INTRODUCTION: Laboratory sessions are responsible for promoting instrumentation skills desirable in biochemistry and biochemistry related careers. They are traditionally based on experimental protocols that lead to the expected results, and students usually have not autonomy to plan and execute their experiments. GOALS: This work aimed to enhance a traditional biochemistry lab course, applying pre-lab quizzes on protein biochemistry and lab techniques in order to have students better prepared to plan, execute and interpret experiments. This approach also aims to bring the laboratory sessions into an inquiry-based environment capable to improve students' independent capabilities in 2 autonomy domains: learning and communication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Online quizzes are delivered one week before each laboratory session, containing questions regarding the experimental techniques and theoretical basis related to them. Laboratory activities are presented in an inquiry-based approach where the first class of each activity is dedicated to plan experiments in order to answer the research questions presented by instructors. Activities are also organized in order to enhance students' autonomy. The first activity is the simplest and more instructor-controlled and the last one is the most complex and less driven, transferring gradually to students the responsibility for their decisions in laboratory, supporting students' autonomy. RESULTS: Online quizzes allowed instructors to identify students' difficulties and to timely intervene. Scientific reports presented by students at the end of each activity showed that they performed better on less driven activities in which autonomy support were more complex than in the instructor controlled activities. CONCLUSIONS: Scientific reports analysis reveals students capabilities related to different scopes of autonomy, such as: discuss different strategies; find multiple solutions to solve problems; make their own experiment hypothesis and look for literature to support data found. Thus, this approach may have positively supported students' autonomy, encouraging them to think by themselves and to take decisions concerning their experiments.


This document describes a program that was developed and implemented to expand the cultural awareness of fourth grade students. The report describes a multicultural education curriculum that focused on African American and Hispanic history, literature, inventions, ethnographies, and biographies. Research based cooperative learning strategies were combined with multicultural instruction. The students were grouped in a heterogeneous, multiculturally composed, cooperative learning model to facilitate the transformation. This project included a detailed fourth grade curriculum outline for cooperative group research, writing, and art projects relating to black and Hispanic cultures. During the project students developed an appreciation for the power of positive interdependence. Levels of success were measured by pre and post tests: (1) Cultural Awareness Assessment (CAA); (2) modified Racial Tension Scale (RTS); and (3) a Cultural Interaction Sociogram (CIS). Comparisons of the pre and post tests from the three instruments showed positive results. The CAA showed 50 percent to 70 percent increase in cultural literacy. The RTS exceeded the goal of 25 percent decrease in racial tension. The CIS demonstrated more than a 10 percent decrease in negative interaction in the cooperative groups. Appendices include pre and post CAA and RTS, CIS, CCA, and RTS test data comparative results, a parent letter, an inventions game, classroom rules, and happiness helpers doll patterns. (Author/DK) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** USING A COOPERATIVE LEARNING MODEL TO IMPROVE CULTURAL ATTITUDES AND INCREASE CULTURAL LITERACY


PURPOSE
Temozolomide is a well-tolerated oral alkylating agent with activity in the CNS. A multicenter, open-label, phase II study was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of temozolomide in patients with brain metastases from metastatic melanoma (MM) who did not require immediate radiotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Eligible patients had histologically confirmed MM to the brain, and no prior radiotherapy or radiosurgery for brain metastases. Previously untreated patients received temozolomide at 200 mg/m(2)/d x 5 days; previously treated patients received 150 mg/m(2)/d x 5 days every 28 days. Treatment continued for 1 year or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

RESULTS
Of 151 patients enrolled, 117 had received no prior systemic chemotherapy, and 34 had received prior chemotherapy for MM. Among previously untreated patients, 25% had more than four brain lesions, eight (7%) achieved an objective response (one complete and seven partial), and 34 (29%) had stable disease in brain metastases. Median overall survival was 3.5 months. Among previously treated patients, 21% had more than four brain lesions, one had a partial response, and six (18%) had stable disease in brain metastases. Median overall survival was 2.2 months. Temozolomide was well tolerated, with four (3%) patients discontinuing because of adverse events. Grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities included thrombocytopenia (3%), neutropenia (2%), and leukopenia (1%). Headache (9%) and vomiting (8%) were the most common nonhematologic grade 3/4 adverse events.

CONCLUSION
Temozolomide was well tolerated and demonstrated activity in the treatment of brain metastases from MM. Further evaluation of temozolomide combination therapy is warranted.


LaAlO3 is a promising candidate for gate dielectric of future VLSI devices. In this letter, n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors with LaAlO3 gate dielectric were fabricated, and the electron mobility degradation mechanisms were studied. The leakage current density is 7.6times10-5 A/cm2 at -1 V. The dielectric constant is 17.5. The surface-recombination velocity, the minority-carrier lifetime, and the effective capture cross section of surface states were extracted from gated-diode measurement. The rate of threshold voltage change with temperature (DeltaVT/DeltaT) from 11 K to 400 K is -1.51 mV/K, and the electron mobility limited by surface roughness is proportional to Eeff -0.66.


The author will describe the Federal Radionavigation Plan which delineates policies and plans for Government-provided radionavigation services. The plan gives respective areas of authority and responsibility and provides a management structure by which the operating agencies will define requirements and meet them in a cost-effective manner. It replaces the DOT National Plan for Navigation, and those sections of the DOD Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Master Navigation Plan dealing with common-user systems.

The Plan covers Federally-operated systems having a high degree of common use (either military/civil or between the various transportation modes). The systems considered are: LORAN-A; LORAN-C; OMEGA; VOR; VOR/DME; VORTAC; TACAN; ILS; TRANSIT; RADIOBEACONS; MLS; and NAVSTAR GPS. The goal is to select a suitable mix of these systems which can meet diverse user requirements for accuracy, reliability, coverage, operational utility, and cost; provide adequate capability for future growth; and minimize duplication of services. However, selection of an optimum mix to satisfy the users, while holding the number of systems and government and user costs to a minimum, involves complex operational, technical, institutional, international and economic trade offs. This Plan establishes a methodology for DOT and DOD to address these questions and arrived at an initial, optimum mix determination in the mid-80's.


Human null cells were isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) by differential centrifugation on a Ficoll‐Hypaque gradient of the PBL following simultaneous rosetting with erythrocyte indicators specific for B and T lymphocytes. Specifically, the T lymphocytes were rosetted with 2‐aminoethylisothiuroniuum bromido‐treated sheep erythrocytes (ShE), whereas the B lymphocytes were either rosetted with ShE coated with xenoantibodies against human gamma globulin or first sensitized with monoclonal antibodies to human Ia‐like antigens and then rosetted with ShE coated with xenoantibodies against mouse gamma globulin. Approximately 90% of the lymphocytes isolated were null cells that did not bear detectable B‐cell markers—that is, surface immunoglobulin and/or Ia‐like antigens—or T‐cell markers—that is, ShE receptors. The large majority of the null cells expressed receptors for the IgG Fc fragment (53–92%), C3 component (65–92%), and monkey erythrocytes (60–91%) but lacked receptors for the IgM Fc fragment and murine erythrocytes. The null cells exhibited high natural killer cell activity and antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity and were two‐ to four‐fold more active than the total PBL and the T‐enriched cell fractions. The null cells, however, did not respond to stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin and failed to function as either stimulation or responders in an unidirectional mixed lymphocyte reaction.


Point estimates suggest mean reversion in real exchange rates; however, it still remains uncomfortable that models without any mean reversion are often compatible with data from the floating period. Studies with data over longer periods find mean reversion, but at the cost of mixing in data from earlier exchange rate arrangements. Pooling the floating period data potentially mixes country pairs with and without mean reversion.We examine tests for mean reversion for individual country pairs where greater power against close alternatives is gained through modeling other economic variables with the real exchange rate. By increasing the power of the tests we find strong evidence of mean reversion.


BACKGROUND
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is an advanced and chronic endocrine disorder characterized by an insufficiency of insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells and liver, adipose tissues, and skeletal muscles.

OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this study is to understand the mechanism and genes which are responsible for the prevalence of diabetes. The study also covers various types of diabetic complications with special reference to insulin role and defects.

METHODS
The scientific literature and patents were reviewed and analyzed based on their suitability and relevance to the theme of the study. The scientific literature was covered from the authentic databases such as Elsevier, Springer, and Bentham Science. The patents were reviewed from http://www.freepatentsonline.com.

RESULTS
Glucokinase (ATP: D-glucose-6-phosphotransferase; GCK), initiates glycolysis and acts as a glucose sensor and metabolic signal producer in liver and pancreas. PCR-sequencing showed qualitative differences in diabetic patients in comparison to healthy subjects. Glucokinase is the most important component in glucose detection of pancreatic islet beta cells in diabetes because glucokinase mutations can be one of the most common single gene disorders described. It is known that a genetic variation of a human glucokinase gene, including a point mutation, causes MODY, the concentration of plasma glucose increased and it is supposed to be the cause of diabetes of the present study subjects. Owing to hyperglycemia and individual components of the insulin resistance (metabolic) syndrome, people with Type II DM are prone to the high threat for microvascular complications (including nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy) and macrovascular complications (such as Ischemic Heart Disease). There were also significant differences (P < 0.0001) in glycation levels (0.90, 0.4838mole/mole), random blood sugar (348.8, 105.8mg/dL), cholesterol levels (235.3, 161.8mg/dL), low density lipoprotein in diabetic subjects (155.3, 28.46mg/dL) and in healthy donors. GCK gene mutations were found in 70% of the patients while 30% are non-mutated.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, lipids, glucose, and protein play an essential role in the initiation of AGE's or diabetic complications (Micro and Macrovascular Complications). The importance of the clinical results should also be recognized in the genetic analysis of heterogeneous disorders as NIDDM/ Type II DM.


This paper is an attempt to review that study of experimental investigation to find out the optimum mechanical properties of concrete in Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) with mono fiber and hybrid fiber. Due to the use of fly ash, Recron 3s, glass fiber and combination of two fibers, the mechanical properties can be changed. The various combinations of fibers can be taken for testing purpose as range as 0.25-0.75%, 0.5-0.5%, 0.75-0.25% and by volume at a maximum fiber volume fraction of 1%. The main aim of this paper is to identify the effect of filling ability and passing ability of SCC and check SCC with different combination of fibers in same proportion and different proportion. Recron 3s and glass fiber are two fibers used in this research in mono and different combinations.


: We have undertaken some basic and clinical studies on midecamycin granules with following results: 1) After ingesting of 4 g of midecamycin granules, peak blood levels (1.51 microgram/ml on an average) appeared at one hour in infants, detectable amount lasting for 6 hours. 2) Urinary excretion within 6 hours ranged from 1.1 to 2.7% of the drug dosed. 3) In the treatment of a total of 19 acute cases, consisting of 9 cases of tonsillitis, 7 cases of lacunar tonsillitis and 3 cases of bronchitis, midecamycin was found effective in 79% of the cases. 4) In all the 3 cases of pneumonia due to Mycoplasma, response to midecamycin was assessed as excellent. 5) Hepatic and renal functions tests performed in cases treated with the drug for a prolonged period (40 approximately 50 mg/kg for 13 approximately 18 days) revealed no undesirable effect, indicating that midecamycin can be administered continuously to younger infants with infections.


The spatiotemporal distribution of pore water in the vadose zone can have a critical control on many processes in the near‐surface Earth, such as the onset of landslides, crop yield, groundwater recharge, and runoff generation. Electrical geophysics has been widely used to monitor the moisture content (θ) distribution in the vadose zone at field sites, and often resistivity (ρ) or conductivity (σ) is converted to moisture contents through petrophysical relationships (e.g., Archie's law). Though both the petrophysical relationships (i.e., choices of appropriate model and parameterization) and the derived moisture content are known to be subject to uncertainty, they are commonly treated as exact and error‐free. This study examines the impact of uncertain petrophysical relationships on the moisture content estimates derived from electrical geophysics. We show from a collection of data from multiple core samples that significant variability in the θ(ρ) relationship can exist. Using rules of error propagation, we demonstrate the combined effect of inversion and uncertain petrophysical parameterization on moisture content estimates and derive their uncertainty bounds. Through investigation of a water injection experiment, we observe that the petrophysical uncertainty yields a large range of estimated total moisture volume within the water plume. The estimates of changes in water volume, however, generally agree within (large) uncertainty bounds. Our results caution against solely relying on electrical geophysics to estimate moisture content in the field. The uncertainty propagation approach is transferrable to other field studies of moisture content estimation.


Objective: Extant research concerning the degree of multiple informant (that is, parent, clinician, teacher, and child) agreement for child anxiety ratings generally uses clinical samples, and results have been mixed. Method: Our study used a community sample of public school children (n = 1039) to investigate child (self), parent, and teacher reports of child anxiety across 3 time points (pretreatement, posttreatment, and follow-up) in 3 independent school prevention and intervention trials. Results: Results showed that parents and teachers had high informant agreement for ratings on anxiety across the 3 time points (r = 0.95 to 0.96, P < 0.001); agreement between parent and child (self) reports and between teacher and child (self) reports consistently showed lower agreement across the 3 time points (r = 0.14 and 0.28, respectively, P < 0.001). Group differences were also significant for sex and grade, whereby females more commonly self-reported higher anxiety and children in grades 3 and 4 self-reported higher anxiety, compared with students in grades 5 to 7. Conclusion: Correlations between parent and teacher with child ratings were poor over 3 time points, and significant differences were found for sex and grade. Research is needed to understand reasons for poor concordance between parent, child, and teacher ratings of anxiety for all children.


Pot and field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Agricultural Science Department, and the screen-house of the Department of Biology, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Southwestern Nigeria in 2018 to compare the effect of cattle dung (CD) and poultry dung (PD) on nutritive value of African garden egg (Solanum macrocarpon). In pot experiment, cattle dung and poultry manure were separately applied as treatments at the rate of 0, 25, 37.5 and 50 g/10 kg soil to represent 0, 5, 7.5 and 10 t ha while cattle dung and poultry manure were separately applied at 0, 5, 7.5 and 10 t ha in field experiment. In pot experiment, the treatments were laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) while randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used in field experiment. All the treatments were replicated three times. The results obtained in pot and field experiments followed the same trend. Relative to control, except 5CD and 5PD, all the treatments significantly increased (p < 0.05) crude protein, carbohydrate, fat, fibre and ash content of Solanum macrocarpon. Poultry dung applied at 7.5 and 10 t ha -1 had higher increase in plant crude protein, carbohydrate, fibre and ash content of Solanum macrocarpon than its corresponding 7.5 and 10 t ha cattle dung. Poultry manure applied at 7.5 t ha -1 is most suitable for growing Solamun macrocarpon and where poultry manure is not available cattle dung can be used.


Over their first years of life, children learn not just the words of their native languages, but how to use them to communicate. Because manual annotation of communicative intent does not scale to large corpora, our understanding of communicative act development is limited to case studies of a few children at a few time points. We present an approach to automatic identification of communicative acts using a hidden topic Markov model, applying it to the conversations of English-learning children in the CHILDES database. We first describe qualitative changes in parent-child communication over development, and then use our method to demonstrate two large-scale features of communicative development: (a) children develop a parent-like repertoire of our model's communicative acts rapidly, their learning rate peaking around 14 months of age, and (b) this period of steep repertoire change coincides with the highest predictability between parents' acts and children's, suggesting that structured interactions play a role in learning to communicate.


This is a literary roadmap to navigating the ""Trilogy of Trilogies"" by one of America's most celebrated poets.One of America's most accomplished and honored contemporary poets, Charles Wright has received the PEN Translation Prize, the National Book Award, the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, the Lenore Marshall Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Griffin Poetry Prize, and numerous other honors. In this first book-length study of Wright's extensive body of work, Joe Moffett offers readers an introduction to the books and themes that have defined the poet's illustrious career.Wright's major work centers around a lengthy self-described ""Trilogy of Trilogies"" project consisting of ""Country Music"", ""The World of the Ten Thousand Things"", and ""Negative Blue"", in which each volume is a collection of poems stemming from a different trio of books. In his study of the trilogy, Moffett finds Wright returning to the distinctive landscape and culture of his native Appalachia in poetic quests for spiritual meaning. Early on, Wright was indoctrinated in the Episcopal Church and later garnered an impressive knowledge of Eastern religion, mysticism, and philosophy; thus the poet is deeply conversant in a wide range of spiritual texts and freely draws from this material in his continuing contemplations on the divine. Moffett views this extended engagement between place and spirituality as key to understanding Wright's vision.Moffett concludes with a survey of Wright's three subsequent volumes of poetry - ""A Short History of the Shadow"", ""Buffalo Yoga"", and ""Scar Tissue"" - as a continuation of the poetic style and dialogue between Southern landscapes and divine influences that defined the earlier trilogies.


Indonesia has experienced a rapid increase in investment activities, for example in Kebumen. In line with the growth of investment, it is necessary to provide quality residential facilities, housing as one of the real estate products in the form of buildings which is an alternative choice.Investment to be profitable if the investment can make investors benefit. In the business world requires a more accurate business feasibility measurement system by displaying the data as supporting evidence and calculated according to the reality of either experiencing a deficit or surplus, so as to increase the confidence of prospective investors to invest in the company.
This study aims to determine the results of the analysis of investment feasibility of property projects of PT Kharisma Katulistiwa Hijau uses profit data in 2018 in assessing investment profitability using the Net Present Value (NPV), Payback Period (PP), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) methods.
The results of this study indicate that investment in property projects that are executed are worthy, with the results of the Net Present Value (NPV) of Rp 79,478,735.19 (positive value), Payback Period (PP) for 6 months 28 days, which is faster than the investment age of 12 month, Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 9.45% /month where the bank deposit interest is 6% so that the investment is worth receiving.


Cave pisoliths, up to g cm long, from terraced rimstone pools in a cave near Old Man Village on Grand Cayman have nuclei such as bird or bat hones or clusters of dendrite calcite crystals that are surrounded by cortical layers of(l) micrite, (2) dendrite calcite crystals, and (3) prismatic trigonal calcite crystals. The micrite laminae formed through calcification of filamentous microorganisms (algae and/or fungi). Recognition of dendrite calcite crystals can be difficult because later growth filled the spaces between branches, thereby disguising the diagnostic branches of this crystal type. Many large, seemingly homogeneous, spar calcite crystals are probably filled-in dendrite crystals. Some trigonal crystals lost their distinctive outline as they grew because their corners became rounded. Although the laminae formed of dendrite calcite crystals or prismatic trigonal calcite crystals formed from cave waters supersaturated with respect to CaCO 3 , the reason why one formed rather than the other is not yet known. The complexity of cave pisoliths, however, indicates that crystal growth was probably controlled by microenvironmental conditions around the surfaces of pisoliths.


We investigate masked financial instability caused by wealth inequality. When an economic sector is decomposed into two subsectors that possess a severe wealth inequality, the sector in entirety can look financially stable while the two subsectors possess extreme financially instabilities of opposite nature, one from excessive equity, the other from lack thereof. The unstable subsector can result in further financial distress and even trigger a financial crisis. The market instability indicator, an early warning system derived from dynamical systems applied to agent-based models, is used to analyze the subsectoral financial instabilities. Detailed mathematical analysis is provided to explain what financial instabilities can arise amid seemingly stable economy and positive market data. The theoretical conjecture is verified by historical macroeconomic time series of the United States households among whom a substantial wealth inequality has been officially confirmed.


The author discusses the conceptual basis of an ecological approach to music composition, considering the epistemological and compositional concepts involved. The author's text-and-tape piece, touch'n'go/toco y me voy, is presented as an example of an ecologically based musical work, in which the sound event functions as the basic unit of multilevel musical structures. Digital resynthesis techniques are integrated in the compositional process by means of environmental sound models. Ecological models establish formal relationships without obscuring the recognizability of everyday sounds. Materials, techniques, perceptual constraints and references to social issues are integrated in a consistent compositional method.


The siting of wind facilities is extremely controversial. This paper uses data on 11,331 property transactions over nine years in northern New York State to explore the effects of new wind facilities on property values. We use a fixed-effects framework to control for omitted variables and endogeneity biases. We find that nearby wind facilities significantly reduce property values in two of the three counties studied. These results indicate that existing compensation to local homeowners/communities may not be sufficient to prevent a loss of property values. (JEL Q51, Q53)


The physics reach of the LHC requires unprecedented luminosity and beam intensity in proton-proton collisions. The maximum intensity in the LHC is directly coupled to the maximum peak beam loss rate and the cleaning efficiency from the collimation system. A sophisticated LHC collimation system is implemented in two cleaning insertions and in the experimental areas. In a first phase 88 collimators are installed, being controlled by 344 stepping motors in total. The work of this PhD analyzes the achievable cleaning efficiency with realistic imperfections, defines the required collimator settings and establishes available tolerances for collimator setup and transient optics changes. An optimal setup strategy can optimize cleaning efficiency, ensure passive protection, maximize tolerances, minimize the required beam time for setup of the system and support the expected evolution in LHC beam intensity. Such an optimized strategy is described.


In this thesis, it is examined the issue of equivalence between linear terms in higher order languages, that is, in languages which allow to use functions as variables, and where variables which appear in the terms must be used exactly once.
The work is developed focusing on the bisimulation method, with the purpose to compare this technique with that which has become the standard for the comparison between the terms of a language, i.e. the context equivalence.
The thesis is divided into three parts: in the first one, the introduction of the bisimulation and context equivalence techniques takes place within a deterministic linear and typed language.
In the second part, the same techniques are reformulated for a language that, while preserving the linearity, loses the deterministic connotation, allowing the terms to evaluate to a set of values each one having a certain probability to appear in the end of calculation. In the last part, a quantum language is examined, discussing the advantages of quantum computation, which allows to speed-up many of the algorithms of computation. Here one gives the concept of quantum program, which is inextricably linked to the (quantum) register where the qubits used in the computation are stored, entailing a more complex notion of equivalence between terms.
The techniques to demonstrate that bisimulation is a congruence are not standard and have been used for the first time by Howe for untyped languages: within the thesis, one shows that bisimulation is a congruence in all considered languages but it coincides with the context equivalence relation only for the deterministic one. Indeed, extending the techniques already used by Howe to the probabilistic and quantum environment, it is shown, as non trivial result, that in probabilistic and quantum linear languages the bisimulation is contained in context equivalence relation.


Background Homicide kills more people than war globally and is associated with income inequality. In Brazil, one of the most unequal countries of the world, the homicide rate is four times higher than the world average. Establishing if the Brazilian conditional cash transfer programme [Bolsa Familia Programme (BFP)], the largest in the world, is associated with a reduction in the rate of homicide is relevant for violence prevention programs. We aimed to assess the effect of BFP coverage on homicide and hospitalization rates from violence. Methods BFP coverage and rates of homicide (overall and disaggregated by sex and age) and hospitalizations from violence from all 5,507 Brazilian municipalities between 2004 and 2012 were explored using multivariable negative binomial regression models with fixed effect for panel data. Robustness of results was explored using sensitivity analyses such as difference-in-difference models. Findings Homicide rates and hospitalization from violence decreased as BFP coverage in the target population increased. For each percent increase in the uptake of the BFP, the homicide rate decreased by 0.3% (Rate Ratio:0.997; 95%CI:0.996–0.997) and hospitalizations from violence by 0.4% (RR: 0.996;95%CI:0.995–0.996). Rates of homicide and hospitalizations from violence were also negatively associated with the duration of BFP coverage. When, coverage of the target population was at least 70% for one-year, hospitalizations from violence decreased by 8%; two-years 14%, three-years 20%, and four years 25%. Interpretation Our results support the hypothesis that conditional cash transfer programs might have as an additional benefit the prevention of homicides and hospitalizations from violence. Social protection interventions could contribute to decrease levels of violence in low-and-middle-income-countries through reducing poverty and/or socioeconomic inequalities.


We have expressed the extracellular domain of the hFSH receptor as a fusion protein with thioredoxin in the cytoplasm of an Escherichia coli strain that contains mutations in both the thioredoxin reductase and the glutathione reductase genes. The chimeric protein isolated following induction of expression was purified in a soluble form and binds hFSH with an affinity approximating that of native receptor. This truncated form of the receptor displays the same specificity as intact receptor and does not bind hCG. The protein is expressed at levels that exceed 5 mg/L in the bacterial cytoplasm. Expression of the properly folded extracellular domain of the hFSH receptor in the cytoplasm of E. coli allows the facile and economical purification of large quantities of material. This will facilitate the determination of the structure of the hormone-binding domain of this glycoprotein receptor as well as the production of epitope-specific antibodies.


Cholecystokinin (CCK) is co-localized with dopamine (DA) in portions of the mesolimbic system. Evidence suggests that CCK(B) receptor mechanisms mediate an inhibitory effect on DA function while CCK(A) receptor mechanisms mediate a facilitory effect on DA function. As DA has been implicated in the acquisition of conditioned activity, the present experiments investigated the interaction between selective CCK(A) and CCK(B) receptor antagonists on the development of conditioned activity. Experiment 1 determined whether the CCK(B) receptor antagonist, L-365,260 (0.01, 0.1 and 1.0mg/kg, i.p.) would induce conditioned activity. Paired groups received four two-hour drug-environment pairings whereas Unpaired groups received the two stimuli explicitly unpaired. The group that received L-365,260 (0.mg/kg) paired with the test environment subsequently showed increased activity in that environment in a drug-free test day. Experiment 2 examined the interaction of pre-treatment with the CCK(A) receptor antagonist, devazepide (0, 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1mg/kg) on the conditioned activity induced by L-365,260 (0.1mg/kg). Devazepide impaired the acquisition of L-365,260 conditioned activity. These studies suggest that CCK mechanisms play a key role in the development of conditioned activity and extend previous research suggesting a bi-directional function for CCK(A) and CCK(B) receptors.


Ionospheric scintillation as one of the earliest known effects of space weather is a major issue in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). While being vulnerable to ionospheric scintillations, GNSS signals in return provide valuable information for understanding ionospheric variability and space weather. By taking advantage of multi-constellation GNSS observations from a variety of receivers (i.e., Javad, Leica, Trimble and Septentrio) equipped at zero baseline or a short baseline, the impacts of associated scintillations on GNSS signals and the ionospheric plasma irregularities are investigated in the present study. The 1-sec rate of change of total electron content (TEC) index is utilized to characterize the ionospheric plasma irregularities. It is found that the GLONASS L2 signal is the most vulnerable to ionospheric scintillation effects, and the Beidou B1 and B2 signals are subject to more scintillations than GPS L1, L2 signals, GLONASS L1 signal. Among the signals of each GNSS system, the largest strength of scintillations is observed by the GPS L5 signal, the GLONASS L1 signal and the Beidou B2 signal. In general, the strength of the amplitude scintillation of GNSS signals decreases with the increase frequency. Besides the impact of ionospheric scintillations on multi-GNSS signals, an inconsistent representation in ionospheric plasma irregularities by 1-sec ROTI derived from multi-constellation GNSS measurements is found among the diverse GNSS receivers (i.e. Javad, Leica, Trimble and Septentrio receivers). It is suspected that the various tracking techniques adopted in those receivers may be responsible for the discrepancy. Further study is still needed for seeking the possible reasons. This study contributes to the knowledge of ionospheric irregularities and associated scintillations using multi-constellation GNSS observations.


The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the literature on authentic leadership and societal transformation. The paper presents authentic leadership as the key player in the transformation of society. Society has suffered due to many financial and moral scandals, corruption, nepotism, leadership that has no place for followers, and lack of transparency. The paper proposes a new theoretical model to show how the newly discovered constructs interconnect and relate to one another. The methodology employed in this article is the review of extant conceptual, theoretical, and empirical literature to build a case for a theoretical model that links up authentic leadership and societal transformation to cause a change in society. The study identifies five main constructs that positively relate to one another and can provide the required leadership for societal transformation. The five constructs include authentic leadership, trigger events, developmental readiness, core positive psychological resources, and societal transformation. The findings showed that authentic leadership has positive effects on societal transformation. The mediation role of the core positive psychological resources variable is discussed. In addition, the moderating role of developmental readiness is discussed. This study will be important in providing knowledge in regard to the effect of authentic leadership on societal transformation. Finally, the recommendation for future empirical studies is given. five key constructs:


In 2007, Li and Cox showed that their scheme called Perceptual-QIM (P-QIM) was one of the solutions the most successful in order to watermark multi-bits in an image by a quantization approach. Our research led us to take some of their ideas and brought new proposals. This paper presents a new scheme named Hyper-Cube. In addition to re-express the mechanisms of watermarking from a dierent angle and to give a clear framework, we propose two improvements: the computation of the modied Watson slacks on a neighborhood, and the use of a cleverly integrated error correcting code. Additionally, we experimentally show that the addition of the JPEG quantization table for setting the size of lattices do not reduce performances. This demonstrate that the scheme may easily be integrated in a joint watermarking-compression scheme. Given the obtained results, we can conclude that the Hyper-Cube watermarking scheme is currently one of the most successful technique when one wants to watermark an image using quantization-based approaches.


OBJECTIVE
  To study changes in the cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) at different altitude area in healthy adults.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS
CVR was tested using transcranial Doppler combined with CO2 inhalation, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to detect the regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2). Blood samples were collected, and the vasoactive substances in serum were detected using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In this study, 59 healthy adults were divided into 3 groups: low altitude group, medium altitude group and high altitude group. All the indicators in low altitude group were tested at 24h before departure and after arrival from Beijing (at an altitude of 44.4 m) to Xining (at a medium altitude of 2200 m). Then, after resting for 48h, all the indicators were tested at 24h and 48h after arrival from Xining (at a medium altitude of 2200 m) to Yushu Jiegu town (at a high altitude of 3700 m) together with those at the medium altitude. Intergroup comparisons were made for the subjects in the three altitudes.

RESULTS
There was an increase in the CVR in low altitude group after acute exposure to high altitude, and the difference was significant (CVR: 1.94re was vs. 0.91±0.53, p<0.001); the CVR index was increased, and the difference was significant [cerebrovascular reserve index (CVRI): 3.65he CVR vs. 1.37e CVR, p<0.001]; the rScO2 level was decreased with the increase of altitude, and the difference was significant [(66.78±4.61)% vs. (70.29±4.52)%, p<0.001]. The levels of vasoactive substances in low altitude group were decreased after acute exposure to high altitude compared with those before exposure: NO: [(79.14±9.54) μmol/L vs. (58.01±9.93) μmol/L, p<0.001]; serum eNOS level was increased, and the difference was significant [(77.23±6.20) pg/ml vs. (65.07±9.82) pg/ml, p<0.001]; EPO: [(84.68±13.16) pg/ml vs. (65.01±5.92) pg/ml, p<0.001]; VEGF: [(71.91±11.62) pg/ml vs. (54.92±11.86) pg/ml, p<0.001]; sFlt: [(384.18±42.73) pg/ml vs. (320.62±78.96) pg/ml, p<0.001]. There was also an increase in CVR in medium altitude group after acute exposure to high altitude, and the difference was significant [CVR: 2.00±0.79 vs. 0.91±0.66, p<0.001]; the difference of CVRI was significant [3.83±0.67 vs. 1.67±0.87, p<0.001]; rScO2 was slightly decreased with the increase of altitude, and the difference was not statistically significant [(67.53±4.61) % vs. (69.63±5.59) %, p<0.001]. Before exposure to high altitude area, the levels of NO, NOS, EPO, VEGF, and sFlt in low and medium altitude groups were higher than those in high altitude group. CVR level of subjects at different altitudes was negatively related to the ScO2 (r=-0.91) but positively related to NO and NOS levels (rs=0.89, r=0.75); CVR was moderately related to VEGF and EPO (rs=0.45, r=0.42). rScO2 was positively related to RBC, HB and VEGF levels (r=0.89, r=0.75, rs=0.86), but had a moderately negative correlation with NO and NOS levels (rs=-0.52, r=-0.57).

CONCLUSIONS
After subjects at a low altitude are exposed to high altitude rapidly, CVR is increased, RBC and vasoactive substances in serum, such as NO, eNOS, and EPO, are dramatically increased, VEGF is increased first and then decreased, sFlt-1 level is increased gradually, and rScO2 level is gradually decreased with the increase of altitude, indicating the local brain anoxia of subjects at a high altitude.


In New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, formal alliances between labor unions and community organizations have spurred successful workplace and policy organizing campaigns. As a result, the institutional form of the community-labor coalition is travelling to smaller, less unionized and more politically conservative cities, where the replication of established organizing strategies must contend with political, economic and institutional differences that often go unnoted. Comparing community-labor alliances in Indianapolis, St. Louis and Chicago, this article identifies heretofore unobserved conditions of possibility for successful urban labor organizing in the US. Compared to smaller cities, Chicago and the large urban areas from which ideal practices are abstracted feature higher levels of union membership, significantly more funding of basic social and neighborhood services, and larger immigrant communities. Operating with minimal human services and limited recourse to the social and institutional networks of immigrant workers, labor coalitions in St. Louis and Indianapolis face recurrent barriers to identifying workplace problems, mobilizing low-wage workers and sustaining citywide reform campaigns. This indicates geographical limits to the current organizing model and highlights the limitations of urban scholarship derived from large cities unrepresentative of urbanity as a whole.


Titania-silica nanocomposites with different TiO2/SiO2 compositions have been prepared by a sol-gel and hybrid method from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and tetrabutyl titanate(TBT) and β-Cyclodextrin as a pore-forming template. Drying and calcining of the hybrid xerogel can lead to the formation of nanoporous particles with surface areas in the range of 298-418 m2/g. The effect of the β-cyclodextrin concentration, the molar ratio of TiO2/SiO2 and the calcining temperature on the phase composition and structural properties of TiO2/SiO2 composites were also investigated. The results show that an increase in β-cyclodextrin concentration can lead to a decrease of the surface area and an increase of average pore size, which can be controlled by the amount of β- cyclodextrin in the hybrid sol.


In this paper, we propose a scheme for distributed source coding (DSC) that achieves any arbitrary rate on the Slepian-Wolf rate region using a single systematic LDPC code. This method is based on sending a fraction of the information bits along with a fraction of parity bits generated by the LDPC code. First, we study the problem of DSC of two correlated sources at the symmetric rate. We propose to use nonuniform LDPC codes for this application. Then, we generalize our approach to any arbitrary rate. The detailed construction of this scheme is investigated. We illustrate that the design procedure for the LDPC code simplifies to the design of rate-adaptive LDPC codes that need unequal error protection. It is shown that the performance of DSC at any arbitrary rate is almost the same as that of asymmetric rates. Because of the proposed decoding algorithm, each of the sources is decoded independently (only part of the information bits are being exchanged between the decoders). Therefore, this approach does not suffer from the problems of heavy damage or propagation of errors. This method can be easily applied to joint source-channel coding.


Describing software runtime behaviour in terms of its invariant properties has gained increasing popularity and various tools and techniques to help in working with these invariants have been published. These typically take a specific view on the possible and supported properties. In many cases it is also useful to view these in a wider context to enable a deeper understanding of possible invariance and to provide more extensive support across different domains. This paper aims to identify different aspects of the runtime invariance based on a review of existing works, and to present these results in a taxonomy that positions the different aspects in relation to each other. The goal is to provide support for their use in practice and to help identify possible research directions. A systematic review has been performed to identify relevant works in the literature. From these, a set of relevant properties have been collected to form the taxonomy. The resulting taxonomy has been structured to describe the different properties of runtime invariance. One main axis gives an overview of usage domains. One describes process related properties that are further classified to specification and evaluation related properties. A third main axis describes properties of runtime invariance itself and is further classified to properties of measurements, patterns and scope. It is concluded that the taxonomy provides a representation of different properties of runtime invariance used in current works. It can be used as a basis for modelling and reasoning about software runtime behaviour generally or as a basis for specialization in different domains. Keywords-systematic review; software behaviour; runtime invariance; taxonomy


Silver particles show antibacterial and antiseptic properties at the nanoscale. Such properties result from an alteration in the binding capacity of silver atoms in bits of less than 6.5nm which enables them to kill harmful organisms. Silver nanoparticles are now the most broadly used agents in the area of nanotechnology after carbon nanotubes. Given that currency bills are one of the major sources of bacterial disseminations and their contamination has recently been nominated as a critical factor in gastrointestinal infections and possibly colon cancers, here we propose a new method for producing antibacterial bank notes by using silver nanoparticles. Older bank notes are sprayed with acetone to clean the surface. The bank note is put into a petri-dish containing a solution of silver nitrate and ammonia so that it is impregnated. The bank notes are then reduced with the formaldehyde gas, which penetrates its texture and produces silver nanoparticles in the cellulose matrix. The side products of the reactions are quickly dried off and the procedure ends with the drying of the bank note. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) images confirmed the nanoscale size range for the formed particles while spectroscopy methods, such as XRD, provided proof for the metallic nature of the particles. Bacterial challenge tests then showed that no colonies of the three tested bacterium (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa survived on the sample after a 72h incubation period. This study has provided a method for synthesizing silver NPs directly into the texture of fabrics and textiles (like that of bank notes) which can result in lower production costs, making the use of silver NPs economically beneficial. The method, specifically works on the fabric of bank notes, suggesting a method to tackle the transmission of bacteria through bank notes. Moreover, this study is a testament to the strong antibacterial nature of even low concentrations of silver NPs.


Using combination of scanning probe microscopy, ultrasonic vibrations and electrostatic interactions, we explore applications of 2D materials in the nanomechanical and nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) systems where the atomically thin layers are subjected to the flexural and normal stresses. We show that a new behaviour of 2DMs – a 2D buckling transition - that can significantly increase the sensitivity of NEMS sensors to applied stimuli, is directly linked to the local in-plane stresses in 2DM and its adhesion to the substrate. Our analysis of stress propagation through a few layer 2DM, a transversely isotropic material - indicate that it is directly governed by the ratio of the out-of-plane Young modulus and the in-plane shear modulus, explaining unusual recent experimental observation of "ultrasonic transparency" of few FLG and MoS2 such that allows to observe defects and structures deep under immediate surface of such materials. Finally, we demonstrate that highly anisotropic properties of 2DMs allow exploration of local electrostatic interactions between the material and the substrate via nanomechanical actuation, thus revealing and mapping with nanoscale resolution the charges hidden under the layers of such materials.


The d-block elements are very important in magnetics, electronics, catalysis, and biological systems. The synthesis and characterization of nearly monodisperse d-block element based nanocrystals with a precise control over the size, composition, and shape are important to utilize the nanocrystals in such applications. The goals of my thesis are to synthesize d-block transition metal based nanocrystals and understand their magnetic and catalytic properties. I present the sizeand composition-dependent AC magnetic permeability of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals for radio frequency applications. The nanocrystals are synthesized through high-temperature solvothermal decomposition, and their stoichiometry is determined by Mossbauer spectroscopy. Size-dependent magnetic permeability is observed in maghemite nanocrystals, while as-synthesized, magnetite-rich, iron oxide nanocrystals do not show size dependence due to the inhomogeneous crystal structure of the as-synthesized nanocrystals. The saturation magnetization of iron oxide nanocrystals is increased by doping of non-magnetic Zn2+ into A site of ferrite, resulting the enhancement of the real part of the magnetic permeability of Zn0.25Fe2.75O4 nanocrystals by twofold compared to that of similarly sized ferrite nanocrystals. The integration of 12.3 nm Zn0.25Fe2.75O4 nanocrystals into a microfabricated toroidal inductor and a solenoid inductor yield higher quality factors than air core inductors with the same geometries. The ligand exchange with dendrimers reduces the blocking temperature of Mn0.08Zn0.33Fe2.59O4 nanocrystal, indicating the decrease of dipolar coupling between nanocrystals. The study on MnxFe3-xO4 and CoxFe3-xO4 nanocrystals shows a clear difference in DC and AC magnetic behaviors of soft and hard magnetic nanocrystals. The inductor with zinc ferrite nanocrystal core is embedded into a power converter and its temperature dependent energy efficiency is measured. The energy efficiency of a power converter with the nanocrystal core inductor rises as the temperature increases while that of the power converters with an air core inductor or commercial core inductor decreases. Finally, I describe the hydrodeoxygenation reaction of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural into 2,5-dimethylfuran by metallic nanocrystals such as Pt, PtMn, PtFe, PtCo, and PtNi. Both conversion ratio and selectivity for 2,5-dimethylfuran show clear composition dependent catalytic properties and, in particular, 3.7 nm Pt3Co2 nanocrystals achieve 98 % of selectivity for 2,5-dimethylfuran. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Chemistry First Advisor Christopher B. Murray This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/2120


The authors have modified a method for determining circulating immune complexes in the complement fixation test. It is shown that with the 7% concentration of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000, there is a more complete precipitation of low- and medium-molecular weight immune complexes. The time and temperature of serum incubation were optimized when PEG-6000 was obtained. The use of the soluble circulating immune complexes (sCIC) prepared from human serum as a standard for the construction of a standard plot could substantially enhance the sensitivity of the method (0.325 microg/ ml). The content of circulating immune complexes was studied in donors and in patients with connective tissue dysplasia (CTD) by the improved procedure. In the group of donors, the mean level of sCIC was 0.62 +/- 0.24 mg/ml. In the CTD group, that was 2.32 +/- 0.93 mg/ml; the serum concentrations of sCIC ranging from 1.1 to 5.0 mg/ml. In the donors and patients, the detection rate of serum sCIC was 100%. The proposed method may be clinically used to measure the human serum levels of sCIC.


We numerically demonstrate that stable isochronal chaos synchronization (ICS) can be achieved by adding individual self-feedback or external driving to two multiple time-delayed coupling semiconductor lasers (MTDCSLs). The properties of the ICS, such as the influences of the coupling parameters, the mismatch robustness, the chaos pass filtering effects, and the communication performance in these two MTDCSL configurations, are comparatively studied. Moreover, we show that the proposed schemes afford multichannel chaos-based communication with the chaos modulation technique, which provides a potential method for the realization of chaos communication networks.


D DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cox1 gene were analysed in 4 new local populations of Sinanodonta woodiana (Bivalvia) in Poland, in the first reported Polish population, and in a population from Hungary. The gene sequences of Polish specimens were identical to those of specimens from Hungary, Italy and Ukraine, but different from those of Romanian specimens (data from GenBank). According to fish farm documentation, S. woodiana had spread in Poland by 2 routes: i) direct import of fish infected by glochidia of S. woodiana from Hungary; and ii) indirectly, by the major distributor of thermophilous fish in Poland, Goslawice Fish Farm, which started to import Hungarian fish in the 1960s. The genetic analysis and available documentation unambiguously confirm that Polish populations of S. woodiana derive from a source population in Hungary. In addition, we noticed doubtful identification of this species in GenBank data and further research is needed to resolve this problem.


ABSTRACT This article analyses the growth of British comic publishing for children in the twenty-first century. It starts by outlining the children's comic culture of the mid to late twentieth century and some of the factors involved in its disappearance. The article looks at what changed in the early twenty-first century to alter the perceptions of comics and stimulate the growth of a new children's comic culture, making new spaces. In doing so, it looks at the rise of publishers who specialise in graphic novels and publish work for children and young people. It also looks at institutions such as comic specific events, competitions and awards and how they are spaces where children and young people can participate, developing an awareness of the wider industry, entailing some engagement with readership and constructions of childhood. It also looks at aspects of the reputation of the medium and how it has changed, arguing that, in part, it is because of the involvement of 'mainstream' publishers, universities and other institutions. Finally, the most important change is that there seems to be a shift in British attitudes towards the medium, which has moved from a profoundly negative one, to one that is more accepting.


The effect of temperature on strain softening behavior of composites with small misaligned whiskers is investigated. The results show that the temperature affects the matrix and whisker mechanical behavior and corresponding composite deformation behavior. With increasing temperature, the whisker rotation angle increases, but their breakage decreases. Meanwhile elevating temperature not only reduces the matrix flow stress and work hardening rate, but also decreases load transfer from the matrix to the whiskers and stress induced by the whisker rotation and breakage.It is found that during hot compression, strain softening behavior of composites decreases as temperature increases.


Word embeddings learnt from large corpora have been adopted in various applications in natural language processing and served as the general input representations to learning systems. Recently, a series of post-processing methods have been proposed to boost the performance of word embeddings on similarity comparison and analogy retrieval tasks, and some have been adapted to compose sentence representations. The general hypothesis behind these methods is that by enforcing the embedding space to be more isotropic, the similarity between words can be better expressed. We view these methods as an approach to shrink the covariance/gram matrix, which is estimated by learning word vectors, towards a scaled identity matrix. By optimising an objective in the semi-Riemannian manifold with Centralised Kernel Alignment (CKA), we are able to search for the optimal shrinkage parameter, and provide a post-processing method to smooth the spectrum of learnt word vectors which yields improved performance on downstream tasks.


Background: Exogenous natural and synthetic surfactants is a rescue treatment for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The goals of the study were to compare the clinical response and side-effects of two frequently used surfactants, poractant alfa (Curosurf) and beractant (Survanta), for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants. Methods: This clinical trial study was performed during a two-year period in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad, Iran. Sample size calculated by a 95% confidence and power of 80, included 104 premature neonates, 74 in survanta and 30 in curosurf groups. The level of statistical significance was considered to be Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the infants treated by survanta or cursurf groups regarding their mean gestational age (30.58 Vs. 29.00 weeks) and birth weight (1388 Vs. 1330 g), (p=0.3) There were also no significant differences between the two groups regarding incidences of broncho- pulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (40.5% Vs. 40%), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) grades III/IV (13.5% Vs. 13.3%), pneumothorax (both 20%), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (28/3% Vs. 20%) or death (28% Vs. 26.6%) on the 28th day postpartum. Conclusion: This study showed that survanta and curosurf had similar therapeutic effects in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.


Background The advent of gene amplification testing methods for Neisseria gonorrhoea has lead to a higher prevalence of gonorrhoea testing in the population. Various methods for Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT) are used, often with high specificity. The sensitivity of culture is substantially lower than NAAT. Before treatment is initiated, antibiotic sensitivity of the isolate should be determined using culture-based methods. A considerable proportion of cases positive with NAAT cannot be verified by culture and hence it is not possible to verify the diagnosis or determine antibiotic sensitivity. Uncertainty in diagnostics and treatment of NAAT positive, culture negative gonorrhoea may lead to psycho-social and physical complications and continued transmission. To improve diagnostic and treatment accuracy for gonorrhoea, the objective of this study was to examine epidemiological risk-factors for NAAT positive but culture negative cases. Methods The study included all men and women in Stockholm having at least one positive gonorrhoea NAAT test with follow-up cultures taken during the period January 1, 2011-June 30, 2012. The total number of eligible cases during this period was 938. Data on sex, age, mode of transmission, symptoms, Chlamydia trachomatis co-infection and NAAT lab method were collected. Outcome was defined as positive NAAT but negative follow-up culture. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations with chi-squared tests were performed. Results In total, 19% of NAAT positive cases had no positive cultures (N = 174). Diagnostic certainty was greater among men than women. Ten-percent of men and 37% of women with positive NAAT had negative cultures. Three laboratory NAAT methods were used with differences in subsequent negative culture proportions found among these methods. Conclusion Women have an increased risk for incorrect diagnosis and/or treatment of gonorrhoea. Improved gonorrhoea testing practises are necessary to avoid systematic misdiagnoses and inappropriate treatments.


Deep, episodic slow slip on the Cascadia subduction megathrust of western North America is accompanied by low-frequency tremor in a zone of high fluid pressure between 30 and 40 km depth. Tremor density (tremor epicenters per square kilometer) varies along strike, and lower tremor density statistically correlates with upper plate faults that accommodate northward motion and rotation of forearc blocks. Upper plate earthquakes occur to 35 km depth beneath the faults. We suggest that the faults extend to the overpressured megathrust, where they provide fracture pathways for fluid escape into the upper plate. This locally reduces megathrust fluid pressure and tremor occurrence beneath the faults. Damping of tremor and related slow slip caused by fluid escape could affect fault properties of the megathrust, possibly influencing the behavior of great earthquakes.


SUMMARY The kinematics of jumping in froghopper insects were analysed from high speed sequences of images captured at rates up to 8000 s-1. In a jump, the attitude of the body is set by the front and middle legs, and the propulsion is delivered by rapid and synchronous movements of the hind legs that are 1.5 times longer than the other legs, but are only about half the length of the body and represent just 2% of the body mass. The wings are not moved and the front and middle legs may be raised off the ground before take-off. The hind legs are first cocked by a slow levation of the trochantera about the coxae so that the femora are pressed against the ventral, indented wall of the thorax, with the femoro-tibial joints tucked between the middle legs and body. Only the tips of the hind tarsi are in contact with the ground. In this position, the hind legs stay motionless for 1-2 s. Both trochantera are then synchronously and rapidly depressed about the coxae at rotational velocities of 75 500 deg. s-1 and the tibiae extended, to launch a jump that in Philaenus reaches a height of 700 mm, or 115 body lengths. In the best jumps by Philaenus, take-off occurs within 0.875 ms of the start of movements of the hind legs at a peak velocity of 4.7 m s-1 and involves an acceleration of 5400 m s-2, equivalent to 550 times gravity. This jumping performance requires an energy output of 136 μJ, a power output of 155 mW and exerts a force of 66 mN.


Plastic debris is now ubiquitous in the marine environment affecting a wide range of taxa, from microscopic zooplankton to large vertebrates. Its persistence and dispersal throughout marine ecosystems has meant that sensitivity toward the scale of threat is growing, particularly for species of conservation concern, such as marine turtles. Their use of a variety of habitats, migratory behaviour, and complex life histories leave them subject to a host of anthropogenic stressors, including exposure to marine plastic pollution. Here, we review the evidence for the effects of plastic debris on turtles and their habitats, highlight knowledge gaps, and make recommendations for future research. We found that, of the seven species, all are known to ingest or become entangled in marine debris. Ingestion can cause intestinal blockage and internal injury, dietary dilution, malnutrition, and increased buoyancy which in turn can result in poor health, reduced growth rates and reproductive output, or death. Entanglement in plastic debris (including ghost fishing gear) is known to cause lacerations, increased drag—which reduces the ability to forage effectively or escape threats—and may lead to drowning or death by starvation. In addition, plastic pollution may impact key turtle habitats. In particular, its presence on nesting beaches may alter nest properties by affecting temperature and sediment permeability. This could influence hatchling sex ratios and reproductive success, resulting in population level implications. Additionally, beach litter may entangle nesting females or emerging hatchlings. Lastly, as an omnipresent and widespread pollutant, plastic debris may cause wider ecosystem effects which result in loss of productivity and implications for trophic interactions. By compiling and presenting this evidence, we demonstrate that urgent action is required to better understand this issue and its effects on marine turtles, so that appropriate and effective mitigation policies can be developed.


The current financial crisis has generated interest in better understanding how to promote more responsible and prudent individual saving and borrowing behavior. The ability of consumers to make informed financial decisions is critical to developing sound personal finance, which can contribute to increased saving rates, more efficient allocation of financial resources, and greater financial stability. In this paper we use a unique panel dataset (2008 and 2009) from Russia, an economy where consumer loans grew at an astounding rate – from about US$ 10 billion in 2003 to over US$ 170 billion in 2008. The survey contains financial literacy questions, as well as questions on consumer borrowing (formal and informal), savings, and spending behavior. We use this dataset to study both the financial consequences and the real consequences of lower financial literacy. For instance, even though consumer borrowing is increasing very rapidly in Russia, only 41% of respondents in our sample know about the working of interest compounding and only 46% can answer a simple question about inflation. We find that financial literacy is significantly related to participation in financial markets and negatively related to the use of informal sources of borrowing, using the number of regional newspapers and universities as valid instrumental variables. Individuals with higher financial literacy are also significantly more likely to report greater unspent income and levels of spending. In addition, the relationship between financial literacy and unspent income is stronger during the financial crisis.


Previous literature has recognized the importance of regime changes in the calculation of ex-ante equity premia. However, the methodologies used to estimate equity premia only allow for very restrictive forms of regime transitions. This paper addresses the issue by postulating an evolving model for the law of motion of dividend growth, consumption growth and dividend-price ratio. Model parameters are then used to compute conditional and unconditional U.S. equity premia. We substantially extend and confirm previous work on the declining equity premium, and uncover important macroeconomic factors driving the equity premium. We find that the equity premium has declined, particularly from 1950 to 1971 and from 1988 to 2000. Our results point to changing consumption volatility as an important priced factor. We find that volatility of consumption growth is a good indicator of economic uncertainty and, as such, its changes are reflected in expected returns, and are priced by the market. We also find that not accounting for parameter time variation induces large pricing errors, as too little variation in dividend yields is attributed to changes in expected dividend growth.


Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of different methods used to predict ultimate leg lengths and residual leg-length discrepancy in a group of patients treated with epiphysiodesis at our institution. Methods: Seventy-seven patients with adequate preoperative radiographs, no postoperative complications, and follow-up to skeletal maturity composed the study group. We compared the predicted lengths of both legs and residual leg-length discrepancy at maturity with actual outcomes using the White-Menelaus, Anderson-Green, Moseley, and multiplier methods. Results: Skeletal age varied >1 year from chronological age in 61 (26%) of 231 observations, including 19 patients (25%) whose average skeletal age from 3 determinations differed by >1 year from chronological age. The prediction accuracy of each method was improved by using skeletal, rather than chronological, age. Error in prediction of the length of the short leg varied from a mean (and standard deviation) of 1.8 ± 1.2 cm for the straight-line graph to 2.5 ± 2.0 cm for the multiplier method. Prediction error for the long leg (after epiphysiodesis) varied from a mean of 1.2 ± 1.1 cm for the straight-line graph to 1.7 ± 1.5 cm for the multiplier method. Leg-length-discrepancy prediction error ranged from a mean of 0.7 ± 0.6 cm for the White-Menelaus method incorporating a growth inhibition factor to 1.1 ± 0.9 cm for the multiplier method. The multiplier method was the least accurate of all. All differences were significant. Conclusions: Determination of skeletal age is clinically relevant in patients being considered for epiphysiodesis to manage leg-length inequality. The multiplier method was the least accurate of the prediction methods in this patient population, which may have implications in calculating the appropriate timing of epiphysiodesis.


Integrating residential-level photovoltaic (PV) power generation and energy storage systems into the smart grid will provide a better way of utilizing renewable power. This has become a particularly interesting problem with the availability of dynamic energy pricing models in which electricity consumers can use their PV-based generation and controllable storage devices for peak shaving on their power demand profile from the grid, and thereby, minimize their electric bill cost. The residential-level storage controller should possess the ability of forecasting future PV-based power generation and load power consumption profiles for better performance. In this paper we present novel PV power generation and load power consumption prediction algorithms, which are specifically designed for a residential storage controller. Furthermore, to perform effective storage control based on these predictions, we separate the proposed storage control algorithm into two tiers, one which is performed at decision epochs of a billing period (e.g., a month) to globally "plan" the future discharging/charging schemes of the storage system, and another one performed locally and more frequently as system operates to compensate prediction errors. The first tier of algorithm is formulated and solved as a convex optimization problem at each decision epoch of the billing period, while the second tier has O(1) complexity.


Currently, rational use of water has been the subject of discussion of government agencies and non-governmental organizations around the world. Following this trend, increasingly stringent laws should be implemented regarding the use of this natural asset. In a broiler slaughterhouse, water usage occurs widely along the entire flowchart. In this context, the present study aimed to compare consumption of water within a broiler slaughterhouse (large size) with models already proposed and used in other countries in order to identify solutions to mitigate losses from mismanagement. It follows that changes in a few key points of the process would give the industry a more sustainable use of water, like replacement of electronarcose by stunning gas, decreasing of the size of the scalding tank or changing in the process, replacement of pre-cooling by water immersion for pre-cooling by air, decreasing of the water renewal in cooling tanks, changes in the cold generator system in air-conditioned environments, as well as the total or partial reuse of water.


This study was carried out to compared the characteristics of the underweight university students with those of overweight university students. The survey was carried out by self-questionnaires with 97 underweight and 156 overweight university students. The results are summarized as follows. Breakfast was skipped in 37.1% of underweight and 46.2% of overweight students and it appeared overweight students eat faster than underweight students. The 16.5% of underweight and 75.0% of overweight students have correct perception about their body image. The percentage of weight control experience were 25.8 and 55.8 in the underweight and overweight students, respectively. Blood levels of lipid profiles(triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol), hemoglobin, AST and ALT were anaylzed. Plasma levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol of underweight students were 96.41, 143.75, 97.53 and 56.27 ㎎/㎗, and those of overweight students were 107.99, 164.31, 100.08 and 53.64 ㎎/㎗, respectively. Blood parameters were in normal range in both group. Plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels of overweight students were higher than those of underweight students. On the other hand, plasma HDL cholesterol levels of overweight students were lower than those of underweight students. Plasma levels of AST and ALT were in normal range in both group. However, AST and ALT levels of overweight students were higher than that of underweight students. Therefore they should have a nutritional education program to improve their dietary and living habits for overweight students` health. And nutritional education program should be organized practically and systematically.


Petrified wood of a new species of Terminalioxylon Schonfeld from the El Palmar Formation (Upper Pleistocene), Concordia, Entre Rios, Argentina, is described. The comparison with members of Combretaceae shows that Terminalioxylon concordiensis nov. sp. is different from other known fossil species and is similar to the extant genus Terminalia L. and close to T. triflora (Gris.) Lillo. Terminalioxylon concordiensis presents growth rings delimited by small vessels and narrow lines of terminal parenchyma. Vessels have diffuse porous, are mostly solitary, sometimes in radial multiple series of 2-3, rarely 4 elements, simple perforation plate. Ray system is homogenous. Rays are homocellular, frecuently uniseriate, rarely uniseriate with biseriate portion. Fibres are hexagonal, septate and abundant. Apotracheal axial parenchyma is diffuse and diffuse-in-aggregate, and paratracheal usually vasicentric, complete to aliform, rarely confluent and with terminal parenchyma bands associated with 2-4 vessels. Cristals are of two types and very frequent in rays and cells ofaxial parenchyma. Intercellular canals of traumatic origin are surrounded by parenchyma tissue.


Epithelial ovarian cancer (OVAC) remains a highly lethal malignancy. It is a leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States causing more deaths than all other gynecologic malignancies combined. The pathogenesis of OVAC is not completely understood, but the process of repeated ovulation is believed to lead to genetic damage in the ovarian epithelium. As part of a prospective trial designed to evaluate OVAC chemopreventive strategies using the chicken model, caloric restriction (55% less energy) was used to inhibit ovulation in groups of hens receiving chemopreventives, thereby minimizing the impact of ovulation on the incidence of reproductive tract cancer. A separate group of chickens was maintained concurrently in the same environment, and managed similarly, except that caloric intake was not restricted. Among birds not receiving chemopreventive agents, we compared caloric versus noncaloric restricted birds to determine the relations between calorie restriction and risk of developing adenocarcinoma of the reproductive tract. Mortality in the calorie-restricted group was almost half that of those on full feed. Calorie-restricted chickens maintained body weights averaging 1.423 kg compared with the full-fed birds at 1.892 kg. Ovulation rate varied with the full-fed group producing 64% more eggs than the calorie-restricted group. Total reproductive cancers occurred in 57 (33.3%) birds for the full-fed group and 26 (10.3%) birds for the calorie-restricted group. On the basis of histopathology, 45 (26.3%) birds in the full-fed group had ovarian adenocarcinoma compared with 16 (6.3%) birds in the calorie-restricted group. Calorie restriction in laying hens resulted in a near five-fold reduction in OVAC. Cancer Prev Res; 4(4); 562–7. ©2011 AACR.


A transmissible strain of sarcoma (Strain 13) is described that took its origin in a chicken inoculated with leukosis of Strain 1. The virus of Strain 13 produces sarcoma in the breast muscle injected with it and after intravenous inoculation it produces diffuse sarcomatosis of the spleen, bone marrow, and several other organs. The available evidence suggests that Strain 13 is caused by a single virus with ability to produce diffuse endothelial growth in the blood-forming organs associated with extensive hematomata, and erythroblastic proliferation. The strain can be readily transmitted by material free from live cells and preserved by drying. As small amounts of blood as 0.00001 cc. from chickens with sarcomatosis of the internal organs transmit Strain 13 by the intravenous route. By implantation sarcoma of Strain 13 can be transferred to chickens that are resistant to repeated inoculations with leukotic viruses.


Efficient occlusion culling in dynamic scenes is a very important topic to the game and real-time graphics community in order to accelerate rendering. We present a novel algorithm inspired by recent advances in depth culling for graphics hardware, but adapted and optimized for SIMD-capable CPUs. Our algorithm has very low memory overhead and is 3x faster than previous work, while culling 98% of all triangles culled by a full resolution depth buffer approach. It supports interleaving occluder rasterization and occlusion queries without penalty, making it easy to use in scene graph traversal or rendering code.


Pursuing a career in psychology can be exciting, interesting and challenging at least. This paper explores the main issues that can occur in the private practice and the challenges of establishing a professional identity in the early days, starting from the motivations behind choosing this career and covering issues that might arise in the process. Feelings of insecurity and self-doubt are frequent amongst mental health professionals, regardless of their experience. For novice therapists, feelings of incompetence are a central feature in the development of their professional identity. Scientific studies reveal some common issues among novice therapists such as self-doubt, anxiety and feelings of incompetence due to lack of skills and experience (Thériault, Gazzola, & Richardson, 2009).


This article suggests a link between Roman Jakobson's Kindersprache, Aphasie und allgemeine Lautgesetze (1941) and a short book review of C. & W. Stern's Die Kindersprache (4th ed., 1928) by Alf Sommerfelt in Norsk Tidsskrift for Sprogvidenskap (1929). The fundamental idea of Kindersprache is that children's phonological systems develop from initial broad contrasts to subsequent finer contrasts, so that unmarked phonological oppositions which are found in most languages develop first, with any language-specific contrasts developing later. In aphasia, according to Jakobson, the opposite development occurs: finer contrasts disappear first, broader contrasts later. It is shown in this article that Jakobson, in working out this theory, was probably inspired by an idea put forward in the 1929 book review by Sommerfelt. This may help to explain why Jakobson, on the first page of Kindersprache, dedicated his book 'Til min venn Alf' ("To my friend Alf"). Jakobson worked on and completed Kindersprache during his stay in Scandinavia 1939–1941, and details connected with his stay and work in this period are also commented on.


"Manrape"? Märta Tikkanen, Stieg Larsson, and the Limits of Heteronormativity
The central argument of this article originates in a rhetorical question: are female rapists "men"? If legal discourse is brought to its heteronormative head, the answer is yes; however, this article aims to problematize the presumptions underlying this answer, and to consider the possibility of theorising rape in the absence of heteronormative limitations. My analysis involves two readings: Märta Tikkanen's Manrape (Män kan inte våldtas, 1975) and Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Män som hatar kvinnor, 2005), two novels in Swedish which depict women raping their male rapists out of revenge. My conclusion is that the former novel eventually conforms to heteronormativity, while the latter does not. However, this does not imply that sexual power structures are erased in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Rather, in this novel, power violations are viewed in terms of the broader issues of law, politics and economics. But what is then lost, on the other hand, is the specificity of female experience as it is represented in Manrape.


Aims: The present observational cohort study evaluated the association between the AKR1D1*36 (rs1872930) allele and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in clopidogrel treated patients. Methods: We screened 198 consecutive cardiovascular patients on clopidogrel therapy admitted in October to November 2010 with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular symptoms; of these 118 met the study protocol entry criteria; the median age of the cohort was 62.5 years (IQR 57 – 66 years), and 55% were females. Results: The median follow up time was 38.5 (IQR 24 – 48) months; Kaplan-Meier/Log-rank analysis showed that patients carrying the AKR1D1*36 allelic variant have a shorter event-free-survival compared to wild type patients, hazard ratio = 2.193 (95% CI, 1.091 to 4.406); p = 0.0155. Multivariable Cox regression analysis con fi rmed the AKR1D1*36 allele as an independent risk factor (HR = 2.36; 95% CI, 1.34 to 4.18) and identi fi ed 3 other risk factors for MACCE; previous percutaneous interventions (PCI), HR = 2.78; (95% CI, 1.34 to 5.78), and a history of myocardial infarction, HR = 2.62; (95% CI, 1.48 to 4.64) at baseline and the previously reported CYP2C19*2 polymorphism (HR = 2.33; 95% CI, 1.33 to 4.06). Conclusion: The AKR1D1*36 ( rs1872930 ) variant is independently associated with a higher risk for MACCE and shorter event-free survival time.


Synthesis of nanocrystalline Co-ferrite powders with tunable magnetic properties is demonstrated by using co-precipitation and a novel ultrafast milling route. Milling times as short as a few minutes are reported for the first time to be sufficient to refine microstructure and to induce microstrain, and act efficiently, providing a 5-fold increase in coercivity. This is achieved with no compositional change during processing, but exclusively through microstructural modification. The efficiency of this process and its feasible scalability pave the way for development of Co-ferrite powders for permanent magnet applications.


We propose a botto - up variant of Earley deduction. Bottom-up deduction is preferable to top-down deduction because it allows incremental processing (even for head-driven grammars), it is data-driven, no subsumption check is needed, and preference values attached to lexical items can be used to guide best-first search. We discuss the scanning step for bottom-up Earley deduction and indexing schemes that help avoid useless deduction steps.


In this study, existing work, opportunities, standards and essential safety aspects on development of LVDC distribution systems have been considered. It can be summarised that the standard requirements for AC systems also applies to DC systems, and that one does not come apart DC-DC regulators in equipment due to the galvanic separation which is needed to fulfil the safety requirements. One of the main challenges of introducing an LVDC system is the non-existence of building codes and standards intended for an LVDC system in buildings. The critical step of developing a DC distribution system is selecting the voltage level. Earlier studies conclude that: • A standard voltage level of 230 V DC is proven to be sufficient for normal office loads, as long as the cable length does not exceed 80 m • For higher power loads up to 6.5 kW the voltage level has to be increased to 326 V DC for systems with a cable length of maximum 47 m and 2.5 mm2 This study proposes an LVDC system supplied by converted power from the main grid (AC-DC), where the size of the LVDC system is decided by performed measurements at an example building. In order to compare the losses in an AC and DC system, it was chosen to perform simulations on component level. It can be concluded that: • An LVDC system supplied by a central VSC converting power from the AC grid is an energy efficient system solution compared to the existing AC system solution, largely depending on the performance of the VSC Simulations and calculations resulted in a requirement of performance > 97.7 % of the VSC in order for it to be more energy efficient with an DC system instead of the existing AC system solution with AC-DC converters in each link with a performance of approximately 97 %. Experts believe that it is possible to gain this performance in the future based on performance for smaller converters developed by leading manufactures. Based on the different aspects considered regarding introduction of an LVDC distribution system, simulated models, and performed measurements, it can be concluded that: • From earlier studies it can be concluded that on the economic side, an LVDC distribution system seems benefitual • Original DC loads will benefit from having a separate DC system in terms of power loss at a voltage level of 230 V DC • AC loads require high power delivered and it will be most energy efficient to keep the connection to the existing AC system • An LVDC system with a size of approximate 20 kW is realistic in the future, supplying a floor in a building with DC loads From the material presented in this report, it can be summarised that it is a realistic possibility for future distribution systems in buildings to have an energy efficient mixed supply system, AC and DC.


In this paper, Newton iterative calculation is adopted for the solution of non-line equation, which reverse calculation value of strip deformation resistance for process control of cold rolling as variable. The calculation speed, stability and accuracy of this algorithm are analyzed. The practical application verifies that Newton iterative calculation can meet the requirement of non-line calculation of process control of cold rolling.


The short-lived but influential Brazilian cinema do lixo has so far been neglected by critics working in the fields of ecocriticism and Latin American cinema. This paper offers an ecocritical reexamination of a relevant example of cinema do lixo, The Red Light Bandit, by Rogerio Sganzerla, from its context of production in Sao Paulo to its radical aesthetic experimentation. It proposes that Sganzerla's cinema do lixo reveals an environmental politics that calls for a reconsideration of the relationship between the avant-garde and environmentalism in Brazilian culture, as well as to a rethinking of cinema do lixo's place in the making of contemporary environmental imaginaries in Brazilian cinema. Moreover, it discusses the relevance of its aesthetics of sustainability for ongoing debates on the relationship between cinema, the avant-garde, and the environment in Latin America, and Brazil in particular


Background Chest X-ray (CXR) is the first-line investigation for lung cancer in many countries but previous research has suggested that the disease is not detected by CXR in approximately 20% of patients. The risk of lung cancer, with particular symptoms, following a negative CXR is not known. Aim To establish the sensitivity and specificity of CXR requested by patients who are symptomatic; determine the positive predictive values (PPVs) of each presenting symptom of lung cancer following a negative CXR; and determine whether symptoms associated with lung cancer are different in those who had a positive CXR result compared with those who had a negative CXR result. Design and setting A prospective cohort study was conducted in Leeds, UK, based on routinely collected data from a service that allowed patients with symptoms of lung cancer to request CXR. Method Symptom data were combined with a diagnostic category (positive or negative) for each CXR, and the sensitivity and specificity of CXR for lung cancer were calculated. The PPV of lung cancer associated with each symptom or combination of symptoms was estimated for those patients with a negative CXR. Results In total, 114 (1.3%) of 8996 patients who requested a CXR were diagnosed with lung cancer within 1 year. Sensitivity was 75.4% and specificity was 90.2%. The PPV of all symptoms for a diagnosis of lung cancer within 1 year of CXR was <1% for all individual symptoms except for haemoptysis, which had a PPV of 2.9%. PPVs for a diagnosis of lung cancer within 2 years of CXR was <1.5% for all single symptoms except for haemoptysis, which had a PPV of 3.9%. Conclusion CXR has limited sensitivity; however, in a population with a low prevalence of lung cancer, its high specificity and negative predictive value means that lung cancer is very unlikely to be present following a negative result. Findings also support guidance that unexplained haemoptysis warrants urgent referral, regardless of CXR result.


Plants never had it easy. When their ancestors colonized the land about 460 M years ago during the Ordovician period, they were immediately followed by crustaceans—which eventually developed into insects—that found plants a ready source of food. Ever since plants have been at the bottom of the food chain for pathogens and predators from viruses to mammalian herbivores. Unlike animals, plants cannot run away, having given up motility to maximize their surface exposed to sunlight. In lieu, they became masters in chemical warfare and communication to recognize and fend off pathogens and herbivores. Their "claws and teeth" are a dazzling arsenal of chemicals, metabolic and regulatory pathways, producing sensing and communication molecules that attract increasing interest from chemists and biologists for their potential use in medicine and agriculture.

> Humans have also learned to use toxic compounds such as digitalis, atropine, opium or nicotine for medicinal, cosmetic or recreational use.

Among these molecules are many spices, including the pungent piperine and capsaicin from peppers, or the glucosinolates from mustard and horseradish, and the bitter polyphenols, flavonoids or terpenes from red grapes, coffee beans, tea or cabbage. Humans have long come to appreciate these tastes—that originally evolved as a warning signal to herbivores—for centuries, spices were the most valuable commodity in global trade. Humans have also learned to use toxic compounds such as digitalis, atropine, opium or nicotine for medicinal, cosmetic or recreational use. The alkaloid taxol from the bark of the Pacific yew is a potent chemotherapeutic drug for cancer treatment; artemisinin, isolated from the plant Artemisia annua, or sweet wormwood, has long been employed in Chinese herbal medicine and been refined into a treatment for malaria. The metabolic pathways of plant compounds with medicinal value are therefore an active field of research with the objective of engineering these into E. coli or …


In this paper, a quantum routing mechanism is proposed to teleport a quantum state from one quantum device to another wirelessly even though these two devices do not share EPR pairs mutually. This results in the proposed quantum routing mechanism that can be used to construct the quantum wireless networks. In terms of time complexity, the proposed mechanism transports a quantum bit in time almost the same as the quantum teleportation does regardless of the number of hops between the source and destination. From this point of view, the quantum routing mechanism is close to optimal in data transmission time. In addition, in order to realize the wireless communication in the quantum domain, a hierarchical network architecture and its corresponding communication protocol are developed. Based on these network components, a scalable quantum wireless communication can be achieved.


There is increasing recognition that there are a range of environmental goods and services that are important to society as a whole, but may have little or no value to individual landowners whose land may contribute to the overall production of these services within the landscape. Many of these goods and services may be a minor output of any one parcel of land, but when aggregated across a landscape become important generally. Management of agricultural landscapes has typically been considered as an emergent property arising from the individual decisions of individual landowners. However, this leads to the potential for a "tyranny of small decisions" (Odum, 1982) that in aggregate can contribute to the erosion of the environmental commons. This paper outlines the evidence for landscape effects on ecological systems, and suggests that such systems should be managed at a scale greater than the farm. This in turn implies that agri-environment schemes can function with greater impact if implemented across landscapes, allowing efficiency gains required within the "sustainable intensification" agenda. The challenge then is to derive policy instruments that can drive "top down" or "bottom up" implementation of such schemes such that neighbouring landowners do the "right thing" in the "right place". The proposed mechanism for "greening" the EU's Common Agricultural Policy is currently under debate: the extent to which the proposals are consistent with the overall need to balance biodiversity and production needs is discussed


Design or build a battery-powered electric bicycle For much of the world, bicycles are a transportation mainstay. Electric bicycles——powered by a rechargeable battery pack——are proven to deliver the highest possible energy efficiency, even compared to pedal bikes. A transportation alternative to fossil fuels, electric bicycles are fast catching on, in part because they don't require factory assembly. End-users can easily construct them with available components.The text reveals important techniques, data, and examples that allow readers to judge various propulsion setups——used in both home- and factory-made bikes——and estimate speed and travel distance for each. Numerous charts clearly present the costs, benefits, and trade-offs between both commercial and user-converted models.Key features include: Estimating motor-performance for wind, hill, and cruising power requirements Estimating battery capacity and a thorough description of battery charging Motor and motor-control options Evaluating motor-to-wheel coupling options Placement of propulsion components Configurations and performance How systems-engineering techniques can produce electric-bicycle designs that have long travel range and low life-cycle cost Testing Developments to watchA comprehensive resource for harnessing innovation, Electric Bicycles is the definitive practical guide to taking full advantage of this exciting alternative energy technology.


Abstract The duration of polarity Chron C31r is estimated with a cyclostratigraphic approach. Two sites are investigated: ODP Site 762 (Indian Ocean) and the Contessa Highway section (Gubbio, Italy). Cyclostratigraphic analysis is performed on greyscale variations (Site 762) and magnetic susceptibility variations (Contessa section). Both sites reveal an astronomical control of the sedimentation, highlighted by the identification of all the orbital periodicities. Cyclostratigraphic signals are tuned on 405 ka eccentricity cycles extracted from the La04 astronomical solution. In both sites, cycle counting gives an estimate of the duration of polarity Chron C31r of about 2.09 ± 0.03 Ma.


With the Java language and sandboxed environments becoming more and more popular, research needs to be conducted into improving the performance of these environments while decreasing their memory footprints. This thesis focuses on a dynamic approach for growing monitors for objects in order to reduce the memory footprint and improve the execution time of the IBM Java Virtual Machine. According to the Java Language Specification every object needs to have the ability to be used for synchronization. This new approach grows monitors only when required. The impact of this approach on performance and memory has been evaluated using different benchmarks and future work is also discussed. On average, a performance increase of 0.6% and a memory reduction of about 5% has been achieved with this approach.


Acetylcholinesterase resistance has been well documented in many insects, including several mosquito species. We tested the resistance of five wild, Chinese strains of the mosquito Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus to two kinds of pesticides, dichlorvos and propoxur. An acetylcholinesterase gene (ace1) was cloned and sequenced from a pooled sample of mosquitoes from these five strains and the amino acids of five positions were found to vary (V185M, G247S, A328S, A391T, and T682A). Analysis of the correlation between mutation frequencies and resistance levels (LC50) suggests that two point mutations, G247S (r2 = 0.732, P = 0.065) and A328S (r2 = 0.891, P = 0.016), are associated with resistance to propoxur but not to dichlorvos. Although the V185M mutation was not associated with either dichlorvos or propoxur resistance, its RS genotype frequency was correlated with propoxur resistance (r2 = 0.815, P = 0.036). And the HWE test showed the A328S mutation is linked with V185M, also with G247S mutation. This suggested that these three mutations may contribute synergistically to propoxur resistance. The T682A mutation was negatively correlated with propoxur (r2 = 0.788, P = 0.045) resistance. Knowledge of these mutations may help design strategies for managing pesticide resistance in wild mosquito populations.