Lighter-than-air vehicles such as hot-air balloons have been proposed for exploring Saturn s moon Titan, as well as other bodies with significant atmospheres. For these vehicles to navigate effectively, it is critical to incorporate the effects of surrounding wind fields, especially as these winds will likely be strong relative to the control authority of the vehicle. Predictive models of these wind fields are available, and previous research has considered problems of planning paths subject to these predicted forces. However, such previous work has considered the wind fields as known a priori, whereas in practical applications, the actual wind vector field is not known exactly and may deviate significantly from the wind velocities estimated by the model. A probabilistic 3D path-planning algorithm was developed for balloons to use uncertain wind models to generate time-efficient paths. The nominal goal of the algorithm is to determine what altitude and what horizontal actuation, if any is available on the vehicle, to use to reach a particular goal location in the least expected time, utilizing advantageous winds. The solution also enables one to quickly evaluate the expected time-to-goal from any other location and to avoid regions of large uncertainty. This method is designed for balloons in wind fields but may be generalized for any buoyant vehicle operating in a vector field. To prepare the planning problem, the uncertainty in the wind field is modeled. Then, the problem of reaching a particular goal location is formulated as a Markov decision process (MDP) using a discretized space approach. Solving the MDP provides a policy of what actuation option (how much buoyancy change and, if applicable, horizontal actuation) should be selected at any given location to minimize the expected time-to-goal. The results provide expected time-to-goal values from any given location on the globe in addition to the action policy. This stochastic approach can also provide insights not accessible by deterministic methods; for example, one can evaluate variability and risk associated with different scenarios, rather than only viewing the expected outcome.


The paper describes the new version of the model of the Russian banking system, which successfully reproduces a wide set of parameters characterizing its performance: loans and deposits of firms and households, liquidity nominated both in rubles and in foreign currency, mandatory reserves. We describe the technique of derivation of model relations, which includes the statement of the problem of macroeconomic agent "bank". This problem is based on the maximization of discounted flow of profit subject to budget constraint, balance of loans and deposits, liquidity constraints and reserve sufficiency requirements. The paper contains the system of equations which describes the solution of the problem. We provide a detailed description of transition of continuous to discrete time and the new approach to the relaxation of complementary slackness conditions based on the assumption that the model exhibits a turnpike property.Apart from the standard approach to the parameter estimation for this class of models, we apply a method of multi-step forecasting. We show that the standard method of estimations allows to closely reproduce the historic series but leads to the poor quality of forecasts. The method of multi-step forecasting, on the other hand, successfully reproduces historic series and also leads to rather accurate forecasts. We compared it with standard econometric techniques and show that the model with parameters obtained via multi-step forecast method provides somewhat better forecasts than ARIXAM and much better ones than AR, ARIMA, VAR and VARX. We also show that then we use multi-step forecasting method, optimal values of parameters are about the same for different intervals of estimation and different lengths of forecasts (from one to six months). Such a stability of parameters makes us think that the model reproduces long-term relations of variables and can be used for forecasting and scenario analysis.The model can be used for the evaluation of reaction of the banking system on the monetary policy, external constraints of different kind and the general condition of the economy. The model can be used as a block of a bigger general equilibrium model of the Russian economy.


Object-oriented programming, design patterns, and frameworks are common techniques that have been used to reduce the complexity of sequential programming. We have applied these techniques to the more difficult domain of parallel programming. This paper describes CO2P3S, a pattern-based parallel programming system that generates parallel programs from parallel design patterns. We demonstrate CO2P3S by applying a new design pattern called the Wavefront pattern to three problems. We show that it is quick and easy to use CO2P3S to generate structurally correct parallel programs with good speed-ups on shared-memory computers.


Introduction The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of a microRNA panel as early diagnostic markers for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods The differentially expressed serum microRNAs were screened with microarray among cognitively normal controls (CNC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD. QRT-PCR assay was applied to evaluate differentially expressed microRNAs with two independent cohorts including 202 participants. Logistic regression model based on microRNA panel was constructed using a training cohort and then validated using an independent cohort. Results First, four differentially expressed serum microRNAs (let-7g, miR-197, miR-126 and miR-29a) were found, which expressions were positively correlated with mini mental state examination (MMSE) score. Second, a microRNA panel with the four microRNAs demonstrated good diagnostic performance for MCI and AD with 84% and 92% accuracy. Third, when combined with MMSE score, the diagnostic performance of the microRNA panel was further improved. Discussion Blood microRNAs are potential AD biomarkers that may lead to new diagnostic strategies.


A conduction model is developed to describe the phase change between the plates of a thermal storage system. The diffusion equation and the associated boundary, initial, and interface conditions are approximated numerically by finite differences and implicit approach with variable time-step. The developed computational code is validated against data and good agreement was found. It is found that the reduction of the surface temperature of the cold plate increases the interface advance rate and reduces the full solidification time. Opposite effects are found due to the increase of the spacing between plates. Further, fractions of Al2O3 nanoparticles are mixed with the phase change material (PCM) to enhance the thermal conductivity of the PCM. For 7% volumetric fraction of Al2O3, the full solidification time and latent heat values decreased by 25.5% and 4.5%, respectively.


Sophisticated electronics are within reach of average users. Cooperation between wireless sensor networks and existing consumer electronic infrastructures can assist in the areas of health care and patient monitoring. This will improve the quality of life of patients, provide early detection for certain ailments, and improve doctor-patient efficiency. The goal of our work is to focus on health-related applications of wireless sensor networks. In this paper we detail our experiences building several prototypes and discuss the driving force behind home health monitoring and how current (and future) technologies will enable automated home health monitoring.


Development process of Lombok International Airport located in Tanak Awu village Pujut sub-district Mid-Lombok Residence, West Nusa Tenggara. Started in 19-01-2008 and scheduled to be finished in the beginning of 2010. This mega-project built above people land which was released by mid-Lombok government. The people land-release to build Lombok International Airport cause new problem by people dissatisfaction to government's policy. The people pursued
the government to make their land priced as Tax Object Selling Value (Nilai Jual Obyek Pajak - NJOP) 2008 and not by the first released price done in 1992. Because of disarangement of people demand about price deal, there came various social and economic problem in Tanak Awu society.
The research aimed to describe BIL development to the people attitude change in society along the Lombok International Airport building process. The research was done in qualitative way by Ex Post Facto data analysis method. Data collection technique was done through deep interview, observation and documentation. Sampling was done at Tanak Awu village, Pujut sub-district Mid-Lombok Residence which was the closest village and the land became the Lombok International Airport Development.
The result would describe about social and economic attitude change in Tanak Awu people around Lombok International Airport. Including land selling value, work-chance, pro and contra among society and social and economic change in society.
The social change happened could be seen from lack of positive support to the government plan who build Lombok International Airport in Tanak Awu village. The people was disappointed by the government policy about land-release selling price. Sabotage and destruction by the society
was possible to happen. The government was only paid attention to finish the project withouth paying attention to the people. The social life of the society couldn't run as usual. Social relation conflict happened among pro and contra groups in society.
Economic change happened now showed there was a change in people work pattern, people buying ability, and the people wealth. Before Lombok International Airport was done, Tanak
Awu villager worked as farmer. But after Lombok International Airport building, the people couldn't work as farmer since the land had bought by the government to build Lombok International Airport. Many people jobless and only watch the worker who worked at Lombok International Airport project. The government hope that land reform activities could be used for making a business unit. People who was jobless only watch the worker who worked on BIL project. The government hope that the result of land-release could be useful to make new field in working. People who came from low education level. People who came from low education level and lack of knowledge was difficult to change profession to the other profession. The government cooperation with PT. Angkasas Pura to involve the people as hard-worker in the project was never happened. PT. Angkasa Pura only hired experienced personnels and at last, Tanak Awu society would become watchers or audio.


This review examines the interactions between soil physical factors and the biological processes responsible for the production and consumption in soils of greenhouse gases. The release of CO2 by aerobic respiration is a non‐linear function of temperature over a wide range of soil water contents, but becomes a function of water content as a soil dries out. Some of the reported variation in the temperature response may be attributable simply to measurement procedures. Lowering the water table in organic soils by drainage increases the release of soil carbon as CO2 in some but not all environments, and reduces the quantity of CH4 emitted to the atmosphere. Ebullition and diffusion through the aerenchyma of rice and plants in natural wetlands both contribute substantially to the emission of CH4; the proportion of the emissions taking place by each pathway varies seasonally. Aerated soils are a sink for atmospheric CH4, through microbial oxidation. The main control on oxidation rate is gas diffusivity, and the temperature response is small. Nitrous oxide is the third greenhouse gas produced in soils, together with NO, a precursor of tropospheric ozone (a short‐lived greenhouse gas). Emission of N2O increases markedly with increasing temperature, and this is attributed to increases in the anaerobic volume fraction, brought about by an increased respiratory sink for O2. Increases in water‐filled pore space also result in increased anaerobic volume; again, the outcome is an exponential increase in N2O emission. The review draws substantially on sources from beyond the normal range of soil science literature, and is intended to promote integration of ideas, not only between soil biology and soil physics, but also over a wider range of interacting disciplines.


The neutral theory is shorthand for the theory that at the molecular level evolutionary changes and polymorphisms are mainly due to selectively neutral mutations; thus, their behaviour and fate are determined by mutation and random drift. The theory explains polymorphism as a transient phase of molecular evolution, and demands a dichotomy between molecular and phenotypic evolution.

Keywords:

neutrality;
natural selection;
population genetics;
selective constraint


Gender based polarization among the people of different societies exists since the time immemorial. It is reflected through attitude, behavior and discourse of the humanity as a whole. Findings of various gender based studies reveal that males were assigned with the tags of bravery and roles of active performance whereas females were known by the name of frailty and assigned passive roles in the walk of life. This study has focused on gender roles and representations reflected in discourse of music. Items songs of the Bollywood movies have been targeted on the basis of their popularity and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) model of Fairclough has been applied for the analysis of emerging terms in these songs. The study reveals that under the significant influence of Bollywood social inequalities are reproduced, represented and reinforced through popular music especially Item Songs. The audience capture innate message in the musical discourse, which implicitly suggests the acceptance of female roles in terms of social performance at lower level under the influence of males. It is quite significant to explore the patriarchal ideology in terms of its influence which causes subordinations and creates a sense of inferiority among the females, and also portrays them as inferiors and usable commodities.


Research on teamwork has considered the effects of different types of feedback and information exchanged as teams coordinate their actions and has described team processes in terms of phases of task performance. Interpersonal communication processes represent the behavioral mechanism by which teams create shared mental models, but it is not clear how teams use and exchange feedback as part of these processes as they perform together. Using a 5-year-period, grounded theory methodology, we investigated how action teams exchange feedback to achieve teamwork. We examined the feedback process of three different elite French military teams. Our findings offer new evidence that action teams working in extreme/high stakes contexts use different types of feedback from multiple sources and that certain feedback sources are more relevant and certain feedback practices are more prevalent at certain stages. Specifically, throughout briefing, team task performance, formal debriefing, and informal debriefing stages, the teams we studied used information from multiple sources as they engaged in technique, reflexive, and socialization feedback practices. Teamwork was evident as the teams coordinated their action during recurring performance cycles. We use our findings to model the feedback process for teamwork and discuss implications for research and practice.


ABSTRACT In this paper, we draw on research conducted in Wales to consider reasons for participation and non-participation in sport and physical activity among Black and minoritised ethnic (BME) groups. This study exposes the challenge at the heart of sports policy in relation to 'race' and ethnicity in Wales that, if not addressed, may lead to the marginalisation of attempts to increase BME participation in sport and physical activity despite good intent. It points to a disjuncture between supply and demand and leads us to question the extent to which such policies resonate with the interests, needs and lived experiences of people from different BME communities in Wales. We draw on testimonies of policy-makers and implementers, as well as individuals from various BME communities in five regions of Wales, to consider the extent to which national sports policy encourages strategies to increase participation among different ethnic groups. We suggest that increasing participation among BME communities and other 'hard-to-reach' groups must go beyond accounting for the supply aspects of sport and physical activity to consider more critically the plethora of barriers and exclusions facing many BME communities. We conclude by arguing that for racial inequalities to be reduced, and promises such as 'sport for all' to be realised, the analysis of policy needs to be related to broader relations of power in the culture of both sport and society.


Adversarial attacks are a major concern in security-centered applications, where malicious actors continuously try to mislead Machine Learning (ML) models into wrongly classifying fraudulent activity as legitimate, whereas system maintainers try to stop them. Adversarially training ML models that are robust against such attacks can prevent business losses and reduce the work load of system maintainers. In such applications data is often tabular and the space available for attackers to manipulate undergoes complex feature engineering transformations, to provide useful signals for model training, to a space attackers cannot access. Thus, we propose a new form of adversarial training where attacks are propagated between the two spaces in the training loop. We then test this method empirically on a real world dataset in the domain of credit card fraud detection. We show that our method can prevent about 30% performance drops under moderate attacks and is essential under very aggressive attacks, with a trade-off loss in performance under no attacks smaller than 7%.


In a rapidly changing trade environment, marked by economic slowdown and impasse in the Doha Round, the success of the WTO in promoting and legitimizing the rules-based multilateral trading system rests, to a large extent, on maintaining effective relations with civil society, including non-governmental organisations. This paper provides an overview of the WTO's rules and practices for transparency and engagement with NGOs. First, it looks at both internal and external transparency. Second, it deals with how the WTO engages with civil society and illustrates how this has evolved over time. Third, it looks at how NGOs and civil society contribute to the dispute settlement process. In concluding, it explores whether there is scope for enhancing the WTO's current practices for engagement with NGOs, and if so how. It also offers some suggestions on how NGOs can render the WTO more accountable to the public. One area in which the WTO's practices for transparency and channels of engagement with civil society actors has evolved considerably is dispute settlement. Although only WTO members can bring a dispute to the WTO, the practice of opening hearings to the public, upon the parties' request, and inviting contributions from non-members, including NGOs, shows to what extent WTO transparency and engagement with civil society have improved in recent times. In particular, NGOs have assisted parties to a dispute prepare their briefs. This has included annexing studies to the parties's submissions, submitting amicus curiae briefs, and supporting the panel as experts under Article 13 of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU). Forging links with civil society is a formidable task for any intergovernmental organization; at issue are the rights of governments to set WTO policy and the need to respect the voices of those without a vote. Although the WTO's rules for engagement with civil society based on Article V:2 of the Marrakesh Agreement and further elaborated in the 1996 Guidelines have not been updated, the actual practices for engagement have evolved considerably over time and it is likely that they will continue to be improved upon in the future.


My sound-based arts practice is currently concerned with the shift of focus from the materiality of the sonic art object to the conceptual and semantic dimensions involved in interaction within a system. The twentieth century saw the dawn of technologies that could not only mediate the sonic arts in new ways but also inform its techniques and tropes. Over the last few decades we have seen the emergence of the genres Transmission and Telematic Art, the methodology of both often being informed by new concepts of space. The rise of post-industrial Capitalism situates us in a new epoch of spatial awareness. This seems particularly relevant now that mediated sonic and communication technologies are an integral part of our lives. Transmitting media "punching a hole in space" now ignore acoustic container boundaries: a sound heard and its source can exist separately yet simultaneously. Physical location and distance become less relevant. How does this create a shift in how we perceive the spatial within the practice of living?; and 2. redefining concepts of author and audience. All who participate are involved in authorship creating a form that is impossible to mediate to a passive audience 5. My work explores how this situation and the aesthetics deriving from it inform me as a practitioner within the medium of sound: the generative and emergent behaviour that arises from relationship as a form of "composition" and, of particular interest to me, the desire to shift focus from the traditional role of sound as an object of aesthetic expression to immersive interactive auditory space as a means of entering into dialogue with the multidimensional environment which humanity inhabits.


The decades of the 1870s and 1880s were the heyday of the Old West as the world has come to know it in stories and songs, plays, motion pictures, and television dramas. Edgar Beecher Bronson, the real-life prototype of that now familiar character, the tenderfoot from the East, went out where the West began when it began. When he took his first herd of cattle north of the North Platte River, he went into an area "of roughly three hundred thousand square miles [which] held no white man's habitation save the little camp of miners in the Black Hills, and had for its only tenant nomad bands of Cheyenne and of Oglala, Brule, and Uncapapa Sioux...Bar one ranch immediately on the Platte River to the east of Fort Laramie, I was the first man to carry a herd of cattle into the Sioux country, and there locate and permanently maintain a ranch." The story of Bronson's apprenticeship on the range and his evolution from a greenhorn puncher into an experienced old hand has come to be regarded as a classic of cow-country literature. If almost an excessive amount of excitement seemed to come his way, it "was not because I was hunting trouble, but was simply due to the fact that trouble seemed to take a lot of pleasure in hunting the few plains dwellers of that day in that region--it just came to all of us, in one form of another, in the course of the day's work in the late 1870s and early 1880s."


An often overlooked aspect of today's business environment in general and supply chains in particular is uncertainty. The scenarios of loss of supplier, transport strikes, IT services failing, stock outs etc are becoming all too common. Looking at the future of supply
chains, uncertainty and risk appear to be increasing and will play a crucial part in the configuration of next generation supply chain. This paper presents an alternative approach to supply chain configuration using supply chain risk as the minimising variable. Perishable nature of the product and high risk impact in the Food supply chain offers perfect conditions to situate the study. Also, current trends in food supply chains namely globalisation, consolidation and commoditization indicate gr eater need for inherent risk minimisation while configuring future supply chains (Roth.A.V 2008). Using data from secondary sources and semi-structured interviews with respondents in a food supply chain, this exploratory study identifies the factors which need to be considered while configuring such a supply chain. The relationship between these factors is developed into a research framework.


High-resolution capillary-column gas chromatography (GC) efficiently separates the many organic compounds that exist in ambient air. However, the identification of these compounds by retention times alone is difficult. The response ratios of sample components on several different types of GC detectors can be used to identify selected peaks more positively. Electron capture (ECD), photoionization (PID), and flame ionization (FID) detectors have been evaluated in this study. Samples split between an ECD and FID are readily analyzed for such electron-capturing species as carbon tetrachloride and tetrachloroethylene. Replicate samples are run on a PID for identification of peaks due to aromatic compounds and other unsaturated materials. This system of three detectors gives sufficient information to confirm the identity of the compounds that have been chosen for quantitation.


An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of noise burst rise time and level on the human BAER. Noise burst levels included 15, 30, 45 and 60 dB nHL, with linear rise times of 0, 0.5, 1.25 and 2.5 ms. With increasing noise burst level, there is a decrease in wave V latency and an increase in peak amplitude. With increasing noise burst rise time, there is an increase in wave V latency and a decrease in wave V amplitude. The slope of the latency/intensity function increases with increasing rise time. The slope of the latency/rise time function increases with decreasing noise burst level. The change in wave V latency associated with changing rise time is less than the change in rise time for all experimental conditions.


Buoyancy inhomogeneities on sloping surfaces arise in numerous situations, for example, from variations in snow/ice cover, cloud cover, topographic shading, soil moisture, vegetation type, and land use. In this paper, the classical Prandtl model for one-dimensional flow of a viscous stably stratified fluid along a uniformly cooled sloping planar surface is extended to include the simplest type of surface inhomogeneity – a surface buoyancy that varies linearly down the slope. The inhomogeneity gives rise to acceleration, vertical motions associated with low-level convergence, and horizontal and vertical advection of perturbation buoyancy. Such processes are not accounted for in the classical Prandtl model. A similarity hypothesis appropriate for this inhomogeneous flow removes the along-slope dependence from the problem, and, in the steady state, reduces the Boussinesq equations of motion and thermodynamic energy to a set of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Asymptotic solutions for the velocity and buoyancy variables in the steady state, valid for large values of the slope-normal coordinate, are obtained for a Prandtl number of unity for pure katabatic flow with no ambient wind or externally imposed pressure gradient. The undetermined parameters in these solutions are adjusted to conform to lower boundary conditions of no-slip, impermeability and specified buoyancy. These solutions yield formulae for the boundary-layer thickness and slope-normal velocity component at the top of the boundary layer, and provide an upper bound of the along-slope surface-buoyancy gradient beyond which steady-state solutions do not exist. Although strictly valid for flow above the boundary layer, the steady asymptotic solutions are found to be in very good agreement with the terminal state of the numerical solution of an initial-value problem (suddenly applied surface buoyancy) throughout the flow domain. The numerical results also show that solution non-existence is associated with self-excitation of growing low-frequency gravity waves.


Much has changed in the medical treatment of COVID-19 after the first patient with an infection with SARS-CoV-2 in the Netherlands was diagnosed in February 2020. On the basis of limited data, at first only off-label use of (hydroxy)chloroquine seemed to be a treatment option. However, now based on the findings of several randomized studies, other medicines have been included in the Dutch guidelines about the treatment of COVID-19. In this article, we will briefly discuss the current state of affairs with regard to the drugs (hydroxy) chloroquine, remdesivir and corticosteroids. Again, it appears that only well-executed randomized clinical trials can determine the status of various supposedly effective drugs.


Sergei Konenkov was one of the 20th century's most distinguished Russian artists. After spending over 20 years in the United States, he returned to the Soviet Union in 1945 to become a respected member of the Soviet art world. The mentor to an entire generation of Soviet sculptors, he was renowned for his personal charisma and artistic versatility. This collection of essays, interviews and personal reminiscences is an appraisal of his work. The contributors view Konenkov's work within a variety of cultural, artistic and philosophical contexts. Particular attention is paid to his awareness of both indigenous Russian traditions and European innovations. They trace the many stages of his artistic development as he explored and experimented with techniques borrowed from Realism, Symbolism, salon portraiture, African wood carving, Socialist Realism and Surrealism. The many different historical sources that inspired Konenkov's artistic expression, from Orthodox Christianity and the folklore of the Russian peasantry to the Egyptian pyramids and pre-classical antiquity are also discussed. The contributors also explore the relationship of Konenkov's life and ideology to art, and the effects of expatriation on creativity. Illustrated with dozens of photographs of Konenkov's art, this study of one of the most enigmatic and fascinating artists of the modern period will accompany an exhibition at The Jane Voorhees Zinnerli Art Museum in New Brunswick, New Jersey.


The production of natural gas in Eastern Canada increased sharply in 1975 but oil production decreased slightly. A total of 11,070,000 Mcf of gas and 707,166 bbl of oil was produced. This represents a production increase of 46.8% in gas and a decrease of 4% in oil from 1974. In Eastern Canada, geophysical activity and exploratory drilling declined as compared with the previous year. Some acreage was surrendered in the offshore areas of Hudson Bay, the Atlantic, and the Labrador Sea. Even though Quebec and Prince Edward Island experienced lease-acreage increases, other remaining land areas decreased, especially the Hudson Bay lowlands where approximately 98% of the acreage was dropped. Nine dry exploratory tests were completed on land areas, and 12 wells were drilled offshore. Three of these offshore wells were suspended and may be deepened during the coming summer. Hydrocarbons were encountered in 2 of the wells. In southwestern Ontario, 66 exploratory and 71 development wells were drilled in 1975, a decrease of 14 exploratory and an increase of 11 development wells over 1974. Silurian development drilling increased 59% offshore and 11% in the exploratory class. However, development drilling for other objectives experienced 9% decrease and a 30% drop in the exploratory category. Two Silurian reef structures (1 oil, 1 gas) in Lambton County and a Cambrian new-pool wildcat discovery in Dunwich Township, Elgin County, were the most significant discoveries in 1975. Several significant gas discoveries were made last year in Lake Erie together with a notable development drilling program.


Following the introduction to the history of the concepts of abnormal personality, with regard to the schizoid and schizotypal forms, we present their systematic assessment in the modern classification systems.Both, the schizoid and schizotypal forms, are usually considered as schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Biological and clinical data indicate relations to other axis-I disorders as well. However there are few systematic and strictly controlled studies on the psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatment of schizotypal and schizoid personality disorders. Basic theoretic assumptions concerning both treatment concepts - for personality disorders in general, and especially in schizoid and schizotypal personality disorder - are given. Finally the role of neuroleptics and antidepressants for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders is discussed. New possibilities may emerge from the use of the recently developed atypical drugs, but further research in randomised studies is needed. Current prospective studies on early detected schizophrenia-spectrum disorders will broaden our knowledge about prevention and therapy.


Background Lymphoma development is a serious complication of Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). To date, the biological processes that may be involved in pSS-associated lymphoma are not fully understood. Objectives The aim of our study is to use microarray gene expression data from a well-defined cohort of pSS patients to identify biological processes that may be relevant to pSS-associated lymphoma. Methods pSS patients and healthy controls from the UK primary Sjögren's syndrome registry (UKPSSR) were used in this study. All patients fulfilled the AECG criteria. Whole genome gene expression data from whole blood RNA samples (n=144) stratified into five clinical subsets (pSS=61, pSS with lymphoma=16, pSS with other cancers=21, pSS with paraproteinemia=23 and healthy controls=23) were used for the pathway analysis. A list of 68 differentially expressed genes in pSS-associated lymphoma compared with pSS (non lymphoma) were uploaded into the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) analytic tool. Similar approach was also used for comparison between the lymphoma and other pSS subject groups. Finally, we also examined the regulators and pathways involved in the genes from the gene expression signature in pSS-associated lymphoma we have previously described (BMS1, NUDT14 and MGST3) [1]. Results In pSS-associated lymphoma the top canonical pathway was "Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) signaling," which includes MGST3. Several other canonical pathways also included the genes of the 3-gene biosignature of pSS-associated lymphoma. The downstream effects and gene-gene interactions were explored through molecular networks analysis. Furthermore, important upstream regulators of the 3 biosignature genes include NFE2L2, PPARA and TOCF1 were identified. The pathway analyses of the other pSS subgroups showed 67 common canonical pathways showed among all the pSS subgroups. Focusing on pSS-associated lymphoma versus healthy controls, 94.9% of the canonical pathways in this comparison were in common with the canonical pathways identified when comparing pSS-associated lymphoma with pSS. The "Interferon Signaling pathway" was the top pathway for all pSS subgroups comparing with healthy controls. In addition, all the non-lymphoma pSS subgroups showed similar patterns in the downstream analysis which differ from the pSS-associated lymphoma group. Conclusions The pathway analysis revealed different possible pathways that might be involved in lymphoma development in pSS and indicates a unique gene expression signature exist in pSS-associated lymphoma. These results might provide a deeper understanding and a direction for future studies to investigate lymphoma development in pSS patients. References Al-Ali S, et al. Whole blood transcriptomic signature of primary Sjögren's syndrome associated lymphoma. Biomarkers and Targeted Therapeutics in Sjögren's (BATTS) Conference, 2016. Disclosure of Interest None declared


In order to make a stress analysis of seaplane floats, and especially of the members connecting the floats with the fuselage, it is of great importance to determine the maximum pressure acting on the floats during landing. Here, the author gives a formula for maximum pressures during landing that permits one to apply experimental results to different bodies and different velocities. The author notes that the formula checks very well with experimental results.


Collisions of Br(2), prepared in the E(0(g)+) ion-pair (IP) electronic state, with He or Ar result in electronic energy transfer to the D, D', and beta IP states. These events have been examined in experimental and theoretical investigations. Experimentally, analysis of the wavelength resolved emission spectra reveals the distribution of population in the vibrational levels of the final electronic states and the relative efficiencies of He and Ar collisions in promoting a specific electronic energy transfer channel. Theoretically, semiempirical rare gas-Br(2) potential energy surfaces and diabatic couplings are used in quantum scattering calculations of the state-to-state rate constants for electronic energy transfer and distributions of population in the final electronic state vibrational levels. Agreement between theory and experiment is excellent. Comparison of the results with those obtained for similar processes in the IP excited I(2) molecule points to the general importance of Franck-Condon effects in determining vibrational populations, although this effect is more important for He collisions than for Ar collisions.


ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. Prunus amygdalus, PCR analysis, sequencing, pollination ABSTRACT. The pistil (S-RNase) and the pollen (S-haplotype-specific F-box protein (SFB)) components of the Sf allele, presumably conferring self-compatibility in almond {Prunus amygdalus Batsch (syn. P. dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb)}, were identified and sequenced in 'Ponc x', a local Spanish almond cultivar, confirming their identity with the published sequences of these components. Despite the presence of the Sf allele, the 'Ponc x' phenotype was self-incompatible as confirmed by different pollination tests, including self pollen tube growth, fruit set after self-pollination, and fruit set in bagged branches. However, the pistil and the pollen of 'Ponc x' were fully viable when pollinated by a cross- compatible pollen or used on a cross-compatible pistil. The fact that 'Ponc x' presents two different S-proteins with RNase activity may indicate an active function of its Sf-RNase, whereas in the self-compatible almond cultivars thus far studied, the Sf-RNase has been inactive. This activation indicates that the presence of the Sf allele may not be the exclusive source of self-compatibility in almond, and other factors may also be involved in the expression of almond self-compatibility.


The study explores the effect of deviations from native speech rhythm and rate norms on the assessement of pronunciation mastery of a second language (L2) when the native language of the learner is either rhythmically similar to or different from the target language. Using the concatenative speech synthesis technique, different versions of the same sentence were created in order to produce segmentally and intonationally identical utterances that differed only in rhythmic patterns and/or speaking rate. Speech rhythm and tempo patterns modelled those from the speech of French or German native learners of English at different proficiency levels. Native British English speakers rated the original sentences and the synthesized utterances for accentedness. The analysis shows that 1) differences in speech rhythm and speaking tempo influence the perception of accentedness, 2) idiosyncratic differences in speech rhythm and speech rate are sufficient to differentiate between the proficiency levels of L2 learners; 3) the relative salience of rhythm and rate on perceived accentedness in L2 speech is modulated by the native language of the learners; 4) intonation facilitates the 2 perception of finer differences in speech rhythm between otherwise identical utterances. These results emphasize the importance of prosodic timing patterns for the perception of speech delivered by L2 learners.


: The regulation of cell division and elongation in plants is accomplished by the action of different phytohormones. Aux-in as one of these growth regulators is known to stimulate cell elongation growthin the aerial partsof the plant.Here, auxin enhances cell enlargement by increasing theextensibilityof the cell wall and by facilitating the uptake of osmolytes such as potassium ions into the cell. Starting in the late 1990s, the auxin regulation of ion channels mediating K + import into the cell has been studied in great detail. In this article we will focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying the modulation of K + transport by auxin and present a model to explain how the regulation of K + channels is involved in auxin-induced cell elongation growth.


The main innovation brought forth by the European Project RoCKIn is the definition, implementation and application to an actual robot competition of the novel paradigm of benchmarking through competitions . By doing so, RoCKIn set in motion an evolution ary process to transform robot competitions from successful showcases with limited scientific impact into benchmarking tools for the consistent and objective evaluation of the performance of autonomous robot systems. Our work began by revisiting, in the light of the features and limitations of a competition setting, the very foundations of the scientific method; then we built on these by designing a novel type of competitions where the concepts of benchmark and objective performance metrics are the key points; finally, we arrived to the implementation of such concepts in the form of a real-world robot competition. This chapter describes the above process, explaining how each of its several aspects (theoretical, technical, procedural) has been tackled by RoCKIn. Special attention will be devoted to the problems of defining performance metrics and of capturing the ground truth needed to reliably assess robot perceptions and actions.


High power-to-weight ratio soft artificial muscles are of overarching importance to enable inherently safer solutions to human–robot interaction. Traditional air-driven soft McKibben artificial muscles are linear actuators, and it is impossible for them to realize bending motions through use of a single muscle. More than two McKibben muscles are normally used to achieve bending or rotational motions, leading to heavier and larger systems. In addition, air-driven McKibben muscles are highly nonlinear in nature, making them difficult to be controlled precisely. An shape memory alloy (SMA)-fishing-line-McKibben (SFLM) bending actuator has been developed. This novel artificial actuator, made of an SMA-fishing-line muscle and a McKibben muscle, was able to produce the maximum output force of 3.0 N and the maximum bending angle (the rotation of the end face) of 61°. This may promote the application of individual McKibben muscles or SMA-fishing-line muscles alone. An output force control method for the SFLM is proposed, and based on MATLAB/Simulink software, an experiment platform is set up and the effectiveness of control system is verified through output force experiments. A three-fingered SFLM gripper driven by three SFLMs has been designed for a case study and for which the maximum carrying capacity is 650.4 ± 0.2 g.


Base stacking is a major interaction shaping up and stabilizing nucleic acids. During the last decades, base stacking has been extensively studied by experimental and theoretical methods. Advanced quantum-chemical calculations clarified that base stacking is a common interaction, which in the first approximation can be described as combination of the three most basic contributions to molecular interactions, namely, electrostatic interaction, London dispersion attraction and short-range repulsion. There is not any specific π-π energy term associated with the delocalized π electrons of the aromatic rings that cannot be described by the mentioned contributions. The base stacking can be rather reasonably approximated by simple molecular simulation methods based on well-calibrated common force fields although the force fields do not include nonadditivity of stacking, anisotropy of dispersion interactions, and some other effects. However, description of stacking association in condensed phase and understanding of the stacking role in biomolecules remain a difficult problem, as the net base stacking forces always act in a complex and context-specific environment. Moreover, the stacking forces are balanced with many other energy contributions. Differences in definition of stacking in experimental and theoretical studies are explained.


Abstract
This thesis attempts to show the advantage of substance ontology in providing us the most preferable framework, both on methodological as well as philosophical grounds, to have a better grip on the diachronic problem of personal identity. In this case, substance ontology plays multi-faceted roles in terms of allowing us for example, to make sense of the persistence of persons over time, intrinsic changes persons undergo while maintaining their identity over time, etc. However, substance ontology has not been taken seriously by the majority of philosophers. This is because there is a deep seated but mistaken assumption among contemporary analytic philosophers that given the advances in modern science, substance ontology is irrelevant. It is also not uncommon to see philosophers questionably appealing to an extremely controversial Locke's theory of substratum (i.e., 'something we know not what') to justify their rejection of any notion that goes by the name substance. However, with close examination, at the heart of such a rejection of substance ontology lies the naturalistic ontology, according to which everything in the universe has to be explained in purely physical terms as dictated by the physical sciences (e.g., physics and chemistry). But as I will argue in this thesis, when it comes to the metaphysics of the self and its identity over time, the naturalistic ontology suffers from a serious lack of explanatory adequacy. I argue that ultimately, the controversy over the nature of the self is a metaphysical issue in that it is not for science to adjudicate what the nature of the self has to be. In light of this, the conception of substance ontology I defend in this thesis can be taken as Aristotelian in spirit as opposed to Lockean. The category of substance has a fundamental ontological primacy over any other non-substantial entities such as events, places, time, properties (or tropes) and so on. I will argue that substance ontology understood in this way is indeed the most plausible and sustainable conception.


Background: The expression of transcriptional factor nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in untreated esophageal cancer specimens from patients who receive preoperative chemoradiation is associated with aggressive clinical biology. We hypothesized that nuclear NF-κB would define clinical biology even when surgery is used as primary therapy. Methods: Consecutive patients who did not receive any preoperative therapy were selected. Surgical cancer specimens were examined for nuclear NF-κB and correlated with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results: One hundred twenty-three patients (stage I, 9%; stage II, 24%; stage III, 53%; stage IV, 15%) with adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery as primary therapy were analyzed. Most patients were men (90%) and the median age was 63 years. For all 123 patients, the median DFS was 21 months and the median OS was 28 months. Nuclear NF-κB was associated with shortened DFS (P = 0.001) in 123 patients but also in stage II (P = 0.03) and stage III (P = 0.04). Nuclear NF-κB was associated with shortened OS (P = 0.002) in 123 patients and in stage II (P = 0.04) and showed trend in stage III (P = 0.17). Numbers are too small for stages I and IV. In multivariate models, nuclear NF-κB was an independent predictor for both DFS and OS (P = 0.005 and P = 0.01). Conclusions: Our data are the first to show that NF-κB status significantly correlates with DFS and OS for patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma undergoing surgery as primary therapy. NF-κB is an independent prognosticator of outcome, even for individual stages (e.g., stages II and III). More comprehensive molecular studies could help the design of strategies to individualize therapy of esophageal adenocarcinoma. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(6):1200–5)


THIS is a large book on a subject of which we know unfortunately little. In A.D. 365 the poet Ausonius, after having taught rhetoric at Bordeaux for thirty years, was appointed tutor to the young Gratian, the emperor Valentinian's son. He subsequently rose to the most important offices and to great influence in the state; at one time he and his proteges controlled a large part of the highest administration. This puzzling career is clearly of considerable historical interest. Dr. Jouai gives a valuable, though far too extensive, review of the work done by scholars like Jullian, Seeck, Schenkl, Stein, and others. In four long chapters he presents the material for Ausonius the rhetor, the courtier, quaestor, prefect, and consul. A large bibliography, a comprehensive index, and a summary in French close the book. But, alas, there seems hardly one point where the scanty material allows for more than a hypothetical solution, if for that. Dr. Jouai tries to draw the figure of the magistrate Ausonius against the historical background of his time, and the sections dealing with the general history of Valentinian and Gratian make interesting reading. One of the two factors, however, needed for such a picture is wanting, viz. a clear understanding of Ausonius as a politician. At the end we are left wondering how the politician replaced the professor of rhetoric once he got beyond the Quaestura Sacri Palatii, which was oftener than not filled by rhetors. Except for one disputable point, we do not even know what political actions can be ascribed to Ausonius, what his political views were, or, in fact, whether he had any. But the whole problem of the rhetor and politician in later Roman history is an interesting one, and well deserves a new treatment on a broader historical basis.


This research paper represents the application of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Box-Behnken design (BBD) for modeling and an analysis of the influences of dominant Laser transformation hardening parameters: laser power (LP), scanning speed (SS) and focused position (FP) on hardened bead geometries such as hardened bead width (HBW) and hardened depth (HD) of laser hardened surface quality of unalloyed titanium sheet of 1.6 mm thickness, nearer to ASTM Grade 3 of chemical composition using CW 2kW Nd:YAG laser. The effects of laser power, scanning speed and focal point position on the hardened-bead geometry (i.e. hardened bead width (HBW) and hardened depth (HD) were investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). Linear and quadratic polynomial equations for predicting the hardened bead geometry were developed. The results indicate that the developed mathematical models predict the responses adequately within the limits of hardening parameters being used. It is proposed that regression equations can be used to find optimum hardening conditions for desired criteria.


Accumulating evidence has shown that sirtuin 7 (SIRT7), a mediator of various cellular activities, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various immune-mediated inflammatory disorders. However, information remains limited regarding the role of SIRT7 in intestinal inflammation. We used a murine colitis model to investigate the role of SIRT7 in intestinal immunity and whether SIRT7 inhibitors could attenuate the intestinal inflammatory response. Mice were divided into three groups: control, colitis-induced, and SIRT7-inhibitor-treated. A colitis mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection and nasal challenge with ovalbumin, as in our previous study. Quantitative analyses of inflammatory cytokines and SIRT7 levels in the colonic mucosa were performed to compare the changes in inflammatory responses between the three groups. The colitis group showed increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and SIRT7 in the colonic mucosa. The inflammatory reaction was suppressed in colitis-induced mice administered the SIRT7 inhibitor. The qRT-PCR results showed normalization of inflammatory cytokines in the SIRT7 inhibitor-treated group. Histologic study revealed a decrease in the extent of inflammation after SIRT7 treatment. We also observed that the degree of clinical inflammation was improved in SIRT7-treated mice. Our study demonstrated that SIRT7 inhibition attenuated the inflammatory response in the colon of mice, suggesting a possible role for SIRT7 in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated intestinal inflammation.


Virtualization Mechanisms for Mobility, Security and System Administration Shaya Potter This dissertation demonstrates that operating system virtualization is an effective method for solving many different types of computing problems. We have designed novel systems that make use of commodity software while solving problems that were not conceived when the software was originally written. We show that by leveraging and extending existing virtualization techniques, and introducing new ones, we can build these novel systems without requiring the applications or operating systems to be rewritten. We introduce six architectures that leverage operating system virtualization. *Pod creates fully secure virtual environments and improves user mobility. AutoPod reduces the downtime needed to apply kernel patches and perform system maintenance. PeaPod creates least-privilege systems by introducing the pea abstraction. Strata improves the ability of administrators to manage large numbers of machines by introducing the Virtual Layered File System. Apiary builds upon Strata to create a new form of desktop security by using isolated persistent and ephemeral application containers. Finally, ISE-T applies the two-person control model to system administration. By leveraging operating system virtualization, we have built these architectures on Linux without requiring any changes to the underlying kernel or user-space applications. Our results, with real applications, demonstrate that operating system virtualization has minimal overhead. These architectures solve problems with minimal impact on end-users while providing functionality that would previously have required modifications to the underlying system.


Quantifying and visualizing the shape of developing biological tissues provide information about the morphogenetic processes in multicellular organisms. The size and shape of biological tissues depend on the number, size, shape, and arrangement of the constituting cells. To better understand the mechanisms that guide tissues into their final shape, it is important to investigate and measure the cellular arrangements within tissues. Here we present a set of techniques that produces detailed 3D models of the individual cells in an epithelial sheet. The inputs to the techniques are a volumetric model of an epithelium and a mesh model of the cell boundaries lying on its apical surface. The techniques include: definition of a Region of Interest (ROI), projection of the ROI vertices first to the basal surface then to the apical surface, projection of apical cell faces to the basal surface, creation of 3D epithelial cell models, and calculation and visualization of length and volume for each cell. In their first utilization we have applied these techniques to construct the individual epithelial cells of the wing imaginal disc of Drosophila melanogaster. To date, 3D epithelial cell models have been created, allowing for the calculation and visualization of cell parameters. The results show position-dependent patterns of cell shape in the wing imaginal disc. Our procedures should offer a general data processing pipeline for the construction of detailed 3D models of a wide variety of epithelial tissues.


A modified procedure for the use of antibiotics in nutrient media for isolation of Shigella is described. The procedure is designated as the method of 3 strips. It implies introduction of 3 different antibiotics, i. e. levomycetin, streptomycin and one of tetracyclines to definite areas of the nutrient medium in a petri dish. The antibiotics diffuse into the medium from 3 strips of filter paper. The greatest part of the medium contains minor amounts of the antibiotics and is used for isolation of the antibiotics sensitive Shigella strains. The procedure is simple and economic. It excludes the most frequent mistakes due to incorrect selection of antibiotics. The preliminary trials showed that the procedure may be used in the routine studies.


The achievement of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in ultracold vapors of alkali atoms has given enormous impulse to the theoretical and experimental study of dilute atomic gases in condensed quantum states inside magnetic traps and optical lattices. This article offers a short survey on mathematical models and theories as well as numerical methods for BEC based on the mean field theory. We start with the Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE) in three dimensions (3D) for modeling onecomponent BEC of the weakly interacting bosons, scale it to obtain a three-parameter model and show how to reduce it to two dimensions (2D) and one dimension (1D) GPEs in certain limiting regimes. Mathematical theories and numerical methods for ground states and dynamics of BEC are provided. Extensions to GPE with an angular momentum rotation term for a rotating BEC, to GPE with longrange anisotropic dipole-dipole interaction for a dipolar BEC and to coupled GPEs for spin-orbit coupled BECs are discussed. Finally, some conclusions are drawn and future research perspectives are discussed. Mathematics Subject Classification (2010). Primary 35Q55; Secondary 70F10.


Abstract Changes in the double star database are highlighted, describing various methods of observation (both historically and those of the past few years) and their effectiveness in different regimes of separation space. The various niches for wide- and narrow-field work as they apply to double and multiple stars are examined and the different types of information which each can provide are described. Despite the significant growth of the double star database, much can still be done, such as finding lost pairs, filling in missing parameters so that observing programs can select all stars appropriate to their capabilities, or providing at least gross kinematic descriptions. After more than 20 years of successful work, speckle interferometry and conventional CCD astrometry have replaced filar micrometry and photography as preferred classical techniques. Indeed, most work in filar micrometry is now being done by amateurs. Work on pairs described as neglected in the last major WDS data release (2001) is given as a specific example. Finally, the continued need to publish data in classical double star parameters is also discussed.


Kisspeptins (Kiss1 and Kiss2) and their receptors (putatively Gpr54-1 and Gpr54-2) have emerged as key players in vertebrate reproduction owing to their stimulatory effect on the brain-pituitary-gonadal axis. Virtually nothing is known, however, about their role during embryogenesis. Using medaka (Teleostei) as a model system, we report, for the first time in vertebrates, an early developmental expression and putative function of kisspeptins. Expression analyses and knockdown experiments suggest that early actions of kisspeptins are probably mediated by binding to maternally supplied Gpr54-1 and late action by both Gpr54-1 and Gpr54-2. Knockdown of maternally provided kiss1 and gpr54-1 arrested development during gastrulation, before establishment of any germ layers, whereas knockdown of zygotically provided kiss1 and gpr54-1 disrupted brain development. A similar phenotype was observed for gpr54-2 knockdown embryos, suggesting a critical role for kiss1, gpr54-1, and gpr54-2 in neurulation. These data demonstrate that kisspeptin signaling is active both maternally and zygotically and is involved in embryonic survival and morphogenesis.


The financial system spurs the economic growth or economic growth necessitates the development of financial system is a million dollar question. Many studies across the globe have been undertaken to find an amicable solution with different degrees of success. This study abridged the gap between knowledge in the current literature to address the specific problem of resolving the economic problems and bringing uplift to the economy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by suggesting appropriate measures and measuring the impact of political, religious, economic and cultural factors on perceived economic growth. Survey questionnaires have been used to record responses from respondents to gain insight into their political, religious, cultural and economic perceptions. The study relied on convenience sampling and utilized structural equation modeling technique to test the measurement and structural models to represent relationship among latent variables or constructs. The results of hypotheses tests for overall model revealed an insignificant impact of Perceived Cultural Stability and Perceived Religious Affiliation on Perceived Economic Growth while Perceived Economic Environment and Perceived Political Stability had a significant impact on Perceived Economic Growth. Though the study is limited to evaluation of how different factors impact the perception of economic growth, future studies may evaluate the same from a wider perspective. Furthermore, future studies may also involve other factors that could potentially influence the economic growth. The study was limited to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; future studies to validate the findings of the present study may be conducted in other regions also.
Keywords: Financial Systems, Perceived Political Stability, Perceived Cultural Stability, Perceived Religious Affiliations, Perceived Economic Growth.
The financial system in Pakistan is made up of the State Bank of Pakistan, all scheduled banks, financial institutions regulated by the Security & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Directorate of National Savings, Micro Finance Institutions (MFI's), remittances sent or received through legitimate chartered exchange companies, Pakistan Post Office Directorate, Insurance companies, money dealers in the private sector, kinship, acquaintances, merchants and traders and dealers operating in the rural areas (Mehrteab, 2005). Countries in the South Asian hemisphere in particular are under the tremendous influence of economic slump but the situation in war torn areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is even worse. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan is one of those areas which are badly affected by the war-like situation and terrorism. According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan, the KP Province is contributing 13 % to the GDP of the country as against a total population of 27 million which amounts to 14 % of the total population of Pakistan. Majority of the people living in KP Province


BACKGROUND
Injuries to the tibiofibular syndesmosis commonly cause prolonged ankle pain and disability. Syndesmotic injuries are associated with slower healing rates compared with rates for other ankle ligament injuries and typically result in longer time away from sports. To our knowledge, the vascular supply to the syndesmosis and its clinical implication have not previously been studied. The purpose of this study was to describe the vascular supply to the tibiofibular syndesmosis with use of a method of chemical debridement of cadaveric specimens.

METHODS
Twenty-five matched pairs of adult cadaver legs, fifty legs total, were amputated below the knee. India ink, followed by Ward Blue Latex, was injected into the anterior tibial, peroneal, and posterior tibial arteries under constant manual pressure to elucidate the vascular supply of the ankle syndesmotic ligaments. Chemical debridement was performed with 6.0% sodium hypochlorite to remove soft tissue, leaving bones, ligaments, and casts of the vascular anatomy intact. The vascular supply to the syndesmosis was evaluated and recorded.

RESULTS
The anterior vascularity of the syndesmosis was clearly visualized in forty-three of fifty specimens. The peroneal artery supplied an anterior branch (the perforating branch) that perforated the interosseous membrane, an average of 3 cm proximal to the ankle joint. This branch provided the primary vascular supply to the anterior ligaments in twenty-seven specimens (63%). The anterior tibial artery provided additional contribution to the anterior ligaments in the remaining sixteen specimens (37%).

CONCLUSIONS
The location of the perforating branch of the peroneal artery places it at risk when injury to the syndesmosis extends to the interosseous membrane 3 cm proximal to the ankle joint. In the majority of specimens, injury to this vessel would result in loss of the primary blood supply to the anterior ligaments.


Adequate nutritional status is fundamental for the fruiting process of mango trees (Mangifera indica L.). In this context, plant biostimulants are substances that promote physiological and nutritional changes, benefiting production. The present study evaluated the effect of biostimulants on the nutritional status and fruit production of 'Kent' mango trees. The experiment was carried out in the Brazilian semiarid region over 2 consecutive years, 2016 and 2017. Leaf treatments with biostimulants were applied in three phases (preflowering, beginning of flowering, and full flowering) during both seasons. The treatments were as follows: T1) control (without biostimulants); T2) biostimulants containing nutrients and L-α-amino acids; T3) biostimulants containing nutrients and Lithothamnium algae extract; T4) biostimulants containing nutrients and sucrose; and T5) biostimulants containing nutrients, free amino acids, and Lithothamnium algae extract. The results show that there was no effect of the biostimulants for chlorophyll a, b, and total indices or for total leaf soluble carbohydrates. Some of the treatments affected the leaf concentrations of N, K, Mn, Fe, and Zn, whereas only T2 in 2016 and T5 in 2017 increased the number of fruits per panicle if compared with nontreated plants. In 2016, the production per tree was higher in T5 compared with the other treatments, whereas it was greater in 2017 in both T2 and T5 with increases of 37.4 and 23.1 kg per tree, respectively, compared with the control treatment. Biostimulants containing soluble nutrients, L-α-amino acids, free amino acids, and Lithothamnium algae extract benefit the nutritional status and increase the fruit production of mango 'Kent'.


Exploiting photocatalysts with a full spectrum response undoubtedly holds great potential. Here, a novel MoS2/Sb2S3 composite with a wide-range photoresponse was fabricated through a facile hydrothermal method. The as-obtained photocatalyst was characterized via a variety of techniques used for analyzing morphology, structure, and physical–chemical and photoelectrochemical properties. It was indicated that the MoS2/Sb2S3 hybrid possessed fast electron transport and improved light absorption. Additionally, the composite presents remarkable photoelectric conversion efficiency and optimal MoS2/Sb2S3 could remove Cr(VI) with efficiencies of 84%, 99% and 72% when exposed to ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared (NIR) light, which are 16, 50 and 25 times greater than those of Sb2S3, respectively. The enhanced NIR photocatalytic efficiency may be explained by the enhanced NIR light absorption, favorable charge separation and, in particular, the sulfur vacancies in MoS2.


Within this paper we analyze a state-of-the-art type of corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication, communication via social media. This type of communication with stakeholders is of growing importance. Opportunities and challenges of communication through social media channels are identified with special emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agri-food sector. 8 expert interviews were conducted on the basis of a broad literature review. The results of the qualitative interviews are analyzed by means of a comprehensive computer aided qualitative content analysis. The study enables the reader to get insights into the current situation regarding the implementation of CSR communication through social media channels in SMEs. Opportunities and threats of the application of social media are identified. The results are compared with relevant findings from literature.


The medicinal activity of COX-2 inhibitors are sufficiently beneficial to urge the search for new drug designs. This study presents 16 analogs of lumiracoxib and 10 analogs to valdecoxib having properties suitable as COX-2 inhibitors. For lumiracoxib analogs the mean Log P, polar surface area, and formula weight are 3.00, 70.46 A(2), and 276.60, respectively. For valdecoxib analogs the mean Log P, polar surface area, and formula weight are 3.65, 68.46 A(2), and 322.32, respectively. Grubb's test analysis of seven properties for seven known COX-2 selective inhibitors and those of 26 analog compounds indicated no outliers. The unpaired t-test compared Log P and polar surface area of seven known COX-2 inhibitors to all 26 analogs and found no difference. All 26 analogs showed no violation of the Rule of 5, this being an indicator of favorable bioavailability. Hierarchical cluster analysis by single linkage indicated lumiracoxib is most similar to analogs 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, and 17. Valdecoxib has highest similarity to analogs 8, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, and 28. Multiple regression analysis successfully produced equations for prediction of similar compounds to lumiracoxib and valdecoxib. Path analysis indicated that number of atoms, oxygen & nitrogen atoms, and Log P are the greatest determinants for formula weight for known COX-2 inhibitors. Criteria for molecular properties is established for identifying COX-2 inhibitors. These 26 analogs show much potential for active COX-2 inhibition.


As additive quantile regression (AQR) models possess the properties of robustness and flexibility, they become increasingly popular in many applications. However, such models may fail when predictors reflect interaction effects in the response. In fact, we often encounter such a problem that the main effects are not significant but the pairwise interactions are in regression. The existence of such a situation is neither accidental nor ignorable. Overlooking the interaction effects may render many of the traditional statistical techniques used for studying data relationships invalid. In these situations, it is necessary to consider more reasonable models such as AQR model with pairwise interactions. This paper mainly studies estimation and testing for the AQR model with pairwise interactions. To estimate the unknown functions in the model, local linear fitting and ordinary backfitting methods are applied. The generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) type test statistic is constructed to test the overall significance of pairwise interactions, and bootstrap method is utilized to approximate the asymptotic distribution of the test statistic. Theoretical properties of estimators and GLR type test statistic are derived. Bandwidth selection based on plug-in method for pairwise interactions is discussed as well. Finally, simulation study and a simple empirical analysis are presented to illustrate the performance of the proposed model.


INTRODUCTION Modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) has been shown to improve function of an affected upper limb post stroke. However, factors influencing adherence of individuals undertaking a mCIMT protocol require further investigation. AIM To explore the experience of two participants undergoing a mCIMT protocol and examine factors influencing adherence to the protocol. METHODS A qualitative case study design was used. Two participants with upper limb hemiparesis following a stroke were recruited and received mCIMT (two hours of therapy, three days per week for a total of two weeks). During the treatment period, participants were also encouraged to wear the restraint mitt for four hours per day at home. RESULTS Participants reported increased confidence and self-esteem following participation, as well as improvements in bi-lateral upper limb function. Participants reported the mCIMT protocol as being highly frustrating. However, motivation to adhere to the protocol was positively influenced by the meaningfulness of the occupations attempted. CONCLUSION Although mCIMT can prove frustrating, meaningful occupations may act as a powerful motivator towards adherence to a mCIMT protocol. Further research is required.


BACKGROUND
Thoracic surgery training among general surgery residents in the United States is regulated by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to ensure exposure to subspecialty fields during residency. Thoracic surgery training has changed over time with the placement of work hour restrictions, the emphasis on minimally invasive surgery, and increased subspecialization of training like integrated six-year cardiothoracic surgery programs. We aim to investigate how these changes over the past twenty years have affected thoracic surgery training among general surgery residents.

METHODS
ACGME general surgery resident case logs from 1999 to 2019 were reviewed. Data included exposure to the thorax via thoracic, cardiac, vascular, pediatric, trauma, and alimentary tract procedures. Cases from the above categories were consolidated to determine the comprehensive experience. Descriptive statistics were performed over four 5-year Eras (Era 1:1999-2004, Era 2: 2004-2009, Era 3: 2009-2014, Era 4: 2014-2019).

RESULTS
Between Era 1 and Era 4, there was an increase in thoracic surgery experience (37.6 ± 1.03 vs 39.3 ± .64; P = .006). The mean total thoracic experience for thoracoscopic, open, and cardiac procedures was 12.89 ± 3.76, 20.09 ± 2.33, and 4.98 ± 1.28, respectively. There was a difference between Era 1 and Era 4 in thoracoscopic (8.78 ± .961 vs 17.18 ± .75; P < .001) and open thoracic experience (22 ± .97 vs 17.06 ± .88; P < .001), and a decrease in thoracic trauma procedures (3.7 ± .06 vs 3.2 ± .32; P = .03).

DISCUSSION
Over twenty years there has been a similar, to slight increase in thoracic surgery exposure among general surgery residents. The changes seen in thoracic surgery training reflect the overall movement of surgery towards minimally invasive surgery.


Fault injection is important to evaluating the dependability of computer systems. Researchers and engineers have created many novel methods to inject faults, which can be implemented in both hardware and software. The contrast between the hardware and software methods lies mainly in the fault injection points they can access, the cost and the level of perturbation. Hardware methods can inject faults into chip pins and internal components, such as combinational circuits and registers that are not software-addressable. On the other hand, software methods are convenient for directly producing changes at the software-state level. Thus, we use hardware methods to evaluate low-level error detection and masking mechanisms, and software methods to test higher level mechanisms. Software methods are less expensive, but they also incur a higher perturbation overhead because they execute software on the target system.


The study aimed to evaluate the difficulty in maintaining eye contact during a teleconference for different camera-gaze angular offsets. Videoconferencing systems may compromise the eye contact between participants due to imperfect angular alignment between the center of the screen and the camera. During a teleconference, difficulty maintaining eye contact may be perceived as uncomfortable or unsatisfying by participants in the call. An experiment deploying 33 test subjects was performed and evaluated. Groups of three test subjects performed a videoconference call. The effect of camera-gaze angular offset was quantified by assessing Effectiveness and Engagement ratings. It was shown that even 10 degrees of misalignment cause a statistically significant drop in Effectiveness for business-type teleconference calls. Camera-gaze angular offset is an important parameter to be considered during videoconferencing equipment design or setup. Higher misalignments may cause significant drops in perceived call quality (Quality of Experience). Our research results can be practical in conferencing equipment design and setup, modern telecommunication equipment design, workplace ergonomics, or distance learning equipment setup.


Large congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) are cutaneous malformations of neural crest origin that have a notorious reputation because of their reported propensity to undergo malignant degeneration. Traditionally, complete surgical excision has been advocated based on the premise that large CMN are a precursor to melanoma. Two cases of large periocular CMN are reported to emphasize the importance of distinguishing them from other congenital skin lesions. Data from the literature support the contention that these pigmented skin lesions spawn malignancies and that prophylactic therapy may be indicated.


Our current understanding of the Cambrian carbon cycle mostly comes from geologically rapid carbon isotope excursions (CIEs) of marine carbonate. In addition to carbon cycle indicators, stable carbon isotopes of marine carbonates can be used as stratigraphic correlation tools. Previous studies have recognized 10 CIEs in the Cambrian, but only 3 of them appear to have global significance. This limits the application of CIEs in chronostratigraphic correlation of Cambrian successions with the 10 successive stages. Here, we present a continuous carbon isotope record from a stratigraphically complete Cambrian section at Xiaoerbulak, Aksu region in the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, China. Its comparison with more than 40 sections across the world shows the carbon isotope record of the Cambrian can be divided into 10 units based on the variation patterns. Each pattern has occurrences in at least two Cambrian tectonic plates, suggesting global significance. A generalized curve consisting of the 10 patterns, Carbon Isotope Pattern Curve (CIPC) has been compiled. Based on the fossil records, the 10 patterns are correlated with the 10 stages of the chronostratigraphic system of the Cambrian. The pattern Angularianis correlated with Fortunian Stage and the lower half of Stage 2, Dampingian with the upper part of Stage 2, Boxian with Stage 3, Rabbitian with Stage 4, Chairian with the lower half of Wuliuan, Zigzagian with the upper Wuliuan Stage, Stickian with the Drumian and Guzhangian stages, Towerian with the Paibian Stage and Lower Jiangshan Stage, Shelfian with Upper Jiangshan Stage and the lower half of Stage 10, and Hillian with the upper half of Stage 10.We suggest that the application of CIPC makes the chronostratigraphy of non‐fossiliferous successions realizable.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the association between race and preterm birth among women with a lifelong residence in high-income neighborhoods.

METHODS
Stratified and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed on the Illinois transgenerational birthfile (infants born 1989-1991 and mothers born 1956-1975) with appended US Census income data. African American (n = 777) and non-Hispanic White (n = 2,327) infants born to mothers with a lifelong residence in Chicago census tracts with median family incomes in the top income quartile were studied.

RESULTS
African Americans had a twofold greater preterm (< 37 weeks) birth rate than Whites: 11.6% vs 5.2%, relative risk (95% confidence interval) equaled 2.2 (1.7-2.9). The adjusted (controlling for maternal birth weight, age, education, marital status, cigarette smoking, and prenatal care utilization) odds ratio of preterm birth for African Americans (compared to Whites) equaled 1.2 (.4-2.0). African Americans had a sixfold greater very low birth weight rate (< 1500 g) than Whites: 3.3% vs .6%: relative risk (95% confidence interval) equaled 5.9 (3.1-11.2). The adjusted odds ratio of very low birth weight for African Americans (compared to Whites) equaled 2.4 (1.1-3.9).

CONCLUSIONS
A stark racial disparity in the unadjusted rates of preterm birth and very low birth weight exists among women with a lifelong residence in high-income urban neighborhoods; however, the disparity narrows when traditional, individual-level risk factors are mathematically controlled.


The problem of robustification of interconnection and damping assignment passivity‐based control for underactuated mechanical system vis‐à‐vis matched, constant, and unknown disturbances is addressed in the paper. This is achieved adding an outer‐loop controller to the interconnection and damping assignment passivity‐based control. Three designs are proposed, with the first one being a simple nonlinear PI, while the second and the third ones are nonlinear PIDs. While all controllers ensure stability of the desired equilibrium in spite of the presence of the disturbances, the inclusion of the derivative term allows us to inject further damping enlarging the class of systems for which asymptotic stability is ensured. Numerical simulations of the Acrobot system and experimental results on the disk‐on‐disk system illustrate the performance of the proposed controller. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Female lower urinary tract symptoms are nonspecific, and a thorough clinical evaluation is required to establish the correct diagnosis. Such evaluation should consist of a structured micturition history or questionnaire, physical examination with full bladder, micturition diary, pad test and urodynamic evaluation. The urodynamic evaluation should consist at least of cystometry, detrusor pressure/uroflow study, simple ('free') uroflowmetry, assessment of the relative contribution of urethral hypermobility and intrinsic sphincter deficiency, and estimation of postvoid residual urine by ultrasound or catheterization. Recent studies regarding the role of pad tests, micturition diaries and urodynamic studies in the evaluation of female voiding dysfunction are presented. Factors that are associated with the use of transurethral catheter during pressure-flow studies and current controversies regarding the diagnosis of female bladder outlet obstruction are reviewed and discussed. Although the urodynamic study is considered to be the best diagnostic tool in assessment of lower urinary tract function, some practitioners believe that urodynamic evaluation is not routinely warranted and prefer to employ a symptom-based empirical management strategy. Lower urinary tract symptoms are nonspecific, however, and should be used mainly to identify what bothers the patient. Urodynamic studies define the underlying pathophysiology. We believe that treatment of the underlying pathophysiology facilitates better treatment of symptoms.


Meeting the challenges of an unstable and unsettled environment is not easy. The recent impacts on the hospitality services economy of changing technology, mergers of institutions, increasingly demanding consumers and increased competition have created an atmosphere of volatility and rapid change. In order to survive in this demanding market place, service organisations have only one choice, to successfully develop and launch new services. However, the failure rate of new service projects is high, because the knowledge on how new services should be developed is limited. Unfortunately, unlike tangible new product development practices which have the benefit of extensive research into how successful new products are developed, the service sector has only recently begun to explore ways to ensure the success of new services. Therefore, this study focuses on a better understanding of how successful new hotel services are developed and investigates the factors, which have impact on success or failure in new service development (NSD) in the hotel sector. The results of the exploratory study are summarised in a conceptual model for further research.


Sulfur (S) deficiencies in grain crops have become increasingly frequent worldwide, including the Argentine Pampas region, located in South America. The objective of this work is to review recent research literature regarding S fertilization in the Argentine Pampas region, with emphasis on technological issues. The S fertilization in this region has grown sharply over recent years and, simultaneously, more scientific literature has been generated. A knowledge gap is recognized on field research studies related to elemental sulfur (ES) fertilization and its relative agronomic effectiveness in comparison to soluble S sources. By far, solid sulfate fertilizers are the most widespread S sources applied by farmers in the Pampas region. Nonetheless, application of liquid sources has increased over recent times. Overall, similar agronomic performance among sulfate sources has been reported. Additionally, similar effectiveness was documented between micronized ES and sulfate sources for different crops, with the exception of some site-specific conditions where effectiveness of sulfate sources may outperform ES. This review manuscript contributes to synthesize current knowledge regarding S fertilization technology and identify research needs in this matter.


Abstract Specific forms of ocular motor disturbances, such as Duane syndrome, occur with sufficient frequency in certain syndromes that the timing, location, and nature of the developmental disturbance may be established. The presence of this characteristic type of strabismus in a number of cases of hemifacial microsomia, especially the Goldenhar variants, may provide insight into the developmental disturbances of this large, complex group of patients. Evaluation of specific abnormalities of affected patients from the perspective of one discipline may further aid in the "lumping" or "splitting" process.


Abstract A series of experimental measurements of the visible light angular transmittance profiles of clouds is described. The results for single-layer overcast clouds were found to correlate well with standard hemispheric and narrow-angle pyrheliometric transmittances. The resulting expression for the angular transmittance profile of an overcast cloud layer is               T(θ) = A+B sin2θ, where            A = −0.0056+0.89Tn , and B = −0.028+1.09Tw, and T is the transmittance measured for a field of view at the detector subtending a half angle θ centered about the sun or other light source, Tn the transmittance measured with a narrow-angle pyrheliometer, and Tw the transmittance measured with a hemispheric pyrheliometer.


CONTEXT
The extent to which individuals are prepared completely for work in a particular athletic training setting (eg, professional sports, college, high school) is unknown. This issue is critical today, and findings in this area have implications for athletic training education policy and employers.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the perceptions of preparation for work-specific tasks by professional baseball athletic trainers (PBATs). We also wanted to determine whether various preparation experiences interact with perceived skills.

DESIGN
Cross-sectional study.

SETTING
Online survey administered via Survey-Monkey.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS
Two hundred seventy-five PBATs.

INTERVENTION(S)
The PBATs reported their levels of preparation before employment in their positions and their current skills in each of the 8 work task domains: evaluation of elbow injuries; evaluation of shoulder injuries; evaluation of general injuries; acute care; injury prevention; treatment, rehabilitation, and reconditioning; organization and administration; and non-athletic-training tasks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Nine repeated-measures analyses of covariance were performed with each perception of preparation (retrospective, current) as a within-subject factor. Preparation experiences were included as between-subjects factors, and number of years working in baseball was the covariate.

RESULTS
Subscale reliabilities were calculated and found to be between 0.79 and 0.97. A total of 180 PBATs (65%) completed the survey. The backgrounds and routes by which PBATs gained employment in the professional baseball setting varied. Individuals who completed professional baseball internships, had previous work experience, and immediately entered the professional baseball setting after graduation had noted differences in their perceptions of preparation for work tasks. The PBATs indicated they were substantially underprepared for tasks in the organization and administration and non-athletic-training task domains.

CONCLUSIONS
The organizational socialization process is complex, and no 1 experience appears to completely prepare an individual for work in the professional baseball setting.


Literacy and health are deeply influential in social participation, utilisation of social resources and quality of life. This paper discusses interacting discourses and common conceptual points shared by the adult literacy and public health fields and situates how the sub-field at the intersection of these two domains, known as 'health literacy', is constructed and enacted. Emerging approaches that recognise the convergence of education and health within international policy, research and in practice are articulated. The paper argues a case for re-thinking the literacy-health connection from a cross-sectoral perspective and for more effective approaches furthering the interests of both life-long learning and wellbeing.


Abstract : User-interruption in human-computer interaction (HCI) is an increasingly important problem. Many of the useful advances in intelligent and multitasking computer systems have the significant side effect of greatly increasing user-interruption. This previously innocuous HCI problem has become critical to the successful function of many kinds of modern computer systems. Unfortunately, no HCI design guidelines exist for solving this problem. In fact, theoretical tools do not yet exist for investigating the HCI problem of user-interruption in a comprehensive and generalizable way. This report asserts that a single unifying definition of user-interruption and the accompanying practical taxonomy would be useful theoretical tools for driving effective investigation of this crucial HCI problem. These theoretical tools are constructed here. A comprehensive analysis is conducted through the existing literature. Theoretical constructs from several relevant but diverse fields are identified and discussed. A unifying definition of user-interruption is synthesized. This new definition is supported with an array of postulates, assertions, and a taxonomy of human interruption to facilitate its practical application.


with the introduction of new standards at a fast pace, wireless communication is experiencing great development and growth, thereby raising the level of demand for radio spectrum. The spectrum, however, is a limited resource and cannot be subdivided indefinitely to satisfy any use. As a result, spectrum scarcity arises. This scarcity represents the main problem that faces the future of wireless networks. This scarcity is due to the inefficient fixed spectrum allocation technique. The Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) is a successful solution to reduce the spectrum scarcity that wireless communications currently face. DSA allows users without a spectrum license known as Secondary Users (SUs) to temporarily use the unused licensed spectrum. This work focuses on analysis, and design of the Cognitive Radio (CR) system forOrthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing modulation. The OFDM transceiver system has been implemented in the first stage using the Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulation technique by Xilinx System Generator Inter-Symbol InterferenceSimulink (XSG) based on MATLAB. The second stage of the proposed system is to design energy detection of the OFDM transceiver. This system was analyzed under the Adaptive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) channel based XSG. In this work, the energy detector is also designed using the XSG ISE14.1 Simulink and obtained all the signals successfully.
Index Terms— CR, Spectrum Sensing, OFDM, QPSK, ED, AWGN.


Rules-based factor portfolios combining multiple factors have become increasingly popular in recent years. One often-asked question concerning portfolio construction is whether combining individual factor portfolios is equivalent to building a bottom-up multifactor portfolio. The latter approach has theoretical merit, because each security's weight in the portfolio will depend on how well it ranks on multiple factors simultaneously. The former approach, combining single-factor portfolios, may miss cross-sectional interaction between the factors at the security level. The authors analyze the magnitude of these effects and find that these interaction effects can in fact have a significant impact on portfolio performance. Both intuition and empirical evidence favor bottom-up multifactor portfolio construction.


One hundred-eighty six strawberry genotypes from the Univ. of California strawberry (Fragaria xananassa Duch.) breeding program were evaluated for resistance to Phytophthora cactorwn Schroet. in trials conducted over 6 years; 60 of these genotypes were tested in 2 years or more. Mother plants of each genotype were grown in a propagation nursery beginning in June, and runner plants were set into soil infested with inoculum from a mix of four P. cacrorum isolates in August or September of the same year. Runner plants of each genotype were harvested from the inoculated nursery, transferred to a fruiting field location, and evaluated for disease symptoms during the winter and spring fol- lowing inoculation using a disease severity score. Significant variation for the disease severity score was detected due to years, genotypes, and their interaction. Differences among genotypes were responsible for 60.6% of the phenotypic variance, whereas years and year x genotype interactions contributed relatively little to this variance, 8.2% and 9.3%, respectively. A separate analysis conducted using a balanced subset of six cultivars that were present in all trial years detected variance components due to years and year x genotype interaction slightly smaller than those estimated for the complete trial, 5.0% and 3.9%, respectively. These results highlight the utility of the screening system and suggest that stable resistance to P. cactorum is obtainable in California strawberry breeding populations and production systems.


Inclusion has been identified as a key component of successful approaches to organisational diversity management. To date, the inclusion literature has predominantly used quantitative methodology to study visible forms of diversity such as gender and ethnicity. Invisible forms of diversity, such as sexual orientation diversity, have received limited research attention, despite Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) employees facing significantly higher rates of bullying and discrimination in the workplace than their heterosexual colleagues. The current study uses semi-structured interviews and template analysis to investigate LGB employees' experiences of workplace inclusion within a UK public sector organisation. Findings demonstrate that LGBs share many experiences of exclusion with other minority groups; however, they are not often regarded as exclusionary or the result of one's sexual orientation. Such experiences appear to be either overlooked due to membership of other minority groups which hold greater significance, or downplayed due to membership of other majority groups. The main implication of this finding is that quantitative measures of inclusion may not reveal the severity of exclusion in organisations. It is therefore recommended that future research investigating employees' perceptions of inclusion should consider the validity of findings in relation to inclusion based on invisible characteristics. Finally, the findings detailed in this report lend support for the use of an intersectional research approach, which considers the way in which minority statuses are interconnected and cannot be examined in isolation when investigating individuals' experiences.


Metagenomic methods amplifying 16S ribosomal RNA genes have been used to describe the microbial diversity of healthy skin and lesion stages of bovine digital dermatitis (DD) and to detect critical pathogens involved with disease pathogenesis. In this study, we characterized the microbiome and for the first time, the composition of functional genes of healthy skin (HS), active (ADD) and inactive (IDD) lesion stages using a whole-genome shotgun approach. Metagenomic sequences were annotated using MG-RAST pipeline. Six phyla were identified as the most abundant. Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were the predominant bacterial phyla in the microbiome of HS, while Spirochetes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were highly abundant in ADD and IDD. T. denticola-like, T. vincentii-like and T. phagedenis-like constituted the most abundant species in ADD and IDD. Recruitment plots comparing sequences from HS, ADD and IDD samples to the genomes of specific Treponema spp., supported the presence of T. denticola and T. vincentii in ADD and IDD. Comparison of the functional composition of HS to ADD and IDD identified a significant difference in genes associated with motility/chemotaxis and iron acquisition/metabolism. We also provide evidence that the microbiome of ADD and IDD compared to that of HS had significantly higher abundance of genes associated with resistance to copper and zinc, which are commonly used in footbaths to prevent and control DD. In conclusion, the results from this study provide new insights into the HS, ADD and IDD microbiomes, improve our understanding of the disease pathogenesis and generate unprecedented knowledge regarding the functional genetic composition of the digital dermatitis microbiome.