Despite the high relevance of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) for nitrogen loss from marine systems, its relative importance compared to denitrification has less been studied in freshwater ecosystems, and our knowledge is especially scarce for groundwater. Surprisingly, phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA)-based studies identified zones with potentially active anammox bacteria within two superimposed pristine limestone aquifer assemblages of the Hainich Critical Zone Exploratory (CZE; Germany). We found anammox to contribute an estimated 83% to total nitrogen loss in suboxic groundwaters of these aquifer assemblages at rates of 3.5–4.7 nmol L−1 d−1, presumably favored over denitrification by low organic carbon availability. Transcript abundances of hzsA genes encoding hydrazine synthase exceeded nirS and nirK transcript abundances encoding denitrifier nitrite reductase by up to two orders of magnitude, providing further support of a predominance of anammox. Anammox bacteria, dominated by groups closely related to Cand. Brocadia fulgida, constituted up to 10.6% of the groundwater microbial community and were ubiquitously present across the two aquifer assemblages with indication of active anammox bacteria even in the presence of 103 μmol L−1 oxygen. Co-occurrence of hzsA and amoA gene transcripts encoding ammonia mono-oxygenase suggested coupling between aerobic and anaerobic ammonium oxidation under suboxic conditions. These results clearly demonstrate the relevance of anammox as a key process driving nitrogen loss from oligotrophic groundwater environments, which might further be enhanced through coupling with incomplete nitrification.


Visual communication tools help to convey a message between two subjects or targets.  The visual communication process is not limited only to typographical or static imagery.  I believe there are several disciplines that can benefit from an interdisciplinary approach by blending visual communication methods.  In this case Archaeology and Museum Studies. This project presents the designer's interpretation of an archaeological site in order to produce material for the case study. The installation involves several technological elements that complement each other to provide the best interpretation and enhance experimentation. Among other technologies, the installation utilizes Augmented Reality, 3D Modelling, Projection Mapping and 3D Printing to assist in the interpretation of the site. The project will be using the site of Portus, Italy as the example for visualization and will focus exclusively on one of the warehouses. The methodology developed for this project will be transposable to almost any archaeological site. The project attempts also to generalize and standardize a process for the development of these types of installations and interfaces. As we progressively become more multi-skilled, the boundaries between industries become less visible and it is difficult to pre-plan when we require to bring other specialists into the field. The familiarization with these types of projects can motivate other industries to become more open to collaborative research. I believe that one of the main obstacles hindering the implementation of this technology is usually monetary. For this reason this project has promoted the idea of utilizing 'open source' and accessible technologies in order to facilitate the distribution of content. I am attempting to produce a minimum cost project in which open source elements like the Flash Spark Library or the Arduino chipset play essential roles. I think this will motivate other researchers to start introducing this technology and implementing it within more projects, thus promoting interdisciplinarity. This is a project that can be used for experimentation (Archaeologists) or presentation (Museums).


Minimally invasive surgery is indistinctly defined and some cases possess clinical outcomes that are similarly indistinct or excessively costly. Seeking to clarify these issues will offer organized medicine an opportunity to deliver value-based health care. Context (patient, society, and clinician) is critical to finding that clarity, although the clinician context likely offers the best insights into how the ideal of high-value care may be incorporated into minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.


In preparation of his edition of the 14th century alliterative poem Piers Plowman, the 19th century philologist, Walter Skeat, was able to find forty-five manuscripts. These were used in two different ways. First, he studied these with respect to their dialects, which led to his identification of three versions of the poem, denoted as texts A, B, and C. Second, he published about ten lines from each extract to display the variability of spelling of Middle English. Today grouping texts can be thought of as a clustering problem, which requires measuring distances between pairs of strings. This is a well studied problem from information retrieval, and many methods such as the Levenshtein edit distance exist. This paper visualizes the distance matrix obtained from applying edit distance to the forty-five extracts that Skeat published by using multidimensional scaling, which reveals the geometric structure of the variability among his manuscripts.


Bartolomeo Fonzio (1447--1513) was a leading literary figure in Florence during the time of Lorenzo de' Medici and Machiavelli. A professor of poetry and rhetoric at the University of Florence, he included among his friends and colleagues leading figures such as Marsilio Ficino, Angelo Poliziano, John Argyropoulos, Cristoforo Landino, and Pietro Soderini. He was one of the principal collaborators in creating the famous humanist library of King Mattyas Corvinus of Hungary. As a scholar and teacher, he devoted himself to the study of classical authors, particularly Valerius Flaccus, Livy, Persius and Juvenal; his studies of Juvenal led to bitter polemics with Poliziano. Fonzio's letters, translated here for the first time into English, are a window into the world of Renaissance humanism and classical scholarship, and include the famous letter about the discovery in 1485 on the Via Appia of the perfectly preserved body of a Roman girl.


Paleozoic rocks exposed across the northern flank of the mid‐Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous Koolen metamorphic dome make up two structurally superimposed tectonic units: (1) weakly deformed Ordovician to Lower Devonian shallow marine carbonates of the Chegitun unit which formed on a stable shelf and (2) strongly deformed and metamorphosed Devonian to Lower Carboniferous phyllites, limestones, and andesite tuffs of the Tanatap unit. Trace element geochemistry, Nd isotopic data, and textural evidence suggest that the Tanatap tuffs are differentiated calc‐alkaline volcanic rocks possibly derived from a magmatic arc. We interpret the associated sedimentary facies as indicative of deposition in a basinal setting, probably a back arc basin. Orthogneisses in the core of the Koolen dome yielded a Devonian (between ∼369 and ∼375 Ma) U‐Pb zircon age which is similar to the ages of the Tanatap tuffs as well as granitic plutons formed within a Devonian active continental margin of northern Alaska. The stratigraphy of the Chegitun unit is similar to that of the Novosibirsk carbonate platform which overlies the Late Precambrian Bennett‐Barrovia block. The basement of the block is exposed in Chukotka where ortogneiss in the Chegitun River valley yielded Late Proterozoic (∼650 to 550 Ma) U‐Pb ages. These two tectonic units form the shelf of the Chukchi and East Siberian Seas and may continue into northern Alaska as the Hammond subterrane. The deep‐water Tanatap unit can be traced along the southern boundary of the Bennett‐Barrovia block from the Novosibirsk Islands to northern Alaska This basin was paired with a Devonian magmatic arc that existed farther to the south. The northern margin of the Bennett‐Barrovia block collided with North America in the Late Silurian to Early Devonian. In Chukotka, during Middle to Late Carboniferous time the reconstructed Devonian arc‐trench system at the southern edge of the Bennett‐Barrovia block collided with an unknown continental object, fragments of which now occur to the south of the South Anyui suture. Triassic to Cretaceous deformation strongly modified the Paleozoic units. Our results provide new constraints on the geometry and Paleozoic history of the Chukotka‐Arctic Alaska block, the essential element involved in the opening of the Canada basin.


Low back pain is a significant public health problem worldwide. Intervertebral disc degeneration is most significant known risk factor for low back pain. Yet the mechanisms of degeneration remain relatively unknown. Carbonyl stress and oxidation have been implicated in cartilage and fibrocartilage degeneration. Here we investigate the role of oxidative stress and carbonyl production in the intervertebral disc after mechanical injury using an in vitro organ model of the mouse functional spine unit. We use a single-stab insult to model mild injury, and the three-stab insult to model severe trauma. Our results indicate that mild injury increases the carbonyl response that may be required for tissue repair, while severe trauma tempers this response and rapidly accelerates degeneration.


The traditional lime mortar is composed of hydrated lime, sand and water. Besides these constituents it may also contain additives aiming to modify fresh mortar´s properties and/or to improve hardened mortar´s strength and durability. Already in the first civilizations various additives were used to enhance mortar´s quality, among the organic additives, linseed oil was one of the most common. From literature we know that it was used already in Roman period to reduce water permeability of a mortar, but the mechanism and the technology, e.g. effects of different dosages, are not clearly explained. There are only few works studying the effect of oil experimentally. Knowing the function of oil in historical mortars is important for designing a new compatible repair mortar. Moreover, linseed oil addition could increase the sometimes insufficient durability of lime-based mortars used for reparation and it could be a natural alternative to synthetic additives. In the present study, the effect of linseed oil on the properties of six various lime-based mortars has been studied. Mortars´ compositions have been selected with respect to composition of historical mortars, but also mortars used in a modern restoration practise have been tested. Oil was added in two different concentrations – 1% and 3% by the weight of binder. The addition of 1% of linseed oil has proved to have positive effect on mortars´ properties. It improves mechanical characteristics and limits water absorption into mortar without affecting significantly the total open porosity or decreasing the degree of carbonation. On the other hand, the 3% addition of linseed oil is making mortar to be almost hydrophobic, but it markedly decreases mortars´ strength. However, all types of tested lime-based mortars with the oil addition showed significantly decreased water and salt solution absorption by capillary rise. Addition of oil into mortars is also decreasing the proportion of pores which are easily accessible to water. Furthermore, mortars with linseed oil showed significantly improved resistance to salt crystallization and freeze-thaw cycles. On the base of the obtained results, the addition of 1% of linseed oil can be taken into consideration in the design of mortars meant to repair or replace historic mortars.


The genomic profile underlying an individual tumor can be highly informative in the creation of a personalized cancer treatment strategy for a given patient; a practice known as precision oncology. This involves next generation sequencing of a tumor sample and the subsequent identification of genomic aberrations, such as somatic mutations, to provide potential candidates of targeted therapy. The identification of these aberrations from sequencing noise and germline variant background poses a classic classification-style problem. This has been previously broached with many different supervised machine learning methods, including deep-learning neural networks. However, these neural networks have thus far not been tailored to give any indication of confidence in the mutation call, meaning an oncologist could be targeting a mutation with a low probability of being true. To address this, we present here a deep bayesian recurrent neural network for cancer variant calling, which shows no degradation in performance compared to standard neural networks. This approach enables greater flexibility through different priors to avoid overfitting to a single dataset. We will be incorporating this approach into software for oncologists to obtain safe, robust, and statistically confident somatic mutation calls for precision oncology treatment choices.


This paper investigates the technical feasibility of using a compact, air-cooled, solar-assisted, absorption air conditioning system in Puerto Rico and similar regions. Computer simulations were conducted to evaluate the system's performance when subjected to dynamic cooling loads. Within the computer model, heat and mass balances are conducted on each component of the system, including the solar collectors, thermal storage tank, the air-cooled condenser, and the air-cooled absorber. Guidance on component design and insight into the effects of such operating factors as ambient air temperature were gained from exercizing the simulation model. Comparisons are made with an absorption air conditioning system that uses a cooling tower instead of air-cooled components. The particular absorption system of study is one that uses lithium bromide and water as the absorbent and refrigerant, respectively. The heat input to the absorption system generator is provided by an array of flat plate collectors that are coupled to a thermal storage tank. Systems having nominal cooling capacities of 10.5, 14, and 17.5 kW were considered. Useful information about the number of collectors needed, storage tank volume, and efficiency of the overall system is presented.


Design patterns represent a highly effective way to improve the quality of software system, due to its ability to capture the best practices and design knowledge; this enable software engineer to develop their applications. Unfortunately, choosing suitable patterns to specific design problems are difficult task for novice. Over the past years of research in the field of software engineering several conferences and workshops are focused on writing and publishing patterns; this increases the degree of challenges that face the developer in determining the suitable design patterns. This paper presents method to facilitate and assist the designers in selecting the suitable patterns for their problems. We propose a strategy method to obtain the appropriate recommendation.


Warts are benign epithelial proliferations of the skin and mucosa caused by infection with human papilloma viruses (HPV). Plane warts are mainly caused by HPV-3 and HPV-10. There is no single treatment that is absolutely effective, and different types of treatment may be combined. One must take into account the possibility of spontaneous regression, and so the therapeutic approach should not be too aggressive. Two case reports are presented of two immunocompetent patients with multiple plane warts successfully treated with low-dose systemic isotretinoin.


We present a new source to sink study of the Zambezi system from the coastal plain to the deep sea fan since early Cretaceous times. Using new seismic data acquired in the Mozambique channel combined with a biochronostratigraphic and paleoclimatic study realised on the cuttings of three industrial wells we provide a new age model in a continuous paleoclimatic frame evolution.
The evolution of the Zambezi system may be summarised in four steps : 1) Late Jurassic - Late Cretaceous (Albian): the Zambezi delta is defined by a slight slope with reduced height clinoforms, 2) Late Cretaceous - Cenozoic: the system Zambezi/Limpopo - Save prograded. The location of two main depocentres traduce the distinction of the Limpopo-Save basin from the Zambezi basin at the end of the early Cretaceous and two sedimentary supplies: from the Bushveld and the paleo Zambezi, 3) Early Paleocene - Late Eocene: a main transgression flooded the present day coast allowing the initiation of a carbonate platform, 4) Oligocene - Present day: birth of the modern Zambezi delta with low siliciclastic supply during Oligocene times, increasing during Miocene times linked to the East African Rift System.


Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) an antiknock additive presently used in gasoline blends as a safer alternative to lead compounds, is currently synthesized industrially from methanol and isobutene over an acidic ion-exchange resin Amberlyst-15. This commercial catalyst, although very active, still suffers from several drawbacks such as thermal instability, acid leaching, and need of a high methanol over isobutene ratio. Zeolites for their higher thermal stability and shape selectivity, were thus proposed to remedy to such disadvantages. However, they did not show a surface acidity which is as high as that of the organic resin. In gas phase synthesis of MTBE, the incorporation of an organic superacid trifluoromethanesulfonic acid onto the zeolite surface have shown an important enhancement in catalytic activity and product selectivity for the large pore sized Y-type zeolite. However this method did not increase significantly the catalytic activity of the medium pore sized ZSM-5 zeolite, because of limited diffusion phenomena. ZSM-5 zeolite, when doped with fluorine species in relatively low concentration using ammonium fluoride as precursor, and subsequently activated stepwise at high temperatures, showed two maxima for the MTBE yield. The first maximum occurring at the final activation temperature 325C, corresponded to the positive effect of chemisorbed HF acidic species onto the zeolite surface. The second maximum occurring at 450C, provided the highest MTBE yield and is attributed to the increased Bronsted acid sites density and strength resulting from the reaction of zeolite surface with the proton from the ±proton-fluoride» ions pair. Data obtained from different characterization techniques such as FTIR, 27 Al MAS-NMR, XRD, NH 3 -TPD, BET, MeOH adsorption tests, Fluoride-SIE and Pyridine adsorption tests supported the proposed mechanism for the modification of the fluorine treated ZSM-5 surface as a function of final activation temperatures. Controlled desilication of ZSM-5 zeolite by treatment with an aqueous solution of sodium carbonate under mild conditions has provided materials having much lower Si/Al ratio with an unchanged zeolite structure. The desilicated ZSMS zeolite exhibited a higher Bronsted acid sites density compared to the parent zeolite and showed a significant increase of MTBE conversion. The combination of these two modification techniques, i.e. desilication followed by incorporation of fluorine/thermal treatment produced a highly efficient catalyst: the yield of MTBE obtained was higher than that of the commercial catalyst and no isobutene dimer by-products were formed owing to the shape selectivity of ZSM-5 structure. With respect to the parent zeolite, the total acid density increased by almost 80% and the formation of some stronger acid sites were observed. This new inorganic catalyst can be advantageously applied to a wide range of acido-catalysed reactions up to 450C which require a high surface acidity, a pronounced shape-selectivity and a strong chemical resistance.


With the advent of personalized medicine, the concept of exploiting patient's tumor characteristics to make therapeutic decisions has revolutionized the landscape for lung cancer treatment. In the same way, advances in the early detection of small lung cancers by high resolution computed tomography (CT) and subsequent accumulated findings that patients with small peripheral lung cancer with pure or predominantly ground-glass opacities (GGO) in CT images or lower (or negative) 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography uptake have favorable outcomes without any lymph node metastasis, have led to incremental change on treatment planning, follow-up methods, and operations towards "individualized surgery" (1,2).


This article is a commentary on Spain's Constitutional Court's ruling of 19 December 1996 (STC 212/1996), on the challenge (596/89) on grounds of alleged unconstitutionality made against Law 42/1988, 28 December, which regulates the donation of human embryos and foetuses or the cells, tissues and organs therefrom. The article is structured as follows: it opens with a summary of Law 42/1988, since this is felt necessary to understand the subsequent challenge made on grounds of alleged unconstitutionality. We then provide specific details of the challenge and the resulting ruling, before concluding with some critical remarks on the aforementioned Law and ruling.


OBJECTIVE
To determine cytotoxic effects of activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and peroxynitrite on bovine mammary secretory epithelial cells before and after addition of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, myeloperoxidase (MPO) inhibitors, and free-radical scavengers.

SAMPLE POPULATION
Polymorphonuclear neutrophils from 3 lactating cows.

PROCEDURE
Cells from the bovine mammary epithelial cell line MAC-T were cultured. Monolayers were treated with activated bovine PMN, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), 3-morpholino-sydnonimine (SIN-1), 4-amino-benzoic acid hydrazide (ABAH), NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, histidine, and superoxide dismutase (SOD). At 24 hours, activity of lactate dehydrogenase in culture medium was used as a relative index of cell death. Tyrosine nitration of proteins in MAC-T cell lysates was determined by visual examination of immunoblots.

RESULTS
Lipopolysaccharide, PMA, and < or = 0.1 mM SIN-1 were not toxic to MAC-T cells. Activated PMN, > or = 6 mg of histidine/ml, and 0.5 mM SIN-1 were toxic. Together, histidine and 500,000 activated PMN/ml also were toxic. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine did not have an effect, but ABAH decreased PMN-mediated cytotoxicity. Ten and 50 U of SOD/ml protected MAC-T cells from cytotoxic effects of 0.5 mM SIN-1. Compared with control samples, nitration of MAC-T tyrosine residues decreased after addition of 500,000 PMN/ml or > or = 6 mg of histidine/ml. Superoxide dismutase increased and SIN-1 decreased tyrosine nitration of MAC-T cell proteins in a dose-responsive manner.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Peroxynitrite, MPO, and histidine are toxic to mammary secretory epithelial cells. Superoxide dismutase and inhibition of MPO activity mitigate these effects. Nitration of MAC-T cell tyrosine residues may be positively associated with viability.


We assessed the influence of nine biopesticides on adults and larvae of western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and its predator, the anthocorid Orius laevigatus (Fieber) under Mediterranean greenhouse conditions. Trials were carried out in a strawberry crop where both species had naturally established. Foliar sprays were applied weekly for one month. Treatments did not provide sufficient control of larval and adult F. occidentalis. The negative effects on the dynamics of the predator were evident only with the use of some specific products. The botanical insecticides rotenone and neem, and the nematode Steinernema feltiae (Fil- ipjev) reduced O. laevigatus numbers, and these effect are evident in the adult stage of O. laevigatus. Such products have determined a reduction of the population of the predator from the first treatments even if the incidence was not very high. We conclude that the use of some botanical pesticides and nematodes against WFT is uneconomical and possibly disadvantageous where there is an estab- lished predator-prey population.


Infrastructure installation (e.g., pipelines) disturbs soils, often resulting in increased soil compaction (bulk density [Bd] and penetration resistance [PR]). The relationship of PR to Bd, gravimetric water content (Θg), and a suite of other properties were determined on seven topsoils to provide a model and database for reclamation specialists to use when assessing disturbed soils. Penetration resistance had a strong linear association with Bd, but higher Θg reduced the range of PR as Bd increased. Step‐wise regression identified Bd, Θg, texture, clay speciation, and organic matter as significant factors to predict PR. The model predicts PR from <1 to 8 MPa and closely match measured values. Soil Bd and Θg contributed to 84% of the model's explained variation in predicting PR. This study provides a tool for reclamation specialists that aids in understanding the risks associated with disturbances and highlights the importance of keeping Θg low during installation of pipelines.


Abstract To assess long-term temporal trends in White Shark (Carcharadon carcharias) predation, and examine the relationship between C. carcharias and pinnipeds, we examined a 17-year (1988–2004) data set of daily shark attack surveys from Southeast Farallon Island (SEFI), California. We modeled within-season and among-year variation in the number of observed shark attacks at SEFI. Within-season, daily probability of attack was affected by hours of effort, date, tide height, and pinniped abundance. The seasonal peak in shark predation did not vary inter-annually. Daily probability of attack was positively correlated with pinniped abundance and negatively correlated with tide height. After controlling for within-season effects, 51% of annual variation in the number of observed shark attacks was explained by an inverse function of the abundance of Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga angustirostris). The addition of shark abundance to the model did not significantly increase the model's descriptive power. This suggests a functional response where predation by C. carcharias increased with abundance of M. angustirostris, but plateaued once a critical density of M. angustirostris were available, either due to limitations of prey handling or satiation. We detected no temporal trend in annual number of observed shark attacks. Therefore, C. carcharias depends on M. angustirostris as a critical food source and will increase or decrease predation rates depending upon current seal populations.


Pleurotus giganteus (Berk.) Karunarathna & K. D. Hyde is a culinary mushroom that
has been consumed by the indigenous communities in Peninsular Malaysia for hundreds
of years. Although large scale domestication of this wild mushroom is currently in
progress, the findings on its medicinal properties are very limited. This study was
conducted to evaluate the insulin-sensitising capabilities of P. giganteus by using the
3T3-L1 cell line model. The basidiocarps of P. giganteus were purchased from Nas
Agro Farm, Sepang and extracted using hot water and methanol. The methanol extract
of P. giganteus was fractionated to obtain the hexane, butanol and ethyl acetate
fractions. The effect of P. giganteus extracts and fractions on the proliferation of 3T3-
L1 preadipocyte cells was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium
bromide (MTT) assay. Highest 3T3-L1 preadipocytes proliferation was
obtained using hot water extract and butanol fraction of P. giganteus. Methanol extract
and hexane and ethyl acetate fractions caused moderate proliferation of preadipocytes
respectively. Subsequently, Oil Red O assay was carried out to investigate the effect of
P. giganteus extracts and fractions on lipogenesis during adipocyte differentiation of
3T3-L1 cells. Ethyl acetate fraction at 100 μg/ml stimulated the highest lipid
accumulation at 175.30 ± 2.7%. The glucose uptake of differentiated 3T3-L1 cells was
measured by fluorescence based glucose uptake assay. The highest glucose uptake was
recorded at 136.20 ± 10.5% in ethyl acetate fraction at 100 μg/ml respectively. The
lipolysis of differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes was measured using ZenBio's nonesterified
fatty acid and glycerol quantification kit. The ethyl acetate fraction at 100
μg/ml showed the highest free fatty acid release from 3T3-L1 adipocytes by 3.4 fold.
Collectively, the ethyl acetate fraction at 100 μg/ml moderately induced cell
proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells and highly stimulated lipogenesis, glucose
uptake and lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Therefore, ethyl acetate fraction was selected to study for its effect on 3T3-L1 adipocytes at a molecular level. The gene
expression quantification was done using real time PCR analysis with TaqMan®
primer. Ethyl acetate fraction of P. giganteus significantly enhanced adipogenic
differentiation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via the upregulation of SREBP, PPARγ and Pi3k
genes. The glucose uptake was facilitated by the highly expressed glucose transporters,
namely, glut 1 and glut 4. These results suggest that ethyl acetate fraction of P.
giganteus has insulin sensitising effect on adipocytes and therefore has the potential to
act as an adjuvant for the management of type 2 diabetes.


This magnificent volume reproduces all of Hopper's 357 watercolor paintings . They were first published in the four-volume catalogue raisonne of the artist's works. Now they are offered at a price that will make them attractive to anyone seriously interested in art. Hopper was comfortable in both oil and watercolor, although his technique with each medium varied considerably. While oils were done in the studio, often from detailed sketches with notations on colors, the watercolors were painted on location and seem far more spontaneous. In the years since Hopper's death in 1967, many of his paintings have achieved iconographic status as statements about this country. His empty cityscapes and countrysides speak of our sense of loneliness and alienation, while his fascination with the light on Cape Cod and the buildings in Gloucester result in the evocation of feelings that can only be described as uniquely American.


This work is devoted to investigate solutions for the diffusion equation with a nonlocal spatial and time dependent term by using the Green function approach. This nonlocal term incorporated in the diffusion equation may be related to a several physical contexts, in particular, with the fractional spatial and time derivatives and reaction processes. It also introduces different regimes for the diffusion process and may be connected to a rich class of anomalous diffusive processes.


The recent Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development was an important symbolic moment, in spite of the poor results some people claim to have emerged from it. The very fact that official written texts were produced for a wide discussion in many participating countries is a positive side-effect, as it enables the almost unique possibility of using parallel corpora for the analysis of the respective language and underlying assumptions. This could lead to the identification of some potential causes for conflicts and misunderstandings. Both texts were produced according to a (supposedly, at least) common intention, so they may be seen as functionally equivalent. In spite of that, there are obviously huge differences, not only in extension, but also in the type of lexical combinations and stylistic features used. Words like ambiente, in the Portuguese language, and Umwelt, in German, as well as natureza/Natur, appear in very different lexical environments, so that one can, by means of a distributive methodology, obtain a picture of what might be intended with their use in the two countries. Another issue brought about by this analysis was a reflection on the concept of "foreign" language. This raises the question not only of knowing whether, or to what extent, written texts like these are really intended to have an effect on (local) people's minds, but also about pragmatic/cultural constraints that have influenced their very shaping.


PURPOSE: We sought to determine the feasibility of delivering a Supportive Oncology Care at Home intervention among patients with pancreatic cancer. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with pancreatic cancer from a parent trial of neoadjuvant fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRINOX). The intervention entailed (1) remote monitoring of patient-reported symptoms, vital signs, and body weight; (2) a hospital-at-home care model; and (3) structured communication with the oncology team. We defined the intervention as feasible if ≥ 60% of patients enrolled in the study and ≥ 60% completed the daily assessments within the first 2-weeks of enrollment. We determined rates of treatment delays, urgent clinic visits, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations among those who did (n = 20) and did not (n = 24) receive Supportive Oncology Care at Home from the parent trial. RESULTS: From January 2019 to September 2020, we enrolled 80.8% (21/26) of potentially eligible patients. One patient became ineligible following consent because of moving out of state, resulting in 20 participants (median age = 67 years). In the first 2 weeks of enrollment, 65.0% of participants completed all daily assessments. Overall, patients reported 96.1% of daily symptoms, 96.1% of daily vital signs, and 92.5% of weekly body weights. Patients receiving the intervention had lower rates of treatment delays (55.0% v 75.0%), urgent clinic visits (10.0% v 25.0%), and emergency department visits/hospitalizations (45.0% v 62.5%) compared with those not receiving the intervention from the same parent trial. CONCLUSION: Findings demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of a Supportive Oncology Care at Home intervention. Future work will investigate the efficacy of this intervention for decreasing health care use and improving patient outcomes.


CNN-based face recognition models have brought remarkable performance improvement, but they are vulnerable to adversarial perturbations. Recent studies have shown that adversaries can fool the models even if they can only access the models' hard-label output. However, since many queries are needed to find imperceptible adversarial noise, reducing the number of queries is crucial for these attacks. In this paper, we point out two limitations of existing decision-based black-box attacks. We observe that they waste queries for background noise optimization, and they do not take advantage of adversarial perturbations generated for other images. We exploit 3D face alignment to overcome these limitations and propose a general strategy for query-efficient black-box attacks on face recognition named Geometrically Adaptive Dictionary Attack (GADA). Our core idea is to create an adversarial perturbation in the UV texture map and project it onto the face in the image. It greatly improves query efficiency by limiting the perturbation search space to the facial area and effectively recycling previous perturbations. We apply the GADA strategy to two existing attack methods and show overwhelming performance improvement in the experiments on the LFW and CPLFW datasets. Furthermore, we also present a novel attack strategy that can circumvent query similarity-based stateful detection that identifies the process of query-based black-box attacks.


Special relativity is both exciting and challenging in that it requires developing new intuitions about relativistic situations. How can we help students make sense of special relativity when their intuitions are classical? This paper will discuss student sensemaking about special relativity in a sophomore-level course designed to explicitly teach and support physics sensemaking. The course particularly emphasizes two sensemaking strategies: visualization with spacetime diagrams and the development of rules of thumb. Rules of thumb, like "proper time is the shortest time," serve as footholds when solving problems in special relativity. Specifically, we present an analysis of students' use of rules of thumb in their written solutions to homework problems. We found that students draw upon time rules, length rules, and relativity rules to solve the Twin Paradox. We also discuss how rules of thumb fit with other theoretical constructs.


Lipid nanoparticles based on solid matrix have emerged as potential drug carriers to improve gastrointestinal (GI) absorption and oral bioavailability of several drugs, especially lipophilic compounds. These formulations may also be used for sustained drug release. Solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) and the newer generation lipid nanoparticle, nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC), have been studied for their capability as oral drug carriers. Biodegradable, biocompatible, and physiological lipids are generally used to prepare these nanoparticles. Hence, toxicity problems related with the polymeric nanoparticles can be minimized. Furthermore, stability of the formulations might increase than other liquid nano-carriers due to the solid matrix of these lipid nanoparticles. These nanoparticles can be produced by different formulation techniques. Scaling up of the production process from lab scale to industrial scale can be easily achieved. Reasonably high drug encapsulation efficiency of the nanoparticles was documented. Oral absorption and bioavailability of several drugs were improved after oral administration of the drug-loaded SLNs or NLCs. In this review, pros and cons, different formulation and characterization techniques, drug incorporation models, GI absorption and oral bioavailability enhancement mechanisms, stability and storage condition of the formulations, and recent advances in oral delivery of the lipid nanoparticles based on solid matrix will be discussed.


We report extended x-ray absorption fine-structure EXAFS studies of nand p-type Ba8Ga16Ge30 samples type-I clathrate at the Ga, Ge, and Ba K edges, to probe the local structure, particularly around the Ba atoms located inside 20and 24-atom cages Ba1 and Ba2 sites, respectively composed of Ga/Ge atoms. In agreement with diffraction analysis, we find Ba2 is off center, with a component in the bc plane 0.15 A comparable to that found in diffraction. However, under the assumption of a stiff cage, we also require a significant a component. This suggests a coupling or attraction between the Ba2 atoms and the hexagonal rings at the top or bottom of the cage that encloses the Ba2 site. Further, changing the a component can change the number of shortest Ba2-Ga/Ge neighbors and hence the coupling of Ba2 to the surrounding cage. Within the cage structures which enclose both Ba sites, the Ga-Ga/Ge distances are slightly longer, while the Ge-Ga/Ge distances are slightly shorter than the average distance reported from diffraction. The longer Ga-Ga/Ge distances indicate that the Ba1 and Ba2 cages may be dimpled or distorted. At the second Ga/Ge distance, the local distortions in the Ba clathrate are smaller than those observed in the Eu clathrate, which likely plays a role in understanding the higher thermal conductivity of Ba clathrates compared to that of Eu clathrates. However, there is no clear difference in the EXAFS between the nand p-type materials for either the Ba, Ga, or Ge K-edge data, which would explain the difference in thermal conductivity between nand p-type materials. Finally, an average Einstein temperature for the shortest Ba2-Ga/Ge bonds is comparable to that for Ba1-Ga/Ge. This indicates a large effective spring constant for the closest Ga/Ge atoms to Ba2. We also develop a simple vibrational model to show explicitly the three types of vibration for Ba2 within the type-2 cage.


The content of cholesterol and triglycerides was measured in healthy pilots. Over 1500 subjects were examined and age-related norms of the parameter were established. They were compared with published data. Physiological variations of cholesterol and triglycerides were related to age, height and body weight. The authors developed a method for diagnosing hyperlipidemia based on the agreement or disagreement between experimentally measured and theoretically calculated values. The authors maintain that hyperlipidemia can be diagnosed if the difference between the real and expected values is over 10%. The authors calculated the incidence of hyperlipidemia in all subjects examined (over 2100) and found that it was high: even in pilots of the age group 20-29 years hyperlipidemia occurred in 30% of subjects.


Over the past decades Raman spectroscopy has been extensively used both on an industrial and academic level. This has resulted in the development of numerous specialized Raman techniques and Raman active products, which in turn has led to the adoption and development of standards and norms pertaining to Raman unit's calibration, performance validation, and interoperability. Purpose of the present review is to list, classify, and engage in a comprehensive analysis of the different standards, guides, and practices relating to Raman spectroscopy. Primary aim of the review is to consider the commonalities and conflicts between these standards and norms and to identify any missing aspects. Standardization in the field of Raman spectroscopy is dominated by the work of American institutions, namely, the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM or ASTM International), with several active standards in place pertaining to terminology, calibration, multivariate analysis, and specific applications, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), providing numerous certified reference materials, referred to as standard reference materials. The industrial application of Raman spectroscopy is dominated by the pharmaceutical industry. As such, pharmacopoeias provide not only important information in relation to pharmaceutical-related applications of Raman spectroscopy, but also invaluable insight, into the basic principles of Raman spectroscopy and important aspects that include calibration, validation, measurement, and chemometric analysis processes, usually by referring to ASTM and NIST standards. Given the fact that Raman spectroscopy is a modern and innovative field, the standardization processes are complex and constantly evolving. Despite the seemingly high number of existing standards, the standardization landscape is incomplete and has not been modernized according to the developments in Raman spectroscopy techniques in recent years. This is evident by the lack of protocols for numerous areas as well as by the fact that some of the existing standards have not been updated to reflect the advances in the technique. Therefore, it is important for the Raman community to actively engage in and contribute to a modernization process that will result in updating existing and introducing new terms, protocols, and guides. Indeed, the development of optimized common standards would be extremely beneficial and would further foster the development and application of Raman spectroscopy techniques, most notably those of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and low-resolution portable analyzers. Graphical Abstract


We expect there to be locations around a rupture that experience both positive and negative directivity effects more than others. The concept was to develop a simple model of additional mean and standard deviation to add to existing published ground motion prediction equations to account for this. The directivity effect predicted by Chiou and Youngs [2014] using the directivity parameter DPP [Spudich et al. 2013] was selected as the basis for the model. A suite of rupture geometries for strike-slip and reverse ruptures was generated and the mean and standard deviation of the change in the 5% damped pseudo-spectral acceleration at sites out to rupture distances of 70 km was calculated. Models are presented for the change in mean and standard deviation for both strike-slip and reverse ruptures that use only simple parameters as inputs.


An experimental work on reinforced concrete flat slab specimens to test the efficiency of postinstalled bolts, as punching shear reinforcement in resisting vertical and cyclic horizontal loads, was conducted and is presented in this paper. The test protocol consisted in increasing horizontal drifts combined with constant vertical load until failure. Two different detailing solutions for the shear reinforcement were considered, one using a radial distribution around the column and another using a cross distribution, being the results compared with a previously tested reference specimen. The dimensions of the specimens were 4.25 x 1.85 x 0.15 m3. The test setup used for these tests was developed by the research team and simulates the boundary conditions with already recognized good results. Postinstalled steel bolts were proven to be an efficient solution for strengthening of existing structures, improving the structural behavior, and the punching resistance.


The aim of the study was to determine the productive parameters of guinea pigs raised with diets supplemented with fish oil and sacha inchi seeds. Forty eight male guinea pigs of 42 days old were used, with an initial body weight of 615 g. The guinea pigs were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 3 repetitions (rearing pools) of 4 animals each. Dietary treatments were: T0: Control, T1: diet supplemented with 1.0% fish oil; T2: diet supplemented with 4.0% sacha inchi seed; and T3: diet supplemented with 1.0% fish oil + 4.0% sacha inchi seed. The experimental phase lasted 28 days. Body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and carcass yield were evaluated. The average of individual body weight gain ranged between 315 and 353 g per treatment, consumption ranged between 1172 and 1224 g dry matter, feed conversion ranged between 3.53 and 3.73 and carcass yield varied between 69.4 and 71.7% without statistical differences between treatments.


Study Design. A case report is presented. Objective. We report a detailed time-line of disease progression and suppression in a patient with disseminated Coccidioidomycosis of the spine. The importance of consistent and thorough treatment to prevent disease recurrence is underscored. Summary of Background Data. Coccidioides immitis is a dimorphic fungus that lives as a saprophyte in arid, alkaline soils and as a parasite in the tissues of its host. Endemic to the arid soil of the American Southwest and Central and South America, its disease prevalence is increasing. There are 100,000 new infections diagnosed each year, of which 34% are symptomatic. Of the symptomatic individuals 5-10% will develop a serious pulmonary infection and of those that have a serious infection less than 1% will develop chronic pulmonary disease and/or extrapulmonary dissemination. Methods. A 36-year-old black woman with a 3-year history of recent migration to the desert Southwest and a family history of sarcoidosis presented to her primary care physician with shortness of breath and a cough of 2 months' duration. An anterior-posterior radiograph revealed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and sarcoidosis was diagnosed. The patient was placed on oral prednisone and progressively worsened. She was referred to the Orthopedic Clinic with a complaint of severe back pain. Results. Plain radiographs of the lumbar spine revealed lytic erosion of the sacral promontory. Computed tomography confirmed the sacral lesion in addition to revealing involvement of the fifth lumbar vertebral body. Over the ensuing years the patient underwent a course of operative and chemotherapeutic therapies. She endured numerous complications of the disease, one of which is being reported for the first time. Control of her disease has been accomplished through radical surgical debridement, spinal stabilization with concomitant local and systemic chemotherapy. Conclusions. The prevalence and distribution of Coccidioidomycosis is increasing as is the likelihood of seeing its often unique and bizarre clinical manifestations and complications. If included in the differential diagnosis, the disease can be recognized earlier and the likelihood of numerous complications can be avoided. Once bony involvement is diagnosed a regimen of aggressive surgical debridement as well as consistent chemotherapy must be employed if remission and/or eradication of the illness are sought.


ABSTRACT Unionid mussels are a key taxon for stable isotope studies of aquatic food webs, often serving as the primary integrator of the pelagic baseline. Past isotope studies with mussels have commonly used either foot tissue or mantle tissue, but no study has yet to quantify the relation of both carbon and nitrogen isotopes between these two tissue sources. This makes it difficult to justify cross-study comparisons when different tissue compartments and different species were used as the basis of food web models. Therefore, we collected foot and mantle tissues from two common mussel species, Amblema plicata and Fusconaia flava, from lotic and lentic sites in the Upper Mississippi and St. Croix rivers (Minnesota/Wisconsin). Paired tissue samples from each individual were analyzed for stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon. There were strong relations between tissue types for both isotopes between species (r2 > 0.93). Paired t-tests indicated that there were statistically significant differences between the tissue sources in some instances, but the difference (0.04–0.21‰) was less than the analytical precision of the mass spectrometer (circa 0.2–0.3‰). We conclude that the isotopic values from these two tissue sources are biologically comparable and recommend that researchers use the tissue source and extraction technique that minimizes stress to the mussels. We also tested for significant differences between species within a site for either isotope or tissue type and found no statistically significant difference between species with the exception of carbon in foot tissue at two sites. The highly correlated isotopic response supports the interchangeable use of both tissue compartments and both species. These findings support comparisons between studies whether the results were based on either of these tissues or the two species studied. Comparability will also simplify sampling designs, save time, and save money for processing samples without diminishing the usefulness of the data.


The Finnish-Estonian writer Aino Kallas lived in London between 1922 and 1934, being the wife of the first Estonian ambassador to the Court of St James's. In 2011 her memoirs of these years were published in Estonian translation under the title Londoni võlus (Enchanted by London). Being a romantic and a modernist, Kallas in her memoirs combines a heightened sensitivity with the rigours of the modernist style in order to convey in striking images what she recalls about persons and events in London between the wars. The article below will look at some of these characteristic images that convey her vision of London that is full of enchantment.


The aim of this study was to examine the biological and urban environment variables that associate with physical activity (PA) in adolescents. After this, to examine the interrelationship between biological, urban environment variables and PA in structural equation analysis. This was a cross-sectional study with an adolescents' randomized sample. Measures included PA (steps per day by pedometers); self-report questionnaire; geographical location; 'geocoding' process; and direct observation and cardiorespiratory fitness (by 6-min run test). Linear and binary logistic regression models were tested. In addition, moderation and mediation analysis were tested. The sample consisted of 236 adolescents (61.9% girls) aged 14 to 18 years. The commuting to school was associated with residence distance to school (OR = 6.41; CI95%: 1.01-40.80) and walkability (OR = 1.40; CI95%: 1.02-1.94). The gender moderates the relationship between walkability and commuting to school, association only in girls (OR = 1.72; p < 0.05). The relationship between the use of public spaces and PA was reduced (∆β = -1320.6 steps/day; p < 0.05) in the presence of cardiorespiratory fitness (mediation effect). In conclusion, adolescents' PA is associated with the use of public spaces, but this relation is mediated by cardiorespiratory fitness. In addition, PA is associated with commuting to school. This commuting is associated with residence distance to school and walkability just in girls.


Abstract. Montane tropical soils are a large carbon (C) reservoir, acting as both a source and a sink of CO2. Enhanced CO2 emissions originate, in large part, from the decomposition and losses of soil organic matter (SOM) following anthropogenic disturbances. Therefore, quantitative knowledge of the stabilization and decomposition of SOM is necessary in order to understand, assess and predict the impact of land management in the tropics. In particular, labile SOM is an early and sensitive indicator of how SOM responds to changes in land use and management practices, which could have major implications for long-term carbon storage and rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of grazing and fire history on soil C dynamics in the Peruvian montane grasslands, an understudied ecosystem, which covers approximately a quarter of the land area in Peru. A density fractionation method was used to quantify the labile and stable organic matter pools, along with soil CO2 flux and decomposition measurements. Grazing and burning together significantly increased soil CO2 fluxes and decomposition rates and reduced temperature as a driver. Although there was no significant effect of land use on total soil C stocks, the combination of burning and grazing decreased the proportion of C in the free light fraction (LF), especially at the lower depths (10–20 and 20–30 cm). In the control soils, 20 % of the material recovered was in the free LF, which contained 30 % of the soil C content. In comparison, the burnt–grazed soil had the smallest recovery of the free LF (10 %) and a significantly lower C content (14 %). The burnt soils had a much higher proportion of C in the occluded LF (12 %) compared to the not-burnt soils (7 %) and there was no significant difference among the treatments in the heavy fraction (F) ( ∼  70 %). The synergistic effect of burning and grazing caused changes to the soil C dynamics. CO2 fluxes were increased and the dominant temperature driver was obscured by some other process, such as changes in plant C and N allocation. In addition, the free LF was reduced when these two anthropogenic activities took place on the same site – most likely a result of reduced detritus being incorporated into the soil. A positive finding from this study is that the total soil C stocks were not significantly affected and the long-term (+10 years) C storage in the occluded LF and heavy F were not negatively impacted. Possibly this is because of low-intensity fire, fire-resilient grasses and because the grazing pressure is below the threshold necessary to cause severe degradation.


Many algorithms have to be implemented over and over again for different datatypes, either because datatypes change during the development of programs, or because the same algorithm is used for several datatypes. Examples of such algorithms are equality tests, pretty printers, and pattern matchers, and polytypic programming is a paradigm for expressing such algorithms. This dissertation introduces polytypic programming for functional programming languages, shows how to construct and prove properties of polytypic algorithms, presents the language extension PolyP for implementing polytypic algorithms in a type safe way, and presents a number of applications of polytypic programming. The applications include a library of basic polytypic building blocks, PolyLib, and two larger applications of polytypic programming: rewriting and data conversion. PolyP extends a functional language (a subset of Haskell) with a construct for defining polytypic functions by induction on the structure of user-defined datatypes. Programs in the extended language are translated to Haskell. PolyLib contains powerful structured recursion operators like catamorphisms, maps and traversals, as well as polytypic versions of a number of standard functions from functional programming: sum, length, zip, (==), ( The first larger application is a framework for polytypic programming on terms. We show that an interface of four functions is sufficient to express polytypic functions for pattern matching, unification and term rewriting. Using this framework, a term rewriting function is specified and transformed into an efficient and correct implementation. In the second application, a number of functions for polytypic data conversion are implemented and proved correct. The conversions considered include pretty printing, parsing, packing and unpacking of structured data. The conversion functions are expressed in an embedded domain specific language for data conversion (a hierarchy of Haskell's constructor classes).


VML 295 (LY 293111) is a potent and specific leukotriene4 receptor antagonist. It has previously been shown in human volunteers that VML 295 at a dosage of 48 mg twice daily inhibits the ex vivo leukotriene B4 (LTB4)-induced upregulation of CD11b on peripheral blood neutrophils. A clear dose-response relatinship was shown. In addition, VML 295 inhibits various inflammatory aspects resulting from LTB4 challenge of the skin, again showing a dose-response relationship. In view of the large variation in the elimination half-life of VML 295 (25–88.5 h) in individual human subjects, the present pharmacological study was designed to provide information on the pharmacodynamics of the drug by the assessment of VML 295 plasma concentrations, ex vivo LTB4-induced CD11b upregulation of neutrophils, neutrophil accumulation in the skin following epicutaneous application of LTB4 and epidermal regeneration following standardized surface trauma. A group of 36 healthy volunteers were treated in a double-blind study with VML 295 at 200 mg twice daily, VML 295 at 200 mg once daily or placebo for 7 days. Before treatment, at the end of treatment and following discontinuation of treatment, VML 295 plasma concentrations and CD11b upregulation of blood neutrophils were assessed. In 18 subjects, the effects of the three treatments on LTB4-induced inflammatory were assessed before and at the end of treatment, and in the remaining 18 subjects the effects of these treatments on epidermal regeneration were assessed similarly. VML 295 at 200 mg either twice or once daily has a profound inhibitory effect on ex vivo LTB4-induced CD11b upregulation of blood neutrophils, LTB4-induced neutrophil accumulation in the skin, trauma-induced hyperproliferation of the epidermis and regenerative keratinization. The twice daily dose schedule was significantly more effective than the once daily regimen in reducing ex vivo CD11b stimulation of neutrophils, in blood samples collected 24 h after discontinuation of VML 295 treatment. The twice daily schedule tended to be more efficient in skin biopsies, although this difference was not statistically significant in the number of subjects investigated. A plasma concentration of 100 ng/ml proved to be the threshold for these effects. The profound biological effects, both systemically and cutaneously, as well as the safety profile, make VML 295 a promising drug for skin disorders characterized by epidermal proliferation and neutrophil accumulation.


Harry Frankfurt dramatically shaped the debates over freedom and responsibility by arguing that the sort of freedom germane to responsibility does not involve the freedom to do otherwise. His argument turns upon an example meant to disprove the Principle of Alternative Possibilities:

 A person is morally responsible for what she has done only if she could have done otherwise.

Debate over Frankfurt's argument has turned almost exclusively on the success of the example meant to defeat it. But there is more to Frankfurt's argument than the example in question, and this is not widely recognized. Inattention to these other aspects of Frankfurt's argument has distorted the force of it. In this paper I shall explore avenues for both refuting and advancing Frankfurt's argument that look beyond the examples. These further considerations invite us to think in broader terms about moral responsibility's nature and the sort of freedom required for it.


In view of the deep crisis affecting Italian prisons and the urgent need to review the sense and meaning of this institution, initiatives promoting innovative custodial and rehab practices are increasing. Our study refers to one of the most advanced Italian prisons as far as prisoners' rehabilitation and re-education are concerned, with activities such as open cells, prisoners' self-organization of recreational–cultural activities, promotion of cooperative working activities both inside and outside the prison, in order to study if and how this detention culture change has caused organizational transformations which affect the professional well-being of operators who manage inmates in penal institutions. A qualitative study involving 15 correctional officers working in the three most critical departments of the building that host the so called "protected" prisoners (long-lasting sentences, drug addicts, and sex offenders) investigates the subjects' experiences and representations of their role and organizational life aspects indicating their professional well-being.


The application of bay' al-'inah is a polemical financing method in the Malaysian banking and finance industries. Even though being refuted by the Islamic Fiqh Academy of OIC, the Muslim World League, the AAOIFI and the al-Azhar, the Syariah Advisory Council of Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission declare that the instrument is lawful based on the opinion of al-Shafi'i and al-Shafi'iyyah. Their rulings are based on the classical Islamic law without considering contemporary application that may comprise prohibited components. This article focuses on maqasid al-Shari'ah (objectives of Sharia) in connection with prohibition of the instrument by analysing bay' al-'inah in personal financing product. This qualitative research used content analysis as research design, by using Islamic legal methods and maxims in order to relate the prohibitions with the maqasid. It concludes that the application is unlawful since it contravenes several maqasid of Sharia associated with sale and purchase and benevolent loan contract. Violation to the maqasid of Sharia renders the instrument unlawful.


Forest fires are increasing annually due to global warming. The cause of most forest fires are humans, followed by lightning, and winds enabling dry debris, such as small pieces of dry wood that rub against each other creating a spark. Forest fires are catastrophic events that annually claim lives, destroy property, kill domestic and wild animals, and destroy the trees and vegetation that provide oxygen, filter the water, food for animals, and playgrounds and shelter for humans and animals. Additionally after fires burn a forest, rain water runs down the mountain forming mudslides that often times cause damages to land, houses, other building that are on their way, cars, and other property and also kill people, and animals. Therefore forest fires are a disaster having negative effects on people, animals and flora in many ways. In this research paper we provide a solution to preventing forest fires by monitoring the forest using an autonomous UAS powered by solar panels, batteries and a brushless motor, equipped with two high quality cameras in the visual range an infrared camera and a LIDAR, capable of recognizing dry brash, people making camp fires, dead trees, and providing that and other relevant information via wireless transmission to the personnel designated to protect the forest. The intelligent system of the UAS is embedded into a Stratix-10 IntelAltera FPGA that is capable of performing 29.5 teraflops sustained, and is capable of detecting forest fires, as well as providing real time advice to the fire fighters how to efficiently fight the fire. In addition to that the UAS has a router a transceiver and an antenna, enabling the firefighters to communicate with each other and with command and control when the fire destroys the ground antenna system.


The determination as to why projects fail to meet planned schedule, cost, and quality parameters is a leitmotiv within the construction, engineering, and project management literature. Yet, the interrelatedness and behavior of key factors that influence these project performance indicators, particularly regarding design-error-induced rework, have received limited academic examination. Design-induced rework has been reported to contribute more than 70% of the total amount of rework experienced in construction and engineering projects. To address this situation, a forensic management approach to determining how and why rework occurred in a commercial construction project is undertaken. Using findings from this case study along with knowledge from the literature, a systemic causal model for design-error-induced rework is developed. Underlying behavioral dynamics that contributed to design errors (principally related to the management of the design documentation process) were modeled and simulated using system dynamics. The results of such an analysis yield insights about architectural and engineering professionalspsila decision-making and work practices that can influence the occurrence of design errors. The mitigation of design-induced errors would significantly reduce the amount of rework that architectural and engineering firms experience. This would bring with it greater profitability for such firms and improved project performance parameters (schedule, cost, and quality).


In wind turbine towers, the preferred design is circular tubes that are connected by a bolted flange joint. The design is typically that of an L-flange resulting in an eccentrically loaded bolted connection. The eccentricity results in a non-linear relationship between external load on the tower and the tensile force in the bolt. In the literature and also in standards, different models are presented for this important non-linear response. In the present paper, a simplified expression for the non-linear force response is presented based on finite element calculations using contact analysis. The L-flange connection is in essence a bad design because it leads to a non-optimal ratio between external force and bolt force. Furthermore, bolt bending results in an even higher bolt stress resulting in a reduction of strength. The present paper presents simple modifications of the L-flange design that considerably improves the connection strength. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Abstract : The long-term objective is to contribute to the development of the components of limited area, open boundary, coastal nowcast/forecast systems that will resolve the time and length scales of the relevant physical-biological dynamics in shallow coastal environments.


The gross and histopathological lesions of 10 cases in a natural outbreak of aflatoxicosis amongst dogs in the Republic of South Africa are reported. The 10 cases were classified as acute (1 case), subacute (7 cases) and chronic (2 cases) on the basis of the nature, degree and extent of the following histopathological fractures: hepatocellular fatty degeneration, necrosis or regeneration; proliferation of bile ductules; accumulation of bile within the canaliculi; fibroplasia; and, mucoid degeneration, necrosis or segmental atrophy of the larger intrahepatic bile ducts. Fatty degeneration was noted grossly in the livers of all 10 cases and bile stasis in 4. Varying degrees of fibrosis were present depending on the stage of the disease. In the 2 chronic cases in which nodular regeneration was also observed fibrosis was pronounced. Other macroscopic findings included icterus, anaemia, ascites, hydrothorax, hydropericardium, anasarca, pulmonary oedema, gastro-enterorrhagia and nephrosis.


Abstract (Daza & Frank 2019): We propose a Cross-lingual Encoder-Decoder model that simultaneously translates and generates sentences with Semantic Role Labeling annotations in a resource-poor target language. Unlike annotation projection techniques, our model does not need parallel data during inference time. Our approach can be applied in monolingual, multilingual and cross-lingual settings and is able to produce dependency-based and span-based SRL annotations. We benchmark the labeling performance of our model in different monolingual and multilingual settings using well-known SRL datasets. We then train our model in a cross-lingual setting to generate new SRL labeled data. Finally, we measure the effectiveness of our method by using the generated data to augment the training basis for resource-poor languages and perform manual evaluation to show that it produces high-quality sentences and assigns accurate semantic role annotations. Our proposed architecture offers a flexible method for leveraging SRL data in multiple languages.


Airborne particulate emissions originating from the wear of pads and rotors of disc brakes contribute up to 50% of the total road emissions in Europe. The wear process that takes place on a mesoscopic length scale in the contact interfaces between the pads and rotors can be explained by the creation and destruction of contact plateaus. Due to this complex contact situation, it is hard to predict how changes in the wear and material parameters of the pad friction material will affect the friction and wear emissions. This paper reports on an investigation of the effect of different parameters of the pad friction material on the coefficient of friction and wear emissions. A full factorial design is developed using a simplified version of a previously developed cellular automaton approach to investigate the effect of four factors on the coefficient of friction and wear emission. The simulated result indicates that a stable third body, a high specific wear, and a relatively high amount of metal fibres yield a high and stable mean coefficient of friction, while a stable third body, a low specific wear, a stable resin, and a relatively high amount of metal fibres give low wear emissions.


Objective: To evaluate the performance of first-trimester screening for trisomy 21 using maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency (NT) and maternal serum free ß-hCG and PAPP-A at 11 to 13 + 6 weeks. Methods: All women attending between 11 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation were offered screening for trisomy 21. Assessment of NT was performed by appropriately trained sonographers (Fetal Medicine Foundation Certificate of competence), and maternal serum ß-hCG and PAPP-A was measured using the Kryptor analyser. Patients were counselled with regards to their combined estimated risk and the available options for the management of the pregnancy. Data on pregnancy outcome were obtained from the cytogenetics laboratory, and by letters and telephone calls to the patients, their general practitioners or the maternity units in which they delivered. Detection rates and false positive rates were calculated for use of maternal age, maternal age and NT, and maternal age, fetal NT and maternal biochemistry. Results: Screening for trisomy 21 was carried out in 31 904 singleton pregnancies and pregnancy outcome was obtained in 30 564 (95.8%) cases. There were 330 pregnancies affected with a chromosomal abnormality, including 196 cases of trisomy 21. Of these, in 185 cases the diagnosis was made prenatally (178 in the screen positive and seven in the screen negative pregnancies) and 11 where the diagnosis was made postnatally in live births (five in the screen positive pregnancies, in which the parents chose to avoid invasive testing, and six in the screen negative pregnancies). The estimated risk for trisomy 21 was 1 in 300 or greater in 7.5% of the normal pregnancies, in 93.4% of those with trisomy 21 and in 88.8% of those with other chromosomal defects. Conclusion: Currently, the most effective method of screening for trisomy 21 is by a combination of maternal age, fetal NT and maternal serum free ß-hCG and PAPP-A at 11 to 13 + 6 weeks.


Mechanical properties of high-rise building on construction and on service life are different. Geometrical model of structure and material property are time-varying on construction, so mechanical property analysis of high-rise building on construction is complex. The software of ANSYS is selected as the analysis tool. Construction process of high-rise building is simulated through the element "life and death" function of ANSYS. Results of analog calculation are close to the actual values of structure because of considering the construction process. It is beneficial to the safety of high-rise building on construction.


These work focuses on the relevance of the process control and the acquisition of knowledge for the environment. The Science and Technology, in this twenty-first century, are constantly advancing, due to new products that have been produced and that has a positive impact on society, contributing to the progress of humanity. However, many of these products are made in its raw material, toxic elements that bring harmful consequences to the planet and the population in general. Excessive and unnecessary consumerism cause environmental impacts that diminish the natural resources, damaging the flora and the fauna, producing large amounts of waste, causing pollution, contamination of soil, air and water. No need to create an awareness in the population the use and recycling of these products and there is nothing better than the school, by teaching a more concrete and transdisciplinary science to form citizenship. You need to know how to value things dosing their use, properly, to contribute to the survivor-vival of the Earth. Keywords: Science. Technology. Society. Natural Resources. School.


This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com. Recommended Citation


Nowadays digital signal processing systems used for radar applications, communication systems or RF measurement equipments, require very high sample-rates. Sometimes these sample-rates are beyond the possibilities offered by conventional ADCs. To overcome these limits parallel architectures have been developed. The most commonly used it the one called "time-interleaved" conversion. This technique allows to achieve very-high sample-rates with circuits working at a lower frequency. The accuracy of "time-interleaved" systems is sensitive to sample-time errors. Some calibration techniques have been developed to reduce this sensitivity. They involve very sophisticated digital signal processing and, in most of the cases, they are not directly implemented on silicon but applied on measurement results in software. The goal of this thesis is to study the feasibility of a new parallel architecture for analog-to-digital conversion. This architecture must present a higher robustness to sample-time errors. The first part of this work is dedicated to time-interleaved converter. An analysis of their sensitivity to several imperfections, such as mismatches and systematic and random sample-time error is presented. This analysis is followed by a description of time-interleaved converter evolution, since the first implemented prototype to the current state of the art of the domain. The second part of this thesis focuses on the development of the new conversion technique called "frequency-interleaved". Two different approaches are studied: the first one is based on a Fourier series decomposition of the signal to convert and the second one is based on a Walsh series decomposition. During this study, theoretical and practical aspects are faced the one with the other, to combine signal processing and microelectronics together. It appears that the Fourier series approach offers modest performances and presents serious problems of implementation. Based on this study, the design of functional blocks of a Walsh series based system is proposed.


Abstract. For the first time, a ~ decadal (9 years from 2000 to 2008) air quality model simulation with 4 km horizontal resolution over populated regions and daily time resolution has been conducted for California to provide air quality data for health effect studies. Model predictions are compared to measurements to evaluate the accuracy of the simulation with an emphasis on spatial and temporal variations that could be used in epidemiology studies. Better model performance is found at longer averaging times, suggesting that model results with averaging times ≥ 1 month should be the first to be considered in epidemiological studies. The UCD/CIT model predicts spatial and temporal variations in the concentrations of O3, PM2.5, elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), nitrate, and ammonium that meet standard modeling performance criteria when compared to monthly-averaged measurements. Predicted sulfate concentrations do not meet target performance metrics due to missing sulfur sources in the emissions. Predicted seasonal and annual variations of PM2.5, EC, OC, nitrate, and ammonium have mean fractional biases that meet the model performance criteria in 95, 100, 71, 73, and 92% of the simulated months, respectively. The base data set provides an improvement for predicted population exposure to PM concentrations in California compared to exposures estimated by central site monitors operated 1 day out of every 3 days at a few urban locations. Uncertainties in the model predictions arise from several issues. Incomplete understanding of secondary organic aerosol formation mechanisms leads to OC bias in the model results in summertime but does not affect OC predictions in winter when concentrations are typically highest. The CO and NO (species dominated by mobile emissions) results reveal temporal and spatial uncertainties associated with the mobile emissions generated by the EMFAC 2007 model. The WRF model tends to overpredict wind speed during stagnation events, leading to underpredictions of high PM concentrations, usually in winter months. The WRF model also generally underpredicts relative humidity, resulting in less particulate nitrate formation, especially during winter months. These limitations must be recognized when using data in health studies. All model results included in the current manuscript can be downloaded free of charge at http://faculty.engineering.ucdavis.edu/kleeman/ .


The development of many animal organs involves a mesenchymal to epithelial transition, in which cells develop and coordinate polarity through largely unknown mechanisms. The C. elegans pharynx, which is an epithelial tube in which cells polarize around a central lumen, provides a simple system with which to understand the coordination of epithelial polarity. We show that cell fate regulators cause pharyngeal precursor cells to group into a bilaterally symmetric, rectangular array of cells called the double plate. The double plate cells polarize with apical localization of the PAR-3 protein complex, then undergo apical constriction to form a cylindrical cyst. We show that laminin, but not other basement membrane components, orients the polarity of the double plate cells. Our results provide in vivo evidence that laminin has an early role in cell polarity that can be distinguished from its later role in basement membrane integrity.


Diabetic nephropathy (DN) and hypertension mutually exacerbate each other, but many aspects of the mechanisms of these two pathologies remain unclear. The juxtaglomerular cells (JGC) secrete renin and trigger the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system involved in blood pressure regulation. Integrins (Itgs) are cell surface proteins that interact with the extracellular matrix and transduce intracellular signals in response to extracellular stimuli. There are several phosphorylation sites in the β chain, and phosphorylation plays an important role in the cell-binding ability and intracellular signaling functions of Itgs. Our previous immunohistochemical analysis of renal tissue sections of diabetic patients showed that β1 Itg, a cellular matrix adhesion factor, undergoes JGC-specific phosphorylation. To characterize the relationship between the phosphorylated β1 (pβ1) Itg and renin expression in DN, the following studies were conducted in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Immunohistochemical analysis of the prepared sections showed JGC-specific phosphorylation of β1 Itg in the kidneys of diabetic rats. Immunofluorescent staining of these kidney tissue specimens confirmed the coexpression of pβ1 Itg and renin in JGC. The mRNA levels of pβ1 Itg decreased continuously with time in diabetic rats after the onset of diabetes, till month 2. However, the mRNA levels of pβ1 Itg increased subsequently, but ultimately showed recovery to the baseline level. In contrast, the renin mRNA ratio exhibited an inverse correlation with pβ1 Itg. Quantification by image analysis of confocal laser microscopic images confirmed the negative correlation between pβ1 Itg and renin. Our results showed a negative correlation between pβ1 Itg and renin expression in renal JGC, suggesting a link between β1 Itg and the regulatory system that controls renin production and secretion. Disclosure M. Toyoda: None. N. Saito: None. M. Kimura: None. H. Moriya: None. K. Sawada: None. M. Fukagawa: None.


Negative streamwise velocities, extreme wall-normal velocites and high flatness values for the wall-normal fluctuations near the wall are investigated for turbulent channel flow simulations at a series of Reynolds numbers up to Reτ = 1000 in this paper. Probability density functions of the wall-shear stress and velocity components are presented, as well as joint probability density functions of the velocity components and the pressure. Backflow occurs more often (0.06% at Reτ = 1000) and further away from the wall into the buffer layer for rising Reynolds number. An oblique vortex outside the viscous sublayer is found to cause this backflow. Extreme v events occur also more often for rising Reynolds number. Positive and negative velocity spikes appear in pairs, located on the two edges of a strong streamwise vortex: the negative spike occurring in a high speed streak indicating a sweeping motion, while the positive spike is located between a high and low speed streak. These extreme v events cause high flatness values near the wall (F(v) = 43 at Reτ = 1000).


To use simulation for design verification, designers need a confidence measure for a given set of simulation patterns, specifically for cases in which only a subset of the possible patterns is used. The authors derive a measure of design verification coverage based on the number of design errors detected in a theoretical analysis of a circuit. To verify the theoretical analysis, they simulate errors and compare the results.<<ETX>>


Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease with unknown etiology. Variation in the HLA-DRB1 gene is the potent genetic risk factor for promoting MS. Other agents relate with an increased risk of developing MS include the cytokines levels such as interleukin-10 (IL10) and the vitamin D (vit. D) deficiency. Objectives To study a possible role of HLA-DRB1, vit. D deficiency as a risk factor for MS development and to estimate the level of IL-10 in the serum of MS patients and its role in disease initiation or progression. Methods Sixty MS patients, of them 30 were newly diagnosed with an age range between 13 and 58 years were included in this study, in addition to thirty healthy volunteers their gender and age matched with patients group serve as a control group. Blood samples collected to assess serum levels of vit. D and IL-10 by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA) and for DNA extraction, which used in the HLA-DRB1 2 digit genotyping. Results The HLA-DRB1 genotyping revealed that the HLA-DRB1*15 frequency was higher but statistically insignificant in the MS patients as compared with healthy control group. IL-10 level was significantly lower in MS patients on treatment than the control group. On the other hand, vit. D in the newly diagnosed MS patients was significantly different from the control group (higher in the control group), but there was no variance with MS patients on treatment, the level of vit. D in the studied groups was less than global value. Conclusion In MS patients the frequency of HLA-DRB1*15 was higher than control group but the difference was not significant. In addition, the level of IL-10 and vit. D may have a role in the development of MS.


Introduction: Hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most common cause of congenital sensory neuronal hearing loss. These patients are screened by auditory brainstem response (ABR) test at bilirubin levels higher than 1% of gestational weight. Aim of this study is to determine whether hyperbilirubinemia less than 1% of gestational weight could induce hearing loss and abnormal auditory brainstem response (ABR). Materials and Methods: In this case control study the outcome of ABR test in children younger than 3 years old with a history of term delivery and hyperbilirubinemia (bilirubin level less than 1% of gestational weight) were compared with the control group without hyperbilirubinemia matched for age and gender. Results: Mean ABR amplitude (wave I, V) were significantly prolonged in neonates with jaundice compared with controls (P 0.6% gestational weight was 2.25 with 95% confidence intervals (CI) (1.44-3.89 and p=0.02). Conclusion: Our study showed a relevant association between bilirubin levels less than 20 mg/dl and abnormal ABR.


The reaction process of methanol to hydrocarbons was studied by means of in situ FTIR spectroscopic technique. The interaction between methanol and HZSM-5 surface was determined under different reaction conditions. It was found that the Lewis acid sites on the HZSM-5 surface played an important role in the conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons. During the catalysis process, methanol was adsorbed on the Lewis acid sites through chemical bond which was stronger than the interaction between methanol and the Brønsted acid sites. The dehydration of methanol took place on the Lewis acid sites to form the intermediate, dimethyl ether. According to the experimental results, the elaborate mechanism of methanol to hydrocarbons conversion was discussed.


Korean small businesses have come a long way as sources of industrial power more important than heretofore credited. The nation's undemocratic dirigisme had largely slighted small businesses to the country's disadvantage. Although the government's policy bias against them started to change in the early 1980s, its support of them remained less than fully-fledged. Despite tough socio-economic conditions, however, both the first and second generation small entrepreneurs have strived to prove their self-worth as viable business enterprises and constantly - and increasingly over time - contributed to the incremental improvement of the economy. By shedding light on the little-known motivations, perceptions, and performances of the small business people, this article offers a more balanced and nuanced account of the past and present state of small businesses in the country, which provides a tentative basis for considering alternative vision for future development.


Much has been written about the benefits of green infrastructure, but securing the resources necessary for its development and long-term maintenance is often difficult. This article's premise is that, in general, people and organisations will take action to provide those resources when they can see value accruing to them; therefore narratives of value generation and capture (our definition of business models) are required to motivate and support that action. This article explores the application of soft systems methodology to the wicked problem of business model development in the context of a social enterprise, using a case study based on a piece of green infrastructure in the city of Birmingham, UK, called The Lost World. The research involved a workshop with several of The Lost World's key stakeholders and aimed at identifying: The Lost World's scope as a business; its potential value streams; and how they might be realised in a social enterprise. Analysis of the findings shows that while stakeholders can identify opportunities for their organisations, bringing those opportunities to fruition is difficult. The research demonstrates a compelling need for social entrepreneurs to act as catalysts and long-term enablers of the formulation and maintenance of businesses and business models—vital missing actors in the ambition to transform cityscapes.


Wet snow can create serious electrical and mechanical problems to power transmission networks due to its high adherence to materials. In this study, both adherence of wet snow to cables and wet snow shedding following the application of periodic loads were investigated in small-scale experiments. Wet snow was obtained from fresh dry snow collected from the top layer of snow accumulated outdoors. The collected dry snow was exposed to warm air for periods of time long enough to obtain the desired liquid water content (LWC) values. Wet snow sleeves were manually prepared after being compressed around the cable. The room temperature, snow sleeve length, cable diameter, and cable length were kept constant for each experiment. Dynamic load on the cable was simulated by a periodic excitation applied at one end of the cable, while the other end was fixed. Since fading adhesion is a condition for snow shedding, and since LWC is a critical factor influencing adhesion, the effects of excitation frequency and amplitude were investigated for different LWC values. LWC was examined for values from 10 to 40%. When free water began to increase, snow at this stage was wet and it adhered stronger to the cable than low LWC, where there is no enough water to stick on the cable or high LWC where snow is transparent. The LWC range was found experimentally between 20 to 30% (Hefny R. et al., 2009). Different snow shedding scenarios were studied, for which the shedding sequence and acceleration were observed at the excitation point, also cable tension at the fixed end and vertical displacement at the mid-point of the span were measured.


The military use of the Internet of Things within a battlefield environment aims to combine the information collected from a system of heterogeneous sensors and actuators in order to create a cohesive model of the relevant battlefield so that intelligent agents can provide risk-aware decisions or take proper actions, and to collectively give warfighters an edge. To do inference and reasoning under uncertainty efficiently, the most important and relevant features regardless of modality must be identified for each given context, classification task, and classification approach. This can minimize the computational costs required to build a specific model, increase the accuracy of the model and may also allow the model to be generalized. However, the dynamic and adversarial nature of the battlefield may mean that the availability and reliability of sensors will vary over time. Adding a certain amount of redundancy in the set of features used to train an ensemble of classifiers may improve model robustness and minimize uncertainty. One approach to achieve this is by modeling the feature space so that the likely importance of a given set of features can be estimated when context, classification task, or approach is varied. To efficiently understand the shape of a given feature space and to locate clusters of features in a locally distributed fashion, we surveyed methods to select important features and to describe or explore a given feature space.


soils of Spirillum spp. and seed inoculation with these organisms is discussed. However, the book cannot provide a simple recipe for the microbial manipulation of tropical ecosystems to improve N-fixation. A fascinating paper on the symbiosis between blue-green algae and the Azolla water-fern indicates the potential importance of this association in irrigated rice fields, and a valuable reassessment of the contribution of N-fixation to global ecosystem functioning emphasises the paucity of information on tropical agriculture. In relation to methodology, results obtained with the acetylene-reduction technique under field conditions must be interpreted very cautiously. The book does not have a subject index, but it is otherwise of a very high editorial standard and should be accessible to everybody interested in non-nodule forming N-fixing systems. A. J. HOLDING


Article history: Received: 22 September 2013 Accepted: 30 November 2013 Analytical detection of cracking in connections of steel moment resisting frames using simple damage indices is important since these cracks are not visible unless the connections are uncovered. In this paper, applicability of three cumulative damage indices for detection of cracking in a cover plate welded moment connection is investigated. The damage indices considered in this study are based on the following criteria: energy dissipation, plastic deformation and work index. Cracking of the connection is simulated for different loading histories by incorporating the cyclic void growth model to a finite element method of analysis of the connection. Results of simulation indicate good agreement with test results in terms of prediction of the cracking location and the instant of cracking. Based on the results of the performed simulations, the effects of the damage indices are compared. Overall, the energy dissipation damage index predicts cracking in this connection better than the other indices. Values of this index in the instant of cracking show little scatter for different loading histories.


Through the study of pigmented skin lesions risk factors, the appearance of malignant melanoma turns the anomalous occurrence of these lesions to annoying sign. The difficulty of differentiation between malignant melanoma and melanocytic naive is the error-bone problem that usually faces the physicians in diagnosis. To think through the hard mission of pigmented skin lesions diagnosis different clinical diagnosis algorithms were proposed such as pattern analysis, ABCD rule of dermoscopy, Menzies method, and 7-points checklist. Computerized monitoring of these algorithms improves the diagnosis of melanoma compared to simple naked-eye of physician during examination. Toward the serious step of melanoma early detection, aiming to reduce melanoma mortality rate, several computerized studies and procedures were proposed. Through this research different approaches with a huge number of features were discussed to point out the best approach or methodology could be followed to accurately diagnose the pigmented skin lesion. This paper proposes automated system for diagnosis of melanoma to provide quantitative and objective evaluation of skin lesion as opposed to visual assessment, which is subjective in nature. Two different data sets were utilized to reduce the effect of qualitative interpretation problem upon accurate diagnosis. Set of clinical images that are acquired from a standard camera while the other set is acquired from a special dermoscopic camera and so named dermoscopic images. System contribution appears in new, complete and different approaches presented for the aim of pigmented skin lesion diagnosis. These approaches result from using large conclusive set of features fed to different classifiers. The three main types of different features extracted from the region of interest are geometric, chromatic, and texture features. Three statistical methods were proposed to select the most significant features that will cause a valuable effect in diagnosis; Fisher score method, t-test, and F-test. The selected features of high-ranking score based on the statistical methods are used for the diagnosis of the two lesion groups using Artificial Neural Network (ANN), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) as three different classifiers proposed. The overall System performance was then measured in regards to Specificity, Sensitivity and Accuracy. According to the different approaches that will be mentioned later the best result was showen by the ANN designed with the feature selected according to fisher score method enables a diagnostic accuracy of 96.25% and 97% for dermoscopic and clinical images respectively.


The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-like coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) enters its host cells after binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) via its spike glycoprotein. This interaction is critical for virus entry and virus-host membrane fusion. Soluble ACE2 ectodomains bind and neutralize the virus but the short in vivo half-lives of soluble ACE2 limits its therapeutic use. Fusion of the fragment crystallizable (Fc) part of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) to the ACE2 ectodomain can prolong the in vivo half-life but bears the risk of unwanted Fc-receptor activation and antibody-dependent disease enhancement. Here, we describe optimized ACE2-Fc fusion constructs that avoid Fc-receptor binding by using IgG4-Fc as a fusion partner. The engineered ACE2-IgG4-Fc fusion proteins described herein exhibit promising pharmaceutical properties and a broad antiviral activity at single-digit nanomolar concentration. In addition, they allow to maintain the beneficial enzymatic activity of ACE2 and thus are very promising candidate antivirals broadly acting against coronaviruses.


Expected backgrounds in the final accelerator-to-target region
of the European Spallation Source, to be built in Lund,
Sweden, have been calculated using the MCNPX program.
We consider the effects of losses from the beam, both along
the full length and localised at the bending magnets, and
also backsplash from the target. The prompt background is
calculated, and also the residual dose, as a function of time,
arising from activation of the beam components. Activation
of the air is also determined. The model includes the
focussing and rasterising magnets, and shows the effects of
the concrete walls of the tunnel. We give the implications
for the design and operation of the accelerator.