The introduction of IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) in the EU in 2005 was perceived to be a major step towards greater global harmonisation of accounting leading to better comparability and uniformity of financial statements (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, 2005). However, prior literature suggests that there are significant national differences in de facto application of the international standards (Kvaal and Nobes, 2010; Krzywda and Schroeder, 2007).

This thesis, supported with empirical data, contributes to knowledge by rejecting the argument commonly put forward by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and other policy setters that the adoption of IFRS will in itself be sufficient to achieve harmonisation of accounting practice. The research uses a case study of Poland to address three main research questions. Firstly, whether the accounting standards as promulgated by IASB (International Accounting Standards Board) have been fully adopted by Polish listed companies?

Secondly, the thesis addresses the question that if Polish companies are not compliant with IFRS what are the reasons for the non-compliance? The thesis draws on the sociological perspective of new institutional theory as put forward by Meyer and Rowan (1977) and DiMaggio and Powell (1983) to explain the reasons for the deviation in accounting practice from IFRS in Poland. The response of the Polish companies to the external demands to adopt IFRS has been evaluated using the model developed by Oliver (1991) where responses may vary from full acquiescence to defiance.

Thirdly the thesis addresses the question to what extent is new institutional theory adequate for explaining the motives driving the behaviour of various actors in the field of financial reporting?

The study contributes to knowledge by linking institutional theory to organisational behaviour and accounting practice in a transition economy in a novel and previously unexplored way in order to gain a better understanding of the role of accounting in Poland. The study of Poland provides a particularly insightful and novel approach for the study because Poland is a post-communist economy and so its national institutional orientation is significantly different to the Anglo-Saxon origins of IFRS. Poland is also a recent entrant to EU and so the interaction of communist legacy with market orientation allows better understanding of the institutional and economic factors that shape accounting.

The thesis maintains that financial reports produced by Polish companies are rationalised 'myths' due to the largely ceremonial adoption of IFRS. Furthermore, the quality of accounting is affected by various competing institutional forces.

The thesis makes a contribution to the theory by challenging the narrow perspective of mainstream new institutional theory which focuses on the homogeneity and permanency of existing practices. In contrast this research focuses on the dynamic conflict between the existing structures and new regulatory pressures that lead to the breakdown of old institutional arrangements. In particular the study addresses two aspects of institutional theory that have been neglected in prior research. Firstly, drawing on Lounsbury (2008) the notion of multiple logics and therefore different concepts of rationality have been mobilised to explain variation in accounting practice. Secondly, the role of power and conflict are used to explain the current institutional arrangements in Poland and the changing role of the accountancy profession (Lawrence, 2008). In adopting the power and multiple logics perspectives, which are not addressed in the earlier seminal works, a better insight has been gained into the heterogeneity of organisations rather than accepting the notions of order and stability.

Using institutional perspective it is argued that companies are failing to comply fully with IFRS because they face a multiplicity of expectations arising from different institutional origins. Their strategic response to these pressures is to 'compromise' to satisfy the competing demands of the accounting profession, investors and the tax authorities.

The power and resource dependency constructs were also utilised to explain how major firms of accountants attempt to penetrate the existing accounting structures in Poland and so influence the role that accounting plays in Poland. The analysis also highlights the tensions between the various bodies and the impact that has on company reporting. In particular both the state and other stakeholders utilise a common set of financial statements and the extent to which they meet the objectives of each user group is explained using the power construct.

Following call by (Suddaby, 2010) and DiMaggio (1985) for greater research focus on actions at actor level this research considers individual organisational responses to the requirement to introduce IFRS into Polish accounting framework. The thesis finds that that Polish companies will change their established practices in response to the external influences and their actions are rationally determined based on different logics and the relative influence of coercive forces which either promote or hinder change. The research has found that in Poland coercive pressure was the primary mechanism for achieving isomorphism whilst prior literature indicates that in market economies mimetic mechanism was far more important. This coercive mechanism was particularly potent due to the strong influence of the state which was a legacy of the communist system leading to weak accountancy profession. In contrast, increasing influence of the global accountancy firms and EU regulation are forcing the changes to the accounting regulation, governance structures and education of accountants in Poland. The research finds that in spite of the fact that all companies examined purport to comply with IFRS there are significant deviations in de facto compliance. The findings provide strong evidence of decoupling through superficial compliance. Organisations are not however decoupling in a uniform manner but appear to selectively decide on areas where they comply or not. In particular lack of compliance with disclosure requirements appear to be related to cultural characteristics of secrecy and power distance which were prevalent in the communist era. Research confirms that companies compromise by making explicit statement of compliance with IFRS whilst in many cases failing to meet the spirit of IFRS in failing to fully provide useful information for the stakeholders. Even where there is compliance the introduction of IFRS has not improved uniformity due to the use of alternative treatments permissible under IFRS.

The research utilises a mixed methodology to gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of the factors implicated in shaping of accounting. In order to identify the level of compliance with IFRS published financial data for 2005 for 40 Polish companies that are listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange is analysed and then explained with in-depth interviews held with representatives of the institutions implicated in the study. The differences between Polish accounting regulation and IFRS were measured using comparability index first proposed by Gray (1980).


ABSTRACT Exponentially growing populations of Bacillus subtilis contain two morphologically and functionally distinct cell types: motile individuals and nonmotile multicellular chains. Motility differentiation arises because RNA polymerase and the alternative sigma factor σD activate expression of flagellin in a subpopulation of cells. Here we demonstrate that the peptidoglycan-remodeling autolysins under σD control, LytC, LytD, and LytF, are expressed in the same subpopulation of cells that complete flagellar synthesis. Morphological heterogeneity is explained by the expression of LytF that is necessary and sufficient for cell separation. Moreover, LytC is required for motility but not at the level of cell separation or flagellum biosynthesis. Rather, LytC appears to be important for flagellar function, and motility was restored to a LytC mutant by mutation of either lonA, encoding the LonA protease, or a gene encoding a previously unannotated swarming motility inhibitor, SmiA. We conclude that heterogeneous activation of σD-dependent gene expression is sufficient to explain both the morphological heterogeneity and functional heterogeneity present in vegetative B. subtilis populations.


Act 462 of 1993 and Act 936 of 2016 of the Local Government of Ghana delegates power to the District and Municipal Assemblies to formulate and execute plans, programs, and strategies to effectively mobilize resources necessary for the overall development of the district and to levy and collect taxes, rates, duties, and fees. Over the years, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has been trying to implement what the act states. However, the Assembly faces challenges of revenue collection, storage, and dissemination of information. The main purpose of this study was to examine the drivers and barriers to ICT adoption in the operations of AMA from macro level using institutional theory and organizational factors. The study adopted inductive qualitative thematic analysis using semi-structured interviews, and document analysis. The themes that emerged from the qualitative data analysis that influence AMA ICT adoption includes top management interest and attitude, infrastructure and resources, policy directive, and organizational success. The findings also identify themes such as government directives, and contractors commission as the main barriers to ICT adoption in AMA. The study concluded by making several recommendations that includes a centralized database that will serve as a repository for property informations as well as owners details.


Information on the timing of melt onset over sea ice is important for understanding the Arctic's changing climate. The daily temporal resolution of passive microwave brightness temperatures provides the most widely utilized observations to detect melt onset but are limited to a spatial resolution of 25 km. Wide-swath synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery provides a much higher spatial resolution (20–100 m) but melt onset detection remains challenging because of i) insufficient temporal resolution to facilitate accurate melt onset detection, ii) inconsistent viewing geometries and iii) limited image availability across the Arctic. Here, we construct high temporal resolution composite gamma nought backscatter products (1 day, 1–2 day and 2–4 day) using Sentinel-1 and RADARSAT-2 over a close-to-seamless revisit region located in northern Canadian Arctic and Greenland for estimating melt onset over Arctic sea ice in 2016 and 2017. We employ the necessary radiometric terrain flattening and local resolution weighting techniques to generate normalised backscatter over the entire study region, removing restrictions limiting analysis to a single sensor or track's swath width by integrating both ascending and descending passes into the composite products. Results indicate that higher temporal resolution multi-sensor composite gamma nought products (1 day) that make use of the most imagery provide a robust temporal evolution of the backscatter. This allows for more representative estimates of melt onset as it is easier to separate the melt onset threshold from winter variability that is otherwise a considerable challenge for SAR based melt onset algorithms because of inconsistent temporal resolution. Multi-sensor composite gamma naught melt onset detection is in good agreement with melt onset estimates derived from the Advance Scatterometer (ASCAT) backscatter values and passive microwave brightness temperatures over homogenous sea ice regions but very noticeable improvement was found within narrow channels and regions with more heterogeneous sea ice. In anticipation of the availability of data from even more SAR satellites with the launch of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, the multi-sensor composite gamma nought approach presented here may offer the most robust approach to estimate the timing of melt onset over sea ice across the Arctic using high spatiotemporal resolution SAR. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2019.04.031 Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-171432 Journal Article Published Version The following work is licensed under a Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) License. Originally published at: Howell, Stephen E L; Small, David; Rohner, Christoph; Mahmud, Mallik S; Yackel, John J; Brady, Michael (2019). Estimating melt onset over Arctic sea ice from time series multi-sensor Sentinel-1 and RADARSAT-2 backscatter. Remote Sensing of Environment, 229:48-59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2019.04.031


Hrubes and Wigderson [HW14] initiated the study of noncommutative arithmetic circuits with division computing a noncommutative rational function in the free skew field, and raised the question of rational identity testing. It is now known that the problem can be solved in deterministic polynomial time in the white-box model for noncommutative formulas with inverses, and in randomized polynomial time in the black-box model [GGOW16, IQS18, DM18], where the running time is polynomial in the size of the formula. The complexity of identity testing of noncommutative rational functions remains open in general (when the formula size is not polynomially bounded). We solve the problem for a natural special case. We consider polynomial expressions in the free group algebra $\mathbb{F}\langle X, X^{-1}\rangle$ where $X=\{x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n\}$, a subclass of rational expressions of inversion height one. Our main results are the following. 1. Given a degree $d$ expression $f$ in $\mathbb{F}\langle X, X^{-1}\rangle$ as a black-box, we obtain a randomized $\text{poly}(n,d)$ algorithm to check whether $f$ is an identically zero expression or not. We obtain this by generalizing the Amitsur-Levitzki theorem [AL50] to $\mathbb{F}\langle X, X^{-1}\rangle$. This also yields a deterministic identity testing algorithm (and even an expression reconstruction algorithm) that is polynomial time in the sparsity of the input expression. 2. Given an expression $f$ in $\mathbb{F}\langle X, X^{-1}\rangle$ of degree at most $D$, and sparsity $s$, as black-box, we can check whether $f$ is identically zero or not in randomized $\text{poly}(n,\log s, \log D)$ time.


"Togna's theory was established in effect by the experiments of Professor G. P. Crowden." Crowden showed, as would have been expected, that simple exercises performed in water involved little exertion, as indicated by the oxygen intake and, of course, the small increase in cardiac rate andblood pressure. With a simple armor leg-bending exercise the increased oxygen requirement per minute is about twice as great in the air as in the water, while in another type of exercise in which the trunk is raised and lowered the increase in oxygen requirement in water is only one-third of that for the same exercise performed in the air. To quote Togna's own figures, the cost of action done in air for one minute at the rate of 70 movements to the minute raised the pulse_rate from 60 to 1$0 and the oxygen requirement to 3,470 ml. per minute. The cost of the same action vigorously done in the bath for five minutes at the rate of 60 movements per minute raised the pulse rate from 60 to 88 and the oxygen requirement to 1,401 ml. per minute.


In recent years, importance and necessity of using the recycled aggregate are recognized because of the depletion of quality primary aggregates and greater awareness of environmental protection. It is now widely accepted that there is a significant potential for reclaiming and recycling demolished debris for use in value added applications to maximize economic and environmental benefits. There is increasing demand and interest in aggregates from nontraditional sources such as from industrial byproducts and recycled construction and demolition wastes. The purpose of this special issue is to summarize the various researches on concrete and structure with recycled aggregate. A few papers invited in this special issue give their contribution to advance research in this field. The first paper of this special issue presents the cellular concrete bricks obtained by using a lightweight mortar with recycled expanded polystyrene aggregate instead of sandy materials. This type of concrete bricks is lighter and more flexible, which makes it less vulnerable to cracking walls due to soil displacements. The developed bricks have good mechanical properties and flexural strength and less permeable. The second paper deals with the cementing potential of pulverized oyster shell, rich in calcium, when mixed with fly ash and soil. Authors indicate that more the pulverized oyster shell adds, lower the strength will get both in the soil and lime specimen. The soil specimens containing fly ash gradually gain strength as curing proceeds. The third paper shows that the impact properties of the recycled aggregate concrete exhibit strong strain-rate dependency and increase the increase of peak strain-rate. The transition point from low strain-rate sensitivity to high sensitivity decreases with the increase of matrix strength. Authors indicate that the energy absorption capacity of recycled aggregate concretes specimens is lower than that of natural aggregate concretes. The fourth paper presents an optimization of the mixing proportion of recycled aggregate concrete by using neural networks based on genetic algorithms. This method will contribute to improve the usage of the recycled aggregate in the construction industry and to reduce the waste in the construction process. In the fifth paper, the effects of ground waste concrete powder coming from the attached paste/mortar on water demand for normal consistency, setting time, fluidity, and compressive strength of cement were analyzed. The last paper presents the fire resistance and the relevant thermal properties of high-performance concrete (HPC) with fly ash. The effect of temperature from 200 to 500C on compressive strength, cubic compressive strength, cleavage strength, flexural strength, and the ultrasonic velocity of the high-performance concrete with fly ash was studied.


Browsing and navigating into a document base can be significantly improved by an easy access to textual sources. Many efficient indexing and search techniques have been proposed in the literature. Word vectors are commonly used to approximate the notion of document content and to support matching algorithms during the retrieval process. Efficiency criteria push for linear non-recursive representations. The text of a document is never processed for its linguistic information content. The gap between the implicit content of (a set of) texts and the rich structured formats (i.e. networks) able support intelligent browsing is well known. In this paper the overall architecture of a language oriented methodology of document processing for a content driven retrieval is described. Lexical acquisition modules are integrated with indexing and browsing ones, in order to support a significant semantic coverage and to guarantee portability throughout different domains. The experience in the development of different IR systems (based on linguistic processing of document content) used to demonstrate feasibility and strengthness of the methodology.


fully stripped of all unnecessary detail that in the section on SPECIFIC SYNDROMES all the information counts. Classification throughout follows the International Statistical Classification and the Standard Nomenclature. In general the book will appeal considerably to the teacher of eclectic psychiatry and little to those who emphasize psychodynamics over all other factors. WILLIAM FORSTER, M.B. Edmonton


Objectives: To examine the health status of older construction workers in the United States, and how occupation and the aging process affect health in workers' later years. Methods: We analyzed six waves (1998 to 2008) of the Health and Retirement Study, a longitudinal survey of US residents age 50+. The study sample totaled 7200 male workers (510 in construction trades) in the baseline. Multiple logistic regression and paired t tests were conducted to compare health outcomes across occupations and within individuals over time. Results: Compared with white-collar workers, construction workers had increased odds of arthritis, back problems, chronic lung disease, functional limitations, work disability, and work-related injuries after controlling for possible confounders. Conclusions: Safety and health interventions, as well as retirement and pension policy, should meet the needs of older construction workers, who face increasingly chronic health conditions over time.


The main objective of this thesis is to investigate metal alloys as phase change material (PCM) for thermal energy storage (TES) applications. In particular, This work consists to analyze and characterize a set of binary and ternary metal alloys based on different compositions of Mg-Al-Zn mixtures, in order to identify new eutectic and peritectic compositions with adequate melting temperatures combined with appropriate thermophysical properties for their use as PCM storage media at high temperature for concentrated solar power (CSP) and industrial waste heat recovery applications among others. The first stage of this experimental work consists on synthesis of the selected metal alloys by using different routes of preparation. When the materials are synthesized a complete structural analysis is conducted by combining different techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The second stage of this work is to determine the most relevant thermophysical properties of these materials in this field such as the melting temperature, the heat capacity, the latent heat, the thermal conductivity, among others. The third stage is to investigate the long term thermal stability of the studied PCM by accelerated thermal cycling tests. The final stage consists to investigate the compatibility study between the selected alloys and different containment materials in order to identify the most suitable stainless steels that can be used in the construction of TES unit.


Multiple imputation based on chained equations (MICE) is an alternative missing genotype method that can use genetic and nongenetic auxiliary data to inform the imputation process. Previously, MICE was successfully tested on strongly linked genetic data. We have now tested it on data of the HBA2 gene which, by the experimental design used in a malaria association study in Tanzania, shows a high missing data percentage and is weakly linked with the remaining genetic markers in the data set. We constructed different imputation models and studied their performance under different missing data conditions. Overall, MICE failed to accurately predict the true genotypes. However, using the best imputation model for the data, we obtained unbiased estimates for the genetic effects, and association signals of the HBA2 gene on malaria positivity. When the whole data set was analyzed with the same imputation model, the association signal increased from 0.80 to 2.70 before and after imputation, respectively. Conversely, postimputation estimates for the genetic effects remained the same in relation to the complete case analysis but showed increased precision. We argue that these postimputation estimates are reasonably unbiased, as a result of a good study design based on matching key socio‐environmental factors.


The formation of root nodules and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) roots is controlled by a common signaling pathway including the calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase Doesn't Make Infection3 (DMI3). While nodule initiation by lipochitooligosaccharide (LCO) Nod factors is well characterized, diffusible AM fungal signals were only recently identified as sulfated and nonsulfated LCOs. Irrespective of different outcomes, the perception of symbiotic LCOs in Medicago truncatula is mediated by the LysM receptor kinase M. truncatula Nod factor perception (MtNFP). To shed light on transcriptional responses toward symbiotic LCOs and their dependence on MtNFP and Ca2+ signaling, we performed genome-wide expression studies of wild-type, Nod-factor-perception mutant1, and dmi3 mutant roots challenged with Myc- and Nod-LCOs. We show that Myc-LCOs lead to transient, quick responses in the wild type, whereas Nod-LCOs require prolonged incubation for maximal expression activation. While Nod-LCOs are most efficient for an induction of persistent transcriptional changes, sulfated Myc-LCOs are less active, and nonsulfated Myc-LCOs display the lowest capacity to activate and sustain expression. Although all symbiotic LCOs up-regulated a common set of genes, discrete subsets were induced by individual LCOs, suggesting common and specific functions for these in presymbiotic signaling. Surprisingly, even sulfated fungal Myc-LCOs and Sinorhizobium meliloti Nod-LCOs, having very similar structures, each elicited discrete subsets of genes, while a mixture of both Myc-LCOs activated responses deviating from those induced by single treatments. Focusing on the precontact phase, we identified signaling-related and transcription factor genes specifically up-regulated by Myc-LCOs. Comparative gene expression studies in symbiotic mutants demonstrated that transcriptional reprogramming by AM fungal LCOs strictly depends on MtNFP and largely requires MtDMI3.


Objective: To determine the 5-year overall survival of all the germ cell tumour stages and to identify prognostic factors affecting advanced and metastatic disease outcomes in our institution.
Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study.
Place and Duration of Study: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan, from 2008 to 2013.
Methodology: We analyzed the overall survival (OS) of the whole study population and sub-analyzed metastatic disease according to the International germ cell cancer group (IGCCCG), and their overall survival was calculated. Clinical, radiological, biochemical, and histopathological evaluation was used to identify risk factors determining disease outcome.
Results: After analysing 186 male patients with germ cell tumours, 5-year overall survival for stages I, II, and III was 99%, 72%, and 62%, respectively. IGCCCG subgroup analysis showed that five-year overall survival for seminoma was slighter worse than non-seminoma. Five-year overall survival for reasonable risk and intermediate-risk seminoma was 68% and 46%, respectively. For non-seminoma, good, intermediate, and poor-risk categories carried five-year OS as 94%, 61%, and 49%, respectively. The presence of liver/brain metastasis, size of residual disease, primary mediastinal tumour, and tumor marker failure to decline post-chemotherapy were poor prognostic factors for metastatic disease.
Conclusion: While identifying stages in germ cell tumours and classifying metastatic patients according to IGCCCG, individual factors including the location of the primary tumor, brain/ liver metastasis, a failure of tumor markers to decline less than 20% after the first chemotherapy cycle and size of residual disease are considered poor prognostic signs.


During spermatogenesis in adult rat testes, fully developed spermatids (i.e. spermatozoa) at the luminal edge of the seminiferous epithelium undergo "spermiation" at stage VIII of the seminiferous epithelial cycle. This is manifested by the disruption of the apical ectoplasmic specialization (apical ES) so that spermatozoa can enter the tubule lumen and to complete their maturation in the epididymis. At the same time, the blood–testis barrier (BTB) located near the basement membrane undergoes extensive restructuring to allow transit of preleptotene spermatocytes so that post-meiotic germ cells complete their development behind the BTB. While spermiation and BTB restructuring take place concurrently at opposite ends of the Sertoli cell epithelium, the biochemical mechanism(s) by which they are coordinated were not known until recently. Studies have shown that fragments of laminin chains are generated from the laminin/integrin protein complex at the apical ES via the action of MMP-2 (matrix metalloprotease-2) at spermiation. These peptides serve as the local autocrine factors to destabilize the BTB. These laminin peptides also exert their effects on hemidesmosome which, in turn, further potentiates BTB restructuring. Thus, a novel apical ES-BTB-hemidesmosome regulatory loop is operating in the seminiferous epithelium to coordinate these two crucial cellular events of spermatogenesis. This functional loop is further assisted by the Par3/Par6-based polarity protein complex in coordination with cytokines and testosterone at the BTB. Herein, we provide a critical review based on the latest findings in the field regarding the regulation of these cellular events. These recent findings also open up a new window for investigators studying blood–tissue barriers.


High knowledge and technology are rapidly becoming a competitive advantage in today's world. Individual industries are considered one of the key sectors in the country's industry. Ranking the factors that affect these industries makes us more familiar with their effectiveness and helps us take actions to improve such factors in knowledge-based companies. Consequently, based on previous research studies on Individual Industries, field observations, and a questionnaire prepared by the researchers, the current study explores and classifies the factors affecting the establishment of these industries.Regarding its purpose, this is an applied research, and regarding data collection, it is a descriptive survey. Using purposive sampling, 60 questionnaires were collected and effective factors were classified applying the SPSS software and the TOPSIS technique.This study suggests that content factors are ranked first place, while contextual and structural factors are ranked second and third, respectively. Therefore, executives and managers in single industries are recommended to strengthen joint enterprise norms and dominant values and beliefs in knowledge-based companies in order to help the growth and development of single industries.


In this paper, we develop a theoretical framework for understanding the role guilt proneness plays in the Information Security Policy (ISP) compliance. We define guilt proneness as an emotional personality trait indicative of a predisposition to experience a negative feeling about ISP violation. We develop a research model based on the theory of planned behaviour, guilt proneness theory and rational choice theory to explain employees' intentions to comply with ISPs by incorporating the guilt proneness as a moderator between benefit of compliance and benefit of violation as perceived by employees and their attitude towards compliance. Identifying the roles of predispositions like guilt proneness in the ISP compliance will have interesting theoretical and practical implications in the area of information security.


While transacting parties may find ways to avoid adverse effects of weak contracting institutions, radical reform reorganising the system of exchange can be very costly. We illustrate this by studying the economic consequences of the dislocation of the Polish dairy supply chain during transition. Examining a natural experiment between two different modes of governance (bureaucratic and market-based), we provide evidence that the disorganisation of vertical linkages between upstream and downstream producers negatively affected output. Our most conservative estimates suggests that the dislocation to inter-firm relationships accounted for approximately 20% of the fall in milk output observed in the early-transition phase.


Early and effective antibiotic therapy is essential in the management of infection in critical illness. The loading dose is probably the most important dose and is a function of the volume of distribution of the drug and the desired plasma concentration but independent of renal function. Antibiotics are classified in a number of ways that have implications for dosing. Doses of hydrophilic agents such as β-lactams should be increased in the early stages of sepsis as the extravascular space increases. For lipophilic agents such as macrolides, the inflammatory process is less important, although factors such as obesity will affect dosing. Classification can also be based on pharmacodynamic properties. Concentration-dependent antibiotics such as aminoglycosides should be administered by extended interval regimens, which maximize bactericidal effect, minimize nephrotoxicity and allow time between doses for the post-antibiotic effect. The critical factor for time-dependent agents, such as β-lactams, is time above the MIC. Ideally administration of these agents should be continuous, although vascular access availability can restrict infusion time to between 4 and 6 h, which is probably adequate. As well as antibiotic factors, patient factors such as hepatic and renal failure will affect dosing. Hepatic failure will affect antibiotic metabolism, although it is most important in end-stage failure. Renal failure and support will affect drug elimination. Knowledge of these factors is essential. Patient safety and prevention of unnecessary harm is a weighty consideration in critical illness. To ensure effective treatment and minimize adverse effects, therapy should be reviewed daily and adjusted in the light of changes in patient organ function and underlying pathology.


Silica is a promising carrier material for nanoparticle-facilitated drug delivery, gene therapy, and molecular imaging. Understanding of their pharmacokinetics is important to resolve bioapplicability issues. Here we report an extensive study on bare and lipid-coated silica nanoparticles in mice. Results obtained by use of a wide variety of techniques (fluorescence imaging, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, magnetic resonance imaging, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy) showed that the lipid coating, which enables straightforward functionalization and introduction of multiple properties, increases bioapplicability and improves pharmacokinetics.


ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. Cucumis melo (Inodorus Group), 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolic acid, phytonutrients ABSTRACT. Two important chemicals and an essential mineral (phytonutrients) for human health and well-being are ascorbic acid, 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolic acid (folic acid) and potassium. The influence of cultivar, fruit size, soil type and year on these compounds in (Cucumis melo L. (Inodorous Group)) was determined. Fully mature (abscised) commercial size fruit: 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 (fruit/0.031 m 3 shipping box) from three commercial cultivars: Mega Brew, Morning Ice, and TAM Dew Improved (TDI); and one experimental hybrid 'TDI' x 'Green Ice' were grown on both clay loam and sandy loam soils. Total ascorbic acid and folic acid content increased with an increase in fruit size up to a maximum (size 6 or 5), then decreased with further fruit size increase. Total ascorbic acid and folic acid content for most fruit sizes were higher when grown on clay loam versus sandy loam soils. The experimental hybrid compared to the commercial cultivars contained generally higher total ascorbic acid levels and significantly higher folic acid levels regardless of fruit size or soil type. Free ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid contents were generally higher from clay loam versus sandy loam soils and in the experimental line versus the commercial cultivars. However, free ascorbic acid content was high in small fruit and remained unchanged with an increase in fruit size until size 6 or 5 then significantly decreased; while dehydroascorbic acid content linearly increased with an increase in fruit size. Potassium content averaged 1.7 mg·g -1 fresh weight for each line and did not significantly differ due to fruit size, but did for soil type and year. Analyses of variance for the phytonutrients assayed demonstrated that cultivar (genetics) always was very highly significant (P = 0.001), whereas, soil and year (environment) were not.


To the Editor: I read with interest Professor Smith's account of the slow acceptance of BCG as an adjunct to the control of tuberculosis by the (largely United Kingdom trained) medical bureaucracy in Australia between 1920 and the late 1940s.' There is, however, an important error in Professor Smith's article. He noted that Calmette and Guerin worked for 13 years attenuating bovine bacilli to create the vaccine but maintains that BCG is "a living attenuated fixed strain of M. tuberculosis". BCG is a suspension of living organisms of an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis. There is another example of the attitude of the medical bureaucracy in Australia to the use of vaccines. The current recommendation for the use of ADT (adult diphtheria and tetanus) in adulthood in the United Kingdom is for ADT to Bacille Calmette et Guerin: its troubled path to acceptance in Britain and Australia difficult to interpret trends for exposure to C. trachomatis D-K serotypes alone, unless one is using micro-immunofluorescence assays which are specific to the venereally acquired serotypes. (In general these assays are only performed in research-type settings.) Therefore, the data presented by Driscoll et al.' may reflect the declining prevalence of genital Chlamydia as supported by culture techniques (as recently published)," or it may be confounded by an intercurrent wave of C. pneumoniae respiratory infection from 1990-1993.


Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a multifunctional protein with the ability to not only regulate fibrinolysis through inhibition of plasminogen activation, but also cell signaling events which have direct downstream effects on cell function. Elevated plasma levels of this protein have been shown to have profound effects on the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. However, results from a number of studies, especially those using PAI-1 deficient mouse models, have demonstrated that its function is ambiguous, with evidence of both preventing and enhancing various disease states. A number of lifestyle changes and pharmacological reagents have been identified that can regulate PAI-1 levels or function. Those reagents that target function are focused on its ability to regulate plasmin formation, and have been studied in vivo models of thrombosis. Further investigations involving regulation of cell function could potentially resolve paradoxical issues associated with the function of this protein in regulating cardiovascular disease.


This article investigates the initial and long-term performance of private equity (PE) backed initial public offerings (IPOs) in India. Using the data of IPOs listed on the Bombay stock exchange from 2009 to 2012, the authors investigate the initial performance of the IPO on listing day for both PE equity backed IPOs and non-PE backed IPOs and documented that PE backed IPOs show less underpricing than non-PE backed IPOs. Then, they compared the long-term performance of PE and non-PE backed IPOs for two years post-listing and documented less underperformance of PE backed IPOs compared with non-PE backed IPOs. Finally, the authors confirmed "fads" in Indian IPOs market but also recorded that the degree of fads was less in PE backed IPOs than in non-PE backed IPOs.


The programs and policy research on innovation neglect certain types of innovations and innovators, particularly innovations made by women. The aim of this paper is to provide a new framework for research on gender and innovation. The literature on business, management and economics provides evidence that innovations introduced by women in female-controlled sectors have not yet been fully explored. We rethink innovation literature and show how gender is embedded in innovation processes. By taking into account gender, innovators become less invisible. The existing literature on innovation has a gender blind vision: only male-implemented innovations are considered. Adding gender perspective helps to better assess the innovator\textquoterights profile. This will make the innovative literature more extensive and help to identify new ways of innovation in new and different areas. Policymakers are expected to set more appropriate and effective programs enhancing innovation by supporting all innovators in all sectors.JEL Codes: O30, O31


Indiscriminate charcoal productions, timber harvesting, demand for farmlands and overgrazing have aggravatedland degradation process in the tropical regions. At each point of this cycle, species are lost and biodiversity is obtainable only in the National Parks, Game reserves, Forest reserves, Wildlife sanctuaries. Forests and its resources are important assets that the tropical regions can sustainably manage for its renewable potentials, environmental benefits and socio-economic importance to mankind. Thus, this paper aim at reviewing past research works to provide profound solutions for conservation and restoration of forests and its products in the mid of financial shortcoming among the developing nations in the tropical regions. Based on this review, endangered plant species such as Prosopis africana, Parkia biglobosa, Khaya senegalensis, Gleditsia assamica, Gymnocladus assamicus, Aquilaria malaccensis and others can be restored; and genetic heredity (with qualitative characteristics) can be sustain for generational use if only we will all ignore the voice that "demands high financial resources for the management of endangered species before it can be conserved and restored". Even without the provision of financial resources for conservation and restoration of endangered species, with high interest and euphoria among the youths, the young populace can conserved and restored the tropical forests and its biodiversity in the regions. This can be achieved by frequent inclusion of youths in decisions making and the use of non-formal education methods such as drama, playlet, music concerts among others. Therefore, it is recommended that communities around forest reserves in the tropical regions should be economically empowered, so that they can have alternative sources of livelihood that are biodiversity friendly, thus, reducing their dependence on forests and forest products.


A multi-country econometric model is presented in this paper. The theoretical basis of the model is discussed in Fair (l979a), and the present paper is an empirical extension of this work. The model is quarterly and contains estimated equations for 44 countries. Most of the equations have been estimated by two stage least squares. The basic estimation period is 19581-19801 (89 observations). For equations that are relevant only when exchange rates are flexible, the basic estimation period is 1972II-19801 (32 observations). The trade matrix contains data for 64 countries. The U.S. part of the model is the model described in Fair (1976, 1980b). The model differs from previous models in a number of ways.(1) Linkages among countries with respect to exchange rates, interest rates, and prices appear to be more important in the model than they are in previous models. (2) There is no natural distinction in the model between stock-market and flow-market determination of the exchange rate.(3) The number of countries is larger than usual, and the data are all quarterly. (4) I alone have estimated small models for each country and then linked them together, rather than, as Project LINK has done, take models developed by others and link them together. The advantage of this approach is that the person constructing the individual models knows from the beginning that they are to be linked together, and this may lead to better specification of the linkages. The paper contains (1) a review of the theoretical basis of the model, (2) a description of the econometric model, including presentation and discussion of all the estimated equations, (3) a comparison of the predictive accuracy of the model to that of a fourth order autoregressive model, and (4) a brief discussion of the properties of the model. A much more detailed examination of the properties of the model is presented in Fair (1981).


A new algorithm can derive one or more minimal surfaces from an initial arbitrary surface with a fixed boundary. A discrete surface is a mesh represented as a set of vertices in 3D. The method extends earlier work, which used linear elastic springs to simulate a spider web animated in 3D.


Given a single image of an arbitrary road, that may not be well-paved, or have clearly delineated edges, or some a priori known color or texture distribution, is it possible for a computer to find this road? This paper addresses this question by decomposing the road detection process into two steps: the estimation of the vanishing point associated with the main (straight) part of the road, followed by the segmentation of the corresponding road area based on the detected vanishing point. The main technical contributions of the proposed approach are a novel adaptive soft voting scheme based on variable-sized voting region using confidence-weighted Gabor filters, which compute the dominant texture orientation at each pixel, and a new vanishing-point-constrained edge detection technique for detecting road boundaries. The proposed method has been implemented, and experiments with 1003 general road images demonstrate that it is both computationally efficient and effective at detecting road regions in challenging conditions.


: Identifying cost-effective interventions to improve early literacy is vital to developing countries, given the importance of early literacy for an individual's future education outcomes and subsequent human capital formation. This paper presents the impact on early grade reading outcomes of two low-cost randomized interventions in Tonga: a reading instruction intervention and a community play-based activity intervention. The first intervention aims to improve early grade reading outcomes specifically; estimated impacts are approximately 0.3 standard deviation, although in some reading domains impacts are substantial, ranging from 0.6 to 0.7 standard deviation. The second intervention aims to improve school readiness and subsequently early grade reading outcomes, by providing communities with support to establish a community play-based activity. Using an instrumental variables approach, the play-based activity demonstrates positive impacts of around 0.2 standard deviation in many but not all reading domains. For the domains where a statistically significant impact is measured, the community play-based activity intervention is as at least as cost effective as the reading instruction intervention. The play-based activity intervention is shown to improve test scores by 0.21 to 0.47 standard deviation per US$100, depending on the reading test domain. The reading instruction intervention improves test scores by 0.08 to 0.34 standard deviation per US$100. These findings contribute further evidence on the effectiveness of reading instruction interventions, and possibly the first estimates of the impact of play group–type interventions on primary school reading outcomes.


SUMMARY

Error covariance estimates are necessary information for the combination of solutions resulting from different kinds of data or methods, or for the assimilation of new results in already existing solutions. Such a combination or assimilation process demands proper weighting of the data, in order for the combination to be optimal and the error estimates of the results realistic. One flexible method for the gravity field approximation is least-squares collocation leading to optimal solutions for the predicted quantities and their error covariance estimates. The drawback of this method is related to the current ability of computers in handling very large systems of linear equations produced by an equally large amount of available input data. This problem becomes more serious when error covariance estimates have to be simultaneously computed. Using numerical experiments aiming at revealing dependencies between error covariance estimates and given features of the input data we investigate the possibility of a straightforward estimation of error covariance functions exploiting known characteristics of the observations. The experiments using gravity anomalies for the computation of geoid heights and the associated error covariance functions were conducted in the Arctic region north of 64° latitude. The correlation between the known features of the data and the parameters variance and correlation length of the computed error covariance functions was estimated using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that a satisfactory a priori estimation of these parameters was not possible, at least in the area considered.


This study will utilize a qualitative approach to better understand students' perceptions of safety on-campus in relation to firearms. Results found that participants felt safe oncampus due to its rural setting. Determination of geographical upbringing was noted as influential overall in perceptions of firearms. Participants were more confident with faculty having concealed firearms than students. Results also indicated that students have a lack of knowledge when it came to state legislation, their university's policies, and the protocol in place at their university in response to a mass shooting. Students reflected Perry's (20 1 0) multiplicity stage of development appropriate for this age group. Recommendations to the University Police Department, and University Housing and Dining were provided to gain insight into the challenges and developmental factors that face students who chose to live on campus.


Implementation of GEOSS/GMES initiative requires creation and integration of service providers, most of which provide geospatial data output from Grid system to interactive user. In this paper approaches of DOS- centers (service providers) integration used in Ukrainian segment of GEOSS/GMES will be considered and template solutions for geospatial data visualization subsystems will be suggested. Developed patterns are implemented in DOS center of Space Research Institute of National Academy of Science of Ukraine and National Space Agency of Ukraine (NASU-NSAU).


The study determined the effect of motivation on job performance of community development workers contributing to sustainable rural infrastructural development in Osun State. Specifically, it examined motivational packages provided for the workers, determined the extent to which selected socio-economics characteristics affect their job performance. Samples of 240 community development workers were interviewed. Structured questionnaire dully pre-tested for validity was used to collect primary data. Frequency counts, percentages, mean, and standard deviation were used to describe the data while chi-square, correlation and regression analysis were used as inferential statistics. The result shows that the profession was gender insensitive, while majority of them were in their active age. The mean years of experience were 18 years with a standard deviation of 4.16 and the average household size was 8 persons. The job performed by most of the workers include mobilizing communities to form community development association (CDAs), regular monitoring and supervision of projects and settlement of disputes. The major motivational packages enjoyed by the workers include leave allowance, car and housing loan and training opportunities. There were significant relationships between their job performance, transportation facilities made available (r = 0.626), medical facilities (r = 0.364), training opportunity (r = 0.270), prompt and regular promotion (r = 0.228), provision of office equipment (r = 0.147) and prompt payment of leave allowance (r = 0.145) at 0.05 level of significance. It is therefore recommended that for effective job performance, the government should improve on the motivational packages enjoyed by the workers. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA /* Style Definitions */
 table.MsoNormalTable
 {mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
 mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
 mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
 mso-style-noshow:yes;
 mso-style-priority:99;
 mso-style-parent:"";
 mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
 mso-para-margin-top:0in;
 mso-para-margin-right:0in;
 mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
 mso-para-margin-left:0in;
 line-height:107%;
 mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
 font-size:11.0pt;
 font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
 mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
 mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
 mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
 mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA


ABSTRACT Background Despite decades of research on family adaptation in relation to caring for a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the wellbeing of fathers remains poorly understood. Method The present study sought to investigate experiences of fathers of young children with ASD aged between 2½ and 6 years attending an ASD-specific early intervention centre. Eighteen fathers initially completed a mailed questionnaire and 8 of these fathers were then interviewed by telephone. The questionnaire included standardised measures assessing constructs of the double ABCX model of family adaptation. The interview used open-ended questions to understand the experiences of fathers' involvement in caring, sources of support, and coping strategies. Results Fathers experienced elevated levels of parental stress and elevated depressive symptoms. Interviews deepened understanding of fathers' personal experiences of each component of the double ABCX model. Conclusions Findings from this study provide further insight into the fathering role and demonstrate the utility of the double ABCX model as a framework for exploring their experiences. The need for further research to explore practical implications to better support fathers is discussed.


We present a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method for calculating the diffusion-influenced reaction rates in the limit of low reactant concentrations. To calculate the reaction rate coefficient, we use MD trajectories of a nonreactive equilibrium system that are initiated with a pair of reactant molecules in reactive configuration. Hence reaction systems involving complicated reactant molecules with geometrically restricted reactivities can be treated with comparable efficiency as the simple hard-sphere reaction system. Compared to the similar MD method proposed by Van Beijeren, Dong, and Bocquet [J. Chem. Phys. 114, 6265 (2001)], the present method has a couple of advantages. First, reactions involving more general sink functions can be treated. Second, more accurate results can be obtained when the reaction probability upon collision is less than unity. As an application, we investigate the effects of nondiffusive dynamics and hydrodynamic interaction of reactants on the reaction rate.


Objective: To determine the refractive profile of presbyopic people in the western brazilian Amazon, establishing as the pilot cities Manaus and other nine of sixty-one cities in the state of Amazonas. Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records of 8.225 patients. People who were over the age of 40 in 10 cities in the state of Amazonas (Manaus and 09 municipalities in the hinterland) were examined from september/2008 to december/2011. The data were classified by age, sex, economic activity (retired or not), type of refractive error and visual acuity for distance and near with and without correction. The method consisted of routine eye examination that included refraction test. The statistical analysis used quantitative studies. Results: Among the patients studied, 53.0% were female; the most prevalent age group was 51-60 years; 66.0% are not retired and still engage themselves in some labor activity; the higher prevalence of refractive errors was recorded for various astigmatism (43.0%) and visual acuity at distance, without correction, was 15.0% with 20/200 and, with correction, was 45.0% with 20/30 or more; compared to the near vision , visual acuity was 40.0% for J6, without correction, and 82.0% for J1 and J2, with correction; additions were used in 75.0% of +2.50 diopters or more; and 52,0% of consultations were held in Manaus. Conclusion: This study, in examining people from low-income areas in the brazilian Amazon, corroborates that the lack of glasses to correct near vision constitutes an important public health problem in people over 40, especially those who have difficulty accessing Ophthalmology services.


A thiadiazoline angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor with antihypertensive activity. Utibaprilat competitively binds to and inhibits ACE, thereby blocking the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. This prevents the potent vasoconstrictive actions of angiotensin II and results in vasodilation. Utibaprilat also decreases angiotensin II-induced aldosterone secretion by the adrenal cortex, which leads to an increase in sodium excretion and subsequently increases water outflow.


BRITAIN'S attitude to books has undergone a spectacular change during the war. There has been an unprecedented increase in the demand for books. The annual turnover of the publishing trade has, despite paper rationing and labour restrictions, increased two‐fold since 1937. Books like Trevelyan's English Social History have not merely had fantastically large sales, but have at times been sought as eagerly as silk stockings or Scotch whisky. Public library figures vary much from district to district, but there must be few libraries that do not report a substantial increase in the issue of books.


Haricot bean is now becoming one of the most reputable crops for its role for human consumption. A research was undertaken in Enebse Sar Midir district, northern Ethiopia, with the objectives of identifying the different marketing channels, evaluating the marketing margins and examining the market structure. Data were gathered using formal and informal methods of data collection and processed using SPSS-20. The result revealed that a total of 15,200 tons of haricot bean was produced in the district in and of this; 13,468 tons was found to pass through the marketing channels during 2011/2012. Following the marketing chains, 7 marketing channels were identified. Market concentration measures indicated that markets were found to be strongly oligopolistic and inefficient in structure (with wide final consumers' price spread). Gross marketing margin was maximum for city wholesalers (38.60%) and minimum for farmer traders (13.22%) of the consumers' price). Net marketing margin was maximum (11.52%) for processors and minimum (7.36) for rural assemblers. In order to empower producers, marketing actors and intensify the existing business, the structure and efficiency of haricot bean markets have to be improved. Empowering producers with financially (facilitating credit) and training can improve the market structure and performance. Keywords : Ethiopia, Marketing actors, Market concentration, Market efficiency, Oligopoly.


Abstract The reconstitution of populations through linkage of historical records is a powerful approach to generate longitudinal historical microdata resources of interest to researchers in various fields. Here we consider automated linking of the vital events recorded in the civil registers of birth, death and marriage compiled in Scotland, to bring together the various records associated with the demographic events in the life course of each individual in the population. From the histories, the genealogical structure of the population can then be built up. Rather than apply standard linkage techniques to link the individuals on the available certificates, we explore an alternative approach, inspired by the family reconstitution techniques adopted by historical demographers, in which the births of siblings are first linked to form family groups, after which intergenerational links between families can be established. We report a small-scale evaluation of this approach, using two district-level data sets from Scotland in the late nineteenth century, for which sibling links have already been created by demographers. We show that quality measures of up to 83% can be achieved on these data sets (using F-Measure, a combination of precision and recall). In the future, we intend to compare the results with a standard linkage approach and to investigate how these various methods may be used in a project which aims to link the entire Scottish population from 1856 to 1973.


A new species, Petrocodon chishuiensis Z.B. Xin, F. Wen & S.B. Zhou, from NW Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated here. It shares a rare characteristic with P. hunanensis X.L. Yu & Ming Li, P. tongziensis R.B. Zhang & F. Wen and P. longitubus Cong R. Li & Yang Luo: all have four fertile stamens, a character state distinguishing this clade from the rest of Petrocodon. P. chishuiensis closely resembles P. hunanensis and P. tongziensis, but differs in vegetative and generative characters. We found only one population with no more than 60 mature individuals at the type locality. This species is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered (CR B2ab(iii)) using IUCN criteria.


In this note, we consider a simple duopoly environment in which two parent firms compete in a market. We assume that there are cost differentials between these two parent firms. The parent firms' choices of divisionalization are modeled as a two-stage game. It will be shown that the number of divisions of a parent firm with a cost advantage (i.e., lower marginal costs) is relatively large. The results imply that the cost advantage of one parent firm will be magnified through divisionalization decisions.


Studies conducted at the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute have shown that when used in aircraft, automotive child restraint devices do not always provide the level of safety desired. Various factors that contribute to poor performance, such as seat belt anchor location, cushion stiffness, and child restraint device design features, were evaluated by a dynamic impact test program. To efficiently continue the research, a computer model was developed using MADYMO. Results of two of the impact tests were used to validate the model. Both test configurations utilized a typical commercial transport airplane passenger seat and a popular automotive child restraint device. These tests were considered representative of the extremes of child restraint device and occupant kinematics due to variance in seat belt anchor location. Details are presented of the test parameters and geometry, as well as cushion and restraint system properties. Test and modelling results for these two impact conditions are summarized and compared. Parametric studies were then conducted that used the model to investigate the effect of cushion stiffness, belt anchor spacing, and initial belt tension.


The effects of pH and NaCl concentration on the probability of aerobic growth initiation in Brain Heart Infusion broth at 30 C by five staphylococcal strains producing enterotoxins A, B, C, and D were studied in a factorial design experiment. Statistical analysis of the data indicated: (i) significant effects of pH, NaCl, and strain on the probability of growth; (ii) diverse effects of NaCl with various pH levels and strains; (iii) essentially a linear relationship between NaCl concentration and probability of growth initiation when data for all strains were pooled; (iv) the relationship between NaCl concentration and probability of growth initiation varies from linear to sigmoid, depending on the pH of the broth, when the statistically untreated (raw) data are plotted for each strain. Equations were derived which relate the decimal reductions of the number of cells of a staphylococcal population to the concentration of NaCl and pH of broth to which the population was exposed. From the equations, the probability that one cell is capable of initiating growth can be calculated. The impact of these types of studies on the development of realistic staphylococcal standards in foods is discussed.


A soft robot is presented which replicates the ability of cephalopods to travel in the aquatic environment by means of pulsed jet propulsion. In this mode of propulsion, a discontinuous stream of fluid is ejected through a nozzle and rolls into a vortex ring. The occurrence of the vortex ring at the nozzle-exit plane has been proven to provide an additional thrust to the one generated by a continuous jet. A number of authors have experimented with vortex thrusting devices in the form of piston-cylinder chambers and oscillating diaphragms. Here, the focus is placed on designing a faithful biomimesis of the structural and functional characteristics of the Octopus vulgaris. To do so, the overall shape of this swimming robot is achieved by moulding a silicone cast of an actual octopus, hence offering a credible replica of both the exterior and interior of an octopus mantle chamber. The activation cycle relies on the cable-driven contraction/release of the elastic chamber, which drives the fluid through a siphon-like nozzle and eventually provides the suitable thrust for propelling the robot. The prototype presented herein demonstrates the fitness of vortex enhanced propulsion in designing soft unmanned underwater vehicles.


On March 11, 2011, Japan was struck by the Great East Japan earthquake followed by a 23-foot tsunami, which crippled the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Because of a lack of plans for livestock evacuation in the case of a nuclear power plant accident, local farmers in the Fukushima exclusion zone had significant losses. Development of a rigorous and mathematical formulation of an evacuation plan for livestock in a case of disasters is essential for producers to lessen the financial and emotional impacts. Thus, we propose two mathematical models for evacuation plan for livestock in the area around a nuclear power plant using integer programming over networks. Since solving an evacuation problem on a time dynamic network is NP-hard, we propose algorithms to estimate an optimal solution for our problem. The methods and models discussed herein apply not only to nuclear plant related disasters, but also to a variety of other emergencies.


Leakage radiation that transmitted the protected X-ray tube housing was measured and compared with national and international safety standard. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no tube housing leakage measurement has been done so far in the present study area. The authors considered all the conventional diagnostic X-ray units in Mizoram, India. Ion chamber survey meter was used to measure leakage radiation and it was placed at 5 different positions (left, right, front, back, top) of the X-ray tube. Measurements were done at 1 m focus-to-detector distance by projecting X-ray tube vertically downward with collimator diaphragms closed completely. SPSS statistics for windows, version 17.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used to derived mean, standard error of the mean etc. The tube housing leakage exposure rates ranged between 0.03 mRh-1 and 500 mR h-1; among the 5 positions, rate measured in the front direction has the highest mean at 41.61±8.63 mR h-1; whereas the top has the lowest 4.57±1.16 mRh-1. Tube housing radiation level ranged from 0.01 to 58 mR in one hour. Leakage radiation was minimum at the top position of the tube and maximum in the front direction. All the equipment were in compliance with national and international standard norms, the highest leakage radiation level was 50.43% of the safety limit.


To remodel functional neuronal connectivity, neurons often alter dendrite arbors through elimination and subsequent regeneration of dendritic branches. However, the intrinsic mechanisms underlying this developmentally programmed dendrite regeneration and whether it shares common machinery with injury-induced regeneration remain largely unknown. Drosophila class IV dendrite arborization (C4da) sensory neurons regenerate adult-specific dendrites after eliminating larval dendrites during metamorphosis. Here we show that the microRNA miR-87 is a critical regulator of dendrite regeneration in Drosophila. miR-87 knockout impairs dendrite regeneration after developmentally-programmed pruning, whereas miR-87 overexpression in C4da neurons leads to precocious initiation of dendrite regeneration. Genetic analyses indicate that the transcriptional repressor Tramtrack69 (Ttk69) is a functional target for miR-87-mediated repression as ttk69 expression is increased in miR-87 knockout neurons and reducing ttk69 expression restores dendrite regeneration to mutants lacking miR-87 function. We further show that miR-87 is required for dendrite regeneration after acute injury in the larval stage, providing a mechanistic link between developmentally programmed and injury-induced dendrite regeneration. These findings thus indicate that miR-87 promotes dendrite regrowth during regeneration at least in part through suppressing Ttk69 in Drosophila sensory neurons and suggest that developmental and injury-induced dendrite regeneration share a common intrinsic mechanism to reactivate dendrite growth.


Summary Therapeutic fibrinolysis is ineffective in 40 % of ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, but understanding of the mechanisms is incomplete. It was our aim to compare the composition of coronary thrombus in lysis-resistant STEMI patients with that of lysis-sensitive patients. Intracoronary thrombi (n=64) were obtained by aspiration in consecutive STEMI patients. Of them, 20 had received fibrinolysis and underwent rescue percutaneous coronary intervention (r-PCI, lysis-resistant patients) and 44 underwent primary PCI (p-PCI). Lysis-sensitivity was determined in vitro by clot permeability measurements and turbidimetric lysis in plasma of 44 patients undergoing p-PCI and 20 healthy donors. Clot-lysis sensitivity was defined as a clot-lysis time not greater than 1 SD over the mean of healthy donors. Coronary thrombus composition in 20 lysis-resistant and in 20 lysissensitive patients was analysed by immunofluorescence with confocal microscopy. Plasma biomarkers (P-selectin, VWF, PAI-1, t-PA, D-dimer, TF pathway markers, plasmin and CD34+) were measured simultaneously on peripheral blood. Lysis-resistant clots had higher levels of fibrin (p=0.02), P-selectin (p=0.03) and VWF (p=0.01) than lysis-sensitive clots. Among thrombi obtained ≤ 6 hours after onset of symptoms, those from lysis-resistant patients showed a higher content in fibrin than those from p-PCI patients (p=0.01). Plasma PAI-1 (p=0.02) and D-dimer levels were significantly higher (p=0.003) in lysis-resistant patients, whereas plasmin levels were lower (p=0.03). Multivariate analysis showed the content of fibrin and VWF within thrombus as predictors of thrombolysis resistance. In conclusion, coronary thrombi in STEMI patients resistant to fibrinolysis are characterised by higher fibrin, P-selectin and VWF content than lysis-sensitive thrombi.


Advances in information technology have contributed to increased transport efficiency. The use of the latest information technologies allows automating all the information technology activities of transport enterprises that take part in the processes of organising freight traffic. Automation of transport logistics provides increased efficiency and optimisation of transportation. Due to the introduction of automated routing, accounting and planning systems at transport enterprises, transport logistics is reaching a new level. The purpose of the study is to develop an automated control system for the operation of the production and transport complex, based on the use of the latest information technology – Embarcadero RAD Studio XE10 visual programming system. It will help to optimise the transportation of mineral construction materials using the road, railway, and water modes of transport, the change of which occurs at the goods transshipment points. To solve this problem, a mathematical economic model and an automated control system for the operation of the production and transport complex have been developed. The proposed method would take into account the technical and technological capabilities of land and water modes of transport and the capacity of transshipment points, at which the cost of transporting goods will be minimal. Using the software package, the base for the transportation of mineral construction materials was calculated. The obtained initial transportation plan for each type of delivery was optimised, taking into account the production capacities of manufacturers and the needs of customers. The results of the optimal distribution of goods between different modes of transport are given (taking into account their production capacities), their change takes place in transshipment points. The results obtained allow optimal use of the technical and technological capabilities of vehicles and handling mechanisms. Based on the mathematical economic model, an automated control system for the operation of the production and transport complex has been developed, it has the form of a software package. The calculation of the initial (reference) freight traffic plan was carried out and the optimisation of the initial plan for these transportations was performed for each of the delivery options. The operability of the developed software package has been confirmed experimentally, which gives reason to offer it for the use in industrial production associated with the movement of sizable freight traffic.


PURPOSE
To compare the secondary cancer risk (SCR) between different planning techniques for treatment of Ca. Lt.breast patients.

METHODS
Five treatment plans; 3DCRT tangential fields with physical wedge (PW), enhanced dynamic wedges (EDW), electronic compensator (EC), IMRT tangential fields (ITF) and Rapid-Arc (RA) plan (partial arcs) with 6 MV photon beams were generated for a carcinoma of Lt.breast patient of age 40 to a prescription dose of 50.4Gy in 28 fractions. The SCR was estimated using the organ equivalent dose (OED) concept with a linear exponential, a plateau, and a linear dose response model for OARs. Also, the low dose bath volume (5Gy) was calculated for all the plans.

RESULTS
For contralateral breast the SCR relative to PW were (linear, plateau, linear-exponential) (-25.89%, -99.985%, -85.96%) for RA, (-50.12%,-41.94%,-44.57%) for ITF, (-47.78%, -38.43%,-42.05%) for EC and (-32.70%,-26%,-28.31%) for EDW respectively. The relative SCR for heart and Lt-lung were (-89.99% & -89.38%) for RA, (-0.05% & 5.69%) for ITF, (-0.16% & 0.04%) for EC and ( -0.04% & 0.01%)for EDW. In contrast, for skin the relative SCR were 77.68%, -7.71%, -11.11% and -9.04% for RA, ITF, EC and EDW respectively. Also, the 5Gy low dose volume relative to PW for RA was 201.45%, whereas the same for ITF, EC and EDW were -8.41%, -7.33% and -4.2%.

CONCLUSION
Compared to all plans, RA plan showed high conformity for CTV and superior heart, contralateral breast and left lung sparing. But SCR for skin and the low dose volume were significantly high in RA. ITF plan showed relatively better sparing for contralateral breast and heart at the same time has the least low dose bath volume. EC plan shows moderately good sparing for OARs while scoring least SCR value for skin. EDW and PW plans were similar but later had high SCR for contralateral breast.


There has been a growing demand on childcare facilities in Norway the last couple of years, especially for children younger than three years old. Increasing the capacity for a large number of children and at the same time keeping the centres cost effective has led to new ways of organizing childcare centres in Norway. Research, on the other hand, describes the need for secure attachment between the infant and its caregivers as essential for the child's emotional development, and also describes how stress may influence brain development during early childhood. In this thesis I go through literature and research concerning the youngest children's psychological development and discuss how module based childcare centres are supposed to meet the youngest children's needs in terms of emotional development and emotional support. I will also include interviews of staff from different childcare facilities. Module based childcare centres does not seem to be structured based on research on the youngest children need's in terms of emotional development. Aspects as the physical arena, the pedagogic curriculum and increased flexibility are prioritized above the young child's need for a predictable environment with secure relationships with stable care providers.


Integrated investigations of the Lithuanian coast of the Baltic Sea were carried out in 1999-2004 in order to satisfy an increased demand for information about the shoreline. The area of investigations included the beach and the protective dune or cliff (i.e. an onshore belt 100-300 m wide) and reached 15-20 m isobaths in the offshore region. This study has resulted in the Geological Atlas of the Lithuanian coast of the Baltic Sea, which consists of digital maps including a geological-geomorphological map, a map of anthropogenic load at a scale of 1:5000 and an explanatory note. Data arrays from shoreline geodynamic monitoring and from field and analytical studies as well as descriptions of borehole sections are provided in graphic and textual annexes. On basis of these investigations 92 morpholithological profiles of the offshore zone and 101 geological cross-sections of the onshore zone were prepared. The basic geological information in the form of maps and special data arrays allows assessment of the current geological condition of the Baltic Sea shores and enables forecasts for their development. It also can be used for environmental protection and land use in the shoreline area: prevention of erosion, designing of protected, recreation and urban areas, as well as substantiation and development of a seashore monitoring system.


Biofouling from microorganisms, plants, barnacles, mussels or algae is a major problem for marine structures. Fouling leads to increased fuel costs due to increased frictional resistance on ships, and reduces reserve buoyancy of floating offshore structure, in addition to causing cage deformation and structural fatigue, impacting endurance of materials. The intrusion of invasive aquatic species (IAS) to new environments by ships is identified as a major threat to the world's oceans. Marine fouling affects most manmade surfaces immersed in the sea, resulting in substantial losses. Anti-fouling paints tackle this problem to a certain extent. Extensive research is in progress in the antifouling technologies in maritime sector, with new products in compliance with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations being developed. The most efficient solution to minimise fouling is to make surfaces unsuitable for settlers, coating them with Antifouling (AF) Paints containing toxic compounds. Most AF agents had Tributyltin (TBT), and has been phased out by IMO since 2008 due to harmful effect on environment. However, use of TBT in AF paints is not prohibited, though has been restricted in several countries. The environmental problems by biofouling and toxicity of existing and alternative Anti-Fouling techniques are reviewed in this paper. Further, various ship hull cleaning technologies commercially available including afloat cleaning are also introduced. Keywords— Biofouling, TBT, Antifouling (AF), IAS, IMO, AFS, Alternatives Sustainability, Agri, Food and Environmental Research, (ISSN: 0719-3726), 10(X), 2022: http://dx.doi.org/


Pan-sharpening is a process of merging a high-resolution (HR) panchromatic (PAN) image and its corresponding low-resolution (LR) multi-spectral (MS) image to create an HR-MS and pan-sharpened image. However, due to the different sensors' locations, characteristics and acquisition time, PAN and MS image pairs often tend to have various amounts of misalignment. Conventional deep-learning-based methods that were trained with such misaligned PAN-MS image pairs suffer from diverse artifacts such as double-edge and blur artifacts in the resultant PAN-sharpened images. In this paper, we propose a novel framework called shift-invariant pan-sharpening with moving object alignment (SIPSA-Net) which is the first method to take into account such large misalignment of moving object regions for PAN sharpening. The SISPA-Net has a feature alignment module (FAM) that can adjust one feature to be aligned to another feature, even between the two different PAN and MS domains. For better alignment in pan-sharpened images, a shift-invariant spectral loss is newly designed, which ignores the inherent misalignment in the original MS input, thereby having the same effect as optimizing the spectral loss with a well-aligned MS image. Extensive experimental results show that our SIPSA-Net can generate pan-sharpened images with remarkable improvements in terms of visual quality and alignment, compared to the state-of-the-art methods.


The piezoelectric bone conduction auditory device (PBCAD) with a rectangular piezoelectric bimorph as a driving components was designed based on the principle of bone conduction(BC), the audio signal converted to a vibration signal stimulate the auditory nerve via the skull to create hearing. Finite element analysis of rectangular piezoelectric vibrator means to support and optimize the structure of the program and improve equipment sound effects in the regional auditory signals of low-frequency, the experiment of rectangular PBCAD chalks up the curve of structure parameters. Experimental studies show: rectangular piezoelectric BC unit can achieve better function of bone conduction auditory device (BCAD).


While neural language models often perform surprisingly well on natural language understanding (NLU) tasks, their strengths and limitations remain poorly understood. Controlled synthetic tasks are thus an increasingly important resource for diagnosing model behavior. In this work we focus on story understanding, a core competency for NLU systems. However, the main synthetic resource for story understanding, the bAbI benchmark, lacks such a systematic mechanism for controllable task generation. We develop Dyna-bAbI, a dynamic framework providing fine-grained control over task generation in bAbI. We demonstrate our ideas by constructing three new tasks requiring compositional generalization, an important evaluation setting absent from the original benchmark. We tested both special-purpose models developed for bAbI as well as state-of-the-art pre-trained methods, and found that while both approaches solve the original tasks (99{% accuracy), neither approach succeeded in the compositional generalization setting, indicating the limitations of the original training data.We explored ways to augment the original data, and found that though diversifying training data was far more useful than simply increasing dataset size, it was still insufficient for driving robust compositional generalization (with 70{% accuracy for complex compositions). Our results underscore the importance of highly controllable task generators for creating robust NLU systems through a virtuous cycle of model and data development.


Two decades into the 21st century there is growing evidence for global impacts of Antarctic and Southern Ocean climate change. Reliable estimates of how the Antarctic climate system would behave under a range of scenarios of future external climate forcing are thus a high priority. Output from new model simulations coordinated as part of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) provides an opportunity for a comprehensive analysis of the latest generation of state‐of‐the‐art climate models following a wider range of experiment types and scenarios than previous CMIP phases. Here the main broad‐scale 21st century Antarctic projections provided by the CMIP6 models are shown across four forcing scenarios: SSP1‐2.6, SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0 and SSP5‐8.5. End‐of‐century Antarctic surface‐air temperature change across these scenarios (relative to 1995–2014) is 1.3, 2.5, 3.7 and 4.8°C. The corresponding proportional precipitation rate changes are 8, 16, 24 and 31%. In addition to these end‐of‐century changes, an assessment of scenario dependence of pathways of absolute and global‐relative 21st century projections is conducted. Potential differences in regional response are of particular relevance to coastal Antarctica, where, for example, ecosystems and ice shelves are highly sensitive to the timing of crossing of key thresholds in both atmospheric and oceanic conditions. Overall, it is found that the projected changes over coastal Antarctica do not scale linearly with global forcing. We identify two factors that appear to contribute: (a) a stronger global‐relative Southern Ocean warming in stabilisation (SSP2‐4.5) and aggressive mitigation (SSP1‐2.6) scenarios as the Southern Ocean continues to warm and (b) projected recovery of Southern Hemisphere stratospheric ozone and its effect on the mid‐latitude westerlies. The major implication is that over coastal Antarctica, the surface warming by 2100 is stronger relative to the global mean surface warming for the low forcing compared to high forcing future scenarios.


Using a recently introduced network model with node and connection diversity,we study the breakdown of different scale-free networks under intentional attacks.Our simulation results show that inhomogeneous networks are more sensitive to intentional attack than the homnogeneous ones and that the centralization of the networks is an important variable,reflecting,the characteristics of the network under intentional attack,Using a recently introduced method we can theoretically develop the critical point of the inhomogeneous networks.


Recent modelling of the costs and benefits of climate change has renewed debate surrounding assumptions regarding the social discount rate in analysing the impacts of environmental change. Previous literature segments the social discount rate into being influenced by two key factors; the rate of pure time preference and the elasticity of marginal utility of future consumption. These components of the social discount rate reinforce the linkages between the choice of social discount rate and intergenerational distribution. In an extension of previous work by the author on intergenerational distributional preferences, this paper discusses the relationship between intergenerational equity and the social discount rate. The work has significant policy implications given the sensitivity of Cost Benefit Analysis outcomes to assumptions regarding the social discount rate.


The house-dust mites, Glycyphagus cadaverum (Schrk.) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Trt.) are prevalent species in the houses of Uzbekistan. Their prevalence rates are 57.8 and 28.5%, respectively. G. cadaverum was detected in 62. 13% of the houses. It numbered as many as 1013 per g of dust. The tick, house dust and feeding media were extracted and allergic reactions to the extracts were examined by three immunological assays: passive hemagglutination test, indirect degranulation test, and common anaphylactic reaction: The study demonstrated that the extract from G. cadaverum had a higher allergenic potency, which is commonly used in Uzbekistan for the diagnosis of asthma.


Indoor vertical greenery systems (iVGSs) are usually linked to drawbacks such as high initial investment and maintenance costs, and possible damage to buildings. Plants may attract insects and mosquitoes, and some release excessive pollen if indoors. Moss gardening might be an alternative solution because bryophytes are environment friendly in conserving water, controlling erosion, filtering hazardous chemicals and rainwater, and sequestering carbon. The aim of this study is to develop a Moss-iVGS design protocol by considering the characteristics of a Moss-iVGS prototype, foliage thickness, and the influence of lighting on moss cultivation in the tropics. A mixed approach combining experiments and a questionnaire survey was adopted. Results show that Moss-iVGS can withstand 45 days of drought without any water supply or regular maintenance. The moss was able to absorb moisture from humid air to maintain its survival. Moss is abundant in nature, easy to maintain, has high aesthetic value, and has numerous environmental benefits in the long run. Conventional VGS drawbacks could be possibly solved or mitigated by Moss-iVGS. Not limited to a pattern, Moss-iVGS could have various types of design such as moss tile and moss carpet for indoor use. Different species of moss could be tested in various indoor environments in a further study to assist commercialization.


The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been reported to have a role in carcinogenesis, and therefore it may be of value as a potential therapeutic target in inhibiting tumor growth. It has been shown that inhibition of RAS via angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II type-1 receptor (ARBs) inhibitors may have a protective effect against several malignancies. Here we provide an overview on the potential value of RAS pathway and targeting via ACE/ARB inhibitors in pancreatic cancer. Whilst the potential role of RAS as a target for the treatment of pancreatic cancer has been reported, the use of candesartan with gemcitabine failed to improve outcomes in pancreatic cancer. Another study of 1-3 years using ARB was found to reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer. In line with these trials, there have been others demonstrating that the ARBs in combination with gemcitabine might improve clinical outcomes in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Prospective trials are warranted to investigate this hypothesis.


Introduction: Many patients have cardiac monitoring on HASUs across the UK in current practice. An appropriate question would be how good are those monitoring systems at AF detection? We installed a Nihon Kohden monitoring system with remote rhythm analysis for AF detection (Apolplex). Every night rhythm is remotely analysed. An email report is generated. By the time of the HASU ward round the analysis is available for review Methods: We retrospectively analysed positive AF reports for 4 months in 2016. Notes were reviewed to confirm that new AF was detected. Demographics and anticoagulation plans were recorded. Results: 30 positive cases were identified via Apoplex report. 2 cases were identified as false positive. Of the remaining 28 cases there were 17 new AF cases, 11 previously known. The average cohort age was 83 y. The patients were monitored for an average of 22.9 hours. 43% were TACS. Out of 17 new AF cases 10 were anticoagulated. Conclusion: This is a novel system with evidence based AF detection. UK Stroke units are using serendipitous AF detection via cardiac monitoring systems – eg. tachycardia alarms or clinician recognition of irregular rhythm. Our system has proved effective in AF detection and easy to integrate into daily HASU care. This retrospective analysis confirms new AF detection in 17 cases allowing early anticoagulation, also avoiding outpatient 24 h tapes. There may be clinical and cost benefit of this system.


In the Black–Scholes option–pricing theory, asset prices are modelled as geometric Brownian motion with a fixed volatility parameter σ, and option prices are determined as functions of the underlying asset price. Options are in principle redundant in that their exercise values can be replicated by trading in the underlying. However, it is an empirical fact that the prices of exchange–traded options do not correspond to a fixed value of σ as the theory requires. This paper proposes a modelling framework in which certain options are non–redundant: these options and the underlying are modelled as autonomous financial assets, linked only by the boundary condition at exercise. A geometric condition is given, under which a complete market is obtained in this way, giving a consistent theory under which traded options as well as the underlying asset are used as hedging instruments.


The aim of any subject-choice process should be to provide better educational outcomes for all students. This study, however, found that many students do not understand the full implications of their NCEA course choices or course allocations. Maori, Pacific and lower decile secondary school students are particularly at risk of ending up with inappropriate choices if their academic potential is not recognised early enough and they do not receive clear guidance about the best course choices.


Methods: The study populations consist of 146 normal fetuses and 8 with a diagnosis of brain atrophy (16–33 gestational weeks). For each, a 3D volume of the fetal head acquired sagittally was available. On a dedicated software, it was first selected the plane of choice, in which the whole cerebral hemisphere was visible. This was anchored on the 3 planes to anatomic landmarks to ensure reproducibility. On this view, several measurements were taken. Then, the ratios between brain and cranial corresponding diameters (e.g. antero-posterior cranial diameter to anteroposterior hemisphere diameter -D1/D2 in the image) and the ratios between any given cerebral measure and BPD were calculated. Non-parametric statistical analysis (MannWhitney U test) was carried out to identify the best performers in the identification of brain atrophy. Results: The ratio between the antero-posterior cranial diameter to anteroposterior hemisphere diameter (1/2 in the image), and to a lesser extent the antero-posterior cerebral to BPD ratio and the cranio-caudal cranial diameter to hemisphere diameter ratio (3/4 in the image) were the only three parameters to be significantly different in normals vs. brain atrophy cases (P < 0.01; P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively. Conclusions: Cranial to cerebral hemisphere biometric ratios may help in the identification of brain atrophy in the fetus.


The IFLA Trend Report identified five trends that will impact the information environment (IFLA, 2015), such as access to information with new technologies, online education for global learning, hyper-connected communities, and the global information environment. The faculty at San Jose State University (SJSU) School of Information (iSchool) is engaged in a wide range of activities that focus on these trends—benefiting students, enhancing faculty professional development, and extending the school's impact on the global information environment. The importance of incorporating global perspectives in the curriculum to reflect changes in the way that communities around the world access and share information is the focus of numerous studies. The SJSU iSchool has been an early adopter of various practices to increase the range of international education, outreach, and research initiatives. This article provides examples of curricular, research, and collaborative projects that our faculty has developed, both for our students and for the global community of information professionals. Key initiatives presented include virtually abroad global projects, globalization of LIS curriculum, international LIS internships, international project-based learning, faculty professional development, and international collaborations. Collectively, these initiatives demonstrate the diverse ways the iSchool is addressing the need in higher education to reach across national borders, especially in the information field.


Exploiting different representations, or views, of the same object for better clustering has become very popular these days, which is conventionally called multi-view clustering. In general, it is essential to measure the importance of each individual view, due to some noises, or inherent capacities in the description. Many previous works model the view importance as weight, which is simple but effective empirically. In this article, instead of following the traditional thoughts, we propose a new weight learning paradigm in the context of multi-view clustering in virtue of the idea of the reweighted approach, and we theoretically analyze its working mechanism. Meanwhile, as a carefully achieved example, all of the views are connected by exploring a unified Laplacian rank constrained graph, which will be a representative method to compare with other weight learning approaches in experiments. Furthermore, the proposed weight learning strategy is much suitable for multi-view data, and it can be naturally integrated with many existing clustering learners. According to the numerical experiments, the proposed implicit weight learning approach is proven effective and practical to use in multi-view clustering.


Cancer genomic heterogeneity presents significant challenges for understanding oncogenic processes and for cancer's clinical management. Variation in driver mutation frequency between patients with the same tumor type as well as within individual patients' cancers can limit the power of mutations to serve as diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers. We have characterized genomic heterogeneity between and within patients in canine splenic hemangiosarcoma (HSA), a common naturally occurring cancer in pet dogs that is similar to human angiosarcoma (AS). HSA is a clinically, physiologically, and genomically complex canine cancer that may serve as a valuable model for understanding the origin and clinical impact of cancer heterogeneity. We conducted a prospective collection of 52 splenic masses from 44 dogs (28 HSA, 15 benign masses, and 1 stromal sarcoma) presenting to emergency care with hemoperitoneum secondary to a ruptured splenic mass. Multi-platform genomic analysis included matched tumor/normal cancer gene panel and exome sequencing. We found candidate somatic cancer driver mutations in 14/28 (50%) HSAs. Among recurrent candidate driver mutations, TP53 was most commonly mutated (29%) followed by PIK3CA (14%), AKT1 (11%), and CDKN2AIP (11%). We also identified significant intratumoral genomic heterogeneity, consistent with a branched evolution model, through multi-region exome sequencing of three distinct tumor regions from selected primary splenic tumors. These data provide new perspective on the genomic landscape and comparative value of understanding HSA in pet dogs, particularly as a naturally occurring cancer bearing intratumoral heterogeneity.