Color is commonly used in representing scientific data, especially as color output devices have become widely available. The misuse of color can lead to confusing or even misleading representations of data. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of guidelines for using color effectively, specifically aimed at the computational acoustics community. The question of whether or not to use color at all is initially raised, and gray-scale is suggested for appropriate cases. Human color deficiencies in technical audiences are then described, and the consequential choices of equally-accessible color schemes are discussed. The topics of human color perception models, hypsometric tints, contoured plots, and histogram equalization are introduced. Color palettes specifically suited for acoustical phenomena, such as linear and dB magnitudes, scales for positive and negative data, circular palettes for phase, and methods for illustrating different classes of phenomena (e.g., wave types) on a single plot, are discussed in detail. Color examples and Mathematica code are provided, and final recommendations are made for choosing effective color schemes.


Falling is an external aspect that can lead to death for the elderly. With so many activities they can do will increase the likelihood of falling. A fall detection device is designed to minimize post-fall risk. An MPU6050 sensor with 3 axis accelerometer and 3 gyroscope axis is used to detect the activities of the elderly. This research is expected to recognize the falling forward movement, falling aside, falling backward, sitting, sleeping, squatting, upstairs, down stairs and praying. The total data in the test is 80 data per movement of 16 participants. Backpropagation method is used for motion recognition. The recognition of this movement is based on 10 input variables from the accelerometer sensor data and gyroscope sensor. The result of this study, the error value calculated by using the formula Sum Square Error of all movements, is 0.1818 with ROC accuracy of 98.182%


Abstract:More and more, political life in Latin America is playing out on social media. What are the implications for democracy? Recent elections in Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador, and Mexico show that social media can help to elevate political outsiders and spread sophisticated misinformation. Survey data show that while social-media users are more supportive than others of democratic principles, they have more negative views of their political systems. While there have been important innovations in combating misinformation, policy makers must also focus on the underlying conditions that are the fodder for social media's ill effects: political polarization and deepening public distrust of democratic institutions.


The effect of Cr2N precipitation on deformed microstructure in high nitrogen austenitic Fe-18Cr-18Mn-2Mo-0.9N steel was investigated with a particular emphasis on deformation twinning. Based on the crystallographic analysis in the stereographic projection, the orientation relationship between austenite (γ) matrix and Cr2N was determined to be Cr2N [110]γ //[1100] and Cr2N (111) γ //(0001) . The deformation twinning had {111} < 112 > crystallographic component similar to that of cellular Cr2N. The cellular Cr2N precipitates caused a different orientation dependence of deformation twinning: only one twinning system in the <111 > grain was activated almost parallel to the growth direction of Cr2N.


Range-dependent clutter suppression is an important issue in airborne bistatic radar moving target detection. Range-dependent clutter suppression using the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technique is investigated. By employing the MIMO technique, the clutter ridges of all range bins are located in the same plane of the three-dimensional (3D) space. Moreover as long as the sum of the target radial velocities relative to the transmitter and the receiver is unequal to zero, the target will not be located in this plane. Thus clutter suppression can be realized by a 3D linear constrained minimum variance (LCMV) filter. In high clutter-to-noise (CNR) cases, the presented technique yields better performance than the conventional bistatic sidelooking phased-array radar. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented technique.


Abstract The purpose of this work is to produce and characterize (chemical composition and roughness parameters) porous coatings enriched in calcium and phosphorus on the titanium (CP Titanium Grade 2) by plasma electrolytic oxidation. As an electrolyte, a mixture of phosphoric acid H3PO4 and calcium nitrate Ca(NO3)2·4H2O was used. Based on obtained EDS and roughness results of PEO coatings, the effect of PEO voltages on the chemical composition and surface roughness of porous coatings was determined. With voltage increasing from 450 V to 650 V, the calcium in PEO coatings obtained in freshly prepared electrolyte was also found to increase. In addition, the Ca/P ratio increased linearly with voltage increasing according to the formula Ca/P = 0.035·U+0.176 (by wt%) and Ca/P = 0.03·U+0.13 (by at%). It was also noticed that the surface roughness increases with the voltage increasing, what is related to the change in coating porosity, i.e. the higher is the surface roughness, the bigger are pores sizes obtained.


Coset methods are used to determine the action of a co-dimension one brane (domain wall) embedded in (d + 1)-dimensional AdS space in the Carroll limit in which the speed of light goes to zero. The action is invariant under the non-linearly realized symmetries of the AdS-Carroll spacetime. The Nambu-Goldstone field exhibits a static spatial distribution for the brane with a time varying momentum density related to the brane's spatial shape as well as the AdS-C geometry. The AdS-C vector field dual theory is obtained.


In this paper, we discuss reputational risk that business organizations face as a consequence of
sustainability issues. Reputational risks - while they are widely prevalent in the more traditional
business areas - are however particularly endemic to sustainability issues, especially when
organizations mishandle environmental or social concerns. The paper will accordingly focus on
expounding the concept of organizational reputation. We then discuss some examples of loss of
reputation, due to inappropriate handling of sustainability issues. Next, we discuss stakeholders that
are involved in reputational risk management and also touch on the benefits that accrue to
organizations that effectively manage these stakeholder relationships. The paper concludes with a
discussion on corporate citizenship as a means of managing reputational risks.


The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the clinical efficacy of Daflon therapy in patients with mild to moderate chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) (clinical class 1-4) and to assess the changes in venous hemodynamics by using air plethysmography (APG). Fifty-six limbs in 28 patients were studied. They all had primary venous insufficiency with no venous obstruction, and mixed deep and superficial venous incompetence was found in 64% of the limbs. There was a significant decrease in symptom score for swelling and heaviness after 6 months of Daflon therapy. The symptom score for cramps also showed improvement though it did not reach statistical significance. Pain was significantly reduced with a mean pain score of 21.8 + 19.3% before comparing to 10.4 ±20.2% after 6 months of Daflon therapy (p<0.01). This was also associated with a decrease in mean calf circumference from 37.0 ±4.3 to 36.4 ±4.3 cm (p<0.001). There was no significant change in the venous filling index (VFI), ejection fraction (EF), and residual volume fraction (RVF) before and after 6 months of Daflon therapy (VFI: 3.7 ±3.5 vs 3.4 ±2.5 mL/s, EF: 54.5 ±15.9% vs 57.7 +19.7%, RVF: 41.4 ±19.2% vs 39.4 ±24.2%). The clinical improvement without associated changes in venous hemodynamics as measured by APG suggests that Daflon mainly works by modifying the microcirculatory environment not detected by APG and this microcirculatory change is associated with clinical improvement. In this regard, Daflon would be especially useful for symptomatic relief in patients with functional venous insufficiency who do not have clinical evidence of varicose veins but suffer from symptoms of venous insufficiency.


As required by different international agreements, the regulatory body in Spain (Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear) implemented in 1992 a national automatic network (REVIRA) that continuously monitors radiation levels in order to give early warning of incidents having potential transboundary implications. The detector for environmental gamma-radiation dose rate is an active instrument based on a Geiger-Müller counter. However, the use of passive environmental dosemeters provides an additional low-cost dose estimate with an independent centralised calibration and even better basic features than active instruments. Since 1999, all 25 REVIRA stations have been monitored with passive TL environmental dosemeters based on LiF:Mg,Cu,P and operated according to the procedures established at Ciemat. This paper presents the obtained results and the further analysis considering differences in aspects such as photon energy response, inherent background or response to cosmic rays. The benefits of the use of passive environmental dosemeters in early warning networks are discussed.


BACKGROUND
Limited data exist regarding computational drug error rates in anesthesia residents and faculty. We investigated the frequency and magnitude of computational errors in a sample of anesthesia residents and faculty.

METHODS
With institutional review board approval from 7 academic institutions in the United States, a 15-question computational test was distributed during rounds. Error rates and the magnitude of the errors were analyzed according to resident versus faculty, years of practice (or residency training), duration of sleep, type of question, and institution.

RESULTS
A total of 371 completed the test: 209 residents and 162 faculty. Both groups committed 2 errors (median value) per test, for a mean error rate of 17.0%. Twenty percent of residents and 25% of faculty scored 100% correct answers. The error rate for postgraduate year 2 residents was less than for postgraduate year 1 (P = .012). The error rate for faculty increased with years of experience, with a weak correlation (R = 0.22; P = .007). The error rates were independent of the number of hours of sleep. The error rate for percentage-type questions was greater than for rate, dose, and ratio questions (P = .001). The error rates varied with the number of operations needed to calculate the answer (P < .001). The frequency of large errors (100-fold greater or less than the correct answer) by residents was twice that of faculty. Error rates varied among institutions ranged from 12% to 22% (P = .021).

CONCLUSIONS
Anesthesiology residents and faculty erred frequently on a computational test, with junior residents and faculty with more experience committing errors more frequently. Residents committed more serious errors twice as frequently as faculty.


We present J-band (1.15-1.35 μm) spectroscopy of a sample of nine galaxies showing some degree of LINER activity (classical LINERs, weak-[O I] LINERs, and transition objects), together with H-band spectroscopy for some of them. A careful subtraction of the stellar continuum allows us to obtain reliable [Fe II] 1.2567 μm/Paβ line ratios. We conclude that different types of LINERs (i.e., photoionized by a stellar continuum or by an active galactic nucleus) cannot be easily distinguished based solely on the [Fe II] 1.2567 μm/Paβ line ratio. The emission-line properties of many LINERs can be explained in terms of an aging starburst. The optical line ratios of these LINERs are reproduced by a model with a metal-rich H II region component photoionized with a single stellar temperature T* = 38,000 K, plus a supernova remnant (SNR) component. The [Fe II] line is predominantly excited by shocks produced by SNRs in starbursts and starburst-dominated LINERs, while Paβ tracks H II regions ionized by massive young stars. The contribution from SNRs to the overall emission-line spectrum is constrained by the [Fe II] 1.2567 μm/Paβ line ratio. Although our models for aging starbursts are constrained only by these infrared lines, they consistently explain the optical spectra of the galaxies also. The LINER-starburst connection is tested by predicting the time dependence of the ratio of the ionizing luminosity (Lion) to the supernova rate (SNr), Lion/(SNr). We predict the relative number of starbursts to starburst-dominated LINERs (aging starbursts) and show that it is in approximate agreement with survey findings for nearby galaxies.


Create game audio from the ground up with this comprehensive, multi-faceted resource designed for industry beginners and professionals alike! Game audio makes up one-third of the overall game experience: an experience that is part of the larger, multi-billion dollar video gaming industry. Game Audio Development tackles the complex world of audio by addressing all three major game audio disciplines: music composition, the creation of sound effects, and dialog performances. It begins by providing readers with a solid background and history of the discipline, and then progresses into equipment, techniques, skills, and coordinating these factors to produce effective audio that will enhance the gaming experience. The book concludes with a forecast for the future of game audio.


Destabilization of intrapermafrost gas hydrates is one of the possible mechanisms responsible for methane emission in the Arctic shelf. Intrapermafrost gas hydrates may be coeval to permafrost: they originated during regression and subsequent cooling and freezing of sediments, which created favorable conditions for hydrate stability. Local pressure increase in freezing gas-saturated sediments maintained gas hydrate stability from depths of 200–250 meters or shallower. The gas hydrates that formed within shallow permafrost have survived till present in the metastable (relict) state. The metastable gas hydrates located above the present stability zone may dissociate in the case of permafrost degradation as it becomes warmer and more saline. The effect of temperature increase on frozen sand and silt containing metastable pore methane hydrate is studied experimentally to reconstruct the conditions for intrapermafrost gas hydrate dissociation. The experiments show that the dissociation process in hydrate-bearing frozen sediments exposed to warming begins and ends before the onset of pore ice melting. The critical temperature sufficient for gas hydrate dissociation varies from −3.0 to −0.3 °C and depends on lithology (particle size) and salinity of the host frozen sediments. Taking into account an almost gradientless temperature distribution during degradation of subsea permafrost, even minor temperature increases can be expected to trigger large-scale dissociation of intrapermafrost hydrates. The ensuing active methane emission from the Arctic shelf sediments poses risks of geohazard and negative environmental impacts.


To the Editor. —A variety of tests have been developed to help diagnose aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and distinguish it from idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). Recently, in the NovemberArchives(1981;141: 1589-1593), Hiramatsu et al described a simple screening test to identify APA, which is based on a high plasma aldosterone to plasma renin activity (A-PRA) ratio and is claimed to be unaffected by various antihypertensive drug regimens. Unfortunately, the authors had no patients with IHA for comparison, and they gave no clinical details about the 11 patients who, despite high A-PRA ratios, did not have APA. We tested a number of screening methods on a 51-year-old man with IHA, including the one proposed by Hiramatsu et al. This patient had had hypertension for 15 years, and, since first seen in our clinic six years ago, his serum potassium level had been consistently less than 2.9 mEq/L, except when treated with spironolactone. The Table shows the patient's


Background
An isthmocele is a myometrial defect in the site of the caesarean scar. In symptomatic women with abnormal uterine bleeding and secondary infertility, surgical correction can be considered. Most authors advocate that when there's a residual myometrium ≥ 3mm it can be corrected through resectoscopic approach and when < 3mm the treatment should be laparoscopic, eventually guided by diagnostic hysteroscopy. Both these techniques have important limitations; therefore, the authors propose combining both techniques, in the same procedure, in order to overcome them.

Objectives
To demonstrate the advantages of a surgical technique for correction of an isthmocele using both resectoscopic and laparoscopic resection.

Material and Methods
A stepwise demonstration of the technique with narrated video footage.

Main outcome measures
Intraoperative data and outcomes in the patient's follow-up.

Results
One month after the surgery the patient was asymptomatic, reporting a resolution of the uterine abnormal bleeding, and the ultrasound showed a full correction of the isthmocele.

Conclusion
A combination of resectoscopic and laparoscopic resection, in correcting bigger isthmoceles, is a good option to fully excise all the fibrotic tissue.

Learning objective
This video aims to demonstrate the benefits of using a technique combining resectoscopic and laparoscopic resection for correcting larger isthmoceles.


(a) The Uniform Rules of Practice for the Department of Agriculture promulgated in subpart H of part 1, subtitle A, title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, are the Rules of Practice applicable to adjudicating administrative proceedings under section 12(c) of the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1041). (b) In addition to the proceedings set forth in paragraph (a) of this section, the Administrator, at any time prior to the issuance of a complaint seeking a civil penalty under the Act may enter into a stipulation with any person, in accordance with the following prescribed conditions: (1) The Administrator gives notice of an apparent violation of the Act or the regulations issued thereunder by such person and affords such person an opportunity for a hearing regarding the matter as provided by the Act; (2) Such person expressly waives hearing and agrees to a specified order including an agreement to pay a specified civil penalty within a designated time; and (3) The Administrator agrees to accept the specified civil penalty in settlement of the particular matter involved if it is paid within the designated time. (4) If the specified penalty is not paid within the time designated in such stipulation, the amount of the stipulated penalty shall not be relevant in any respect to the penalty that may be assessed after the institution of a formal administrative proceeding pursuant to the Uniform Rules of Practice, Subpart H, Part 1, Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations.


The United States is now admitting nearly one million legal immigrants per year, while the flow of illegal aliens into the country continues to increase steadily. The debate over immigration policy has typically focused on three fundamental questions: How do immigrants perform economically relative to others? What effects do immigrants have on the employment opportunities of other workers? What kind of immigration policy is most beneficial to the host country? This authoritative volume represents a move beyond purely descriptive assessments of labor market consequences toward a more fully developed analysis of economic impacts across the social spectrum. Exploring the broader repercussions of immigration on education, welfare, Social Security, and crime, as well as the labor market, these papers assess dimensions not yet taken into account by traditional cost-benefit calculations. This collection offers new insights into the kinds of economic opportunities and outcomes that immigrant populations might expect for themselves and future generations.


BACKGROUND: In this experimental study we evaluated the pH and potassium changes of the peritoneal irrigation fluid in the early phase of mesenteric ischemia. METHODS: The Wistar albino rats were assigned randomly to 5 equal groups of 10 rats: sham operation, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes ischemia by arterial occlusion. We enregistred the ranges of pH and potassium in peritoneal irrigation fluid and serum pH. RESULTS: Lower pH and increased potassium levels in peritoneal irrigation fluid were observed in 30 and 60 min ischemia groups. In 120 and 180 ischemia groups the level of pH continued to be lower and potassium level increased gradually, the serum pH were markedly lower in these groups. Histological analysis showed a positive correlation between the intestinal injury and ischemia time. CONCLUSION: In contrast to sham group, increase in potassium and decrease in in pH levels in peritoneal irrigation fluid were seen in 30 and 60 min ischemia groups. The decrease of serum pH was enregistred after 120 min of ischemia. In early phase the measurement of potassium and pH in peritoneal irrigation fluid may be an early diagnostic tool for mesenteric ischemia.


Several recent papers evaluate the relationship between ecological characteristics and extinction risk in bats. These studies report that extinction risk is negatively related to geographic range size and positively related to habitat specialization. Here, we evaluate the hypothesis that extinction risk is also related to dietary specialization in insectivorous vespertilionid bats using both traditional and phylogenetically-controlled analysis of variance. We collected dietary data and The World Conservation Union (IUCN) rankings for 44 Australian, European, and North American bat species. Our results indicate that species of conservation concern (IUCN ranking near threatened or above) are more likely to have a specialized diet than are species of least concern. Additional analyses show that dietary breadth is not correlated to geographic range size or wing morphology, characteristics previously found to correlate with extinction risk. Therefore, there is likely a direct relationship between dietary specialization and extinction risk; however, the large variation in dietary breadth within species of least concern suggests that diet alone cannot explain extinction risk. Our results may have important implications for the development of predictive models of extinction risk and for the assignment of extinction risk to insectivorous bat species. Similar analyses should be conducted on additional bat families to assess the generality of this relationship between niche breadth and extinction risk.


We present a novel video saliency detection method to support human activity recognition and weakly supervised training of activity detection algorithms. Recent research has emphasized the need for analyzing salient information in videos to minimize dataset bias or to supervise weakly labeled training of activity detectors. In contrast to previous methods we do not rely on training information given by either eye-gaze or annotation data, but propose a fully unsupervised algorithm to find salient regions within videos. In general, we enforce the Gestalt principle of figure-ground segregation for both appearance and motion cues. We introduce an encoding approach that allows for efficient computation of saliency by approximating joint feature distributions. We evaluate our approach on several datasets, including challenging scenarios with cluttered background and camera motion, as well as salient object detection in images. Overall, we demonstrate favorable performance compared to state-of-the-art methods in estimating both ground-truth eye-gaze and activity annotations.


Experiments were conducted in the anesthetized rabbit to investigate mechanisms for arrhythmias that occur after left atrial injection of the thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) mimetic U-46619. Arrhythmias were primarily of ventricular origin, dose dependent in frequency, and TxA(2) receptor mediated. The response was receptor specific since arrhythmias were absent after pretreatment with a specific TxA(2) receptor antagonist (SQ-29548) and did not occur in response to another prostaglandin, PGF(2alpha). Alterations in coronary blood flow were unlikely the cause of these arrhythmias because coronary blood flow (as measured with fluorescent microspheres) was unchanged after U-46619, and there were no observable changes in the ECG-ST segment. In addition, arrhythmias did not occur after administration of another vasoconstrictor (phenylephrine). The potential involvement of autonomic cardiac efferent nerves in these arrhythmias was also investigated because TxA(2) has been shown to stimulate peripheral nerves. Pretreatment of animals with the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol did not reduce the frequency of these arrhythmias. Pretreatment with atropine or bilateral vagotomy resulted in an increased frequency of arrhythmias, suggesting that parasympathetic nerves may actually inhibit the arrhythmogenic activity of TxA(2). These experiments demonstrate that left atrial injection of U-46619 elicits arrhythmias via a mechanism independent of a significant reduction in coronary blood flow or activation of the autonomic nervous system. It is possible that TxA(2) may have a direct effect on the electrical activity of the heart in vivo, which provides significant implications for cardiac events where TxA(2) is increased, e.g., after myocardial ischemia or administration of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors.


Knowledge of which body parts belong to us is referred to as the sense of body ownership. There is increasing evidence that this important aspect of human proprioception is highly malleable. Research into ownership of individual body parts was stimulated by Botvinick and Cohen's rubber‐hand illusion (Nature 391,1998, 756), which demonstrated that an artificial body part can be incorporated in one's body representation and can cause real body parts to be sensed erroneously. Here, we review key studies that have advanced our understanding of the sense of body ownership, including the important role played by multisensory integration and spatiotemporal congruence of sensory signals. We also discuss our recent discovery that body ownership can be induced in response to movement stimuli by signals from a single class of sensory receptor, namely muscle spindles.


Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are typically inspired by a desire for revenue growth and/or cost efficiency leading to an improvement in financial performance. Post-merger performance has received considerable research attention from scholars in finance and accounting, but the marketing dimension has remained largely unexplored. This research focuses on marketing efficiency as a measure of post-merger performance, and this is investigated via an empirical study of 20 M&A deals within the US commercial banking industry. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is used to measure efficiency, employing two input and two output variables. The results demonstrate that M&A transactions do have a positive effect on the marketing efficiency of the combined firms, although the effect size is small.


OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to evaluate radiological, clinical, and demographic data of patients with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and to compare high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scores based on the demographic and clinical characteristics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 34 patients (18 male, 16 female) were assessed in terms of age at symptom onset, age at diagnosis, annual attack frequency, cough severity score, physical examination findings, and pulmonary function test results. Modified Bhalla scoring system (B total) and anatomical prevalence degree score (D total) were used for HRCT examination.

RESULTS
There was a strong negative correlation between forced expiratory volume at first second (FEV1) and bronchial dilatation degree (SBRDIL). There was a moderate negative correlation of FEV1, forced vital capacity (FVC), and maximum mid-expiratory flow rate (MEF; 25-75) with bronchiectasis degree (EXBRNC), bronchial wall thickness degree (SBWTHICK), and mucus accumulation in the major airways (PMPLA). The B total, D total, EXBRNC, and SBRDIL scores were significantly higher in patients with hemoptysis and sputum. In comparing B and D total scoring systems, B total provided better results in terms of rale, annual exacerbation frequency (AEF), cough severity score (CSS), and FEV1 values.

CONCLUSION
As it is proved using HRCT, pulmonary function impairment, sputum production, hemoptysis, and increase in AEF strongly correlating with objective HRCT scoring can be accepted as markers for pathological changes due to bronchiectasis.


Images about Africa in the northern hemisphere are generally negative and pessimistic. In spite of instant global communication, why have these images persisted till date? This contribution shall revisit these perceptions and the images embodying them to unearth the motivations and rationale. The central argument, based on some narratives and experiences, is that ignorance feeds these images and stereotypes. Furthermore, positionality of non-African experts and some groups of African scholars and activists contribute to this culture of ignorance and paternalism. The contribution shall end with an ethical evaluation of the persistence of the images and the extent of moral responsibility of the authors and carriers of the racist stereotypes embedded in the images.


We investigate the magnetic properties and the magnetic entropy change around the martensitic transformations in Sb-doped Ni50Mn35In15 ferromagnetic shape memory alloys. We find that the martensitic transformation temperature decreases, and the thermal hysteresis associated with the transition increases when Sb is added. The alloy with 5.5 at. % Sb enhances the ferromagnetism of austenitic phase and improves the field shift martensitic transition ability, resulting in a great increase in magnetic entropy change up to 8 J kg−1 K−1 at 2 T and 21 J kg−1 K−1 at 5 T. This is attributed to magnetic interaction that is sensitive to the variation of p-d hybridization and conduction electron concentration arising from the substitution of sp element.


The current study focuses on giving a basic understanding of tubular graphene sheets or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and points towards their role in fabricating elastomer composites. Since the properties and the performance of CNT reinforced elastomer composites predominantly depend on the rate of dispersion of fillers in the matrix, the physical and chemical interaction of polymer chains with the nanotubes, crosslinking chemistry of rubbers and the orientation of the tubes within the matrix, here, a thorough study of these topics is carried out. For this, various techniques of composite manufacturing such as pulverization, heterocoagulation, freeze drying, etc. are discussed by emphasizing the dispersion and alignment of CNTs in elastomers. The importance of the functionalization technique as well as the confinement effect of nanotubes in elastomer media is derived. In a word, this article is aimed exclusively at addressing the prevailing problems related to the CNT dispersion in various rubber matrices, the solutions to produce advanced high-performance elastomeric composites and various fields of applications of such composites, especially electronics. Special attention has also been given to the non-linear viscoelasticity effects of elastomers such as the Payne effect, Mullin's effect and hysteresis in regulating the composite properties. Moreover, the current challenges and opportunities for efficiently translating the extraordinary electrical properties of CNTs to rubbery matrices are also dealt with.


Purpose: The purpose of the article is to organize and comprehensively present the knowledge on the most important transformations of family policy in Poland and the political, economic, demographic and social conditions of these transformations. The core of the paper are transformations of family institutions seen as crucial for family-targeted policy. Design/Methodology/Approach: The article contains a systematic review of previous research on family and family policies in Poland, published in Polish and international literature on the subject, the institutional-legal method (analysis of Polish legal regulations) and the historical method. Findings: A significant increase in the intervention of the Polish state in family matters falls on the period of financial or economic crises (after 2008 and 2020). This situation provides arguments for the thesis that such crises do not have to hamper (pro)social activities of the state or be an obstacle to the continuation and implementation of important social programs It also may indicate an attempt to move away from the increasingly criticized - since the global financial crisis of 2008 - neoliberal model, towards which Poland has been heading since 1989. Practical implications: As one of the post-communist countries and an EU member state, Polands case is special, as it shows that often in spite of difficult systemic or external conditions, the state may increase the scope of its intervention in social issues (including family-related ones) and thus diversify the scope of family policy instruments. changes in the scope of financial (monetary) allowances should be particularly interesting, but also solutions concerning child care leaves or social services for families with young children. Due to the limited scope of this paper, the analyses are not exhaustive, but they should be an important starting point for comparisons of the presented changes in the international context or for future research on the model offamily policy in Poland.


Often there is a need to address the status of the nasal septum during functional endonasal sinus surgery. The outcome of a sinus procedure can be enhanced if the surgeon has better exposure of the operative area or if the patient receives a larger nasal airway, which provides laminar air flow. We present a technique of managing septal deviations and obstructions that adds little additional time to the sinus procedure and allows direct evaluation of the septum with the endoscopes. We describe this relatively simple technique, indications for its use, and results of the first 38 cases.


In Chapter 11, litigation against former owners, managers, and financiers can eventually generate proceeds for the bankruptcy estate. These litigation claims have become significant, especially as more bankruptcies involve allegations of wrongdoing on the part of private equity sponsors. For unsecured creditors, who often receive paltry recoveries, litigation claims can be particularly valuable. Unsecured creditors are a diverse group, however, and it can be hard to meaningfully aggregate their preferences over whether and how to pursue litigation. This complicates the role of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, which has a fiduciary duty to general unsecured creditors. The ideal creditor to pursue litigation in bankruptcy would lack liquidity constraints, be able to gather resources and assess risk, and have experience with the bankruptcy process. Although hedge funds fit the bill, this Note shows that they rarely serve on the Official Committee, even if their involvement could benefit all unsecured creditors. A recent case against hedge fund manager Daniel Kamensky that resulted in a prison sentence will only deter them further. I propose that courts should empower hedge funds in limited circumstances involving significant litigation claims by allowing multiple Official Committees, with fiduciary duties only to the unsecured creditors on a given committee.


The deposition of intestinal heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) at the epithelial-mesenchymal interface and its cellular source have been studied by immunocytochemistry at various developmental stages and in rat/chick interspecies hybrid intestines. Polyclonal heparan sulfate antibodies were produced by immunizing rabbits with HSPG purified from the Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm mouse tumor; these antibodies stained rat intestinal basement membranes. A monoclonal antibody (mAb 4C1) produced against lens capsule of 11-d-old chick embryo reacted with embryonic or adult chick basement membranes, but did not stain that of rat tissues. Immunoprecipitation experiments indicated that mAb 4C1 recognized the chicken basement membrane HSPG. Immunofluorescent staining with these antibodies allowed us to demonstrate that distribution of HSPG at the epithelial-mesenchymal interface varied with the stages of intestinal development, suggesting that remodeling of this proteoglycan is essential for regulating cell behavior during morphogenesis. The immunofluorescence pattern obtained with the two species-specific HSPG antibodies in rat/chick epithelial/mesenchymal hybrid intestines developed as grafts (into the coelomic cavity of chick embryos or under the kidney capsule of adult mice) led to the conclusion that HSPG molecules located in the basement membrane of the developing intestine were produced exclusively by the epithelial cells. These data emphasize the notion already gained from previous studies, in which type IV collagen has been shown to be produced by mesenchymal cells (Simon- Assmann, P., F. Bouziges, C. Arnold, K. Haffen, and M. Kedinger. 1988. Development (Camb.). 102:339-347), that epithelial-mesenchymal interactions play an important role in the formation of a complete basement membrane.


The present invention relates to a time division duplex wireless LAN (TDD-RLAN), which includes a radio access network on the Internet Protocol (IP RAN) gateway for enabling access to the public Internet. The system includes a bar which can be coupled to the UMTS is provided as an independent system, or used with a conventional core network, which is especially intended to track the AAA function and implementation according to the core network.


A discrete-event simulation language was implemented in MATLAB. The approach is similar to the process/command modeling paradigm utilized in GPSS and other languages that followed. The language is a MATLAB Script File (m-file) and can be part of a larger analysis package as a sub-function of an optimization/simulation system. The modeler builds the simulation through support functions provided in this system but must insert them in the proper locations of the MATLAB master function. To develop a proper model, it is necessary to understand the internal simulation structure using the switch/cases statement and where various aspects of the simulation structure are located. To simplify this process, a model generator has been developed which parses a model text file and produces the required MATLAB master simulation function. The model generator also reduces the magnitude of understanding of the implementation specifics of the MATLAB simulation language and makes proper model development easier.


Written by renowned fashion authority Valerie Steele, this beautiful volume is a visual celebration of the red dress throughout fashion history. It provides an informative, entertaining discussion of the power of red in our culture and in fashion, then showcases over eighty stunning dresses, from medieval attire to the latest looks on the catwalk. Uniquely designed page after page, The Red Dress presents these distinctive dresses in an elegant and varied blend of four-color photographs and illustrations by the world's foremost artists, fashion photographers, and illustrators. In addition to featuring the work of the world's top designers, it also includes paintings, lithographs, vintage advertisements, and magazine covers--all stellar examples of how the red dress has captured the popular imagination for centuries. Filled with vibrant imagery from all walks of fashion past and present, this definitive book is the first of its kind to pay tribute to the glamour, mystery, and dynamism of this style classic. Featuring the work of the world's finest fashion designers, photographers, and illustrators, this elegant volume celebrates the eternal magnificence of the seductive and sophisticated red dress throughout fashion history.


A retrospective analysis is presented of data from 17 patients with proven pulmonary embolism (10 women, 7 men, mean age 50.8 [18-76] years) who had received short-term high dosage thrombolytic therapy shortly before or after (less than 24 h) undergoing mechanical resuscitation. The mean duration of resuscitation was 76 (20-160) minutes. Two patients had already been resuscitated half an hour and one hour, respectively, before the commencement of thrombolysis. In nine other patients thrombolysis was commenced during resuscitation. Hospital mortality in the latter group was amazingly low (four of nine patients died). In contrast, out of six patients who required resuscitation shortly after the commencement of thrombolysis, not one survived. Haemorrhagic complications occurred in four out of the 17 patients, but only in two were they directly attributable to the resuscitation: one female patient developed an extensive haematoma in the sternal region, and two days after resuscitation another female patient had a haemorrhage into the capsule of the liver during thrombolytic therapy which had been continued because of leg vein thrombosis. In the light of these results it seems justifiable, even on mere clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolism, to initiate short-term high dosage thrombolytic therapy during or after resuscitation.


Dr Harwood raises many excellent examples of concerns individual anaesthetists will face in deciding whether to come to work during pandemic flu. I share these concerns. Social disruption will be an inevitable result of the pandemic. Schools will close, public transport will not run and doctors will fear to return home to their families. It remains to be seen if the supply of personal protective equipment and the training to use it will be sufficient. Dr Harwood is right to hold government answerable to these concerns. Given recent coronial verdicts into the deaths of servicemen in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is difficult to suppose that government will prove any less morally negligent during a pandemic. Nevertheless some of us will have to treat flu patients. As Dr Harwood states, 'Doctors are paid for the skill and knowledge they possess...' but under what circumstances that gives us the right to withhold this skill and knowledge is the heart of this debate. Good Medical Practice 2006, as well as endorsing our skill and knowledge, also states that, 'All patients are entitled to care to meet their clinical needs. You must not refuse to treat a patient because their medical condition may put you at risk. If a patient poses a risk to your health and safety, you should take all available steps to minimise risk, before providing treatment or making suitable alternative arrangements for treatment' [1]. What alternative arrangements will there be when intensive care is overflowing and anaesthesia skill and knowledge is needed? Each of us will face this choice as an individual and for some of us legitimate reasons may exist that justify not coming to work during pandemic flu. We must be careful however not to turn our concerns into excuses for not doing the right thing. Additionally, we must guard against the expectation that it is the responsibility of single, childless and older colleagues to satisfy society's need for anaesthesia skill and knowledge during a pandemic flu national crisis.


"Science for All" is a mantra that has guided science education reform and practice for the past 20 years or so. Unfortunately, after 20 years of "Science for All" guided policy, research, professional development, and curricula African Americans continue to participate in the scientific enterprise in numbers that are staggeringly low. What is more, if current reform efforts were to realize the goal of "Science for All," it remains uncertain that African American students would be well-served. This article challenges the idea that the type of science education advocated under the "Science for All" movement is good for African American students. It argues that African American students are uniquely situated historically and socially and would benefit greatly from a socially transformative approach to science education curricula designed to help them meet their unique sociohistorical needs. The article compares the curriculum approach presented by current reform against a socially transformative curriculum approach. It concludes with a description of research that could support the curricular approach advocated. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Inc. J Res Sci Teach 48: 301–316, 2011


Aqueous humor dynamics were studied in the dogfish, Squalus acanthias, using isotopically labeled inulin, Na+, Cl-, and HCO-3. Fluid production was 100 mul per hour, with a turnover rate constant of 0.4 hr.-1, about half that of mammals. The ciliary process contains carbonic anhydrase and Na-K-ATPase. Diffusion of Na+ and Cl- from plasma to aqueous was four to five times greater than flow, and from aqueous to vitreous, about 15 times greater. Sodium and chloride secretion is masked by the diffusion process; neither ouabain nor acetazolamide yield measurable effects on accumulation of these isotopes. HCO-3 accumulation in aqueous was very rapid and was reduced by inhibition of carbonic anhydrase. Analyses of the data suggest that newly formed aqueous has similar Na+ concentration to plasma, but is high in HCO-3 and low in Cl-. This anion pattern resembles mammalian aqueous humor, and cerebrospinal fluid and endolymph of other vertebrates. These and other data suggest that constant features of formation of these fluids in all phyla are sodium transport and formation of HCO-3 from CO2.


We present a new hierarchical Bayesian model for unsupervised topic segmentation. This new model integrates a point-wise boundary sampling algorithm used in Bayesian segmentation into a structured topic model that can capture a simple hierarchical topic structure latent in documents. We develop an MCMC inference algorithm to split/merge segment(s). Experimental results show that our model outperforms previous unsupervised segmentation methods using only lexical information on Choi's datasets and two meeting transcripts and has performance comparable to those previous methods on two written datasets.


US college football's traditional bowl system, and lack of a postseason playoff tournament, has been controversial for years. The conventional wisdom is that a playoff would be a more fair way to determine the national champion, and more fun for fans to watch. The colleges finally agreed to begin a playoff in the 2014-15 season, but with just four teams, and speculation continues that more teams will be added soon. A subtle downside to adding playoff teams is that it reduces the significance of regular season games. We use the framework of Ely, Frankel and Kamenica (2012) to directly estimate the utility fans would get from this significance, i.e., utility from suspense, under a range of playoff scenarios. Our results consistently indicate that playoff expansion causes a loss in regular season suspense utility greater than the gain in the postseason, implying the traditional bowl system (two team playoff) is suspense-optimal. We analyze and discuss implications for TV viewership and other contexts.


Abstract : The purpose of the GREAT II Studies is to identify and resolve conflicts resulting from separate legislative actions of Congress which mandated that the Upper Mississippi River be managed in the national interest for commercial navigation and as a fish and wildlife refuge. The concept of the study originated from a need to coordinate the maintenance activities of a nine foot navigation channel by the U.S. Corps of Engineers from Guttenberg, Iowa to Saverton, Missouri with other river uses. GREAT II was founded because of increasing concern by conservationists and the general public over the lack of information available about the impacts of U.S. Corps of Engineers channel maintenance activities on many key resources of the river. The scope of the GREAT II Study is directed toward developing a river system management plan incorporating total river resource requirements.


We have searched for evidence of physics beyond the standard model in events that include an energetic photon and an energetic b-quark jet, produced in 85pb of ppbar collisions at 1.8 TeV at the Tevatron Collider at Fermilab. This signature, containing at least one gauge boson and a third-generation quark, could arise in the production and decay of a pair of new particles, such as those predicted by Supersymmetry, leading to a production rate exceeding standard model predictions. We also search these events for anomalous production of missing transverse energy, additional jets and leptons (e, mu and tau), and additional b quarks. We find no evidence for any anomalous production of gamma-b or gamma-b+X events. We present limits on two supersymmetric models: a model where the photon is produced in the decay chi2->gamma chi1, and a model where the photon is produced in the neutralino decay into the Gravitino LSP, chi1 ->gamma G. We also present our limits in a model-independent form and test methods of applying model-independent limits.


OPC models have become critical in the manufacturing of integrated circuits (ICs) by allowing correction of complex designs, as we approach the physical limits of scaling in IC chip design. The accuracy of these models depends upon the ability of the calibration set to sufficiently cover the design space, and be manageable enough to address metrology constraints. We show that the proposed method provides results of at least similar quality, in some cases superior quality compared to both the traditional method and sample plan sets of higher size. The main advantage of our method over the existing ones is that it generates a calibration set much faster, considering a large initial set and even more importantly, by automatically selecting its minimum optimal size.


The influence of cyclic AMP on cartilage degradation was investigated by using phosphodiesterase inhibitors [theophylline and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX)], forskolin (which activates the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase) and cyclic AMP analogues (dibutyryl and 8-bromo). Breakdown was assessed by quantification of proteoglycans released into the media of 8-day bovine nasal-septum cartilage cultures. Theophylline (1-20 mM), IBMX (0.01-2 mM) and dibutyryl cyclic AMP (0.1-2 mM) had little or no influence on the rate of proteoglycan release from unstimulated (no-endotoxin) cartilages. A small but detectable increase in breakdown was observed with 8-bromo cyclic AMP (0.5-2 mM) and forskolin (50-75 micrograms/ml). To examine potential inhibitory influences of these agents, the cyclic AMP modulators were added to cultures simultaneously treated with Salmonella typhosa endotoxin (12-25 micrograms/ml), a potent stimulator of cartilage degradation. The 3-4-fold stimulation of breakdown by endotoxin was strikingly inhibited by all three classes of cyclic AMP regulators. Optimal inhibition was found at 10-20 mM-theophylline, 1-2 mM-IBMX, 50-75 micrograms of forskolin/ml, 2 mM-dibutyryl cyclic AMP and 2 mM-8-bromo cyclic AMP. Inhibition was shown to be reversible, indicating that cartilages were viable after treatment. Sepharose CL-2B chromatography of proteoglycan products released from treated cartilages showed that the endotoxin-stimulated shift to lower average Mr was significantly prevented by cyclic AMP analogues and phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Together, these results show that agents which increase cyclic AMP inhibit both quantitative and qualitative aspects of endotoxin-mediated cartilage degradation.


Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 40 (TOMM40) may be influential in this regard by influencing mitochondrial neurotoxicity. Little is known about the influence of the TOMM40 gene on hippocampal (HC) volume and episodic memory (EM), particularly in healthy older adults. Thus, we sought to discern the influence of TOMM40 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which have previously been associated with medial temporal lobe integrity (rs11556505 and rs2075650), on HC volume and EM. The study sample consisted of individuals from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K) who were free of dementia and known neurological disorders, and 60–87 years of age (n = 424). EM was measured by using a 16-item word list with a 2-min free recall period and delineation of the HC was performed manually. The influence of Apolipoprotein E (APOE) and TOMM40 was assessed by 2 × 2 ANOVAs and partial correlations. There was no effect of APOE and TOMM40 on EM performance and HC volume. However, partial correlations revealed that HC volume was positively associated with free recall performance (r = 0.21, p < 0.01, r2 = 0.04). When further stratified for TOMM40, the observed association between HC volume and free recall in APOE ε4 carriers was present in combination with TOMM40 rs11556505 any T (r = 0.28, p < 0.01, R2 = 0.08) and rs2075650 any G (r = 0.28, p < 0.01, R2 = 0.08) "risk" alleles. This pattern might reflect higher reliance on HC volume for adequate EM performance among APOE ε4 carriers with additional TOMM40 "risk" alleles suggesting that the TOMM40 gene cannot merely be considered a marker of APOE genotype. Nevertheless, neither APOE nor TOMM40 influenced HC volume or EM in this population-based sample of cognitively intact individuals over the age of 60.


As one of the key components of nuclear power equipment, large nuclear power head has a complicate shape, great allowance of processing and difficult to produce. There is no any successful experience for reference. In this paper, one type of nuclear power head is our research object. We mainly researched on the NC processing programming of large nuclear power head and implemented processing simulation by alternative applying variety of processing methods, including calculation and simulation of tool path, generation of pre-processing files, and development of post-processor based on specific milling processing center, and the generation of NC codes. Finally, through Vericut, the simulation software platform, simulation verification of NC codes was implemented. The results indicated that the processing scheme was reasonable, NC codes were right and there was no phenomenon of over-cutting and under-cutting happening.


BACKGROUND
Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are significant contributors to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. These disorders include well-controlled chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension (pregnancy-induced hypertension) and mild pre-eclampsia. The definitive treatment for these disorders is planned early delivery and the alternative is to manage the pregnancy expectantly if severe uncontrolled hypertension is not present, with close maternal and fetal monitoring. There are benefits and risks associated with both, so it is important to establish the safest option.

OBJECTIVES
To assess the benefits and risks of a policy of planned early delivery versus a policy of expectant management in pregnant women with hypertensive disorders, at or near term (from 34 weeks onwards).

SEARCH METHODS
We searched Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Trials Register (12 January 2016) and reference lists of retrieved studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised trials of a policy of planned early delivery (by induction of labour or by caesarean section) compared with a policy of delayed delivery ("expectant management") for women with hypertensive disorders from 34 weeks' gestation. Cluster-randomised trials would have been eligible for inclusion in this review, but we found none.Studies using a quasi-randomised design are not eligible for inclusion in this review. Similarly, studies using a cross-over design are not eligible for inclusion, because they are not a suitable study design for investigating hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently assessed eligibility and risks of bias. Two review authors independently extracted data. Data were checked for accuracy.

MAIN RESULTS
We included five studies (involving 1819 women) in this review.There was a lower risk of composite maternal mortality and severe morbidity for women randomised to receive planned early delivery (risk ratio (RR) 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57 to 0.83, two studies, 1459 women (evidence graded high)). There were no clear differences between subgroups based on our subgroup analysis by gestational age, gestational week or condition. Planned early delivery was associated with lower risk of HELLP syndrome (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.93, 1628 women; three studies) and severe renal impairment (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.92, 100 women, one study).There was not enough information to draw any conclusions about the effects on composite infant mortality and severe morbidity. We observed a high level of heterogeneity between the two studies in this analysis (two studies, 1459 infants, I2 = 87%, Tau2 = 0.98), so we did not pool data in meta-analysis. There were no clear differences between subgroups based on our subgroup analysis by gestational age, gestational week or condition. Planned early delivery was associated with higher levels of respiratory distress syndrome (RR 2.24, 95% CI 1.20 to 4.18, three studies, 1511 infants), and NICU admission (RR 1.65, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.40, four studies, 1585 infants).There was no clear difference between groups for caesarean section (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.07, 1728 women, four studies, evidence graded moderate), or in the duration of hospital stay for the mother after delivery of the baby (mean difference (MD) -0.16 days, 95% CI -0.46 to 0.15, two studies, 925 women, evidence graded moderate) or for the baby (MD -0.20 days, 95% CI -0.57 to 0.17, one study, 756 infants, evidence graded moderate).Two fairly large, well-designed trials with overall low risk of bias contributed the majority of the evidence. Other studies were at low or unclear risk of bias. No studies attempted to blind participants or clinicians to group allocation, potentially introducing bias as women and staff would have been aware of the intervention and this may have affected aspects of care and decision-making.The level of evidence was graded high (composite maternal mortality and morbidity), moderate (caesarean section, duration of hospital stay after delivery for mother, and duration of hospital stay after delivery for baby) or low (composite infant mortality and morbidity). Where the evidence was downgraded, it was mostly because the confidence intervals were wide, crossing both the line of no effect and appreciable benefit or harm.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
For women suffering from hypertensive disorders of pregnancy after 34 weeks, planned early delivery is associated with less composite maternal morbidity and mortality. There is no clear difference in the composite outcome of infant mortality and severe morbidity; however, this is based on limited data (from two trials) assessing all hypertensive disorders as one group.Further studies are needed to look at the different types of hypertensive diseases and the optimal timing of delivery for these conditions. These studies should also include infant and maternal morbidity and mortality outcomes, caesarean section, duration of hospital stay after delivery for mother and duration of hospital stay after delivery for baby.An individual patient meta-analysis on the data currently available would provide further information on the outcomes of the different types of hypertensive disease encountered in pregnancy.


A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine cancer patients' satisfaction level
and factors that contribute to patients' satisfaction towards the nursing care services
provided at the selected teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran. A proportional stratified
sampling method was adopted and data were collected via face-to-face interviews from
November 2007 through January 2008, based on a validated Patient Satisfaction
Questionnaire (PSQ). A total of 384 cancer patients aged 14 years old and above was
selected. The majority of respondents were males (52.4%), married (66.4%) with age
group 45-54 year (26.4%); secondary education level (44.8%). The majority of
respondents was working adults (52.6%), with family monthly income of US$200-500
(60.9%), and hospitalized between 2 to 5 days (81.8%), and treated for chemotherapy
(67.4 %). The findings revealed that a vast majority of these respondents (82.8%) was
satisfied with the nursing care provided to them, while the others (17.2%) were not.
Generally, most of the respondents were satisfied with the amount of information given by the nurses (76.6%), technical quality (76.8%), interpersonal relationship (96.6%) and
physical environment (69.5%) they were admitted. From the bivariate analysis, only two
factors were found to be significantly related to the level of satisfaction, i.e. the types of
hospital (x2=4.985; df=1; p=0.025; n=384) and the types of treatment (x2=8.128; df=2;
p=0.017; n=384). In term of the type of hospital, the multiple logistic regression test
indicated that the patients, who were hospitalized in the teaching-hospitals of Shahis
Beheshti University, were (1/0.523=1.912) times more likely to be satisfied with the
nursing care (p= 0.037) as compared to those were hospitalized in the teaching-hospitals
of Iran University. Similarly, the respondents who were married were 5.5 times more
likely to be dissatisfied with the nursing care (p= 0.033) as compared to those who were
divorced and widowed. The Nagelkerke R2 showed that about 14% of the variation in
the level of the patients' satisfaction could be explained by this logistic model. This
study found that most of the respondents were satisfied with the services which they
received. However, the respondents suggested that several factors such as improving
socio-environment in term of privacy and interpersonal manner in the care, and
improving the facilities of the teaching-hospitals, should be taken into consideration in
order to improve the overall satisfaction. At the same time, further research is still
needed to study on the socio-cultural and environment pertaining to the issues of patient
care in the teaching-hospitals. On the other hand the patients, admitted to Teachinghospitals
of SHUMS, were more satisfied as compared to those admitted in the IUMS.
Nevertheless, further research is also needed to find the reasons why those patients
admitted to Teaching-hospitals of SHUMS had higher level of satisfaction, which also
indicated the need to improve the interpersonal manners and socio-cultural aspects of
patients' care.


Because phosphorus is a common pollutant in natural waters, there is a need to develop a convienent, reliable technique to measure low phosphorus concentrations. Spectrophotometric procedures involving the molybdenum blue complex have so far proven to be the best technique for measuring phosphorus in the 0.01 and 10 mg/L range, however, these procedures are all time consuming and subject to interference. This dissertation deals with flame photometry as a method for phosphorus analysis. In a hydrogen-rich flame phosphorus atoms undergo a chemiluminescent reaction to form an excited HPO molecule, which emits with maximum intensity at 526 nm. Normally this method is used to selectivity detect phosphorus compounds separated by gas chromatography, or to analyze gas phase phosphorus concentrations. When aqueous solutions are introduced to the flame as aerosols, sensitivity is reduced and metal ions interfere with the emission. An alternative method of sample introduction is evaluated in this dissertation. A Perkin-Elmer HGA 2100 graphite atomizer is coupled to a flame photometer. Samples containing 25 (mu)L of aqueous phosphate solutions are placed in the atomizer with a micropipet. The atomizer dries the sample at 100(DEGREES)C, then vaporizes the phosphorus compound at 2500(DEGREES)C. The phosphorus vapor is swept into the flame and the HPO emission is measured. Intensity is directly proportional to phosphorus concentration. This method of sample introduction has fewer metal ion interferences than the aerosol technique, however, common ions such as calcium, magnesium, and ion III, still interfere. Releasing agents such as EDTA and sodium silicate failed to eliminate the metal ion interferences. It was subsequently demonstrated that the metal ion interference takes place in the vapor phase after atomization. It was found that silica reduced the degree of interference. A method of permeating the graphite tube with silica was developed. The procedure involves inpregnating the graphite tube with SiCl(,4) under reduced pressure, hydrolyzing SiCl(,4) to hydrated silica, drying and firing at a high temperature. The high temperature firing causes the dried silica to react with the graphite forming silicon carbide. This was confirmed by weighing tubes before and after treatment with silica and after firing. The appearance temperature for phosphorus as phosphate in the presence of calcium is 1400(DEGREES)C for untreated graphite and 2000(DEGREES)C for the silicon carbide coated tube. At a higher temperature, the metal-phosphorus interaction causing the interference is less favorable, thus causing a reduction in the extent of the interference. Eleven possible interfering ions were tested to determine the degree of interference on a 1 mg/L phosphorus solution. Among the 11 ions tested, none of them had a signal depressed more than about 10%, when the ion concentration was at 10 mg/L. When tested at the 100 mg/L ion level, six of the ions caused a deviation of more than 10% from the signal which a 1 mg/L phosphorus solution would give. The relative standard deviation for five, 25 (mu)L samples of phosphorus is 3 to 6% at a concentration of 1 mg/L. The detection limit is 0.04 mg/L for a 25 (mu)L phosphorus solution. By making a few minor modifications to the instrument, sulfur can be determined. Sulfur is also subject to metal ion interferences but this element was not studied as extensively as phosphorus. This dissertation is available at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository: https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation/1289


OBJECTIVE
To measure and compare the accuracy of 4 different clinical methods in the diagnosis of melanoma in situ of the nail matrix among dermatologists with different levels of clinical experience.

DESIGN
Twelve cases of melanonychias (5 melanomas and 7 nonmelanomas) were presented following 4 successive steps: (1) clinical evaluation, (2) evaluation according to the ABCDEF rule, (3) dermoscopy of the nail plate, and (4) intraoperative dermoscopy. At each step, the dermatologists were asked to decide if the lesion was a melanoma.

SETTING
The test was administered at 2 dermatological meetings in 2008.

PARTICIPANTS
A total of 152 dermatologists, including 11 nail experts, 53 senior dermatologists, and 88 junior dermatologists.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The answers were evaluated as percentage of right answers for each diagnostic step according to the different grade of expertise. Differences among the percentage of right answers in the different steps were evaluated with the z test at a 5% level of significance. The agreement was investigated using Cohen kappa statistic.

RESULTS
The only method that statistically influenced the correct diagnosis for each category (experts, seniors, and juniors) was intraoperative dermoscopy (z test; P < .05). Cohen kappa statistic showed a moderate interobserver agreement.

CONCLUSIONS
Overall accuracy of dermatologists in the diagnosis of nail matrix melanoma in situ is low because the percentages of physicians who indicated the correct diagnosis during each of the first 3 clinical steps of the test ranged from 46% to 55%. The level of expertise did not statistically influence the correct diagnosis.


In this paper, we have investigated the near-infrared luminescence emitting from NiSi2 passivated silicon nanocrystals (NCs) embedded in SiOx films. For comparison, we also prepared the regular specimen without NiSi2 passivation. In the both systems, the intensity of photoluminescence emission from NC-Si increased with the increase of annealing temperature, which was explained by the crystallization of amorphous silicon in SiOx films. The maximum intensity of near-infrared emission from NiSi2-passivated NC-Si was stronger by factor 5 than that of regular specimen without NiSi2 passivation. The model of NiSi2 passivation was employed to explain this phenomenon.


An organic amine inhibitor was developed and evaluated. Experimental results showed that the organic amine inhibitor could decrease the surface tension to 50mN/m and had a little effect on the Zeta potential of clay. The inhibitor could effectively inhibit the dispersion of core and cuttings and had a lasting strong inhibition. The inhibitor had good compatibility with common drilling fluid, and it was useful to maintain drilling fluid stability under high temperature and could improve the filtration property of drilling fluid.


The aim of this work is to construct nonseparable, stationary covariance functions for processes that vary continuously in space and time. Stochastic modeling of phenomena over space and time is important in many areas of applications such as environmental sciences, agriculture and meteorology. But choice of an appropriate model can be difficult as one must take care to use valid covariance structures. A common choice for the process is a product of purely spatial and temporal random processes. In this case, the resulting process possesses a separable covariance function. Although these models are guaranteed to be valid, they are severely limited, since they do not allow space-time interactions. In this work we propose a general and flexible way of constructing valid nonseparable covariance functions derived through mixing over separable covariance functions. The proposed model allows for different degrees of smoothness across space and time and long-range dependence in time. Moreover, our proposal has as particular cases several covariance models proposed in the literature such as the Matérn and the Cauchy Class. We use a Markov chain Monte Carlo sampler for Bayesian inference and apply our modeling approach to the Irish wind data.


Traditionally pull production systems are managed through classic control systems such as Kanban, Conwip, or Base stock, but this paper proposes 'customized' pull control. Customization means that a given production line is managed through a pull control system that in principle connects each stage of that line with each preceding stage; optimization of the corresponding simulation model, however, shows which of these potential control loops are actually implemented. This novel approach may result in one of the classic systems, but it may also be another type: (1) the total line may be decomposed into several segments, each with its own classic control system (e.g., segment 1 with Kanban, segment 2 with Conwip); (2) the total line or segments may combine different classic systems; (3) the line may be controlled through a new type of system. These different pull systems are found when applying the new approach to a set of twelve production lines. These lines are configured through the application of a statistical (Plackett-Burman) design with ten factors that characterize production lines (such as line length, demand variability, and machine breakdowns).


abolition of airways obstruction usually takes about 7-10 days and your article was nmisleading when it referred to the maximum effect of an oral steroid being evident after 9-12 hours. You recommend that, because infection is a common precipitating cause of severe asthma, a broad-spectrum antibiotic should be given. Many studies2-4 have shown that asthma is commonly provoked by respiratory viruses and antibiotics can be of value only if there is secondary bacterial infection. The most difficult problem in the emergency management of asthma is to assess its severity. Usually the patient is first seen by a GP and therefore the vital initial assessment has to be made on clinical grounds alone. It is unsafe to assume that an attack is only mild if the patient can converse with frequent pauses and it may be very severe long before he has become too dyspnoeic to speak at all. Management does not end with the patient's recovery and the return of his ventilatory function to its optimum value. Every attack of severe asthma should be regarded as a failure in his previous medical care and a searching inquiry must be made into the circumstances leading up to it in order to avoid a repetition of these. The whole emphasis in the management of astihma should be upon teaching patients to treat themselves, using their drugs intelligently and effectively. Those taking an oral steroid should temporarily increase their maintenance dose on their own initiative whenever they have an exacerbation of asthma from whatever cause. Those taking a steroid aerosol must be given a reserve supply of oral steroid, which they should take in high dosage for a few days if they become unable to inhale their aerosol effectively and are thus deprived of any steroid protection.5


This paper suggests that as pervasive computing technologies have gained purchase in urban space they have also become more implicitly blended with everyday life and more contingent on information that is inductively compiled from Internet-based data services. It is argued that existing theorizations of the technologically mediated production of urban must engage with the increasingly implicit nature of informational transactions as well as the emergent semantic structuring of information. Drawing on examples of ongoing pervasive computing projects, implicit computing procedures are explored in relation to the mediation of everyday urban life. Literatures from computing science and geographical theory are brought into conversation in order to examine the consequences of a convergence between implicit pervasive technologies and the spaces of everyday life.


Wireless networks, and mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) in particular, are characterized by timevarying link characteristics and network topology. In such an environment, the network must accommodate the changes, providing end-end packet delivery while at the same time incurring low control overhead. This paper proposes a routing algorithm for MANETs with the primary goal of maximizing connectivity while limiting overhead. Rather than using one or more disjoint paths between a source and destination, a set of non-disjoint paths, or braid, is selected. To adapt to link changes, local rerouting is performed within the braid, thus avoiding network-wide recalculations. We analytically characterize the source-destination connectivity of the braid. Through simulation, we compare the reliability of braided routing and various other MANET routing protocols, including Ad-hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) routing, and quantify the relative amounts of control overhead incurred by braided routing and AODV.


In this study, the effects of ionizing radiation on organic interfaced Schottky diodes were investigated. The prepared metal/coronene/n-Si Schottky structures were exposed to different dose of gamma radiation and examined the variations of performance parameters of these structures before and after radiation. The coronene material was used as an organic interface layer and coated onto the n-type silicon substrates as a thin film by using the spin coating technique after various chemical cleaning methods. The changes in the electrical characteristic of the structures were investigated using the I-V, C-V and G-V measurement techniques before and after irradiation in dark environment and at room temperature.


This paper investigates the impact of managerial responses on stock market performance after a major industrial accident. In the Bhopal case, the market is largely driven by the accident itself, which severly depresses stock prices. Defensive managerial signals, in which the company denies that problems ex ist, attempts to lay to rest doubts about the firm's future ability to generate revenues and takes action to resume operations, tend to partially counter news of the event and to stabilize stock prices. Investors, on the other hand, react negatively to accommodative signals in which management accepts responsi bility for the accident and attempts to do something to remedy the situation. The tendency of some investors to buy large quantities of Union Carbide stock in anticipation of a takeover seems to be largely responsible for a strong re bound in stock prices that occurs within nine months of the Bhopal accident. This paper, which is on the boundary of strategic management, sociology and finance, is an empirical analysis of the impact of an organizational disaster on one firm's stock price. It also evaluates the company's effort to manage the crisis and points the way to future research.


Abstract. Understanding extreme precipitation is very important for Ethiopia, which is heavily dependent on low-productivity rainfed agriculture but lacks structural and non-structural water regulating and storage mechanisms. There has been an increasing concern about whether there is an increasing trend in extreme precipitation as the climate changes. Existing analysis of this region has been descriptive, without taking advantage of the advances in extreme value modeling. After reviewing the statistical methodology on extremes, this paper presents an analysis based on the generalized extreme value modeling with daily time series of precipitation records at Debre Markos in the Northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia. We found no strong evidence to reject the null hypothesis that there is no increasing trend in extreme precipitation at this location.


This paper introduces a new, alternative approach for the analysis of power systems vulnerability based on a hybrid model that combines elements of the classical Deterministic Network Interdiction Problem (DNIP) with the use of an efficient multi-objective optimization evolutionary algorithm (MOEA). From a power systems perspective, the traditional DNIP is implemented as a surrogate approach to understand the interaction between the power system's component incapacitation (due to random failures or external attacks), and the system load shedding. The paper recognizes that, when analyzing power system vulnerability, it is possible to have multiple competing objectives and multiple prospective solutions that may change based on the preference of the decision-maker. This multi-objective view of the DNIP in the power systems context is solved using MOEA. As a result, the proposed approach could be used as an initial, straightforward screening approach to identify severe system disturbances. Several examples illustrate that the approach is able to reproduce and improve upon the results presented in previous studies.


Advancements in biomedical research have contributed to increasing the life expectancy of humans, but we now observe an increase in age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and linkage studies have identified human genes associated with Alzheimer's disease (referred to as AD genes). A previous study by Vahdati in 2017 has revealed the human AD genes and counterparts in model species [1]. Thus, we further investigate the co-morbidity genes and alleles. Using ontology analysis combined with cluster analysis, the study identified functional pathways enriched among the human AD genes, including 179 genes out of 695 human AD genes (26%) that were associated with one or more of the four neurological diseases including Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Schizophrenia [1]. More importantly, the results indicate co-morbidities with Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease (LOAD) and other neurological conditions, implying the complexity of the phenotypes in the human AD. The co-morbidity genes may account for mixed symptoms for human AD as well as age-related risks of infections. Of them, the three genes are well conserved (Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme gene, ACE; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase gene, MTHFR; and tumor necrosis factor gene, TNF). In this study, we confirmed the comorbidity of the three genes associated with AD. We further identified the comorbidity of two alleles in the MTHFR gene, C677T and A222V, significantly associated with Alzheimer's disease. This study provides an example of evidencebased analysis that is cost-effective and may be an effective approach to develop cure-alls for multiple diseases.


The shift from a population mapping to investigate the population bonus on demographic aspect enhances the economic value this study might contribute for. Indonesian population as the fourth largest number requires some policies to cope with the millennium challenges. Improving nationwide database maintains government on-going strategy to manage its population that is expected to serve all stakeholders for any quest towards economic development. The study uses mixed method with the explanatory sequential strategy. The qualitative approach is used, using social network analysis, supported by desk study, in-depth interview, focus group discussion, and literature studies. This study attempts to provide for improvement to the extant regulations on identity card, mostly electronic-KTP. Demographic bonus is an interesting topic given that the younger the population, the higher the employment demand rate will be. Having systematic database bank and access is expected to alleviate the challenge on high population growth rate in Indonesia. Besides, recommendations are addressed to the policy maker (the Government), mostly on the review or amendment of the extant regulations that might not in line with the database systematic improvements. The study is a primary thesis from a review of population law, using multidisciplinary approach, i.e. population economics (demography), legal study, and public policy that can be used as a testing basis to answer further demographic bonus from an exploration of other scientific inquiries. Keywords: demographic economy, demographic bonus, population administration law, e-ID, social network analysis


BACKGROUND
Interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8), which is induced by peripheral nerve injury (PNI), plays a key role in activating spinal microglia to release inflammatory cytokines in a p38-dependent way, thereafter results in formation of central sensitization. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) on dorsal root ganglion (DRG) alleviates neuropathic pain and inhibits the microglial activation in chronic constriction injury (CCI) rats. However, the consequences of PRF on spinal IRF8 of CCI rats remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE
We explore if PRF on DRG of rats with CCI could restrain IRF8, microglia, and p38 hyperactivity in the spinal cord to alleviate neuropathic pain.

STUDY DESIGN
A randomized, controlled animal study.

SETTING
Department of Pain Management, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fujian Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Provincial Clinic College of Fujian Medical University.

METHODS
The changes in pain behaviors and the expressions of IRF8, Iba1 and p-p38 in the spinal cord of CCI rats which were administrated with antisense/ mismatch oligodeoxynucleotide of IRF8 were studied. Rats in CCI+AS ODN group, CCI+MM ODN group or CCI+NS group were intrathecally treated with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide of IRF8, mismatch oligodeoxynucleotide of IRF8 or same volume 0.9% NaCl once daily respectively, beginning from the day after nerve transection 12 hours and lasting for 7 days. The effects of PRF on L4-5 DRG of rats with CCI were investigated. PRF was applied adjacent to the L4-5 DRG at an intensity of 45 V for 6 minutes after CCI, whereas the control rats were treated without radiofrequency current. The withdrawal thresholds were studied and the spinal levels of IRF8, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1, microglia characteristic marker) and p-p38 were calculated by ELISA, western blot, RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence.

RESULTS
Intrathecal administration of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide of IRF8 led to the reversal of CCI-induced allodynia, lower activation of spinal microglia and p-p38. Withdrawal thresholds were partially recovered after a single PRF treatment for 14 days. CCI-induced IRF8 upregulation, microglia hyperactivity, and p38 phosphorylation in the spinal cord were reduced due to PRF treatment. However, PRF did not alter pain behaviors and pain signals in normal rats.

LIMITATIONS
In our study, one time point was selected just to assess the levels of microglia, and p-p38. The changes of IRF8, microglia, p-p38 in the ipsilateral DRG were not investigated. A more detailed study on how PRF on the DRG could further relieve NP is needed.

CONCLUSIONS
Restraining IRF8, microglia and p38 hyperactivity in the spinal cord of CCI rats involved in the contribution to the long-lasting analgesia of PRF.

KEY WORDS
Neuropathic pain, pulsed radiofrequency, dorsal root ganglion, microglia, p38MAPK, Interferon regulatory factor 8, chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve.


Aim An exploratory study of the relationship between cumulative exposure to subcutaneous (sc) interferon (IFN) β-1a treatment and other possible prognostic factors with long-term clinical outcomes in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Methods Patients in the original PRISMS study were invited to a single follow-up visit 15 years after initial randomisation (PRISMS-15). Outcomes over 15 years were compared in the lowest and highest quartile of the cumulative sc IFN β-1a dose groups, and according to total time receiving sc IFN β-1a as a continuous variable per 5 years of treatment. Potential prognostic factors for outcomes were analysed. Results Of 560 patients randomised in PRISMS, 291 returned for PRISMS-15 and 290 (51.8%) were analysed. Higher cumulative dose exposure and longer treatment time appeared to be associated with better outcomes on: annualised relapse rate, number of relapses, time to Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) progression, change in EDSS, proportions of patients with EDSS ≥4 or ≥6, ≤5 relapses and EDSS <4 or <6, and time to conversion to secondary-progressive MS (SPMS). Higher dose exposure was associated with lower proportions of patients with EDSS progression and conversion to SPMS, and longer time on treatment with lower risk of first relapse. Change in EDSS from baseline to 24 months was a strong predictor of evaluated clinical outcomes over 15 years. Conclusions These findings suggest that higher cumulative exposure to sc IFN β-1a may be associated with better clinical outcomes, and early change in EDSS score may have prognostic value, over many years, in RRMS.


A fifty-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of generalized edema, progressive symptoms of fatigue and weakness of ten years' duration. After an uneventful third delivery, 24 years before admission, she could not lactate and developed oligomenorrhea and then amenorrhea. Laboratory evaluation revealed panhypopituitarism and pituitary cell antibodies were positive. Both CT scans and MR images showed empty sella. This case is postpartum hypopituitarism without a preceding history of excessive bleeding and may be autoimmune hypophysitis.


The Siddis are a unique Indian tribe of African, South Asian and European ancestry. While their ancestral origins have been traced to the Bantu populations from sub-Saharan Africa, their population history has remained an enigmatic question. Here, we have traced the biogeographical origin of the Siddis employing an admixture based algorithm, Geographical Population Structure (GPS). We evaluated 14 Siddi genomes in reference to 5 African populations from the 1000 Genomes project and 7 Bantu populations from the Human Genome Diversity project. GPS assigned the Siddi genomes to west Zambia and the present-day border between Zimbabwe and northeastern Botswana, overlapping with one of the principal areas of secondary Bantu settlement in Africa, ~1700 years before present (YBP). This is concordant with the secondary Bantu dispersal route from the east African Bantu center that brought the African ancestors of the Siddis to settlement sites in southeast Africa, from where they were disseminated to India, by the Portuguese. Our results also suggest that while the Siddi genomes are significantly different from that of the Bantus, they displayed the highest genomic proximity to the Luhyas and North-East Bantus from Kenya, and that ancestral Siddis are likely to have split from the Luhyas, ~2700 YBP, in congruence with known Bantu expansion and population migration routes. Together with historical, linguistic and anthropological evidences our findings shine light on the genetic relatedness between populations, fine-scale population structure and recapitulate the population history of the Siddis, in the ethnohistorical context of India.


Ultra-wide band (UWB) communication is expected to play a key role in next generation broadband intra vehicle wireless applications. The car compartment differs significantly from other well studied indoor or outdoor environments. Hence, channel sounding experiments are crucial for gaining a thorough knowledge of the UWB signal propagation characteristics in such a medium. Time domain channel sounding campaigns often employ some sort of deconvolution during measurement post processing as the measured signal in these experiments is the convolution of the channel response and the probing pulse which violates the Nyquist criterion. In this study, a comparison of two variants of time-domain serial subtractive deconvolution algorithm, popularly known as CLEAN, is presented. Appropriate statistical metrics for assessing the relative merit of a deconvolution technique are identified in the context of intra vehicle UWB transmission, and the better algorithm is selected based on its performance over a standard IEEE channel simulation testbed. The chosen method is then applied to extract power delay profile and delay parameters from an empirical time domain sounding experiment performed inside a passenger car. The effects of passenger occupancy, transmitter receiver separation and absence of direct transmission path are studied.


SCADA systems that monitor and control Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) are increasingly becoming the target of advanced cyber-attacks since their convergence with TCP/IP and other networks for efficient controlling. When a SCADA incident occurs the consequences can be catastrophic having an impact on the environment, economy and human life and therefore it is essential for a forensic investigation to take place. SCADA system forensics is an essential process within the cyber-security lifecycle that not only helps to identify the cause of an incident and those responsible but to help develop and design more secure systems of the future. This paper provides an overall forensic taxonomy of the SCADA system incident response model. It discusses the development of forensic readiness within SCADA system investigations, including the challenges faced by the SCADA forensic investigator and suggests ways in which the process may be improved.


In the "correlated sampling" problem, two players, say Alice and Bob, are given two distributions, say $P$ and $Q$ respectively, over the same universe and access to shared randomness. The two players are required to output two elements, without any interaction, sampled according to their respective distributions, while trying to minimize the probability that their outputs disagree. A well-known protocol due to Holenstein, with close variants (for similar problems) due to Broder, and to Kleinberg and Tardos, solves this task with disagreement probability at most $2 \delta/(1+\delta)$, where $\delta$ is the total variation distance between $P$ and $Q$. This protocol has been used in several different contexts including sketching algorithms, approximation algorithms based on rounding linear programming relaxations, the study of parallel repetition and cryptography.
In this note, we give a surprisingly simple proof that this protocol is in fact tight. Specifically, for every $\delta \in (0,1)$, we show that any correlated sampling scheme should have disagreement probability at least $2\delta/(1+\delta)$. This partially answers a recent question of Rivest.
Our proof is based on studying a new problem we call "constrained agreement". Here, Alice is given a subset $A \subseteq [n]$ and is required to output an element $i \in A$, Bob is given a subset $B \subseteq [n]$ and is required to output an element $j \in B$, and the goal is to minimize the probability that $i \neq j$. We prove tight bounds on this question, which turn out to imply tight bounds for correlated sampling. Though we settle basic questions about the two problems, our formulation also leads to several questions that remain open.


Flows containing suspended colloidal particles and dissolved solutes are found in a multitude of natural and man-made systems including hydraulic fractures, water filtration systems and microfluidic devices, e.g. those designed for biological or medical applications. In these types of systems, unexpected particle dynamics such as rapid particle transport and focusing has been observed in the presence of local solute gradients due to the cooperating or competing effects of fluid advection and particle diffusiophoresis, the latter driven by local chemical gradients. We develop analytical expressions for the fluid, solute and particle dynamics in long, narrow channels due to the combined influence of pressure-driven channel flow with diffusiophoretic and diffusioosmotic effects. The results confirm a rapid particle focusing effect that can be controlled by manipulating the particle, solute and flow properties, as well as the channel's geometry and surface chemistry. Thus, we propose a new approach for performing microfluidic zeta potentiometry, as well as techniques for sorting, concentrating and/or capturing particles based on their sizes or zeta potentials. Finally, we demonstrate that diffusioosmotic effects can be used to pump fluid against a pressure gradient.


Research on perspective taking generally points to positive outcomes, but a small and growing body of literature highlights conditions where perspective taking can instead lead to undesirable outcomes. The goal of this dissertation study is to test a model of how taking the perspective of someone who struggles to control food consumption may negatively influence prejudice and discrimination toward heavy people. My model predicts that taking the perspective of someone who is effortfully trying not to eat, which requires the use of self-regulatory processes, vicariously depletes the perspective-taker's own self-regulatory capacity. Whether that depletion leads to greater expressions of prejudice and discrimination toward heavy people depends on whether the person has high or low levels of implicit prejudice toward heavy people, and how internally or externally motivated the person is to control weight prejudice. Study participants were randomly assigned to read one of three first-person diary entries about a person in a social context where food was present. The degree to which the food described in the diary entry was appetizing, and whether the person was hungry and tempted to eat the food was manipulated. Half of the participants were instructed before reading the diary entry to take the perspective of the person in the story, while the other half were instructed to simply read the diary entry. Self-regulatory capacity was measured and tested as a mediator between perspective taking and both prejudice and discrimination. Effort and individual differences in implicit attitudes about weight and motivation to control weight prejudice were measured and tested as moderators in the model. Results did not support the primary study model hypotheses.


Background Bayesian networks are directed acyclic graphical models widely used to represent the probabilistic relationships between random variables. They have been applied in various biological contexts, including gene regulatory networks and protein-protein interactions inference. Generally, learning Bayesian networks from experimental data is NP-hard, leading to widespread use of heuristic search methods giving suboptimal results. However, in cases when the acyclicity of the graph can be externally ensured, it is possible to find the optimal network in polynomial time. While our previously developed tool BNFinder implements polynomial time algorithm, reconstructing networks with the large amount of experimental data still leads to computations on single CPU growing exceedingly. Results In the present paper we propose parallelized algorithm designed for multi-core and distributed systems and its implementation in the improved version of BNFinder - tool for learning optimal Bayesian networks. The new algorithm has been tested on different simulated and experimental datasets showing that it has much better efficiency of parallelization than the previous version. BNFinder gives comparable results in terms of accuracy with respect to current state-of-the-art inference methods, giving significant advantage in cases when external information such as regulators list or prior edge probability can be introduced. Conclusions We show that the new method can be used to reconstruct networks in the size range of thousands of genes making it practically applicable to whole genome datasets of prokaryotic systems and large components of eukaryotic genomes. Our benchmarking results on realistic datasets indicate that the tool should be useful to wide audience of researchers interested in discovering dependencies in their large-scale transcriptomic datasets.