: Beauvericin (BEA) and its analogs are non-ribosomal cyclodepsipeptide mycotoxins produced by a wide range of fungal species, including saprotrophs, plant, and insect pathogens, particularly belonging to Fusarium , Trichoderma , Beauveria , and Isaria genera. Most beauvericin analogs were described among Beauveria and Isaria genera as "unnatural" beauvericins by adding amino acid precursors to the growing media. The aim of the study was to find BEAs naturally-synthesized by Fusarium species and tentatively determine their structures using mass spectrometry. Moreover, because of the unknown ability to produce beauvericin by Trichoderma fungi, we carried out the quantitative analysis using UPLC-MS. We also analyzed the polymorphism of the BEAS gene by sequencing partial BEAS regions from Trichoderma and Fusarium species. We screened five fungal cultures from the Fusarium genus cultivated on rice grain for the presence of the new natural beau-vericins. The peptide sequence data of beauvericin analogs were established using MS/MS experiments as well as amino acid and hydroxy acid analysis following acid hydrolysis. Ten cyclodep-sipeptide analogs described earlier were tentatively identified in the extract. In addition, two so far undescribed tyrosine-containing beauvericin analogs were tentatively identified in the cultures. Moreover, a quantitative analysis of beauvericin was performed using a UPLC-MS in eleven Tricho-derm and six Fusarium rice cultures. The phylogenic analyses of beauvericin synthase ( BEAS ) divergence were performed on the basis of sequenced PCR-amplified fragments from Trichoderma and Fusarium fungi and partial reference genes from the GenBank database (representing Beauveri a, Fusarium , and Trichoderma genera). This study demonstrates the high variability of naturally-produced new types of beauvericins, such as tyrosine-containing analogs in Fusarium fungi. It also shows that fungi belonging to the Trichoderma genus possess the ability to produce beauvericin.


In this paper, a simple prey-predator type model for the growth of tumor with discrete time delay in the immune system is considered. It is assumed that the resting and hunting cells make the immune system. The present model allows delay effects in the growth process of the hunting cells. Qualitative and numerical analyses for the stability of equilibriums of the model are presented. Length of the time delay that preserves stability is given. It is found that small delays guarantee stability at the equilibrium level (stable focus) but the delays greater than a critical value may produce periodic solutions through Hopf bifurcation and larger delays may even lead to chaotic attractors. Implications of these results are discussed.


Abstract. Size distribution of sea ice floes is an important
component for sea ice thermodynamic and dynamic processes, particularly in
the marginal ice zone. Recently processes related to the floe size
distribution (FSD) have been incorporated into sea ice models, but the
sparsity of existing observations limits the evaluation of FSD models, thus
hindering model improvements. In this study, perimeter density has been
applied to characterise the floe size distribution for evaluating three FSD
models – the Waves-in-Ice module and Power law Floe Size Distribution (WIPoFSD)
model and two branches of a fully prognostic floe size-thickness
distribution model: CPOM-FSD and FSDv2-WAVE. These models are evaluated
against a new FSD dataset derived from high-resolution satellite imagery in
the Arctic. The evaluation shows an overall overestimation of floe perimeter
density by the models against the observations. Comparison of the floe
perimeter density distribution with the observations shows that the models
exhibit a much larger proportion for small floes (radius <10–30 m) but a much smaller proportion for large floes (radius >30–50 m). Observations and the WIPoFSD model both show a negative
correlation between sea ice concentration and the floe perimeter density,
but the two prognostic models (CPOM-FSD and FSDv2-WAVE) show the opposite
pattern. These differences between models and the observations may be
attributed to limitations in the observations (e.g. the image resolution is
not sufficient to detect small floes) or limitations in the model
parameterisations, including the use of a global power-law exponent in the
WIPoFSD model as well as too weak a floe welding and enhanced wave fracture
in the prognostic models.


: It is not clear what the contribution of the work is. The results highlighted here are somewhat sparse. Something that catches my attention is that the data capture is detailed, but results that could be more relevant are not considered.


Neural machine translation (NMT) systems operate primarily on words (or sub-words), ignoring lower-level patterns of morphology. We present a character-aware decoder designed to capture such patterns when translating into morphologically rich languages. We achieve character-awareness by augmenting both the softmax and embedding layers of an attention-based encoder-decoder model with convolutional neural networks that operate on the spelling of a word. To investigate performance on a wide variety of morphological phenomena, we translate English into 14 typologically diverse target languages using the TED multi-target dataset. In this low-resource setting, the character-aware decoder provides consistent improvements with BLEU score gains of up to $+3.05$. In addition, we analyze the relationship between the gains obtained and properties of the target language and find evidence that our model does indeed exploit morphological patterns.


The proteostasis network (PN) comprises a plethora of proteins that are dedicated to aid in protein folding; some with over-lapping functions. Despite this, there are multiple pathophysiological states associated with depletion of chaperones. This is counter-intuitive assuming cells have the ability to re-program transcriptional outputs in accordance with its proteostasic limitations. To this effect, we have used S. cerevisiae to understand the route a cell takes as a response when challenged with different proteostasis impairments. Using 14 single deletion strains of genes of Protein Quality Control (PQC) system, we quantify their proteostasis impairment and the transcriptional response. In most cases cellular response was incapable of restoring proteostasis. The response did not activate proteostasis components or pathways that could complement the function of the missing PQC gene. Over-expression of alternate machineries, could restore part of the proteostasis defect in deletion strains. We posit that epistasis guided synthetic biology approaches may be helpful in realizing the true potential of the cellular chaperone machinery.


Background: Oral cancers with sequential backgrounds have been increasing in number in recent years in Japan, although their disease entity is not always well defined. To characterize their clinicopathological nature, we compared oral cancers having sequential backgrounds with those lacking an apparent sequential history. Methods: From primary oral cancer cases filed in Niigata University Hospital, tongue cancer cases were selected and analyzed for their clinical factors (sex, age, location, TNM stages, local recurrences, and multiple occurrences), and for oral environmental factors (smoking and drinking habits, as well as the wearing of dentures or crown bridges). The histopathological characteristics were examined using surgical specimens. Results: Using samples from a 38-year period, 1970 to 2007, we were able to confirm 119 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Based on the clinicopathological analyses, we separated them into two categories: de novo type and sequential type. The latter was characterized by its superficial spread associated with precursor lesions, while the former appeared as an exophytic tumor mass with intrinsic growth and ulceration, without associations with a precursor lesion in the vicinity of the main cancer foci. There were 44 de novo types (28 males, 16 females, average age 54.0 years) and 75 sequential types (38 males, 37 females, 62.1 years). Clinically, there were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, location, local recurrence, multiple occurrence, and distant metastasis between the two types, although sequential types were found more frequently in older females. Tumor sizes of sequential types were smaller than those of de novo type (Pde novo types (Pde novo type patients (P


Purpose To determine the agreement and repeatability of inner retinal thickness measures from widefield imaging compared to standard scans in healthy nonhuman primates. Methods Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans were acquired from 30 healthy rhesus monkeys, with 11 animals scanned at multiple visits. The scan protocol included 20° × 20° raster scans centered on the macula and optic nerve head (ONH), a 12° diameter circular scan centered on the ONH, and a 55 × 45° widefield raster scan. Each scan was segmented using custom neural network–based algorithms. Bland–Altman analysis were used for comparing average circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness for a 16° diameter region. Comparisons were also made for similar 1° × 1° superpixels from the raster scans. Results Average circumpapillary RNFL thickness from the circular scan was 114.2 ± 5.8 µm, and 113.2 ± 7.3 µm for an interpolated scan path from widefield imaging (bias = −1.03 µm, 95% limits of agreement [LOA] −8.6 to 6.5 µm). GCIPL thickness from standard raster scans was 72.7 ± 4.3 µm, and 73.7 ± 3.7 µm from widefield images (bias = 1.0 µm, 95% LOA −2.4 to 4.4 µm). Repeatability for both RNFL and GCIPL standard analysis was less than 5.2 µm. For 1° × 1° superpixels, the 95% limits of agreement were between −13.9 µm and 13.7 µm for RNFL thickness and −2.5 µm and 2.5 µm for GCIPL thickness. Conclusions Inner retinal thickness measures from widefield imaging have good repeatability and are comparable to those measured using standard scans. Translational Relevance Monitoring retinal ganglion cell loss in the non-human primate experimental glaucoma model could be enhanced using widefield imaging.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the inhibitory effect of the extract of Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge flower against benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and explore its possible mechanism.

METHODS
MTT assay was used to examine the effect of the extract of Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge flower on proliferation of benign prostatic hyperplasia cells (BPH-1), and cell apoptosis and cell cycle changes following the treatment were analyzed using annexin V/PI double staining and flow cytometry. The protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, PI3K and AKT in the treated cells were detected using Western blotting. A rat model of BPH established by subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate was treated with the flower extract for 28 days, and pathological changes in the prostate tissue were observed with HE staining. The protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase3 and PI3K/AKT in the prostate tissue were detected with Western blotting.

RESULTS
Within the concentration range of 125-1000 µg/mL, the flower extract of Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge significantly inhibited the proliferation of BPH-1 cells and caused obvious cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase; the apoptotic rate of the cells was positively correlated with the concentration of the flower extract (P < 0.05). Bcl-2, p-PI3K and p-AKT expression levels were significantly down-regulated and Bax and caspase-3 expression levels were significantly increased in the cells after treatment with the flowers extract (P < 0.05). In the rat models of BPH, the rats treated with the flowers extract at moderate and high doses showed obviously decreased expressions of p-AKT and Bcl-2 and an increased expression of Bax in the prostate tissue; a significantly lowered p-AKT expression was observed in the prostate tissue of rats receiving the low-dose treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION
The flower extract of Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge has a inhibitory effect on BPH both in vitro and in rats, suggesting its potential value in the development of medicinal plant preparations for treatment of BPH.


Since 2007, the number of access point (APs) sold has been breaking record. In 2009, were produced about 50 million new APs; in 2013, the quantity reached 161 million, it could reach the 171.5 million at the end of 2019. This increase is related to the popularity of devices that use wireless networks, such as smartphones, notebooks, sensors etc. The computing power of these devices and services available on the web are increasingly demanding wireless network infrastructure, which causes a significant increase in data flow and hence power consumption. Some related works that propose ways to optimize consumption and performance in wireless networks are restricted to the use of simulators or even models built using simulated data. However, one found that usually these proposals are successful when mapped to a real environment and but it can deliver results that does not match with the actual consumption and performance of APs. In this sense, one decided to conduct an exploratory analysis starting from two variables that can represent the performance of wireless networks: throughput and power consumption. Thesevariables were represented from the burden of proportionate relationship generated by the protocols TCP and UDP using RX and TX transmission modes. To obtain the data, a Testbed was mounted. The infrastructure that composed the Testbed was assembled by 9different models ofAPs, one traffic generator, and one trafficand energy consumption monitor. Upon completion of data collection, an analysis was performed. From the results, it is possible to accurately state the impact on consumption and performance provided by the transport layer protocols in the different modes of transmission of APs. The results show that despite the TCP segments and UDP transitioning the Internet layer and network access (TCP / IP) and payload, it is possible to identify a sensitivity of RX and TX modes, impacting directly on the variable Throughput and on the power consumption, in which is possible to identify that the difference could be until 745% between the variables. The findings are valued to the community as they represent the actual relationship between the protocols / consumption / performance infrastructure for wireless networks AP ́s Low cost.


BackgroundThe Bangkok falls study aimed to identify fall-associated factors, including home healthcare hazards, nutritional status, hydration status, sarcopenia, frailty, locomotive syndrome, and health status of urban older adults in a middle-income country.Methods This was a population-based cohort study that enrolled adults who lived in Bangkok, Thailand. Our study recruited older adults aged ≥ 60 years old, able to walk, and expected to live in the community for at least 2 years. The study had three phases included; phase 1: subject identification and terminology clarification. Phase 2: we collected data at community sites on baseline characteristic and fall risk identification. Examinations and laboratory investigations were scheduled for one month later. Phase 3: telephone follow up for falls rate, functional status and death at 3, 6, 12 months.Results A total 1,001(51.84%) people were enrolled for our study. The average age of our study was 69.9 years old (SD, 6.8), and two-thirds were female. Using "Stopping Elderly Accidents, Death and Injuries" (STEADI) screening fall risk, our study found that 37.7% had scores ≥ 4, which means that there is a risk of fall. In addition, the risk of falls increased among older adults aged 75–84 years (49.5%) and older adults aged ≥ 85 years (67.7%) (P-value < 0.001).ConclusionThis study demonstrated the feasibility of conducting a population-based cohort study among urban older adults in a middle-income country using the local community healthcare system. Our study have a tendency to provide data source for fall risk factors and disability in older adults.


Two oppositely charged particles created within a microscopic space-time region can be separated, accelerated over a much larger distance, and brought to a recollision by a laser field. Consequently, new reactions become feasible, where the energy absorbed by the particles is efficiently released. By investigating the laser-dressed polarization operator, we identify a new contribution describing high-energy recollisions experienced by an electron-positron pair generated by pure light when a gamma photon impinges on an intense, linearly polarized laser pulse. The energy absorbed in the recollision process over the macroscopic laser wavelength corresponds to a large number of laser photons and can be exploited to prime high-energy reactions. Thus, the recollision contribution to the polarization operator differs qualitatively and quantitatively from the well-known one, describing the annihilation of an electron-positron pair within the microscopic formation region.


Acute care in hospitals cannot be sustained in its present form, the Royal College of Physicians has warned in a new report.1 An ageing population with multiple and complex needs is producing greater demands, but these have to be met by a hospital system that has a third fewer beds than there were 25 years ago.

Emergency admissions have risen by 37% in the past decade, the report says. While hospitals have so far dealt with this rise by reducing patients' length of stay, this cannot be sustained indefinitely. Lengths of stay have stopped declining and in the past three years have started to rise among patients aged over 85.

Patients are increasingly frail, with 65% aged over 65, and an increasing proportion have dementia. But hospitals, services, and staff are ill suited to dealing with patients who have these complex needs.

Within hospitals, continuity of care …


A rich assemblage of microfossils, including foraminifera, ostracodes and bolboforms (calcareous phytoplankton) have been found in the supra-evaporitic deposits of the Pecten Beds (Upper Badenian) and Krakowiec Clays (Sarmatian) of Middle-Miocene age, which occur in the Jamnica S-119 borehole near Tarnobrzeg, in the central part of the Carpathian Foredeep. Environmental conditions have been deduced from these microfossils. Comparison with other parts of the Carpathian Foredeep shows that microfauna distribution depended on location within the sedimentary basin and on hydrological conditions. Poorly-diversified and specific microfossils were associated with evaporates and overlying sediments (particularly within the lower Pecten Beds and Krakowiec Clays), indicating poorly-oxygenated near-bottom waters. Possibly, "Upper-Badenian" and"Sarmatian" biofacies had already differentiated by the end of the Badenian. Distribution of the Upper Badenian microfauna and bolboforms in the Polish part of the Carpathian Foredeep and beyond shows that there was faunal exchange between the eastern and western parts of the Polish section of the Carpathian Foredeep, and indicates connection between the Central Paratethys and Mediterranean basin areas.


Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae deficient in adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (A-PRT, EC 2,4,2,7) have been isolated following selection for resistance to 8-azaadenine in a prototrophic strain carrying the ade4-su allele of the gene coding for amidophosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2,4,2,14). The mutants were recessive and defined a single gene, apt1. They did not excrete purine when combined with ade4+. The mutants appeared to retain some A-PRT activity in crude extracts, and strains of the genotype ade2 apt1 responded to both adenine and hypoxanthine. Mutants deficient in adenine aminohydrolase (EC 3,5,4,2) activity, aah1, and hypoxanthine:guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2,4,2,8) activity, hpt1, were used to synthesize the genotypes apt1 hpt1 aah+ and apt1 hpt+ aah1. The absence of A-PRT activity in strains with these genotypes confirmed the hypothesis that the residual A-PRT activity of apt1 mutants was due to adenine aminohydrolase and hypoxanthine:guanine phosphoribosyltransferase acting in concert.


In recent years, railway transport has been preferred intensively in local and intercity freight and passenger transport. For this reason, it is of utmost importance that railway lines are operated in an uninterrupted and safe manner. In order to carry out continuous operation, all systems must continue to operate with maximum availability. In this study, data were collected from switch motors, which are the important equipment of railways, and the related equipment and these data were evaluated with sector experience and the results related to the failure status of the switch points were revealed. The obtained results were processed with support vector machines and artificial neural networks, which are artificial intelligence methods, and machine learning was performed. In the light of this learning, a decision support model, which predicts possible failures and gives information about the root cause of the failures that have occurred, was developed. This model aims to ensure that the data obtained in each movement of the railway switch point are processed and the necessary corrective and preventive actions are communicated to the maintenance personnel; thus, failures are eliminated before they affect the railway operation and the solution process of the failures that have occurred is shortened. Considering the six switch points from which the data were collected, the experimental results were predicted with 24% RMSE error rates in the SVM method, while they were successfully predicted with RMSE error rates ranging from 2.4% to 6.6% in the ANN method. Therefore, it is observed that the ANN method is more appropriate in the implementation of the established model.


Background Natural menopause is the permanent cessation of menstrual period that is not caused by any type of surgical procedure or medical treatment, while post surgical menopause means surgical removal of both ovaries before the natural age of menopause.1 Its estimated number of menopausal women in Indonesia reached 30.3 million in 2020 except post surgical menopause women. Reduction of estrogen production in oophorectomized women causes early menopause problems such as physical and physiological aspects. Physical aspect causes many reproductive disorders such as vasomotor disturbances , osteoporosis and metabolic disease that affect to the activities of women experiencing menopause. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is accompanying many factors such as hypertension, insulin resistance, obesity and lipid abnormalities and all these factors cause cardiovascular disease and diabetes (10). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in post menopausal women can change by the region or population but ovarian function is not well known. In this study we investigated blood pressure as one component of metabolic syndrome in post surgical menopause in our population based on indication of procedure. Method A cross sectional study using medical records of the post surgical menopause patient in Sardjito hospital Yogyakarta from January 2011- December 2016. It divided in to two groups based on the indication of surgical procedure. The first group was 31 women with history of bisalphingoooforectomy on indication ovarian cancer and second sub group was 31 women with history of bisalphingoooforectomy on indication endometriosis. Objective To analyse the raise of blood pressure as one of Metabolic Syndrome parameter in post surgical menopausal women. Result There was significant difference of systolic blood pressure between post surgical menopausal women statistically. The systolic blood pressure in malignancy group raised higher than benign group (141.9 ± 11.67 vs 129.67 ± 7.5; p=0.005). Diastolic blood pressure was not significant difference between post surgical menopause women based on indication of surgical procedure (74.5 ± 7.67 vs 72.9 ± 5.9; p=0.07) Conclusion The raise of systolic blood pressure in post surgical menopausal women due to ovarian malignancy was higher than benign then increased the risk of metabolic syndrome. Keyword: Blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, post surgical menopause


Tumor markers are substances that are produced by cancer cells or by other cells of the body in response to cancer or certain benign conditions, however, they are produced at much higher levels in cancerous conditions. These substances can be found in the blood, urine, stool, tumor tissue, or other tissues or bodily fluids of some patients with cancer. Most tumor markers are proteins. Some tumor markers help determine the effective treatment while some are prognostic which denotes that they determine the outcome of the cancer. Tumor markers are measured in the management of breast cancer patients for Early detection. blood tumor markers such as CA 15-3 are useless for this detection because of a low sensitivity. Proteomics profiling has recently been investigated using blood or nipple aspirate fluid for the detection. This article mainly focuses on the tumor markers involved in breast carcinoma and their prognostic patterns.


This paper aims at recognizing partially observed human actions in videos. Action videos acquired in uncontrolled environments often contain corrupt frames, which make actions partially observed. Furthermore, these frames can last for arbitrary lengths of time and appear irregularly. They are inconsistent with training data and degrade the performance of pre-trained action recognition systems. We present an approach to address this issue. For each training and testing actions, we divide it into segments and explore the mutual dependency between temporal segments. This property states that the similarity of two actions at one segment often implies their similarity at another. We augment each segment with extra alternatives retrieved from training data. The augmentation algorithm is designed in a way where a few alternatives are good enough to replace the original segment where corrupt frames occur. Our approach is developed upon hidden conditional random fields and leverages the flexibility of hidden variables for uncertainty handling. It turns out that our approach integrates corrupt segment detection and alternative selection into the process of prediction, and can recognize partially observed actions more accurately. It is evaluated on both fully observed actions and partially observed ones with either synthetic or real corrupt frames. The experimental results manifest its general applicability and superior performance, especially when corrupt frames are present in the action videos.


The notion of spiritual development has been part of the legislative framework of education in England and Wales since 1944. Its use in the legislation implies the belief that there is an important dimension of state education connected with, but extending beyond, personal development and the promotion of values.
The use of the word 'spiritual' in an educational setting has always had a political dimension, reflecting certain beliefs about which values the state might use its powers to promote through state schools, as well as embodying certain beliefs about the pluralist nature of modem Britain.
This thesis is an exercise in the practical philosophy of education and, consequently, myaim will be to explore certain ideas and policy ideals, throwing light on the logical relations between them.
There are two distinct, but overlapping. aspects of the detailed discussion of the prospects for the implementation of the spirituality initiative in this thesis. First, there are questions connected with the meaning of the spiritual dimension as such and the appropriateness of using such terminology in an educational context. I argue for a procedural definition of 'common spirituality' and for a clear distinction between this and 'spiritual development', which must be linked to some substantive framework of strong evaluation. The prospects for a number of approaches to the development of spirituality are explored within the context of a common conception of educational development for state schools.
Second, the thesis will explore the question of whether a suitable methodology can be established for the promotion of spiritual development that is consistent with the particular political perspectives which inform our understanding of state schooling in Britain. ill particular, I question whether any common approach to spiritual development, based on some notion of what the culture of modem Britain either is or ought to be, can be either educationally adequate or politically acceptable. Built into this is an exploration of how the spirituality initiative should be organised nationally and a challenge to both communitarian ami social democratic liberal conceptions of state education, in favour of one that nurtures, rather than promotes, pluralism.


Juvenile periodontitis (JP) is generally recognized to exist in 2 clinical forms: localized and generalized. Historically, females have been reported to be affected by both forms of JP at rates of 2 to 10 times greater than males. However, evidence suggests that females are more likely than males to seek dental care. If this is true, females will be diagnosed with JP more often than males even if juvenile periodontitis is equally prevalent among males and females in the general population. Thus, previous reports of a female predominance for JP may simply reflect this selection bias. The purpose of this study was to test our hypothesis that juvenile periodontitis occurs with equal frequency in males and females after correcting for selection bias. Twenty-four juvenile periodontitis probands were ascertained from the VCU/MCV dental clinics. The families of these individuals were examined to determine the relative prevalence of JP among male and female relatives of these probands. Our results indicate that while females are 3 times more likely than males to be initially ascertained as juvenile periodontitis probands, among relatives of probands the proportion of affected males and females is equal.


To better understand the effect of fluid distribution on the electric response of rocks saturated with oil and brine, we conducted experimental studies on the complex electrical impedance in a Berea sandstone, together with in situ acquisitions of oil distribution images employing a high‐resolution medical X‐ray computed tomography. We performed two tests of brine displacement by oil under high (10 MPa) and low (5 MPa) pressures, which were accompanied by fingering and stable displacement patterns, respectively. The measured complex impedance data were fitted to the Cole model to obtain the resistance, capacitance, peak frequency of the imaginary impedance, and the exponent α of the rock–fluid system. With increasing oil saturation, the resistance showed an increasing trend, whereas the other three parameters decreased. The fingering displacement exhibited lower resistance and capacitance than the stable displacement. The analysis of the resistance changes using a simple parallel connection model indicates that there are more components of residual brine in parallel connections in the fingering pattern than in the stable displacement pattern at the same saturation. We also interpreted the normalised changes in the capacitance (or apparent dielectric constant) with respect to the oil saturation via an analysis of the shape factor of fluid distribution based on the Maxwell–Wagner–Brugermann–Hanai model. The changes in the shape factor suggest that the pinch‐off of the brine in parallel connection by the oil is a dominant mechanism reducing the capacitance. In the stable displacement, most of the connections in the brine phase are immediately pinched off by oil displacement front at a local oil saturation of 65%. Conversely, in the fingering displacement, there is a transition from the bulk or layered brine to the pinched‐off at a local oil saturation below 60%. The analyses indicate that the difference in the fluid distribution under different fluid conditions is responsible for the non‐Archie behaviour.


Multipath routing protocol, which is one of the typical schemes to improve end-to-end transmission success ratio in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), exploits two or more paths. However, collisions and interference might occur when each path is adjacent. To prevent this problem, they construct node- or link-disjointed paths. Although the paths could prevent the above-mentioned problem, it still has an issue in the area of time delay. To exploit the disjointed paths, pre-path construction is required. In addition, a lot of time is incurred to recover the whole path when the part of the path is damaged. This phenomenon adversely affects the end-to-end transmission success ratio and transmission time. To alleviate this problem, we propose a cluster-disjoint multipath routing protocol. The proposed scheme divides the whole network into grid clusters of a certain size in the network initialization phase. Each sensor could transmit packets through the pre-constructed cluster structure without the path construction phase. Also, even if any node fails, it could be easily replaced by other nodes within the cluster region. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme has an advantage in terms of transmission delay and end-to-end transmission success ratio compared to existing multipath routing protocols.


The current surge of game studies literature demands a scrutinizing look at the solidifying positions within the German and international discourse and the opportunities of finding a common vocabulary and adequate set of analytical tools.
In order to arrive at an integrative model of analysis, the intricate interplay of narrative and game mechanics (narratology vs. ludology) is considered from a comparative perspective and thus demystified. Consequently, a new model based on programming theory (object-oriented narrative) is proposed which takes into account elements of psychology, narratological concepts derived from film- and literature studies and cultural studies approaches leading to a 'close reading' of games.
The article is based on the assumption that computer- and videogames recode the act of 'reading' games as texts into a mode of 'text-processing' and thereby fundamentally modify the parameters of our cultural appropriation and media literacy.
The model proposed herein shall then be tentatively applied to the complex re-staging and re-examination of 'the real' in a wide range games from Wonderland to Enter the Matrix.


A review of the field of practice-focused research in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) reveals four broad genres of qualitative research: case studies of teacher education programs and developments; research into student teacher experience and learning; inquiry into teacher educators' own learning, identity, and beliefs; and conceptual or theory-building research. This is an eclectic field that is defined by variation in methodologies rather than by a few clearly identifiable research approaches. What practice-focused research in ITE has in common, though, is a desire on the behalf of teacher educator researchers to understand the complexity of teacher education and contribute to shifts in practice, for the benefit of student teachers and, ultimately, for learners in schools and early childhood education. In this endeavor, teacher educator researchers are presented with a challenge to achieve a balance between goals of local relevance and making a theoretical contribution to the broader field. This is a persistent tension. Notwithstanding the capacity for practice-focused research to achieve a stronger balance and greater relevance beyond the local, key contributions of practice-focused research in ITE include: highlighting the importance of context, questioning what might be understood by "improvement" in teacher education and schooling, and pushing back against research power structures that undervalue practice-focused research.
 Drawing on a painting metaphor, each genre represents a collection of sketches of practice-focused research in ITE that together provide the viewer with an overview of the field. However, these genres are not mutually exclusive categories as any particular research study (or sketch) might be placed within one or more groupings; for example, inquiry into teacher educators' own learning often also includes attention to student teachers' experiences and case studies of teacher education initiatives inevitably draw on theory to frame the research and make sense of findings. Also, overviewing the field and identifying relevant research is not as simple as it might first appear, given challenges in identifying research undertaken by teacher educators, differences in the positioning of teacher educators within different educational systems, and privileging of American (US) views of teacher education in published research, which was counteracted in a small way in this review by explicitly including voices located outside this dominant setting. Examples of different types of qualitative research projects illustrate issues in teacher education that matter to teacher educator researchers globally and locally and how they have sought to use a variety of methodologies to understand them. The examples also show how teacher educators themselves define what is important in teacher education research, often through small-scale studies of context-specific teacher education problems and practices, and how there is value in "smaller story" research that supports understanding of both universals and particularities along with the grand narratives of teacher education.


The effect of adenosine receptor antagonism on function and metabolism was examined in isolated hearts during low flow ischemia and reperfusion. Isovolumic rat hearts perfused at constant flow were subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion. Infusion of vehicle or 10 microM 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT) was initiated 10 min before ischemia and maintained throughout reperfusion. 8-PT infusion had no significant effects on hemodynamic parameters or metabolism preischemia. During ischemia, left ventricular developed pressure declined to approximately 15% of preischemic values in control and 8-PT hearts, and ATP and PCr decreased to approximately 73 and 60% of preischemic values. Inorganic phosphate (Pi) increased to 353 = 41 and 424 +/- 53% of preischemic values in control and 8-PT hearts, respectively. After reperfusion, function recovered to greater than 95% of preischemic levels in control and 8-PT hearts. Unlike control hearts, recovery of metabolites was significantly different during reperfusion in 8-PT hearts (P less than 0.05); ATP, phosphocreatine, and Pi recovered to 82 +/- 8, 71 +/- 8, and 281 +/- 27% of preischemic values, respectively. Venous purine washout was significantly greater (P less than 0.05) during reperfusion in 8-PT hearts (327 +/- 113 nmol) than in control hearts (127 +/- 28 nmol). Blockade of adenosine receptors appears to adversely affect metabolic but not functional recovery in the ischemic-reperfused myocardium.


Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of cannabis on post–endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP). Methods The US Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried to identify patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis from 2004 to 2014. Cannabis use was identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition codes, and patients in remission were excluded. Poisson regression models were used to derive adjusted incidence risk ratios (IRRs) for outcomes. Results Among 37,712 patients with PEP, 0.4% had documented cannabis use disorder. From 2004 to 2014, the rate of PEP and cannabis use increased (8.9%–11.0% [P < 0.01] and 0.20%–0.70% [P < 0.01], respectively). Univariate analysis demonstrated cannabis was associated with increased risk of PEP (IRR, 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50–1.90; P < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, cannabis use was an independent predictor of PEP (IRR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1–1.4; P = 0.004). Cannabis was not associated with in-hospital death (IRR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.02–1.04; P = 0.06) but was associated with shorter hospital stay (IRR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94–0.98; P < 0.001) and lower costs (IRR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.91–0.92; P < 0.001). Conclusions Cannabis use was associated with an increase in PEP without significant increase in mortality.


The problem underlying this study is the slow but steady decline in membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Numerous missionary efforts in the past have not been able to change this trend. However, an approach that summarizes the work of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew has not been followed: Namely that Jesus taught people about the Kingdom of God and healed them through prayer. Both church historical sources and modern research suggest that wherever the biblical example of Jesus was followed closely it had a positive influence on the growth of churches. In order to investigate whether such an approach could produce a similar result within the context of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a qualitative study was conducted in which nine people were interviewed, with some questions based on drawings they had made themselves. All participants had stated that they had been healed through prayer in the context of the Adventist Church. Besides the description of their teaching and healing experience, the two central questions were a: what influence their teaching and healing experience had on their relationship with Jesus Christ and b: what influence this experience had on their relationship with the Adventist Church. The evaluation of the interviews showed that the relationship of all study participants to Jesus improved significantly and permanently through their healing experience. They were motivated to share their testimonies and pray for healing for others. With regard to the influence their experience had on their relationship to the Adventist Church, the picture was more differentiated. Wherever the churches reacted positively or tolerantly to these members, the sense of fellowship and of community, and the missionary commitment of the study participants increased or was taken up after years of passivity. Of the three persons who initially did not belong to the Adventist Church, two improved their attitude towards it, and a third person was baptized and became an active member. However, where congregations reacted negatively to the experience of the study participants, the relationship between these persons and the church deteriorated increasingly. In the end, this led two people to leave their respective local churches. In addition to considering whether, and to what extent, a New Testament approach to teaching and healing could be applied in the Adventist Church and thus make use of its positive effects, further questions arose for future research. First of all, it would be recommendable to deepen the research results in further studies and consider the topic of this study from a variety of perspectives. Among the latter is the question of how churches experience members who claim to have been healed through prayer, but also the question of how a person feels and reacts who has not been healed despite prayer.


One of the main activities in science teaching, and in particular in Physics teaching, is not only the discussion of both modern problems and problems which solution is an urgent matter. It means that the picture of an active and alive science should be transmitted to the students, mainly to the College students. A central point in this matter is the issue which characterizes the Fundamental Laws of Nature. In this work we emphasize that this sort of laws may exist in areas which are different from those usually considered. In this type of discussion it is neither possible nor desirable to avoid the historical perspective of the scientific development.


We present a new technique to obtain large-signal global modeling simulation of a MMIC amplifier. The active device is modeled with a neural network trained with data obtained from a full hydrodynamic model. This neural network describes the nonlinearities of the equivalent circuit parameters of a MESFET implemented in an extended Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) mesh. We successfully represented the transistor characteristics with a one-hidden-layer neural network whose inputs are the gate voltage V/sub gs/, and the drain voltage V/sub ds/. Small-signal simulation is performed and validated by comparison with HP-Libra. Then, the large signal behavior is obtained, which demonstrates the successful use of artificial neural network (ANN) in the FDTD marching time algorithm.


On the assumption that antibody is added to virus particles in a stepwise manner and that the reaction follows the law of mass action, a theoretical equation for the equilibrium state of virus neutralization reactions has been deduced.

The theory has been found to be in reasonable accord with the available data for the neutralization of bacterial viruses and can be applied also to data for the neutralization of animal viruses.


Alpha-fetoprotein producing gastric cancer accounts for less than 10% of the gastric adenocarcinomas. Different histologic subtypes may exist, the least common of which is yolk sac morphology. To the best of our knowledge less than 10 cases have been reported with high alpha-fetoprotein and yolk sac components, either pure or mixed with ordinary adenocarcinoma of the stomach. During 10 years, from among more than 500 gastric adenocarcinoma cases that presented to the largest referral center in Southern Iran, two cases of gastric cancer with yolk sac components and high alphafetoprotein have been diagnosed, as presented in this case report.


Cytokines play a central role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases and allergic inflammation. Therefore, an understanding of mechanisms which regulate production and function of cytokines is very important and may result in the development of more effective methods of treatment of allergic diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated that the induction of allergic inflammation requires genetic background and environmentak factors. The most important cytokines and chemokines are IL-4, IL-5, IL-3, IL-13, GM-CSF and TNF-alpha. Many other cytokines are responsible for the growth, maturity, migration activation and apoptosis of all cells involved in allergic inflammation, among them are IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, MIP-1 alpha, RANTES, IL-8, IL-12, IL-18, IFN-alpha i gamma, TGF-beta, sIL-4, IL-1Ra. Recently it has been proven that IL-10 and other cytokines from the IL-10 family, and TGF-beta have anti-inflammatory properties in allergy.


Objective: To examine endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) services and training in the UK. Design: Prospective multicentre survey. Setting: Five regions of England. Participants: Hospitals with an ERCP unit. Outcome measures: Adherence to published guidelines, technical success rates, complications and mortality. Results: Organisation questionnaires were returned by 76 of 81 (94%) units. Personal questionnaires were returned by 190 of 213 (89%) ERCP endoscopists and 74 of 91 (81%) ERCP trainees, of whom 45 (61%) reported participation in <50 ERCPs per annum. In all, 66 of 81 (81%) units collected prospective data on 5264 ERCPs, over a mean period of 195 days. Oximetry was used by all units, blood pressure monitoring by 47 of 66 (71%) and ECG monitoring by 37 of 66 (56%) units; 1484 of 4521 (33%) patients were given >5 mg of midalozam. Prothrombin time was recorded in 4539 of 5264 (86%) procedures. Antibiotics were given in 1021 of 1412 (72%) cases, where indicated. Patients' American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) scores were 3–5 in 670 of 5264 (12.7%) ERCPs, and 4932 of 5264 (94%) ERCPs were scheduled with therapeutic intent. In total, 140 of 182 (77%) trained endoscopists demonstrated a cannulation rate ⩾80%. The recorded cannulation rate among senior trainees (with an experience of >200 ERCPs) was 222/338 (66%). Completion of intended treatment was done in 3707 of 5264 (70.4%) ERCPs; 268 of 5264 (5.1%) procedures resulted in a complication. Procedure-related mortality was 21/5264 (0.4%). Mortality correlated with ASA score. Conclusion: Most ERCPs in the UK are performed on low-risk patients with therapeutic intent. Complication rates compare favourably with those reported internationally. However, quality suffers because there are too many trainees in too many low-volume ERCP centres.


On the basis of conservation laws proposed by Ericksen (1961), constitutive equations are formulated for cholesteric liquid crystals. To motivate the choice, an entropy inequality of the type discussed by Müller (1967) is employed. Apart from minor differences, the hydrostatic theory of Ericksen (1962) is obtained, and proposals are made for the non-equilibrium terms. With this theory, the spinning phenomenon noted by Lehmann (1900) is investigated, and it is shown that solutions similar to his observations arise in a natual way.


Positioning system used for different purposes and different services, many researches are going on to find a more accurate position with low error within high performance. There are many localization solutions with different architectures, configurations, accuracies and reliabilities for both outdoors and indoors. For example, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology has been used for outdoors.  Global Positioning System (GPS) is one of the most common outdoors tracking solutions in the world, for outdoors, however, when indoors; it could not be accurately tracked users by using a GPS system. This is because, when users enters into indoors the GPS signals will no longer available due to blocked by the roof of buildings and it is no longer considered as a viable option.  WiFi Positioning System (WPS) can be used as an alternative solution to define users' position, especially when GPS signal is not available. Further, WPS is a low cost solution, because there is no need to deploying WiFi Access Points (WAPs) in the vicinity, as they are installed to access the Internet. In this paper, specifically, WiFi-RSS Fingerprinting technique is used to locate smartphones using WAPs signals with a modified calculation. The new modified calculation is to dynamic weighting of the WAPs RSS values based on the real-live indoors structure. The achieved positioning accuracy, based on several trial experiments, is up to 6 meters via the implemented algorithm in the MALTAB.


OBJECTIVE
To find the effectiveness of growth screening of 6 and 7-year olds in primary care and the characteristics of slow growth found.

DESIGN
Crossover, observational study.

PATIENTS
6 to 7-year old population attended at 8 health centres in the province of Barcelona.

INTERVENTIONS
Exploration of height and weight. The population with height=percentile 3 was referred to the paediatric endocrinologist for diagnosis.

RESULTS
2306 children (45% of the population attended) were screened. 73 had low height (3.5%). Of these, 8.2% did not attend the appointment with the endocrinologist; 5.5% had been wrongly measured, and for 19% no definite diagnosis could be reached. 49 cases were classified as cases of slow growth: 11 organic and 38 non-organic. The effectiveness of the screening was one unidentified case of slow growth in every 80 children screened.

CONCLUSIONS
It would seem advisable to maintain the practice of screening for slow growth in primary care. To improve its efficiency, it is proposed to refer to the specialist only the population with their height under the percentile 0.4. The paediatrics team should deal with non-organic growth disorders.


Mastication and food consistency each affect the passage of food through the oral cavity and pharynx and its
coordination with swallow initiation. Since hemispheric stroke may damage cortico-medullary neural pathways, we
hypothesized that it could also alter the coordination of eating and swallowing. Using videofluorography, we studied
30 individuals with hemispheric stroke and 27 age-matched controls as they consumed liquid barium, corned beef
hash, or a combination of liquid and solid (two-phase) food. We tracked the leading edge of the barium during
feeding and at swallow onset in relation to occurrences of laryngeal penetration and aspiration. Compared with
asymptomatic controls, the leading edge remained in the hypopharynx before swallowing longer in stroke subjects
(P = 0.016) and was lower in the foodway at swallow onset with two-phase food (P = 0.03) and liquid (P = 0.06).
Penetration-aspiration scores were significantly higher for liquid and two-phase ingesta when the leading edge was
deeper in the pharynx at swallow onset (P = 0.03). These findings suggest that stroke alters the coordination of
bolus transport and swallowing, particularly with foods containing a liquid phase. With such an impairment, a bolus
may enter the hypopharynx prematurely, thus increasing the risk of aspiration.


This systematic review develops a comprehensive understanding of how land degradation is measured with respect to forests, and what qualitative and quantitative methods are being utilised in the pursuit of land degradation neutrality (LDN) generally. Scopus and Environmental Abstracts (EVA) databases were searched for peer-reviewed studies from 1998–2021 using key search terms including 'land degradation neutrality', 'soil' and 'forest'. Of the 53 included studies, most articles (n = 25) are experimental reports, and the next most common classification (n = 14) is literature reviews. Studies tended to be longitudinal (mean length of 15.4 years) and Eurasia-centric. Almost all extant research focuses on the indicators rather than the drivers of land degradation. Choosing indicators to measure remains contentious; however, most research uses those prescribed by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification: land cover, net primary productivity and soil organic carbon. Despite this convergence around which indicators to monitor, there is no standardisation in the methods used to do so. Therefore, no meaningful comparison between countries or even studies can be made. This lack of standardisation and bias towards indicators instead of drivers is important because, under the current paradigm, land managers seeking to prevent or offset forest degradation cannot do so with any certainty. Until these issues are addressed, it will be impossible to track progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15.3 for global LDN, and large-scale conservation work in this area is based on guesswork. How will we know when we achieve LDN in forests, globally? Based on current research, we will not. Future research must seek standardised ways to quantify land degradation based on its drivers: erosion, urbanisation and human activity, drought and desertification, and pollution.


This article investigates the strategies of monastic patronage employed by women in medieval Epirus. It looks at how royal and noble women effectively applied this traditional tool of public engagement to a variety of ends—a display of political claims, self-representation, networking, and a rise in the social hierarchy. Recognizing the gradual changes in the public perception of female sponsors, it measures their actions against their perception by male writers and elucidates the most common ways of women's involvement, from participation in traditional family projects to independent endowment acts distinguished by personal agendas. It also attempts to shed some light on the underrepresentation of female monastic institutions in the region that compelled the local women to offer donations almost exclusively to male foundations. This study considers that the main reason for the patronesses' behavior was the longevity of prominent institutions and their ability to ensure the donors' continuous commemoration.


Pertussis is a respiratory disease transmitted by the inhalation of airborne particles of the saliva or phlegm of an affected person. Before the advent of a Pertussis vaccine, both the incidence and mortality caused by pertussis were high, but the disease is now controlled with vaccine administration. Nowadays, epidemics of pertussis are rare, the majority of cases being sporadic or in family clusters. In April 2005, there was an infant pertussis case which occurred in Taichung. Tracing back contacts in the daycare center and in the family, the grandmother, the director and a nurse of the daycare center were found to be the carriers. In this study, we used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to nalyze strains isolated from the case and the three contacts in order to investigate the epidemiological relationship between them. The four strains were also compared using a DNA map database of Bordetella in order to investigate the dynamic changes among strains. The results of PFGE showed that the four strains had identical PFGE maps, indicating that the case and the contacts were infected from the same source. The results of map comparison showed that the strain was present in the year 2000 in cases from central, northern, and eastern Taiwan, suggesting that the strain may cause endemics around the country. Although it is possible contacts are the infection source of the case, there was no significant elevation of IgA/IgM in contacts, suggesting that contacts were infected for the first time and that it is impossible to differentiate the transmission sequence among contacts and the case. This study shows the importance of case tracing in pertussis infection, especially in daycare centers where infants are in a semi closed group. If workers are carriers, it is very dangerous to the infants.


ABSTRACT Several seismic optimization methods have been proposed to improve the performance of reinforced concrete framed (RCF) buildings; however, they have not been widely adopted among practising engineers because they require complex nonlinear models and are computationally expensive. This article presents a procedure to improve the seismic performance of RCF buildings based on eigenfrequency optimization, which is effective, simple to implement and efficient. The method is used to optimize a 10-storey regular building, and its effectiveness is demonstrated by nonlinear time history analyses, which show important reductions in storey drifts and lateral displacements compared to a non-optimized building. A second example for an irregular six-storey building demonstrates that the method provides benefits to a wide range of RCF structures and supports the applicability of the proposed method.


This paper presents a method in order to calculate the vortex distribution, the streak-line and the time-line around the flat and the cambered otter board in two dimensional flow using the discrete vortex method, and to calculate C sub(L) and C sub(D) of the otter boards varied with the passage of time by the numerical simulation using the Blasu's formula. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Flow pattern around the otter boards calculated by the discrete vortex method was resembled closely that of the visualized photograph. 2. C sub(L) and C sub(D) calculated by the numerical simulation was very similar to the model test. 3. The circulation direction around the otter boards and the action direction of the shearing force can be recognized from the time-line around the otter boards. 4. Flow speed in the back side of the otter boards was faster than that in the front side, and the difference of the flow speed in both side of the cambered otter boards was about 1.3 times greater than that of the flat otter boards. 5. The clockwise vortex was generated in the trailing edge, and the counter-clockwise vortex was generated the leading edge of the otter boards. And they were shown the shape of Karman's vortex varied with the passage of time.


This paper presents a new algorithm for on-the-fly data compression in high performance VLIW processors. The algorithm aggressively targets energy minimization of some of the dominant factors in the SoC energy budget (i.e., main memory access and high throughput global bus). Based on a differential technique, both the new algorithm and the HW compression unit have been developed to efficiently manage data compression and decompression into a high performance industrial processor architecture, under strict real time constraints (Lx-ST200: a 4-issue, 6-stage pipelined VLIW processor with on-chip D and I-cache). The original data-cache line is compressed before write-back to main memory and, then, decompressed whenever cache refill takes place. An extensive experimental strategy has been developed for the specific validation of the target Lx processor. In order to allow public comparison, we also report the results obtained on a MIPS pipelined RISC processor simulated with SimpleScalar. The two platforms have been benchmarked over Ptolemy and MediaBench programs. Energy savings provided by the application of the proposed technique range from 10% to 22% on the Lx-ST200 platform and from 11% to 14% on the MIPS platform.


This research is intended to implement the lecturer's professional competence, especially in assessing the performance of Puskesmas from the aspect of current ratio, efficiency ratio, and ROA. The research approach chosen is quantitative with descriptive research. The data collection technique uses documentation, namely financial reports published by Puskesmas "X" in 2016 and 2017. The results of the study explain that as a government institution managed using the BLUD mechanism, Puskesmas always pays attention to the management process for accounts as stipulated in public sector accounting that becomes an important part of assessing financial performance. Based on the current ratio, the ratio of total current assets and total current liabilities increased from 2016 to 2017 so that the performance of the Puskesmas was good. In the aspect of efficiency ratio, the comparison of expenditure realization and revenue realization of Puskesmas shows that puskesmas are efficient, especially in 2017. Puskesmas are also Quite Effective or Good Enough in generating ROA, so that in general this puskesmas works well, efficiently, and quite well in 2017.


The Hyperspectral Image Analysis (HIA) toolbox is a collection of algorithms that extend the capability of the MATLAB numerical computing environment for the processing of hyperspectral and multispectral imagery. The purpose of the HIA Toolbox is to provide information extraction algorithms to users of hyperspectral and multispectral imagery in environmental and biomedical applications. The HIA toolbox has been developed as part of the NSF Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging (CenSSIS) Solutionware that seeks to develop a repository of reliable and reusable software tools that can be shared by researchers across research domains. The HIA toolbox provides easy access to supervised and unsupervised classification algorithms developed at LARSIP over the last 8 years


In addition to the entry criterion of obtaining the stipulated minimum IELTS band or TOEFL score, an alternative route taken by international students is to participate in a preparatory programme and achieve the required results. Many of these students select the latter option due to their low proficiency level of English. The current research examined a foundation programme for international students in terms of its curriculum via a questionnaire survey, focus group discussion, and face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The sample comprised former students of the programme who are currently studying in Universiti Malaysia Sabah, lecturers teaching these students, and deans of schools where these students are studying. Based on the findings, an alternative programme is proposed to overcome the shortcomings of the existing programme.


This paper highlights the circumstances of older families of adults with an intellectual disability (ID) using scenarios drawn from current research, the practice literature pertaining to older families, and basic tenets of family quality of life as a field of study. Specific issues discussed include the propensity in the literature to emphasize negative aspects of prolonged coresidence of older parents and adults with an ID; evidence-based practice often dominated by a focus on future planning, particularly in regard to transitions from home, financial issues, and guardianship; and little research or practice identifying a planning process that considers the older family as a whole, taking into account and addressing the needs and concerns of all family members affected by ageing circumstances. Additionally, scant literature on the involvement of family in the lives of middle-aged and older adults already living in residential services is available to guide practice to successfully maintain family involvement under these circumstances. The author concludes that there is a need to expand evidence-based practice beyond work with older parents cohabiting with a son or daughter with an ID and future planning, and that a family quality of life approach has the potential to identify proactive strategies that strengthen family relations and actively engage older families in the development of policy and practice.


INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) incidence is increasing, and metastatic disease effects up to 25% of RCC patients. Additionally, RCC has varying prognoses and therapy responses, and metastatic RCC is incurable with a 5-year survival rate of <10%. An avatar model can be used for screening the best treatment for individual cancer patients. In this model, various drugs can be applied to determine the best outcome, by mimicking patient response in a xenograft model. Our objective was to use an Avatar approach to compare the efficacy of various treatment combinations in alternating sequence in our unique patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) model. METHODS: In our PDOX model, luciferase-tagged human RCC specimen cells (1×105 KiCa-Pt58 cells or 3×105 KiCa-Pt118 cells per mouse) were injected sub-capsularly into the left kidneys of NOD/SCID mice. Mice bearing kidney tumors were randomized into 1 control or 4 sequential treatment groups receiving sunitinib (40 mg/kg), pazopanib (40 mg/kg), or everolimus (5 mg/kg) three times per week via gavage (n=9-10). Tumor growth was monitored weekly by bioluminescent imaging (BLI). Drug responses were evaluated based on BLI data comparing treatment groups to control group and decisions made for mice that showed no inhibition of tumor growth to switch to the next sequence drug. All drugs were only changed once. Organs and tumors were collected upon necropsy for ex vivo BLI; tumor weights were recorded. Immunohistochemistry staining was done to confirm BLI findings. RESULTS: Selected drug dosages delivered by gavage were safe, effective and without adverse effects. Drug sequence of pazopanib switch to everolimus is the best among 4 combinations tested for primary tumor progression and lung metastasis for patient tumor KiCa-Pt58, P=0.0059 and P=0.008, respectively; while sunitinib switch to everolimus is the best sequence among combinations tested for primary tumor progress for patient tumor KiCa-Pt118, P=0.0116. CONCLUSIONS: Combination chemotherapies may prove to be advantageous for treating RCCs. When used alternatively, more favorable results were seen in regards to primary tumor growth and distant organ metastasis. Our results to date indicate that our PDOX model can be used to identify specific targeted and individualized therapeutic strategies, and that each RCC patient tumor cells responded to targeted treatment differently. Thus, individualized therapeutic strategies are required for RCC patients; An Avatar approach can effectively assist personalized therapy in RCC. Source of Funding: Ochsner Health System


Abstract We show that there are plenty of infinite sets that satisfy the omniscience principle, in a minimalistic setting for constructive mathematics that is compatible with classical mathematics. A first example of an omniscient set is the one-point compactification of the natural numbers, also known as the generic convergent sequence. We relate this to Grilliot's and Ishihara's Tricks. We generalize this example to many infinite subsets of the Cantor space. These subsets turn out to be ordinals in a constructive sense, with respect to the lexicographic order, satisfying both a well-foundedness condition with respect to decidable subsets, and transfinite induction restricted to decidable predicates. The use of simple types allows us to reach any ordinal below εQ, and richer type systems allow us to get higher.


Isolated right ventricular hypoplasia is a rare congenital anomaly. This condition is usually associated with a communication between the atria in the form of a patent foramen ovale or secondum atrial septal defect. We describe a familial occurrence of this rare disease. A 1-day-old male child and his 34-year-old father were found to have isolated right ventricular hypoplasia with atrial septal defect. An autosomal dominant mode of inheritance is likely for this rare congenital anomaly.


Photonic crystals are anticipated to have impact on large-scale photonic integratedcircuits by allowing the creation of compact and efficient devices such as waveguides, splitters, microcavity filters, light emitting diodes, and lasers. Previous experimental research has mainly focused on photonic crystals composed of a lattice of air holes etched into dielectric slabs. This thesis discusses the design, fabrication, and characterization of the "inverse" structure, a square lattice of dielectric-rods in air. Bandgap guiding of 1.5 gm light is experimentally demonstrated for a photonic-crystal waveguide created by introducing a line-defect of smaller-radii rods. To provide efficient optical coupling between input/output dielectric waveguides and the photonic-crystal waveguide, an adiabatic taper having two stages is employed. Furthermore, the thesis investigates novel photonic -crystal devices and fabrication schemes. An expose-develop-etch (EDE) method is utilized to fabricate rod-based photonic-crystal devices in Ill-V and SOI material systems. The thesis also presents an electrically-activated linear-waveguide photonic -crystal laser. A compact microcavity is created by introducing a defect inside a one-dimensional photonic crystal. Electricalactivation and edge-emission are achieved by patterning microcavity waveguides into p-in-doped epitaxial heterostructures. The compact photonic-crystal laser is anticipated to have impact on the integration of optical devices on the same chip. Thesis Supervisor: Leslie A. Kolodziejski Title: Professor of Electrical Engineering


ABSTRACT Objectives This study tried to achieve active targeting of Muc1 in cancer; the surface of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD/Doxil®) was decorated with FA12 peptide. Methods According to docking results, FA12 was selected for this study, among four different peptides. MD simulation was also conducted as an additional confirmation of the binding interaction between FA12 and Muc1. Liposomal formulations were prepared; 1HNMR and HPLC techniques were used to verify peptide conjugation to DSPE-PEG2000-COOH. Afterward, DSPE-PEG2000-FA12 was post-inserted into the PLD at 50, 100, 200, and 400 peptides per liposome. The size, zeta potential, release profile, cytotoxicity (IC50), and cell uptake (using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry) were evaluated. In vivo biodistribution and antitumor activities were studied on mice bearing C-26 colon carcinoma. Results Cell uptake and cytotoxicity results revealed that PLD-100 (targeted PLD with 100 FA12 per liposome) could significantly enhance cellular binding. Furthermore, PLD-100 demonstrated higher antitumor efficacy, indicating more remarkable survival compared to PLD and other targeted PLDs. PLD-100 exhibited higher doxorubicin tumor accumulation compared to PLD. Conclusions FA12 peptide is a promising targeting ligand for PLD to treat cancers with a high level of Muc1 expression and merits further investigations. Plain Language Summary In this work, we used an antimicrobial peptide, FA12, to target Muc1 glycoprotein on the surface of colon cancer cells. The interaction between the peptide and Muc1 as a receptor was verified by molecular dynamics simulation. FA12 peptide was affixed to the surface of the liposomal form of doxorubicin (PLD) specifically to facilitate drug delivery transfer to the tumor site. The main benefits of this novel formulation were improvement of therapeutic efficacy and enhancement of survival time in mice bearing colon cancer.


A model of the knee in the sagittal plane was used to investigate the ligament forces resulting when an ex ternal load applied to the tibia resisted either extension or flexion of the knee under increasing isometric quad riceps or hamstrings contractions, respectively. An el ementary mechanical analysis showed which ligament, the anterior or posterior cruciate, was loaded at a given flexion angle and known line of action of the external load. Ligament force, as a proportion of the external load, was also calculated. The results serve as guide lines for the design of injury-specific physical therapy techniques for use after cruciate ligament reconstruc tion.


Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of fracture that can be further exacerbated by thiazolidinediones. A new class of antidiabetic agents control glucose through reduction of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) activity; however the importance of DPP-4 for the control of bone quality has not been extensively characterized. We compared the effects of the thiazolidinedione pioglitazone and the DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin on bone quality in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed wild-type mice. In complementary studies, we examined bone quality in Dpp4(+/+) vs. Dpp4(-/-) mice. Pioglitazone produced yellow bones with greater bone marrow adiposity and significantly reduced vertebral bone mechanics in male, female, and ovariectomized (OVX) HFD fed female mice. Pioglitazone negatively affected vertebral volumetric bone mineral density, trabecular architecture, and mineral apposition rate in male mice. Sitagliptin treatment of HFD-fed wild-type mice significantly improved vertebral volumetric bone mineral density and trabecular architecture in female mice, but these improvements were lost in females after OVX. Genetic inactivation of Dpp4 did not produce a major bone phenotype in male and female Dpp4(-/-) mice; however, OVX Dpp4(-/-) mice exhibited significantly reduced femoral size and mechanics. These findings delineate the skeletal consequences of pharmacological and genetic reduction of DPP-4 activity and reveal significant differences in the effects of pioglitazone vs. sitagliptin vs. genetic Dpp4 inactivation on bone mechanics in mice.


Most populations of wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) are declining across southern and southeastern Africa, and in the Savé Valley Conservancy (SVC) the decline appears to be associated with declining populations of prey and increasing numbers of competitors. Identifying the threats to this wild dog population is currently needed to determine the most appropriate conservation actions. We studied the diet composition, breadth and overlap among four sympatric carnivores in SVC: African wild dog, spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta), lion (Panthera leo) and leopard (Panthera pardus), using faecal analysis. We found remains of 16 mammalian prey species, ranging from small to large mammals (2–525 kg). The four carnivores had many prey species in common (>70% diet overlap), with impala (Aepyceros melampus) consistently the most frequent. The frequency of occurrence of impala, however, was highest in the diets of wild dogs (74%), and wild dogs were found to have the narrowest standardized dietary niche breadth (0.087). The diets also varied significantly in the contribution of different prey-size categories, with large prey (>100 kg) contributing most to the diets of lions and hyaenas, and small prey (<5 kg) to the diet of leopards. With impala populations in decline, competition for prey can explain the observed decline in the less competitive and more specialized wild dog, whose main food resource is shared with a rapidly increasing population of spotted hyaenas and lions in the SVC.


Abstract. In the densely forested Warmia and Masuria region (north-eastern Poland) there are many lakes characterized by small size, calm sedimentation and lack of tributaries, which makes them a very good archive of environmental data for the Holocene. For this reason, one of them – the Mlynek Lake, located near the village of Janiki Wielkie, has been selected for multi-faceted palaeoenvironmental research based on a precise radiocarbon scale. Bottom sediments of this reservoir also contain unique information about anthropopression, because a defensive settlement has been operating on its northern shore since the early Iron Age to early Medieval period, which gives opportunity to correlate paleoenvironmental data with phases of the human activity in the last 2400 years. Between 3rd–2nd 2century BC the lake was surrounded by a dense forest with domination of warm and wet climate conditions. In turn of 2nd century BC and 2nd century AD forest around reservoir was much reduced, what can be associatedwith the first – early iron age – occupation phase attested on the strong hold located close to the lake. Between 2nd–9th century AD gradual restoration of forest and decline of human settlements is attested, along with lake deepening and onset of colder and humid climatic phase which correspond to global cooling episode known as Bond 1 (1.5 ka BP). Period between 9th–13th century AD indicates again intensive forest clearing around the lake in result of human activity (Middle Age settlement phase on stronghold). This period is characterized by climate change towards warming, which confirms the gradual 33shallowing of the lake (Middle Age warming period). Since 13 up to 17th century AD intensive cultivation34activity around lake tool place. The landscape is subjected to strong human transformations which means that environmental and climate changes are not so clear. However, changes in lake sedimentation can be seen around 1500, which may be associated with so called Little Ice Age - clod interval.


This paper will report on the "wicked" problems encountered when designing an online course with bounded content in an unbounded learning environment. It will describe the dilemmas faced and decisions made by academics in an Australian university challenged by an institutional initiative to design radical, disruptive learning experiences making use of readily available online media. This bounded/unbounded environment demands new roles for instructors in adopting innovative pedagogies and teaching and learning strategies. It also creates changing and challenging roles for course designers as they deal with ill-defined parameters and unknown audiences. In this paper, we propose a novel methodology for making curricular decisions in ill-defined spaces.


Recent technological advances have led to the accumulation of data on an unprecedented scale. Adding to this information overload is the advent of desk-top sequencing, with machines capable of delivering terabytes of data per hour. The problem is, the rush to increase the amounts of  information we collect does not in itself bestow a miraculous increase in knowledge. For information to be usable, it needs to be stored and organised in ways that allow us to access it, to analyse it, to annotate it and to relate it to other information. Unfortunately, to date, we have failed to store and organise much of the rapidly accumulating information (whether in databases or documents) in rigorous, principled ways, so that finding what we want and understanding what's already known become increasingly exhausting, frustrating and costly experiences. In this Letter, we briefly outline a new development with Portland Press Ltd., the so-called Semantic Biochemical Journal experiment [6]. Behind this 'experiment' is a new software tool, Utopia Documents, which builds on the Utopia suite described in previous EMBnet.news articles, and elsewhere [e.g., 7-9]. Here, we provide a sketch of these new developments, in order to provide a taster of what can be achieved through academic-journal-publisher collaboration.


The preliminary design of geostationary communication satellite solar array is presented in this work. Based on the power requirements, power margin requirements and performance requirements, the number of panels, strings and cells to be used on the solar array were defined. The main objective of this study was to optimize the power generated from the satellite solar array and the extraction of the parameters of a photovoltaic module, which is subject to the space environment and under a series of practical constraints, in order to extract the desired performance parameters for multiobjective functions, taking into account the solstice and equinox periods during temperature operation. A gravitational search algorithm based on the law of gravity and mass interactions was introduced. This algorithm has proved its effectiveness in optimizing system parameters in the literature. From the results obtained in this work, the total power of the optimized system was reduced by 181 W. The degradation and output power characteristics of the solar panels were calculated for different temperature values.


| The natural process of human aging has morphological and physiological changes, such as balance 68 and gait, increasing the risk of falling. Some studies have investigated the use of additional sensory information to improve body balance using a soft touch on a rigid and stationary surface, which showed a significant reduction in the body oscillation. Effects of the additional sensory information were evaluated during gait on elderly women. We evaluated 30 elderly women aged 60 or older. Sensory information was added by an infrapatellar bandage. Participants performed the tests proposed by the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), the Timed Up and Go (TUG), and the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), with and without infrapatellar bandage. Data comparisons were carried out by using paired t test and Wilcoxon test with p ≤ 0.05. There was a significant difference in the TUG (without bandage: 10.13 ± 2.1, with bandage: 9.71 ± 2.1, p = 0.0007) and DGI test (without bandage: 20.65 ± 2 1; with bandage: 22.1 ± 2.1, p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in the use of 10MWT sensory addition. The results showed that the use of additional sensory information generated by the infrapatellar bandage promoted improvement of functional mobility and physical performance in elderly women.


Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common of the interstitial pneumonias of unknown etiology and the most aggressive interstitial lung disease. IPF is confirmed by the identification of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) on surgical lung biopsy (1–5). The idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) are a group of diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLDs) also described as interstitial lung diseases. The IIPs are a heterogeneous group of nonneoplastic disorders resulting from damage to the lung parenchyma by varying patterns of inflammation and fibrosis (1). The IIPs include the entities of IPF, nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP), acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP), respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease (RB-ILD), desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP), and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP). It is important to emphasize that IPF is a progressive and irreversible illness and, until now, there has been no available drug that has been able to modify the progressive natural course of IPF and its usual terminal outcome (1, 2, 6). It is characterized by radiographically evident interstitial infiltrates predominantly affecting the lung bases and by progressive dyspnea and worsening of pulmonary function, pathologically by fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix accumulation resulting in irreversible distortion of the architecture of the lung (1). The current strict definition of IPF provides a new focus for basic and clinical research that will improve insight into the pathogenesis of this disorder and stimulate the development of novel therapies (7). Definition


Abstract Thermal behavior of rare earth nitrate complexes with 2-azacyclononanone (AZA) with Ln(NO3)3·3(AZA) composition (where Ln=Gd, Er and Ho) was analyzed in kinetic point of view. Kinetic parameters were calculated from thermogravimetric data. All obtained results were similar. The first decomposition step was representative to the loss of ligand and the residue was essentially Ln2O3. Furthermore, a reaction path was proposed for the thermal decomposition of the Ln(NO3)3·3(AZA).


Introduction . Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disease, autosomal dominant inherited, characterised by a slow death of central nervous system cells. One of the most common causes of death is suicide. Aim . The aim of the paper is to present the problems and needs of a patient with Huntington's disease, hospitalised psychiatrically because of organic mood disorders. Case Report . The case report concerns a 60-year-old patient with Huntington's disease who, due to suicidal thoughts and tendencies, was admitted to the psychiatric ward. The paper presents selected care problems observed in the patient. Discussion . Almost every patient with Huntington's disease experiences psychiatric symptoms. They appear at different stages of the disease. The described patient, hospitalised psychiatrically, experienced mental and somatic problems. The main objectives of nursing care were to reduce or eliminate the identified problems, mainly to ensure safety and improve functioning. Interventions included, in particular, close observation, assistance in self-care activities, motivating the patient to exercise and perform tasks independently, care in the event of fever, education on sleep hygiene. Conclusions . Patient care problems were related to mental and somatic disorders, in particular suicidal thoughts and tendencies and fever, difficulties in sleeping, moving and passing urine. The main nursing interventions included close observation and a holistic approach in collaboration with all members of the therapeutic team. The patient was discharged in a good general condition, in a balanced mood, without suicidal thoughts. He did not attempt suicide during hospitalisation. (JNNN 2020;9(1):33–38)


The Separated Parent Information Programme (PIP) is the first nationally available parent education programme for parents involved in litigation over contact and residence in England. The programme is a Contact Activity, introduced by the Children and Adoption Act 2006 as an additional tool for courts to facilitate contact.
PIP is a four hour group programme for parents referred by the court. Both parties, i.e. the applicant and respondent, are required to attend the programme, but former couples attend separate groups. The groups are designed to include both men and women. The aim of the programme is to encourage parents to focus on children's needs and perspectives. The programme is delivered by trained providers from mediation, counselling or contact services backgrounds.


Motivation The advent of inexpensive high-throughput sequencing (HTS) places new demands on motif discovery algorithms. To confront the challenges and embrace the opportunities presented by the growing wealth of information tied up in HTS datasets, we developed K-mer motif multinomial mixtures (KMMMs), a flexible class of Bayesian models for identifying multiple motifs in sequence sets using K-mer tables. Advantages of this framework are inference with time and space complexities that only scale with K, and the ability to be incorporated into larger Bayesian models. Results We derived a class of probabilistic models of K-mer tables generated from sequence containing multiple motifs. KMMMs model the K-mer table as a multinomial mixture, with motif and background components, which are distributions over K-mers overlapping with each of the latent motifs and over K-mers that do not overlap with any motif, respectively. The framework casts motif discovery as a posterior inference problem, and we present several approximate inference methods that provide accurate reconstructions of motifs in synthetic data. Finally we apply the method to discover motifs in DNAse hypersensitive sites and ChIP-seq peaks obtained from the ENCODE project.


In recent times, there has been a revival of interest in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), principally as a source of fibre in paper and pulp manufacture. Studies assessing the production potential and optimum crop management of hemp could benefit from the use of a simulation model that captures crop growth and development processes in response to management, genotypic, soil and climate factors. Such a model would complement the more traditional agronomic field trial programs by helping to identify the need, extent and nature of such trials, and by extrapolating limited field results across both temporal and spatial dimensions. The hemp model described in the final paper in this series, divides crop phenology into 5 phases, the first of which includes the pre-emergent processes of germination and the subsequent elongation of hypocotyl and radicle. This first paper reports on a study into the response of these pre-emergent processes to temperature. The primary objectives were to establish a simple model for predicting the duration from sowing to emergence and to obtain estimates for the cardinal temperatures of hemp growth and development. Cardinal temperatures are required for the estimation of thermal time, which drives phenological development and canopy expansion in the hemp model. The germination response of the hemp cultivar Kompolti was measured at 13 different temperatures in incubators set between 1 and 55°C. Similarly, the response of radicle and hypocotyl elongation to temperature was measured at 8 different temperatures in incubators set between 10 and 40°C. Development rates for each phase of pre-emergent development were then calculated from time response plots of germinant number, hypocotyl and radicle length. Finally, piecewise linear models were fitted to plots of development rate versus temperature in order to calculate thermal time durations for each phase and cardinal temperatures for hemp growth and development. Estimates of the optimum and maximum temperatures from the elongation study were relatively consistent, with average values of 28.6 and 40.7°C, respectively. Base temperature estimates were less consistent, ranging from 1.4°C for the hypocotyl linear phase, to 6.2°C for the radicle lag phase. This variability made it difficult to identify a common base temperature for use in the hemp model. However, there was some evidence to support previously reported base temperature estimates ranging from 0 to 2.5°C. Assuming a common base temperature of 1°C, the average thermal time requirements for germination and the lag and linear phases of hypocotyl elongation were 24.1°Cd, 44.5°Cd and 1.34°Cd/mm, respectively.


In the first chapter, the authors provide an excellent, concise overview of the definitions, history, and theoretical models of anxiety, including Goldstein's catastrophic reaction theory, Spielberger's state trait anxiety, Lazarus's appraisal of threat hypothesis, Beck's cognitive theories, and Seligman's learned helplessness model. The second chapter deals with the epidemiology, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, ed 3, revised (DSM-111-R) diagnoses, and classification of anxiety and depressive disorders. The omission of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), which had a six-month prevalence rate of 1.2% and a lifetime prevalence rate of 2.5% in the recent National Institutes of Mental Health ECA study and is a source of considerable morbidity was surprising. The criteria for DSM-IIIR diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder is erroneously stated as one month on page 42 instead of the correct six


This study aims to analyze the effect of job training, work motivation and supervision on employee performance in the Fire and Rescue Agency of Badung Regency. Data collection techniques in this study used a questionnaire distributed to respondents using a Likert scale. Types and sources of data used in this study are types of quantitative data and primary data sources. The sampling technique in this study uses random sampling techniques and data analysis techniques in this study using the validity and reliability test, the classic assumption test and the multiple linear regression test. Based on the results of the study show that 1) Job training has a positive and significant effect on employee performance in the Badung Fire Department, 2) Work motivation has a positive and significant effect on employee performance in the Badung Fire Department and 3) Supervision has a positive and significant effect on performance employee at the Badung District Fire Department. The implication of the research in this study is that every decision and policy adopted by the agency will always have an impact on employee performance, so the right policies are needed to reduce the existence of fraud in the implementation of the duties and obligations of each division of employees.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse to what extent financial incentives under the green tax reform introduced in Portugal in 2014 drive behaviours of acquiring a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

Design/methodology/approach
The existent literature identifies a number of factors that influence the interest for PHEV acquisition, including access to financial incentives. However, empirical evidence is not clear as to which factors are more relevant. The authors extend an existent theoretical model of five factors by including ten factors. On this basis, the study carries out a survey and develops a structural equation model to investigate what drives the interest to acquire a PHEV.

Findings
Financial incentives are superior to other factors in explaining the interest in acquiring a PHEV. Education, lower income levels, living in larger cities and driving smaller vehicles shape the interest on these vehicles differently. Financial incentives were found to closely offset the difference in price between conventional vehicles and plug-in hybrids.

Social implications
This study finds that public policies can be powerful in shaping consumers' behaviour, although the amount of the financial incentive is key to triggering a large-scale effect.

Originality/value
The survey in this study allows an in-depth and ex ante analysis of the interest in acquiring PHEV under a green tax reform, taking into account other dimensions and socio-economic variables not accounted for in existent studies.


At the gas spring manufacturing company Stromsholmen AB there is the needfor a way to make the load alleviating gas springs more robust, endurable andmaintenance free. A small high pressure compressor with a control systemshould solve these problems. The system would have to raise the pressure in the gas spring if it were to drop under a level and let some pressure out if it were to increase over a certain level. The construction of this Micro Compressor system is presented in this master's thesis. At first, a deeper understanding of the task at hand was gathered resulting in a design specification, followed by a concept study generated by the systematic design method. The evaluation of the concept study resulted in a chosen concept for prototype production. This prototype system consists of a control system with a pressure switch, a pressure reducing valve and a Micro Compressor that raises the pressure when needed. An electric system was also designed to work with the pressure switch, actuating the compressor when needed. Thoughts of converting the Micro Compressor system to pneumatic drive were also considered to increase the scope of use. The prototype system was tested to see that the requirements in the design specification were met and then the project was handed back to Stromsholmen AB for future development together with a list of suggestions of things that need improvement.


Learning by building is one of the core ideas of synthetic biology research. Consequently, building synthetic chromosomes is the way to fully understand chromosome characteristics. The last years have seen exciting synthetic chromosome studies. We had previously introduced the synthetic secondary chromosome synVicII in Escherichia coli. It is based on the replication mechanism of the secondary chromosome in Vibrio cholerae. Here, we present a detailed analysis of its genetic characteristics and a selection approach to optimize replicon stability. We probe the origin diversity of secondary chromosomes from Vibrionaceae by construction of several new respective replicons. Finally, we present a synVicII version 2.0 with several innovations including its full compatibility with the popular modular cloning (MoClo) assembly system.