by inter-disciplinary and international regional collaborations, in spite of political unrest.


Abstract European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus is an important driver of ecological processes in spruce stands, with severe effects on forestry economies. To prevent bark beetle outbreaks, early detection of infestations is a crucial step in forest management. It is expected that bark beetle infestation modifies biochemical composition of wood and needles, alters physiological responses in the early stage of infestation, which results in the reduction of tree growth and ultimately a tree death. Therefore, we studied the differences in biochemical composition of wood, content of photosynthesis-related pigments, shoot morphology, and growth between the healthy Siberian spruce trees (Picea obovata) and trees which were infested by I. typographus. The study was performed in five experimental plots established in the south of the Udmurt Republic in the European part of the Russian Federation. Three infested and three non-infested trees were chosen on each plot. Our results showed no significant effect of bark beetle infestation on the content of main structural components of wood – holocellulose (cellulose and hemicellulose) and lignin. On the other hand, we found differences in the content of extractive substances in the wood. Specifically, we found a higher tannin content in the non-infested trees. The content of photosynthesis-related pigments differed between the non-infested and infested trees as well. Unexpectedly, bark beetle infestation caused the overproduction of both pigment types rather than their degradation. Moreover, we observed that a higher amount of total extractive substances positively affected the incremental growth, whereas tannins supported the growth of shoots and needles.


Cytoskeletal elements, including microfilaments and microtubules, are highly dynamic structures whose assembly, disassembly, and organization are under the control of many regulatory proteins. For example,microtubuleassociated proteins (MAPs) regulate the organization and dynamics of microtubules. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), nine genes encode proteins of the evolutionarily conserved MAP65 family. Mao et al. (pp. 654–662) have examined two AtMAP65 proteins, AtMAP65-1 and AtMAP65-6, to determinewhether they have distinct roles in their respective interactionswithmicrotubules. They report that AtMAP65-1 promoted tubulin polymerization, induced the formation of large microtubule bundles by forming cross-bridges between microtubules, and increased the cold resistance of microtubules. In contrast, AtMAP65-6 did not promote tubulin polymerization and induced microtubules to form a mesh-like network with individual microtubules. AtMAP65-6 was also found to be associatedwithmitochondria inArabidopsis cells and to render microtubules more resistant to high NaCl concentrations. Thus, these two MAP65 proteins were targeted to distinct sites and apparently performdistinct functions inArabidopsis cells. Another example of cytoskeleton regulating proteins is formins, which are required for many actin-related processes, including cytokinesis and the maintenance of cell polarity. Based on the study of many organisms, formins appear to act by nucleating actin filaments. All formins contain a unique, highly conserved formin homology domain (FH2) that interacts with actin, as well as a proline-rich domain (FH1) that binds to the actin monomer-binding protein profilin. The Arabidopsis genome contains at least 21 formin genes that have been divided into two classes: group I and group II, defined by the presence or absence of an N-terminal transmembrane domain that does not appear in formins from other organisms. In this issue, Yi et al. (pp. 1071– 1082) provide the first biochemical study of the function of conserved domains of a forming-like protein (AtFH8) from Arabidopsis. Fluorescent microscopy showed that profilin, in the presence of AtFH8(FH1FH2), facilitates nucleation of actin filaments. The overexpression of AtFH8 in Arabidopsis causes a prominent change in root hair cell development and actin organization, indicating the involvement of AtFH8 in polarized cell growth.


The multi actuator drive technology was unveiled by Seagate in December 2017, a breakthrough that can almost double the data performance of the future generation hard disk drives. This technology will equip drives with dual actuators operating on the same pivot point. Each actuator will control half of the drive's arms. Since two actuators operate independently on the same pivot timber, the control forces and torques generated by one actuator can affect the operation of the other actuator. We will have a scenario when one actuator is track seeking and the other actuator is in the track following mode. The track seeking actuator will impart vibration disturbances to the track following actuator. Previously, we presented a single-input single-output (SISO) data-driven feedforward control design method (Shah and Horowitz, 2019. "Active Vibration Rejection in Multi Actuator Drives: Data Driven Approach," Dynamic Systems and Control Conference, Vol. 3) to obtain feedforward controllers for the voice coil motor (VCM) and the micro actuator sequentially. The design was based on multiple frequency response measurements of the actuators. In this paper, first, we present a single-input multi-output (SIMO) data-driven feedforward control design technique to simultaneously obtain feedforward controllers for the VCM and the micro actuator. This methodology will obtain a common controller for multiple drives. We will compare the performance of this algorithm with the sequential SISO design technique (Shah and Horowitz, 2019. "Active Vibration Rejection in Multi Actuator Drives: Data Driven Approach," Dynamic Systems and Control Conference, Vol. 3). Second, we present an add-on input shaping technique to suppress the residual vibration.


We introduce a novel approach to generate narratives from the memories of in-game agents. We propose an agent framework to accommodate memory and perception in virtual agents. This system extracts agent auto-biographic memories as multiple partial narratives, and generates possible complete narratives. We employ a novel narrative merging and extrapolation technique to generate unique complete narratives based on partial narratives of multiple agents. This is used to generate unique narratives for specific narrative constraints. To generate narratives for massive open-world scenes we introduce a novel algorithm that generates dynamic partial plans of large action spaces in real-time. These plans repairs as per the user actions, there by generating a unique narrative for every different user interaction. We conducted a comparative study of our dynamic planning technique with existing planning techniques. Also, we tested our agent framework for a complex environment to verify its robustness. Defense Committee: Prof. Mubbasir Kapadia (Chair), Prof. Kostas Bekris, Prof. Alex Borgida


We present energy-resolved cross-correlation measurements of an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulse, generated as the fifth harmonic (15.5 eV) of an intense 80 fs laser pulse centered at 400 nm. Spectrally resolving the cross-correlation signal allows us to characterize the time-dependent frequency of the XUV pulse. We find that the fifth harmonic has a small negative chirp in excess of that predicted by perturbation theory. In addition, by manipulating the chirp of the driving laser we can induce and measure a positive or a negative chirp on the XUV pulse.


The recent launch in Tokyo of the Japanese translation of David Malouf's novel Remembering Babylon marked an important moment in the international circulation of Australian literature. Japanese academics and those working in the publishing and cultural industries were among the crowd gathered at the Australian embassy to celebrate. There were speeches from, among others, ambassador Bruce Miller and president of the Japanese Australian Studies Association, Yasue Arimitsu, both enthusiastic about Australian writing and its capacity to generate cross-cultural understanding. I proposed the toast, with a few words about literature and the imagination. Malouf, unable to attend, sent a gracious message of appreciation.


Abstract

In the information age, how to release the positive effect of finance on green economy is a question that needs to be answered in the modern society. Using the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2020 as the research sample, we evaluate the impact of digital financial inclusion on green development by calculating green total factor productivity. The results show that: Digital financial inclusion can promote regional green development significantly. This finding still remains valid after robustness tests. Moreover, the contribution of digital financial inclusion to green development is mainly reflected in technological advancement. While the positive impact of each dimension of digital financial inclusion on green development is also different, showing a decreasing trend in terms of coverage breadth, usage depth and digitalization. In further analysis, from the perspective of industrial structure optimization and scientific and technological innovation, we find that digital financial inclusion can improve the green development by increasing the rationalization and advancement of industrial structure as well as driving technological innovation. Using the panel threshold model, we find that there are double thresholds for industrial structure rationalization as well as three thresholds for technology innovation, digital financial inclusion displays a non-linear impact on green development.

JEL classification numbers: G20, O31.
Keywords: Digital financial inclusion, Green development, Green total factor productivity, Industrial structure, Technological innovation.


In this study, solution recommendations were presented for to be suitable and productive drawing spaces in terms of ergonomic design criterias. For this purpose; along the 60 minutes 17 men subjects of experiment were made drawing in 9 combinations included 3 different seat heights and 3 different angles of drawing table. While the subjects of experiment had been drawing action, inquiries, were applied to the subjects of experiment on 3 time points and it was determined which comfort level they feel on their different parts of body. As results of the study, it has been obtained that the most suitable seating height is 50 cm, and optimum angle of the drawing table is 30 degree, and time factor had affected negatively the comfort for drawing action. Furthermore, recommendations were given for increasing the productivity of the people who work in drawing spaces by providing their work in ergonomic environment.


66 autopsied drug-related death cases in the Institute of Legal Medicine of Cologne of the years 1979 to 1989 were morphologically examined to get information whether cytological investigations of the spleen reveal a damage of the immune system. The weights of the spleen were registered and immunoreactive cells, i.e. macrophages, B- and T-lymphocytes, were quantitative counted. Neither a significant alteration of the weights of the spleen nor an important change of the density of the immunoreactive cells could be registered.


A technique using a modification of the transilial pin technique for stabilization of fracture/luxations of the lumbosacral joint was performed in six dogs. This technique used an internal skeletal fixator composed of two transilial pins secured with two double fixator clamps. Collapse (shortening) of the seventh lumbar vertebra (L7) was observed in five dogs without compromise of the vertebral canal. Kirschner wires placed across the articular facets as supplemental fixation devices migrated to the subcutaneous tissues in two dogs and were easily removed. Migration of the internal fixators was not observed during healing; vertebral canal dimensions were maintained in all cases, and the internal fixators were not removed after resolution of fracture healing. All fractures were healed within 6 to 12 weeks of surgery without evidence of pain, neurologic impairment, or long-term complications.


The rain statistics of 0–45° N area including equatorial, Sahelian, and mid-latitude regions, are studied using the probability distributions of the duration of rainy and dry events. Long time daily data set from ground measurements and satellite observations of rain fields are used. This technique highlights a sharp latitudinal transition of the statistics between equatorial and all other regions (Sahel, mid-latitude). The probability distribution of the 8° S to 8° N latitude band shows a large-scale organization with a slow decreasing (power law decrease) distributions for the time and space size of rain events. This observation is in agreement with a scaling, or macro turbulent, behavior of the equatorial regions rain fields. For the Sahelian and mid-latitude regions, our observations are clearly not in agreement with this behavior. They show that the largest rain systems have a limited time and space size (well described with a decreasing exponential distribution). For these non-equatorial regions it is possible to define a local characteristic duration and a characteristic horizontal size of the large rain events. These characteristics time and space scales of observed mesoscale convective systems could be a sensible indicator for the detection of the possible trend of rain distribution properties due to anthropogenic influence.


UV and VUV-induced processes in DNA/RNA nucleobases are central to understand photo-damaging and photo-protecting mechanisms in our genetic material. Here we model the events following photoionisation and electronic excitation in uracil, methylated in the 1' and 3' positions, using the correlated XMS-CASPT2 method. We compare our results against those for uracil and 5-methyl-uracil (thymine) previously published. We find 3-methylation, an epigenetic modification in non-negligible amounts, shows the largest differences in photoionised decay of all three derivatives studied compared to uracil itself. At the S0 minimum, 3-methyl-uracil (3mUra) shows almost degenerate excited cation states. Upon populating the cation manifold, a crossing is predicted featuring different topography compared to other methylated uracil species in this study. We find an effective 3-state conical intersection accessible for 3mUra+, which points towards an additional pathway for radiationless decay. 3-Methylation reduces the potential energy barrier mediating decay to the cation ground state, making it vanish and leading to a pathway that we expect will contribute to the fastest radiationless decay amongst all methylated uracil species studied to date. 1- and 5-methylation, on the other hand, give differences from uracil in detail only: ionisation potentials are slightly red-shifted and the potential energy barrier mediating decay to the cation ground state is small but almost unchanged. By comparing against CASSCF calculations, we establish XMS-CASPT2 is essential to correctly describe conical intersections for 3mUra+. Our calculations show how a chemical modification that seems relatively small electronically can nevertheless have a significant impact on the behaviour of electronic excited states: a single methylation in the 3' position alters the behaviour of the RNA base uracil and appears to open an additional pathway for radiationless decay following ionisation and electronic excitation.


The ability of metal-reducing bacteria to produce nanoparticles, and their precursors, can be harnessed for the biological manufacture of fluorescent, semiconducting nanomaterials. The anaerobic bacterium Veillonella atypica can reduce selenium oxyanions to form nanospheres of elemental selenium. These selenium nanospheres are then further reduced by the bacterium to form reactive selenide which could be precipitated with a suitable metal cation to produce nanoscale chalcogenide precipitates, such as zinc selenide, with optical and semiconducting properties. The whole cells used hydrogen as the electron donor for selenite reduction and an enhancement of the reduction rate was observed with the addition of a redox mediator (anthraquinone disulfonic acid). A novel synchrotron-based in situ time-resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy technique was used, in conjunction with ion chromatography and inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy, to study the mechanisms and kinetics of the microbial reduction of selenite to selenide. The products of this biotransformation were also assessed using electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and fluorescence spectroscopy. This process offers the potential to prepare chalcogenide-based nanocrystals, for application in optoelectronic devices and biological labelling, from more environmentally benign precursors than those used in conventional organometallic synthesis.


The normal tissue tolerance levels to fractionated radiotherapy have been appreciated by a century of careful clinical observations and radiobiological studies in animals. During clinical fractionated radiotherapy, these normal tissue tolerance levels are respected, and severe sequelae of radiotherapy are avoided in the majority of patients. Notwithstanding, a minority of patients experience unexpectedly severe normal tissue reactions. The ability to predict which patients might form this minority would be important. We have conducted a study to develop a rapid and reliable diagnostic test to predict excessive normal tissue toxicity (NTT) in radiotherapy patients. A flow cytometric immunocytochemical assay was used to measure DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from cancer patients exposed to 2‐Gy gamma radiation. DNA damage and repair was measured by induction of cellular γ‐H2AX in unirradiated and exposed cells at specific time points following exposure. In 12 cancer patients that experienced severe atypical NTT following radiotherapy, there was a failure to repair DNA double‐strand breaks (DSB) as measured by γ‐H2AX induction and persistence. In ten cancer patients that experienced little or no NTT and in seven normal (noncancer controls), efficient repair of DNA DSB was observed in the γ‐H2AX assay. We conclude that a flow cytometric assay based on γ‐H2AX induction in PBL of radiotherapy patients may represent a robust, rapid and reliable biomarker to predict NTT during radiotherapy. Further research is required with a larger patient cohort to validate this important study.


Investigation on the manufacturing of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) by solvothermal and hydrothermal procedure and the electrochemical behavior of these nanostructured electrode materials for hydrogen storage has been presented. The physical and morphological properties of prepared carbon nanotubes were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning, and Transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Furthermore, the electrochemical properties of MWCNTs were revealed by galvanostatic charge-discharge and measurement of cyclic voltammetry and the results revealed that both MWNTs exhibited higher electrochemical capacitance and stable cycling performance. Interestingly, MWNTs synthesized from hydrothermal procedure shows an extreme discharge capacity of 423 mAh/g, concerning hydrogen storage of ∼ 1.5 wt%, and MWNTs synthesized from solvothermal procedure shows a capacity of discharge 394.8 mAh/g. corresponds to ∼ 1.4 wt%, was attained reproducibly at 25 °C for about 100 mg of MWCNTs. This outcome infers that the MWNTs are extremely assuring electrochemical hydrogen storage materials for PEM fuel cells and rechargeable batteries.


Capacity and coverage of a Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) network can be greatly enhanced by dynamically allocate the radio transmission resources. By including the radio resources of cooperative nodes and taking into account the fairness issue, we present a simple suboptimal solution to the problem of radio resource allocation in relaybased OFDMA cellular systems. We restrict our investigation to a single-cell system with several cooperative relay stations and mobile stations (MSs). An IEEE 802.16e-like TDD scenario is assumed and only the uplink transmission with the base station(BS) handling the resource allocation is of concern. We propose two suboptimal algorithms that assign power, subcarriers and cooperative relay stations to a group of MS's to meet their QoS and minimum rate requirements. Our low-complexity solutions maximize the sum rate and a fairness index while satisfies the QoS and total transmit power constraint. Numerical results show that the proposed algorithms provide robust fairness and achieve near optimal sum rate performance.


Pig heart phosphoprotein phosphatase [phosphoprotein phosphophydrolase, EC 188.8.131.52] of Mr 224,000 was dissociated by gel-filtration on Sephacryl S-300, into an active subunit (alpha subunit) of Mr 31,000 and inactive subunits of higher molecular weight in the presence of 6 M urea. After the removal of urea, these subunits reassociated, forming two enzyme forms of Mr 237,000 (Form 1) and Mr 123,000 (Form 2). Form 2 was produced by association of the alpha subunit with an inactive subunit (beta subunit) of Mr 80,000, while Form 1 was formed by combination of the alpha subunit with a complex of inactive subunits which was eluted from a Sephadex G-150 column in fractions of molecular weight range greater than 80,000. The dissociation and reassociation of the subunits of Form 1 by the same urea method produced not only Form 1, but also significant amounts of Form 2, indicating that the inactive subunits of Form 1 were a complex of the beta subunit with another inactive subunit(s). The molecular parameters and other properties of Form 1 were very close to those of the original enzyme. By the conversion of Form 1 to Form 2, the activities of Form 1 towards phosphorylase a and glycogen synthetase b were enhanced 2-3 fold with no significant change in activity towards P-H1 histone or in response to the stimulatory effect of Mg(CH3COO)2 on the dephosphorylation of P-H2B histone. However, removal of the beta subunit from From 2 resulted in strong suppression of activity towards P-H1 histone and response to the salt effect with lesser effects on the activities of Form 2 towards phosphorylase a and glycogen synthase b.


Rylene imide dyes have been among the most promising organic semiconducting materials for several years due to their remarkable optoelectronic properties and high chemical/thermal stability. In the past decades, various excellent rylene imide dyes have been developed for optoelectronic devices, such as organic solar cells (OSCs) and organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Recently, tremendous progress of perylene diimides (PDIs) and their analogues for use in OSCs has been achieved, which can be attributed to their ease of functionalization. In this review, we will mainly focus on the synthetic strategies toward to latest PDI dyes and higher rylene imide analogues. A variety of compounds synthesized from different building blocks are summarized, and some properties and applications are discussed.


Objective: To compare the efficacy of Letrozole and clomiphene citrate in Patients of Anovulation polycystic ovarian syndrome with Infertility. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Independent Medical College Faisalabad. Period: 30-09-2019 to 29-6-2020. Material & Methods: This study included 100 patients with 50 patients in each group. Group A received 2.5 to 5mg letrozole in each cycle from day 3 to 7. Group B received clomiphene citrate 50 to 100 mg incremental dose depending on ovarian response. Both Drugs were given for consecutive 3 to 6 cycles to see response. Main outcome Measure included optimal follicle size (> 18mm), endometrial thickness, and pregnancy rate. Epidemiological data and efficacy outcome measures were recorded on a Performa. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 13. Chi-square test applied and p-value <o.o5 was considered significant. Both group included primary infertility patients. Results: The mean age of patients was 28.03+ 3.02 years. Mean age of group A patients was 29.04+3.44 and 28.47+3.90 group B patients. Mono ovulation in group A patients (88.9%) and 27 in group b patients (60.0%). The mean endometrial thickness was 9.6mm + 1.6 in letrozole group and 6.9mm + 1.2 in clomiphene citrate group A. In group A 18% got pregnant from Letrozole group and 1.1% from the group B. Conclusion: Efficacy was significantly higher in group A Patients received letrozole as compared to patients echo received clomiphene citrate. The effects of Letrozole showed better outcome in terms of Ovulation Induction Endometrial Thickness and Pregnancy rate.


Recurrent neural networks can be trained from string examples to behave like deterministic finite-state automata (DFA's) and pushdown automata (adapts) i.e. they recognize respectively deterministic regular and context-free grammars (DCFG's). The author discusses some of the successes and failures of this type of 'recurrent neural network' grammatical inference engine, as well as some of the issues of effectively using a priori symbolic knowledge in training dynamic networks. The author presents a method for networks with second-order weights where inserting prior knowledge into a network becomes a straight-forward mapping (or programming) of grammatical rules into weights. A more sophisticated hybrid machine was also developed, denoted as a neural network pushdown automata (NNPDA)-a recurrent net connected to a stack memory. This NNPDA learns to operate an external stack and recognize simple DCFG's from string examples. When hints about the grammars are given during training, the NNPDA is capable of learning more sophisticated DCFG's. >


ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to examine the water quality of the Extrema River spring in a Brazilian Cerrado area. Three collection sites (P1 − P3) were sampled in the dry and rainy seasons, which are close to industries from different sectors. In the physicochemical analysis, a decrease in dissolved oxygen levels (<5 mg/L) and pH (< 6) at P3 was detected. An increase in heterotrophic bacteria count was recorded at all sites (> 500 colonies/ml). In ecotoxicological analyses, P2 and P3 exhibited toxicity using Vibrio fischeri (> 20%). In evaluating toxicity, the reduction in seed germination was significant utilizing Lactuca sativa at all locations and with Allium cepa only at P2; rootlet length was decreased at P3 on L. sativa and at all sites with A. cepa. In contrast, loss of membrane integrity and mitochondrial function of meristems was adversely affected at all locations using both L. sativa and A. cepa assays. Principal components analysis (PCA) approach indicated that seasonality apparently did not markedly interfere with the obtained data, but it is important to include more collection locations to be evaluated with multiple bioindicators in the spring region. Our data indicate the urgent need for more rigorous programs to monitor the discharge of effluents into water springs.


Since the death of Chico Mendes three decades ago, nearly half of the Amazon forest area has been conserved through the collective sacrifice and struggle of thousands of forest-reliant families in Brazil, twined with political will and dense scientific and technical capacity. The key position that once marginalized, rural women have played in this struggle, however, is often obscured. This paper describes the role of women, some eminent and others lesser known, in the conservation movement inspired by Chico Mendes in Brazil. Thirty years ago, women were not permitted to be union members; today, 40% of the National Council of Extractivist Populations (CNS) leadership is female, and 25% of conservation units are led by women. Brazilian women occupy positions across the full spectrum of politics from grassroots to crucial positions in government, unions and civil society organizations. As women have gained power, they have also become targets. Of the 818 assassinations recorded by the Comissao Pastoral da Terra" (CPT) between 1997 and 2017, 7% have been women. Their deaths have not been forgotten. During 2017's March of the Margaridas, in support of women's rights and in remembrance of those who have died for the cause, an estimated one hundred thousand women have participated. Since Mendes' death, the movement to conserve forests and secure land for smallholders in Brazil has not abated, but grown and evolved through cross-sectoral collaborations, intergenerational exchange, strategic advocacy across vast geographic areas, and shared bonds born of struggle. The paper highlights the vital role of women in expanding and concretizing a globally significant forest conservation movement sparked by a man with a vision.


Purpose – This article examines a climate for inclusion through the lens of organizational justice. We argue that open interpersonal contacts, the fair treatment of gender-diverse employees, and inclusive decisionmaking processes in the promotion of equitable employment practices are foundational for shaping the climate for inclusion. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative data were collected from multi sources: focus groups with female employees (N 5 20) and interviews with male and female managers (N 5 8). Findings – In examining the similarities and differences between employees' and managers' perspectives, the findings revealed that, in all dimensions of a climate for inclusion, employees had more negative justice concerns than didmanagers, whilemanagers and employees had similar views on some aspects of employment practices. Research limitations/implications – This study was conducted within one university setting; therefore, the findings may not be applicable to other industries. Practical implications – This study offers managerial implications that can be developed to promote the climate for inclusion in organizations. Social implications – In order to create a fair and equitable workplace, all employees should be able to actively participate in decision-making processes and share suggestions for contextualized and fair employment practices. Originality/value – Drawing the group-value model, this study advocates the importance of justice-based organizational practices in building an inclusive organization.


SUMMARY Aiming to further characterize the haemocyte subsets in Biomphalaria snails, we have performed a detailed flow cytometric analysis of whole haemolymph cellular components using a multiparametric dual colour labelling procedure. Ethidium bromide/acridine orange fluorescence features were used to first select viable haemocytes followed by flow cytometric morphometric analysis based on the laser scatter properties (forward scatter-FSC and side scatter-SSC). Our findings demonstrated that B. glabrata (BG-BH, highly susceptible to S. mansoni) and 2 strains of B. tenagophila (BT-CF, moderately susceptible and BT-Taim, resistant to S. mansoni) have 3 major circulating haemocyte subsets, referred to as small, medium and large haemocytes. The frequency of small haemocytes was higher in BG-BH, while medium haemocytes were the most abundant cell-type in both B. tenagophila strains. Schistosoma mansoni infection resulted in early reduction of large and medium circulating haemocytes followed by an increase of small haemocytes. Although parasite infection induced haemocyte alterations in all Biomphalaria strains, the response was particularly intense in BT-Taim, the parasite-resistant snail. Interestingly, the trematode infection induces changes in haemocytes with less granular rather than in those with more granular profile. The results indicated that, in B. tenagophila of Taim strain, circulating haemocytes, especially the medium and high subset with less granular profile, are very reactive cells upon S. mansoni infection, suggesting that this cell subset would participate in the early parasite destruction observed in this snail strain.


Increasing crop productivity under optimal conditions and mitigating yield losses under stressful conditions is a major challenge in contemporary agriculture. We have recently identified an effective anti-senescence compound (MTU, [1-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5yl)urea]) in in vitro studies. Here, we show that MTU delayed both age- and stress-induced senescence of wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) by enhancing the abundance of PSI supercomplex with LHCa antennae (PSI-LHCa) and promoting the cyclic electron flow (CEF) around PSI. We suppose that this rarely-observed phenomenon blocks the disintegration of photosynthetic apparatus and maintains its activity as was reflected by the faster growth rate of wheat in optimal conditions and under drought and heat stress. Our multiyear field trial analysis further shows that the treatment with 0.4 g ha-1 of MTU enhanced average grain yields of field-grown wheat and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) by 5-8%. Interestingly, the analysis of gene expression and hormone profiling confirms that MTU acts without the involvement of cytokinins or other phytohormones. Moreover, MTU appears to be the only chemical reported to date to affect PSI stability and activity. Our results indicate a central role of PSI and CEF in the onset of senescence with implications in yield management at least for cereal species.


This paper proposes a continental approach to the combination of transport functions within European port cities. It reviews a number of concepts and theories, regarding with transport chain integration and urban centrality in the case of ports. While many studies on intermodalism face a lack of quantifiable data, this research proposes an original methodology based on employment. The data is collected for 76 port cities, 9,000 companies and more than one million employees in all transport modes. By bringing together employment figures and basic urban and port indicators, results of the factor analysis show the different functional and spatial trends. There is a recurrent opposition between freight and passenger-oriented specializations among port cities, which are also influenced by the European core-periphery spatial pattern. In addition, a benchmarking of port cities in terms of their intermodal potentials is provided as a means for policy implications.


It is fascinating that the phenomenon of colorism, with such large scale and profound individual impact, can remain in the infancy of sociological study. Some African Americans insist that delving into the issue of colorism is a "distraction" and that we cannot overcome internalized racism until we defeat outward racism. I maintain that the battles are the same, and the impacts of both must be analyzed, but colorism—the lesser understood—requires its own attention. Colorism, notably among women, cannot begin to be resolved until both marginalized and non-marginalized people fully understand its creation leading to its current impact. Various papers and novels written with both the academic background and research and lived perspective as a dark-skinned black woman will be consulted. The research paper will move from the analysis of the historical context of colonialism and colorism against dark-skinned black women to unpacking colorisms many impacts and implications derived from this colonial construction to its effects within personal, private life. Thus, in my research paper, I will investigate how the colonial legacy of colorism impacts the lives of African American woman in the present day.


As an important load of a light satellite, the space CCD camera will endure very complicated dynamics environment when transporting and launching. In this paper, The FEM model of the CCD camera is created by MSC. Patran/Nastran, then the model analysis, sinusoidal vibration and random vibration of the structure is performed. Based on the results, it proves that the CCD camera is satisfied in the ordinary condition, and this can be a reference for the similar design work.


A novel technique for summarizing news articles using neural networks is presented. A neural network is trained to learn the relevant features of sentences that should be included in the summary of the article. The neural network is then modified to generalize and combine the relevant features apparent in summary sentences. Finally, the modified neural network is used as a filter to summarize news articles.


Background: Lupus erythematosus (LE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that elicits a type III hypersensitivity reaction in which antibody-immune complexes precipitate and causes further immune response. There are three types of LE: discoid, systemic, and drug-induced. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is among the most common and concerning of the three. SLE harms mostly the heart, joints, skin, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. In addition to systemic issues, LE uniquely manifests itself in and around the eye. Secondary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and severe dry eyes are common among LE patients. Currently, there is no cure for LE; patients are often treated with an immunosuppressant or antimalarials, such as hydroxychloroquine. Case Reports: A patient who appeared to have discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) with secondary SS was referred to eye clinic by rheumatology for hydroxychloroquine screening. He presented with severe dry eyes. Treatment for dry eyes was initiated and screening for hydroxychloroquine toxicity was conducted. Another patient presented to the eye clinic for reduced vision in his right eye. He was diagnosed with systemic lupus with no treatment. Ophthalmic examination revealed a unilateral macular edema secondary to a central retinal vein occlusion likely to active systemic lupus. Immediate referral to rheumatology and ophthalmology was made. Conclusion: Since patients with LE may have many ocular manifestations, optometrists should be able to recognize them and ensure that the patient receives appropriate treatment. Communication with ophthalmology and rheumatology is important for the management of these cases. CE Notification: This article is available as a COPE accredited CE course. You may take this course for 1-hour credit. Read the article and take the qualifying test to earn your credit. Click here to Enroll (https://www.crojournal.com/ocular-manifestations-of-lupus-erythematosus)


The FED bulk shield provides protection from high-energy neutrons and gamma rays and removes nuclear heat generated. Bulk shield optimization calculations were conducted using the Los Alamos ONEDANT discrete ordinates and the General Atomic PATH point kernel codes. Six candidate steel alloys were considered.


Although the functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with biomolecules has been widely explored for various biological applications, achieving efficient bioconjugations with a wide range of biomolecules through a single, universal, and versatile platform remains a challenge, which may significantly impact their applications' outcomes. Here, we report a novel MNP platform composed of Au@Fe core/satellite nanoparticles (CSNPs) for versatile and efficient bioconjugations. The engineering of the CSNPs is facilely formed through the self-assembly of ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, 2-3 nm in diameter) around MNPs with a polysiloxane-containing polymer coating. The formation of the hybrid magnetic nanostructure is revealed by absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), element analysis using atomic absorption spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The versatility of biomolecule loading to the CSNP is revealed through the bioconjugation of a wide range of relevant biomolecules, including streptavidin, antibodies, peptides, and oligonucleotides. Characterizations including DLS, TEM, lateral flow strip assay, fluorescence assay, giant magnetoresistive nanosensor array, high-performance liquid chromatography, and absorption spectrum are performed to further confirm the efficiency of various bioconjugations to the CSNP. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the CSNP is a novel MNP-based platform that offers versatile and efficient surface functionalization with various biomolecules.


The purpose of the study was to identify the type of joke and the frequency of joke s used inside the classroom. In addition, studies have also been conducted to examine the involvement of students when element of joke is applied in the classroom and determine the relationship between joke frequency and students' involvement. This study is a quantitative type of survey. The instrument used is a set of four parts questionnaire. The populations studied involved secondary school teachers in Muallim District while the samples studied was selected using simple random sampling. The number of samples involved is 269 people. The findings show that the majority of teachers in Muallim District use jokes while teaching in the classroom. Among the jokes applied are jests, cynics, funny face expressions and funny stories (n = 92, Percentage = 34.20%). However, the joke frequency inside the classroom is moderate (n = 164, Percentage = 61.00%). Furthermore, the findings show that the use of joke element can make students to feel more at ease with the teacher when speaking or interacting (n = 115, Percentage = 38.50%). Correlation analysis indicated that there was a link between frequency of joke used and student's involvement when joke was applied in the classroom (r = 0.42, p <0.05). It can be concluded that the application of joke element is commendable inside the classroom, however, the joke frequency needs to be controlled as it can disrupt the students focus on learning.


This study aims to explore Taiwanese university students' conceptions of learning biology as memorizing or as understanding, and their self-efficacy. To this end, two questionnaires were utilized to survey 293 Taiwanese university students with biology-related majors. A questionnaire for measuring students' conceptions of memorizing and understanding was validated through an exploratory factor analysis of participants' responses. As for the questionnaire regarding the students' biology learning self-efficacy (BLSE), an exploratory factor analysis revealed a total of four factors including higher-order cognitive skills (BLSE-HC), everyday application (BLSE-EA), science communication (BLSE-SC), and practical works (BLSE-PW). The results of the cluster analysis according to the participants' conceptions of learning biology indicated that students in the two major clusters either viewed learning biology as understanding or possessed mixed-conceptions of memorizing and understanding. The students in the third cluster mainly focused on memorizing in their learning while the students in the fourth cluster showed less agreement with both conceptions of memorizing and understanding. This study further revealed that the conception of learning as understanding was positively associated with the BLSE of university students with biology-related majors. However, the conception of learning as memorizing may foster students' BLSE only when such a notion co-exists with the conception of learning with understanding.


Water resources scarcity led countries like Tunisia to adopt a policy of water economy by increasing the use of treated wastewater in agricultural irrigation. In this context, we studied the effects of raw and secondary treated urban and industrial waste waters and fresh waters (distilled and well waters used as control) on the germination and seedling growth of Lawsonia inermis. The seeds were used untreated or pretreated with 0.5% H2SO4, concentrated H2SO4 and soaked in distilled water prior to germination. Germination was conducted at 25°C during 7 days under conditions of dark and light. Germination rate, moisture content, root and shoot lengths were measured in different experimental conditions crossing seed pre-treatment, water quality and incubation condition. The R software was used to perform three classification factors ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. Results showed that the best germination performance was obtained when the seeds were pretreated by 0.5% H2SO4, watered by treated urban wastewater and exposed to light. Treated urban wastewater had a best contribution to germination rate considered model than fresh water and the other wastewaters types tested. So at the stage of early growth treated urban wastewater could be considered as potent water for Lawsonia inermis irrigation.


The bone marrow is a complex organ, with dynamic hematopoietic and immunologic functions. It is disseminated within the intertrabecular and medullary spaces of the bone. Bone marrow trephine biopsy should be carried out by trained individuals following a standard operating procedure. A bone marrow aspirate should be performed as part of the same procedure. Because diagnostic samples are small representation of the total marrow, it is important that the material should be adequate, representative, and of high technical quality. We present a general review of bone marrow examination, indications and procedure set-up.


The paper presents the results of investigations illustrating the influence of the form of a compact thermal model of the IGBT module on the accuracy of computing the non-isothermal characteristics of the components of this module. The tests are carried out for a module containing 2 IGBTs, 2 diodes and a thermistor. Three degrees of complexity of the thermal model are considered. The first one takes into account only self-heating in each component of the module. The second - additionally takes into account mutual thermal couplings between the components of the module. The third - additionally takes into account the dependence of thermal parameters on the power dissipated in the components of the module. The form of the considered models as well as the results of computations and measurements of the characteristics of the module components obtained for various cooling conditions of the module and the supply conditions of these components are presented. The obtained results are discussed.


Magnetic fields are ubiquitous in the Universe. They have been detected in planets, stars, galaxies, groups and clusters of galaxies, and recently also along filaments, in the large scale structure of the Universe. The aim of this PhD thesis is to study magnetic fields in clusters of galaxies in different evolutionary stages. The presence of magnetic fields in the intracluster medium is clearly indicated by the discovery of diffuse synchrotron emission in the central region and in the outskirts of a larger and larger number of galaxy clusters. These sources, called radio halos and relics, are generated by high energy relativistic electrons moving along the flux lines of weak magnetic fields. These magnetic fields are deeply linked to
the dynamical state and the energy transport in the system, and the study of their power spectrum gives information about the energy, the capacity to diffuse, and the ordered motion in the plasma of the relativistic particles. The origin of intracluster magnetic fields is still debated. The most reliable theories suppose a cosmological or a galactic (at z 2-3) origin. In both cases, to match the strengths presently observed, an amplification of the field is required, probably due to cluster formation processes. From the present day observations, intracluster magnetic fields appear to fluctuate over a range of scales and their strength seems to decrease with the distance from the cluster center as a function of the thermal gas density. Merging clusters show low magnetic field central strengths (∼1 μG), while relaxed systems are characterized by higher values (up to some 10 μG). In the radio band, the investigation of the intracluster magnetic field power spectrum can be performed by means of two techniques. Large scale (∼ Mpc) studies can be carried out through the analysis of the emission of large-scale diffuse synchrotron sources. Higher resolution investigations (∼ kpc) are allowed by the analysis of the Faraday rotation of the signal coming from galaxies within or behind galaxy clusters. The coexistence in a galaxy cluster of small and large scales of fluctuation of the magnetic field requires a
combination of the two approaches. In fact, in this way, it is possible to follow with continuity the power spectrum of the magnetic field fluctuations from Mpc scales down to kpc scales. Up to now, a detailed study of the magnetic field power spectrum has been performed just in few galaxy clusters. In this work we present the results we obtained by applying these different approaches and their contri-
bution to the present day knowledge of intracluster magnetic fields. To perform this kind of studies, we analyzed Very Large Array (VLA, New Mexico, USA) multi-
frequency polarimetric data of diffuse radio halos and of discrete sources within or behind galaxy clusters. To constrain the magnetic field fluctuation power spectrum, we compared the observations with the expectations of two- and three-dimensional simulations obtained with the FARADAY software package. The structure of this manuscript is the following. Three main sections can be identified:
in Chapter 1 we introduce clusters of galaxies, with particular care to radio emission originating from
galaxies and diffuse synchrotron sources (radio halos, relics and mini-halos);
in Chapters 2 and 3 we present the contribution of this thesis to the still scanty radio halo statistics
and to the study of radio halo properties. We describe the discovery of six new radio halos and the investigation of the X-ray -radio correlation in systems hosting radio halos both on an individual and on a statistical point of view;
in Chapter 4 we give an overview about intracluster magnetic fields and the main techniques applied for their investigation and we present statistical studies based on the Faraday rotation effect on the polarimetric properties of radio galaxies. The modeling we adopt and its application to the detailed investigation of the magnetic field in two galaxy clusters are described in Chapters 5, 6, and 7. Finally in Chapter 8 we summarize our conclusions.
Throughout this thesis we adopt a ΛCDM cosmology with H0 = 71 km s−1 Mpc−1 , Ωm = 0.27, and ΩΛ = 0.73.