Background Injury and illness prevention can have not only athlete health benefits but also potential positive performance gains in elite sport. Valid injury/illness surveillance data is needed in the first step towards prevention. Objective Provide injury/illness epidemiology information on the British Skeleton squad. Design Longitudinal prospective surveillance study, recording injury/illness, and training/competition exposure data. Definitions for injury/illness, time-loss and performance-restriction were used to identify the rate and severity of athlete injuries/illnesses. Setting British skeleton national training centre, including domestic and international training/competition venues between 2009–2013 (4 seasons). Participants 21 (14 male; 7 female) National team athletes. Interventions Standardised report forms for injuries/illnesses were completed by medical, and competition/training exposure by coaching, support staff. Main outcome measure Injury/illness rate, severity and causes. Results There were 49 training (4.3/1000 athlete training hrs) and 10 competition (14/100 competition starts) injuries, with 10 days and 3 days lost per injury, respectively. Injuries to the thigh (41%), followed by knee and lumbar spine (20% each) were most common, with 4, 13, and 14 days lost per injury, respectively. Muscle strain was the most common type of injury (36%), and lesion of meniscus/disc the most severe (36d), the latter also causing the greatest burden. The most common cause of injury was push start strides and upright sprinting, all resulting in thigh (posterior) muscle strain injuries. There were 16 illnesses (40% squad seasonal prevalence; severity 4d) and respiratory was the most common illness type (80%), occurring most frequently around periods of high training volume, competition and travel. Conclusions Prevention initiatives focussed on thigh and lumbar spine injuries, and also illnesses around competitive periods in the season may be beneficial in reducing the number of athlete days lost to training/competition.


Content of nicotinamide coenzymes was studied in myocardium of 7-, 30-days old and 3-5-months old rats. Content of these coenzymes was increased during early ontogenesis. Single, intraperitoneal administration of sympatholytics reserpine (2.5 mg pe kg), ornide (5 mg per kg) and dopegite (300 mg per kg) led to alteration in the content of nicotinamide coenzymes in animals of all the age groups; these alterations depended apparently an age characteristics of neurohormonal regulation and of myocardium metabolism.


The law marks a significant difference between violent and non-violent criminal actions. Violent crimes are typically met with more severe punishments and consequences than non-violent crimes. Even in discussions of criminal justice reform, the refrain remains: violent crime is different; those convicted of violent crimes are different; and it is appropriate to respond to violent crime differently. This article argues that the violent/non-violent distinction cannot bear the normative weight placed on it and that we should jettison violence and move to thinking about objectionable harm caused and risked. There are moral constraints on punishment from considerations of proportionality and equality, these are connected to wrongful harm and facts about agent culpability, and there is no consistent relationship between violence and wrongful harm nor between violence and culpability. The article concludes by offering an error-theory concerning our commitment to treating violent crime differently and suggests that morally better categorizations are available.


Breastfeeding is the best way of feeding the baby for the first six months of life. However, in Portugal the abandonment rate of breastfeeding is very high during the baby first's months of life. The aim of this study was to assess prevalence of breastfeeding and to identify related factors during the six months after delivery, as socio demographic variables and life styles. We conducted a cohort study at the Maternity of the Hospital Santa Maria. A standard questionnaire was applied to 475 women after delivery, at three and six months postpartum. We studied socio demographics aspects, life styles and the way of feeding during the six months after delivery. Multivariate analysis was performed. The women studied (mean age of 29.8 +/- 5,4 years), 52.2% were primiparous, 86.1% were Caucasian, 40% had a high school degree and 33% had a University degree. Four hundred and sixty (96.8%) received prenatal care. The mean gestational age was 38.8 +/- 2 weeks and the birth weight was 3198.3 +/- 545.3 g. At the discharge 91% were breastfeeding (77% exclusively), 54.7% at third month and 34.1% at sixth month. The main causes pointed for abandoning breastfeeding were insufficient milk production, bad sucking and return to work. The milk formula introduction was in 68.6% cases by medical recommendation. The decision in maintenance breastfeeding at third and sixth months was correlated with a previous positive breastfeed experience, high educational level, healthy lifestyles, as non-smoking, regular physical activity, and information about advantage of breastfeed for mother health. Information about breastfeeding was received by media, friends, family and only 9% by health professionals. Fifty (13%) women had no information about breastfeeding. Although breastfeeding rate at discharge was high, there was an important rate of abandonment at third and sixth month. Healthy lifestyles, high educational level, a previous positive breastfeed experience had a positive influence in breastfeeding. Understanding attitudes towards pregnancy and breastfeeding can lead to new strategies for its promotion and maintenance.


This research examines environmental sustainability in the UK university context. Universities are prioritising sustainability commitments with many declaring a Climate Emergency, as well as recognising the importance of educating students about climate change. This research used a case-study approach in which semi-structured interviews were coupled with secondary data analysis, and suggests universities are pivotal for greater environmental sustainability. The results reiterate the urgent need to significantly improve environmental performance and educate people in the field of sustainability, whilst presenting the challenges and realities faced in doing so. It is recommended that in order to achieve optimum sustainability solutions a cohesive approach is required to embed a common sustainability narrative for all.


A total of 0.3 to 0.4 kb of the promoter region of the 16S rRNA genes from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. gordonae, M. xenopi, and M. leprae was PCR amplified, cloned, and sequenced. The observed number of substitutions, insertions, and deletions exceeded those found in previously used target sequences, including the entire 16S coding region. A simple and generally applicable restriction fragment length polymorphism method that can be used to distinguish between mycobacterial species is described.


In September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a set of objectives related to promoting and supporting sustainable development around the globe through education, human knowledge, communication and culture. These objectives are commonly known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and are an inter-dependent set of 17 goals that 195 Member States have agreed to achieve by 2030. As a specialised agency of the United Nations, and the global lead on education, UNESCO has a vital role to play in delivering the SDGs. UNESCO's global network of 'designations', including World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, UNESCO University Chair Programme, and Global Geoparks, also play an essential role in promoting and supporting local sustainable development and achieving the SDGs. However, the different geographic, cultural and political regimes under which UNESCO designations are called to operate, pose significant challenges for the network to effectively be managed and contribute towards the SDGs. Moreover, the heterogeneity of organisational structures and boundaries in terms of efficiency, power and competence, prevents UNESCO designations "value-added" activities from reaching their full potential. We performed a survey of 74 designations in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Drawing from the business model component framework, our research aims to i) identify value generating configurations of organisational structures that transcend designations' type, ii) estimate the value generated by the designation and their contribution to UNESCO's SDGs; and, iii) develop a framework that can be used by national governments to make sense of UNESCO's value generated activities. The framework can help UNESCO's National Commissions to improve the efficient management of the designation's global network and allow countries with different levels of economic and societal development to cooperate to tackle contemporary global challenges.


:  The late nineteenth century saw a burgeoning of geographical writings from influential anarchist thinkers like Peter Kropotkin and Elisee Reclus. Yet despite the vigorous intellectual debate sparked by the works of these two individuals, following their deaths anarchist ideas within geography faded. It was not until the 1970s that anarchism was once again given serious consideration by academic geographers who, in laying the groundwork for what is today known as "radical geography", attempted to reintroduce anarchism as a legitimate political philosophy. Unfortunately, quiet followed once more, and although numerous contemporary radical geographers employ a sense of theory and practice that shares many affinities with anarchism, direct engagement with anarchist ideas among academic geographers have been limited. As contemporary global challenges push anarchist theory and practice back into widespread currency, geographers need to rise to this occasion and begin (re)mapping the possibilities of what anarchist perspectives might yet contribute to the discipline.


Studies were conducted to characterize the secretory pattern of luteinizing hormone (LH) from perfused anterior pituitary cells of the cockerel in the presence and absence of secretagogues. Basal LH secretion was found to occur in a rhythmic pattern, with the mean cycle period for 5 different perfusion columns estimated to be 66.4 +/- 4.0 min. By contrast, when cells were repeatedly exposed to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) at 90-min intervals, the period of the LH rhythm was altered to approximate the interval of LHRH pulses (96.7 +/- 6.1 min; n = 3 perfusion columns). Exposure of cells to media containing 50 mM potassium chloride (KCl) augmented the release of LH and slightly decreased the cycle period compared to that which occurs during basal secretion (49.2 min) but did not eliminate the rhythm. Finally, perifusion of cells with medium containing 10 microM colchicine eliminated the rhythm of secretion. These data suggest that there exists an ultradian rhythm of LH secretion from the chicken pituitary which is expressed in the absence of hypothalamic input and is modified by the hypothalamic releasing factor, LHRH. In addition, the rhythm does not seem to be affected in the short-term by a small depolarization of the membrane as occurs with the addition of KCl to the perifusion media but does seem to be dependent upon microtubule function.


Actin filaments play central roles in shape determination, cytokinesis, and cell motility. Recently, we found a new type of actin filament that is seemed to contact tightly membrane surface and be buried into membrane under electron microscope. However, the function of this actin filament is not obvious. Then, we have reproduced of such actin filaments using a lipid layer instead of the cell membrane cytoskeleton. We confirmed that the several actin filaments extended on the lipid layer while contacting firmly. The appearance of actin filaments on the lipid layer is quite similar to the new type of actin filaments buried in the cell membrane.


Ecological processes and biodiversity patterns are strongly affected by how animals move through the landscape. However, it remains challenging to predict animal movement and space use. Here we present our new r package enerscape to quantify and predict animal movement in real landscapes based on energy expenditure. enerscape integrates a general locomotory model for terrestrial animals with GIS tools in order to map energy costs of movement in a given environment, resulting in energy landscapes that reflect how energy expenditures may shape habitat use. enerscape only requires topographic data (elevation) and the body mass of the studied animal. To illustrate the potential of enerscape, we analyse the energy landscape for the Marsican bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) in a protected area in central Italy in order to identify least‐cost paths and high‐connectivity areas with low energy costs of travel. enerscape allowed us to identify travel routes for the bear that minimize energy costs of movement and regions that have high landscape connectivity based on movement efficiency, highlighting potential corridors. It also identifies areas where high energy costs may prevent movement and dispersal, potentially exacerbating human–wildlife conflicts in the park. A major strength of enerscape is that it requires only widely available topographic and body size data. As such, enerscape permits a first cost‐effective way to estimate landscape use and movement corridors even when telemetry data are not readily available, such as for the example with the bear. enerscape is built in a modular way and other movement modes and ecosystem types can be implemented when appropriate locomotory models are available. In summary, enerscape is a new general tool that quantifies, using minimal and widely available data, the energy costs of moving through a landscape. This can clarify how and why animals move in real landscapes and inform practical conservation and restoration decisions.


Twenty-four molecular dynamics trajectories of chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 provide a direct demonstration of the diversity of unfolding pathways. Comparison with experiments suggests that the transition state region for folding and unfolding occurs early with only 25 percent of the native contacts and that the root-mean-square deviations between contributing structures can be as large as 15 angstroms. Nevertheless, a statistically preferred unfolding pathway emerges from the simulations; disruption of tertiary interactions between the helix and a two-stranded portion of the beta sheet is the primary unfolding event. The results suggest a synthesis of the "new" and the classical view of protein folding with a preferred pathway on a funnel-like average energy surface.


When plant cells die as a result of virus infection, the activity of oxidases, particularly polyphenoloxidases and peroxidases, is altered (Martin, 1958; Farkas, Kiraly & Solymosy, 1960; Farkas et al. 1964). The in vitro activity of these two enzyme groups in extracts of infected leaves kept at 20° shows changes that are correlated with the time of appearance and number of local lesions. With most virus/host combinations, the oxidase concentration is merely increased (Van Kammen & Brouwer, 1964; Novacky & Hampton, 1968; Cabanne, Scalla & Martin, 1968), with some there is a change in the relative amount of different isozymes (Bates & Chant, 1970), and with others there is possibly the appearance of new peroxidases (Farkas & Stahmann, 1966) or of a new phenolase (John & Weintraub, 1967). Different workers have interpreted these facts to explain the formation of necrosis and virus localization in different ways (Farkas et al. 1960; Parish, Zaitlin & Siegel, 1965; Suseno & Hampton, 1966).


In this paper we prove the following long-standing conjecture: stable solutions to semilinear elliptic equations are bounded (and thus smooth) in dimension $n \leq 9$.
This result, that was only known to be true for $n\leq4$, is optimal: $\log(1/|x|^2)$ is a $W^{1,2}$ singular stable solution for $n\geq10$.
The proof of this conjecture is a consequence of a new universal estimate: we prove that, in dimension $n \leq 9$, stable solutions are bounded in terms only of their $L^1$ norm, independently of the nonlinearity. In addition, in every dimension we establish a higher integrability result for the gradient and optimal integrability results for the solution in Morrey spaces.
As one can see by a series of classical examples, all our results are sharp. Furthermore, as a corollary we obtain that extremal solutions of Gelfand problems are $W^{1,2}$ in every dimension and they are smooth in dimension $n \leq 9$. This answers to two famous open problems posed by Brezis and Brezis-Vazquez.


Firewalls and network address translators (NATs) cause significant connectivity problems along with benefits such as network protection and easy address planning. Connectivity problems make nodes separated by a firewall/NAT unable to communicate with each other. Due to the bidirectional and multi-organizational nature of grids, they are particularly susceptible to connectivity problems. These problems make collaboration difficult or impossible and cause resources to be wasted. This paper presents a system, called CODO, which provides applications end-to-end connectivity over firewalls/NATs in a secure way. CODO allows applications authorized through strong security mechanisms to traverse firewalls/NATs, while blocking unauthorized applications. This paper also formalizes the firewall/NAT traversal problem and clarifies how a traversal system fits in the overall security policy enforcement by a firewall/NAT.


OBJECTIVE
The current study aimed to analyze the short-term and long-term curative effects of nitric oxide (NO) inhalation combined with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) on neonatal severe hypoxemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 98 neonates meeting the inclusion criteria were retrospectively analyzed. The control group comprised of 48 neonates and the NO inhalation group consisted of 50 neonates. In the control group, conventional mechanical ventilation was replaced by HFOV. In the experimental group, NO inhalation combined with HFOV was performed. The death rates within 28 days, mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy time, and complications in both groups were observed. The survivors in both groups were followed up for 18 months for neural development evaluation.

RESULTS
The treatment group showed a significantly lower death rate and noticeably shorter mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy time than the control group (8% vs. 22.9% with t = 4.20 andp < 0.05; 5.84 ± 3.36 days vs. 8.05 ± 5.48 days with t = 2.42 and p < 0.05; and 8.02 ± 4.31 days vs. 12.45 ± 5.14 days with t = 4.63 and p < 0.001). They did not show significant differences with regards to the complications and the incidences of cerebral palsy, hearing and visual impairments, and severe nervous damage (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION
NO inhalation combined with HFOV significantly decreases the death rate of neonates with severe hypoxemia and reduces their mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy time. It does not increase early adverse effects or affect long-term neurodevelopment.


Introduction: Increase in blood pressure, probably due to an impairment in arterial elasticity, is frequent in patients affected by Anderson-Fabry disease (FD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate arterial distensibility in a group of children or adolescent with FD before and after enzyme replacement therapy and compare after enzyme replacement therapy findings with those of healthy controls (C). Material and methods: Sixteen FD patients were recruited (87.5% male; mean age at diagnosis: 13.5 ± 1.5 years; mean age at study: 15.7 ± 2.1 years; mean treatment length: 2.2 ± 0.6 years). Arterial distensibility was evaluated by means of the previously validated non-invasive QKd 100-60 method, coupled with a 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Results: FD subjects before therapy vs after therapy – systolic ABPM: p < 0.05; diastolic ABPM: p < 0.05; mean ABPM: p < 0.05; QKd 100-60 : p < 0.009. FD subjects after therapy vs C – systolic ABPM: p < 0.01; diastolic ABPM: p < 0.03; mean ABPM: p < 0.02; QKd 100-60 : p < 0.04. Conclusions: Impaired arterial distensibility in paediatric FD patients implies an early vascular involvement even in these still so young subjects. Enzyme replacement therapy resulted in a significant improvement in arterial elasticity when compared with before treatment findings, but was not able to normalize it. It may explain the differences in ABPM levels.


Orientation:  From the Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) strategy of 1996 to the currently implemented National Development Plan (NDP), the need to attract more foreign investors and promote exports in pursuit of economic growth and job creation has been emphasised. Research purpose:  It is within this context that the purpose of this article was to determine the nexus between foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and economic growth from 1980 to 2014. Research design, approach and method:  The vector error correction model is employed to determine and estimate the long-run relationship between the variables in the model. Main findings:  From the findings, it was found that economic growth shares a positive relationship with both FDIs and the real effective exchange rate, while sharing a negative long-run relationship with government expenditure. Practical and managerial implications:  The article contributes towards the on going debates on the impact of FDIs on economic growth and job creation in the recipient countries. Accordingly, its findings reinforce the importance of attracting FDIs in South Africa and to what extent they affect economic growth and employment. Contribution or value-add:  From a policy perspective, the attraction of foreign investors must target sources that can create jobs and boost the South African economy. It is vital for the government to strengthen its machinery to fight corruption to create an environment conducive for foreign investors. Hence, this article suggests that South Africa's capacity to grow and create jobs also depends on the country's performance to enhance gross domestic product growth and attract more FDIs. The attraction of FDIs should, however, not be seen as an end in itself but also as a means of supporting other initiatives such as eradicating poverty and inequalities in South Africa.


Newspaper clipping detailing Sam Myres and his legacy as one of the last to be able to recall the real wild west. The article goes on to talk about how Myres was friends with "Buffalo Bill" Cody, Pawnee Bill, Will Rogers, and Pancho Villa. It also talks about how he started becoming involved in the saddle trade, learning the skill and then opening up his own shop at a mere twenty-two years of age. Myres also talks about his disdain for western films due to the fact that he feels they are not very accurate - especially the inclusion of "two-gun men" which he never encountered.


OLT in HIV infected patients still remains a challenging option requiring a careful monitoring of patients for HCV reinfection, drug interactions and antiretroviral toxicity. Severe adverse events due to HAART have been already reported for post exposure prophylaxis in HIV infected patients. Here we report a case of liver graft toxicity related to HAART in a HIV-HCV co-infected patient (46 yrs-male) with associated a small HCC transplanted with a marginal liver graft. The patient had pre-OLT plasma HIV 1-RNA levels undetectable and CD4+ T-cell count of > 200 cells/microL for 6 months. At day 2 a severe graft dysfunction was observed (AST 1570 U/L, ALT 2180 U/L, BIL tot 8.3 mg/dL, BIL Dir 6.6 mg/dL and PT 35%--INR 2.5). Doppler scan showed hepatic artery always patient. Later the postoperative in-hospital course was complicated by tense ascites and severe cholestasis. Serum bilirubin reached 42 mg/dL in day 12. Hypertransaminasemia ended at day 15 while cholestasis ended after 46 days. Tacrolimus was reintroduced at day 7. A liver biopsy 10 after OLT showed severe intrahepatic cholestasis, centrolobular necrosis and macrovesicular steatosis (30%). The patient was discharged 48 days after OLT with good liver function. After seven months HIV-RNA is still undetectable and HAART has not been restarted. We believe that the early complications we observed may be attributed to a sudden increase in plasma concentration of antiretroviral drugs secondary to drug redistribution from peripheral tissues and hepatic clearance deficiency after OLT. Although a pre-OLT withdrawal of HAART seems unjustified a delayed re-introduction of HAART or the use of less hepatotoxic drugs may be advisable.


Europeans speak, both through their leaders and through the media, about the crisis of the European civilization. They cultivate the image of Europe threatened in its own existence by the waves of population wishing to settle in Western European countries. Additionally, the threat is sensed in the context of their belonging to other religions but the Christian one. To solve this crisis, we start from the premise that the European dream in the refugees' case may be deemed similar to the American dream of the Europeans settling in American territories where they were to build the American Civilization. Although the anguish of incoming foreigners is psychologically natural, problematic is the fact that they are not perceived as individuals driven by the dream of prosperity and happiness as the European dream. Lacking identity and engulfed in a diffuse mass, they are perceived as an amorphous, threatening and violent collective. I propose to reevaluate alterity in terms of that consecrated in the cultural imaginary as the American dream (the model for what was to be the European dream), by means of the philosophy of success as construed in the theories and practice of personal development.


In this paper, we propose a novel domain-specific dataset named VegFru for fine-grained visual categorization (FGVC). While the existing datasets for FGVC are mainly focused on animal breeds or man-made objects with limited labelled data, VegFru is a larger dataset consisting of vegetables and fruits which are closely associated with the daily life of everyone. Aiming at domestic cooking and food management, VegFru categorizes vegetables and fruits according to their eating characteristics, and each image contains at least one edible part of vegetables or fruits with the same cooking usage. Particularly, all the images are labelled hierarchically. The current version covers vegetables and fruits of 25 upper-level categories and 292 subordinate classes. And it contains more than 160,000 images in total and at least 200 images for each subordinate class. Accompanying the dataset, we also propose an effective framework called HybridNet to exploit the label hierarchy for FGVC. Specifically, multiple granularity features are first extracted by dealing with the hierarchical labels separately. And then they are fused through explicit operation, e.g., Compact Bilinear Pooling, to form a unified representation for the ultimate recognition. The experimental results on the novel VegFru, the public FGVC-Aircraft and CUB-200-2011 indicate that HybridNet achieves one of the top performance on these datasets. The dataset and code are available at https://github.com/ustc-vim/vegfru.


Lactose (C12H22O11) is a disaccharide composed of one molecule of galactose and one glucose. In the pharmaceutical industry, lactose is used to aid in tablet formation because it has excellent compressibility properties. It is also used to form a diluent powder for dry powder inhalations. Lactose may be present as anhydrous lactose, lactose monohydrate or spray-dried lactose. High-quality pharmaceutical lactose contains traces of milk protein (0.012-0.029% impurities, including cow's milk). These amounts may cause allergic reactions in people suffering from milk allergy if ingested or inhaled. We present the case of a 60-year-old patient who, since February 2017 reports the occurrence of chronic urticaria accompanied by sporadic palpebral angioedema and lips. The patient presents cardiovascular comorbidities (arterial hypertension under treatment), diabetes mellitus with ADO, chronic gastritis, hyperuricemia. As a result of the investigations carried out, a hypersensitivity to cow's milk proteins was identified despite the regimen of avoiding this type of diet, the patient continued to present the symptoms aforementioned. The conjugated and correctly administered antihypertensive treatment of the patient was altered without results, and afterwards it was attempted to administer all concomitant medication with preparations that did not contain lactose as an excipient. Clinical evolution was favorable, with remission of skin eruptions, with isolated recurrence (2 episodes/3 months) of unilateral palpebral edema. With this clinical case, we want to draw the attention to the importance of allergies/intolerances to drug excipients.


Si based polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) have been gaining attention due to their exceptional functional and ultrahigh temperature properties. With excellent creep resistance even at temperatures far beyond 1000°C and resistance in oxidative as well as corrosive environment, PDCs have emerged as potential materials in the fabrication of thermo-structural composites. Among the many PDCs, including SiC, SiCN, SiOC, and SiCBN, SiOC can be fabricated from commercially available polysiloxanes or polysilsesquioxanes. However, silicon oxycarbide based PDCs exhibit relatively limited oxidation resistance and high temperature performance compared to their nitride/carbonitride counterparts. In addition, these ceramics should be compatible with carbide based substrates and oxide based top coats for thermal protection systems. Preliminary work has indicated that incorporation of transition metals into the Si-O-C system exhibits interesting crystallization, oxidation, and thermal stability. This work demonstrates the behaviour of Zr and Ti, introduced as a molecular source, in the phase evolution, crystallization, and oxidation resistance of the polymer-derived SiMOC (where M = Zr, Ti) ceramics. A commercially available preceramic polymer was doped with 5−20mol% of the dopant metal ion (through alkoxide source), and cross-linked. Inert atmosphere pyrolysis of thus produced powders yielded black coloured SiMOC ceramics. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was employed to observe the phase evolution. It was revealed that Ti ions crystallized into carbide phase at temperatures as low as 1200°C, while the Zr ions phase separated into t-ZrO2 whose crystallite size was calculated from the X-ray diffractograms using Scherrer formula. In both of the systems the phase separation of SiO2 was observed at temperatures beyond 1300°C. The crystallites of the formed SiC, TiC and ZrO2 were further analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Since carbide phase was formed in the Ti-doped ceramic, thermogravimetric (TG) tests were performed to study the mass loss of the ceramic in both inert and oxidative atmospheres. The chemical nature of SiTiOC ceramic was investigated by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. To support a hypothesis on the placement of the dopant atoms in the SiOC structure, ab initio calculations based on simple bond-counting method were also performed.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test a conceptual model by means of which we try to establish the influence of store satisfaction and other variables (gender, mobility and availability of alternative stores) on consumers' responses to out-of-stock (OOS) situations. Design/methodology/approach – The authors used a standardized questionnaire to gather data on consumer responses to OOS and then analyzed determinants including store satisfaction (for which reliability, validity and unidimensionality were tested). The survey was conducted in the four largest cities in Serbia. All respondents were interviewed randomly, through telephone calls, whereby 392 responses were gathered. The established hypotheses were tested by means of a multinomial logit model with the use of marginal effects. Findings – The results show that store satisfaction significantly affects three out-of-stock responses (store switching, postponement and product switching), whereas, positively in the case of product switching and postponement and negatively in the case of store switching. The results also show that store satisfied consumers, regardless of other factors, are not likely to switch stores in out-of-stock situations. Originality/value – As well as managerial implications, this paper included store satisfaction as an antecedent of consumer OOS responses for the first time. In addition, the impact of this variable on OOS responses was analyzed at both levels of the availability of alternative stores, gender and mobility.


We report on a system that produces 19 W of diffraction-limited radiation at 532 nm through single-pass frequency doubling of the output of a 1064 nm Yb3+-doped fiber MOPA in a periodically poled near-stoichiometric lithium tantalate (PPSLT) crystal. The output of the system was stable at the 19 W level for over one hour with no signs of photorefraction. The green power is believed to be limited by infrared-induced thermal dephasing in the PPSLT crystal.


Abstract Introduction To be able to predict which patients are more likely to have a positive treatment outcome, the purpose of this study is 1: To compare outcomes after intra-articular corticosteroid knee injections with the Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) 5 and 3 grading systems for knee osteoarthritis, the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) grading system and actual joint space measurements; and 2: To compare the reliability of these grading systems. Materials and Methods Knee radiographs of 117 patients who received intra-articular corticosteroid injections were independently evaluated by two radiologists blinded to the outcome. Evaluation included the KL5, KL3, OARSI systems and actual joint space widths. The numerical rating scale for pain was collected at baseline and along with the Patient's Global Impression of Change on day 1, in week 1 and in month 1. The number of 'improved' patients was compared between the OA grades using the Chi-square test. Logistic regression determined which findings were predictive for improvement. Agreement was assessed using Kappa statistics and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results Patients with OARSI grade 2 reported the highest rates of 'improvement' at all time points, which was significant on day 1 (p = 0.004). No relationship with improvement was found with KL5, KL3 or actual joint space measurements. Patients with OARSI grade 2 were 8 times more likely to report improvement on day 1 (p = 0.024). Reliability was best for joint space measurements (ICC = 0.812 – 0.882), followed by the OARSI. Conclusion The OARSI for joint space narrowing grade 2 (34 – 66 % narrowing) was linked with a better outcome on day 1 with trends in week 1 and month 1. The reliability of the OARSI was better than the KL5 or KL3 systems. Key Points  OARSI grading of OA had better reliability than KL3 or KL5. OARSI grade 2 was related to a better treatment outcome. Neither KL grades nor joint space measurements were related to improvement. Citation Format Miletic I, Agten C, Sutter R et al. Relationship of Radiographic Osteoarthritis Severity with Treatment Outcomes after Imaging-Guided Knee Injections: A Prospective Outcomes Study. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2018; 190: 134 – 143


This research project is situated in an area of interest in contemporary HE, namely 'students as partners'. The study explored the experiences of staff and students working in partnership as part of a national What Works Change Programme at Ulster University. Using a phenomenological approach, one-to-one semi-structured interviews were carried out with stafand students(n=14), which aimed to capture rich descriptions of the lived experience of individuals. A surprising feature of the data revealed that there was a high level of consensus between staff and students in how they described their lived experiences and the impact that partnership working was having on them. The data produced two main themes which articulated the benefits of partnership working: personal development, and enhancement of the learning climate. In addition, challenges associated with partnership working are revealed and include: time, resistance, and capacity of both staff and students. These insights bring new understanding to stakeholders at Ulster in relation to how these findings can help us think more holistically about student engagement from three dimensions: emotional, behavioural and cognitive. The importance of remaining vigilant to the emotional dimension of student engagement is argued as this can act as a catalyst to change thinking and behaviours. Focus groups (n=5) were subsequently carried out with institutional stakeholder groups at Ulster. This evaluation set out to assess the value of the interview findings for the purposes of developing a framework, including more specifically, a Guide for staff and students on how a 'students as partners' approach might be implemented at Ulster in order to develop capacity for student engagement.

Recommendations for all relevant stakeholders at Ulster are made to support the implementation of a 'students as partners' approach. Whilst specific to Ulster, there are valuable learning points, which may be extended to the HE sector more generally.


There has been an increase in lifestyle-related diseases in Fukushima Prefecture since the Great East Japan Earthquake. However, the overall long-term trends of lifestyle-related diseases in the Fukushima Prefecture according to the evacuation and other area are not reported. Therefore, we examined the long-term trends in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome before and after the Great East Japan Earthquake in Fukushima Prefecture according to these areas using a national database. The target population was approximately 330,000–440,000 per year; Fukushima Prefecture residents aged 40–74 years who underwent specific health check-ups during 2008–2017 participated in the study. Fukushima was divided into mountainous, central, coastal and evacuation areas. Using the Poisson regression model, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in each fiscal year was determined by gender and age group for each location and compared before and after the disaster as well as between areas. Prevalence increased significantly throughout the observation period, particularly in the evacuation area. Age- and gender-adjusted prevalence rates significantly increased from 16.2% in 2010 to 19.5% in 2012 (prevalence ratios = 1.21) and 20.4% in 2017 in the evacuation area. Among other areas, coastal areas showed the highest increase with 17.9% (2017), followed by central areas with 16.5% (2017) and mountainous areas with 18.3% (2016). These increases were particularly high among men and the elderly. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased rapidly after the disaster, especially in evacuation area, and continued for subsequent 6–7 year. Long-term monitoring and measures to prevent lifestyle-related diseases are needed after major disasters, especially in evacuation areas, among men and the elderly.


As requirements for local municipalities under the Clean Water Act expand, it is important for the local municipalities to fmd less expensive, yet effective means to conduct stream, watershed, and stormwater management programs. In Georgia, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GaEPD) will be instituting a Phase II program which will include cities and counties which have a population of 50,000 100,000. This will mean that governments in transition from mostly agriculture to suburban areas may find themselves being required for the first time to apply for NPDES Stormwater Discharge Permits and initiate a new and potentially expensive compliance regimen. In Cobb County, a growing urban area north west of Atlanta, Georgia, efforts have been made to utilize existing personnel, resources, and State/Federal funding to establish Stream Monitoring Program and develop activities to ensure compliance with its NPDES Stormwater Discharge Permit. Beginning with a Stream Monitoring Program, Cobb County has moved forward in developing a comprehensive water quality compliance program to address Georgia NPDES permitting requirements, reposit water quality documentation generated by other county agencies and citizens, and research more effective measures for gather and analyzing meaningful water quality data. The remainder of this article covers the history of the Cobb County Stream Monitoring Program, its field and laboratory work, and the benefits of the Stream Monitoring Program to compliance with the Clean Water Act requirements. It is the contention of the Water Quality Section that a shift in emphasis on stream monitoring will result in a more accurate and useful presentation of the watershed water quality profile.


This thesis makes a first attempt to operationalize the safe operating space concept at regional scale by considering the dynamic relationships between social and ecological systems. Time series data for a range of ecosystem services (ES) and human wellbeing (HWB) are analysed to understand the co-evolution (trends, change points, slow and fast variables and drivers) of the Bangladesh delta social-ecological system (SES). The linkages between ES and HWB are analysed using regression models (GAM, linear and logistic) to develop a system model, which is used in a system dynamic (SD) model to demonstrate the safe operating space for the SES in the Bangladesh delta. I employ the model to explore eight 'what if' scenarios based on well-known challenges (e.g. climate change) and current policy debates (e.g. subsidy withdrawals). Since the 1980s, HWB has improved in the Bangladesh delta mirroring rising levels of food and inland fish production. In contrast, ES have deteriorated since the 1960s in terms of water availability, water quality and land stability in the Bangladesh delta. The overall results suggest that material well-being (basic materials for a good life) have a strong relationship with provisioning services, which in turn, show a weak relationship with the quality of life (security and health). The SD model suggests that the Bangladesh delta may move beyond a safe operating space when a withdrawal of a 50% subsidy for agriculture is combined with the effects of a 2 oC temperature increase and sea level rise. Further reductions in upstream river discharge in the Ganges would push the system towards a dangerous zone once a 3.5 oC temperature increase was reached. The social-ecological system in the Bangladesh delta may be operated within a safe space by: 1) managing feedback (e.g. by reducing production costs) and the slow biophysical variables (e.g. temperature, rainfall) to increase long-term resilience, 2) negotiating for transboundary water resources and 3) also possibly by revising the global policy (e.g. withdrawal of subsidy) to implement at regional scale. This study demonstrates how the concepts of tipping points, limits to adaptations and boundaries for sustainable development may be defined in real world social-ecological systems.


INTRODUCTION
Given the concern for radiation-induced malignancy in children and the fact that risk of severe chest injury in children is low, the risk/benefit ratio must be considered in each child when ordering a computed tomography (CT) scan after blunt chest trauma.

METHODS
The study included pediatric blunt trauma patients (age, <15 years) with chest radiograph (CR) before chest CT on admission to our adult and pediatric level I trauma center. Surgeons were asked to view the blinded images and reads and indicate if they felt CT was warranted based on CR findings, if their clinical management change based on additional findings on chest CT, and how they might change management.

RESULTS
Of the 127 patients identified, 64.6% had no discrepancy between their initial CR and chest CT and 35.4% of the children's imaging contained a discrepancy. The majority of the pediatric and general trauma surgeons felt CT was indicated in 6 of 45 patients based on CR. In 87% of patients with a discrepancy in findings on CR and CT, the majority of surgeons agreed that their management would not change based on the additional information. In the 6 patients in which the CT was considered indicated, 4 of the 6 would have triggered a management change.

CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that chest CT scans frequently serve as confirmatory diagnostic tools and in the pediatric blunt chest trauma patient and can be withheld in many cases without hindering the management of an injured child.


Objectives To examine the weekly working hours of Norwegian hospital doctors from 1994 to 2012 with special emphasis on the quality of postgraduate training and work–home balance, and in relation to the requirements of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD). Design Panel study based on postal questionnaires. Setting Norway. Participants Unbalanced cohort of 1300–1600 doctors in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012. Outcome measures Self-reported total weekly working hours and whether 45 weekly working hours are too short, sufficient, or too long to meet the quality requirements of obligatory postgraduate training for junior doctors. Results From 1994 to 2012, the number of weekly working hours was stable for senior (46–47 h) and junior (45–46 h) hospital doctors. In 2012, significantly more senior (27–35%) than junior (11–20%) doctors reported suboptimal work–home balance, defined as working more than 48 h a week. The majority perceived the present situation with an average of 45 h per week for juniors as sufficient for obligatory postgraduate specialist training, but doctors of higher age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.08), senior doctors (1.07, 1.04 to 1.11) and doctors working in surgical specialties (OR 1 vs laboratory medicine 0.03, 0.01 to 0.25, internal medicine 0.31, 0.17 to 0.58, psychiatry 0.12, 0.04 to 0.36, paediatrics 0.36, 0.12 to 1.07, anaesthesiology 0.08, 0.02 to 0.39, gynaecology 0.07, 0.01 to 0.56 and others 0.39, 0.04 to 3.56) were more likely to want the work-week to be longer. Conclusions The weekly working hours of Norwegian hospital doctors were always below the EWTD requirements. A significant growth of hospital doctor density over the past two decades, national regulations and cultural values might be important factors. Specialty differences in perception of sufficient training time may call for more flexibility in working time regulations.


Introduction: Human subjects can not always used as models for studying disease by researchers because of the potential risks for human health, and in addition, control of interfering factors is not easy in these subjects. Animal biology, physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, and genetics are very similar to humans. Animals are suitable models for research, as their functional body system is similar to humans and is easily manipulated. Most of our current knowledge in medical sciences is obtained from animal studies, among which, rats and mice are mostly used for the their shorter lifespans, which creates the possibility of producing many generations and studying total lifespan. The thyroid plays pivotal role in the body and is vital for normal function of almost all tissues throughout life. Decreased secretion of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) is a prevalent disorder and as a result animal models of hypothyroidism are often very important for research purposes. Thyroidectomy, genetic manipulation, and using anti-thyroid drugs are the most important ways to induce hypothyroidism in animals. The aim of this study was to review and evaluate different models for induction of hypothyroidism in rat, and in addition to compare the characteristics of rat and human thyroid glands. Conclusions: Anti-thyroid drugs could be used as cheap, available, and simple methods for inducing hypothyroidism, although they may also affect the function of other organs.


Background : D-dimer values in patients with SARS-2 COVID-19 infection are known to be elevated and have been shown to be a predictor for disease severity, mortality, and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Patients presenting with COVID-19 infection may endorse many of the same symptoms as patients with pulmonary emboli (PE) and the associated elevation of the d-dimer as a component of the in fl ammatory state has led to unanswered questions regarding the diagnostic utility of d-dimer testing. Methods : Computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest with intravenous contrast were searched from a uni fi ed data platform between 1/1/2020 and 5/31/2022 across the Mayo Clinic enterprise. Imaging was matched to patients with COVID-19 if it occurred between 10 days before and 30 days after the laboratory con fi rmed COVID-19 infection. Next, patients were matched to laboratory records of d-dimer testing within 1 day of the imaging. D-dimer testing was performed using the HemosIL D-dimer HS 500 kit on the Instrumentation Laboratory ACL TOP instrument. A negative result is ≤ 500ng/ml fi brinogen equivalent units (FEU) with a lower limit of detection of 220ng/ml. The primary outcome was acute PE on the imaging study as determined by a validated natural language processing algorithm. Conclusion This study of COVID-19 positive patients more than doubles the number of patients examining the of in PE diagnosis compared to recent meta-analyses and with a consistent d-dimer methodology performed in close proximity to diagnostic imaging. D-dimer was highly predictive of PE with strong and expected NPVs at standard thresholds and using age-adjusted thresholds. We demonstrate that a higher d-dimer threshold of 1000ng/ml would maintain a very high NPV and overall AUC. A fi xed and higher d-dimer threshold in patients with COVID-19 infection with possible PE would signi fi cantly reduce the need for CT angiography (by 42%).


We compare a number of radiative transfer models for atmospheric sounding in the millimeter and submillimeter wavelength range, check their consistency, and investigate their deviations from each other. This intercomparison deals with three different aspects of radiative transfer models: (1) the inherent physics of gaseous absorption lines and how they are modeled, (2) the calculation of absorption coefficients, and (3) the full calculation of radiative transfer for different geometries, i.e., up‐looking, down‐looking, and limb‐looking. The correctness and consistency of the implementations are tested by comparing calculations with predefined input such as spectroscopic data, line shape, continuum absorption model, and frequency grid. The absorption coefficients and brightness temperatures calculated by the different models are generally within about 1% of each other. Furthermore, the variability or uncertainty of the model results is estimated if (except for the atmospheric scenario) the input such as spectroscopic data, line shape, and continuum absorption model could be chosen freely. Here the models deviate from each other by about 10% around the center of major absorption lines. The main cause of such discrepancies is the variability of reported spectroscopic data for line absorption and of the continuum absorption model. Further possible causes of discrepancies are different frequency and pressure grids and differences in the corresponding interpolation routines, as well as differences in the line shape functions used, namely a prefactor of (ν/ν0) or (ν/ν0)2 of the Van‐Vleck‐Weisskopf line shape function. Whether or not the discrepancies affect retrieval results remains to be investigated for each application individually.


Background Preclinical studies strongly suggest that accelerated apoptosis in skeletal myocytes may be involved in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. However, evidence in humans is sparse. In the present study, we investigated whether apoptotic signaling in the skeletal muscle was associated with indices of muscle mass and function in older persons. Methodology/Principal Findings Community-dwelling older adults were categorized into high-functioning (HF) or low-functioning (LF) groups according to their short physical performance battery (SPPB) summary score. Participants underwent an isokinetic knee extensor strength test and 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging of the thigh. Vastus lateralis muscle samples were obtained by percutaneous needle biopsy and assayed for the expression of a set of apoptotic signaling proteins. Age, sex, number of comorbid conditions and medications as well as knee extensor strength were not different between groups. HF participants displayed greater thigh muscle volume compared with LF persons. Multivariate partial least squares (PLS) regressions showed significant correlations between caspase-dependent apoptotic signaling proteins and the muscular percentage of thigh volume (R2 = 0.78; Q2 = 0.61) as well as gait speed (R2 = 0.81; Q2 = 0.56). Significant variables in the PLS model of percent muscle volume were active caspase-8, cleaved caspase-3, cytosolic cytochrome c and mitochondrial Bak. The regression model of gait speed was mainly described by cleaved caspase-3 and mitochondrial Bax and Bak. PLS predictive apoptotic variables did not differ between functional groups. No correlation was determined between apoptotic signaling proteins and muscle strength or quality (strength per unit volume). Conclusions/Significance Data from this exploratory study show for the first time that apoptotic signaling is correlated with indices of muscle mass and function in a cohort of community-dwelling older persons. Future larger-scale studies are needed to corroborate these preliminary findings and determine if down-regulation of apoptotic signaling in skeletal myocytes will provide improvements in the muscle mass and functional status of older persons.


Wiring up the nervous system occurs as a self-organizing process during animal development. It has long been proposed that directional growth of axons towards their targets is achieved by gradients of guiding molecules and the conceptual framework of gradient guidance was introduced more than a decade ago. Novel experimental results now allow the formulation of models incorporating more mechanistic detail. We first summarize some crucial in vitro and in vivo results concerning the development of the chick retinotectal projection. We then review two recent theoretical models based on these findings (the models of Nakamoto and colleagues, and of Honda). Neither model considers the latest observation that putative guidance ligands, in addition to their tectal expression, are expressed in a similar pattern on the retina and that a disturbance of this expression affects topography These findings suggest that retinal axons might grow into the tectum until they have reached a ligand concentration matching that of their site of origin. We call this the imprint-matching concept of retinotectal guidance. As a framework for pinpointing logical difficulties of the mechanistic description of the guidance process and to stimulate further experiments we finally suggest two extended versions of Honda's model implementing imprint matching, which we call 'the variable set-point' and 'the gradient-sensitive adaptation' model. Strengths and weaknesses of both mechanisms are discussed.


ABSTRACT An experimental study on the catalytic combustion of dimethyl ether under various oxidation conditions through a preheated tubular catalytic reactor filled with a lab-made Pt-γ-Al2O3 catalyst is presented in this paper. Both the transient variance of temperature distribution during the ignition process and the stationary results as the reactor reaches stable are delineated. The catalytic reactor is mounted in a tubular furnace to preheat and maintain an isothermal boundary. The reaction profiles and ignition processes are characterized by monitoring the temporal temperature traces, which is the steady-state axial distribution of temperature in the reactor. The average axial reaction temperature for different fuel quantities with various isothermal boundaries of the reactor was also evaluated. During the light-off process, the main exothermal reaction zone shift is found. The results demonstrate that a higher equivalence ratio of reactants produces a higher temperature, resulting in more heat transferring upstream and causes a higher conversion ratio. For the same equivalence ratio, a higher isothermal boundary temperature will result in a higher conversion ratio. The more extended reactor is required in one of the two conditions of a lower equivalence ratio of reactants and a lower isothermal boundary of the reactor. Finally, the energy balance and exergy analysis for the reactor was also performed; the results will be the basis for improving and optimizing designs.


When people gaze at real scenes, their visual attention is driven both by a set of bottom-up processes coming from the signal properties of the scene and also from top-down effects such as the task, the affective state, prior knowledge, or the semantic context. The context of this study is an assessment of manufactured objects (here car cab interior). From this dedicated context, this work describes a set of methods to analyze the eye-movements during the visual scene evaluation. But these methods can be adapted to more general contexts. We define a statistical model to explain the eye fixations measured experimentally by eye-tracking even when the ratio signal/noise is bad or lacking of raw data. One of the novelties of the approach is to use complementary experimental data obtained with the "Bubbles" paradigm. The proposed model is an additive mixture of several a priori spatial density distributions of factors guiding visual attention. The "Bubbles" paradigm is adapted here to reveal the semantic density distribution which represents here the cumulative effects of the top-down factors. Then, the contribution of each factor is compared depending on the product and on the task, in order to highlight the properties of the visual attention and the cognitive activity in each situation.


Objective: The main purpose of this study is to characterize Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. mucilage (MHR) powder as superdisintegrant and to decide the optimum concentration of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.
Methods: Characterization was conducted in many tests such as organoleptic, swelling ratio, solubility, polysaccharide, viscosity, particle size distribution, flowability and compressibility index. Next, MHR powder was included in fast disintegrating tablet (FDT) domperidone formulation in several concentrations and compared with FDT domperidone formulation that using sodium starch glycolate as superdisintegrant.
Results: The result of characterization of MHR powder were brownish powder, specific smell like traditional medicines, swelling ratio of 24, solubility of 0.426±0.034 mg/ml, positive polysaccharide, the viscosity of 491.33±119.44 cps (2% w/v), 4520.00±1224.42 cps (4% w/v), Dv(10) of 26.2 µm, Dv(50) of 157 µm, Dv(90) of 260 µm, Dv(100) of 380 µm, flowless, and average compressibility index of 26.75±1.79%. The optimum MHR powder concentration was 1% because the average disintegration time was 39.67±4.73 seconds and the average wetting time was 66.33±14.29 seconds. Those times were faster than domperidone FDT that used this superdisintegrant in other concentrations or sodium starch glycolate in the same concentration.
Conclusion: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. mucilage powder can be used as superdisintegrant in FDT formulation with an optimum concentration of 1%.


Abstract The history of sex and sexuality is underdeveloped in Irish historical studies, particularly for the period before the late-nineteenth century. While much has been written on rates of illegitimacy in Ireland, and its regional diversity, little research has been conducted on how ordinary women and men viewed sex and sexuality. Moreover, we still know little about the roles that sex played in the rituals of courtship and marriage. Drawing on a sample of Presbyterian church records, this article offers some new insights into these areas. It argues that sexual intercourse and other forms of sexual activity formed part of the normal courtship rituals for many young Presbyterian couples in Ulster. Courting couples participated in non-penetrative sexual practices, such as petting, groping and bundling. Furthermore, while sexual intercourse did not have a place in the formal route to marriage, many couples engaged in it regardless.


In wired network there are lots of protections when communication occur because every node is physically connected to each other and there have minimum chance to leak the data from this wired network So, the data are safely transferred through this network. In case of wireless mobile ad-hoc network in which every node is dynamic in nature when data is transferred from one source to destination then data transfer node to nearby node and haven't centralized point. This network is established in that place where proper infrastructures are not present. Due to mobile ad-hoc network hacker have maximum chances to attack on this partial or entire wireless network. There are bundle of vulnerabilities and number of attacks are present through which data can stop for transferring to real destination and also disturbed that network. There are number of techniques are discussed in this article for preventing of data in mobile Ad-hoc network [MANNETs].


Sixty-two patients diagnosed as early and advanced cancer of the prostate gland were studied under three categories. The survival rate of those diagnosed early was 80% in the first five years while the overall survival rate in the series was 19.23%. The prognostic determinants in all categories while under therapy was, however, similar. The study confirmed that poor prognostic features were body weight of about 40 kg, haematocrit below 20%, Urea level of 10 mmol/lit and above, raised white cell count, raised erythrocytes sedimentation rate and total confinement to bed. The paper concluded that these findings, in a local pilot study, are of significance and sufficient value to merit further study and clinical evaluation.


Phytomining technology employs hyperaccumulator plants to take up metal in harvestable plant biomass. Harvesting, drying and incineration of the biomass generates a high-grade bio-ore. We propose that "agromining" (a variant of phytomining) could provide local communities with an alternative type of agriculture on degraded lands; farming not for food crops, but for metals such as nickel (Ni). However, two decades after its inception and numerous successful experiments, commercial phytomining has not yet become a reality. To build the case for the minerals industry, a large-scale demonstration is needed to identify operational risks and provide "real-life" evidence for profitability.


Existing practice on seismic risk assessment of critical infrastructure systems is reviewed in terms of exposure, hazard, fragility, performance and interdependencies and a framework is proposed for seismic risk assessment model development for the insurance sector. The application of the framework is demonstrated with the electric power and water supply systems in Christchurch, New Zealand. This includes the development of the first ground motion residual spatial correlation model for the region and a simplified method for predicting the occurrence of liquefaction. Empirical data from the 2010-11 Canterbury earthquake sequence are used to derive new fragility functions for substations, buried cables, wells, pumping stations and pipes, in terms of both ground shaking and permanent ground deformation. The model is tested against performance observations from the February 22nd 2011 MW 6.2 Christchurch earthquake and achieves reasonable results when interdependencies between substations and pumps are modelled by nodal analysis with mapped substation supply zones rather than proximity rules. The model is applied to construct a future risk projection and in a 10,000-year stochastic catalogue, the electric power network exhibits high reliability with performance loss in only 2% of events. The water supply system is less reliable, due to the effect of ground shaking and liquefaction on pipes and the effect of power loss on the functionality of pumps, which is shown to increase disconnections by up 30%. A new metric, the interdependency index, is proposed to measure the degree of the dependency of the water supply system on electric power. It is adapted from the Leontief input-output method for infrastructure interdependency modelling and makes use of the system performance results acquired from the future risk projection, by assuming a linear relationship between the change in performance of the water supply system due to power loss and the performance of the electric power network.


Fewer than 15% of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) in pediatric patients harbor KIT or platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) mutations in contrast to a mutation rate of 80% in adult GISTs. However, some therapeutic inhibitors of KIT have efficacy in pediatric GIST, suggesting that KIT may, nevertheless, play an important role in oncogenesis. In adult GIST, characteristic cytogenetic changes occur during progression to malignancy. A better understanding of mechanisms of genetic progression and KIT and PDGFRA transforming roles in pediatric GIST might facilitate treatment advances. KIT and PDGFRA mutation analysis was done in 27 pediatric GISTs. The activation status of KIT, PDGFRA, and downstream signaling intermediates was defined, and chromosomal aberrations were determined by single nucleotide polymorphism assays. Mutations in KIT or PDGFRA were identified in 11% of pediatric GISTs. KIT and the signaling intermediates AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase were activated in pediatric GISTs. In particular, most pediatric KIT-wild-type GISTs displayed levels of KIT activation similar to levels in adult KIT-mutant GISTs. Pediatric KIT-wild-type GISTs lacked the typical cytogenetic deletions seen in adult KIT-mutant GISTs. Notably, most pediatric KIT-wild-type GISTs progress to malignancy without acquiring large-scale chromosomal aberrations, which is a phenomenon not reported previously in malignant solid tumors. KIT activation levels in pediatric KIT-wild-type GISTs are comparable with those in KIT-mutant GISTs. Therapies that inhibit KIT activation, or crucial KIT signaling intermediates, should be explored in pediatric KIT-wild-type GIST.


Surface radio refractive gradient and k-factor are very imperative in observing propagation conditions, designing and planning of microwave communication links in the lower part of the atmospheric boundary layer. The measurement of weather variables (air temperature, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity and wind speed) were conducted in this study at the School of Science, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo (7.83°N, 3.95°E), Oyo State, Nigeria. The research was carried out for a period of one year (January to December, 2020) using self-designed cost effective portable weather monitoring systems. The systems were sited from the ground to a height of 200 m on a 220 m Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) UHF channel 37 tower at Oke-Apitipiti in Oyo Town of Oyo State. The calculated daily and monthly averages data are employed to investigate the vertical surface radio refractivity and its refractivity gradient. The highest value of -1.093E+26 N-units/km was recorded in January, while the month of July experienced the least of about -9.305E+19 N-units/km. The months of January–July verified sub-refractive conditions with propagation conditions having varying degree of occurrence. On the other hand, super-refraction and ducting were recorded mostly between August–December from the study. The results also find applicability in radio engineering for refining VHF/UHF terrestrial links based on clear-air considerations which will support operational planning of terrestrial radio networks in Oyo, South Western Nigeria
Keywords: Microwave; k-factor; refractivity gradient; sub-refractive; super-refraction


This thesis report describes the development of the optical system ALBERT (Alfven Laboratory Baloon ExpeRimenT) that will fly from ESRange in 2011 as an auroral diagnostic unit for the PoGO-Lite mission. ALBERT has been developed at KTH in collaboration with the University of Southampton. ALBERT consists of two main systems. A support structure (mechanical system) and two spectrometers (optical system). The development started with a conceptual CAD assembly and the end objective was to have ALBERT manufactured. The mechanical system has been developed and manufactured in house and the parts are mainly manufactured from aluminum. The mechanical system was codeveloped with the thermal engineer to make sure the etalon temperature would be kept at a stable 20°C to ensure the performance of the spectrometers. The thesis also aimed to optimize the photometers for the use in the PoGO-Lite mission. The photometers have been designed to detect auroral oxygen emissions at´777.4nm and 844.6nm. The photometers consist of one interference filter, one Fabry-Perot Etalon filter, two lenses, an aperture and one photomultiplier tube. The Fabry-Perot Etalon filter is mounted on a tilting mechanism which enables the photometer to become a spectrometer. Extensive testing has been performed throughout this project with the objective to optimize the spectrometers. Knowhow about the system and its components enables the design of the aperture, a critical component that determines the performance of the´spectrometer. After extensive testing of the Fabry-Perot Etalon filters and the interference filters with an Michelson interferometry spectrometer a final characterization of the Fabry-Perot Etalon could be done using an Argon lamp and a high-end EMCCD camera. It could then be concluded that one of the etalons was not to specification and was rendered useless for ALBERT. The other etalon could be used and the optimization of the aperture for that spectrometer concluded in that a banana shaped aperture was the optimal. The inner and outer radii of the aperture corresponded to the radii of the rings from the interesting spectrum in the characteristic ring pattern produced by an etalon.


Since the early 1930's, congress has established a number of programs intended to soften the impact of economic forces upon farmers. These programs seek to adjust production to utilization on a year-to-year basis by offering incentives to producers to expand or contract their crop planting. As a result, accurate estimates of producer response to changing market prices and government programs are very important for policy makers as they attempt to adjust programs to balance demand and supply. Good forecasts of future crop acreages can also help economists provide producers and agribusinesses with better guides for strategies and planning, marketing, and production decisions. The objective of this study is to forecast acreage planted for a specific region using both national government policy variables and region-specific variables. Two aspects of acreage planted which are of particular interest are: (1) whether or not national variables can be used in the regional model, and (2) what additional information can be added to improve the regional model.


Discusses how the effectiveness of corporate rescue processes can be measured. Outlines the difficulties of making such an assessment, including the differing views of various interested parties about what would constitute a successful rescue. Outlines the development of the corporate rescue culture in the UK, focusing on the administration procedure introduced by the Enterprise Act 2002. Divides performance indicators into four categories, namely achievement of input, process, output and outcome objectives. Reviews Insolvency Service assessments of performance and comments on the different approaches taken.


Ny Friesland, in northeastern Svalbard, is the type-area for transpressive orogeny. The West Ny Friesland Terrane (WNT) is composed of a c. 12 km thick basal succession of amphibolite-grade schists and gneisses, previously thought to be the lower of a c. 20 km thick succession of concordant, volcano-sedimentary strata. However, this lower succession is composed of at least five thrust intercalations, where four contain Palaeoproterozoic (c. 1750 Ma) basement gneisses and Mesoproterozoic (or younger) cover sequences. Concordance between the rock units is largely the result of ductile shearing and high Caledonian strain during thrusting. These thrust sheets were assembled sequentially during E-W orthogonal shortening ( minimum c. 80 km) and resulted in a c. 150 km long, N-S trending fold-and-thrust belt, the Atomfjella Antiform, in Ny Friesland, northeastern Spitsbergen. The geometry of this structure, with thinning of some units in the east, suggests that nappe transport was west-directed. Shortening was coupled with increasing grade of metamorphism, and changes in both vertical and lateral boundary conditions during increasing sinistral transpression. This resulted in ductile hinge-parallel elongation of the thrust-stack.Comparison of geochronological and structural data from Ny Friesland with data from the Nordauslandet Terrane (NAT) indicates that these eastern areas differ fundamentally. The Palaeoproterozoic granites in Ny Friesland have no counterparts in Nordaustlandet which is dominated by a Grenvillian-age tectonothermal history. The metamorphic grade is also lower in Nordaustlandet. The NAT Neoproterozoic and Early Palaeozoic strata show affinity with the successions of Central-East Greenland. The Ny Friesland Palaeoproterozoic gneisses are similar in age to the high-grade gneisses and metasediments in North-East Greenland, suggesting a close affinity with these areas. This thesis proposes that the WNT was the result of Caledonian transpressional deformation during collision between Baltica and Laurentia, and that tectonic escape had juxtaposed the WNT and NAT terranes north of Greenland by the end of the Silurian


This paper addresses the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) associated with the hollow-shaft rotor cooling of a traction motor. In such a hollow-shaft cooling system, the coolant is made to flow through the shaft hole in order to cool the rotor. The HTC is estimated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), where the effect of rotational velocity as well as the coolant flow rate has been accounted for. Experiments are then used to validate the accuracy of CFD models with the assistance of an analytical lumped-parameter thermal network approach. On the basis of CFD simulations and the experimental prototype testing, it is concluded that the rotational speed can significantly increase the convective heat transfer of the shaft hole about 3.8 times at 4500 r/min above the level of the stationary condition. As a result of such analysis, a new dimensionless correlation of the Nusselt number with the Reynolds number is derived.


Precise timing of the teratogenic period in diabetic pregnancy is of clinical importance since correction of the glucose intolerance during this period may protect the offspring from malformations. An experimental approach to elucidate this problem with regard to skeletal development was made in groups of pregnant streptozotocin-diabetic rats (MDI), which were treated with daily insulin injections except for a 2-day period in the first half of pregnancy. The degree of metabolic derangement was estimated by measurements of serum glucose concentrations. During the insulin-free period, the rats showed severe hyperglycemie (>20 mM) while during ongoing insulin treatment, only brief periods of hyper- or hypoglycemia were observed. Insulin treatment was withdrawn successively between gestational days 3 and 12. Control groups consisted of normal pregnant rats (N) or pregnant rats with manifest diabetes (MD) without insulin treatment. The serum glucose levels of the N animals were below 6 mM while those of the MD animals were above 25 mM throughout pregnancy. Skeletal malformations in the viable offspring were recorded on gestational day 20 after Alizarin staining of calcified ossification centers, which also allowed an estimate of skeletal development as a whole. Untreated diabetes in the MD rats induced a high rate of fetal resorptions, a decrease in fetal weight and viability, as well as retardation of skeletal development. Intermittent insulin treatment in the MDI rats ameliorated, but did not abolish, these changes. In the MD group 9 of 48 viable fetuses showed severe malformations of either the lower jaw (micrognathia) or of the lumbosacral region (caudal dysgenesis). No skeletal malformations were observed in 151 offspring of the N group. Among the MDI animals, skeletal malformations occurred in 2 of 52 viable fetuses with interruption of maternal insulin treatment on gestational days 2–3, in 7 of 118 fetuses with interruption of insulin on days 4–5, and in 4 of 77 fetuses with interruption on days 6–7. No skeletal malformations were seen in a total of 75 MDI fetuses after interruption of insulin treatment on either days 8–9 or 10–11. However, a high rate of resorptions was also seen in these two groups. These observations strongly suggest that in rats, the teratogenic impact of maternal diabetes on embryonic skeletal development manifests itself at an unexpectedly early embryonic age and that correction of metabolism with insulin during this critical period may protect the offspring from malformations.


Nuclear signaling by the kinase PKA mediates activation of the transcription factor CREB in response to cortisol. PKA labors in the nucleus Stress hormone signaling is associated with the induction of labor in pregnancy. The stress hormone cortisol stimulates the production of the enzyme COX-2 in fetal membrane cells through induction of the transcription factor CREB. COX-2 produces prostaglandins, which generate positive feedback on the cells to produce more. Lu et al. found that the selective localization of the kinase PKA in the nucleus is critical to this mechanism in the fetal membranes. In human amnion fibroblasts taken from normal "term"-labor deliveries, compared to those from cesarean sections, the localization of PKA in the nucleus by interaction with AKAP95 enabled it to phosphorylate and activate CREB. These findings reveal additional molecular targets through which clinicians might induce labor or prevent it from initiating prematurely. The nuclear localization of PKA-AKAP95 introduces a new subcellular role for PKA signaling, potentially restricted to these highly specialized cells. Phosphorylation of the transcription factors cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element–binding protein (CREB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) by protein kinase A (PKA) is required for the cortisol-induced production of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in human amnion fibroblasts, which critically mediates human parturition (labor). We found that PKA was confined in the nucleus by A-kinase–anchoring protein 95 (AKAP95) in amnion fibroblasts and that this localization was key to the cortisol-induced expression of PTGS2, the gene encoding COX-2. Cortisol increased the abundance of nuclear PKA by stimulating the expression of the gene encoding AKAP95. Knockdown of AKAP95 not only reduced the amounts of nuclear PKA and phosphorylated CREB but also attenuated the induction of PTGS2 expression in primary human amnion fibroblasts treated with cortisol, whereas the phosphorylation of STAT3 in response to cortisol was not affected. The abundances of AKAP95, phosphorylated CREB, and COX-2 were markedly increased in human amnion tissue after labor compared to those in amnion tissues from cesarean sections without labor. These results highlight an essential role for PKA that is anchored in the nucleus by AKAP95 in the phosphorylation of CREB and the consequent induction of COX-2 expression by cortisol in amnion fibroblasts, which may be important in human parturition.


In this paper the problem of image modelling is examined from a higher order statistical perspective. We consider images that exhibit textural properties and the objective is to develop analysis techniques through which robust texture characteristics are extracted. We assume that an observed image is derived from a Volterra system (filter) that is driven by a Gaussian input image. Both the filter parameters and the input image are unknown and therefore the problem can be classified as blind or unsupervised in nature. In the statistical approach to the solution of the above problem we seek to determine equations that relate the unknown parameters of the Volterra model with the second and third order statistical parameters of the "output" image to be modelled. These equations are highly nonlinear and their solution is attempted through a novel weighted constrained optimisation formulation. Knowledge about the robustness of the statistical measurements of the image is incorporated into the problem.


Key Points The United States inevitably will look to Saudi Arabia to play a critical role in any effective campaign against global terrorism. For Saudi Arabia to fulfill expectations, the United States must revitalize a strategic relationship that was under serious strain before the attacks on September 11. Managing this relationship has always presented unusual challenges. In particular, the Saudi Kingdom's unique history and status in the Islamic world create risks that close military cooperation with the United States could damage the House of Saud's political and religious legitimacy. These challenges were met in 1990 by a common understanding of the threat, shared strategic objectives, and careful accommodation of each other's sensitivities. However, the factors that made the Desert Storm coalition work have deteriorated, while the political environment has evolved to make military cooperation more difficult. Restoring the relationship will require: addressing grievances that have grown over a decade of American presence in Saudi Arabia; prioritizing what Washington needs from Riyadh; reaching an understanding on the strategic basis of the bilateral relationship and the future of the region; structuring decisions to avoid forcing the Saudi regime to take sides against America; overhauling U.S. military presence in the Kingdom to ensure improved coordination; renewing diplomatic efforts on the Israeli-Palestinian front; and articulating a positive American vision for the region--one that is open to political and economic change. The preponderance of Saudi citizens among the September 11 terrorists and President George Bush's ensuing announcement of a war against global terrorism have again placed the spotlight on the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia. Even before September 11, U.S.-Saudi relations were approaching a crossroads. Despite long odds, America forged a successful military and political coalition with the Saudis during the Gulf war, but over the last several years bilateral ties have been seriously strained. Both sides have been inclined --and for the most part able--to keep these strains hidden from public view, but in the process the United States seems to have lost sight of the unique problems the Saudis face in working with America. As the United States comes to grips with the aftermath of September 11, it is no longer possible to sweep these issues under the rug, as has been illustrated by the very public controversy over use of Prince Sultan Air Base by U.S. forces for operations against the Al Qaeda terrorist network. At one level, the contretemps over the reported Saudi refusal to allow the United States to operate out of Saudi Arabia arose from a front-page story in The New York Times, which stated that a senior Air Force general had been dispatched to run the air war from Prince Sultan Air Base. To judge from subsequent reports, the steps reported in The New York Times were taken without top-level consultation with the Saudi government. No government likes to learn from the press that its territory is to be used by a foreign power to conduct offensive military operations against a third country. Although Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld later denied that Saudi Arabia had refused the use of its bases--on the grounds that the United States had not asked to use them--the fact that the issue arose at all highlights the need to keep three key points in mind: * Military cooperation with the United States has always had the potential for damaging Saudi sovereignty and political and religious legitimacy in ways that have no parallel in most other countries, including the other Gulf states. * Getting Saudi cooperation in the war against Iraq and the continuing operations to secure Baghdad's compliance with the postwar ceasefire was a diplomatic feat of considerable complexity and skill. * Changes that have taken place since the deployment of U. …


ABSTRACT The mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase complex 1 (MTORC1) is a central cellular kinase that integrates major signaling pathways, allowing for regulation of anabolic and catabolic processes including macroautophagy/autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis. Essential to these processes is the regulatory activity of TFEB (transcription factor EB). In a regulatory feedback loop modulating transcriptional levels of RRAG/Rag GTPases, TFEB controls MTORC1 tethering to membranes and induction of anabolic processes upon nutrient replenishment. We now show that TFEB promotes expression of endocytic genes and increases rates of cellular endocytosis during homeostatic baseline and starvation conditions. TFEB-mediated endocytosis drives assembly of the MTORC1-containing nutrient sensing complex through the formation of endosomes that carry the associated proteins RRAGD, the amino acid transporter SLC38A9, and activate AKT/protein kinase B (AKT p-T308). TFEB-induced signaling endosomes en route to lysosomes are induced by amino acid starvation and are required to dissociate TSC2, re-tether and activate MTORC1 on endolysosomal membranes. This study characterizes TFEB-mediated endocytosis as a critical process leading to activation of MTORC1 and autophagic function, thus identifying the importance of the dynamic endolysosomal system in cellular clearance. Abbreviations: CAD: central adrenergic tyrosine hydroxylase-expressing-a-differentiated; ChIP-seq: chromosome immunoprecipitation sequencing; DAPI: 4ʹ,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide; EDTA: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; EEA1: early endosomal antigen 1; EGF: epidermal growth factor; FBS: fetal bovine serum; GFP: green fluorescent protein; GTPase: guanosine triphosphatase; HEK293T: human embryonic kidney 293 cells expressing a temperature-sensitive mutant of the SV40 large T antigen; LAMP: lysosomal-associated membrane protein; LYNUS: lysosomal nutrient-sensing complex; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha/beta; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; MTORC: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase complex; OE: overexpression; PH: pleckstrin homology; PtdIns(3,4,5)P3: phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate; RRAGD: Ras related GTPase binding D; RHEB: Ras homolog enriched in brain; SLC38A9: solute carrier family 38 member 9; SQSTM1: sequestosome 1; TFEB: transcription factor EB; TSC2: tuberous sclerosis 2; TMR: tetramethylrhodamine; ULK1: unc-51 like kinase 1; WT: wild type


Reliable assessment of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly is a prerequisite for the evaluation of treatment of age-related cognitive decline. Psychophysical thresholds are known to be more reliable than psychometric tests, as assessed by stability of performance in visual masking. A backward (Till & Franklin, 1981) and a forward masking study (Coyne, 1981) were replicated. Thereafter, the same volunteers carried out a backward and forward masking task adapted to minimize noncognitive age-related influences: target and mask duration were individually adjusted to control for reduced eye transmissiveness. Attention was assessed with the electrooculogram; a dependent variable insensitive to sporadic decreases of attention was selected. Test-retest stability in the elderly after 2-4 weeks was r = .97 in backward and r = .86 in forward masking. As Alzheimer's disease mainly affects the cortex, backward masking, which is primarily cortical, may be useful to assess aspects of cognitive dysfunction.


RalGDS is one of the Ras effectors and functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the small G-protein, Ral, which regulates membrane trafficking and cytoskeletal remodeling. The translocation of RalGDS from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane is required for Ral activation. In this study, to understand the mechanism of Ras–Ral signaling we performed a single-molecule fluorescence analysis of RalGDS and its functional domains (RBD and REMCDC) on the plasma membranes of living HeLa cells. Increased molecular density of RalGDS and RBD, but not REMCDC, was observed on the plasma membrane after EGF stimulation of the cells to induce Ras activation, suggesting that the translocation of RalGDS involves an interaction between the GTP-bound active form of Ras and the RBD of RalGDS. Whereas the RBD played an important role in increasing the association rate constant between RalGDS and the plasma membrane, the REMCDC domain affected the dissociation rate constant from the membrane, which decreased after Ras activation or the hyperexpression of Ral. The Y64 residue of Ras and clusters of RalGDS molecules were involved in this reduction. From these findings, we infer that Ras activation not merely increases the cell-surface density of RalGDS, but actively stimulates the RalGDS–Ral interaction through a structural change in RalGDS and/or the accumulation of Ral, as well as the GTP–Ras/RalGDS clusters, to induce the full activation of Ral.


Introduction: The increasing high prevalence of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD) in the aging population combined with the need for frequent monitoring and treatment for many years, especially in the COVID-19 era, raises the need to establish an effective, reliable, and safe follow-up and treatment model. This study evaluates the difference in treatment decisions comparing between the gold standard face-to-face clinical examination and virtual evaluation approach based only on visual acuity (VA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans without clinical fundoscopic examination in nvAMD patients. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted that compared an original "face-to-face" visit treatment decision regarding the need for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drug, interval, and treatment regimen based on routine VA, spectral domain OCT imaging, and dilated fundus examination to two "virtual" treatment decisions based on evaluation of OCT scans and previous medical records before and after revealing VA data on the same nvAMD patients eyes. Results: About 169 eyes of 114 patients were included in the study. Forty-nine patients (43%) suffered from bilateral nvAMD and had both eyes included in the study. Agreement between the "face-to-face visit treatment decision" and "virtual treatment decision" was noted in 74.6% and 71.6% eyes before and after revealing the patient's VA in the study visit, respectively. Conclusions: Virtual evaluation results in similar treatment decisions for nvAMD patients compared to standard face-to-face clinical examination.


AbstractSensitivity and uncertainty analysis, although can be of primarily importance in mathematical modelling approaches, are scarcely applied in the field of membrane bioreactor (MBR). An integrated mathematical model for MBR is applied with the final aim to pin down sources of uncertainty in MBR modelling. The uncertainty analysis has been performed combining global sensitivity analysis (GSA) with the generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE). The model and methodology were applied to a University Cape Town pilot plant. Results show that the complexity of the modelled processes and the propagation effect from the influent to the effluent increase the uncertainty of the model prediction. It was found that the uncertainty of nitrogen and phosphorus model outputs increases from the first reactor-section plant to the last. Results show also that the GSA-GLUE methodology is a valid tool for uncertainty assessment for MBR modelling. Furthermore, the GSA-GLUE allows to identify the most critical p...


In Japan, work-related accidents at construction sites resulted in 487 fatalities and 27,193 injuries in 2005. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport began devising more stringent safety measures to address those accidents in 2001, but standards for construction safety facilities vary from one construction site to another, and work zone safety improvement has been insufficiently studied. In previous studies, the authors surveyed traffic safety contractors and road users on their satisfaction with road work traffic safety measures. Both traffic safety contractors and road users reported the greatest dissatisfaction with the understandability of road work signs, followed by the nighttime visibility of traffic control personnel. The present study aims to improve the understandability of information displayed on road work signs and to examine measures to improve the nighttime visibility of traffic control personnel. This study suggests that clear signage that is not text heavy is the most effective at prompting drivers to change lanes. Also, in some cases it may be more effective to light traffic control personnel with aimed floodlights than with additional light-emitting devices.


Given it has been discussed so much, I am a little loath to add further to talk about The Daily Telegraph's "Kick this mob out" cover. But it is such an instructive example. As some of my colleagues have suggested such a display of swagger always has the potential to backfire. There are now numerous signs of resistance, apart from discussion by politicians and media commentators, they include boycott attempts and a string of creative parodies.


The paper addresses the problem of discrimination of homographs when a lengthy segment of an uttered word is missing. The considered discrimination procedure is done by recognizer that operates on cepstrum coefficients extracted from the speech signal. For restoration of the missing speech segment rather than use of the known speech signal, it has been proposed to calculate speech signal characteristics: the period of fundamental frequency and intensity. By experimentation it has been shown that the polynomial approximation of speech signal characteristics improves homograph discrimination results. An extra computational burden associated with the proposed method is not high because it involves recalculation of the already extracted Fourier coefficients.


SUMMARY: The assimilation of glutamic acid by washed suspensions of Staphylococcus aureus is inhibited by 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine). Fermentation and respiration are also inhibited but only at higher concentrations of oxine than those required for the complete inhibition of assimilation. The inhibition of assimilation by oxine can be annulled by washing the cells in water or in salts of certain divalent metals; manganese salts are more effective than those of Co, Fe or Mg. The inhibition produced by high concentrations of oxine can be decreased by metals known to form chelate complexes with oxine; the addition of an equivalent of Mn completely abolishes the inhibition. Glutamate assimilation in Staph, aureus is impaired by a deficiency during growth of either Mn or Mg, but is not abolished unless both metals are absent. Washed suspensions of Mn- and Mg-deficient cells are activated by the addition of either Mn or Mg; Mg is more effective than Mn in activating washed cells whereas Mn is more effective than Mg in activating growing cells. Assimilation of glutamic acid is activated by either Mn or Mg, Mn being utilized preferentially during growth. In the absence of Mn, the organisms utilize Mg and the sensitivity of assimilation to inhibition by oxine decreases. 8. Trace Metals in Glutamic Acid Assimilation and their inactivation by 8-Hydroxyquinoline Assimilation of glutamic acid is activated by either Mn or Mg, Mn being utilized preferentially during growth. In the absence of Mn, the organisms utilize Mg and the sensitivity of assimilation to inhibition by oxine decreases.


The regulation of executive pay needs a radical rethinking. Due to the current emphasis on the consequences of the pandemic on companies, and the calls for fairer pay designs, increased scrutiny of pay, pay gap reporting and accompanying narratives is inevitable. Adopting a clear policy on pay can prove a solid tool in promoting positive perceptions and encouraging a persuasive response to any adverse scrutiny of pay issues. Yet, regulating executive pay is a balancing act. Societies and the law must preserve companies' freedom to decide their own executives' pay whilst safeguarding fairness within pay structures. Clearly, in making laws on executive pay, governments in western economies must accommodate for many conflicting policy views and variables: whether to allow company boards to exercise their powers of management free of (further) government limitation, or to extend regulation in order to tackle the general public's concern over executive greed and unethical pay structures.
Criminal and civil enforcement, Fraud, Game theory, HMRC, Tax returns.


In this study, Al–Cu-based three-layered metal matrix composites reinforced with TiC particles were produced successfully by a conventional hot pressing method under argon (Ar) atmosphere. To evaluate the effect of heat treatment, the composites were treated for 24 h at 530°C and then aged in an oil bath at 180°C for various aging periods. The multi-layered composite was characterized by SEM, EDS, XRD, and the Vickers microhardness test. It was concluded that the peak hardness for the multi-layered composite was observed, when the aging period was extended up to approximately 12 h. The hardness of the middle layer increased from approximately 140 to 291 HV within 12 h. The corrosion resistance of the composites decreased with increasing aging time and some preferential corrosion attack was detected in the composite layers. In addition, it was found that the pitting susceptibility of unaged composites was also higher than that of all the aged specimens.