The Lower Pechelbronn Formation (?Upper Eocene/?Lower Oligocene) of Malsch (clay-pit 'Am Viehweg') yielded a moderately abundant charophyte assemblage. One new species, Chara rhenana sp. nov., is erected, two more species, Harrisichara lineata and Nitellopsis (Tectochara) cf. wonnacotti, are recorded in the Rhine Graben area for the first time. The Lower Pechelbronn Formation may be correlated to the Stephanochara vectensis zone (Riveline, 1986) and the mammalian level MP 20 (reference locality: St. Capraise; Schmidt-Kittler, 1987). The associated ostracod fauna clearly indicates a limnic depositional environment.


The potential oceanic influence on southernmost South American precipitation since 1930 is analyzed in this study. The aim is to define oceanic characteristics that can produce wetter or drier conditions over the mentioned region on different time scales. Results suggest important precipitation-oceanic links in decadal and interdecadal oscillations. The eastern and central subtropical Indian, western tropical Pacific and western and central subtropical Pacific could be forcing the precipitation on decadal time scale. Moreover, the eastern tropical and western subtropical Indian and western and central subtropical Pacific could be forcing the variability of precipitation on interdecadal time scale. Although the research was focused in forcing of precipitation, relations among different regions of the Indian and Pacific oceans on decadal and interdecadal time scales have also been detected. Therefore, results presented here can be useful in describing new aspects of the remote influence of both oceans on regional climate.


This paper describes algorithms for generating low intermodulation-distortion (IMD) two-tone sinewaves, for communication application ADC testing, using an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) or a multi-bit ΣΔ DAC inside an SoC. The nonlinearity of the DAC generates distortion components, and we propose here eight methods to precompensate for the IMD using DSP algorithms and produce low-IMD two-tone signals. Theoretical analysis, simulation, and experimental results all demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.


Based on the latest data, this paper analyses the profitability status of Chinese enterprises and the reasons behind profitability. The authors hold that the profitability of Chinese industrial enterprises has improved significantly whilst the degree of monopolization and extent of entry barriers in the industrial sector has decreased. With the exception of a few resource and administrative monopolizing industries, the increasing profitability of Chinese enterprises indicates rising competitiveness. Improved management level, efficient assets operation, enhanced investment benefits and salary-transfer-profit are all contributing to the profitability of enterprises.


The medical profession is not overrepresented in the field of literature, possibly because of the demands of time, John Keats and Robert Bridges even sacrificing careers in medicine to write. A physician who does wander beyond the boundaries of scientific reporting becomes a treasured spokesperson. Even among these, many tend to the spectral, weighted toward restraint and analytic description (such as William Carlos Williams, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, A. J. Cronin, Oliver Sacks, and Lewis Thomas). Possibly there's an underlying prejudice that "a physician who writes poems is certainly suspect—soft, impossible to prove." In any case, Rafael Campo can be numbered among the limited group of physicians who write about their own medical experiences from the gut (like Richard Selzer, Marc Straus, Jon Mukand, Dannie Abse, and Perri Klass). He writes poems and essays that are both passionately advocatory and sensuously confessional. His evolving writing was catalyzed by his


Soft matter systems are renowned for being able to display complex emerging phenomena such as clustering phases. Recently, a surprising quantum phase transition has been revealed in a one-dimensional (1D) system composed of bosons interacting via a pairwise soft potential in the continuum. It was shown that the two-particle clustering of the bosonic spatial coordinates could be mapped, via a string order parameter, into quantum spin variables of a 1D transverse Ising model. In this work we investigate the manifestation of an analogous critical phenomenon in 1D classical fluids of soft particles in the continuum. In particular, we study the low-temperature behavior of three different classical models of 1D soft matter, whose inter-particle interactions allow for clustering. The same string order parameter highlights that, at the commensurate density for the two--particle cluster phase, the peculiar pairing of neighboring soft particles can be nontrivially mapped onto a 1D discrete classical Ising model. We also observe a related phenomenon, namely the presence of an anomalous peak in the low--temperature specific heat.


Abstract : WR-2721 is a compound having anti-radiation activity in experimental animals. This study was designed to assess the safety of oral doses of WR-2721 in normal adult volunteers. The doses tested ranged from 100 to 5,000 mg over a single day. The subjects were followed with daily interviews, periodic physical examinations, measurements of vital signs, electrocardiograms, and serial laboratory studies. The study was accomplished without serious adverse effects although four drug related phenomenon were apparent. These alterations are as follows: Oral administration of WR-2721 at higher doses can cause nausea, emesis, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Single doses or multiple one day doses of WR-2721 results in a decrease in serum calcium, increase in serum phosphage and an increase in the serum creatinine. These changes are definitely drug related, probably dose related, and were reversable in that the levels returned to pre drug levels by the time the study was completed. The mechanism by which these changes in laboratory parameters occurred in uncertain and was not in the object of this study. (Author)


The aim of this study was to evaluate three different metabolite prediction software packages (Meteor, MetaSite, and StarDrop) with respect to their ability to predict loci of metabolism and suggest relative proportions of metabolites. A chemically diverse test set of 22 compounds, for which in vivo human mass balance studies and metabolic schemes were available, was used as basis for the evaluation. Each software package was provided with structures of the parent compounds, and predicted metabolites were compared with experimentally determined human metabolites. The evaluation consisted of two parts. First, different settings within each software package were investigated and the software was evaluated using those settings determined to give the best prediction. Second, the three different packages were combined using the optimized settings to see whether a synergistic effect concerning the overall metabolism prediction could be established. The performance of the software was scored for both sensitivity and precision, taking into account the capabilities/limitations of the particular software. Varying results were obtained for the individual packages. Meteor showed a general tendency toward overprediction, and this led to a relatively low precision (∼35%) but high sensitivity (∼70%). MetaSite and StarDrop both exhibited a sensitivity and precision of ∼50%. By combining predictions obtained with the different packages, we found that increased precision can be obtained. We conclude that the state-of-the-art individual metabolite prediction software has many advantageous features but needs refinement to obtain acceptable prediction profiles. Synergistic use of different software packages could prove useful.


After years of relative neglect, culture is finally receiving due recognition as a key factor in the evolution and resolution of conflicts. Unfortunately, however, when theorists and practitioners of conflict resolution speak of ???culture, ??? they often understand and use it in a bewildering and unhelpful variety of ways. With sophistication and lucidity, "Culture and Conflict Resolution" exposes these shortcomings and proposes an alternative conception in which culture is seen as dynamic and derivative of individual experience. The book explores divergent theories of social conflict and differing strategies that shape the conduct of diplomacy, and examines the role that culture has (and has not) played in conflict resolution. The author is as forceful in critiquing those who would dismiss or diminish culture??'s relevance as he is trenchant in advocating conflict resolution approaches that make the most productive use of a coherent concept of culture. In a lively style, Avruch challenges both scholars and practitioners not only to develop a clearer understanding of what culture is, but also to take that understanding and incorporate it into more effective conflict resolution processes.


In Japan, a new digital satellite broadcasting service is scheduled to start in the year 2000. The technical standard for the transmission system was established in 1998. The system provides an information bit rate of 52 Mbps, which is sufficient for broadcasting true HDTV programs. It can handle multiple MPEG2 transport streams. The system supports multiple modulation schemes such as trellis coded 8PSK(TC8PSK), QPSK and BPSK. These modulation schemes can be selected and/or used simultaneously. Accordingly, broadcasters sharing one satellite channel can select modulation schemes suitable for their own services independently from each other. The configuration and characteristics of the system are described.


Background:Although there is now an extensive international body of research and evidence about care and carers it is fragmented and disparate. Without synthesis, organisation and accessibility it cannot effectively inform and improve policy and practice with carers.
 Key points for discussion:This paper makes the case for an accessible carer-related research and evidence resource for stakeholders in carer-related domains across policy, practice, research to address this systemic deficit in the carers field. The Carer-related Knowledge Exchange
 Network (CAREN) has recently been established in recognition of this case. This timely resource is a freely accessible knowledge exchange network that provides relevant stakeholders (for example, carers, commissioners, policymakers, practitioners, employers, third sector organisations, researchers
 and research funders) with access to a regularly updated and coherent database of carer-related research and evidence; offers interactive opportunities to exchange and generate knowledge; facilitates links and information sharing; and disseminates innovative practice, interventions and services.
 CAREN's development, dimensions and functionality are outlined. In addition, the paper identifies and explores the challenges of sustaining CAREN and its further development ‐ namely long-term funding and ensuring that it meets the needs of its many and diverse users. Conclusions
 and implications:It is anticipated that CAREN will make a significant contribution to research, policy development and service and practice improvement with carers, and will enhance the effectiveness of its stakeholders' activities. The realisation of CAREN's potential
 will ensure that it can, and continues to, make a significant, sustained and cost-effective contribution to addressing a critical global issue of the 21st century.


The library guide to Sociology provides information on resources available from the Alvin Sherman Library, both in the library and online, related to sociology.


Multiuser detection is an important technology in wireless CDMA systems for improving both data rate as well as user capacity. However, the computational complexity of multiuser detection prevents the widespread use of this technique. Most of the CDMA systems today and in the near future will continue to use the conventional matched filter with its comparatively low user capacity and a slow data rate. However, if we could lower the computational complexity of multiuser detectors, CDMA systems would offer an increased system capacity with a better data rate. In this paper, a new scheme for reducing the computational complexity of multiuser receivers is proposed. It utilizes the transformation matrix algorithm to improve the performance of multiuser receivers by effectively reducing the bit error rate (BER). In addition to the transformation matrix algorithm, a quantitative analysis of the processing gain for a multiuser DS-CDMA system is presented. The quantitative analysis of the processing gain demonstrates that how the reduced BER could be used to achieve reasonable values of processing gain by which unwanted signals or interference can be suppressed relative to the desired signal at the receiving end. We present that the proposed scheme can reduce the asymptotic computational complexity of multiuser receivers while at the same time effectively eliminates the unwanted signals. The proposed algorithms not only are shown to substantially improve the performance of the multiuser detectors by means of reduced BER but also have a much lower multi-access interference. The performance measure adopted in this paper is the achievable bit rate for a fixed probability of error (10 -7 ) and consistent values of SNR.


We study the formation of a ruling coalition in political environments. Each individual is endowed with a level of political power. The ruling coalition consists of a subset of the individuals in the society and decides the distribution of resources. A ruling coalition needs to contain enough powerful members to win against any alternative coalition that may challenge it, and it needs to be selfenforcing, in the sense that none of its subcoalitions should be able to secede and become the new ruling coalition. We first present an axiomatic approach that captures these notions and determines a (generically) unique ruling coalition. We then construct a simple dynamic game that encompasses these ideas and prove that the sequentially weakly dominant equilibria (and the Markovian trembling hand perfect equilibria) of this game coincide with the set of ruling coalitions of the axiomatic approach. We also show the equivalence of these notions to the core of a related non-transferable utility cooperative game. In all cases, the nature of the ruling coalition is determined by the power constraint, which requires that the ruling coalition be powerful enough, and by the enforcement constraint, which imposes that no subcoalition of the ruling coalition that commands a majority is self-enforcing. The key insight that emerges from this characterization is that the coalition is made self-enforcing precisely by the failure of its winning subcoalitions to be self-enforcing. This is most simply illustrated by the following simple finding: with simple majority rule, while three-person (or larger) coalitions can be self-enforcing, two-person coalitions are generically not self-enforcing. Therefore, the reasoning in this paper suggests that three-person juntas or councils should be more common than two-person ones. In addition, we provide conditions under which the grand coalition will be the ruling coalition and conditions under which the most powerful individuals will not be included in the ruling coalition. We also use this framework to discuss endogenous party formation.


Inside the thymus, thymic epithelial cells and thymocytes show an interdependent relationship for their functional differentiation and development. As regards possible interdependency for their mutual survival, it is clear that lympho-epithelial adhesion can control the survival of developing thymocytes whereas the effects of lymphoid adhesion on epithelial cell survival have never been described. To address this issue, we performed co-cultures between normal human thymic epithelial cells (TEC) and a mature lymphoid T cell line (H9) or unfractionated thymocytes. TEC were induced to apoptosis by growth factor deprivation and the level of cell death was measured by flow cytometry. TEC stimulated by cell adhesion showed a significant reduced apoptosis when compared to the control and this phenomenon was associated with increased binding activity of NF-(kappa)B, as measured by gel shift analysis. The activation of NF-(kappa)B was necessary to promote survival, since its inhibition by acetyl salicylic acid prevented the promoting effect. The mAb-mediated crosslinking of (alpha)(3)(beta)(1) was considered as a potential inducer of TEC survival, since we have previously demonstrated that the engagement of this integrin was able to induce NF-(kappa)B activation in TEC. The crosslinking of (alpha)(3)(beta)(1), which clustered at the lympho-epithelial contact sites, partially reproduced the promoting activity of cell adhesion. These results highlight that lympho-epithelial adhesion can control the survival of thymic epithelial cells through an intracellular pathway which requires the activation of NF-(kappa)B and is triggered by integrins of the (beta)(1) family.


OPSCCs commonly arise from the epithelium lining the lingual and palatine tonsillar crypts. The stratified epithelium at the surface gives way to complex reticulated epithelium in the crypts which contain a diverse cell population with varying cytokeratin expression patterns. How such a diverse cell population is maintained has not yet been explored. It has been observed that HPV+ HNSCC consistently arise from the tonsillar crypts. In addition, somatic stem and progenitor cells have been identified as the likely targets of tumorigenesis in many tissues. To further evaluate whether tonsillar crypts contain unique multi-potent stem cells that are targets of tumorigenesis, and similar stem cells are maintained in OPSCC tumors of tonsillar origin, we propose the following studies: Aim 1: Characterize the cellular populations of crypt epithelium and compare to oral cavity epithelium. Human tissue obtained from the IRB approved EVMS Biorepository will be evaluated. We will stain for purported markers of stem cell activity including LGR5/6, CD34, p63, Bmi-1, cytokeratins 15, 19, and hTert using tyramide signal amplification when necessary. Cytokeratins 5, 8, 14 and 17 (previously identified in subsets of crypt epithelium) will be evaluated and co-stained with the above markers. Ki67 will be used to identify proliferative regions within the crypt epithelium. Aim 2: Characterize the cellular population of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and compare to normal tonsillar crypt epithelium. Human tumor obtained from above biorepository will be evaluated. HPV+/- OPSCC cell lines will be quantified for the markers of stem cell activity listed in Aim 1. Similarly, the same markers will be evaluated in HPV+/- human OPSCC tumors and compared to normal tonsil. The cell cycle regulator, p16, which is up-regulated in HPV-induced OPSCC and has previously been identified in a subset of normal tonsillar crypt epithelial cells will also be co-stained with any identified stem cell markers to determine if it is associated with any stem/progenitor cell function. Patient data will be correlated to identify prognostic value of these markers. Aim 3: Evaluate clonal expansions of cells in tonsillar crypts and OPSCC tumors by mitochondrial lineage tracing. Acquired deficiencies in the mitochondrial gene for the respiratory chain enzyme cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) can be exploited to identify cellular lineages within human tissues and tumors. This aim will evaluate if such CCO deficient (CCO-) clones exist within normal tonsillar crypts and OPSCC tumors, which will allow for careful lineage tracing in future experiments to fully understand the cellular hierarchy underlying tonsillar crypt and OPSCC tumor morphology. Elucidating the cellular hierarchy within tonsillar crypts, and identifying whether multi-potent stem cells exist within the tissue is imperative to understanding OPSCC, including those that are HPV-induced. Citation Format: Vivian F. Wu, Tennison Yu, Brette Harding, Robert Bruno. Unraveling the cellular hierarchywithin human tonsillar crypt epithelium and oropharyngeal squamous cellcarcinoma tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1396. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1396


Pyrazinamide (PZA) is a key first-line antibiotic used for the short-course treatment of drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates of tuberculosis. PZA exhibits potent action against semi-dormant bacilli in acidic environments. However, mutations that occur in target genes may cause technical difficulties in the diagnosis of PZA resistance during drug susceptibility testing. The objective of the current study is to identify mutations in pncAWT rpsA and rpsAWT panD genes among PZA-resistant isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) circulating in the Pashtun dominant region, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. We selected 18 PZA-resistant pncAWT strains from the Provincial Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (PTRL) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to investigate mutations in the coding region of rpsA and panD genes. The experiments were repeated for drug susceptibility testing using MGIT 960 automated system. In addition, eighteen PZA-resistant rpsA genes along with 5 susceptible strains and one H37Rv strain were sequenced. All 18 isolates were PZA-resistant. The majority of these isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR) (13/18). We identified 14 non-synonymous and one synonymous mutation in the coding region of rpsA in 11 strains. All mutations were scattered throughout the gene and not reported previously. Further, we did not identify any mutation in 7 rpsAWT panD genes. Mutations in rpsA but not in panD occur in PZA-resistant pncAWT MTB isolates circulating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.


Today's knowledge about late medieval ships is very poor, especially when it comes to caravel-built warships in northern Europe. In 1971 some sport divers found a wreck in the archipelago of Ronneby, that proved to be the Danish king Hans great ship Gribshunden, which sank in 1495. The wreck has been investigated in recent years by Kalmar lans museum and MARIS from Sodertorn hogskola. The research potential is from an archaeological perspective tremendous. The wreck is in very good condition compared to other finds around the world, it is unique. My intention with this thesis is to find out why the wreck hasn't disintegrated and totally disappeared like most of contemporary wrecks. To understand the factors that are involved in the decomposition process, the wreck is analyzed with regard to Keith Muckelroy´s maritime version of "site formation process", which presents a set of analytic tools to assess how different processes affect a wreck and its find place, both in the short and long terms. Hopefully, this thesis might be useful when it comes to find still undiscovered wrecks in similar environments.


The Pareto distribution, or power-law distribution, has long been used to model phenomena in many fields, including wildfire sizes, earthquake seismic moments and stock price changes. Recent observations have brought the fit of the Pareto into question, however, particularly in the upper tail where it often overestimates the frequency of the largest events. This paper proposes a graphical self-similarity test specifically designed to assess whether a Pareto distribution fits better than a tapered Pareto or another alternative. Unlike some model selection methods, this graphical test provides the advantage of highlighting where the model fits well and where it breaks down. Specifically, for data that seem to be better modeled by the tapered Pareto or other alternatives, the test assesses the degree of local self-similarity at each value where the test is computed. The basic properties of the graphical test and its implementation are discussed, and applications of the test to seismological, wildfire, and financial data are considered.


Micro heat exchanger, with its advantages such as small volume, light weight, high efficiency etc. has an increasing demand of market needs and applications. To evaluate the performance of a particular micro heat exchanger, this paper provides a novel platform for testing and inspection. Four sections are involved including the working principle of the experiment platform, component parts and arrangement, experiment and the data analysis. As for the hardware, precision instruments such as pressure gauge, flow meter and temperature sensors are utilized in the experiment in the data acquisition section. While for the software aspect, data acquisition and processing system based on the Visual Basic is applied in this experiment. The effect of the platform for micro heat exchanger is supported by the results of the testing .


Objectives Subglottic stenosis can be addressed with several different surgical techniques, but patient preferences for these treatment modalities are poorly understood. Economic methods are increasingly being used to understand how patients make decisions. The objective of this pilot study was to assess preferences in subglottic stenosis treatment using patient-centric stated preference techniques. Study Design Discrete choice experiment (DCE). Setting Academic research facility. Subjects and Methods A computer-based DCE was administered in a monitored setting to volunteers from the general population. Signs and symptoms of subglottic stenosis were described, and participants were asked to imagine they had subglottic stenosis. Hypothetical treatments were offered, with 5 systematically varied attributes: need for external incision, length of hospital stay, postoperative voice quality, likelihood of repeat procedures, and risk of complication. A conditional logistic model was used to assess the relative attribute importance. Results In total, 162 participants were included. Attributes with the greatest impact on decision making included potential need for repeat procedures (importance 30.2%; P < .001), amount of operative risk (importance 28.1%; P < .001), and postoperative voice quality (importance 27.7%; P < .001), whereas presence of incision (importance 5.0%; P = .001) was less important, and hospital stay was not (importance 9.0%; P = .089). Based on aggregate responses for these attributes, the model demonstrated that most participants (80.4%) would prefer endoscopic surgery for subglottic stenosis as opposed to open tracheal resection (19.6%). Conclusion In this pilot population, most participants preferred voice-sparing, low-risk procedures as treatment for subglottic stenosis, consistent with an endoscopic approach, even if multiple procedures were required.


The environmental radioactivity monitoring programs start in the late 1950s of the 20th century following the global fallout from testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, becoming a cause of concern regarding health effects. Later, the necessity of world industrialization for new energy sources led to develop national plans on electricity production from nuclear technology, initializing in this context world wide exploration for fuel minerals: uranium exploration gained a particular attention in late 1940's in USA, Canada and former USSR and in 1951 in Australia with respective national plans. Nowadays there are about 440 nuclear power plants for electricity generation with about 70 more NPP under construction giving rise to the nuclear emergency preparedness of a large number of states (like Radioactivity Environmental Monitoring (REM) data bank and EUropean Radiological Data Exchange Platform (EURDEP). Furthermore, a lot of applications in the field of geosciences are related to the environmental radioactivity measurements going from geological mapping, mineral exploration, geochemical database construction to heat -flow studies.
Gamma-ray spectroscopy technique is widely used when dealing with environmental radioactivity monitoring programs. The purpose of this work is to investigate the potentialities that such a technique offers in monitoring radioactivity concentration through three different interventions in laboratory, in-situ and airborne measurements. An advanced handling of gamma-ray spectrometry method is realized by improving the performances of instruments and realizing and testing dedicated equipments able to deal with practical problems of radioactivity monitoring. For each of these gamma-ray spectrometry methods are faced also the problems of calibration, designing of monitoring plans and data analyzing and processing.
In the first chapter I give a general description for the common radionuclides present in the environment having a particular interest for monitoring programs. Three categories of environmental radionuclides classified according to their origin as cosmogenic, primordial and man-made are discussed. The cosmic rays continuously produce radionulides and also direct radiation, principally high energetic muons. Cosmogenic radionuclides are originated from the interaction of cosmic rays with stable nuclides present in the Earth's atmosphere. Primordial radionuclides are associated with the phenomenon of nucleosynthesis of the stars and are present in the Earth's crust. Man-made radionuclides commonly present in natural environments are principally derived from radioactive fallout from atmospheric nuclear weapons testing and peaceful applications of nuclear technology like nuclear power plants for electricity generation and the associated nuclear fuel cycle facilities. A relevant contribution, generally with local implication comes from the so called non-nuclear industries which are responsible for technologically enhancement of natural radioelements producing huge amounts of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM/TENORM).
In the second chapter is described a homemade approach to the solution of the problem rising in monitoring situations in which a high number of samples is to be measured through gamma-ray spectrometry with HPGe detectors. Indeed, in such cases the costs sustaining the manpower involved in such programs becomes relevant to the laboratory budget and sometimes becomes a limitation of their capacities. Manufacturers like ORTEC® and CANBERRA produce gamma-ray spectrometers supported by special automatic sample changers which can process some tens of samples without any human attendance. However, more improvements can be done to such systems in shielding design and detection efficiency.
We developed a fully automated gamma-ray spectrometer system using two coupled HPGe detectors, which is a well known method used to increase the detection efficiency. An alternative approach on shielding design and sample changer automation was realized. The utilization of two coupled HPGe detectors permits to achieve good statistical accuracies in shorter time, which contributes in drastically reducing costs and man power involved. A detailed description of the characterization of absolute full-energy peak efficiency of such instrument is reported here. Finally, the gamma-ray spectrometry system, called MCA_Rad, was used to characterize the natural radioactivity concentration of bed-rocks in Tuscany Region, Italy. More than 800 samples are measured and reported here together with the potential radioactivity concentration map of bed rocks in Tuscany Region.
In the third chapter is described the application of portable scintillation gamma -ray spectrometers for in-situ monitoring programs focusing on the problems of calibration and spectrum analysis method. In-situ γ-ray spectrometry with sodium iodide scintillators is a well developed and consolidated method for radioactive survey. Conventionally, a series of self-constructed calibration pads prevalently enriched with one of the radioelements is used to calibrate this portable instrument. This method was further developed by introducing the stripping (or window analysis) described in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines as a standard methods for natural radioelement exploration and mapping.
We realized a portable instrument using scintillation gamma-ray spectrometers with sodium iodide detector. An alternative calibration method using instead well-characterized natural sites, which show a prevalent concentration of one of the radioelements, is developed. This procedure supported by further development of the full spectrum analysis (FSA) method implemented in the non-negative least square (NNLS) constrain was applied for the first time in the calibration and in the spectrum analysis. This new approach permits to avoid artifacts and non physical results in the FSA analysis related with the χ2 minimization process. It also reduces the statistical uncertainty, by minimizing time and costs, and allows to easily analyze more radioisotopes other than the natural ones. Indeed, as an example of the potentialities of such a method 137Cs isotopes has been implemented in the analysis. Finally, this method has been tested by acquiring gamma Ombrone -ray spectra using a 10.16 cm×10.16 cm sodium iodide detector in 80 different sites in the basin, in Tuscany. The results from the FSA method with NNLS constrain have been compared with the laboratory measurements by using HPGe detectors on soil samples collected.
In the forth chapter is discussed the self-construction of an airborne gamma-ray spectrometer, AGRS_16.0L. Airborne gamma-ray spectrometry (AGRS) method is widely considered as an important tool for mapping environmental radioactivity both for geosciences studies and for purposes of radiological emergency response in potentially contaminated sites. Indeed, they have been used in several countries since the second half of the twentieth century, like USA and Canada, Australia, Russia, Checz Republic, and Switzerland.
We applied the calibration method described in the previous chapter using well -characterized natural sites and implemented for the first time in radiometric data analysis FSA analysis method with NNLS constrain. This method permits to decrease the statistical uncertainty and consequently reduce the minimum acquisition time (which depend also on AGRS system and on the flight parameters), by increasing in this way the spatial resolution. Finally, the AGRS_16.0L was used for radioelement mapping survey over Elba Island. It is well known that the natural radioactivity is strictly connected to the geological structure of the bedrocks and this information has been taken into account for the analysis and maps construction. A multivariate analysis approach was considered in the geostatistical interpolation of radiometric data, by putting them in relation with the geology though the Collocated Cokriging (CCoK) interpolator. Finally, the potential radioelement maps of potassium, uranium and thorium are constructed for Elba Island.


ABSTRACT Observing System Simulated Experiments (OSSEs) performed during the 2014 North Atlantic hurricane season quantify ocean observing system impacts with respect to improving ocean model initialisation in coupled tropical cyclone (TC) prediction systems. The suitability of the OSSE system forecast model (FM) with respect to the previously validated Nature Run is demonstrated first. Analyses are then performed to determine the calibration required to obtain credible OSSE impact assessments. Impacts on errors and biases in fields important to TC prediction are first quantified for three major components of the existing operational ocean observing system. Satellite altimetry provides the greatest positive impact, followed by Argo floats and sea surface temperature measurements from both satellite and in-situ systems. The OSSE system is then used to investigate observing system enhancements, specifically regional underwater glider deployments during the 2014 hurricane season. These deployments resulted in modest positive impacts on ocean analyses that were limited by (1) errors in the horizontal structure of the increment field imposed by individual gliders and (2) memory loss in the spreading of these corrections by nonlinear model dynamics. The high-resolution, three-dimensional representation of the truth available in OSSE systems allows these issues to be studied without high-density ocean observations.


Gain anisotropy in an optically pumped continuous wave (CW) CF/sub 4/ laser was measured for the P/sup +/ (31) emission line at 16.3 mu m through a study of threshold pump powers with a CW CO/sub 2/ laser, emitting at 9.3 mu m. Pumping the CF/sub 4/ off line center, the gain for backward and forward traveling waves occurs at different frequencies. The frequency difference was determined using the longitudinal mode spacing of the CF/sub 4/ laser and was related to the measured pump frequency offset from absorption line center. The difference in gain between radiation emitted copropagating and counterpropagating with the pump beam was determined quantitatively, and results agreed with theoretical predictions. The occurrence of gain anisotropy shows that the lasing transition of CF/sub 4/ at 16.3 mu m is directly pumped by the absorbing transition. >


The purpose of this paper is threefold. Firstly, self-regulated learning is described from the social cognitive perspective and why self-regulated learning should be targeted in schools is discussed. Secondly, problem-based learning is proposed to facilitate selfregulated learning. Literature on the effects of problem-based learning on students' self-regulated learning in K-12 science classes is reviewed. An empirical base for how particular aspects of problem-based learning can improve students' self-regulated learning is provided. Finally, based on the reviewed literature, limitations in the specified research area are addressed and some recommendations for further research are offered.


Across the past decade, open access (OA) journal scholarship has seen a massive global increase. Scant research, however, has been done to examine the effect of this trend on religious studies journal scholarship. This article seeks to explore the current state of OA scholarship among journals covering religion. To examine the state of OA scholarship among journals of religious studies, the OA availability of articles from ten, peer-reviewed, religious studies journals were examined. Using the SCImago Journal & Country Rank, a portal that includes the journals and country scientific indicators developed from the information contained in the Scopus® database, the ten most highly rated journals in mid-2015, according to the SJR indicator, were selected for evaluation. Articles that appeared in the journal volumes published in 2014 were selected for analysis, and were identified through online research databases and journal websites which provided bibliographic information. Only articles and essays dealing with research were included. A total of 377 articles were included in the study. Of the 377 articles examined, OA versions were found for 132 (35%) of them. Approximately one third of articles (33.3%) were located in multiple locations, with more than half of all OA articles found (53.0%) on either Institutional or Subject repositories, or, on the social networking sites ResearchGate.net or Academia.edu. Of the total number of OA articles found, 87 (65.9%) were found by both Google and Google Scholar, and 43 (32.6%) were found by only Google or Google Scholar, but not both. The results indicate that religious studies journal scholarship is not widely archived and made available as OA, as a regular practice. Results also indicate that those scholars who publish in journals covering religious studies and who embrace open access, make strong use of either institutional or subject repositories and/or social networking sites to make their scholarship openly available. The relatively low rate of OA religious studies journal scholarship, has limited support in previous literature. While the results of this study indicate an increase in the OA availability of religious studies journal scholarship, as compared to previous findings, scholars and journals of religion still lag behind other disciplines in the output of OA research.


We present the cross-talk modeling of a switching matrix based on the cross-gain modulation in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) for optical packet-switched networks. The cross-talk-induced bit error rate and switch-cascaded capability under unbalanced traffic are examined, which proves to be relevant to the SOA parameters, the traffic model unbalanced degree, the control pulse energy, and so on. Several rules are drawn to facilitate the design of the SOA-based switching matrix under unbalanced traffic.


The work upon which this publication is based was supported in part by funds provided by the United States Department of the Interior, Office of Water Research and Technology, as authorized under the Water Resources Research Act of 1964, Public Law 88-379.


The South Atlantic response to a North Atlantic thermohaline circulation (THC) collapse is investigated in the ECHAM5/MPI-OM climate model. A slightly reduced Agulhas leakage (about 2 .2 Sv; 1 Sv= 10m . s ) is found to be associated with a somewhat weaker Southern Hemisphere (SH) supergyre and Indonesian throughflow (ITF). These changes are due to reduced wind stress curl over the SH supergyre, associated with a weaker Hadley circulation and a weaker SH subtropical jet. The northward cross-equatorial transport of thermocline and intermediate waters is much more strongly reduced in relation with a THC collapse. A cross-equatorial gyre develops due to an anomalous wind stress curl over the tropics that results from the anomalous SST gradient associated with reduced ocean heat transport. This cross-equatorial gyre completely blocks the transport of thermocline waters from the South to the North Atlantic. The waters originating from Agulhas leakage flow somewhat deeper and most of it recirculates in the South Atlantic subtropical gyre, leading to a gyre intensification. This intensification is consistent with the anomalous surface cooling over the South Atlantic. Most changes in South Atlantic circulation due to global warming, featuring a reduced THC, are qualitatively similar to the response to a THC collapse, but smaller in amplitude. However, the increased northward cross-equatorial transport of intermediate water relative to thermocline water is a strong fingerprint of a THC collapse.


We present an investigation of sample selection effects that influence the observed black hole-bulge relations and its evolution with redshift. We provide a common framework in which all kinds of selection effects on the M•-bulge relations can be investigated, but our main emphasis is on the consequences of using broad-line AGN with virial estimates of black hole masses and their host galaxies to search for evolution in the BH-bulge relation. We identified relevant sources of bias that were not discussed in the literature so far. A particularly important effect is caused by the fact that the active fraction among SMBHs varies considerably with BH mass, in the sense that high-mass BHs are less likely to be active than lower mass ones. In the connection with intrinsic scatter of the BH-bulge relation this effect implies a bias towards a low BH mass at given bulge property. This effect adds to the bias caused by working with luminosity or flux limited samples that were already discussed by others. A quantitative prediction of these biases requires (i) a realistic model of the sample selection function, and (ii) knowledge of relevant underlying distribution functions: the distribution of spheroid properties such as velocity dispersions or masses; the active fraction as a function of BH mass, or alternatively the active black hole mass function; and the Eddington ratio distribution function. We employed our formalism together with recently determined distribution functions to investigate how much existing studies of the M•-bulge relation using AGN hosts might suffer from selection biases. For low-redshift AGN samples we can naturally reproduce the flattening of the relation observed in some studies without having to invoke intrinsic differences in the BH-bulge relation between active and inactive galaxies. When extending our analysis to higher redshift samples we are clearly hampered by limited empirical constraints on the various relevant distribution functions. Using a best-guess approach for these distributions we estimate the expected magnitude of sample selection biases for a number of recent observational attempts to study the M•-bulge evolution. In no case do we find statistically significant evidence for an evolving M•-bulge relation. While the observed apparent offsets in M• /MBulge from the local relation can be quite large, the sample selection bias estimated from our formalism is typically of the same magnitude. We suggest a possible practical approach to circumvent several of the most problematic issues connected with AGN selection; this could become a powerful diagnostic in future investigations.


Renal and ureteral calculi are treated primarily using extracorporeal lithotripsy, with percutaneous nephrostolithotomy retaining an important role for the treatment of large stones and complex situations. Aspects of pretherapy evaluation are reviewed. The vast majority of calculi 5 mm or less in diameter in the mid and lower ureter will pass spontaneously; in patients with acute ureteral obstruction, lower-osmolar nonionic contrast for urography caused as much discomfort as conventional high-osmolar contrast. Treatment planning for extracorporeal lithotripsy has changed in that internal stenting is no longer routinely recommended. Milk-of-calcium and calyceal diverticular stones respond poorly to extracorporeal lithotripsy. The access route used for percutaneous stone removal varies among investigators. Some advocate an intercostal approach for up to one third of patients; substantial complications occur with placement of a track above the 11th rib. Sepsis develops after percutaneous nephrostomy in up to 21% of patients, but the risk of sepsis can be decreased significantly by the administration of antibiotics during and after the procedure. Complications of extracorporeal lithotripsy include renal hematoma (especially if the patient is hypertensive or is taking aspirin), regional organ injury, and bacteremia. Although originally feared to occur frequently, hypertension occurring after or caused by extracorporeal lithotripsy was not confirmed to be a major problem. The incidence in a 2-year postlithotripsy follow-up was no greater than that for control subjects.


Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy in our daily practice, outside clinical trials, of cetuximab plus radiotherapy in a majority of treatment-naive patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Methods: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate outcomes in patients who were treated definitively with cetuximab and radiotherapy (ExRT). Patients with stage III or IV, nonmetastatic, measurable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) were eligible. Results: There were 18 males and two females. The median age was 61 years (range from 49 to 87 years old). Concurrent radiotherapy and cetuximab was used, in first line, in 17 patients with locally advanced disease; two patients with recurrent SCCHN, who were intolerant of Cisplatin-based regimens, were treated with radiotherapy combined with weekly cetuximab; and 1 patient received cetuximab and radiotherapy postoperatively. The median time of response was 10 months (range from 2 to 24 months). A partial response was observed in 11 cases; a complete response in nine cases. The occurrence of grade 2–3 skin toxicity was observed in 11 cases. Skin toxicity was clearly correlated with a better response and the duration of the response to the treatment. The use of cetuximab in combination with radiotherapy does not increase the side effects of radiotherapy. At the end of the follow-up, 17 patients died. Conclusion: Cetuximab, with its highly targeted mechanism of action and synergistic activity with current treatment modalities, is a valuable treatment option in head and neck patients. The effect of the epidermal growth factor receptor antagonist occurs without any change in the pattern and the severity of toxicity usually associated with head and neck radiation. Cetuximab seems not to provide the most benefit for patients with oropharyngeal cancers but will in patients with T4 tumors. However, the median duration of local control was less as described in the clinical trials.


Independent navigation in unfamiliar and complex environments is a major challenge for blind people. This challenge motivates a multi-disciplinary effort in the CHI community aimed at developing assistive technologies to support the orientation and mobility of blind people, including related disciplines such as accessible computing, cognitive sciences, computer vision, and ubiquitous computing. This workshop intends to bring these communities together to increase awareness on recent advances in blind navigation assistive technologies, benefit from diverse perspectives and expertises, discuss open research challenges, and explore avenues for multi-disciplinary collaborations. Interactions are fostered through a panel on Open Challenges and Avenues for Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Minute-Madness presentations, and a Hands-On Session where workshop participants can hack (design or prototype) new solutions to tackle open research challenges. An expected outcome is the emergence of new collaborations and research directions that can result in novel assistive technologies to support independent blind navigation.


1. Nectar and pollen are floral resources that provide food for insect pollinators, so quantifying their supplies can help us to understand and mitigate pollinator declines. However, most existing datasets of floral resource measurements focus on native plants found in rural landscapes, so cannot be used effectively for estimating supplies in urban green spaces, where non- native ornamental plants often predominate. 2. We sampled floral nectar sugar in 225 plant taxa found in UK residential gardens and other urban green spaces, focussing on the most common species. The vast majority (94%) of our sampled taxa are non- native, filling an important research gap and ensuring these data are also relevant outside of the United Kingdom. 3. Our dataset includes values of daily nectar sugar production for all 225 taxa and nectar sugar concentration for around half (102) of those sampled. Nectar extraction was conducted according to published methods, ensuring our values can be combined with other datasets. 4. We anticipate that the two main uses of these data are (1) to estimate the nectar production of habitats and landscapes and (2) to identify high- nectar plants of conservation importance. To increase the utility of our data, we provide guidance for scaling nectar values up from single flowers to floral units, as is commonly done in field studies.


Notch1 is known to play a critical role in regulating fates in numerous cell types, including those of the hematopoietic lineage. Multiple defects exhibited by Notch1-deficient embryos confound the determination of Notch1 function in early hematopoietic development in vivo. To overcome this limitation, we examined the developmental potential of Notch1(-/-) embryonic stem (ES) cells by in vitro differentiation and by in vivo chimera analysis. Notch1 was found to affect primitive erythropoiesis differentially during ES cell differentiation and in vivo, and this result reflected an important difference in the regulation of Notch1 expression during ES cell differentiation relative to the developing mouse embryo. Notch1 was dispensable for the onset of definitive hematopoiesis both in vitro and in vivo in that Notch1(-/-) definitive progenitors could be detected in differentiating ES cells as well as in the yolk sac and early fetal liver of chimeric mice. Despite the fact that Notch1(-/-) cells can give rise to multiple types of definitive progenitors in early development, Notch1(-/-) cells failed to contribute to long-term definitive hematopoiesis past the early fetal liver stage in the context of a wild-type environment in chimeric mice. Thus, Notch1 is required, in a cell-autonomous manner, for the establishment of long-term, definitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).


Collagen and collagen-related peptide (CRP) activate platelets by interacting with glycoprotein (GP)VI. In addition, collagen binds to integrin alpha2beta1 and possibly to other receptors. In this study, we have compared the role of integrins alpha2beta1 and alphaIIbbeta3 in platelet activation induced by collagen and CRP. Inhibitors of ADP and thromboxane A2 (TxA2) substantially attenuated collagen-induced platelet aggregation and dense granule release, whereas CRP-induced responses were only partially inhibited. Under these conditions, a proportion of platelets adhered to the collagen fibres resulting in dense granule release and alphaIIbbeta3 activation. This adhesion was substantially mediated by alpha2beta1. The alphaIIbbeta3 antagonist lotrafiban potentiated CRP-induced dense granule release, suggesting that alphaIIbbeta3 outside-in signalling may attenuate GPVI signals. By contrast, lotrafiban inhibited collagen-induced dense granule release. These results emphasise the differential roles of alpha2beta1 and alphaIIbbeta3 in platelet activation induced by collagen and CRP. Further, they show that although ADP and TxA2 greatly facilitate collagen-induced platelet activation, collagen can induce full activation of those platelets to which it binds in the absence of these mediators, via a mechanism that is dependent on adhesion to alpha2beta1.


This chapter illustrates four interrelated strategic learning processes, namely knowledge creation, dissemination, interpretation, and implementation, that are critical in ensuring the effective and rapid renewal of the core capabilities of technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Based on a cluster analysis of 182 Finnish software companies and information from illustrative case examples, the chapter highlights success factors related to strategic learning practices necessary for survival and prosperity in the highly dynamic IT industry. By offering a consistent strategic learning framework and multiple practical examples, the chapter provides SME leadership teams with practical suggestions to facilitate strategic learning. In addition, the chapter considers learning traps that prevent firms from renewing their capabilities and highlights practices to avoid those traps to facilitate strategic learning in technology-based SMEs.


This paper highlights the iterative development of a dynamic web environment for exploring physics pedagogy: the Physics Teaching Web Advisory, Pathway. The formative evaluation of the system, with high school physics teachers as users, uncovered a number of shortcomings in the synthetic interview presentation of expert teachers offering advice and instructional strategies. The problems and their solutions are discussed, with implications for the design of multimedia conversational interfaces for teachers helping teachers. The paper presents strategies for dealing with video assets to help teachers find relevant material quickly in addressing the pedagogy and full range of content taught in high school physics, while also promoting additional investigation and exploration of the synthetic interviews.


The authors report the prevalence and severity of endocrine complications in a cohort of 115 patients suffering form genetic hemochromatosis and followed since two decades. Already 40% of them had developed diabetes at the time of diagnosis of hemochromatosis, which was made at the age of 50 +/- 12 years (m +/- SD). Hypogonadism was evidenced in 42% of the patients. In most of them, it was considered as secondary to pituitary lesions as assessed by GnRH tests. No other endocrine complications, in particular thyroid disease, were evidenced during follow up. On the other hand, it was also of interest to note that liver cirrhosis was observed in 52% of the patients at the time of hemochromatosis diagnosis. A relationship between cirrhosis, diabetes and hypogonadism was also assessed in these patients. We conclude to the still high prevalence of endocrine complications in genetic hemochromatosis.


The consumption of culture has often been ascribed the power to reflect and reproduce social inequalities. However, most work in this area has focused upon music and the arts. Sport is an important element of culture that can and should be studied in a similar fashion as others (Bourdieu, 1978). This thesis thus seeks to bring the theoretical frameworks and analytical tools of sociologies of culture further into the realm of sport. Substantively, this thesis provides an updated and comprehensive re-examining of the relationship between direct sports participation and social stratification in the relatively unexplored national context of Canada. I also innovatively provide an examination of the relationship between social stratification and professional sports consumption. Finally, this thesis fills a gap in the literature by analysing where the consumption of sport fits within broader cultural lifestyles. For these investigations, I use large-scale survey data and various statistical methods to test the foundational theories of Pierre Bourdieu, the 'omnivore' thesis, and individualisation arguments of social action to explain these patterns. The findings show direct sports participation relying primarily on dispositions towards the body which are stratified by education and income, especially for the most elite sports. They also show the two most selective omnivorous profiles for professional sport, rather than the most omnivorous, with the highest levels of education and income. This thesis thus sheds doubt on the omnivore thesis within sport, while also showing elements of individualisation regarding age and sex differentiation in consumption. Sports consumption in Canada thus cuts across all three theories of the relation between socio-economic position and sport. These more delimitated consumption profiles contrast with the general adherence to the omnivore thesis within broader cultural lifestyles. This therefore suggests that sport may be a cultural domain where general omnivores practise more distinctive consumption.


Of those who deny that it is ever appropriate to torture, even in ticking time bomb scenarios, many appeal to notions like the sacredness of the human person to explain their position. In this article I argue that the sacred does not contribute decisively to resolving the debates about torture in ticking time bomb scenarios. However, the sacred is significant for one important facet of the contemporary problem of torture: the essential role of the populace's attitudes toward torture in ensuring that the prohibition against torture is enforced.


It is demonstrated that interface wave reflections from buried objects can be created with an active seismic interface wave sonar, and measured and localized on a seismic array. The sonar reported here was implemented on a natural beach of the Gulf of Mexico. It employs a monostatic source/receiver geometry with a three‐element horizontal receiving array, in which each element is a triaxial geophone (velocimeter). Detailed measurements of propagation loss at the site make it possible to compare reflected signal power with the results of predictions computed in first order, pointlike‐scatterer perturbation theory. These propagation measurements, together with phase information, verify that the reflections are interface waves, and measured values agree well with predictions, within experimental and theoretical errors, both of which are well constrained and small. Simulated data are used to compare a beam pattern at uniform shading with experimental results, and it is found that nonuniform shading in the exp...


Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) are two powerful techniques allowing high quality cross-sectional images from within scattering media to be obtained non-destructively. In this paper, we report experimental results of using OCT and TPI for quantitatively characterizing pharmaceutical tablet coatings in the thickness range of 10—140 μm. We found that the spectral OCT system developed in-house has an axial resolution of 0.9 μm, and is capable of quantifying very thin coatings in the range of 10—60 μm. The upper limit of 60 μm within the tablet coating and core is owing to the strong scattering of OCT light, which has relatively short wavelengths in the range of 0.5— 1.0 μm. On the other hand, TPI utilizes terahertz radiation which has substantially longer wavelengths in the range of hundreds microns, thus is less prone to the scattering problem. Consequently TPI has been demonstrated to be able to quantify thicker coatings in the range of 40—140 μm and beyond. We concluded that OCT and TPI are two complementary analytical techniques for non-destructive and quantitative characterizing pharmaceutical tablet coatings.


The eastern Asian (EAS)–eastern North American (ENA) floristic disjunction is one of the best-known biogeographic patterns in the Northern Hemisphere. Recent paleontological and molecular analyses have illuminated the origins of the biogeographic pattern, but subsequent diversification and evolution of the disjunct floras in each of the two continents after isolation remains poorly understood. Although similar in climate and floristic composition, EAS has twice as many species as ENA in genera occurring in both regions. Explaining such differences in species diversity between regions with similar environmental conditions (diversity anomalies) is an important goal of the study of the global patterns of biodiversity. We used a phylogenetic approach to compare rates of net speciation and molecular evolution between the two regions. We first identified EAS–ENA disjunct sister clades from ten genera (Asarum, Buckleya, Carpinus, Carya, Cornus, Hamamelis, Illicium, Panax, Stewartia, and Styrax) that represent diverse angiosperm lineages using phylogenetic analyses of ITS (internal transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA) sequence data. Species richness and substitution rate of ITS between sister clades were compared. The results revealed a pattern of greater species diversity in the EAS counterparts. A positive relationship between species diversity and ITS substitution rate was also documented. These results suggest greater net speciation and accelerated molecular evolution in EAS. The data support the idea that a regional difference in net speciation rate related to topographic heterogeneity contributes to the diversity anomaly between EAS and ENA. The close relationship between rates of ITS evolution and species richness further suggests that species production may be directly linked to rate of nucleotide substitution.


This study looked at parents' ratings of the acceptability of intervention strategies which can be used for children not completing classroom assignments. Subjects were 53 parents of elementary school children from small Midwestern towns. Three independent variables, type of intervention (positive and reductive), place of intervention (home and school), and level of behavior severity (mild, moderate, and severe) were studied. Subjects rated written behavior case descriptions and interventions using the 15 item Parent Intervention Rating Profile. A 2X2X3 analysis of variance was calculated to determine the extent to which the variance in rating scores was accounted for by the three main effects and interactions. No significant main effects were found, but all interactions between the variables were significant and thus accounted for differences in subject's ratings of interventions. Parents' ratings of intervention acceptability were found to differ from ratings by teachers reported in previous research.


Developments in e-skins and machine learning may achieve tactile sensing and proprioception for autonomous, deployable soft robots. Soft robots have garnered interest for real-world applications because of their intrinsic safety embedded at the material level. These robots use deformable materials capable of shape and behavioral changes and allow conformable physical contact for manipulation. Yet, with the introduction of soft and stretchable materials to robotic systems comes a myriad of challenges for sensor integration, including multimodal sensing capable of stretching, embedment of high-resolution but large-area sensor arrays, and sensor fusion with an increasing volume of data. This Review explores the emerging confluence of e-skins and machine learning, with a focus on how roboticists can combine recent developments from the two fields to build autonomous, deployable soft robots, integrated with capabilities for informative touch and proprioception to stand up to the challenges of real-world environments.


For the waste polyester/cotton/hemp blend fiber of largest abandoned number,this paper designed and optimized the molding technology of manufacturing waste blend waste composites by mixed hotpressing,and analyzed the mechanical properties of composites. Through the orthogonality experiment,the optimum conditions were given as follows:the ratio of waste blend fabrics 1:1,the Concentration of PP 60%,the temperature of hotpressing 185°C,the hotpressing pressure 12Mpa, the hotpressing time 5min. Under above conditions,the composites had the density 0.9326g/cm2,the tensile strength 45.37Mpa, the bending strength 48.31Mpa and the energy absorption of impact 15.32 KJ/m2.


5G does not only aim at higher capacity and lower latency than current 4G in mobile broadband networks, but also to increase the level of programmability, control and flexibility to meet the requirements from innovative use cases such as IoT, smart manufacturing, and immersive media. However, several difficulties still need to be overcome for a better technological adoption. To reduce the time-to-market for networked services and to lower the entry barrier to third party developers of VNFs and network services, an integrated development and operations (DevOps) methodology is a promising way. One of the biggest challenges in upcoming 5G DevOps is the validation and verification (V&V) of individual VNFs and network services (VNF graphs) so that operators can be sure of their behavior. In this paper, we propose an NFV architecture that supports the DevOps methodology with a V&V platform and an advanced NFV catalogue. The conceptual components of the V&V platform, the foreseen methodology and the outcomes are explained. Finally, we explore some perspectives in applying such V&V approach in another 5G research project.


The mechanism whereby tumor necrosis factor (TNF) kills mammalian cells is not well understood, although oxidative damage has been suggested by several investigators. Further, it is not known why cells vary in their responsiveness to TNF. We show that the cytotoxic effect of TNF toward TNF-sensitive L929 cells is blocked under hypoxic conditions, suggesting a critical role of molecular oxygen and reactive oxygen species. To test whether cellular resistance to reactive oxygen species could provide resistance to TNF, we derived a variant strain from L929 cells by chronic exposure to an oxidizing agent, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). These cells exhibit marked resistance to TNF as well as to H2O2. This cross-protection provides additional evidence that mechanisms of resistance to oxidative damage are causally related to TNF-induced cell death. Scatchard analysis of TNF binding did not reveal significant differences between the H2O2-resistant line and the wild-type L929 line. On the other hand, analyses of antioxidant enzymes and glutathione levels in cells of the wild-type and the H2O2-resistant lines revealed several potentially important differences. Before exposure to TNF, the H2O2-resistant variants have elevated catalase activity, decreased activity of total glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and similar superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Exposure to TNF led to alteration in CuZnSOD activity, and much more so in the variants than in the wild-type L929 cells. However, no significant change in MnSOD activities in cells of either cell line was observed. Total GST activity was not altered appreciably by TNF in either cell line, but Western analysis showed that the level of alpha GST isozyme was increased and mu GST isozyme decreased in the H2O2-resistant variants. Furthermore, alterations in total glutathione content were observed in both the control and the variant cells.


This study investigates the start-up and operation of bench-scale anaerobic digesters treating the source-sorted organic fraction of municipal solid waste in the absence of mesophilic inocula. The experimental program consisted of starting up a digester with two consecutive interventions implemented to approach steady state. While start-up was relatively slow, re-inoculation with cattle manure together with effluent dilution reduced the acclimation period and achieved better stability and effectiveness, accommodating a feeding rate at an OLR = 2.03 kg total volatile solids (TVS) m(-3) day(-1) and an equivalent hydraulic retention time (HRT)=148 days. The latter highlights the long duration that should be taken into consideration in the design and start-up of anaerobic digestion systems for municipal solid waste, in countries where this system is not established, before reaching optimal steady-state conditions.


ABSTRACT Access to transport for older people is inherently related to the right to lead an independent life and to participate in social and cultural life with dignity. Yet often transport planning strategies prioritise the smooth flow of urban commuters, while people over the age of 60 are at risk of experiencing marginalisation and inequality. In this paper, we consider the mobility patterns of a group of seniors who regularly travel by public transport to Sydney, Australia for more than an hour a day. We argue that geographical perspectives are important for understanding how disincentivising seniors from travelling at rush hour may result in a range of negative health and social outcomes. In this research we consider how seniors in fact may benefit from travelling in rush hour materially, socially, and emotionally. Drawing on the optic of mobility justice we examine the felt intensities of using public transport and the inequalities that manifest in corporeal density. This serves to highlight how agency enables people to go against policy aims to reduce senior travel at peak times and how mobility justice is a useful heuristic to dispute power dynamics in specific transport modes.


There are quite a lot of cultural and educational destinations in Jakarta. One of them is the Jakarta Kite Museum (MLJ) Arts and Folklore. MLJ has a significant task, namely preserving and developing the kite culture, which does not only come from various regions in Indonesia but also from abroad. MLJ has a lot of potential to be further developed as a cultural and educational tourism destination. However, the potential that is owned, such as the number of kite collections that reach 600 san of various unique shapes and sizes as well as several MLJ programs have not been fully developed. The purpose of this study was to examine MLJ folklore and arts as a cultural and educational tourism destination. This research method uses a qualitative research approach with descriptive analysis. The stages of the research are observation, description and interpretation through the folklore art concept approach, cultural tourism concept and museum concept (museology). The results obtained show that MLJ has unique advantages including the attractiveness of collections of various shapes, types and sizes that are presented through the museum activity program and can be one of the attractions of cultural and educational tourism destinations that are beneficial to the community.


Are you looking for a best practices guide to developing policies and procedures for acquisition, purchase, collection development, cataloging, and retention of e-books? Beginning with a short history of e-books and a review of the e- book publishing industry and its effect on library's selection and budget process, this how-to provides a thorough treatment of collection development issues, including the selection process and development policies, the use of approval plans, patron-driven acquisition, and practical solutions for creating your e-book collection policies. Chapters on budgeting and licensing covers ownership versus leasing models, the differences in licensing options from the major publishers and aggregators including information on digital rights management, and strategies for success in retention, access, and budgeting. The cataloging and selection chapters are the largest in the book. The "selecting e-books" chapter discusses: * e-book purchasing models * file formats and publisher/aggregator e-book platforms8 * an examination of display devices (e-readers) The technical and access services section gives you: * Best practices in cataloging e-books to include metadata. * Insight on incorporating value added features such as adding excerpts from the text, book covers, and links to related resources. * Guidance on library web page and online catalog access. * Assessment and evaluation strategies through circulation statistics, print collection selection and usage, and user satisfaction. You'll also gain valuable insight on the e-book's impact on the publishing industry, scholarly communication, and its integration into future technologies and social media. Offering multiple perspectives from electronic resource professionals at world-renowned libraries such as Harvard, the University of Michigan, Duke, and Northeastern, this book provides a comprehensive and well-rounded e-book education. Success stories highlight ea


The precipitation of kaolinite in reservoir sandstones is a relatively early diagenetic reaction, which depends on the initial proportions of mica and feldspar varieties in the sand, and on the nature and flow rate of the interstitial water. A water-rock interaction code was used to explore the influence of the mineralogical composition and of the water characteristics, on the formation and stability of kaolinite in subarkosic sandstones. The water compositions tested were meteoric or, alternatively, marine. The detrital aluminosilicates considered were plagioclase (anorthite and low-T albite), K-feldspar, phengite and quartz. From this assemblage, below 75°C plagioclase was the main control for kaolinite formation. Anorthite in all cases acts as a precursor of kaolinite, whereas low-T albite was destabilized only by influx of marine or meteoric water. Phengite dissolved only in the marine case, which also induced some K-feldspar overgrowth. After burial, in more and more confined conditions, K-feldspar and some kaolinite were altered, and consequently illite precipitated. The assemblage of kaolinite, K-feldspar and residual phengite was destabilized at c. 95°C, and illite began to form. If the precipitated clay mineral was an Fe, Mg-illite and if the system was closed, this reaction was of limited extent at this temperature. A more efficient illitization process occurred between 120 and 130°C. The preceding scenario was compared with petrographical and geochemical data obtained from samples of the Brent Group reservoirs cored in the Hild Field. The main discrepancy between the simulation results and the data is a generation of kaolin-mineral polytype (seemingly dickite) that according to the petrographical and geochemical constraints occurred in the 105-125°C range. The conditions explored in the modelling approach were not able to reproduce the formation of this mineral above 90°C.


The chemical specificity and structural requirements of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in stimulating pancreatic endocrine responses was investigated in conscious sheep. Normal SCFAs with one to eight carbons were injected intravenously at seven doses of 39-2,500 mumol/kg body wt. The isomers or derivatives of SCFAs were administered at 625 mumol/kg body wt. Analysis of dose-response curves showed that n-butyric acid (4 carbons in the molecule) was most effective for both insulin and glucagon secretion among the normal SCFAs tested. In addition, one carboxylic group was absolutely required, since hormone secretion was significantly reduced or abolished with compounds in which the carboxylic element was replaced by other groups and with dicarboxylic acids. The form of the hydrocarbon chain (branched, cyclic, or benzoic ring) also affected hormone secretory activity. Most of the compounds that replaced hydrogen in the hydrocarbon chain by other groups at various positions reduced or abolished the hormone secretory effect obtained by n-butyric acid. In conclusion, a monocarboxylic acid with several numbers of hydrocarbons was required for insulin or glucagon secretion. These results suggest that the pancreatic endocrine system can recognize the chemical structure of SCFAs in detail and induce hormone secretion in sheep.


Artists hold their creative works dear: whether paintings, poems, or songs, their human creators treat them with special care and often desire that same care be exercised after death. Directing particular uses of property from the grave can be met with several objections. The objections sound in alarmist responses to "dead hand control" and include the Rule Against Perpetuities, uncertainty, capriciousness, and the repugnancy of restraints on alienation.This Article considers these and other recurring objections in one particular context and with one particular variety of creative works: an author's unpublished and private letters to her friends. A mechanism for achieving an artist's restrictions over the use of her creative works after death is introduced in the form of a purpose trust. Purpose trusts are typically utilized by pet owners to ensure the continued care and preservation of their pets after the owner's death. Purpose trusts are unique in that they lack ascertainable beneficiaries to enforce the trustee's duties. Many purpose trusts do not qualify as charitable trusts (which can be enforced by the state attorney general's office). Instead, a private "enforcer" must be provided. Here, a noncharitable purpose trust designed to restrict access to an author's private correspondence is introduced; a testamentary trust hypothetically created under the terms of the Last Will and Testament of the celebrated American author Willa Cather.


The aim of this study is to obtain new unsaturated piperazine compounds by the reactions of piperazine (1a) and piperazine derivatives (1b-1d) with acylation reactive groups (a-2j). Methacryloyl piperazine (1b) was synthesized from the reaction of methacrylic anhydride with piperazine (1a). Acyl chlorides (2b-2d) were prepared from the reaction of thionyl chloride with carboxylic acids (3a-3c) obtained as a result of the reaction with malonic acid and suitable aldehyde (5-methylfuran-2-carbaldehyde for 3a, cinnamaldehyde for 3b, and thiophene-2-carbaldehyde for 3c), respectively, by literature methods. Acyl chlorides 2ed and 2f }were obtained from the reaction of commercially purchased carboxylic acids 3d and 3e with thionyl chloride. Acyl chlorides (2g-2j) were synthesized from the reaction of thionyl chloride with carboxylic acids (3d-3g) transformed from hydrolyzation of esters (4a-4d}) obtained as a result of the reaction of triethyl phosphonoacetate with a suitable ketone (acetophenone for 4a, benzophenone for 4b, 1-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)ethan-1-one for 4c, and 1-(thiophen-2-yl)ethan-1-one for 4d), respectively, by literature methods. Unsaturated piperazine derivatives 5a and 5b were obtained from the reaction of 1bwith 2b and 2e, respectively. In addition, from the reaction of 1b and acyl chlorides (2b-2j), unsaturated piperazines (5c-5k) were synthesized in medium to good yields (63%-84%). Also, 5l-5g-and 5r-5w were obtained from the reaction of allyl piperazine (2c) and cinnamyl piperazine (2d) with acyl chlorides (2a-2f).


The efficiency promised by a dictation speech recognition (DSR) system is lessened by the need for correcting recognition errors. Error detection is the precursor of error correction. Developing effective techniques for error detection can thus lead to improved error correction. Current research on error detection has focused mainly on transcription and/or domain-specific speech. Error detection in DSR has been studied less. We propose data mining models for detecting errors in DSR. Instead of relying on internal parameters from DSR systems, we propose a loosely coupled approach to error detection based on features extracted from the DSR output. The features mainly came from two sources: confidence scores and linguistics parsing. Link grammar was innovatively applied to error detection. Three data mining techniques, including Na/spl inodot//spl uml/ve Bayes, neural networks, and Support Vector Machines (SVMs), were evaluated on 5M DSR corpora. The experimental results showed that significant performance was achieved in that F-measures for error detection ranged from 55.3% to 62.5%. This study provided insights into the merit of different data-mining techniques and different types of features in error detection.


The Umm Niqa Lower Fars (Heavy Oil Field) oil reservoir has very favorable properties of high permeability, low temperature, and moderate oil viscosity for polymer flooding and work is progressing towards implementing a polymer pilot in this target reservoir. Nonetheless, Heavy Oil Field contains high salinity water, it is shallow with concerns about injectivity limitations, and high concentrations of H2S (up to 5 mol% in reservoir fluids) which may adversely impact the effectiveness of the injected polymer solutions. A comprehensive laboratory and numerical modeling was initiated to address some of these issues. One potential concern is the degradation of polymer in the co-presence of H2S and possible oxygen introduced with polymer solution injection. This study is aimed at evaluating the impact of H2S on polymer performance in the Heavy Oil Field reservoir via geochemical simulations based on laboratory data.
 Previously performed polymer rheology and transport experiments were history matched and model parameters were developed for subsequent simulations. Transport behavior of both HPAM type and biopolymers was modeled incorporating two new features of viscous fingering and filtration models.
 This was then followed by a geochemical simulation study to assess and potentially de-risk the presence of H2S near the wellbore assuming that all oxygen in the injection water (if any) is rapidly consumed by reservoir rock minerals and oil.
 The parameters developed for the rheology of the polymers were very robust and represented the effects of salinity and polymer shear thinning over a wide range of polymer concentrations for each polymer. These parameters were then used to conduct simulation studies on waterflooding and polymer flooding in the presence of near wellbore H2S. Sensitivity simulations to relative permeability/wettability, oil viscosity, polymer concentration were also conducted to identify the impact on injectivity of polymer solution. The use of the newly added viscous fingering and filtration models was necessary in some cases to correctly model the transport behavior of unstable displacements. Geochemical evaluation showed that injecting H2S-free water over a period of ~3 months can significantly reduce H2S concentration in the near-wellbore region (~30 ft) due to stripping from the oil phase. This is advantageous for the injected polymer because even if small oxygen concentration is co-injected with the water, there would be no H2S present to cause polymer degradation.
 This study presents a practical approach to de-risk the deployment of polymer flooding in a highly sour shallow sandstone heavy oil reservoir. The findings of this study will be evaluated in a one-spot EOR pilot soon.


gases, lactate metabolism, and acid-base balance during and after exercise, and some of the results are to be published shortly. Basically we found that none of these factors could explain the origin of exercise-induced asthma or the difference with different forms of exercise. Likewise, we have studied lung volumes and mechanical properties and found that they reflect rather than cause the asthma. Finally, we would like to repeat our earlier suggestion that the mechanism of exercise-induced asthma and the difference between the severe constriction due to running compared with the virtual absence during swimming may reflect neuromuscular differences in the types of exercise. For this reason, we are now proposing to study the effect of whole body vibration at a level similar to that which occurs during running in patients with asthma.-We are, etc., SANDRA D. ANDERSON M. SILVERMAN E. TAI S. GODFREY Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Diseases of the Chest, London S.W.3


The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease involves interactions between the host susceptibility, mucosal immunity and intestinal microflora. There is therefore great interest in the changes in the endogenous flora in inflammatory bowel disease patients and in the establishment of potential genetic variations in host responses to endogenous bacteria. In this review, we summarize the modifications in the various regional ecosystems in the gastrointestinal tract during inflammatory bowel disease (luminal bacteria in faeces or inside the gastrointestinal tract, bacteria in mucus and bacteria directly attached to the mucosa). Results were obtained following a 'candidate microorganism strategy' and, as is occurring increasingly frequently, following a 'full description strategy', which has progressed largely due to the development of culture-independent techniques. The possibility of modifying the ecosystem using prebiotics or probiotics offers hope for new treatment developments, particularly in the prevention of relapse.


Abstract Objective: Inspired by panel discussions at various neuropsychology conferences, the aim of this paper is to share wisdom that women in neuropsychology acquired from their leadership experiences. Method: We identified 46 women leaders in governance and academic research through reviews of organizational websites and journal editorial boards, and requested their response to brief questions via email. Twenty-one leaders provided responses to three questions formulated by the authors. Results: This paper summarizes the primary themes for the following questions: (1) What advice would you give to a woman neuropsychologist who is seeking to move into a leadership role? Responses included: increase visibility, make connections, know yourself, be confident, and gather information. (2) What leadership style(s) works best? No respondents endorsed a 'best' leadership style; however, they suggested that leaders should know their own personal style, be open and transparent, find a shared mission, and most importantly – use a collaborative approach. (3) What helps a woman earn respect as a leader in neuropsychology? Respondents recommended that leaders should: get involved in the work, demonstrate integrity, do your homework, be dependable, and keep meetings focused. Conclusions: It is the authors' intent that by gathering and distilling advice from successful women leaders in neuropsychology, more women may be catalyzed to pursue leadership roles in our profession.


We explore the price and welfare effect of price discrimination in a differentiated-goods oligopoly market with network effect and the effect of network effect on the equilibrium price, profit and output. We show that competitive price discrimination and network effect may intensify competition and the price discrimination increases the social welfare under oligopoly market with network effect. If firms differ in which markets they target for aggressive pricing strategy and competitive firm's reaction is strong, prices in all markets may fall. So both firms agree on the strategies of setting the uniform pricing.


Aims: The present study aims at evaluating the effect of a 2-week treatment with testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol valerate (E2V) on brain and plasma β-endorphin (β-END) concentrations in gonadectomized rats of both sexes. Methods: Eight groups of female and 8 groups of male Wistar rats were included. For each sex, 1 group of gonad-intact and 1 group of gonadectomized rats were employed as controls (placebo). The other groups received subcutaneous T at the doses of 10 and 100 μg/kg/day (female rats) or 1 and 5 mg/kg/day (male rats). Subcutaneous DHT was administered at the doses of 1, 10, 100 μg/kg/day (female rats) or 0.1, 1 and 5 mg/kg/day (male rats). E2V was administered subcutaneously at 0.05 mg/kg/day. β-END levels were measured in different brain areas and plasma. Results: Ovariectomy (OVX) induced a significant decrease in β-END in all brain areas analyzed as well as in plasma. Orchidectomy (OCX) reduced opioid concentration in the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary and neurointermediate lobe. In OVX rats, T replacement as well as E2V significantly increased β-END concentration in all brain areas and in plasma. In the OCX group, T and E2V did not influence β-END concentrations in different hypothalamic areas. However, they produced a significant rise in β-END levels in the hypothalamus, neurointermediate lobe, anterior pituitary and plasma. Conversely, DHT replacement did not affect β-END levels at any dose administered, either in males or females. Conclusions: The sensitivity of the endogenous opiatergic system to T administration seems to be sex-related. This effect is particularly evident in the brains of female animals where this endogenous endorphin elicits a much greater response than it does in males that have undergone gonadal steroid depletion and subsequent T replacement.


The aim of this research is to examine the transition process between two different wake states of an oscillating circular cylinder in the frame of three-dimensional large eddy simulation (LES). The relationship between the hydrodynamic force and near-wake structure of the fully-submerged cylinder is considered in detail, and results will be used to understand the mechanisms of vortex-induced vibration at high Reynolds flows. The simulations are performed on parallel processing in the University's high performance computing facility. The spanwise- and phase-averaging tools are developed in open source code OpenFOAM environment for qualitative comparisons with the experimental visualisation studies. Verification and validation of the simulations at subcritical Reynolds numbers of 5500-41300 are conducted. The grid resolution and subgrid model, which highly influence on LES solutions, are carefully and properly chosen at the considered Reynolds numbers, and the resulting hydrodynamic forces and pressure are successfully predicted compared to the available experimental or direct numerical simulation data. In these studies, the variations of the near-wake structure and shear-layer frequency are examined with increasing Reynolds number. The numerical results exhibit the characteristic broadband spectral peaks of shear-layer frequency due to small-scale shear-layer vortices inside the freely-separating thin-boundary layers behind the cylinder, and clearly show the dependence of Re0:67 for which the shear-layer instability is fully developing in subcritical flow regime. Based on the careful validations, turbulent flow behind an oscillating cylinder is investigated with various excitation amplitudes and a series of excitation frequencies. In these studies, the well-known flow features of an oscillating cylinder are reproduced and compared to the experimental observations. Two types of transition processes near flow resonance, namely the self-excited and reverse self-excited transitions, are captured first in a set of numerical simulations. Whilst the self-excited transition was only observed in the recent experiment especially at a certain flow condition, high amplitude excitation and lower Reynolds number, the present research shows numerical evidence that the one-time transition is possible even at lower excitation amplitude and higher Reynolds number as well. The change of the ensemble averaged wake patterns during the transition process strongly supports this numerical observation.


BACKGROUND
Recent data suggest that inhaled NO can inhibit platelet aggregation. This study investigates whether inhaled NO affects the expression level and avidity of platelet membrane receptors that mediate platelet adhesion and aggregation.

METHODS AND RESULTS
In 30 healthy volunteers, platelet-rich plasma was incubated with an air/5% CO2 mixture containing 0, 100, 450, and 884 ppm inhaled NO. ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation, the membrane expression of P-selectin, and the binding of fibrinogen to the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor were determined before (t0) and during the 240 minutes of incubation. In addition, eight patients suffering from severe adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were investigated before and 120 minutes after the beginning of administration of 10 ppm inhaled NO. In vitro, NO led to a dose-dependent inhibition of both ADP-induced (3+/-3% at 884 ppm versus 70+/-6% at 0 ppm after 240 minutes; P<.001) and collagen-induced (13+/-5% versus 62+/-5%; P<.01) platelet aggregation. Furthermore, P-selectin expression (36+/-7% of t0 value; P<.01) and fibrinogen binding (33+/-11%; P<.01) were inhibited. In patients with ARDS, after two who did not respond to NO inhalation with an improvement in oxygenation had been excluded, an increase in plasma cGMP, prolongation of in vitro bleeding time, and inhibition of platelet aggregation and P-selectin expression were observed, and fibrinogen binding was also inhibited (19+/-7% versus 30+/-8%; P<.05).

CONCLUSIONS
NO-dependent inhibition of platelet aggregation may be caused by a decrease in fibrinogen binding to the platelet GP IIb/IIIa receptor.


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Although wireless sensor networks have been studied extensively, several problems should be addressed, including the sensors placement policy, the data aggregation or fusion issue, and realizable applications. However, one of important issues is the placement policy of sensor nodes. Most studies have proposed the probability-based placement policies for monitoring an overall area. In most applications, not entire area is interested to be sensed. Additionally, the fully monitoring of an entire area causes several disadvantages - high cost of deployment, long transmission delay, slow response, and unnecessary data aggregation. Furthermore, previous works lacked of considering the difference between the sensing radius and the transmission radius that might result in inaccurate analysis. Therefore, the authors propose herein an efficient sensor placement approach (ESP) for a sparse interested area with considering of obstructers that block the data transmission among sensors. Meanwhile, the issue of different radiuses of sensing and transmission is analyzed in detail. Numerical results demonstrate that ESP requires the least number of sensor nodes under various network sizes and different number of obstacles. Moreover, simulation results indicate that the number of sensor nodes decreases when the sensing or transmission radius increases. The running time of ESP, O(K2), is also analyzed, which is better than that of the probability-based approaches, O(N2)> where K is the number of interested grids and N is the number of grids.