By using the pump–probe technique, the femtosecond (fs) time-resolved absorption dynamics of oxyhaemoglobin (oxy Hb) in living erythrocytes was studied for the first time to our knowledge. The changing course of erythrocyte absorption at 400 nm was found to be composed of three exponential decay components with the time constants of 200±28 fs, 3.60±0.14 ps and 215±21 ps respectively, which are consistent with those of oxy Hb water solution measured in the same way, indicating that the fast process (less than 1 ns) of photo-induced response in erythrocytes was as the same as that in oxy Hb aqueous solution. These three decay components were assigned to the transitions from excited states of unligated haemoglobin (Hb*I, Hb*II) and fast geminate recombination of O2 and Hb, respectively.


Background In South Africa, breastfeeding promotion is a national health priority. Regular perinatal home visits by community health workers (CHWs) have helped promote exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in underresourced settings. Innovative, digital approaches including mobile video content have also shown promise, especially as access to mobile technology increases among CHWs. We measured the effects of an animated, mobile video series, the Philani MObile Video Intervention for Exclusive breastfeeding (MOVIE), delivered by a cadre of CHWs ("mentor mothers"). Methods and findings We conducted a stratified, cluster-randomized controlled trial from November 2018 to March 2020 in Khayelitsha, South Africa. The trial was conducted in collaboration with the Philani Maternal Child Health and Nutrition Trust, a nongovernmental community health organization. We quantified the effect of the MOVIE intervention on EBF at 1 and 5 months (primary outcomes), and on other infant feeding practices and maternal knowledge (secondary outcomes). We randomized 1,502 pregnant women in 84 clusters 1:1 to 2 study arms. Participants' median age was 26 years, 36.9% had completed secondary school, and 18.3% were employed. Mentor mothers in the video intervention arm provided standard-of-care counseling plus the MOVIE intervention; mentor mothers in the control arm provided standard of care only. Within the causal impact evaluation, we nested a mixed-methods performance evaluation measuring mentor mothers' time use and eliciting their subjective experiences through in-depth interviews. At both points of follow-up, we observed no statistically significant differences between the video intervention and the control arm with regard to EBF rates and other infant feeding practices [EBF in the last 24 hours at 1 month: RR 0.93 (95% CI 0.86 to 1.01, P = 0.091); EBF in the last 24 hours at 5 months: RR 0.90 (95% CI 0.77 to 1.04, P = 0.152)]. We observed a small, but significant improvement in maternal knowledge at the 1-month follow-up, but not at the 5-month follow-up. The interpretation of the results from this causal impact evaluation changes when we consider the results of the nested mixed-methods performance evaluation. The mean time spent per home visit was similar across study arms, but the intervention group spent approximately 40% of their visit time viewing videos. The absence of difference in effects on primary and secondary endpoints implies that, for the same time investment, the video intervention was as effective as face-to-face counseling with a mentor mother. The videos were also highly valued by mentor mothers and participants. Study limitations include a high loss to follow-up at 5 months after premature termination of the trial due to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in mentor mother service demarcations. Conclusions This trial measured the effect of a video-based, mobile health (mHealth) intervention, delivered by CHWs during home visits in an underresourced setting. The videos replaced about two-fifths of CHWs' direct engagement time with participants in the intervention arm. The similar outcomes in the 2 study arms thus suggest that the videos were as effective as face-to-face counselling, when CHWs used them to replace a portion of that counselling. Where CHWs are scarce, mHealth video interventions could be a feasible and practical solution, supporting the delivery and scaling of community health promotion services. Trial registration The study and its outcomes were registered at clinicaltrials.gov (#NCT03688217) on September 27, 2018.


The juvenile hormone analogue, methoprene, has been documented to accelerate the development of reproductive competence and sexual signalling of Caribbean (Anastrepha suspensa), the Mexican (Anastrepha ludens), the South American (Anastrepha fraterculus) and West Indian (Anastrepha obliqua) tephritid fruit flies. The incorporation of methoprene into sterile fly release protocols at fly emergence and handling facilities is a key step required for large‐scale application of the technology to field release strategies. The goal of our study was to develop a method to supply, in large scale, methoprene to sterile Mexican fruit flies for release in the current Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) programme in Mexico. In field cage tests, the isolation index of sterile males after treatment with methoprene was reduced, increasing the percentage of mating between laboratory sterile males and wild females. In laboratory trials, males fed a diet containing 0.05% or 0.1% methoprene mated 4‐day earlier than untreated control males. In a pilot area tested in 3500 ha to measure the impact of the sterile releases when methoprene was supplied, no adult wild flies were detected and no larvae were found after sampling more than 330 kg of fruit both in the treated and untreated blocks. Based on the results obtained in this study, we recommend the incorporation of the methoprene on adult diet to improve the Mexican fruit fly male sexual performance when release in the field, contributing to the increase in the cost‐effectiveness of the SIT programme.


ADCME is a novel computational framework to solve inverse problems involving physical simulations and deep neural networks (DNNs). This paper benchmarks its capability to learn spatially-varying physical fields using DNNs. We demonstrate that our approach has superior accuracy compared to the discretization approach on a variety of problems, linear or nonlinear, static or dynamic. Technically, we formulate our inverse problem as a PDE-constrained optimization problem. We express both the numerical simulations and DNNs using computational graphs and therefore, we can calculate the gradients using reverse-mode automatic differentiation. We apply a physics constrained learning algorithm (PCL) to efficiently back-propagate gradients through iterative solvers for nonlinear equations. The open-source software which accompanies the present paper can be found at this https URL.


Mobile digital games are dominantly released under the freemium business model, but only a small fraction of the players makes any purchases. The ability to predict who will make a purchase enables optimization of marketing efforts, and tailoring customer relationship management to the specific user's profile. Here this challenge is addressed via two models for predicting purchasing players, using a 100,000 player dataset: 1) A classification model focused on predicting whether a purchase will occur or not. 2) a regression model focused on predicting the number of purchases a user will make. Both models are presented within a decision and regression tree framework for building rules that are actionable by companies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating purchase decisions in freemium mobile products from a user behavior perspective and adopting behavior-driven learning approaches to this problem.


The treatment of coronal plane deformity during total ankle arthroplasty is understood poorly. This study tests the hypotheses that preoperative coronal plane malalignment and incongruence of the ankle can be corrected and maintained for 2 years with total ankle replacement, and that factors can be identified that place ankles at risk of having progressive edge-loading develop. Of 86 consecutive patients who had total ankle replacement, 35 had preoperative coronal plane alignment > or =10 degrees. Lateral ligament reconstruction was done in seven patients and superficial deltoid release was done in four patients at the time of ankle replacement. Ankles with talar and tibial deformities improved talar and tibial alignment toward a neutral weightbearing axis postoperatively. Ankles with only a talar deformity improved the talar alignment toward a neutral weightbearing axis postoperatively. No changes in alignment were shown during the subsequent 2 years. Postoperative ankle articulations were congruent. Patients with preoperative incongruent joints are 10 times more likely to have progressive edge-loading develop than patients with congruent joints. Surgeons must be attentive to coronal plane alignment during and after ankle replacement. Longer followup is needed to assess the longevity of the correction and the impact of minor malalignment on implant wear.


This is a consensual multi-dyadic exploration of the diverse perspectives of seven community subgroups' perceptions of events before, during, and after the 2014 police-involved shooting death of Michael Brown, Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri. Recognizing an enacted environment in the complex history that preceded the uprising, findings were contextualized and framed through the cosmology episode trauma model. A multicultural and visibly diverse research team conducted 34 interviews with involved citizens (protesters), law enforcement, clergy, politicians, business owners, media personnel, and educators. A culturally diverse cross-analysis team triangulated social perspective through consensus coding and audit. Consensual multi-dyadic method preserved the unique characteristics of each subgroup's phenomenology, to ensure culturally sensitive and decolonized research methods, enabling an in depth look at the factors necessary for conciliation. Insight into motivational factors, narrative meaning-making, and implications for intervention and treatment are discussed.


: The participation of GABA and some other transmitter systems in the regulation of the convulsive seizure threshold was studied using pharmacological tools. The convulsion were provoked by intravenous infusion of the GABAergic antagonists picrotoxin and bicuculline and, in some cases, of pentylenetetrazole and strychnine. The GABAergic transmitter mechanisms were established to play a major role in the regulation of the convulsive seizure threshold. Of some importance is also the participation of benzodiazepine receptors, cholinergic, dopaminergic, serotoninergic mechanisms, as well as of cyclic nucleotides. The interactions between the GABAergic and dopaminergic, cholinergic mechanisms, cyclic nucleotides, benzodiazepine receptors may also play a role in the convulsive threshold regulation. The changes in the threshold of convulsive reactions are closely related to the decrease or increase of both central inhibition (pre- or postsynaptic) and excitation.


A stochastic inverse method is presented to estimate the seabottom scattering coeffcients on the base of shallow-water ray mode reverberation theory. The reverberation data measured in the Asian Sea International Acoustic Experiment (ASIAEX) in the East China Sea in 2001 are analysed. The seabottom scattering coefficients areestimated from the reverberation loss. The inverted results are then tested by comparing the experiment data with the predictions of the reverberation vertical correlation and the reverberation loss measured on the different sea states at the same site. The fact that the experimental data are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions indicates the validity of the estimates.


The Formosa Satellite-3 and Constellation Observing System for the Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC) radio occultation (RO) mission has been successfully launched on April 14, 2006. The FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC mission uses global positioning system (GPS) signals to study the atmosphere and the ionosphere with global coverage. Receivers that are installed onboard of the six small FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC satellites register the phase and the amplitude of radio waves at two GPS frequencies. We give a preliminary analysis of the first RO measurements that are provided by the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC mission. The geographical distribution of the first FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC RO experiments is shown. We demonstrate that the performance of the first measurements allows obtaining the vertical profiles of the refractivity, temperature, and pressure for the considered FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC RO events with expected accuracy, which is quite similar to the accuracy of the previous Challenging Mini-Satellite Payload and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment RO missions. New elements in the RO technology are suggested for further improving the accuracy and broadening the application range of the RO method. We emphasize new directions in applying the RO method to measure the vertical gradients of the refractivity in the atmosphere, to determine the temperature regime in the upper stratosphere, and to investigate the internal wave activity in the atmosphere. We find a significant correlation between the phase acceleration and the intensity variations in the RO signals that are emitted by GPS satellites and registered by the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC satellites. This correlation opens a way to locate the layered structures in the propagation medium based on simultaneous observations of the radio wave intensity and the phase variations in trans-ionospheric satellite-to-satellite links.


In the era of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases which has seen many endemics, epidemics and pandemics throughout the world attributed to viral, parasitic and bacterial microbes, preparedness assumes significance. Changing microbial behaviour due to genetic variations as seen in Influenza virus is responsible for emergence of newer strains which are antigenically different from the existing ones is responsible for infections that cause severe morbidity and mortality. Other microbial species including the Dengue virus, Chikungunya virus, Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever virus transmitted to human through vectors, Listeria monocytogenes, Leptospira spp, Legionella pneumophila cause frequent endemics and epidemics worldwide. Emergence of multi-drug resistant species of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has already thrown a challenge for the control and eradication programmes against tuberculosis. Other bacterial species resistant to many antimicrobials currently being used owing to the genetic variations cause infections in human that are very difficult to treat. Scrub typhus is a unique disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, an intracellular bacterium transmitted by the bite of chiggers (larval forms of mites) and is usually present endemically whose clinical features are very similar to other prevalent infectious diseases in the same geographical areas. T he need of the hour is to have a good knowledge of microbial infections in respective geographic regions and predicting emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases which could contribute to better patient management. Keywords Emerging infections; Re-emerging infections; Scrub Typhus; Orientia tsutsugamushi


Is there a model for a thermally comfortable mid-sized urban square in the Dutch climate context which offers sufficient wind protection and a good distribution of sun- and shade places? To answer this question, a 'research by design' process was followed. This process included the design of different alternatives of spatial configurations that were expected to generate thermal comfort in different seasons. These configurations were then tested with Envi-met® simulations on their effects for different seasons and different squares. The 'research by design' process showed that for the Dutch context of mid- sized urban squares the most optimal model that could be developed and tested, were sequences of 'urban shelterbelts'. These consist of 25 m high deciduous trees and have transparent wind screens in the trunk space. The 'urban shelterbelts', when placed perpendicular to the dominant Southwesterly winds both protect the squares from these winds and also offer sufficient shaded situations. This optimized model can be used to address thermal comfort in urban square design, but it needs to be adjusted to each place and embedded in the integral design of a square.


The last two decades have seen calls for a re-examination of the relevance of business education, and the pursuit of different avenues to ensure the value, usefulness and relevance of student learning. Many students enrolled in undergraduate business degrees have little, or no, full-time work experience which further exacerbates the difficulties experienced by instructors attempting to establish clearer links between theory and practice. This paper examines the use of case-based reasoning in the teaching of strategic human resource management at the undergraduate level, and uses a survey to explore the experience of students studying in this manner. A questionnaire, containing both quantitative and qualitative questions was administered to two cohorts of students (internal and distance) at the completion of the subject in 2006 and 2007. A number of key measures were identified through an examination of the literature on the use of case-based reasoning, its application in the classroom and identified benefits, and formed the basis of the questionnaire design. The data was analyzed using simple means, standard deviations, and two-sample comparisons of means for statistical significance (t-tests). It was found that overall the students (both Internal and Distance) were pleased with their experience using the case method in this subject and felt that it had assisted their learning. No significant differences were found when comparing the perceptions of Distance and Internal students, or between the two cohorts of students (2006 and 2007). Of more value, perhaps, are many of the written comments in which students elaborated on how and why they found case-based reasoning a useful approach for studying strategic human resource management as they can both inform and reinforce the teaching strategy.


Purpose. Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke are among the most common causes of seizures, especially in the elderly. EEG is the only technique that can detect epileptiform abnormalities (EA) and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE), which may negatively affect recovery of these patients. Herein we aimed to investigate the potential predictive value of long-term EEG findings in terms of poststroke seizures (PSS) and survival, in stroke patients followed up in the neurological intensive care unit (NICU). Methods. Video-EEG reports of stroke patients (ischemic and hemorrhagic) hospitalized between 2009 and 2014 in our NICU were reviewed. Patients with <2 months of survival were excluded. Follow-up data were obtained via telephone calls or patient charts. The correlation between EEG findings and early (≤1 week) and late seizure (>1 week) occurrence, recurrent seizure development, outcome, and survival were analyzed statistically. Results. Overall 50 patients (27 female, 23 male; age, 26-85 years) were included in the final analysis. Almost 60% developed PSS (~2/3 were early). There was no difference between ischemic versus hemorrhagic stroke patients (P = .72). Recurrent seizures were more common in the late seizure group (P < .001). EAs occurred in one-third of the study cohort. This finding did not predict seizure development (P = .93) or survival (P = .61). Conclusion. PSS are a frequent finding in stroke patients followed up in NICU. EAs are not uncommon, but do not predict seizure occurrence or survival.


Book synopsis: Largely through trial and error, filmmakers have developed engaging techniques that capture our sensations, thoughts, and feelings. Philosophers and film theorists have thought deeply about the nature and impact of these techniques, yet few scientists have delved into empirical analyses of our movie experience-or what Arthur P. Shimamura has coined "psychocinematics." This edited volume introduces this exciting field by bringing together film theorists, philosophers, psychologists, and neuroscientists to consider the viability of a scientific approach to our movie experience.


As the durations and distances involved in human exploration missions increase, the logistics associated with the repair and maintenance becomes more challenging. Whereas the operation of the International Space Station (ISS) depends upon regular resupply from the Earth, this paradigm may not be feasible for future missions. Longer mission durations result in higher probabilities of component failures as well as higher uncertainty regarding which components may fail, and longer distances from Earth increase the cost of resupply as well as the speed at which the crew can abort to Earth in the event of an emergency. As such, mission development efforts must take into account the logistics requirements associated with maintenance and spares. Accurate prediction of the spare parts demand for a given mission plan and how that demand changes as a result of changes to the system architecture enables full consideration of the lifecycle cost associated with different options. In this paper, we utilize a range of analysis techniques - Monte Carlo, semi-Markov, binomial, and heuristic - to examine the relationship between the mass of spares and probability of loss of function related to the Carbon Dioxide Removal System (CRS) for a notional, simplified mission profile. The Exploration Maintainability Analysis Tool (EMAT), developed at NASA Langley Research Center, is utilized for the Monte Carlo analysis. We discuss the implications of these results and the features and drawbacks of each method. In particular, we identify the limitations of heuristic methods for logistics analysis, and the additional insights provided by more in-depth techniques. We discuss the potential impact of system complexity on each technique, as well as their respective abilities to examine dynamic events. This work is the first step in an effort that will quantitatively examine how well these techniques handle increasingly more complex systems by gradually expanding the system boundary.


Medical evacuation strategies and tactics to provide seamless point of injury/care and en route patient care for wounded war-fighters is a challenge. Having highly trained medical personal that can rapidly and correctly triage patients by determining who requires immediate need of stabilizing interventions from those that do not requires systematic training to implement appropriate treatment intervention. A smart, flexible training platform can allow for the incorporation of a student's experience and skill level and apply it to simulation training in the areas of triage, TCCC, PFC and medical evacuation. The development of a standardized, accessible simulation training platform system can alleviate medical errors and stress levels in medical providers and improve patient rehabilitation.


Effects of sonication and hydrothermal treatment time on TiO2 nanowires (TNWs) formation have been investigated. Sonication of TiO2 P25 sol was performed using sonicator water bath Cole for 0.5, 1 and 2 hours followed by hydrothermal treatment. The hydrothermal treatment was carried out in a teflon lined stainless steel autoclave for 12, 15 and 24 hours. The samples were characterized by means of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD), UV-vis diffuse and reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS). The specific surface area of each sample was determined by the BET nitrogen gas adsorption/desorption method. The photocatalytic activity of TNWs was evaluated with photocatalytic H2 evolution from aqueous methanol solution. The result showed that the best TNWs was obtained at 1 hr sonication followed by hydrothermal process for 12 hours. By using this catalyst hydrogen production reached 82 μmol after 5h while using TiO2 P25 could only reach 23 μmol.


The threat of continuous data copying is one of the key problems in applicative programming. The opportunities to implement functional data structures as updatable objects, thus avoiding any form of copying, are discussed. The notion of incremental structures and associated storage is used. Its specification is modified so as to handle sequential and shared structures. The former can be used in the case when only data dependencies and not data values are considered in source program analysis. The latter can be used for nondeterministic applications such as system programming. >


Drawing on the resource dependence theory and the resource-based view, this paper investigates the interactions between market and nonmarket activities of firms in the context of the post-merger integration phase in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Based on a cross-country survey of 111 M&A practitioners who were personally involved in cross-border M&As around the world, we test seven hypotheses on various market and nonmarket aspects of post-merger integration. We find a positive correlation between buffering strategies and adaptive capabilities in the nonmarket environment, and between bridging and adaptive capabilities in the market environment. However, we could not find any significant correlation between buffering and adaptive capabilities in the market environment, and bridging and adaptive capabilities in the nonmarket environment. We also find that adaptability in the nonmarket environment is positively correlated with adaptability in the market environment, and in turn adaptability in the market environment leads to positive organizational performance of a cross border M&A. These results provide further support for the value of the alignment between market and nonmarket activities and help to fill a gap in the literature on the market-nonmarket interactions in post-merger integration.


The general aim of this thesis was to increase our understanding of quality of life (QoL) after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), and the most important determinants of QoL, in order to tailor appropriate rehabilitation programs and thereby enhance their effectiveness. We reviewed the literature on the determinants of QoL among aneurysmal SAH patients. Based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) model of the World Health Organization1, we found determinants related to Body Structure & Function (e.g. fatigue and mood), Activity (e.g. physical disability and cognitive complaints) and Personal factors (e.g. female gender, higher age, neuroticism and passive coping) to be consistently related to worse QoL after aneurysmal SAH. Participation has not been studied as a determinant of QoL after SAH. Thus far, predominantly generic QoL measurements have been used. The results of this thesis show that the Stroke Specific Quality of Life (SS-QoL) scale is valid in SAH patients, and can be used in a multi-disciplinary (rehabilitation) care setting as well as in research. Cognitive complaints occur often after SAH and are related to cognitive impairments, physical impairment and depressive symptoms, of which depressive symptoms were the strongest predictor. The association between cognitive complaints and underlying cognitive impairments is weak, which had already been suggested in earlier studies in SAH, ischemic stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Also fatigue occurs very often after SAH and is persisting over time.Passive coping, anxiety or depressive symptoms are important determinants of fatigue. Almost half of the variance of health-related QoL (HRQoL) can be explained with cognitive complaints, cognitive impairments and passive coping. Thus, by introducing the psychological aspects (cognitive complaints and impairments, and passive coping), we were able to predict HRQoL after SAH much better than a previous meta-analysis.SAH patients experience lower psychosocial than physical HRQoL. Return to work is a very important determinant for life satisfaction after SAH. Return to work after SAH depends mainly on age, initial neurologic condition, residual physical disability and depression, and the preservation of cognitive and sensorimotor functions. A structured screening of the physical, cognitive and emotional functioning early after discharge, as in our outpatient clinic, could be an important way to detect these problems. As a clinician, I would recommend every medical centre specialised in treatment of SAH patients to arrange such a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic. Then, after collecting information about the patients physical, cognitive and emotional functioning, a tailored rehabilitation program can be recommended by the rehabilitation physician, which can be carried out at the rehabilitation department of a hospital or at a rehabilitation centre in the patients' neighbourhood. For research, such a specialised multidisciplinary outpatient clinic also offers a great opportunity to collect information about patients with SAH, and therefore can further increase our understanding of long-term problems after SAH.


The methods for arrest of profuse gastric hemorrhage in difficult situations aimed at life salvage of a patient, prevention of the postoperative complications are suggested. Knowledge of the non-conventional methods for arrest of hemorrhage will be of an essential help to a practical physician.


The most important step of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is planning the puncture site. A well selected puncture will facilitate nephroscopic navigation and stone clearance. The traditional methods for planning the puncture are intravenous urogram or retrograde pyelogram. Either of these imaging tools is adequate, but new tools such as 3D reconstructed tomography should be more accurate. Many recently developed imaging tools are promising, but no one is still ideal. The imaging techniques that we currently use have specific advantages and disadvantages. The purpose of this review is to summarise different imaging tools and their effectiveness prior to PCNL.


P-wave attenuation (expressed in terms of t* = T/Q, the ratio of travel time to the P-wave quality factor Q/sub a/) was measured for a large number of teleseismic paths using spectral ratios for nuclear explosions in the short-period band 0.5 to 4 Hz. If these new t* values along with other data in the literature are subdivided into two groups, one involving wave paths which descend and emerge entirely under shields or stable platforms and the other involving paths with either end of the wave path under the Western United States (WUS), a definite difference can be found between the average t* values of the two groups. The difference in attenuation, which gives a t* difference greater than 0.2, is sufficient to explain the fact that teleseismic events appear to be, on the average, about 0.26 units lower in magnitude when measured at WUS stations as compared to Eastern United States (EUS) stations, assuming that the observed dominant frequency of teleseismic P waves is about 1 Hz. A similar difference exists in the spectra of teleseismic short-period S waves observed in WUS relative to those seen in EUS. The observations indicate that Q/sub ..cap alpha../ is high (Q/sub ..capmore » alpha../ greater than 1500) throughout the upper mantle under shield areas while the WUS (with the possible exception of the Colorado Plateau) is underlain by a low-Q layer. If this layer coincides in vertical extent with the upper-mantle low-velocity layer, the Q/sub ..cap alpha../ there should be about one-half that of the value given by Archambeau et al. (1969). The t* values for short-period P waves are considerably lower than those derived by the other authors from body waves in the long-period band, indicating that Q/sub ..cap alpha../ is frequency dependent and increases with frequency.« less


Herein, we report dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) based on conventional nanocrystalline TiO_2 photoanodes decorated with one-dimensional (1D) CNT–TiO_2 core–shell structures (CTH). The core–shell nanotubes are synthesized by a simple sol–gel template-assisted method via in situ deposition of TiO_2 on the surface of non-covalently functionalized CNTs. The core–shell nanotubes are well characterized by various techniques. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show that formation of the TiO_2 shell on the surface of the CNT core follows a layer or Frank–van der Merwe growth mode, resulting in a highly uniform interface with excellent charge transfer from the TiO_2 conduction band into the CNTs. The thickness and crystal structure of the TiO_2 shell can be tailored by controlling the processing parameters. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy verify that CNTs have no surface defects and are well preserved using the employed method and the subsequent heat treatment in air, respectively. UV-vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy reveal an extension to visible regions with an increase in overall intensity and a significant reduction in charge recombination due to a shift of the Fermi level toward positive potentials. We find an increase by up to 37% in the DSC device's power conversion efficiency by incorporating the CNT–TiO_2 core–shell nanotubes into the nanoparticle TiO_2 photoanode due to the charge recombination reduction and electron injection enhancement.


Case studies of individuals reporting recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse suggest that some overestimate their prior forgetting of the abuse. People reporting recovered or continuous memories of childhood sexual abuse and control subjects reporting no history of abuse participated in two experiments examining this "forgot it all along" phenomenon. Participants in Experiment 1 were more likely to forget that they had previously recalled a studied item if they were cued to think of it differently on two recall tests than if they were cued to think of it in the same way on the two tests. This effect was stronger for recovered-memory participants than for continuous-memory and control participants. In Experiment 2, participants recalled autobiographical events three times over a period of 4 months. Much as in Experiment 1, they underestimated prior remembering when the events had been recalled in a different emotional frame (positive vs. negative) on the previous occasion. This underestimation was more pronounced for recovered-memory participants than for continuous-memory and control participants.


In this paper, a tabu search tracker with adaptive neurofuzzy inference system (TST-ANFIS) is presented for multiple target tracking (MTT). First, the data association problem, formulated as an N-dimensional assignment problem, is solved using the tabu search algorithm (TSA), and then the inaccuracies in the estimation are corrected by the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The performances of the TST-ANFIS, the joint probabilistic data association filter (JPDAF), the tabu search tracker (TST), Lagrangian relaxation algorithm (LRA), and cheap joint probabilistic data association with adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system state filter (CJPDA-ANFISSF) are compared with each other for six different tracking scenarios. It was shown that the tracks estimated by using proposed TST-ANFIS agree better with the true tracks than the tracks predicted by the JPDAF, the TST, the LRA, and the CJPDAANFISSF. 170 Turkmen and Guney


Web services are emerging as a promising technology for the automation of inter-organizational interactions. As technology matures and the foundations of Web services become more solid, users will start to demand tools that facilitate the service development lifecycle. It is only when such tools become available that novel technologies become applied and enter the mainstream, since the complexity, cost and time necessary to deploy and manage solutions is dramatically reduced. In this paper, we present a framework and a tool that support the model-driven development of Web services. The idea consists in identifying key Web services abstractions, in addition to those of basic Web services standards, that enable the description of service policies and properties that are useful in practice. In this paper, we focus on service protocols, and specifically on conversation and trust negotiation protocols. These protocols are modeled by means of graphical tools and high-level languages so that they are easy to specify, understand, and evolve. The tools also support the automatic generation of service implementation skeletons based on these abstractions, manage the entire service lifecycle, and provide run-time support to verify that the interaction among clients and services occur in compliance with the specified policies.


Plutonium is a hazardous radioactive contaminant that persists in the soil as fallout from nuclear weapons testing and incidents at nuclear facilities. This thesis examines the plutonium present in Australian soils; the particles that are formed, how it is transported and the effects of specific climates. This data will help improve and validate radioecological models, risk characterisations and impact assessments for radiation protection in Australia and similar environments.


Estimations affirm that by 2030 there will be 9 billion people on our planet, which makes the problem of food a priority issue. A large part of the food, especially in industrialized countries, is packaged, either fresh produce from the field (fruits and vegetables) or cooked products, many of them in the ready-to-take mode.The recent COVID-19 pandemic increased the consumption of food prepared for home delivery, causing more waste in municipal landfills. In countries like Spain, takeaway fast food services have increased during the pandemic by 83% compared to 2019, already representing 3% of the shopping basket, which indicates that spending on this appearance has doubled.The Starpack Competition organized by the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mines of England used this problem as a theme for its contest in 2021. The students of the "Molds and production in plastics" course of Engineering in Innovation and Design at Universidad Panamericana in Mexico participated in the contest, obtaining outstanding positions in the awards.This communication shows the results obtained. We explain six design projects, who received prizes in the contest. The projects include a container for take-out tacos, a dehydrator container for fruits and vegetables, a Multi-purpose container for foods such as salads, sushi, hamburgers, etc., a container for scones, and finally, a container for fresh potatoes.All the proposals presented were made with recycled or recyclable plastic materials, thinking about the circular economy, the possibility of being re-used, and the reduction to a minimum of waste and the manufacturing process. The intervention of the human factor was taken into account during the design process, considering the physical and psychological aspects in the design of the packaging projects.


OBJECTIVES. Positive airway pressure therapy (PAP) is frequently used to treat children who have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and do not respond to adenotonsillectomy. However, no studies have evaluated objectively adherence to PAP in children, and few studies have evaluated objectively the effectiveness of PAP. The objective of this study was to determine adherence and effectiveness of PAP (both continuous [CPAP] and bilevel [BPAP] pressure) in children with obstructive apnea. METHODS. A prospective, multicenter study was performed of children who were randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to 6 months of CPAP versus BPAP. Adherence was measured objectively using the equipment's computerized output. Effectiveness was evaluated using polysomnography. RESULTS. Twenty-nine children were studied. Approximately one third of children dropped out before 6 months. Of the 21 children for whom 6-month adherence data could be downloaded, the mean nightly use was 5.3 ± 2.5 (SD) hours. Parental assessment of PAP use considerably overestimated actual use. PAP was highly effective, with a reduction in the apnea hypopnea index from 27 ± 32 to 3 ± 5/hour, and an improvement in arterial oxygen saturation nadir from 77 ± 17% to 89 ± 6%. Results were similar for children who received CPAP versus BPAP. Children also had a subjective improvement in daytime sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS. Both CPAP and BPAP are highly efficacious in pediatric obstructive apnea. However, treatment with PAP is associated with a high dropout rate, and even in the adherent children, nightly use is suboptimal considering the long sleep hours in children.


Abstract In this paper I will argue that Aristotelian accounts of disease cannot provide us with an adequate descriptive account of our concept of disease. In other words, they fail to classify conditions as either diseases, or non-diseases, in a way that is consistent with commonplace intuitions. This being said, Aristotelian accounts of disease are not worthless. Aristotelian approaches cannot offer a decent descriptive account of our concept of disease, but they do offer resources for improving on the ways in which we think about the harms that afflict human beings. While they cannot offer an account of 'disease' they can offer an account of 'harm'-and this it turns out, is ultimately of greater importance.


Modern societies tend to become fragmented by new migration patterns and human mobility. Urbanization, large-scale residential environments and a lack of social ties makes people alienated, and social cohesion, crucial to human well-being, is weakened. In such societies, the old class divisions are replaced by other sectors of the population and interests. Deviant behavior and criminality developed when informal social control does not work. It will then be replaced by formal control devices, which usually fail to create effective social environments. It is in this context community organizing has become a means and method to re-create inclusive environments where people work together for common concerns, understand and learn about their community and themselves in the same process. It provides opportunities for people to collaborate and influence their life situation, which community organizing very much is about. This article is about the concept of community organizing.


The authors have developed a 200-M sample/s digital oscilloscope that realizes the multigate triggering function and incorporates a 32-b RISC-(reduction-instruction-set-computer-) type processor and a floating-point coprocessor to execute various functional calculations and to display data on the screen. They describe a unique waveform triggering system (multigate triggering) and discuss the implementation and applications of a RISC-type processor for sophisticated signal processing functions. Multigate triggering is a real-time qualifying system that enhances the conventional level-crossing trigger. In digital oscilloscopes the digitized data are prestored in acquisition memory before the trigger occurs. In multigate triggering these prestored data are used by the digital comparator array for selecting the desired waveform. The RISC-type processing system has realized fast and accurate computations, including the Hilbert transform and digital filtering.<<ETX>>


"In our time, Bernard Leach has done for pottery what Henry Moore has done for scuplture. This...infinitely rewarding book is an account of his pilgrimage through life". ("Times"). Bernard Leach (1887-1979) was as renowned in Japan and the East as in Europe and America, both as an artist-craftsman and as a thinker. His interpretation of the traditions of the Orient in the making of pots - and in evolving a philosophy of life - was a lodestar for many potters in the West. "Beyond East and West", first published in 1978, is more than an autobiography. Full of sharply-etched and amusing recollections, it contains much of Leach's deeper thought and a great deal too about the practical application of his ideas. Its recurrent theme is the meeting of East and West at all levels - artistic, cultural, social, political.


The tourism activity promotes socioeconomic development and conservation of the resources of a destination. In developing border areas, tourism is part of the engine of its economy being exploited through different historical, cultural and natural resources near the border. The gastronomy is among these cultural resources. The purpose of this research was threefold: first analyze the strengths of gastronomy in the Dominican-Haitian border; second, to analyze the motivations of foreign tourists who visit the most important city in this region: Dajabon; and contribute to strengthen research in the field of border tourism. The methodology is qualitative and a questionnaire was design to collect data from international tourists. The main results of this research, it is noteworthy that the main motivation of demand is marked by eating and drinking. The strengths of gastronomy in this border tourist destination is related with good prices, customer service and hospitality, the quality of the dishes and the friendly atmosphere of their establishments. As weakness, the lack of innovation and new flavors in the dishes and, moreover, the facilities are highlighted.


We are all perplexed that current medical practice often appears maladroit in curing our individual illnesses or disease. However, as is often the case, a lack of understanding, tools and technologies are the root cause of such situations. Human individuality is an often-quoted term but, in the context of human biology, it is poorly understood. This is compounded when there is a need to consider the variability of human populations. In the case of the former, it is possible to quantify human complexity as determined by the 35,000 genes of the human genome, the 1-10 million proteins (including antibodies) and the 2000-3000 metabolites of the human metabolome. Human variability is much more difficult to assess, since many of the variables, such as the definition of race, are not even clearly agreed on. In order to accommodate human complexity, variability and its influence on health and disease, it is necessary to undertake a systematic approach. In the past decade, the emergence of analytical platforms and bioinformatics tools has led to the development of systems biology. Such an approach offers enormous potential in defining key pathways and networks involved in optimal human health, as well as disease onset, progression and treatment. The tools and technologies now available in systems biology analyses offer exciting opportunities to exploit the emerging areas of personalized medicine. In this article, we discuss the current status of human complexity, and how systems biology and personalized medicine can impact at the individual and population level.


Amicrobial pustulosis of the folds (APF) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis found in association with autoimmune diseases. We present a 49-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus and a recurrent pustular eruption in the cutaneous folds. Histologic examination revealed spongiform pustulosis and dermal neutrophilic infiltrate. The Gram and periodic acid-Schiff stains were negative for bacteria and fungi. A diagnosis of amicrobial pustulosis of the folds was given. While there is no standard treatment, our patient's symptoms resolved following an oral prednisone taper and have not recurred since starting colchicine. The presence of pustules and erosive plaques in skin folds in young women with autoimmune conditions should raise suspicion for APF. The combination of localized neutrophilic spongiosis with intraepidermal or subcorneal pustules in conjunction with dermal changes of a neutrophilic dermatosis is a helpful clue to the diagnosis. If the patient does not already have a diagnosis of an underlying autoimmune condition, a presentation of APF should prompt further screening consisting of a relevant review of symptoms and appropriate assessment for autoimmune antibodies, since APF may precede the diagnosis of autoimmune disorders.


This research aims to make clear the determinants of job shift patterns in Japan. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of both individual level of resource and reward, and labor market structures which affect job mobility patterns. However, previous research on job mobility in Japan did not incorporate individual level of attributes such as resource and reward into systematic theoretical points of view while the impact of labor market structure on job mobility drew distinctive attention in Japan. In addition, many previous studies did not take into account the context of job shift because of a lack of available source of information in survey data. The present research pays attention to the divergence between voluntary and involuntary job mobility. The result shows that firm − specific skills and occupational reward made it less likely for employees to quit a job. It corresponds to the model of reward and resource. However, there is no evidence that general human capital which is transferable across firm would increase the likelihood of quitting a job as is seen in the U.S labor market. In addition, the way in which labor market structure influences job shift patterns is almost identical to the model of segmented labor market. In contrast, the way in which macroeconomic conditions for labor market affects rates of job shift in Japan is deviant from the hypothesis for the U.S labor market. This paper highlights the differences between voluntary and involuntary job mobility in Japan. Compared to the previous studies in the U.S, the job mobility patterns in Japan appear to be roughly similar to the ones for the United States whereas it seems that the institutional arrangements specific to Japanese labor market could make the job mobility patterns substantially different from those for the other indus-trialized countries. Cross − national comparison of intragenerational mobility which has lacked empirical studies would be further needed so that we can make clear the underpinnings of job mobility structure and institutional arrangements of labor market which diverge job mobility across country.


Energy-based models (EBMs) allow flexible specifications of probability distributions. However, sampling from EBMs is non-trivial, usually requiring approximate techniques such as Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). A major downside of MCMC sampling is that it is often impossible to compute the divergence of the sampling distribution from the target distribution: therefore, the quality of the samples cannot be guaranteed. Here, we introduce quasi-rejection sampling (QRS), a simple extension of rejection sampling that performs approximate sampling, but, crucially, does provide divergence diagnostics (in terms of f - divergences, such as KL divergence and total variation distance). We apply QRS to sampling from discrete EBMs over text for controlled generation. We show that we can sample from such EBMs with arbitrary precision in exchange for sampling efficiency and quantify the trade-off between the two by means of the aforementioned diagnostics. 1


The deployment of USArray across the continental U.S. has prompted developments within surface wave tomography to exploit this unprecedented data set. Here, we present a
method to measure a new surface wave observable: broadband surface wave amplification that provides new and unique constraints on elastic velocities and density within the
crust and upper mantle. The method, similar to its phase velocity counterpart referred to as Helmholtz tomography, initiates by constructing phase travel time and amplitude maps across the array for each period and earthquake. Spatial differential operators are then applied to evaluate the amplitude variation, as well as the effect of focusing/defocusing.
Based on the 2-D damped wave equation, the amplitude variation corrected for focusing/defocusing is linked directly to both local amplification and intrinsic attenuation, which are separated by examining waves propagating in opposite directions. We apply the method to
teleseismic Rayleigh waves observed across USArray between periods of 24 and 100 s and show that the observed amplification maps are strongly correlated with known geological features. Small-scale attenuation measurements are contaminated by wavefield complexities, but larger-scale anelastic attenuation is estimated reliably. The observed amplification maps compare well with predictions based on recent 3-D shear velocity
models of the western U.S. that were produced from ambient noise and earthquake data.
Notably, predictions based on models with different prescribed density structures demonstrate the potential for using estimates of local amplification to constrain not only 3-D velocity structure but also density.


ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to identify, at the time of admission, predictors of aggression in adults admitted to acute mental health care. Method: Adult patients (n = 350) consecutively admitted to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Sri Lanka were assessed for a wide range of dispositional, historical, contextual and clinical factors associated with inpatient violence. Clinical factors were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and risk of aggression using the Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC). All 350 patients were followed for 72 hours post-admission and observed for aggression using the Overt Aggression Scale. Results: Fifty-nine patients (16.8%) met criteria for aggression. Those in the aggressive group were younger, single and had caused harm to others or damaged property in the two weeks prior to admission. Aggressive patients were also more likely to exhibit symptoms of psychopathology (higher scores on the hostility-suspiciousness subscale of BPRS) and to have a higher total score on the BVC at the time of admission, than other patients. Conclusions: Of all of the risk factors considered at the time of admission, the BVC total score was the strongest predictor of aggression following admission. Indeed, the BVC was a more robust predictor of aggression in the post-admission period than a history of aggression preceding admission and psychopathology as measured by the BPRS. The finding supports the use of structured risk assessments for monitoring the risk of aggression in patients during the initial 72 hours post-admission.


This paper provides some clarification on the subject of the response of multiconductor lines to lightning-originated electromagnetic fields. Specifically, the effect of the presence of more conductors on the line response is analyzed with and without taking into account the ground losses in the surge propagation. The effect of the boundary conditions is also discussed. The presented analysis shows, in particular, that the response of a matched multiconductor lossless line differs from that of a single-conductor line at the same height only in the line currents. The effect of the nearby line conductors on the induced voltages is, indeed, noticeable when the ground losses are taken into account in the surge propagation.


In 1995, South Africa commenced the implementation of a new quality assurance program at all educational levels, which promotes outcomes-based education. Degree programs and academic institutions have to be accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority through discipline-specific Education Training and Quality Assurance bodies. In response to these changes in education structure, the South African Pharmacy Council has developed outcomes-based competency standards for entry-level pharmacists. On the basis of these standards, the School of Pharmacy of the Medical University of Southern Africa, which served a non-white population during the apartheid era, and the Technikon Pretoria, which served a predominantly white student population, have jointly established an integrated, problem-based BPharm curriculum. The student intake on the program reflects the South African demographic composition. The course is designed to meet both the competency requirements and the needs of historically disadvantaged sections of the community. It is now in its third year, with encouraging pass rates.


In this paper, a new constitutive law aiming at describing the quasi-brittle behavior when subjected to cyclic loading is presented. The proposed model is formulated within the framework of isotropic continuum damage mechanics. The Cauchy stress tensor is split into two contributions: one related to the matrix (without cracks) behavior the other related to the crack behavior. This strategy allows accounting for both the crack closure effect and the hysteretic effect in an efficient way making possible large-scale computations. In addition, a specific attention is paid to the way of identifying the material parameters, often requiring complex experimental tests not always easy to carry out. A virtual testing approach based on the use of a discrete element model is used for this purpose.


Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have been applied to machine condition monitoring. This paper first addresses a ANN trained by Group Search Optimizer (GSO), which is a novel population based optimization algorithm inspired by animal social foraging behaviour. The global search performance of GSO has been proven to be competitive to other evolutionary algorithms, such as Genetic Algorithms (GAs) and Particle Swarm Optimizer (PSO). Herein, the parameters of a 3-layer feed-forward ANN, including connection weights and bias are tuned by the GSO algorithm. Secondly the GSO based ANN is applied to model and analysis ultrasound data recorded from grinding machines to distinguish different conditions. The real experimental results show that the proposed method is capable to indicate the malfunction of machine condition from the ultrasound data.


Game theory has been widely used for modeling strategic behaviors in networked multiagent systems. However, the context within which these strategic behaviors take place has received limited attention. We present a model of strategic behavior in networks that incorporates the behavioral context, focusing on the contextual aspects of congressional voting. One salient predictive model in political science is the ideal point model, which assigns each senator and each bill a number on the real line of political spectrum. We extend the classical ideal point model with network-structured interactions among senators. In contrast to the ideal point model's prediction of individual voting behavior, we predict joint voting behaviors in a game-theoretic fashion. The consideration of context allows our model to outperform previous models that solely focus on the networked interactions with no contextual parameters. We focus on two fundamental questions: learning the model using real-world data and computing stable outcomes of the model with a view to predicting joint voting behaviors and identifying most influential senators. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our model through experiments using data from the 114th U.S. Congress.


The information-theoretic capacity of continuous-time queues was analyzed recently by Anantharam and Verdu (see ibid. vol.42, p.4-18, 1996). Along similar lines, we analyze the information-theoretic capacity of two models of discrete-time queues. The first model has single packet arrivals and departures in a time slot and independent packet service times, and is the discrete-time analog of the continuous-time model analyzed by Anantharam and Verdu. We show that in this model, the geometric service time distribution plays a role analogous to that of the exponential distribution in continuous-time queues, in that, among all queues in this model with a given mean service time, the queue with geometric service time distribution has the least capacity. The second model allows multiple arrivals in each slot, and the queue is modeled as serving an independent random number of packets in each slot. We obtain upper and lower bounds on the capacity of queues with an arbitrary service distribution within this model, and show that the bounds coincide in the case of the queue that serves a geometrically distributed number of packets in each slot. We also discuss the extremal nature of the geometric service distribution within this model.


We present a comprehensive theoretical investigation of the formation and propagation of multicolor ringlike soliton clusters in quadratic nonlinear materials under conditions for type I second-harmonic generation. We show the several existing propagation regimes for the soliton clusters, which include fusion, expansion, and quasi-stationary propagation. The physical mechanism that leads to each evolution is elucidated and discussed. In the case of purely expanding clusters, accurate estimates of the expansion rate are obtained with a Hamiltonian approach. The experimental formation of the different soliton clusters by induced breakup techniques is discussed in detail, and the practical limitations of the concept of quasi-stationary clusters are highlighted.


Some of the most exciting, innovative publishing is currently being developed outside the traditional publishing ecosystem. New entrants are publishing and sharing ideas, stories and images across multiple platforms, from beautifully designed hardback print books, to personalised titles, ebooks, magazines, video, web, merchandise, podcasts, events and social media. In this setting, a book becomes one option among many, chosen when it is the most appropriate form: whether to display images and text in a tactile object, or because a book can so effectively mark a pause, a milestone reached. Sometimes, because a book can help these publishers reach different audiences and amplify different voices. For these emerging post-digital publishers, there is no "print versus digital"; no either/or – the two are companions and interconnected. This chapter investigates these emerging publishers, focusing on the "outsiders". The primary research underpinning it comes from a study of more than 50 organisations and includes material from responses to an online survey and semi-structured interviews. Through case studies, it identifies and examines four emerging publishing trends: magazine publishers that also create books; spoken word and live events generating book operations (in a reversal of the book festival model); social enterprise and charitable publishing; and tech-enabled businesses. While there is a growing body of expertise and books analysing the indie magazine sector (Leslie, 2013; Jamieson, 2015; MagCulture, 2019), these do not focus on its move into book publishing. For the other trends, this is the first systematic consideration of these publishing phenomena.


The standard view of patents emphasizes their dynamic efficiency. It considers that, by providing firms with incentives to invest in R&D and to disclose their knowledge, patents encourage innovation and increase social welfare in the long run. Yet, a growing body of literature opposes this view and asks for patent reform or even for the abolition of the patent system. In this work, which reviews the most recent literature on patents, we show that patents can have a negative impact on the dynamics of innovation. This is not due to some intrinsic properties of the patent system but to some of its recent evolutions which mean that, nowadays, too many patents are granted and that patent information is bad. The combination of those two elements explains most of the problems induced by modern patent systems such as hold-up (patent trolls), anti-commons (royalty stacking), and high transaction costs in markets for technology. We conclude by showing that realistic reforms can solve those problems and ensure that the patent system becomes again an instrument of dynamic efficiency.


Abstract A collection of 42 feldspar mineral samples from a wide geographical range of North America was examined by cold-cathode cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy. Characteristic wavelength peaks, which were determined to be independent of geographic origin, were associated with each feldspar phase. Most of these peaks were attributed to previously assigned Mn2+ and Fe3+ luminescent centers and structural defects. An unattributed set of infrared (IR) peaks was observed in many samples; one uncommon ultraviolet (UV) peak was observed in samples from two locations. The peak centroids associated with the Mn2+ and Fe3+ luminescent centers vary with stoichiometric changes in the K-Na- Ca composition of the feldspars. For both alkali and plagioclase feldspars, shifts in CL peak centroids correlate well with lattice size, as measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additional analyses of the feldspar samples by electron microprobe analysis (EMP), particle-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy (PIXE), energy-dispersive micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (μXRF), and/or laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) were conducted for confirmation of elemental composition. These results demonstrate the potential of CL spectroscopy, a relatively nondestructive analytical technique, to facilitate rapid discrimination between feldspar samples. The addition of CL spectroscopy of feldspars to existing forensic analytical protocols for geologic materials has the potential to provide support for casework, both to discriminate sources in a forensic comparison, as well as to constrain the provenance of an unknown sample.


Feasibility of a proposed seismic retrofitting technique for typical bridges in the Central US has been studied. The retrofitting technique is based on modifying the fixity conditions of the bearings for response modification purposes to eliminate the need for costly retrofitting of substructures. For this purpose, a seismically vulnerable bridge, typical of those in the Central US was selected. Detailed seismic analyses of the bridge were then conducted. It was found that its bearings, wing-walls and pier foundations needed to be retrofitted. A conventional retrofitting strategy was developed and the cost of retrofit was estimated. Next, the abutment bearings were fixed longitudinally to modify the response of the bridge so as to alleviate the effect of seismic forces transferred to vulnerable pier foundations. It was observed that the proposed retrofitting technique effectively mitigated the seismic forces transferred to the pier foundations and eliminated the need for their costly retrofitting. Thus, the proposed retrofitting method may be used for economical seismic retrofitting of such bridges in the Central US or in similar regions of low to moderate risk of seismic activity.


Are European Union institutions, as they claim, really listening to citizens thanks to more 'deliberative' consultation tools? The European Commission and the European Parliament in particular have committed themselves to engaging in a dialogue with citizens in recent years. But to what effect? This paper notes how official policies have adopted language borrowed from the deliberative democracy school of thinking, but denounces the lack of clarity in the role assigned to deliberation with citizens in EU policy-making processes. It also invites EU policy-makers to think more critically about recent and future experiments that present themselves as 'deliberative'. It does so by highlighting areas for improvement in recent initiatives. Finally, it makes a number of recommendations for the future of dialogue with citizens, suggesting in particular the creation of a European Observatory for Democracy and Opinion, as well as a list of criteria to assess the design and role of such activities, and the concentration of efforts on one high-quality, high-impact initiative per year.


Energy storage has in recent years attracted considerable interest, mainly owing to its potential to support large-scale integration of renewable energy sources (RES). At the same time however, energy storage technologies are called to take over multiple roles across the entire electricity sector, introducing modern applications for both private
actors and system operators. In this context, the current thesis focuses on the valuation of emerging energy storage applications, while also proceeding to the design and modelling of novel dispatch strategies, along with the development of financial instruments and support measures for the market uptake of energy storage technologies. In doing so, emphasis is given on mature, bulk energy storage technologies, able to support energy management applications. These include pumped hydro storage, compressed air energy storage and battery technologies. Energy storage applications/dispatch strategies examined are divided into three main categories that focus on private actors, autonomous electricity grids and utility-scale systems.
For private energy storage actors, active, profit-seeking participation in energy markets is examined through the evaluation of high-risk arbitrage strategies. Furthermore, the interplay of energy storage and demand side management (DSM) is studied for private actors exposed to increased electricity prices and energy insecurity, designating also the potential for combined strategies of arbitrage and DSM. To reduce the investment risks associated with participation in energy markets, a novel aspect of collaboration between energy storage and RES is accordingly investigated for energy storage investors, proposing the use of storage for the delivery of guaranteed RES power during peak demand periods and stimulating the development of state support
instruments such as feed-in tariffs.
Next, attention is given on the introduction of energy storage systems in autonomous island grids. Such autonomous systems comprise ideal test-benches for energy storage and smart-grids, owed to the technical challenges they present on the one hand (e.g. low levels of energy diversity and limitations in terms of grid balancing capacity) and the high electricity production cost determining the local energy sector on the other (due to the need for oil imports). To this end, combined operation of RES with energy storage could, under the assumption of appreciable RES potential, prove cost-effective in comparison with the current solution of expensive, oil-based thermal power generation. Moreover, by considering the limited balancing capacity of such autonomous grids, which dictates the oversizing of the storage components in order to
achieve increased energy autonomy, the trade-off between DSM and energy storage is next studied, becoming increasingly important as the quality of RES potential decays.
With regards to utility-scale energy storage applications, the potential of bulk energy storage to support base-load RES contribution is investigated, proving in this way that the intermittent characteristics of RES power generation could be eliminated. This implies increased energy security at the level of national grids while also challenging the prospect of grid parity for such energy schemes. Furthermore, the market regulating capacity of utility-scale energy storage is reflected through the examination of different market-efficiency criteria, providing system operators with a valuable asset for the improved operation of electricity markets. Finally, the role of utility-scale energy storage in the optimum management of national electricity trade is investigated, designating the underlying problem of embodied carbon dioxide emissions' exchange over cross-border transmission and paving the way for the consideration of energy storage aspects in electricity grid planning.


OBJECTIVES
Because of the mandatory sanitary measures established during the Covid-19 Pandemic, we have proposed to describe the new clinical, educative, and research practices of an international sample of doctors.

METHODS
We have used an online electronic survey of a convenient sample of doctors from 40 countries using a multiple-choice online questionnaire, including three domains.  424 out of 456 respondents provided adequate responses.

RESULTS
Most respondents were from medical (51.5%) and surgical (11.8%) specialties. Over half of the respondents practiced in academic centers and one fifth in the private sector. Coronavirus pandemic induced frequent changes in practice, such as seeing fewer patients in clinics than usual (34.9%) and utilization of telemedicine (31.3%). A significant disruption in medical education activities and residents' training was observed, resulting in the cancellation of many activities such as grand rounds, departmental and multidisciplinary meetings, and case conferences with over-reliance on virtual and on-demand educational sessions. The residents' supervision and support were significantly reduced. Almost 16% of respondents were involved in research work on coronavirus pandemic while a third continued their usual research activity, but half were not involved in any research at the time of the survey.

CONCLUSIONS
The COVID19 pandemic has promoted new practices in the field as the recourse to telemedicine, virtual conferences, and thematic researches on COVID-19. The unexpected situation has opened new prospects for future doctors' preparation for these new means of practice and learning of medicine.


During last decade, customers' requirements of Line Pipes and accessories became more and more stringent. This process is led by the exploitation of fields with more severe conditions of pressure, environment and temperature. For this reason, heavy wall products (both straight pipes and bends) need to be developed.A development program was carried out in order to satisfy more stringent requirements and higher wall thickness. The metallurgical approach to steel design aimed to improve the combination of strength and toughness and increase the control of hardness after quenching and tempering, preserving adequate weldability.Industrial trials were performed to manufacture 60 mm thick hot induction bends in grade X65. Characterization was carried out after various post bending heat treatments (quenching, tempering and post welding).The new low-C steel showed promising results. The full characterization of off-line Q&T bends at various locations (tangent length, transition zone, and bend body) confirmed the achievement of X65 grade, with hardness HV10 0.7 mm at −45 °C, and very good HIC and SSC resistance.Copyright © 2015 by ASME


Antillatoxin (ATX) is a lipopeptide produced by the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula. ATX, a Na channel activator, produces N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor mediated neurotoxicity in rat cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). To determine whether ATX produced this neurotoxicity through an indirect mechanism, the influence of ATX on glutamate release was ascertained. ATX produced a concentrationdependent increase in extracellular glutamate. This response was prevented by the Na channel antagonist tetrodotoxin (TTX). ATX caused a strong membrane depolarization with a magnitude comparable to that of 100 mM KCL. ATX also produced concentration-dependent cytotoxicity as measured by lactate dehydrogenase activity. Ca influx was measured using a fluorescent imaging plate reader (FLIPR). ATX produced concentration-dependent Ca influx. The neurotoxic mechanisms of ATX are therefore similar to those of brevetoxins, which produce neuronal injury through depolarization-induced Na load, glutamate release, relief of Mg block of NMDA receptors, and Ca influx.


Although the genus Sycophila has broad host preferences, some species are specifically associated with figs as nonpollinator wasps. Because of their sexual dimorphism, morphological plasticity, cryptic mating behaviour and poorly known biology, species identifications are often uncertain. It is particularly difficult to match conspecific females and males. In this study, we employed two molecular markers, mitochondrial COI and nuclear ITS2, to identify Sycophila from six Chinese fig species. Morphological studies revealed 25 female and male morphs, while sequence results for both genes were consistent in supporting the presence of 15 species, of which 13 were host specialists and two used dual hosts. A single species of Sycophila was respectively found on four fig species, but six species were isolated from Ficus benjamina and a same number was reared from Ficus microcarpa. Sequence results revealed three male morphs in one species and detected two species that were overlooked by morphological analysis.


The variance of the irradiance scintillations of a wave that propagates in a random medium is calculated by using the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle (EHFP) and then compared with numerical solutions of the parabolic equation for the fourth-order statistical moment. Results are presented for the propagation of Gaussian beams and plane waves in a two-dimensional random medium with a Gaussian correlation function. Various formulations of the EHFP are considered, with particular emphasis on the often-used phase approximation of the EHFP. It is shown that, although both methods predict saturation, there is a considerable disagreement at moderate ranges.


The potential energy surface of H5 is characterized using density functional theory. The potential hypersurface is evaluated at selected configurations employing different functionals, and compared with results obtained from ab initio CCSD(T) calculations. The lowest ten stationary points (minima and saddle-points) on the surface are located, and the features of the short-, intermediate-, and large-range intermolecular interactions are also investigated. A detailed analysis of the surface's topology, and comparisons with extensive CCSD(T) results, as well as a recent ab initio analytical surface, shows that DFT calculations using the B3(H) functional represent very well all aspects studied on the H5 potential; including the tiny energy difference between the minimum at 1-C2v configuration and the 2-D 2d one corresponding to the transition state for the proton transfer between the two equivalent C2v minima, as well as the correct asymptotic behavior of the long-range interactions. The calculated binding energy and dissociation enthalpies compare very well with previous benchmark coupled-cluster ab initio data, and with experimental data available. Based on these results the use of such approach to perform first-principles molecular dynamics simulations could provide reliable information regarding the dynamics of protonated hydrogen clusters.


Growing numbers of modern cities are incorporating Smart Green Infrastructure (SGI) components in their urban design policies, adapting existing infrastructure systems to integrate these technological advances. Such systems increasingly demonstrate the benefits of SGI-integration to the improved mitigation of the impacts of extreme weather, but new research and investment is crucial for the continued development of these components and the requisite training for their skilled implementation, so as to future-proof our urban infrastructures with smart, green concepts that achieve long-term resilience. This paper examines how integrating smart green infrastructure components into existing and new urban infrastructure assets can improve their resilience in withstanding extreme weather effects. It explores the areas that stand to benefit and improve from SGI, and the types of components that can be easily supported by smart technologies in the short and long term. Previous research illustrates the need for smart water pricing and drainage systems, smart energy grid systems, smart transport efficiency monitoring, urban commuting sensors and pollution monitoring techniques to be incorporated and implemented across all levels to improve urban resilience and improve environmental efficiency. Although many cities now choose to implement SGI components, a certain disconnect remains between meeting both the agendas of 'smart' and 'green'. More extensive research is required to target this discrepancy and facilitate their integration within mainstream infrastructures. A broad-ranging literature review of research papers, stakeholder reports, case studies and action plans provides a foundational understanding of the wider context and existing debates underpinning this paper. The paper also identifies current practices, challenges and opportunities to examine how SGI components contribute to the long-term wellbeing and sustainability of city dwellers.


Organic compounds and materials with photoconductive properties have been studied for many years because of their importance in many technological applications such as dye-sensitized solar cells, photodiodes, photoresistors, electronics, biomolecular sensing, etc. For multiple purposes, such molecules require intense protection from various factors which can decrease their durability and cause fatigue. Interlocked molecules and macro- molecules involving photoconductive organic components and various types of macrocycles, such as cyclodextrins, cyclophanes, or macrocyclic ethers, are promising candidates for new photoconductivity-related applications. In this chapter, a review in this emerging research area in materials science and technology is provided. Focus is placed on photoconductive (poly)rotaxanes and (poly)catenanes. Various types of such materials and compounds are reviewed, and recent examples are provided. The relation between their structure and photoconductive behavior is discussed.


The African fish Nothobranchius furzeri is the shortest-lived vertebrate species that can reproduce in captivity, with a median life span of 9–11 weeks for the shortest-lived strain. Natural populations of N. furzeri display differences in life span, aging biomarkers, behavior, and color, which make N. furzeri a unique vertebrate system for studying the genetic basis of these traits. We mapped regions of the genome involved in sex determination and tail color by genotyping microsatellite markers in the F2 progeny of a cross between a short-lived, yellow-tailed strain and a long-lived, red-tailed strain of N. furzeri. We identified one region linked with the yellow/red tail color that maps close to melanocortin 1 receptor (mc1r), a gene involved in pigmentation in several vertebrate species. Analysis of the segregation of sex-linked markers revealed that N. furzeri has a genetic sex determination system with males as the heterogametic sex and markedly reduced recombination in the male sex-determining region. Our results demonstrate that both naturally-evolved pigmentation differences and sex determination in N. furzeri are controlled by simple genetic mechanisms and set the stage for the molecular genetic dissection of factors underlying such traits. The microsatellite-based linkage map we developed for N. furzeri will also facilitate analysis of the genetic architecture of traits that characterize this group of vertebrates, including short life span and adaptation to extreme environmental conditions.


We introduce an innovative approach to measure bank integration, based on the corporate culture of multinational banking conglomerates. The new measure, the Power Index, assesses the prevalence of a language of power and authority in the financial reports of global banks. We employ a two-step approach: as a first step, we investigate whether parent-bank or parent-country characteristics are more important for bank integration. In a second step, we analyze whether bank integration affects the transmission of shocks across borders. We find that the level of integration of global banks is determined by parent-bank-specific factors, as well as by the social centralization in the parent's country: ethnically diverse and linguistically homogenous countries nurture decentralized corporate structures. Political and economic factors, such as corruption, political rights and economic development also affect bank integration. Furthermore, we find that organizational integration affects the transmission of exogenous shocks from parent banks to their subsidiaries: the more centralized a global bank is, the lower the lending of its subsidiaries after a solvency shock. Wholesale shocks do not appear to be transmitted through this channel. Also, past experience with solvency shocks reduces the integration between parents and subsidiaries.


The effects of partial substitution of dysprosium in Tb0.2Dy0.8Co2 by terbium and gadolinium on the structure and magnetic properties have been studied. Two compositions, Tb0.3Dy0.7Co2 and Tb0.2Dy0.7Gd0.1Co2 have been synthesized. Their crystal structure, in contrast to the structure of the original compound, has both tetragonal distortions and rhombohedral distortions at lower temperatures. Anomalies of magnetostriction and magnetocaloric effect near the observed magnetic phase transitions have been studied. The sign-alternating temperature dependences of the longitudinal and transverse magnetostrictions associated with various types of crystal structure distortions of the alloys are revealed.


Cambrex has completed construction of a 600 m2 facility at its Karlskoga, Sweden, site that incorporates process technology, quality control, and analytical development laboratories. The process technology section will accommodate R&D and production teams working together on scale-up demonstrations for highly potent molecules. The laboratory also includes high-pressure reaction vessels and crystallization equipment.


A putative collagen-binding MSCRAMM, Ace, of Enterococcus faecalis was identified by searching bacterial genome data bases for proteins containing domains homologous to the ligand-binding region of Cna, the collagen-binding MSCRAMM fromStaphylococcus aureus. Ace was predicted to have a molecular mass of 71 kDa and contains features characteristic of cell surface proteins on Gram-positive bacteria, including a LPXTG motif for cross-linking to the cell wall. The N-terminal region of Ace contained a region (residues 174–319) in which 56% of the residues are identical or similar when compared with the minimal ligand-binding region of Cna (Cna 151–318); the remainder of the Ace A domain has 46% similarity with the corresponding region of the Cna A domain. Antibodies raised against recombinant Ace A domain were used to verify the cell surface expression of Ace on E. faecalis. These antibodies also effectively inhibited the adhesion of enterococcal cells to a collagen substrate, suggesting that Ace is a functional collagen-binding MSCRAMM. Structural modeling of the conserved region in Ace (residues 174–319) suggested a structure very similar to that reported for residues 151–318 of the Cna collagen-binding domain in which the ligand-binding site was identified as a trench transversing a β-sheet face (Symersky, J., Patti, J. M., Carson, M., House-Pompeo, K., Teale, M., Moore, D., Jin, L., DeLucas, L. J., Höök, M., and Narayana, S. V. L. (1997) Nat. Struct. Biol. 10, 833–838). Biochemical analyses of recombinant Ace and Cna A domains supported the modeling data in that the secondary structures were similar as determined by CD spectroscopy and both proteins bound at multiple sites in type I collagen with micromolar affinities, but with different apparent kinetics. We conclude that Ace is a collagen-binding MSCRAMM on enterococci and is structurally and functionally related to the staphylococcal Cna protein.


BACKGROUND
Rootstocks affect vegetative and reproductive parameters of the scion. However, limited knowledge exists on the effects of the adoption of a specific rootstock on grape and wine phenolic composition, which contribute to certain sensory attributes such as color, body and astringency of wine. These compounds are mainly affected by the variety, viticultural management and rootstock. The aim of this work was to study the influence of eight rootstocks on grape anthocyanin content, skin and seed proanthocyanidins and wine chromatic characteristics obtained from Merlot vines.

RESULTS
Grapevines grafted onto SO4 rootstock, in general, presented a higher concentration of total proanthocyanidins in skins and seeds compared to the rest of the rootstocks, whereas grapevines grafted onto Gravesac presented a lower concentration of proanthocyanidins in skins and seeds. These differences were found in the wines developed from grapevines grafted onto SO4. Wines from grapevines grafted onto SO4, 140 Ruggeri, Gravesac and 4453 M rootstocks presented, in general, better chromatic characteristics and a higher anthocyanin and tannin content than the rest of the samples.

CONCLUSION
This work gives additional information concerning the influence of rootstock on grape and wine phenolic composition. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.


Aim: To determine hematological profile of eligible blood donors at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Kenya.
Study Design: Adopted a cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Kenyatta National Hospital, between March 2021 and August 2021.
Methodology: This study recruited 202 eligible blood donors comprising of 173 males and 29 females aged 18-57 years. Blood samples (4ml) were drawn from donated units into ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) tube. Hematological parameters were estimated using a complete blood count (CBC) analyzer (Humacount 5D®). A total of eighteen hematological parameters were analyzed. These parameters included; red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin concentration, RBC indices, white blood cell (WBC) count, absolute and differential WBC and platelet (PLT) count. Results were presented in medians and 95% interquartile ranges and compared using Mann–Whitney U test.
Results: The median counts for all hematological parameters were within the accepted reference ranges for the adult urban population in Kenya. The median and interquartile range for total red cell count was 4.9×106/µL [0.74], hemoglobin level was 14.3g/dL[1.8], hematocrit was 44.9% [5.1], white blood count was 4.9×103/µL [1.4] and platelet was 234×103/L [64]. Among the red cell parameters analyzed, male donors had a significantly higher RBC count (P<0.001), hematocrit (P=0.001) and hemoglobin (P<0.001) than female donors. Among white blood cell parameters analyzed, only lymphocytes (P=0.011) were significantly higher in female donors than male donors. Platelet count (P<0.001) was also significantly higher in females than male donors.
Conclusion: This study showed eligible donors at KNH had significant differences in red cell count, hematocrit, hemoglobin, lymphocytes and platelets between male and female donors. Additionally, it highlighted that some blood donors had hematological parameters below and above the recommended reference ranges. These findings support the need to review the current donor recruitment criteria recommending the inclusion of complete blood count in screening.


IrO2 nanocrystals (NCs) were grown on vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) forming IrO2/CNTs nanocomposites by metal organic chemical vapor deposition using (C6H7)(C8H12)Ir as a source reagent. The surface morphology, structural and spectroscopic properties of the nanocomposites were characterized. Micrographs of field-emission scanning electron microscope showed that the surface morphology of the as-deposited IrO2 NCs varied from particle-like to tube-like NCs as the deposition time increased from 5 to 60 min. The transmission electron microscope image of IrO2/CNTs nanocomposites revealed that IrO2 NCs had been deposited onto the surface of the CNTs with uniform size distribution and random directions. X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the formation of pure rutile IrO2 NCs on CNTs. The redshifts of the peak positions and broadening of linewidths of the IrO2 Raman features were attributed mainly to the size effect. The particles-like IrO2 NCs may be used as a protective layer on CNTs, providing stable and uniform field emission application. While the nanotube-like structure may increase the surface-to-volume ratio which makes the IrO2/CNTs nanocomposites as an attractive candidate for the supercapacitor application.


Wasit Governorate is characterized by industrials activities such as groups of asphalts and bricks factories, oil fields and thermal power plant, in addition to the agricultural activity that is widely separated, which leads to pollution of the surface soils with heavy metals. The main objective in this research is to assess heavy metals pollution and understand the distribution in the surface soils in the studied area . Twenty two surface soils samples were collected from 6 districts and 4 subdistricts within Wasit Governorate during April 2017. The results obtained showed that grain size analyzes are classified as sandy mud (sand 9.5%, silt 50.8 % and clays 39.8%). In the term of geochemical parameters, high level of soil salinity in Wasit Governorate was in Badrah station (8%). Organic matter records 3.7% as a relative maximum concentration in industrial soils at 7.2 pH. Heavy metals Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, As, Cd,V, Cr, Br, Ta, Zr, Ba  and Sr were investigated in the  soils samples in Wasit Governorate.  Assessment of heavy metal pollution has calculated by using the index of geo-accumulation (I-geo), Contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI) and I-geo has been commonly applied as a degree of pollution in soils samples. The pollution load index (PLI) characterizes the number of times in which the heavy metal concentrations of sediment exceeds the background concentration; it provides a cumulative indication of the overall level of heavy metal toxicity in a certain sample. By using these statistical indexes of soils, the results show that soils  samples in the studied  area are very polluted by the heavy  metals of Titanium (72.7 ppm), Nickel (188.9) to considerable with   Molybdenum (9.85 ppm), Chromium (226 ppm), Cadmium (2.2ppm), bromine (27.ppm) and Strontium (431.6 ppm),  and with moderate pollution  of the heavy  metals of Copper (54.7) Cobalt (13.4 ppm), Manganese (781.8ppm), Vanadium (104.3ppm) and zinc (117.6ppm


Chronic severe acne conglobata is a severe form of acne presenting with multiple deep abscesses.  It is frequently a debilitating and painful condition.  Treatment options include long-term systemic antibiotics, intralesional steroid injections, systemic retinoids, systemic steroids, adalimubab, electron beam radiation, and topical treatment.1  These treatments frequently lack efficacy and may have risks of significant side effects.   Ozone therapy has been used successfully in treating acne and cysts.  A 34 year-old white male presented with chronic, large, numerous, painful draining cysts of the trunk, groin and neck of ten years duration.  The patient reported excessive alcohol ingestion and suicidal thoughts due to the pain.  Past treatments with antibiotics and steroids were unsuccessful.  During a period of one year the patient was treated with ozone: topical ozonated oil, full-body bag topical ozone, intralesional ozone, and ozone minor autohemotherapy. The patient reports a reduction in the number of daily lesions, reduction in pain, reduction in lesion drainage, decreased lesion resolution, an optimistic life outlook, and reduction of alcohol intake.  The success of ozone therapy in this case indicates ozone therapy is a safe and effective option for patients with severe debilitating chronic acne conglobata.


Estimates of solar radiation distribution in urban areas are often limited by the complexity of urban environments. These limitations arise from spatial structures such as buildings and trees that affect spatial and temporal distributions of solar fluxes over urban surfaces. The traditional solar radiation models implemented in GIS can address this problem only partially. They can be adequately used only for 2‐D surfaces such as terrain and rooftops. However, vertical surfaces, such as facades, require a 3‐D approach. This study presents a new 3‐D solar radiation model for urban areas represented by 3‐D city models. The v.sun module implemented in GRASS GIS is based on the existing solar radiation methodology used in the topographic r.sun model with a new capability to process 3‐D vector data representing complex urban environments. The calculation procedure is based on the combined vector‐voxel approach segmenting the 3‐D vector objects to smaller polygon elements according to a voxel data structure of the volume region. The shadowing effects of surrounding objects are considered using a unique shadowing algorithm. The proposed model has been applied to the sample urban area with results showing strong spatial and temporal variations of solar radiation flows over complex urban surfaces.


Article history: Received January 12, 2013 Received in revised format 30 May 2013 Accepted 5 June 2013 Available online June 8 2013 Explaining and the determinants of dividend policy is one of the biggest challenges that have long been the center of attention of accounting and financial researcher and theoreticians. There are many evidences that confirm the effects of dividend and there are a lot of other potential factors whose effects on the dividend policy have not been studied yet. In this study, the effects of four variables including asymmetric information, growth opportunities, cash holding and firm size in payout dividend policy are investigated, simultaneously. The study uses the information of 140 companies listed on Tehran Stock Exchange over the period 2005-2010. In this study, 4 hypotheses are proposed and investigated. There are positive and significant relationships between asymmetric information, growth opportunities, cash holding and company size on one side and payout dividend policy on the other side. © 2013 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved.


Multiculturalism as a public policy framework depends on states identifying cultural differences among their citizens as salient for resource allocation, political participation and human rights. The adoption of multiculturalism as a term and a framework signifies the recognition of a politics of difference within a liberal democratic framework of identities and aspirations. Yet the national government in Australia unlike any other country with espoused policies of multiculturalism has chosen to have neither human rights nor multicultural, legislation. This paper argues that multicultural societies require either or both sets of legislation to ensure both symbolic affirmation and practical implementation. Taking inspirations from international, Australian State and Territory based multicultural and diversity legislations, and modelling on the Australian Workplace Gender Equality Act of 2012, this paper explores what should be included in a national multicultural legislation and how it could pragmatically operationalise in Australia to express multiculturalism's emancipatory agenda.