Abstract The purpose of this paper is primarily to examine the characteristics of female protagonists in video games and to study the process through which they attain the identities of heroes. Over the 17 years of perpetual and repeated incarnation in the Tomb Raider series, Lara Croft serves as both a leading model and a mythical signifier for female protagonists. Therefore, we seek to identify the gender consciousness that underlies female characterization in video games, with a particular focus on Lara Croft. As a popular narrative medium, video games feature female heroes to represent gender values of the time. The synchronic and diachronic analysis of Croft's features as a character and identity as a female hero leads us to the conclusion that female protagonists merely serve as the subject of desire, recreated to satisfy sadomasochistic male fantasies. They fulfill men's sadistic desires through their glamorous physique and masochist desires, as reflected by their behavior. Through a process of denial regarding femininity, common representations as the mother, and the re-codifying of patriarchal values solely in favor of the patriarch, female protagonists faced the confusion of dual identity, wherein they would equate themselves with male heroes, while simultaneously identifying themselves as damsels-in-distress. To summarize, video games exclusively allow the existence of heroes, while a true heroine has yet to emerge. Female characters are limited by their adherence to patriarchal conventions even in the virtual world, which is like a mirror world and an alternative world at the same time.


The study's objectives were to assess the extent to which packaged water producers follow product registration procedures and to assess the relationship between product registration and drinking water quality in Accra, Ghana. Following preliminary analysis of a national water quality survey, 118 packaged sachet water samples were collected by sampling all brands sold by 66 vendors. A sample of vendors was selected from two high-income and two low-income areas of Accra, Ghana. Sachet packaging and labelling details were recorded and compared to a regulatory database to assess product registration. All samples were weighed and tested for faecal indicator bacteria and selected physico-chemical parameters. Product registration numbers and brand names could be matched to regulatory records for 77 of 118 sachets (65.2%). All samples tested were compliant with national water quality standards for faecal indicator bacteria and nitrate. Brand registration was not associated with any of the quality indicators considered. The results of this study suggest that while a substantial proportion of sachet water is sold without formal product registration, the microbial quality of the unlicensed water is consistently high in Accra, Ghana. Further examination of regulatory enforcement and monitoring will be needed to ensure sustained high water quality over time.


The IT industry's annual growth rate of -40% has put immense pressure on the software quality assurance function. Motivated by this challenge, we evaluated various options, before adopting virtual quality assurance facilitation at TCS. In the As-Is model, TCS has a traditional quality organization wherein a small number of full-time software quality analysts facilitate several projects each, with reporting independent of the delivery organization. In the to-be model, we envisaged many part-time SQAs facilitating a smaller number of projects. Line reporting of the SQAs was to be left within the delivery organization. Evaluation of performance of this model has been very encouraging. Internalization of processes, building competency, and maintaining process stability with reduced cost were some key benefits. This paper describes the genesis, results, benefits, and challenges as experienced during the pilot and suggests the way ahead for deploying the virtual SQA function in large, mature IT organizations.


The Prelude experience has underlined the potential strong impact of both the hydrodynamic damping and any potential superimposed current to properly assess the Water Intake Riser life time, refer to Minguez & al. (2020). This effect, resulting from the considered hydrodynamic modelling, remains qualitatively suggested within the different riser design standards (e.g. either the DNV-GL-RP-C205 2017 or the ISO-13628-7 and ISO 19902 2007) but no quantitative recommendations agree on the way to properly address such a topic. The proposed numerical developments underlined the gap between the different Best Practices and the impact in terms of fatigue assessment. The different recommended damping models are considered and experienced to assess the quantitative impact on fatigue assessment.
 Based on this critical review, a large-scale model test focusing on a simple riser response is proposed to position the different existing hydrodynamic models. This has been done by imposing forced motions to a rigid cylinder mounted under a spring system. The system, free to move, is plunged within a basin in which different current speed and direction are imposed. Both loads and dynamic responses of the model have been monitored.
 The numerical developments proposed in the frame of this research suggest both any damping and drag empirical formulation to properly address such fatigue concern from engineering point of view.
 This work finally recommends that caution be exercised when the DNV guidelines and the International Standard are followed due to the contradiction of the recommendations with the experimental evidences reported in this study.


845 Figure 1 Prolonged survival with second generation peptides C57BL/6 mice were injected intravenously with 1 x 106 C1498 myeloid leukemia cells on day 0. The presence of engrafted was confirmed on day 6 by flow cytometry and leukemia-bearing mice were treated with daily subcutaneous injections of PBS, 10 mg VIP scrambled peptide (SCRAM), VIP, VIPhyb, or a second-generation VIP antagonist (ANT008, etc...) for 10 days. Survival of all groups treated with a VIP antagonist was significantly better than groups treated with PBS, VIP, or SCRAM at p < 0.001. Survival between mice treated with ANT300 was significantly better than those treated with VIPhyb (p<0.02) Abstracts A504 J Immunother Cancer 2020;8(Suppl 3):A1–A559 on M ay 9, 2021 by gest. P rocted by coright. http/jitc.bm jcom / J Im m unther C acer: frst pulished as 10.11jitc-2020-S IT C 20.0845 on 10 D ecem er 220. D ow nladed fom


will review an article from Genes & Development entitled Abstract from Article The development, homeostasis, and regeneration of complex organ systems require extensive cell-cell communication to ensure that different cells proliferate, migrate, differentiate, assemble, and function in a coordinated and timely fashion. Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ephrin ligands are critical regulators of cell contact-dependent signaling and patterning. Eph/ephrin binding can lead to very diverse biological readouts such as adhesion versus repulsion, or increased versus decreased motility. Accordingly, depending on cell type and context, a limited and conserved set of receptor-ligand interactions is translated into a large variety of downstream signaling processes. Recent evidence indicates that the endocytosis of Eph/ephrin molecules, together with the internalization of various associated tissue-specific effectors, might be one of the key principles responsible for such highly diverse and adaptable biological roles. Here, we summarize recent insights into Eph/ephrin signaling and endocytosis in three biological systems; i.e., the brain, intestine, and vasculature.


The YDS algorithm computes a schedule on a DVS-enabled resource to meet deadlines of all jobs and optimally minimize the total energy consumption. The algorithm requires that an exact execution time of each job be known. For settings where execution times are variable or uncertain, stochastic scheduling has been proposed to preferentially accelerate less probable phases of jobs to reduce the expected energy consumption. However, an analogue to the YDS algorithm for the stochastic setting has not been optimally solved. In this paper, we propose the p-YDS algorithm to minimize the expected energy consumption for a set of jobs with arbitrary arrival times, deadlines, and execution times. We then derive the competitive ratio of the YDS algorithm w.r.t. the p-YDS algorithm, for the metric of expected energy consumption. By comparing two optimal algorithms, this ratio specifies the worst-case energy cost of being agnostic to the variability in the execution time of jobs.


Thank you very much for reading humanistic frontiers in american education. As you may know, people have search hundreds times for their chosen readings like this humanistic frontiers in american education, but end up in infectious downloads. Rather than enjoying a good book with a cup of coffee in the afternoon, instead they juggled with some malicious bugs inside their laptop. humanistic frontiers in american education is available in our book collection an online access to it is set as public so you can get it instantly. Our book servers hosts in multiple locations, allowing you to get the most less latency time to download any of our books like this one. Kindly say, the humanistic frontiers in american education is universally compatible with any devices to read.


The European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is the central pillar of the EU response against climate change. This trading mechanism is considered, from the theoretical point of view, as the most cost-effective method to reduce GHG. However, previous studies show that the agents who participate in these markets may behave in a way that may lead to inefficient CO2 prices, creating doubts about the static and dynamic efficiency of the system. This article analyses these possible anomalies by first trying to model the ETS in a more realistic way, addressing some of the limitations of previous models, and second, by comparing the results with real market transactions. For this, a bottom-up, multi-sector model has been built, which represents the EU ETS in an integrated, cross-sectoral way, paying particular attention to the interactions among the most emissions intensive industries. The results show the benefits of this modelling approach and how it better reflects real market conditions. Some preliminary conclusions regarding the behaviour of the agents in the ETS market are also presented.


The Transmembrane protein 192 (TMEM192) is a lysosomal/late endosomal protein initially discovered by organellar proteomics. TMEM192 exhibits four transmembrane segments with cytosolic N- and C-termini and forms homodimers. Devoid of significant homologies, the molecular function of TMEM192 is currently unknown. Upon TMEM192 knockdown in hepatoma cells, a dysregulation of autophagy and increased apoptosis were reported. Here, we aimed to define the physiological role of TMEM192 by analysing consequences of TMEM192 ablation in mice. Therefore, we compared the biochemical properties of murine TMEM192 to those of the human orthologue. We reveal lysosomal residence of murine TMEM192 and demonstrate ubiquitous tissue expression. In brain, TMEM192 expression was pronounced in the hippocampus but also present in the cortex and cerebellum, as analysed based on a lacZ reporter allele. Murine TMEM192 undergoes proteolytic processing in a tissue-specific manner. Thereby, a 17 kDa fragment is generated which was detected in most murine tissues except liver. TMEM192 processing occurs after lysosomal targeting by pH-dependent lysosomal proteases. TMEM192-/- murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) exhibited a regular morphology of endo-/lysosomes and were capable of performing autophagy and lysosomal exocytosis. Histopathological, ultrastructural and biochemical analyses of all major tissues of TMEM192-/- mice demonstrated normal lysosomal functions without apparent lysosomal storage. Furthermore, the abundance of the major immune cells was comparable in TMEM192-/- and wild type mice. Based on this, we conclude that under basal conditions in vivo the loss of TMEM192 can be efficiently compensated by alternative pathways. Further studies will be required to decipher its molecular function.


To test the efficacy of kappa-casein as a marker of human malignancy, a protein human milk, ostensibly kappa-casein, has been purified and serum levels determined, by RIA, in normal subjects, breast cancer patients, and lactating women. The results do not support claims by other workers for this protein. Concurrent physicochemical characterization of the protein has shown that it is probably lactoferrin and this result casts some doubt on the earlier studies as it is a major, non-beta component of the casein fraction. It also indicates that caution should be exercised when homology between proteins is used as a guide to identity.


Most of our knowledge of planets orbiting nearby stars comes from Doppler surveys. For spaced-based, high-contrast imaging missions, nearby stars with Doppler-discovered planets are attractive targets. The known orbits tell imaging missions where and when to observe, and the dynamically determined masses provide important constraints for the interpretation of planetary spectra. Quantifying the set of planet masses and orbits that could have been detected will enable more efficient planet discovery and characterization. We analyzed Doppler measurements from Lick and Keck Observatories by the California Planet Survey. We focused on stars that are likely targets for three space-based planet imaging mission concepts studied by NASA—WFIRST-AFTA, Exo-C, and Exo-S. The Doppler targets are primarily F8 and later main sequence stars, with observations spanning 1987–2014. We identified 76 stars with Doppler measurements from the prospective mission target lists. We developed an automated planet search and a methodology to estimate the pipeline completeness using injection and recovery tests. We applied this machinery to the Doppler data and computed planet detection limits for each star as a function of planet minimum mass and semimajor axis. For typical stars in the survey, we are sensitive to approximately Saturn-mass planets inside of 1 au, Jupiter-mass planets inside of ∼3 au, and our sensitivity declines out to ∼10 au. For the best Doppler targets, we are sensitive to Neptune-mass planets in 3 au orbits. Using an idealized model of Doppler survey completeness, we forecast the precision of future surveys of non-ideal Doppler targets that are likely targets of imaging missions.


T authors of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care statement on the prevention of neonatal invasive group B streptococcal (GBS) infection have reviewed the literature to produce recommendations for prevention. They advocate selective intrapartum chemoprophylaxis based on a combination of screening and risk factors. However, they do not note that only 50% of the mothers of infants with GBS infection have the risk factors that they list. Thus, given the difficulties in following a complex protocol in clinical practice and the fact that many mothers deliver too quickly to benefit from any strategy of intrapartum chemoprophylaxis, the maximum potential benefit of the strategy they propose would be a reduction in neonatal GBS infection of about 40%. The benefit of adding universal screening to the risk-factor approach is to reduce the number of mothers who receive intrapartum chemoprophylaxis while in labour, but this will inevitably also lead to a slight reduction in the program's effectiveness. The authors concentrate on the "number needed to treat," which will of course be smaller with a more focused approach, but they do not address the proportion of total cases that will be prevented. Data on over 600 000 deliveries collected through an ongoing US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance program have shown that the screening-based approach is greater than 50% more effective than a risk-factor approach. An approach based on risk factors plus screening cannot be more effective than an approach based on risk factors alone. Although it is a laudable goal to reduce the number of women receiving intrapartum antibiotics, there is no a priori reason why that goal (efficiency) should take precedence over the goal of preventing the largest number of cases (effectiveness). With the use of penicillin rather than ampicillin, ongoing analysis of resistance patterns and the use of cefazolin instead of erythromycin or clindamycin for penicillin-sensitive mothers, the risks to the population of this very brief course of focused therapy should be minimized. The strategy suggested by the task force may be one of the most efficient approaches, but it is one of the least effective.


The concept of green structures rises as a contemporary, eco friendly approach to organize the relation between landscape resources, and their surroundings. The integration of green structures with the built environment is essential to activate its role in facing the different challenges of city centers by achieving ecological balance and offering opportunities to promote sustainable development of places and communities. The role of connectivity arises as one of the principles to ensure an integrated system of ecological areas and activate the potentials of green structures. This research aims to define the connectivity as one of the basic principles to achieve integration of green structures. The research concluded that the connectivity of green structures would be on two levels. Physical; which is related to the strategic spatial planning to find an integrated network for movement, to reach the second level, functional connectivity; which is related to the ecological process of connectivity and responses, these two types of connectivity anticipate in activating the potential green structures and create a responsive environment, adapted to the climate changes.


The assessment of the performance of learners by means of benchmark experiments is an established exercise. In practice, benchmark studies are a tool to compare the performance of several competing algorithms for a certain learning problem. Cross-validation or resampling techniques are commonly used to derive point estimates of the performances which are compared to identify algorithms with good properties. For several benchmarking problems, test procedures taking the variability of those point estimates into account have been suggested. Most of the recently proposed inference procedures are based on special variance estimators for the cross-validated performance. We introduce a theoretical framework for inference problems in benchmark experiments and show that standard statistical test procedures can be used to test for differences in the performances. The theory is based on well-defined distributions of performance measures which can be compared with established tests. To demonstrate the usefulness in practice, the theoretical results are applied to regression and classification benchmark studies based on artificial and real world data.


The vulnerability of Irish business stems from their tendency to rely on single products or market characteristics for
success, instead of developing a comprehensive marketing strategy Desk research was undertaken in order to develop a better understanding of services marketing and create a background of the tourism industry.

The nature of services was identified,as well as the processof the development of Irish services,along with the increasing dependence on services for employment. The influence of consumerism and decision-making was also studied. Primary research focuses on the Hotel and Catering industry,with specific reference to the ways these two segments pursue their marketing strategies.

It was found that the majority of problems confronting the two are as a result of the scale of operations vis.a highly
fragmented industry which suffers from the lack of professional marketing skills. The main trade and professional associations do not appear to be meeting the needs of the typical small firms in hotel and catering in Dublin. It appears that the existing organisations have failed to fill this gap and it is recommended that a special initiative should be made to provide small firms in the hotel and catering industry with relevant professional marketing expertise.


Cancer is a multifactorial disease in which cell types lost their capability to regulate growth, proliferation, and cell death pathways, causing the uncontrolled proliferation of tumor cells. Cell death pathway is supported by the operation of the p53–Mdm2-negative feedback loop that has a central role to prevent the development of tumor cells. Under severe DNA damage, this loop takes the control of the apoptotic pathway and activates Bax, which, in turn, activates the caspase cascade to produce the death of the injured cell. However, events like Mdm2 overexpression or the suppression of caspase-9 gene can block the transmission of the death signal to the caspase cascade allowing the survival of the mutated cell. In this chapter, a mathematical model that explores the effect of Mdm2 overexpression and the suppression of caspase-9 on the control of death by the p53–Mdm2 loop is presented. From the model, two strategies for tumor cell survival are indentified, showing how mutations that affect the death pathway allow the survival of transformed cells. The model suggests that the combination of different simultaneous treatments against these mutations can be a suitable strategy against cancer.


Fabrication of dental prosthesis for patients with microstomia has long been a problem for dentists. Microstomia is defined as an abnormally small oral orifice. Prosthetic rehabilitation of microstomia patients presents difficulties at all stages, from the preliminary impressions to fabrication of prosthesis . This study described a method for making impressions for patients with limited opening of the oral cavity which the use of a full-size impression tray was not possible.


Current fluxgate sensor probe SPICE models constructed by using arc tangent transfer function method and the diode model in fluxgate sensor simulation had some disadvantages which were non convergence, low simulation accuracy, discontinuously adjusted core characteristics and the model couldn't simulate the hysteresis characteristic. IO characteristics of Schmitt Trigger was similar to the B-H curve of soft magnetic core in shape, for this reason Schmitt trigger was used to construct fluxgate probe SPICE model. HSPICE was used in simulation. Simulation results shown that this model can simulate the real electrical properties of fluxgate probe accurately. This model can be used for fluxgate sensor interface integrated circuit research and fluxgate sensor application, and provide a reference to judge the performance for fluxgate sensors of which core parameters within a certain range.


Work motivation depends not only on the sector of employment but also on factors such as age and gender. Today women play an important role in employment and their participation in economic life is constantly increasing. Performance incentives such as financial income, freedom, career advancement, challenges, opportunities of self-realization, and so on are more significant for men. Research of motivational differences by gender is based on the concept of fundamental differences between men and women, so on the existence of gender stereotypes which can be seen in a historical context. This is similar with age too. Younger adults are more motivated by a desire to increase profits and older adults are more motivated to retain what they already have. Based on their experience, older employees wish that their opinions are more respected while younger employees wish to be listened to. In this article, the impact of gender and age on employee motivation in Slovak companies is discussed. It has been concluded that there are significant differences based on gender at Slovak employees. This is reflected in 18 motivational factors. Furthermore, it has been pointed out to the fact that, considering age categories, there are also significant differences particularly at motivational factors such as basic salary, job security and fair employee evaluation.


Motivated by the very important discovery of CP violation in charm-decays for the first time, by the LHCb collaboration, the role of nearby resonances such as the scalar $f_0(1710)$ in accounting for the observed CP is discussed. It is suggested that the influence of such a resonance may also explain the long-standing puzzle of such a large breaking of SU(3) seen in its decays. It is also explained that intervention of such resonance(s) will render first principles calculations of $\Delta A_{CP}$ rather difficult. Instead, it is proposed that searches for CP violation in simple radiative final states, such as $D^0 \to \gamma \phi [\to K^+ K^-]$, $D^0 \to l^+ l^- \pi$ etc. has much better chance of theoretical precision studies and therefore theoretical and experimental investigations therein are strongly urged.


With an enormous range of applications, the Internet of Things (IoT) has magnetized industries and academicians from everywhere. IoT facilitates operations through ubiquitous connectivity by providing Internet access to all the devices with computing capabilities. With the evolution of wireless infrastructure, the focus from simple IoT has been shifted to smart, connected and mobile IoT (M-IoT) devices and platforms, which can enable low-complexity, low-cost and efficient computing through sensors, machines, and even crowdsourcing. All these devices can be grouped under a common term of M-IoT. Even though the positive impact on applications has been tremendous, security, privacy and trust are still the major concerns for such networks and insufficient enforcement of these requirements introduces non-negligible threats to M-IoT devices and platforms. Thus, it is important to understand the range of solutions which are available for providing a secure, privacy-compliant, and trustworthy mechanism for M-IoT. There is no direct survey available, which focuses on security, privacy, trust, secure protocols, physical layer security and handover protections in M-IoT. This paper covers such requisites and presents comparisons of state-the-art solutions for IoT which are applicable to security, privacy, and trust in smart and connected M-IoT networks. Apart from these, various challenges, applications, advantages, technologies, standards, open issues, and roadmap for security, privacy and trust are also discussed in this paper.


The increasing percentage of beggar's existence has forced our government to take efforts to solve it, but so far all are failed. Concerning to that, we introduce the Brainwashing Motivation (BM) that can be tried as an alternative solution. Inspired by the Social-Learning theory by Bandura, a psychologist, BM is applied in the form of motivation seminars in which some trainings of many kinds of skills with an intensive assistance will be held. BM won't only be able to reduce the beggars' passion to beg, but also give them a lift to live a better life as they own valuable skills.


The author reports a case of factitious rape in a psychiatric inpatient. To his knowledge, this is the first case report of this syndrome in the medical literature. This case is related to the signs and symptoms commonly found in Munchausen Syndrome. The question of the relationship of factitious rape to borderline personality disorder and to disturbed sexual identity is raised. Physicians are urged to develop an index of suspicion for factitious disorder.


Commercial pure titanium has been widely used in aerospace, chemical, and biomedical industries for its lightweight, high corrosion resistance, high strength, high heat resistance and good biocompatible properties. The market of pure titanium thin sheets is expected to increase in medical, dental, civil engineering, and acoustical engineering fields. On the other hand, pure titanium takes hexagonal closed-pack structure with anisotropic elasticity and plasticity. Inhomogeneous microscopic deformation always occurs by mechanical loading from the elastic condition. The inhomogeneity brings about various damages such as localized plastic deformation, microcracking, necking, and so on. Since the inhomogeneity is significant in thin sheets, it is important to investigate its deformation behavior. In this study, a tensile test was carried out using a thin sheet specimen of polycrystalline pure titanium, and the microscopic deformation of grains was measured by the digital holographic microscope. During the test, the height distribution of grains was measured in a fixed area on the front and back surfaces of the specimen at each tensile load step and the results at different load steps were compared. It was found from the measurement results that inhomogeneous deformation began at the small load due to anisotropic elasticity of crystal grains and expanded with the load by their anisotropic plasticity. Grain heights at grain center and those along grain boundaries were related with each other, and the grain heights on the front surface were inversely correlated with those on the back surface.


Seasonal variation to manuscript submission and publication in the medical literature is yet to be carefully scrutinized. We report a lack of significant seasonal bias in relation to medical student submission to a prominent Australasian medical journal. Factors that contribute to when a manuscript is submitted may be predictable. Factors that contribute to when a manuscript is published, on the other hand, appear to be less predictable. These observations remain preliminary as the studies examining seasonal bias in the medical literature are too few and methodologically heterogeneous. A careful consideration of the implications will need to be taken into account to ensure a fair peer-review process.


Storing scientific data on the filesystem in a meaningful and transparent way is no trivial task. In particular, when the data have to be accessed after their originator has left the lab, the importance of a standardized filesystem layout cannot be underestimated. It is desirable to have a structure that allows for the unique categorization of all kinds of data from experimental results to publications. They have to be accessible to a broad variety of workflows, e.g., via graphical user interface as well as via command line, in order to find widespread acceptance. Furthermore, the inclusion of already existing data has to be as simple as possible. We propose a three-level layout to organize and store scientific data that incorporates the full chain of scientific data management from data acquisition to analysis to publications. Metadata are saved in a standardized way and connect original data to analyses and publications as well as to their originators. A simple software tool to check a file structure for compliance with the proposed structure is presented.


The growth mechanism of bainitic α plates in Ti-4.5Fe-6.8Mo-1.5Al, a metastable β Ti alloy, has been investigated by optical microscopy, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and dilatometry. The observations are compared with the transformation characteristics of primary α plates, which form at relatively high temperatures. The primary α plates form predominantly on β grain boundaries, whereas the bainitic α plates nucleate both at grain boundaries and intragranularly. It is shown that the morphological transition with decreasing temperature is associated with a change in transformation mechanism. The EPMA results show that the primary α plates are formed by a partitioning transformation. In contrast, the growth of the bainitic α plates is partitionless, followed by a post-transformation redistribution of Fe. This mechanism is similar to bainite in steel. The Fe diffusion from the supersaturated bainitic α plates to the β matrix causes the observed dilatation signal. The results of dilatometry in conjunction with optical microscopy indicate that a low misfit between the lattice structures exists, which is favourable for a partitionless transformation to occur at a low undercooling below T0.


Higher levels of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are expressed in colon metastatic carcinomas. However, the signaling pathways and their mechanisms that control cell adhesion and motility, important components of cancer metastasis, are not well understood. We sought to identify the integrin-mediated mechanism of FAK cleavage and downstream signaling as well as its role in motility in human colon cancer GEO cells. Our results demonstrate that phosphorylated FAK (tyrosine 397) is cleaved at distinct sites by integrin signaling when cells attach to collagen IV. Specific blocking antibodies (clone P1E6) to integrin α2 inhibited FAK activation and cell motility (micromotion). Ectopic expression of the FAK C-terminal domain FRNK attenuated FAK and ERK phosphorylation and micromotion. Calpain inhibitor N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal blocked FAK cleavage, cell adhesion, and micromotion. Antisense approaches established an important role for μ-calpain in cell motility. Expression of wild type μ-calpain increased cell micromotion, whereas its point mutant reversed the effect. Further, cytochalasin D inhibited FAK phosphorylation and cleavage, cell adhesion, locomotion, and ERK phosphorylation, thus showing FAK activation downstream of actin assembly. We also found a pivotal role for FAK Tyr861 phosphorylation in cell motility and ERK activation. Our results reveal a novel functional connection between integrin α2 engagement, FAK, ERK, and μ-calpain activation in cell motility and a direct link between FAK cleavage and enhanced cell motility. The data suggest that blocking the integrin α2/FAK/ERK/μ-calpain pathway may be an important strategy to reduce cancer progression.


risk of giving double the usual starting dose of a new agent in conjunction with the underlying benorylate should have been considered potentially dangerous. That these patients were both in their 70s should have invited particular care. Regardless of the attributes, or otherwise, of Osmosin or any new anti-inflammatory agent, it is unfortunate that a new drug should fall into disrepute as a result of inadequate attention to dosage, unwarranted polypharmacy, or lack of concern for the patient's age.


Postural assessment and rehabilitation methods are diversifying according to the technological development of biomedical equipment. A special attention is directed to the choice and use of the latest equipment construction from which to obtain maximum efficiency. Thus, this paper presents theoretical and practical aspects of using a system type Oculus Rift for assessment and motor recovery. In the first part of the paper, the applications of this system are described in the current development stage, and in the second part, some theoretical aspects are presented. The paper continues with the third part, describing the experimental setup and the recorded results. Experimental system used was based on a set of recording equipment for loco-motor and postural parameters (pressure plate and plate forte) and had like simulation element of various forms of instability, an optoelectronic system, type Oculus Rift. In addition it was used anthropometric instruments to assessment of the subjects participating in recordings activities. Analyses were performed on a sample of subjects, in different moments of the day and with different images used in Oculus Rift system. With these subjects had simulated different postures and gait, to assess the influence of Oculus Rift system on their motor characteristics (postural instability in gait, trajectories of gait, bipodal stability). According to these evaluations it can be set a particular configuration to establish special loco-motor rehabilitation procedures. All these investigation had the purpose to establish "friendly" procedures to assessment and motor rehabilitation. Conclusions and future directions of this research development are presented in the final part of the paper.


New Zealand implemented an emissions trading scheme, the NZ ETS, to regulate the production of Greenhouse Gases. This ETS is the first of its kind to include the agricultural sector, as is expected to significantly raise costs to both producers and consumers. The aim of the paper is to assess the potential impact of the New Zealand ETS on the economy and the environment. The paper reports first on the development and nature of the legislation itself, and then continues by mapping the cost of the ETS on producers, and then furthermore the transfer of these costs as increased prices. Then by utilising the Lincoln Trade and Environment Model, or LTEM, a partial equilibrium model which forecasts international trade and domestic production and consumption of agricultural commodities, a number of scenarios revolving around the NZ ETS are projected. The paper finally presents the results gathered from the LTEM, showing the impact of the NZ ETS on both the production of agricultural commodities, and the production of GHGs by the industry. These results demonstrate the potential cost of the NZ ETS on the agricultural sector, and its ability to reduce emissions


Background: The Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia (BRINDA) project is a multiagency and multicountry collaboration that was formed to improve micronutrient assessment and to better characterize anemia. Objectives: The aims of the project were to 1) identify factors associated with inflammation, 2) assess the relations between inflammation, malaria infection, and biomarkers of iron and vitamin A status and compare adjustment approaches, and 3) assess risk factors for anemia in preschool children (PSC) and women of reproductive age (WRA). Design: The BRINDA database inclusion criteria included surveys that 1) were conducted after 2004, 2) had target groups of PSC, WRA, or both, and 3) used a similar laboratory methodology for the measurement of ≥1 biomarker of iron [ferritin or soluble transferrin receptor or vitamin A status (retinol-binding protein or retinol)] and ≥1 biomarker of inflammation (α-1-acid glycoprotein or C-reactive protein). Individual data sets were standardized and merged into a BRINDA database comprising 16 nationally and regionally representative surveys from 14 countries. Collectively, the database covered all 6 WHO geographic regions and contained ∼30,000 PSC and 27,000 WRA. Data were analyzed individually and combined with the use of a meta-analysis. Results: The methods that were used to standardize the BRINDA database and the analytic approaches used to address the project's research questions are presented in this article. Three approaches to adjust micronutrient biomarker concentrations in the presence of inflammation and malaria infection are presented, along with an anemia conceptual framework that guided the BRINDA project's anemia analyses. Conclusions: The BRINDA project refines approaches to interpret iron and vitamin A biomarker values in settings of inflammation and malaria infection and suggests the use of a new regression approach as well as proposes an anemia framework to which real-world data can be applied. Findings can inform guidelines and strategies to prevent and control micronutrient deficiencies and anemia globally.


Fostering religious commitment in schools and considering children's cultural diversity arguably enhances pupils' tolerance and integration, which may have the potential to reduce racism and discrimination. Faith schools are religiously and culturally diverse institutions and typically appreciated for their core values, good behaviour and academic standards. However, their impact on school culture and ethos is under explored. Although, the role of faith has gained attention both in policy and practice, relatively little is known about its impact in the context of primary education. As such, this research explores the complex influence of faith on school culture and ethos. In addition, critical analysis is undertaken to investigate the impact of faith on pupils' behaviour and understanding in school. The main research aims are to: explore the multiple ways in which faith is manifested in two schools, determine the influence of faith on school culture and ethos, and establish the impact of faith on pupils' behaviours and understanding in school.

This research takes an ethnographic approach to explore how faith is manifested in two primary schools in the North West of England. The ethnography enabled a deeper immersion in to the school culture as data were generated through observations, interviews, focus groups and documentary analysis in two schools: A denomination school, Church of England, and a community school with an Islamic ethos. The research was conducted in the North West of England which has many diverse faith-based schools. Critical Race and Feminist Theories were used as lenses of analysis to examine faith in school. Critical Race Theory is a framework employed to examine the role of race and power in education.

This research provides rich ethnographic description and analysis of faith as understood, practiced and experienced in the two schools. The findings reveal two major themes, first, a mismatch between school policy/values and its practice. Second, a lack of integration of staff and children into the school. Despite schools' efforts to embrace diversity and encourage integration, schools policies were found to be empty rhetoric with regards to fostering religious commitment and cultural diversity. Exploring the issue of recognising cultural diversity within schools, findings indicated that both schools did not acknowledge or teach other cultural traditions, therefore, impacting on issues of integration. Poor behaviour, bullying and racism amongst children were major issues at both schools. Data analysis suggests the source of misbehaviour was due to the lack of emphasis placed on teaching about different religions, insufficient knowledge of cultural traditions and lack of visits to places of worship. This research concludes that there is a need for schools to develop awareness of religions and cultural diversity; thereby, encouraging integration, community cohesion and respect for similarities and differences.


Factors such as education have been associated with both late-life cognitive ability and cognitive decline. How education relates to decline in the final stages of life is not clear. We examined the association between education and the onset of terminal decline in a population-based longitudinal study of ageing. Participants came from the Cambridge City over 75 Cohort Study (n=2166). They were at least 75 years old at baseline (1985–1987) and registered at any of six selected primary care practices in the Cambridge City (UK) area. Participants were followed-up over a 21-year period. Global cognitive function was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination 2, 7, 9, 13, 17 and 21 years after baseline. People with higher education had a slightly delayed onset of terminal decline. Cognitive performance 2 years before death and its rate of change before the onset of terminal decline varied across individuals. However, in the terminal phase, we did not find evidence of variability across individuals in rate of decline nor its change. Thus, more educated individuals experience a slightly shorter period of accelerated cognitive decline before death. Two findings emerge from this cohort in which almost all individuals have died. The first is that education does appear to have a slight delay on the onset of terminal decline. The second is that once initiated, terminal decline is a relatively uniform process in those aged 75 and over. Such findings have implications in early life enhancement of cognitive function and planning for the end of life.


Current theory predicts that larger-bodied snakes not only consume larger prey (compared with smaller individuals), but may also have a different range of prey available to them due to their thermal biology. It has been argued that smaller individuals, with lower thermal inertia (i.e. faster cooling rates at nightfall when air temperature falls and basking opportunities are limited), may be thermally restricted to foraging and hunting during the day on diurnally active prey, and have reduced capacity to hunt crepuscular and nocturnal prey species. This predictive theory was investigated by way of dietary analysis, assessment of thermal biology and thermoregulation behaviour in an ambush forager, the south-west carpet python (Morelia spilota imbricata, Pythonidae). Eighty-seven scats were collected from 34 individual pythons over a 3-year radiotelemetry monitoring study. As predicted by gape size limitation, larger pythons took larger prey; however, 65% of prey items of small pythons were represented by nocturnally active, small mammals, a larger proportion than present in larger snakes. Several measures of thermal biology (absolute body temperature, thermal differential of body temperature to air temperature, maximum hourly heating and cooling rates) were not strongly affected by python body mass. Additionally, body temperature was only influenced by the behavioural choice of microhabitat selection and was not affected by python body size or position, suggesting that these behavioural choices do not allow smaller pythons to vastly increase their temporal foraging window. By coupling dietary analysis, measures of body temperature and behavioural observations of free-ranging animals, we conclude that, contrary to theoretical predictions, a small body size does not thermally restrict the temporal window for ambush foraging in M.s.imbricata. An ontogenetic or size-determined switch from ambush feeding to actively foraging on slower prey would account for the differences in prey taken by these animals. The concept of altered foraging behaviour warrants further investigation in this species.


Introduction All physician health programs share the goals of a healthy physician membership that provides safe and effective medical care to the population it serves. In Alberta, the College of Physicians [delta] Surgeons (CPSA), as the regulator of the practice of medicine in Alberta, and the Alberta Medical Association (AMA), as the advocacy organization for physicians in Alberta, have shared the responsibility for the physician health program. As the College's mandate is to regulate the profession in the public interest, the College's predominant interest in its physician health role is to ensure the safety of the public. In late 2010, the CPSA came under the Alberta Health Professions Act (1), which required the College to adopt Standards of Practice for its members, such standards setting out the minimum expectations for physicians in Alberta. The Health Professions Act requires that new standards, or modifications to a standard, must be sent to all members (and others) for consultation before final approval by College Council. One such standard dealt with the responsibilities of physicians--and the colleagues of physicians--to report to the College when a health condition could impact practice. From the consultation, the College heard from physicians and the Alberta Medical Association concern that this reporting requirement could influence physicians not to seek appropriate care and perhaps drive them underground. Concerns were also expressed about the need to keep confidential medical conditions and medical treatment of physicians who have health issues. As a medical regulator we felt that it was essential that medical conditions that could affect a physician's practice be identified and managed. Our College has managed physician health issues outside the disciplinary process for many years and most physicians with health issues return to practice after their condition is managed with ongoing monitoring as needed. Early identification and management of medical conditions prior to any harm occurring to patients was in keeping with the College's obligation to ensure the competency of medical practitioners and the safety of the public. Genesis of the Health Law Institute Policy Paper Discussions between the Alberta Medical Association's Physician and Family Support Program and the College did not resolve our differences. We then engaged the Health Law Institute (HLI) to convene a panel of experts (health law, ethics, and public policy) to provide advice and perspective on the ethical and legal aspects to be considered. They were asked the following question: * For Alberta, what is the recommended model for a program that strives to meet both the regulatory imperatives and the rehabilitative needs of at-risk physicians? We asked related questions: i. What should the respective roles of the CPSA and the AMA be in the recommended model? ii. What agency/organization is best suited to assess the risk of a physician with a condition that could affect his/her ability to provide safe patient care? Who has primary responsibility to assess and determine risk, and what other factors should be considered? iii. How should questions be framed on regulation applications and annual renewals within the Standard of Practice? iv. Should the questions only address conditions that have already impacted practice? Should questions attempt to identify risk to patients before practice has been impacted? How should this be balanced with the privacy needs of physicians? The 2012 HLI report titled Physicians with Health Conditions: Law and Policy Reform to Protect the Public and Physician-Patients (2) carefully examined the balance of public protection with the privacy rights of physicians and its discussion of ethical, legal, public policy, and human rights principles was extremely helpful. Physicians work in a safety sensitive area, and, therefore, their privacy rights are not absolute; however, we acknowledge that not every medical condition has the potential to negatively affect practice. …


India and China are the only countries in the world having a population of over one billion each. Until the 1980s, their economies were among the poorest in the world. India has been the largest democracy since 1947 but heart-rending sights of extreme poverty can be seen even in the flourishing business capitals. There are no subways, very few highways which results in nightmarish tangle of traffic all the time. China has been under the communist rule since the revolution led by Mao Tse Tung in 1966 and still continues to be under the centralized communist rule. Both the countries operated under centralized planning and kept their economies closed to global markets. However, in the past two decades, the world is witnessing a strange miracle taking place in both the countries. In the early 1980s, first China and later, India, started opening their economies to foreign direct investment and began participating more and more in global trade. The world had never witnessed this rare phenomenon of two relatively poor countries that together consist of a third of the world's population, simultaneously taking off on a steep ascent in their economies. During the past twenty years, China has been growing at a heady rate of over 9% a year and India has growing at over 6% per year. This miraculous and sustained growth of these two countries is being watched by the rest of the world with mixture of surprise and apprehension. At this rate, it is expected that, within the next two or three decades, India and China together would account for over half of the entire world's output. This paper presents the several factors of the phenomenal development of the Indian economy and analyses the impact of continued rise in their prosperity on the global economy.


The avian influenza strain H5N8 has spread from Asia to many countries in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, infecting both wild birds and poultry; hundreds of thousands of birds have been culled to halt the epidemic. H5N8 is a distant descendant of the H5N1 virus that devastated flocks across much of the world and killed hundreds of people more than a decade ago. The good news is that so far, it does not seem to infect humans. But its rapid spread and increasing deadliness to birds have mystified experts. And it underscores that avian influenza, once an occasional crisis, is now endemic in the burgeoning flocks of Asia, from which it periodically spreads in migrating birds.


In healthy individuals, the bile is usually sterile, however, in cases of cholecystolithiasis and/or choledocholithiasis, it could be colonized with bacteria (bactibilia) and may lead to surgical site infection after cholecystectomy. In our hospital, the local regimen is to use antibiotics prophylaxis only for patients with high-risk factors, while in case of low-risk patients, the antibiotics used as postoperative treatment; this local regimen has no demonstrated bacteriological or epidemiological basis. The aim of this study is to determine the nature of bacteria in bile and their antimicrobial susceptibility in low-risk patients and the relationship between bactibilia and the presence of some predisposing factors as well as developing postoperative infectious complications. This study was conducted in Al-shiffa General hospital, Basrah, Iraq from April 2018 to May 2019. Forty-three patients with uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones who were candidates for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and have no risk factors for infection were included in the study. Under fully aseptic technique, a sterile laparoscopic needle connected to a sterile 10ml disposable syringe used to aspirate 5–7ml of bile from the fundus of gallbladder for culture and antibiotic sensitivity. In this study culture assessment of bile demonstrate that, 20 patients (46.51%) have infected bile; Klebsiella spp. 7(35%) and Pseudomonas spp. 7 (35%) are the most frequent causative agents. Factors like gender, age, duration of complaint and number of stones were found not significantly increase the risk of infection. Antibiotics sensitivity revealed maximum sensitivity to Meropenem (100%), Amikacin (90%) and less sensitivity to the most commonly used Ceftazidime. No cases of superficial or deep-seated surgical site infections were reported. In conclusion, bile infection reported in a significant rate in low risk patients for infection subjected to elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas spp. are the most common isolate which shows high sensitivity to Meropenem and Amikacin and less sensitivity to third generation Cephalosporine; so we recommend the use of Amikacin as a prophylactic antibiotic instead of third generation Cephalosporine.


Background: OR2805 is a fully human IgG1 antibody that binds to CD163, an immune-suppressive receptor highly expressed on tumor associated macrophages (TAMs). High numbers of CD163-expressing TAMs generally predict an unfavorable prognosis in solid tumors. CD163-expressing TAMs contribute to an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and inhibit an anti-tumor T-cell response by engaging immune checkpoints, producing immune-suppressive cytokines, and promoting T-cell skewing towards a pro-cancer Th2 phenotype. Relieving the immune suppression of CD163-expressing TAMs in the TME to improve T-cell-mediated responses is a rational adjunct to immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) therapy. Methods: OR2805 was discovered using OncoResponse9s discovery platform by cell-based functional and phenotypic assays. B cells derived from CPI elite responders were cultured at clonal density, and IgG antibodies in supernatants were evaluated for binding to myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Variable-regions from positive hits were sequenced, cloned, and expressed as recombinant IgG1. OR2805 was identified as one of the top hits that relieved myeloid cell-mediated immune suppression. Co-cultures of immunosuppressive primary human M2 macrophages and autologous T cells were used to interrogate OR2805-dependent immunomodulatory responses in vitro. The anti-tumor activity of OR2805 in vivo was evaluated in a humanized mouse model. Results: OR2805 binds to CD163 expressed on TAMs and M2-like macrophages. OR2805 does not bind to other hematopoietic cells nor to a panel of human primary non-immune cells. OR2805 treatment reduces expression of cell-surface markers associated with tumor-promoting M2c-like macrophages. In co-culture assays, OR2805 relieves the suppressive effect of M2 macrophages and results in increased T-cell activation and proliferation, upregulation of T-cell activation markers, and enhanced T-cell-mediated tumor cell killing. Administration of OR2805 in humanized NSG-SGM3 mouse tumor models resulted in approximately 55% and 75% reduction in A549 tumor growth and NCI-H1975 tumor growth, respectively. In this model, OR2805 treatment significantly increased the proportions of human CD8+ T cells and human CD11b+ myeloid cells, as well as significantly enhanced expression of activation markers by human CD8+ T cells. Conclusions: OR2805 reduces M2 macrophage-mediated immunosuppression and enhances anti-tumor immune responses. OR2805 treatment induces anti-tumor activity in lung cancer xenograft models in humanized mice. These data support further development of OR2805 as an anti-cancer therapy, both as a monotherapy and an addition to current CPI therapy. Citation Format: Peter Probst, Randi Simmons, Valerie Wall, Meghan Zuck, Myriam Bouchlaka, Sam Lam, Raymond Fox, Darbie Whitman, Tom Graddis, Kamal D. Puri. OR2805, an anti-CD163 antibody derived from an elite responder to checkpoint inhibitor therapy relieves immunosuppression caused by tumor associated macrophages [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1719.


Background:
 Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor for development of cardiovascular disease. Limited data describe the association between CKD and outcome following stroke, with contradictory results. One report has suggested that CKD may adversely affect outcome after thrombolysis, but was uncontrolled. We investigated the hypothesis that CKD adversely influences outcome following acute stroke and particularly after treatment with thrombolysis.

 Methods:
 We extracted patient information from the Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive, including age, baseline severity, co-morbidities (diabetes and hypertension) and baseline serum creatinine. We estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using the Modified Diet in Renal Disease equation. We used ordinal logistic regression to calculate odds ratios of poor outcome by modified Rankin Scale at 90 days comparing patients with normal versus abnormal renal function (GFR >90ml/min and <90ml/min respectively) as well as considering GFR as a continuous variable.

 Results:
 Of 8605 patients with appropriate baseline data for analysis, those with normal renal function were younger [median (IQR): 64.0 (13.6) v. 71.7 (11.3) years respectively] but had comparable baseline severity [median NIHSS: 13.1 (5.6) v. 13.4 (5.8)]. When adjusted for age, baseline severity, stroke type, thrombolysis, diabetes and hypertension, there was no impact of GFR on outcome, neither in normal versus abnormal renal function (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.92-1.09), nor with GFR expressed as a continuous variable (OR 1.007 per 10 ml/min, 95% CI 0.992-1.022). Outcomes in n=2594 after thrombolysis were unaffected by renal function.

 Conclusion:
 CKD does not independently influence outcome following acute stroke, nor does it limit response to thrombolysis. Management of acute stroke need not differ in patients with CKD.


In theories with large extra dimensions, we study the top spin correlations at the Large Hadron Collider. The s-channel process mediated by graviton Kaluza-Klein modes contributes to the topantitop pair production in addition to the Standard Model processes, and affects the resultant top spin correlations. With the fundamental scale of the extra dimensional theory below 2 TeV, we find a sizable deviation of the top spin correlations from the Standard Model one.


Surface height variations over the entire equatorial region on Venus have been estimated from extended series of measurements of interplanetary radar echo delays. Most notable is a mountainous section of about 3-kilometer peak height located at a longitude of 100 degrees (International Astronomical Union coordinate system). The eastern edge has an average inclination of about 0.5 degrees, which is unusually steep for a large-scale slope on Venus. The resolution of the radar measurements along the surface of Venus varied between about 200 and 400 kilometers with a repeatability in altitude determination generally between 200 and 500 meters. The mean equatorial radius was found to be 6050.0�0.5 kilometers.


Digital collaboration as a vehicle that share information and knowledge within an organisation has been available for many years. Collaboration tools have evolved from e-mail, document management systems, and workflow systems to e-rooms etc. The value of supporting digital collaboration is increasing with complex organizations. Research has revealed some requirements that should be offered in acceptable collaboration tools. These are awareness information, information availability and user-friendliness. Awareness is state- and presence information about participants and artifacts. Information availability is the systems support to relevant information, offered through documents or conversations. Easy-to-reach and easy-to-use are typical parameters in a user-friendly tool. In this thesis I have examined a set of different software products delivered by DNV software, with respect to how these products provide collaboration features. Strength and weaknesses are revealed, and possible improvements are pointed out. An examination of pros and cons with different collaboration platform solutions; collaboration features as part of a framework or as application specific features, is carried out. This platform examination and the many similarities in collaboration needs, support a proposed design where collaboration mechanisms are integrated as components in a framework.


Background Injury disproportionately affects low-income and middle-income countries, yet robust emergency medical services are often lacking to effectively address the prehospital injury burden. A half-day prehospital emergency trauma care curriculum was designed for first responders and piloted in the Sacatepéquez, Chimaltenango, and Escuintla departments in Guatemala. Methods Three hundred and fifty-four law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and civilians volunteered to participate in a 5-hour emergency care course teaching scene safety, triage, airway management, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, fracture management, and victim transport. A validated 26-question pretest/post-test study instrument was contextually adapted and used to measure overall test performance, the primary study outcome, as well as test performance stratified by occupation, the secondary study outcome. Pretest/post-test score distributions were compared using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. For test evaluation, knowledge acquisition on a by-question and by-category basis was examined using McNemar's χ² test, whereas item difficulty indices used frequency-of-distribution tests and item discrimination indices used point biserial correlation. Results Two hundred and eighty-seven participants qualified for inclusion. Participant mean pretest versus post-test scores improved 24 percentage points after course completion (43% vs 68%, p<0.001). Cronbach's alpha yielded values of 0.86 (pretest) and 0.94 (post-test), suggesting testing instrument reliability. Between-group analyses demonstrated law enforcement and civilian participants improved more than firefighters (p<0.001). Performance on 23 of 26 questions improved significantly. All test questions except one showed an increase in their PPDI. Discussion A 1-day, contextually adapted, 5-hour course targeting laypeople demonstrates significant improvements in emergency care knowledge. Future investigations of similar curricula should be trialed in alternate low-resource settings with increased civilian participation to evaluate efficacy and replicability as adequate substitutes for longer courses. This study suggests future courses teaching emergency care for lay first responders may be reduced to 5 hours duration. Level of evidence Level II.


The standard two-wave multiple-indicator model (2WMIM) commonly used to analyze test-retest data provides information at both the group and item level. Furthermore, when applied to binary and graded item responses, it is related to well-known item response theory (IRT) models. In this article the IRT-2WMIM relations are used to obtain additional information for each individual respondent. Procedures are proposed for (a) obtaining individual estimates of trait levels and amount of change, and (b) assessing whether the main assumptions on which these estimates are based are met. The procedures are organized in a comprehensive approach that can be used with binary, graded, and continuous responses. The relevance of the proposal is discussed and guidelines are given on how to use the approach in applied research. Finally, the approach is illustrated with an empirical data set. It worked well and provided meaningful information.


This study aims to investigate whether the emotional response to a picture varies with regard to the change of its color modes. Furthermore, it was examined whether the age difference, in particular, adults and children has an effect. In order to examine the influence of color mode on the emotional responses, picture stimuli were collected when their semantic contents were strongly attached to typical colors, i.e. memory colors. The International Affective Picture System (IAPS) was referred to collect emotionally normative pictures, and eight pictures were selected: two of each quadrant in emotion space defined by pleasure and arousal. The color modes of the pictures were processed into in monotone scales using memory color, gray, and complementary color of its memory color. In experiments, a set of pictures was shown to the subjects who were asked to assess their emotional responses in terms of Pleasure and Arousal using the Self-Assessment-Manikins (SAM). Two identical experiments were carried out with a group of university students and a group of elementary school children. Based on the SAM ratings of both subjects groups, it was revealed that the complementary color can elicit negative emotional responses to the picture that were previously categorized to induce the positive emotion. In addition, when the pictures were presented in grayscale, the emotional response in arousal dimension appeared to be lower. The emotional responses from children appear in a similar pattern as those from adults on Pleasure dimension (p>0.05, Twoway ANOVA). Regarding the emotional responses on Arousal, age difference effects, however no systematic explanation is yet provided. Conference theme: Design & Emotion: Theoretical issues


Introduction Gallstone disease (Cholelithiasis) affects 10 to 15% of the population of developed countries. Our study aimed to determine the risk factors associated to different types of gallstone in patients diagnosed in Khartoum State Ibnsina Gastroenterology Center. Methods A facility-based prospective cross-sectional study was implemented on a convenient sample of 47 participants diagnosed with gallstone through ultrasonography in Ibnsina Gastroenterology center and who underwent surgical interventions for gallstone removal. A standardized interviewer-administrated research tool comprising three parts was used to collect data related to the characteristics of the participants, their medical presentation and examination as well as information on types of gallstone, surgical interventions and outcomes. The data were computerized through Epi-info7 and analyzed through SPSS 23. Descriptive statistics were firstly performed and association was tested through Chi square tests and ANOVA. A multinomial regression analysis established the relationship between types of gallstone and their associated risk factors. All statistical tests were considered as significant when p < 0.05. Results The risk factors statistically associated to gallstone types were family history (p = 0.011) and duration of living in the residence area (p= 0.043) in pigment-cholesterol gallstone model vs mixed-cholesterol gallstone model. Other four risk factors contributing to the pathogenesis of gallstone were parity (OR = 1.623 [95% CI: 0.795-3.315]) vs (OR = 1.426, [95% CI: 0.729- 2.790]), waist circumference (OR= 1.014 [95% CI: 0.948-1.085]) vs (OR = 1.001 [95% CI: 0.942- 1.065]), chronic disease (OR = 0.698, [95% CI: 0.028 - 17.445]) vs (OR = 0.354, [95% CI: 0.021- 6.087]) and serum triglyceride (OR = 0.985, [95% CI: 0.950- 1.022]) vs (OR= 0.980, [95% CI: 0.949- 1.012]). Conclusion Our finding indicated six risk factors related to types of gallstone. Further multicenter research in Sudan on risk factors is needed to calibrate and validate our model.


A comprehensive look at the eagerly anticipated New Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, and the celebrated collection it houses. Marking the opening of the New Acropolis Museum, this book examines both its architecture and the archaeological treasures it was built to house. The building addresses the dramatic complexities of the collection and the site with minimalist simplicity by using three main materials glass, stainless steel, and concrete. "There s no way at the beginning of the twenty-first century you can try to imitate even superficially the art of 2,500 years ago," Tschumi says. The "precision of the concept was really what counted." The book provides an in-depth look at the creation of the building, set only 280 meters from the Parthenon, as well as the restoration, preservation, and housing of its exhibits through over 200 photographs, drawings, and texts."


Background The childcare (CC) environment can influence young children's physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and adiposity. The aim of the study was to identify a broad range of CC correlates of PA, SB, and adiposity in a large sample of preschoolers. Methods 476 preschool children (mean age 3.9 yrs; 47% girls) participated in the Swiss Preschoolers' Health Study (SPLASHY). PA and SB were measured by accelerometry. Outcome measures included total PA (TPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), SB, body mass index (BMI), and skinfold thickness (SF). PA measures consisted of both daily PA during CC attendance days and overall daily PA (CC and non-CC days). Results We identified the following CC correlates for higher TPA and/or higher MVPA or lower SB during CC attendance days: older age, sex (boys), more frequent child-initiated interactions during CC, mixing different ages within a group, and the presence of a written PA policy in the CC (all p ≤ 0.02). The CC correlates for overall TPA and/or MVPA or lower overall SB including both CC and non-CC days were the following: older age, sex (boys), more frequent child-initiated interactions during CC, mixing different ages within a group, less parental PA involvement in the CC, and having a larger surface area in CC (all p ≤ 0.046). Correlates for lower SF were sex (boys) and parental PA involvement in the CC (all p ≤ 0.02), and, for lower BMI, only increased age (p=0.001) was a correlate. Conclusions More frequent child-initiated interactions and mixing different ages in CC, the presence of a written PA policy, and a larger CC surface are correlates of PA and SB during CC attendance days and/or of overall PA. Parental involvement in CC PA projects was a correlate for reduced body fat. These novel factors are mostly modifiable and can be tackled/addressed in future interventions.


This article argues that the rigidity of the rule on 'financial assistance' in India must be relaxed to foster leveraged buy-outs. Section 2 traces the development of the provisions of the Indian Companies Act, 2013 concerning 'financial assistance', locating its roots in the House of Lords' decision in Trevor v. Whitworth, and subsequently the UK's Greene Committee Report. Section 3 analyses the dilution of the capital maintenance rule, a pillar of Trevor v. Whitworth by the UK in her Companies Act, 1981 and 1985, and by South Africa in her Companies Act, 2008. Based on the findings in section 3, that stakeholder interests can be preserved without prohibiting 'financial assistance', this section hopes for its transplantation into the Indian legal framework.
leveraged buy-outs, financial assistance, articles of association, lenders, Trevor v. Whitworth.


Metaphors are figures of speech in which a word or phrase that denotes a certain object or idea is applied to another word or phrase to imply some similarity between them. Due to their ability to make speaking and writing more lively and interesting, metaphors have always been popular among students. While metaphors provide significant enhancement of contexts and build upon the sense of community, they can limit the boundaries of the communication between students and teachers. In order to carry out student oriented courses, teachers ought to consider the metaphors students use. In an effort to understand and fill in this communication gap, the authors of this paper have initiated a study that aimed to drive out the e-education students" metaphors in order to suggest a vision for future e-courses. The authors have designed the "E-Education Metaphor Analysis Survey" that comprised 35 items and captured data about e-education students" metaphors. The questionnaire was posted on Surveymonkey.com and was distributed to e-education students in two countries: Turkey and Cyprus. 352 students filled the questionnaire. The answers revealed that the metaphors students use are influenced by their way of life, their personal characteristics, their educational background and their feelings. Internet was the most common metaphor used for e-education. A very interesting fact was that 47% of the students considered E-Student to be equivalent to "rich students" education" and that the term recalled them the metaphor "richness". Although there were many research studies on common metaphors and their impact on e- education, there were no studies in the literature about eLearning metaphors. This paper presents an innovative approach that focuses on 7 key research questions and represents a first step of a more detailed future project undertaken by the authors.


In this work, the reaction between H2O2 and tungsten powder in the presence of Tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane was studied experimentally. The production of hydroxyl radicals can be quantified indirectly by quantifying the scavenging product formaldehyde (CH2O). XRD, XPS, and SEM analysis shows that no significant structural or compositional changes occur after reaction. We compared H2O2 consumption and CH2O formation in both heterogeneous W(s)/H2O2/Tris system and homogeneous W(aq)/H2O2/Tris system. Increasing the amount of W powder leads to the increase in dissolution rate of W species, insignificant increase of H2O2 consumption rate and the decrease of final CH2O production. By contrast, the consumption rate of H2O2 increases as increasing the concentration of dissolved W species. Based on the experimental results, a mechanism of H2O2 reacting with W powder in the presence of Tris is proposed. The mechanism well explained the relationship between surface reactions and homogeneous Haber–Weiss peroxide ...


We tested the hypotheses that: (1) neutrophil accumulation after contraction-induced muscle injury is dependent on the beta(2) integrin CD18, (2) neutrophils contribute to muscle injury and oxidative damage after contraction-induced muscle injury, and (3) neutrophils aid the resolution of contraction-induced muscle injury. These hypotheses were tested by exposing extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of mice deficient in CD18 (CD18(-/-); Itgb2(tm1Bay)) and of wild type mice (C57BL/6) to in situ lengthening contractions and by quantifying markers of muscle inflammation, injury, oxidative damage and regeneration/repair. Neutrophil concentrations were significantly elevated in wild type mice at 6 h and 3 days post-lengthening contractions; however, neutrophils remained at control levels at these time points in CD18-/- mice. These data indicate that CD18 is required for neutrophil accumulation after contraction-induced muscle injury. Histological and functional (isometric force deficit) signs of muscle injury and total carbonyl content, a marker of oxidative damage, were significantly higher in wild type relative to CD18-/- mice 3 days after lengthening contractions. These data show that neutrophils exacerbate contraction-induced muscle injury. After statistically controlling for differences in the force deficit at 3 days, wild type mice also demonstrated a higher force deficit at 7 days, a lower percentage of myofibres expressing embryonic myosin heavy chain at 3 and 7 days, and a smaller cross sectional area of central nucleated myofibres at 14 days relative to CD18-/- mice. These observations suggest that neutrophils impair the restoration of muscle structure and function after injury. In conclusion, neutrophil accumulation after contraction-induced muscle injury is dependent on CD18. Furthermore, neutrophils appear to contribute to muscle injury and impair some of the events associated with the resolution of contraction-induced muscle injury.


Background: Injury to the inferior alveolar nerve can occur during surgical removal of the mandibular third molars (M3Ms), resulting in numbness of the mandibular teeth, chin, and lower lip. This occurs when the roots of M3M compress the inferior alveolar canal (IAC) against the lingual cortical plate. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) reveals the buccolingual relationship of the IAC and M3M, but the panoramic radiograph (PR) has not been evaluated to determine whether the plane film can reveal this relationship. Aims: The aim of the study is to determine whether PR could predict buccal or lingual IAC position or compression near M3M. Design: This retrospective study evaluated 200 M3M sites in 42 women and 67 men, aged 17–28 years. Ninety-one bilateral measurements were taken; 98 left and 102 right halves were analyzed. Methods: IAC position and degree of compression were interpreted from the CBCT. Utilizing imaging software, 13 different measurements were obtained. Statistical Analyses: Fisher's exact test, t-test, principal component analysis, and multivariate analysis were utilized. Results: Male and female canal positions significantly differed. Canal position was significantly different comparing partially erupted to erupted and fully bony impacted molars. Lingual canal position, versus buccal, was more frequently associated with moderate-to-severe IAC compression. "Anterior-posterior ramus at the occlusal plane" and "anterior ramus to anterior IAC at the occlusal plane" contributed most to the severity of IAC compression. Conclusion: The variables evaluated did not identify a significant relationship. A larger data set is needed to evaluate any role the dimension of the ramus has on IAC compression.


Background: adaptive clinical trial design has been proposed as a promising new approach to improve the drug discovery process. Among the many options available, adaptive sample size re-estimation is of great interest mainly because of its ability to avoid a large 'up-front' commitment of resources. In this simulation study, we investigate the statistical properties of two-stage sample size re-estimation designs in terms of type I error control, study power and sample size, in comparison with the fixed-sample study.
Methods: we simulated a balanced two-arm trial aimed at comparing two means of normally distributed data, using the inverse normal method to combine the results of each stage, and considering scenarios jointly defined by the following factors: the sample size re-estimation method, the information fraction, the type of group sequential boundaries and the use of futility stopping. Calculations were performed using the statistical software SAS™ (version 9.2).
Results: under the null hypothesis, any type of adaptive design considered maintained the prefixed type I error rate, but futility stopping was required to avoid the unwanted increase in sample size. When deviating from the null hypothesis, the gain in power usually achieved with the adaptive design and its performance in terms of sample size were influenced by the specific design options considered.
Conclusions: we show that adaptive designs incorporating futility stopping, a sufficiently high information fraction (50-70%) and the conditional power method for sample size re-estimation have good statistical properties, which include a gain in power when trial results are less favourable than anticipated.


Optical Frequency Combs (OFC) generated by semiconductor lasers at optical communication wavelengths are promising laser sources for high capacity optical interconnects exploiting WDM techniques; very often they are integrated with Silicon Photonic integrated circuits to realize compact and low-cost transmitters. Quantum Dot (QD) or Quantum Dash (QDash) single section Fabry-Perot lasers have turned to be a good candidate for this application because they can generate a comb of self-locked optical lines using just one laser diode operating in CW and no saturable absorber section. In this talk we review the state-of-art of these devices and their applications, evidencing also the analogies with single section Quantum Cascade Lasers, that, as for QD and QDash lasers, generates optical combs in the mid-IR or THz range.
We will focus on the understanding of the physical effects that can explain the self-locking of the lasing lines and we will compare the self-locking mechanism in Quantum Dot and Quantum Well lasers. We will then present the numerical simulation tool we have developed to simulate the self-locking in Quantum Dot Fabry-Perot lasers. Our model is based on a Time-Domain Traveling-Wave (TDTW) approach that properly accounts for coherent radiation-matter interaction in the semiconductor active medium and includes the carrier grating generated by the optical standing wave pattern in the laser cavity. We show that the latter is the fundamental physical effect at the origin of the multi-wavelength spectrum appearing just above the laser threshold, but it is not enough for forcing the self-locking of the optical lines. The self-mode-locking regime associated with the emission of OFC is achieved for higher bias currents and it ascribed to nonlinear phase sensitive effects as Four Wave Mixing (FWM). To quantify the locking of the lines we have calculated some indicators that are obtained by the post processing of the calculated optical electric field of the laser output. These indicators are the RF spectrum at the beat note, the optical linewidth of the lasing lines and the Relative Intensity Noise (RIN) spectrum for both the total power and the power of each line. Varying the CW injected current above threshold we have observed three different regimes: in the first one, at low current, the laser is dominated by multi-wavelength emission with rather wide RF beat note and high low frequency RIN, this regime corresponds to an unlocked regime. In the optical spectrum we observe an optical line and side bands due to FWM components. In the second regime, at much higher current, the RF beat note is extremely narrow and the low frequency RIN of each line reduces significantly; in the optical spectrum the lines narrow and the side-bands disappear. This is a self-locked regime. In an intermediate current range, we have a transition regime where the state (locked or unlocked) depends on the initial conditions.
Our results explain in detail the behavior observed experimentally by different research groups and in different QD and Quantum Dash (QDash) devices.


In recent decades, the primary theoretical approach in immigrant and refugee mental health research has been a trauma-centered, medical model (Ryan, Dooley, & Benson, 2008). Additionally, the limited research that has been conducted has largely examined the experiences of South and Central American and Asian immigrants; a paucity of literature exists on the mental health of Armenian immigrants. In line with the recent movement in the field towards examining the optimal conditions and characteristics that promote well-being in people and communities, the purpose of this study was to give voice to the strengths and virtues that Armenian immigrants and refugees possess that enable them to thrive in the face of adversity in order to gain a greater understanding of the strengths in this community. Qualitative data were gathered via semi-structured interviews, and findings were examined in the context of existing literature related to immigrant and refugee mental health and well-being. Major themes that emerged from the data included: pre-immigration character strengths, immigration-related challenges, emergent and expanded strengths, empowerment through sharing stories, and culturallyrooted processes. Overall, the results indicated that the migration process for Armenian immigrants and refugees is multidimensional and modulated by stressors, character strengths, and communal resources. Potential contributions of this study include broadening the field's understanding of the immigration experiences of Armenian immigrants and refugees, as well as affirming the value of qualitative inquiry as an important methodology in psychological research through which the lived experience of diverse people can be represented.


The interview was recorded in New York City, New York,on May 11, 1999.The Interviewer was Jean Krasno.
After working as a school teacher in Botswana, Legwaila Joseph Legwaila started his diplomatic career by working in the Botswana presidency. In 1980, he was appointed as Botswana's Ambassador to the United Nations. Thereafter, he was the Vice-President of the United Nations General Assembly for three sessions, 1981, 1987 and 1991. Mr. Legwaila was Botswana's representative in the Security Council and presided in February 1995 and March 1996 as President. From 1981 to 2001, he served as Ambassador to Cuba and was Consul General in Jamaica from 1982 to 2001. From 1989 to 1990, Mr. Legwaila served as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Namibia. Additionally, he worked as Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) for South Africa and as Special Envoy of the Chairman of the Frontline States to Lesotho. Prior to his appointment as Special Adviser on Africa in May 2006, Mr. Legwaila served as the Secretary-General's Special Representative for the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE).

Namibia's path to independence has been considered by some as a successful one, although it was not an easy road. In 1989, Mr. Legwaila was appointed by Secretary-General Perez de Cuellar to be the Deputy Special Representative in Namibia, in an effort to have a representative from the area and who was familiar with the internal politics of the country. In these interviews, conducted on 10 February 1999 and 11 May 1999, Mr. Legwaila shares his experiences as Deputy Special Representative, delving into the history behind Namibia's independence, his appointment and the tense climate surrounding the elections.


The brittle to ductile transition may strongly influence hydraulic properties of rocks at the depth and temperature ranges that hydrothermal fluids circulate. To examine this transition in the context of the oceanic crust, we conducted a series of deformation experiments on a natural basalt sample at in situ oceanic crust conditions. Dilatancy was measured during deformation. The method consisted in monitoring the volume of pore fluid that flows into or out of the sample at constant pore pressure. Mechanical and microstructural observations at experimental constant strain rate of 10−5 s−1 indicated that the basalt was brittle and dilatant up to 800°C. At higher temperature, the deformation mode became macroscopically ductile and samples compacted. These observations have important implications on heat transfer and fluid migration in oceanic crust.


The purpose of this contribution is to reflect on the relationship between gender equality and CH, from a human rights law perspective. We will demonstrate that the two elements are not conflicting, but mutually reinforcing. Provided that some practices can never be condoned under human rights law, the approach followed in the article is twofold. On the one hand, it should be acknowledged the contribution given by women in the preservation of traditional practices and heritage sites. On the other hand, gender should be mainstreamed in the protection of CH – provided that the participation of local communities is ensured in order to empower women and gradually combat discrimination against them. Summary


Some recent works revealed that deep neural networks (DNNs) are vulnerable to so-called adversarial attacks where input examples are intentionally perturbed to fool DNNs. In this work, we revisit the DNN training process that includes adversarial examples into the training dataset so as to improve DNN's resilience to adversarial attacks, namely, adversarial training. Our experiments show that different adversarial strengths, i.e., perturbation levels of adversarial examples, have different working zones to resist the attack. Based on the observation, we propose a multi-strength adversarial training method (MAT) that combines the adversarial training examples with different adversarial strengths to defend adversarial attacks. Two training structures - mixed MAT and parallel MAT - are developed to facilitate the tradeoffs between training time and memory occupation. Our results show that MAT can substantially minimize the accuracy degradation of deep learning systems to adversarial attacks on MNIST, CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100, and SVHN.


BACKGROUND
This systematic review was commissioned to identify new variables associated with transplant outcomes that are not currently collected by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN).

METHODS
We identified 81 unique studies including 1,193,410 patients with median follow-up of 36 months posttransplant, reporting 108 unique risk factors.

RESULTS
Most risk factors (104) were recipient-related; few (4) were donor-related. Most risk factors were judged to be practical and feasible to routinely collect. Relative association measures were small to moderate for most risk factors (ranging between 1.0 and 2.0). The strongest relative association measure for a heart transplant outcome with a risk factor was 8.6 (recipient with previous Fontan operation), for a kidney transplant 2.8 (sickle cell nephropathy as primary cause of end-stage renal disease), for a liver transplant 14.3 (recipient serum ferritin over 500 µg/L), and for a lung transplant 6.3 (Burkholderia cepacia complex infection for 1 year or less). OPTN may consider some of these additional variables for future collection to enhance transplant research and clinical care.

CONCLUSIONS
Evidence-based approaches can be used to determine variables collected in databases and registries. Several candidate variables have been identified for OPTN.


The correlations among indicators of objective well-being, cultural dimensions, and subjective well-being were investigated using Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data from 35 countries. The subjective well-being measures included life satisfaction as well as six positive and six negative indexes of experience. Positive and negative experience scores were subjected to principal component analysis, and two positive experience components (labeled as "positive experiences" and "time management") and two negative experience components (labeled as "pain, worry, and sadness" and "anger and boredom") were extracted. Objective well-being included economic indicators, education, and health. The cultural variables included Hofstede's and Schwartz's cultural dimensions, national Big Five personality scores, and national IQs. High life satisfaction was positively related to Gross Domestic Product, life expectancy, education, individualism, affective and intellectual autonomy, egalitarianism, and conscientiousness, whereas low life satisfaction was related to unemployment, unequal income distribution, power distance, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, embeddedness, hierarchy, and neuroticism.


Background:. To assess the trends in incidence of appendicitis and pattern of variation with age, sex, and seasons of the year.
Methods: In this cross-sectional  prospective study patients who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis were included. The demographic features, length of hospital stay, seasonal variation and post-operative outcome were assessed . The diagnosis of acute appendicitis was  established by history, examination and investigations in term of leukocyte count, urinalysis and ultrasound exam in many of these cases. In North Punjab region, the year is divided into two well-marked seasons with short transitional periods between the long hot rainless summer (May to October) and comparatively short cool winter (December to February).SPSS version 16 was used for all the statistical assessments and analysis
Results: Out of 972 patients, 53% patients were males. Age range was from 5-70 years. All the patients treated surgically by open and laparoscopic means. Forty patients were found to have perforated appendix, 12 patients presented with abdominal mass and 3 patients presented with appendicular abscess. A significant seasonal effect was observed, with the rate of acute appendicitis being higher in the summer months.
Conclusion: A seasonal pattern of appendicitis with a mostly predominant peak is seen during the summer months could be due to increased gastrointestinal infections in summer. The males have higher incidence of acute appendicitis with 11-20 years of age being most common age group


Barilari Bay is located on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula (AP), opposite the former Larsen B Ice Shelf on the eastern Antarctic Peninsula. Barilari Bay was swath mapped during United States Antarctic Program cruise NBP10-01 as part of the Larsen Ice Shelf System, Antarctic (LARISSA) program. The bay consists of a series of five basins with water depths greater than 600 meters, from which a suite of kasten cores and jumbo piston cores was collected. Three cores, JPC-127, its trigger core TC127, and JKC 55 were collected from the outer portion of the Bay and recovered an 8.5-m thick sequence of glacial-marine sediment. The low-field magnetic susceptibility (xif) profile of JPC-127 indicates relatively higher xif and low amplitude variability at the top of the core from 250 cm to 420 cm. The bottom portion of the core, from 425 cm to 850 cm, shows high amplitude variability with a 50-100 cm wavelength. The xif profile for TC-127 indicates relatively higher xif and low amplitude variability from 0 cm to 115 cm. Radiocarbon dates are not yet available; however, comparison of the JKC-55 xif profile with the JPC-127 xif profile suggests that 80 cm is missing from the top of JPC-127. The shape of the susceptibility profile from top to bottom may result from more recent and persistent sea ice cover, preceded by an earlier period with fluctuating biological productivity. The base of the outer Barilari Bay profile resembles the late Holocene segment of susceptibility profiles from regions to the north, such as the Palmer Deep and Andvord Bay. Magnetic hysteresis measurements indicate coarser grained magnetic material in the lower part of the core, possibly a combination of increased ice rafting and post-depositional dissolution of fine-grained magnetite. S-ratios for each sample were used as a rapid reconnaissance parameter for mineralogy. All upper core samples have values that are consistent with the presence of magnetite. This is also the case for susceptibility peaks from the lower part of the core. In the lower part of the core, S-ratios from susceptibility lows suggest the presence of a high-coercivity mineral such as hematite or goethite in addition to magnetite. Thermomagnetic measurements indicate that magnetic Fe-sulfides are present throughout the core; therefore, diagenesis is not limited to the bottom part of the recovered section. Sub-micron magnetite grains are observed in lithic fragments from an inner bay core, JPC-125, which may be the source of the fine-grained magnetite that dissolved in the lower part of the core. Hematite is observed in the thermomagnetic curves throughout the core, further indicating that higher-coercivity minerals are not unique to the bottom of the section. Total carbon increases down core, which may indicate that enough organic C was available to allow diagenetic reactions to go to completion. Al/Ti values range from 21.6 to 27.2, indicating an upper continental crust provenance. The Fe/Ti profile exhibits an inverse relationship with the Al/Ti profile but a direct relationship with the xif profile. Superparamagnetic magnetite may be influencing the xjf profile while not substantially influencing the geochemistry. Available diatom data suggests that the base of JPC-127 may have recovered the middle Holocene. When chronology is available, more definitive comparisons can be made with other locations on the AP.


This paper presents a beam structure of a new metamaterial-inspired dynamic vibration attenuation system. The proposed experimental research presents a designed cantilevered zigzag structure that can have natural frequencies orders of magnitude lower than a simple cantilever of the same scale. The proposed vibration attenuation system relies on the masses places on the zigzag structure thus changing the dynamic response of the system. The zigzag plates are integrated into the host structure namely a cantilever beam with openings, forming what is referred to here as a metastructure. Experimental frequency response function results are shown comparing the response of the structure to depending on the natural frequency of the zigzag structures. Results show that the distributed inserts in the system can split the peak response of the structure into two separate peaks rendering the peak frequency a low transmission frequency. These preliminary results provide a view of the potential of research work on active-controlled structures and nonlinear insert-structure interaction for vibration attenuation.