Background Multimorbidity, defined as the coexistence of two or more health conditions, is becoming the norm in our ageing population. Research to date has highlighted that individuals with multiple health conditions are at greater risk of disability and mortality, but also of cognitive impairment and dementia. Most of research to date on multimorbidity and cognitive performance is cross-sectional or with limited history information of the health conditions. The present study aims to explore the association between cognitive performance and previous history of health conditions over 24 years. Methods The sample consisted of 4858 respondents of the Health Retirement Study (HRS), which is a US nationally representative survey that focus on adults aged 50 and over. Data was extracted from 12 consecutive waves from 1998 to 2014. Data from health conditions included self-reports for hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, stroke, cancer, lung and heart diseases and psychiatric problems. Duration of the health condition was categorized as more than 10 years, between 4 and10 years, less than 4 years and no condition. Cognitive status was assessed using a summary index of cognitive functioning which includes measures of memory, working memory, speed of mental processing, knowledge, and language. ANOVA and post hoc tests were performed to explore the association between cognition and the duration of each health condition independently. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to explore the association between multiple health conditions and cognitive performance. Results The results showed significant independent associations between cognitive performance in 2014 and each health condition independently, except for cancer [F (1,4)=2.60; p=0.51]. When all the health conditions were considered together in the regression models, we found that cognitive performance is negatively associated with high blood pressure and stroke (independently of the duration of the condition), long-term diabetes and lung diseases (i.e., for more than 10 years) and recent cancer (i.e., in the last 4 years). Conclusion Our results confirm that cognitive performance is significantly lower in older adults with multiple health conditions. Moreover, our findings highlight that considering the duration of the health condition is key for identifying patients at greater risk of cognitive impairment. Specifically, individuals at greater risk of cognitive impairment are those who have been diagnosed with hypertension or suffered a stroke at any given time, long-term diabetes or lung diseases, and recent cancer diagnoses. Public health makers should develop specific policies for cognitive screening in individuals with these health conditions.


The Arctic is emerging today as an international region whose importance in political, economic, and environmental terms rivals that of the world's other major regions. What remains in doubt, at this juncture, is how the Arctic states -not to mention others — will respond to this development in policy terms. Are these states likely to upgrade their capacity to handle Arctic issues by adding substantial Arctic expertise to their policy planning staffs; creating bureaux of Arctic or northern affairs in their foreign ministries; establishing effective interagency coordinating mechanisms to handle complex Arctic issues, or devising new Arctic policies to replace the policies of benign neglect they have long relied on in dealing with Arctic matters ? These are serious concerns whose resolution will take time and may differ from state to state. Just as the recognition of the Arctic as a distinctive international region has been a major development of the 1980s, the formulation of appropriate public responses to this development seems likely to become a central Arctic concern of the 1990s.


The study was titled "Symbols in Edgar Allan Poe's The Black Cats as an
Archetype Study", researchers took data from the short story "The Black Cats". This
short story tells of someone who believed in the black cat myth to commit murder
which made the narrator regret. This research is to find out how someone can
believe in superstition and to find out what actions and effects a person experiences
after believing in superstition. This research uses a qualitative approach, data is
collected by reading short stories and applying Carl Jung's Psychoanalysis theory
(1937). Based on Jung's theory, the researchers used theories related to the Ego,
Personal Unconscious, Collective Unconscious, and Archetype. The findings show
that the narrator experiences dellusion due to loss of contact with reality. The
narrator cannot distinguish between superstition and real life because his belief in
superstition is too strong, besides that there are two symbols namely the black paint
and paint. Finally, the researcher concludes that the researcher is more focused on
showing Collective Unconscious and Archetype because they are related to myths
and superstitions, whereas for the black cat symbol in the story is symbolized as a
bad luck and cat is symbolized as an incarnation of Pluto because cat very well
known has nine spare lives.


Author(s): Buchanan-Plaisance, Julie Adele | Advisor(s): McDonough, Patricia M | Abstract: The current study applied Hatzenbuehler et al.'s (2012) conceptual framework of stigmatization to understand community opposition to school climate interventions for sexual minority youth. This study addressed a gap in the literature on factors in the educational ecology which impact the implementation of LGBT-inclusive programs and curriculum. An analysis of the extensive public records surrounding a student suicide and subsequent federal civil rights investigation in a California district revealed heteronormative forces of silencing, erasure, and marginalization in the school and community environment. As the primary socializing institutions in rural areas, schools contribute to the acceptance and well-being of sexual minority youth. The theoretical concepts of ecological systems and minority stress emphasize the importance of contextualizing risk factors associated with heteronormative school climate. Elements of school ecology which produce stigmatization evolve over time and may not be perceived by educators as barriers in the lives of local youth. The federal government's intervention template to address a hostile climate for sexual minority and gender-nonconforming youth incorporated research-based prescriptions, but failed to overcome significant barriers during implementation. An analysis of parent involvement, specifically the tactics of opponents and stakeholder advisory committees, indicated that district outreach occurred in the broader context of social stigmatization. This qualitative case study analyzed the multiple challenges a rural K-12 district faced during the implementation of an LGBT-affirmative school climate intervention. Opposition to these programs increased when stakeholders conflated sexual orientation with sexual practice or perceived a violation of personal religious beliefs. The erasure of LGBT content from an anti-bullying curriculum and the emphasis on generic anti-bullying, or Golden Rule-based, lessons further marginalized sexual minority identity from classroom discourse. The findings suggest how the replication of heterosexually-biased social structures and the reassertion of community norms perpetuate the stigma associated with sexual orientation.


Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is employed to simulate the air-water system in a spouted column with a draft tube. Numerical results of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations using the k-ε and k-ω two-equation turbulence models are compared with Pironti at al. (1995) experimental data. CFD predictions of the k-ε and k-ω turbulence models are in good agreement with the reported experimental data. The interfacial momentum transfer in modeling air-water system in the spouted bed indicated the importance of using turbulent dispersion force besides the most often used drag and lift forces to better predict flow behavior and air hold-up. Ishii-Zuber liquid-gas drag model with the lift and turbulent dispersion forces yields very good results; it correctly determines a hold up within 1% when used along with the k-ε turbulence model, while it under-predicts the hold-up by 4.08% when used with the k-ω model.


Abstract Data for the period 1821 to 2003 from 126 rain gauges, 41 temperature gauges, eight river discharge gauges and 239 wells, located in southern Italy, have been analysed to characterize the effect of recent climate change on availability of water resources, focusing on groundwater resources. Regular data are available from 1921 to 2001. Many analysis methods are used: principal component analysis, to divide the study area into homogenous portions; trend analysis, considering the Mann–Kendall, Student-t and Craddock tests, autocorrelation and cross-correlation analyses, and seasonal, annual and moving-average variables, applying the spatial analysis to each variable with a geographical information system approach. A widespread decreasing trend of annual rainfall is observed over 97% of the whole area. The decreasing trend of rainfall worsens or decreases as mean annual rainfall increases; the spatial mean of trend ranges from −0.8 mm/a in Apulia to −2.9 mm/a in Calabria. The decrease in rainfall is notable after 1980: the recent droughts of 1988–1992 and 1999–2001 appear to be exceptional. On a seasonal basis, the decreasing trend is concentrated in winter; a slight positive trend is observed in summer, the arid season in which the increase is useless as it is transformed into actual evapotranspiration. The temperature trend is not significant and homogeneous everywhere if the temperature increase seems to prevail, especially from about 1980. Net rainfall, calculated as a function of monthly rainfall and temperature, shows a huge and generalized negative trend. The trend of groundwater availability is so negative everywhere that the situation can be termed dramatic for water users, due not only to the natural drop in recharge but also to the increase of discharge by wells to compensate the non-availability of surface water tapped by dams, as a direct effect of droughts.


Bayesian confirmation theories (BCTs) might be the best standing theories of confirmation to date, but they are certainly not paradox-free. Here I recognize that BCTs' appeal mainly comes from the fact that they capture some of our intuitions about confirmation better than those the- ories that came before them and that the superiority of BCTs is suffi- ciently justified by those advantages. Instead, I will focus on Sylvan and Nola's claim that it is desirable that our best theory of confirmation be as paradox-free as possible. For this reason, I will show that, as they respond to different interests, the project of the BCTs is not incompatible with Sylvan and Nola's project of a paradox-free confirmation logic. In fact, it will turn out that, provided we are ready to embrace some degree of non-classicality, both projects complement each other nicely.


Hybrid joints consisting of metals and fiber-reinforced polymer composites exhibit highly desirable properties for many lightweight design applications. This study investigates the potential of additively manufactured surface structures for enhancing the bond strength of such joints in comparison to face milled and laser structured surfaces. Titanium samples with different surface structures (as-built surface, groove-, and pin-shaped structures) were manufactured via electron beam melting and joined to carbon fiber-reinforced polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) via adhesive bonding and thermal direct joining, respectively. Bond strength was evaluated by tensile shear testing. Samples were exposed to salt spray testing for 1000 h for studying bond stability under harsh environmental conditions. The initial tensile shear strengths of the additively manufactured samples were competitive to or in some cases even exceeded the values achieved with laser surface structuring for both investigated joining methods. The most promising results were found for pin-shaped surface structures. However, the hybrid joints with additively manufactured structures tended to be more susceptible to degradation during salt spray exposure. It is concluded that additively manufactured structures can be a viable alternative to laser surface structuring for both adhesive bonding and thermal direct joining of metal-polymer hybrid joints, thus opening up new potentials in lightweight design.


Abstract Perennial pepperweed is an aggressive, exotic weed invading wetland and riparian areas in California, including the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta Estuary. Effective management will require detailed and accurate maps of its distribution. Remote sensing technologies offer the capability to map weed species over broad areas and with rapid return intervals. As a first step in assessing the potential to map perennial pepperweed with hyperspectral remote sensing data, this study determined its spectral uniqueness relative to co-occurring species. Spectral measurements were conducted during summer drought conditions in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta region. Reflectance spectra of perennial pepperweed and seven co-occurring species were collected with a portable spectrometer. Nineteen physiological indexes were calculated from the reflectance data. Physiological indexes are sensitive to narrow spectral features and encapsulate reflectance information in ecologically relevant ways. Classification trees generated from these indexes were able to discriminate both flowering and fruiting perennial pepperweed from co-occurring species with high levels of cross-validated accuracy when using the original spectrometer data and also when this data set was resampled to simulate the spectral resolution of two widely used airborne hyperspectral imagers. Perennial pepperweed's characteristic white flowers are the major component of the spectral uniqueness of this species. Phenological state influenced reflectance spectra more strongly than variation in intraseasonal maturity. Field spectrometer spectra were qualitatively and quantitatively similar to perennial pepperweed spectra extracted from airborne image data. These results suggest that hyperspectral remote sensing will be a powerful tool for the mapping and monitoring of perennial pepperweed. Future work will extend these analyses to image data encompassing the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta region. Nomenclature: Perennial pepperweed, Lepidium latifolium L. LEPLA.


Context Translocations are becoming an increasingly important conservation tool to combat rising levels of species extinction. Unfortunately, many translocation efforts fail; yet, the timing and cause of failure often remain unknown. Monitoring individuals in the days and weeks following release can provide valuable information on their capacity to survive this initial hurdle. In Australia, breeding programs have been established for the endangered northern corroboree frog, Pseudophryne pengilleyi, to enable reintroduction to the wild via captive-reared individuals, typically, early life stages such as eggs or juvenile frogs that cannot be monitored via traditional survey methods that target adult frogs (e.g. shout–response). Environmental DNA (eDNA) detects trace amounts of DNA that organisms release into their environment and could provide a means to infer population persistence for wildlife releases and translocations. Aims In the present study, we aim to develop an eDNA assay capable of detecting both sexes of P. pengilleyi across multiple life stages, and use it to monitor their survival. Methods An eDNA assay was developed to target the two corroboree frog species (P. pengilleyi and P. corroboree, the southern corroboree frog) and was tested for its sensitivity and specificity in silico and in vitro. Pseudophryne pengilleyi eggs were released into three naturally occurring ponds and water samples were, subsequently, collected from each pond on several occasions over a period of 78 days. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect P. pengilleyi eDNA from water samples. Key Results The developed assay was shown to be sensitive and specific to corroboree frogs. eDNA monitoring of reintroduced P. pengilleyi detected the species' DNA at three of three release ponds and DNA remained detectable until at least 78 days post-release at two of three ponds. Conclusions We show how the development of a corroboree frog-specific assay allowed us to monitor the post-release survival of P. pengilleyi in naturally occurring pools. Implications eDNA surveys may provide a useful tool to monitor post-release survival of translocated populations in a non-invasive manner, with the potential to identify the timing and causes of failure. Such knowledge can be used to inform the management of translocated populations and future release strategies.


The education system in South Africa is undergo~ng vast changes in the post apartheid era. These include amalgamating the previously segregated departments, developing disadvantaged schools, financial cut-backs and the implementation of the controversial Right Sizing Document (1996). Kwa Zulu-Natal currently has a severe shortage of education facilities. Many children are not attending school and there is a dire need for qualified educators. Outcomes Based Education is being phased in, concurrently with the other changes. Despite this, the Right Sizing Document calls for a reduction in teaching personnel. It is unclear how reorganisation and the prospects of redundancy and redeployment have affected teachers. The aims of this study were to determine teachers' mental health status, stress levels and incidence ofbumout during a period of major transformation and to explore teachers' perceptions of the changes. The researcher used a descriptive crosssectional design. A sample of 217 teachers was used, from urban primary and secondary government schools in the Pietermaritzburg North region. Data were collected using two standardised self-report measures, the General Health QuestionnaireJBest 30 item version) and the Maslach Bumout Inventory. Teachers were also asked to respond to a list of statements on Redundancy and Reorganisation Issues, designed by the researcher. The data were analysed by z-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation, Mann-Whitney tests and Kruskal-Wa1lis one way analysis ofvariance. Responses to an open-ended question were analysed qualitatively. The findings indicated extremely high distress levels for all the respondents, irrespective of age, gender and post level, in comparison with published norms and the findings of other studies. This distress did not appear to be associated with their own professional role and competence as teachers but seemed to relate to the uncertainty of their emplOYment situation. The impact ofthe current changes on teachers' psychological and physical well-being were reflected by their responses to statements 111 in the Redundancy and Reorganisation section of the questionnaire. It is recommended that the education authorities should develop a recovery strategy to address this urgent situation. Consultation and negotiation with teachers should be an inherent aspect of reorganisation and change, to prevent a repetition of the current situation. The role of professional organisations and various other issues that warrant further investigation are specified.


Water management is a key development challenge in South Asia. The region - one of the most densely-populated and climate-vulnerable parts of the world - has the world's fastest growing regional economy and the largest proportion of poorest people. With 23.7 percent of the global population, but only 4.6 percent of the world's renewable water resources, the management of water is a key development challenge for sustaining growth, livelihoods, and resilience. The key features of this challenge are ensuring a reliable supply of water for food, people, energy, and industry, and managing the consequences of extreme hydrological events. Climate change will compound this challenge; it will impact, though unevenly, water supply, demand and quality, and exacerbate extreme hydrological events.


Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (IHES) is a rare disease characterized by causeless persistent hypereosinophilia and eosinophilia-associated end-organ damage. Current treatment modalities don't meet the needs due to adverse events of steroids as first-line therapy and the limited efficacy of second-line treatments, underscoring the need for new therapeutic strategies. Here we presented two cases of IHES with different clinical manifestations that were both refractory to corticosteroids. Patient #1 experienced rashes, cough, pneumonia, and steroid-induced side effects. Patient #2 had severe gastrointestinal symptoms attributed to hypereosinophilia. They both had high levels of serum IgE, didn't respond well to second-line treatments of interferon-α (IFN-α) and imatinib, and Mepolizumab was not accessible. We then innovatively switched to Omalizumab, an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody approved for allergic asthma and chronic idiopathic urticaria. Patient #1 was treated with Omalizumab 600 mg per month for 20 months; his absolute eosinophil count (AEC) decreased significantly and has stabilized at around 1.0×109/L for 17 months, with complete relief from erythra and cough. Patient #2 recovered promptly from severe diarrhea with a sharp drop in AEC after 3 months of treatment with omalizumab at 600 mg per month. Therefore, we concluded that Omalizumab may be a seminal therapeutic strategy for IHES patients who are refractory to corticosteroids, whether as long-term management of AEC or as an urgent intervention to address severe symptoms caused by eosinophilia.


A figure unfamiliar to most musicologists, Gottschalk of Aachen was a late eleventh-century notary, cleric, polemicist, and composer who served in the chancellery of King Henry IV from 1071 to 1084. A twelfth-century necrology from the royal Marienkirche in Aachen records a donation by Gottschalk for the annual celebration of the feast of the Division of the Apostles, for which he composed a sequence and a sermon. This study reviews the issues that led to a war of words between King Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII, and focuses on Gottschalk9s important role in the controversies that divided church and state. It presents a biographical sketch of the royal apologist and a summary of his official and liturgical writings, and argues that the text and music of his sequence for the Division of the Apostles, understood in light of his sermon on the same theme, promote a highly controversial, royalist view of the medieval church.


The proposed research focus on the transformation of land use at regional level, diverse factor influencing land use changes and investigate on the environmental issues with the help of Geographical Information System. Now-a-days the population growth increasing speedily, in other hand destroying the nature also mounting swiftly because of providing superior life style to the society, the government and private sectors are mostly focusing on the urbanization and social changes but it's directly or indirectly affect the global level of the environment. Human interference on the agriculture land and deforestation leads to changes in the natural vegetation, ecosystem, habitat loss, climate changes, flora and fauna degradation, sea level raise and so on. In this research spatial modelling helps us to study about the past, present and future scenario of land use changes, variation in ecosystem, degradation of vegetation and forest, intrusion of wild life habitat, and extinction of terrestrial species, etc. The broader concept of urban growth modelling provide the detail of land cover/land use changes, growth or reduction of feature in area extract with the assist of Multiple Level Classification (MLC). In remote sensing technique, the various modelling achieve from the spatial and temporal elements obtain from aerial photos, satellite images and statistical information. The proposed research keen interest on the investigation on environmental changes and its impact, the diverse environment factor are analyses and modelling with the help of spatial data mining, gradient analysis and spectral enhancement.


Lobster fishery (Panulirus argus) forms an important part of the fishing activities along the Caribbean coast of Central America. The present study provides information regarding the seasonal abundance and distribution of postlarval P. argus in Parque Nacional Cahuita, Costa Rica. During the study period (March 2004-February 2005), a total of 1907 pueruli were obtained from GuSi collectors. Postlarvae were present during all months, with a pronounced peak in January-February 2005 (CPUE of 21.82 and 22.18, pueruli/collector/month, respectively), and minor peaks in May and October 2004. The abundance of postlarval P. argus in the study area was comparable to locations which support important lobster fisheries, e.g. Mexico. A majority of the postlarvae (1027 ind.) was collected during the first quarter moon, the remaining pueruli (880 ind.) during new moon; these results are in general agreement with similar findings for P. argus in the Caribbean area. Based upon our results, we recommend introducing a local or regional monitoring program, studying spiny lobster migration and distribution patterns, and evaluate the introduction of artificial shelters for P. argus.


Algorithmic music and computer-aided composition often pose problems of form organisation. The reproduction of the vertical (harmonic) and horizontal (melodic) structures must be integrated into larger structures building the form of the composition. The mathematically constructed structure of musical work allows to reproduce the algorithm of the form building at the level of its creation. The analysis of different works by the Estonian composer Arvo Part shows that his creativity process is based on strict mathematical logic of construction. This logic combined with the tinntinnabuli technique of composition, provides ideal material for the creation of these algorithms. Programming environments such as OpenMusic allow to create models for the reproduction and reconstruction of musical compositions based on the analysis of the composer's creative process. In this article we show such models created for the generation of Arvo Part's music, including form structure organisation, based on algorithms conceived from the analysis of his works (Tabula Rasa, Mein Weg, Spiegel im Spiegel and Fratres).


Cooperative Justice and Free Public Transit - Urban transportation is a central issue for theories of urban justice. The current car culture is unjust because it discriminates against those who cannot afford to be a part of it, and it is inefficient because it creates a collectively disadvantageous situation. In this paper, I will first argue that public policies should encourage a modal transfer from car to public transit. Drawing on a theory of cooperative justice, I will then argue that free public transit is mutually advantageous and can be defended from both the perspectives of equality and efficiency.


This thesis concentrates on the substrate specificities of protein kinases A and C (PKA, PKC). Synthetic peptides are used for that purpose, both in soluble and cellulose membrane-bound form. The, stereospecificity of both protein kinases was studied with D-amino acid containing synthetic peptides.The reactions of protein kinases with peptides are often monitored by adsorbing the phosphorylatedpeptides onto phosphocellulose paper, an anionic adsorbent. The presence of at least two basicamino acid residues in the peptide has been considered to be sufficient for the adsorption. In thisthesis, it was found that none of the phosphopeptides studied were adsorbed completely and therecovery of the phosphopeptide could vary twofold even if the peptides contained an equal numberof basic residues.A PKC substrate peptide pEKRPSQRSKYL was gradually shortened from either end. Themodifications at the C-terminus had a weaker influence on the reaction parameters than those at theN-terminus. The less pronounced specificity of PKC compared to that of PKA did not permit us todefine a minimum length substrate for this enzyme.The stereospecifically sensitive regions he in different parts of the substrates for PKA (RRASVA)and PKC (KRPSQRAKY). In the case of PKA, major effects appeared at the N-terminal side of thephosphorylatable serine while the most sensitive part in PKC substrates lies at the C-terminal side.PKA has a strong requirement for L-configuration at the serine residue while PKC can recognizeboth D- and L-configurations at the phosphorylation center. PKA has a well-defined core regionsensitive to changes in the substrate (-RAS-). In the case of PKC the stereochemical requirementsaround the phosphorylatable residue are not as strong. In conclusion, the stereospecificity of PKC isnot as clearly pronounced as that of PKA.In this thesis, it has been shown that SPOTs-membrane-bound peptides can be used for evaluation ofprotein kinase substrates. Using that method combined with the analysis of soluble peptides wefound a substrate peptide for PKC which was both sensitive (Km = 0.5 μM) and selective, as itshowed low or negligible cross-reactivity with other kinases tested.


Many highways in China cross irrigation area of farm land. The water in rivers and ponds by two sides of roads can flush back into subgrade, and results in more water in subgrade soil, subgrade deformation and lowered capacity. With reconstruction and extension of Zhengzhou-Luohe segment in Jing–Zhu Highway as the research target, this study investigated the method for preventing underground water from entering subgrade. Through studying on capillarity water rise in typical soil of Zhengzhou–Luohe segment, we found out water rise pattern, predicted capillarity water rise and obtained the method for preventing capillarity water from rising into subgrade.


Physical control involves modification of the environment to reduce or eliminate mosquito breeding places: drainage, diking, filling, leveling, or other engineering works. Cultural control aims for mosquito reduction through management of soils and vegetation that contribute to mosquito problems. Researchers are investigating the effects of conventional drainage and ditching practices on natural flow and fauna in salt marshes and studying ways to reclaim impermeable alkali soils, which are important sources of mosquitoes in some areas.Physical and cultural control methods seek to reduce mosquito breeding sources, whileminimizing possible adverse effects on the environment.


One of the major attractions of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks for transporting bursty video traffic is its ability to exploit the multiplexing gains of packet switching while providing quality of service guarantees. Unfortunately, most of the multiplexing mechanisms proposed in the literature fail to exploit the multiplexing gains of ATM. We propose a multirate service mechanism that allows a session to be served at different rates at different times. Applications generating bursty data, such as variable bit-rate (VBR) video, can take advantage of multirate service by requesting a high rate of service for brief periods of bursty arrivals and a much lower rate of service for all other times. Consequently, the applications can improve their delay performance without reserving a high bandwidth for the entire duration of the sessions. Furthermore, the scheduler can multiplex the peaks and the lulls in service rates of different sessions and improve the utilization of the system. Using MPEG video traces from a number of applications, we show that multirate servers outperform single-rate PGPS (packet-by-packet generalized processor sharing) servers and CBR (constant bit-rate) servers in terms of number of connections admitted, while providing the same level of service guarantees. We also investigate the performance of multirate service when service quality need not be guaranteed. We refer to this as predictive service. We propose a measurement-based admission control procedure for predictive service, and show that it helps increase the size of the admissible region even further.


The effect of sequencing batch reactor (SBR) operating conditions on sludge macromolecular composition and the effect of sludge macromolecular composition on the anaerobic degradation of the sludge produced in SBR was investigated in this work. A SBR, fed with synthetic wastewater, was operated at different air flow rates. The resulting sludge was analyzed in terms of protein, carbohydrate, phospholipid and polyhydroxybutyrate concentrations. Methane production during anaerobic digestion of the sludge was also measured. Ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, dissolved oxygen and chemical oxygen demand (COD) track studies in the SBR were carried out in order to relate SBR performance and sludge macromolecular composition. The lowest air flow rate at which the SBR was operated was 2 l min -1 , in which case the dissolved oxygen concentration was lower than 0.5 mg l-1 in the SBR and partial denitrification occurred during the feeding phase. An increased air flow rate caused a decrease in protein concentration, as well as an increase in carbohydrate concentration. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) concentration in the sludge was independent of air flow rate. At different air flows, the methane production rates were similar, but the total volume of methane was greater during anaerobic digestion of the sludge produced at low air flow rates. These results indicate a strategy by which changes in sludge composition can optimize the operation of anaerobic sludge digesters.


Background Flow diverter stents (FDS) have been effectively used for the endovascular treatment of sidewall intracranial aneurysms (IAs). Unlike standard endovascular treatments used to exclude directly the aneurysm bulge from the parent vessel, FDS induce reduction in the intra-aneurysmal flow and promote progressive and stable thrombosis therein. The advent of FDS has therefore increased the need for understanding of IA hemodynamics. Methods We proposed the use of the most recently evolved four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI technique to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively post-FDS flow modification in 10 patients. We report intra-aneurysmal velocity measurements and the influence of metal artifacts induced by the stent. Results An index was defined to quantitatively measure flow changes—namely, the proportional velocity reduction ratio (PVRR)—with ranges from 34.6% to 71.1%. Furthermore, we could compare streamlines characterizing the post-stent flow patterns in five patients in whom the intra-aneurysmal velocity was beyond the visualization threshold of 7.69 cm/s. Conclusions Despite metal artifacts and the low velocities involved, 4D flow MRI could be of interest to measure qualitatively and quantitatively flow changes in stented aneurysms. However, further enhancements are required together with further validation work before it can be considered for clinical use.


AIM
To explore the surgical approach, technique and clinical effect of treating basilar bifurcation aneurysms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The clinical data of basilar bifurcation aneurysms treated by neuro-microsurgery are retrospectively analyzed in from September 2013 to September 2018. The aneurysms were treated via subtemporal approach and frontotemporal approach. The results were evaluated according to Glasgow Outcome Scores (GOS) and postoperative imaging results.

RESULTS
There were 28 aneurysms located at the bifurcation of basilar artery in 27 patients and 1 case had multi-aneurysms. 8 cases underwent via subtemporal approach and 19 via frontotemporal approach. The operation time was 2.8-4.6 hours, the average time were 3.3 hours. The hospitalization time was 3-6 weeks, the average time was 3.8 weeks. Overall, good outcome (GOS score of 4-5) at 6 months was achieved in 77.8% of the living patients. The posterior thalamic perforator artery infarction occurred in 1 cases, and the ventriculoperitoneal shunting was performed in 2 cases due to communicating hydrocephalus. During the following-up period, 25 patients underwent head CTA examination. The CTA showed that all aneurysms were completely clipped, no aneurysm recurrence was found, the blood flow of the parent artery was unobstructed, and 2 patients were lost to follow-up. 13 patients had oculomotor nerve palsy, and all but 3 of them recovered during following-up.

CONCLUSION
The satisfactory results were achieved by microsurgical clipping for basilar bifurcation aneurysms. According to the location and projection of aneurysms, personalized treatment is chosen. Trans-frontotemporal approach is the most suitable approach for the treatment of upper basilar bifurcation aneurysms, especially under subarachnoid hemorrhage causing brain swelling conditions.


During a scientific field expedition to the Alai-Pamir range five specimens of the genus Gloydius have been collected in the larger Alai. A morphological and genetical examination of the specimens has shown that they are part of the G. halys complex, but represent a new taxon which is characterized by the following unique character combination: It is a slender and moderately stout small snake, up to 479 mm total length. The head has nine symmetrical plates on the upper head, 7 supralabial and 8-9 infralabial scales. Body scales in 20-22 rows around midbody, 143-156 ventral and 35-45 usually paired subcaudal scales. The cloacal plate not divided. The general coloration consists of various different tones of olive, tan and brown, having a distinct head, but an indistinct body pattern with, excluding the tail, 26-29 transverse crossbands, which are not extending to the sides of the body. The haplotype network shows the new species within the G. halys complex and close related to both, G. h. halys and G. h. caraganus. So far the new described species is only known from the Alai range. However, various Gloydius specimens are found in Kyrgyzstan and because of the complicated taxonomy those specimens have to re-identified to clarify their status and the status of the new species.


In January 2007, the NRC issued Revision 1 to Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.200 endorsing Addendum B of the ASME PRA Standard, RA-Sb-2005. Effective January 1, 2008, the probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) supporting any risk-informed application must comply with the requirements of RG 1.200 and the ASME PRA Standard, as explained in NRC's Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2007-06. Per Section 6 of the ASME PRA Standard, a peer review must be performed to demonstrate compliance with the ASME PRA Standard. In the late 1990s, all nuclear plants in the U. S. had a peer review performed in accordance with NEI 00-02. However, the ASME PRA Standard requirements are more extensive than the review elements in NEI 00-02. Appendix D of NEI 00-02, endorsed by Appendix B of RG 1.200, includes a self-assessment process for using the NEI 00-02 results to, in part; assess a PRA's compliance with the ASME PRA Standard. The ASME PRA Standard requires a peer review for any PRA element that has been upgraded since the original peer review. There is also the consideration that if the PRA updates have resulted in enough changes to the model that the current model no longer is adequately represented by the model that was originally peer reviewed, then, at their discretion, the utility may request a new peer review. Both the Boiling Water Reactor Owners Group (BWROG) and the Pressurized Water Reactor Owners Group (PWROG) have authorized projects to conduct the peer reviews against RG 1.200, Revision 1 to support risk-informed applications after January, 2008. Two key elements have changed since the original NEI 00-02 peer reviews. These are: (1) the number of specific requirements that need to be reviewed and (2) the need for the utility undergoing a peer review to complete a self-assessment and a roadmap to the documentation supporting their assessment to enable the peer review team to complete their review within a reasonable timeframe. Since the original approval of the ASME PRA Standard in 2003, many plants have performed self-assessments either internally or with the assistance of contractors to ascertain their compliance with the ASME PRA Standard. A number of lessons have been learned as a result of these self-assessments that should be carried forward to the next round of formal peer reviews against Addendum B of the ASME PRA, RA-Sb-2005. This paper examines some of the lessons learned while performing these self-assessments, and provides some guidance for a pre-review self-assessment and as well as some guidelines on compiling a roadmap to support the self-assessment and the peer review.Copyright © 2008 by Westinghouse Electric Company


A major advantage of wavefront reconstruction based on a series of diffracted intensity images using only single-beam illumination is the simplicity of setup. Here we propose a fast-converging algorithm for wavefront calculation using single-beam illumination. The captured intensity images are resampled to a series of intensity images, ranging from highest to lowest resampling; each resampled image has half the number of pixels as the previous one. Phase calculation at a lower resolution is used as the initial solution phase at a higher resolution. This corresponds to separately calculating the phase for the lower- and higher-frequency components. Iterations on the low-frequency components do not need to be performed on the higher-frequency components, thus making the convergence of the phase retrieval faster than with the conventional method. The principle is verified by both simulation and optical experiments.


A significant obstacle to scientific progress in machine reading is an objective evaluation method. Precision and recall, while for the most part quantitative, are often measured with respect to some "gold standard" or "ground truth" – itself typically a human annotated corpus. For more complex tasks, such as interdocument coreference resolution, or open ended tasks such as machine reading, relying on a ground truth is often (if not always) impractical. Yet a data-driven approach still requires techniques for evaluation. To address this, we present here a new approach to evaluation of linguistic analysis implemented in a tool we have developed called COALA. The approach basically requires establishing a baseline system that produces some results, and evaluations are performed by incrementally changing that system and comparing the results manually. In order to reduce the load on the human evaluator, our tool implements basically an intelligent and task-specific "diff" between the two results, allowing the evaluator to focus only on the changes and evaluate


The technologies that are being utilized to design and build a state-of-the-art neutron spallation source, the National Spallation Neutron Source (NSNS), are discussed. Emphasis is given to the technology issues that present the greatest scientific challenges. The present facility configuration, ongoing analysis and the planned hardware research and development program are also described.


At the Prime Minister's Literary Awards on 8 December 2014, the joint winner of the Australian History Award was Hal G. P. Colebatch for his book Australia's Secret War: How Unionists Sabotaged our Troops in World War II. The judging panel was chaired by right-wing think tanker Gerard Henderson of the Sydney Institute, a diehard fan of 'Pig Iron' Bob Menzies, and included Peter Coleman, variously author, journalist, former Liberal Party politician, and veteran Cold War warrior. Colebatch's book was published in October 2013 by the conservative Australian cultural journal Quadrant, founded during the Cold War as part of the Central Intelligence Agency's international anti-communist campaign. History Award panellist Coleman edited the journal for 20 years. Quadrant continues to trenchantly criticise and attack Australian liberals and leftists, and is especially hostile towards the ABC. It is also a vigorous propagandist in the cause of climate change denial.


This paper addresses the concern for improving DSS design and implementation in the areas of problem framing and problem formulation. It relates key principles of DSS development that are based on a cognitive information processing framework with the tasks that are part of a problem formulation process. Furthermore, the paper shows how the components of a DSS can be related to elements of the combined information processing and problem formulation process frameworks.


Categorization and decision making are combined in a task with photorealistic faces. Two different types of face stimuli were assigned probabilistically into one of two fictitious groups; based on the category, faces were further probabilistically assigned to be hostile or friendly. In Part I, participants are asked to categorize a face into one of two categories, and to make a decision concerning interaction. A Markov model of categorization followed by decision making provides reasonable fits to Part I data. A Markov model predicting decision making followed by categorization is rejected. In Part II, a no-parameter model predicts decisions using categorization and decision responses collected in separate trials, suggesting that Part 1 results are not an artifact of the presentation of categorization and decision questions within a single trial. Decisions concerning interaction (defensive/friendly) appear to be based on information from the category decision, and not from the face stimuli alone.


The essay is aimed at clarifying whether and on which conditions Digital Rights Management systems can be useful for fostering the development of the broadband market. The starting point of the study is that content providers seem reluctant to use broadband to distribute their contents, because of the fear of Internet piracy. Digital Rights Management systems can provide an effective way to enforce copyright protection, to increase the availability of the broadband contents which users show a willingness to pay for and, as a consequence, to foster broadband penetration. Nevertheless, a more accurate analysis of the characteristics of the broadband contents market shows how such systems could actually cause a delay in the development of broadband in case they make content enjoyment more complicated to users or in case they are designed in order to grant a higher content protection level than the one provided for by the copyright law.


Working in Bali in the late 1930s, anthropologists Gregory Bateson and Margaret Mead made an extraordinary advance in the understanding of human performance. They observed bodily practices constituting processes of signification that resembled linguistic communication far more closely than had ever been suspected. The Mead/Bateson theory of human performance prefigured research in performance studies that has only recently begun to challenge poststructural convictions regarding the ephemerality of symbolic action. Essential to Mead and Bateson's achievement was their pioneering use of film. Equally vital, however, was their construction of Bali as a place, phenomenologically speaking. The Bali in which Mead and Bateson lived and worked was a cosmopolitan yet excessively localized product of their own design, to an extent contemporary perspectives find highly problematic. Nonetheless, the actual complexities of Balinese history and culture can be seen to have intervened into their collaborative process in ways that enabled pathbreaking insights.


The SciBooNE and MiniBooNE collaborations report the results of a νμ disappearance search in the Δ'm2 region of 0.5-40 eV2. The neutrino rate as measured by the SciBooNE tracking detectors is used to constrain the rate at the MiniBooNE Cherenkov detector in the first joint analysis of data from both collaborations. Two separate analyses of the combined data samples set 90% confidence level (CL) limits on νμ disappearance in the 0.5-40 eV2 Δm2 region, with an improvement over previous experimental constraints between 10 and 30 eV2


Democracies, and the citizenries that stand at their center, are not natural phenomena; they are made and sustained through politics. Government policies can play a crucial role in this process, shaping the things publics believe and want, the ways citizens view themselves and others, and how they understand and act toward the political system. Yet, while political scientists have said a great deal about how publics influence policies, they know far less about the ways policies influence publics. In this article, we seek to clarify how policies, once enacted, are likely to affect political thought and action in the citizenry. Such effects are hard to locate within the standard framework of approaches to mass behavior, and they are generally ignored by program evaluators and policy analysts. To bridge this gap, we direct attention toward a long and vibrant, but underappreciated, line of inquiry we call the "political tradition" of mass behavior research. Drawing this tradition together with recent work on "policy feedback," we outline a framework for thinking about how policies influence mass politics. The major types of such effects include defining membership; forging political cohesion and group divisions; building or undermining civic capacities; framing policy agendas, problems, and evaluations; and structuring, stimulating, and stalling political participation.


: A study was made of the clinical and hemodynamic efficacy of a session or a course of isolated ultrafiltration (IUF) and a relationship of changes of the central and peripheral hemodynamics with the activity of the renin-aldosterone system in patients with severe cardiac insufficiency. Two groups of patients were singled out differing in their hemodynamic and hormonal response to the first IUF session that might be due to a different level of adaptation mechanisms acting in the interference in disturbed homeostasis.


Background: The research goals to determine the teacher certification process in Widya senior high school Kutoarjo , the impact of certification, the barriers faced by certified teacher in Widya senior high school Kutoarjo , the efforts of certified teacher educators to improve competence in Widya senior high school Kutoarjo. Methode: The type of this research is descriptive qualitative research was carried out in Widya senior high school Kutoarjo, Purworejo, Central Java. Data source is the headmaster, deputy head of curriculum affairs, DPK certified teachers, GTY certified teachers, secretary of Widya Educational Foundation, and the students of XI IPS. Data was collected through observation, interview and recording documents.The results: The certification process should be observed by all teachers that really work well according to the rules. Teachers who complete the certification requirements will follow the participants, followed by the socialization of the Department of Education, charging component portfolios , portfolio assessment, to implementation and acceptance PLPG educator certificate .Impact can be categorized as economically certification can increase the income of teachers, there is an increase in competence is quite good, especially in the administration learning the learning process, trying to learn about information technology and internet media, also the burden on teachers to teach 24 hours per week must be met , as well as the performance of teachers is still low. Barriers often faced by educators certified teachers include school infrastructure is not yet complete, school finance limited budget to improve the competence of teachers, there are teachers who do not want to learn IT based, mental performance and difficult to change the teacher, students are not familiar technology, the lack of support for the school program, the efforts to be done, among others, the school must complete the infrastructure for teaching and learning activities and to motivate teachers to improve their competence, teachers seek training, education in the field, teachers must learn information technology communications, computers and even the Internet, as well as completing all the administrative learning better teaching and learning, the headmaster is always monitoring the performance of good teachers who are certified or not, school supervisors constantly monitors the certification of teachers especially those who have to do with teacher performance assessment. The existence of teacher competency test conducted by the Central Government in the Ministry of Education and Culture together online and throughout Indonesia with the aim of improving the competence of the teachers there are certified educators .


The classification of brain tumors in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is very significant for diagnosis and detecting the tumors in the medical world. The major advantages of MRI are soft tissue analysis and non-invasive but the drawback is a long time consumed by a medical expert to draw conclusions. The classification algorithms help in order to overcome the disadvantage of MRI. In this work, brain tumor classification is done based on the GLCM feature values where 165 brain medical images are presented. The main aim of this work is solving the cancer classification by implementing 3 different classifiers such as NB (Naïve Bayes), NN (Neural networks), and SVM RBF (Support vector machine Radial Basis Functions). The features of the images are extracted using GLCM and further, the feature values are classified as either affected or not affected. Among 3 classification approaches, NN achieves superior accuracy (99%) with less error rate.


Human intelligence exhibits compositional generalization (i.e., the capacity to
understand and produce unseen combinations of seen components), but current neural seq2seq models lack such ability. In this paper, we revisit iterative back-translation, a simple yet effective semi-supervised method, to investigate whether and how it can improve compositional generalization. In this work:
(1) We first empirically show that iterative back-translation substantially improves the performance on compositional generalization benchmarks (CFQ and SCAN).
(2) To understand why iterative back-translation is useful, we carefully examine the performance gains and find that iterative back-translation can increasingly correct errors in pseudo-parallel data.
(3) To further encourage this mechanism, we propose curriculum iterative back-translation, which better improves the quality of pseudo-parallel data, thus further improving the performance.


/ \ L T H 0 U G H Native American communities may lose their ancestral language or other aspects of their traditional culture, music seems to be more resistant to the continual onslaught of the dominant Euro-American culture. Even today, traditional music remains a vital part of Native American communities throughout the United States. In this article I examine one aspect of the musical' traditions of the Western Mono, specifically the different types of songs, and their functions within Western Mono society. First, I give a short synopsis of aboriginal Mono culture and society. Next, I discuss what little data have been published dealing with Mono music in the ethnographic literature. And finally, I present the data that I have collected.^


This report provides a basic explanation of how to calculate the federal estate tax liability for a taxable estate of any given size, using the schedule of graduated marginal tax rates and the applicable exclusion amount or the applicable credit amount for the year of death. The "applicable exclusion amount" is the amount of any decedent's taxable estate that is free from tax. It is known informally as the estate tax "exemption." The "applicable credit amount" or "unified credit" is the corresponding tax credit. It is equal to the tax that would be due on a taxable estate that is the size of the applicable exclusion amount.


The objective of this study was to compare two segregation methods to select resistant and susceptible female Pelibuey lambs infected naturally with gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) in relation to their haematological and immunological response. For 6 months, faeces and blood samples were taken fortnightly from 40 grazing 5-month-old female lambs. The lambs were classified according to two methods using faecal egg count (FEC) as a phenotypical trait. In the first (reference) method (M3SE, n = 22), resistant (RES) lambs had FEC lower than the mean – 3 standard errors, the susceptible (SUS) lambs levels higher than + 3 standard errors(n = 10) and the intermediate (INT) lambs (n = 8) were categorised by having FECs between the two values. The second method (QUM) divided the population, using quartiles, into resistant (RES; 25%), intermediate (INT; 50%), and susceptible (SUS; 25%) lambs. The agreement between both methods was estimated using the Kappa index. The packed cell volume (PCV), total plasma protein (TPP) and peripheral eosinophils (EOS) were determined for each group. Serum was used to evaluate the IgA levels. PCV and TPP values were higher (P<0.01) in the RES lambs (31.5 ± 3.4 and 6.16 ± 0.5 g/dL by QUM, respectively, and 31.5 ± 3.9 and 6.24 ± 0.49 g/dL by M3SE, respectively) than the SUS lambs (28.1 ± 4.7 and 5.94 ± 0.5 g/d, respectively, by both methods). The EOS and IgA values increased with age. M3SE and QUM were in moderate agreement (Kappa = 0.43). We concluded that the two segregation methods allowed for the identification of the same female SUS lambs, but a greater number of animals were categorised phenotypically as resistant using the M3SE method. PCV and TPP can help to identify phenotypically resistant animals.


The Battle Is Ours! A Study of Olof Fryxell's Snow Castle: a Tale for Countryside Boys and the Revival of Gothicism in 19th Century Swedish Children's Literature.The purpose of this essay is to discuss the history of children's literature in relation to the cultural movement of Gothicism revitalized by national Romanticism in early 19th century Sweden. The strong tradition of Gothicism has been extensively researched from different historical and literary viewpoints. Much attention has been paid to the construction of masculinity in advice manuals, in connection to the partial return to the sturdy manhood of the Vikings, as well as to the ideological meanings and functions of Ling-gymnastics within the movement. My essay highlights the notion of the child and the importance of children's literature in this context.The 39 pages long Children's book Snofastningen: Berattelse for Landt-Gasar (1830) [Snow Castle: a Tale for Countryside Boys], by the Swedish minister and poet Olof Fryxell (1806– 1900), is here considered a focal point for illustrating the ideological meaning of the child in this specific historical situation. Thus, Snofastningen can be identified as one of the most important fictional expressions of Gothicism directly intended for young male readers during the first half of the 19th century. Fryxell's depiction of boys playing at soldiers illustrates how a special form of children's literature took form within the movement. This literature, envisioned for children, was made to make and educate future citizens and shows how the idea of childhood permeates the rhetoric of nation and citizenship during the first half of the century.The historical imaginings of children's play in Fryxell's tale for countryside boys, however, proves to be significant not only for the discursive construction of masculinity and communality that took form within the Gothicism revival. It also systematically sets out to portray the world of the child from a child's perspective. Therefore, Snofastningen turns out to be an ambivalent example of the complex transition to new corresponding conceptions of realism and Romanticism within the history of Swedish Children's literature


Abstract The Celts are a collection of tribes and/or populations that inhabited much of Central Europe during the Iron Age and are still something of an enigma. The relationship among the spread of their material culture, the application of Celtic ethnicity, movements among the diverse populations possessing Iron Age Hallstatt and La Tene artefacts throughout Central Europe believed to have been spread by Celtic people, and/or spoken languages identified as Celtic have long been questioned by researchers. However, previous research has primarily focused only on chronological and typological descriptions and documentation of diachronic change. Diverse populations throughout Europe have been intrinsically linked based on perceived similarities in burial practice, art styles and material culture. Subsequently, these associations have resulted in the creation of the so-called La Tene=Celtic paradigm. Under this paradigm, the presence of La Tene artefacts designate a population as Celtic, which is still prevalent in the field of Celtic studies regardless of documented regional differences. The underlying biological diversity among presumed Celtic populations and processes driving the observed variation in artefacts, art styles and burial practices throughout the core and expansion regions (i.e., where the Hallstatt and La Tene material cultures initially developed versus those into which they subsequently spread during the 4th and 3rd centuries BC) are not well understood. The present study helps fill the void in the current understanding of underlying biological diversity among these populations in several ways. First, 36 morphological traits in 586 dentitions from 11 regional samples, from Britain and Europe, were collected using the Arizona State University Dental Anthropological System (ASUDAS). The above samples represent the core and expansion regions, along with a comparative European Iron Age sample outside the known range of Celtic expansion. Frequencies of occurrence for each dental and osseous nonmetric trait were recorded by sample. Second, the suite of traits was compared among samples using principal components analysis, (PCA) and the mean measure of divergence (MMD) distance statistic. Multidimensional scaling was subsequently employed on the symmetric MMD matrix to illustrate graphically inter-sample relationships. Phenetic patterns of overall biological similarity and dissimilarity among individuals and populations based on morphological traits were determined. MMD distances were then compared with geographic distances among samples, under the assumption that genetic affinity is inverse to spatial distance. The biological distance estimates suggest the following. First, populations in the expansion regions exhibit less biological diversity than those within the core. Specifically, two samples within these regions are biologically indistinguishable, the remaining two are biologically distinct, and all samples within the core are phenetically diverse. Thus, populations in the expansion regions are genetically distinct from those in the core and were likely acculturated, not genetically influenced by these groups. Limited intra-and-extra regional gene flow and genetic isolation explain the population structure within the above regions. Second, overall phenetic heterogeneity, biological diversity, and population discontinuity are indicated, as the majority of the samples within both regions are biologically distinct from one another. This diversity may also reflect genetic and linguistic boundaries among the samples. Third, waves of migration from the core during the 4th and 3rd centuries BC were not likely responsible for diachronic changes in material culture within the expansion regions. Fourth, the separation of populations and material culture into the core and expansion regions, and the application of Celtic ethnicity to diverse populations possessing artefacts and a spoken language(s) identified as Celtic may be a nominal association, i.e., in name only. Simply put, the comparative results suggest that these groups represent biologically distinct populations. These findings were compared with published archaeological, linguistic, genetic and bioarchaeological information to test for concordance between dental and other evidence. The present study does not support findings of previous studies and suggests there is more genetic diversity than previously assumed under the La Tene=Celtic paradigm. Thus, a combination of genetic isolation by distance, limited intra-and-extra-regional gene flow, trade, cultural diffusion and/or assimilation is likely responsible for the observed art style, burial practice, archaeological, genetic and linguistic diversity among populations possessing Hallstatt and La Tene artefacts and/or language(s). These diverse populations may have lost their cultural autonomy after being subsumed into a greater Celtic identity. Thus, the contemporary concept of Celts is likely a modern construct that has hindered understanding of the extent of regional diversity and cultural autonomy among diverse populations throughout Iron Age Europe.


ABSTRACT Modified atmosphere (MA) storage have direct influence on biogenesis and releasing of aroma volatiles in the ripe fruits. A study was conducted to investigate the influence of MA storage on the volatile constituents of ripe avocados. Mature avocados (cv. Fuerte) were packed in four different packaging materials and the equilibrium gas composition developed within the packs were in perforated polyvinylchloride: SM-60 (Control: 20.8% O2 + 0.03% CO2), Micro-porous polypropylene: MY-15 (4.8% O2 + 8.4% CO2), Low density polyethylene: LPDE (7.7% O2 + 5.8% CO2) and Micro-porous polypropylene: MD-15 (9% O2 + 5.4% CO2). The MA packs of avocados were stored at 7°C for 4 weeks and were ripen at 20°C. The volatile compounds of ripe avocados were investigated by means of gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry. A total of 68 of components were identified among those butyl acetate, 3-hexenyl acetate, 2-hexenyl acetate and hexyl acetate were only detected from MA stored avocados. Therefore, the MA storage with suitable gas composition could be used as a novel technology to extend the shelf life without significantly (p > 0.05) affecting the volatile components of the avocados.


A series of mood studies of alcoholics before, during, and after participation in an inpatient treatment program is reviewed. Data highlight the extreme affective heterogeneity which characterizes alcoholics.


Pure singlets are typically disfavored as dark matter candidates, since they generically have a thermal relic abundance larger than the observed value. In this paper, we propose a new dark matter mechanism called "assimilation", which takes advantage of the baryon asymmetry of the universe to generate the correct relic abundance of singlet dark matter. Through assimilation, dark matter itself is efficiently destroyed, but dark matter number is stored in new quasi-stable heavy states which carry the baryon asymmetry. The subsequent annihilation and late-time decay of these heavy states yields (symmetric) dark matter as well as (asymmetric) standard model baryons. We study in detail the case of pure bino dark matter by augmenting the minimal supersymmetric standard model with vector-like chiral multiplets. In the parameter range where this mechanism is effective, the LHC can discover long-lived charged particles which were responsible for assimilating dark matter.


The Desert Research Institute (DRI) is performing a scoping study as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Yucca Mountain Environmental Monitoring Systems Initiative (EMSI). The main objective is to obtain baseline air quality information for Yucca Mountain and an area surrounding the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Air quality and meteorological monitoring and sampling equipment housed in a mobile trailer (shelter) is collecting data at seven sites outside the NTS, including Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Sarcobatus Flat, Beatty, Rachel, Caliente, Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, and Crater Flat, and at four sites on the NTS. The trailer is stationed at any one site for approximately eight weeks at a time. Letter reports provide summaries of air quality and meteorological data, on completion of each site's sampling program.


We studied the respiratory effects of cigarette smoke, 5% histamine aerosol, and dust in unanesthetized 1- to 7-day-old rabbits in a body plethysmograph. Cigarette smoke immediately provoked the animal's arousal and irregular breathing. Histamine and dust had no effect in some of the youngest animals. In others, 5-15 s from the onset of the exposure to either of the two stimuli, respiratory rate increased and the depth of breathing decreased. These changes were more pronounced with age. The fact that effects of dust and aerosol lessened with time of exposure showed adaptation to the stimuli. The age dependence of the reflex response was also observed after injection of 50 micrograms of histamine per kilogram into the external jugular vein in anesthetized (50 mg ketamine + 3 mg acepromazine per kg) and tracheostomized rabbits during the 1st wk of life. In 1-day-old animals, a short-lasting excitation was followed by apnea or a prolongation of expiratory phase. Peak amplitude of the diaphragmatic EMG (EMGdi) increased in all animals, but only in the youngest was the EMGdi increase paralleled by an increase in tidal volume. In vagotomized animals or animals pretreated with H1-blocker, histamine never affected timing parameters in animals greater than 1 day old. In the youngest animals, respiratory depression due to histamine was not abolished after vagotomy or promethazine. The results imply that inputs from the upper airways and the rapidly adapting pulmonary mechanoreceptors exert their effects on the pattern of breathing immediately after birth in rabbits. The importance of those inputs increases with maturation.


Objective In 2013, the Japanese Rhinologic Society proposed a simple classification for endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). This classification consists of five procedures (type I, fenestration of the ostiomeatal complex, with uncinectomy and widening of the natural ostium; type II, single-sinus procedure, with manipulating the inside of the sinus; type III, polysinus procedure; type IV, pansinus procedure; type V, extended procedure beyond the sinus wall). The clinical relevance of this classification in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and paranasal sinus cyst was evaluated. Study Design A retrospective validation study. Methods A total of 122 patients (195 sinuses) who underwent ESS in Okayama University Hospital in 2012 were enrolled. The relationships between the ESS classification and the clinical course, including the operation time, bleeding amounts during surgery and postoperative changes of olfaction, the computed tomography (CT) score, and nasal airway resistance were analyzed. Results A total of 195 ESS procedures were classified into type I (n = 3), type II (n = 17), type III (n = 91), type IV (n = 82), and type V (n = 2). The major phenotypes of type II, III, and IV ESS were paranasal sinus cyst (68%), CRS without nasal polyps (77%), and CRS with nasal polyps (55%), respectively, and the difference was significant. The degree of ESS based on this classification was positively and significantly correlated with the operation time and bleeding amounts. As a whole, olfaction, CT score, and nasal airway resistance were significantly improved after surgery. The degree of improvement was similar between type III and type IV ESS. Conclusion This simple classification for ESS reflected the perioperative burden of the disease.


A pressure and bending sensor was fabricated using multilayer thin films fabricated on a flexible substrate based on layer-by-layer self-organization of 18 nm gold nanoparticles separated by a dielectric layer of 30 nm silica nanoparticles. 50, 75, and 100 gold-silica bi-layered films were deposited and the device characteristics were studied. A threshold voltage was required for electron conduction which increases from 2.4 V for 50 bi-layers to 3.3 V for 100 bi-layers. Upon bending of the device up to about 52°, the threshold voltage and slope of the I-V curves change linearly. Electrical characterization of the multilayer films was carried out under ambient conditions with different pressures and bending angles in the direct current mode. This study demonstrates that the developed multilayer thin films can be used as pressure as well as bending sensing applications.


Gaze estimation involves predicting where the person is looking at, given either a single input image or a sequence of images. One challenging task, gaze estimation in the wild, concerns data collected in unconstrained environments with varying camera-person distances, like the Gaze360 dataset. The varying distances result in varying face sizes in the images, which makes it hard for current CNN backbones to estimate the gaze robustly. Inspired by our natural skill to identify the gaze by taking a focused look at the face area, we propose a novel architecture that similarly zooms in on the face area of the image at multiple scales to improve prediction accuracy. Another challenging task, 360-degree gaze estimation (also introduced by the Gaze360 dataset), consists of estimating not only the forward gazes, but also the backward ones. The backward gazes introduce discontinuity in the yaw angle values of the gaze, making the deep learning models affected by some huge loss around the discontinuous points. We propose to convert the angle values by sine-cosine transform to avoid the discontinuity and represent the physical meaning of the yaw angle better. We conduct ablation studies on both ideas, the novel architecture and the transform, to validate their effectiveness. The two ideas allow our proposed model to achieve state-of-the-art performance for both the Gaze360 dataset and the RT-Gene dataset when using single images. Furthermore, we extend the model to a sequential version that systematically zooms in on a given sequence of images. The sequential version again achieves state-of-the-art performance on the Gaze360 dataset, which further demonstrates the usefulness of our proposed ideas.


In-lab, attended polysomnography has long been the gold standard for the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing. In recent years, economic pressures and long wait times have driven interest in home sleep testing, which has in turn led to the development of algorithms that bypass the sleep lab in favor of portable monitoring studies and in-home initiation of positive airway pressure therapy. For appropriately selected outpatients, evidence is accumulating that portable monitors are a reasonable substitute for in-lab polysomnography. In the inpatient setting, where sleep disordered breathing is both highly prevalent and associated with adverse outcomes in certain populations, there is evolving literature on the use of portable monitors to expedite diagnosis and treatment of sleep disordered breathing in the inpatient setting. This review will discuss society guidelines and recent research in the growing field of portable monitoring.


Successful scaling of agricultural technology requires a spatial explicit framework for targeting the right variety at the right place. This entails a multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) approach, using a set of determining factors to delineate the scaling domains for faba bean ( Vicia faba L.) varieties in and identify potentially suitable land area in a specific region, and zone in Ethiopia. Meeting this challenge will require a solid spatial framework. Land suitability analysis is an evaluation and spatial decision making, involving several determining factors. The factors considered in this analysis include key biophysical parameters such as climate, topography, soil types and properties. The analysis was also focused on improved faba bean varieties viz., Dagm, Dosha, Gabelcho, Gora, Hachalu, Moti and Walki. The environmental factors' layers of a specific crop pixel values were classified and given a weight, and then compared among themselves for further ranking to account for their relative importance to delineate variety specific extrapolation domains. The geo-statistical analysis was carried out to estimate the extent of the scalable areas. The classification showed that, it was highly suitable for varieties 0.02 million hectares for Dosha; 0.19 for Gabelcho; 0.11 for Gora; 0.33 for Moti; 0.05 for Dagm; 0.14 for Hachalu; and 0.26 million hectares for Walki. Moderately suitable areas for these varieties covered 5.0, 9.4, 7.2, 15.3, 4.6, 8.8, and 7.5 million hectares, respectively across the country. The largest proportion for all varieties was moderately suitable; while the share of slightly suitable was very low, although there was quite variability within each of the faba bean variety in terms of its agro-ecology adaptation to the target environments. Such biophysical spatial frameworks become essential entry points for introducing variety specific product profiles and this can be further enhanced by incorporating socio-economic attributes accounting for return of the investment in targeting the technology. Key words: Environmental factors, spatial decision


The B-cell receptor signaling pathway is important in the lymphomagenesis of many lymphomas, including marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). Herein we describe a case of extranodal MZL refractory to multiple lines of therapy. The presence of an IgM paraprotein prompted further evaluation, and the patient was found to have an MYD88L265P mutation. Treatment with ibrutinib led to a dramatic response with prompt resolution of symptoms and significant improvement in measurable sites of disease. The excellent response to ibrutinib in our patient with MYD88L265P-mutated refractory MZL supports a biological rationale for its use.


The current establishment of city gas piping polyethylene (PE) tube used as bonding state or part of the health or safety of fusion is very important. A part of these fusion methods to determine the soundness of the short-term trials and long-term tests can be largely classified. Typical tests include short-term strength, tensile strength, impact strength, compressive strength, resiliency and compression. Polyethylene (PE) pipes installed in the domestic terms of overall penetration rate of 45% has been used. However, polyethylene (PE) pipes have reliability problems, and these occurs mostly in part by defective welding. Therefore, the test is necessary for safety. Non-destructive methods (ultrasonic testing) are difficult to be used. Therefore, Polypropylene copolymer (PP-C), polypropylene homopolymer (PP-H), and polyethylene (PE) pipe are used. Fusion of thses materilas is necessary in these field however, its technical, and basic research has not been studied well. In this research, short-term strength of welding parts, its tensile strength, hardness, fatigue, and microstructure have been analyzed to find the optimum process conditions to improve mechanical properties.


The free-radical initiated copolymerization of 2-(4-chloro-1-naphtyloxy)-2-oxoethyl methacrylate (ClNOEMA) with 2-(diethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA) was carried out in 1,4-dioxane solution at 70 ± 1°C using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator with different monomer-to-monomer ratios (ranging from 0.15 to 0.85) in the feed. The copolymer composition obtained by elemental analysis led to the determination of reactivity ratios employing Fineman-Ross (F-R) and Kelen-Tüdös (KT) linearization methods. These parameters were also estimated using a non-linear computational fitting procedure, known as reactivity ratios error in variable model (RREVM). The prepared homo and copolymers were tested for their antimicrobial activity against bacteria and yeast. These copolymers have been converted into novel salts by reaction with the iodemethane (CH3I). The copolymers and the corresponding salts have been characterized fully by a range of spectroscopic analysis techniques. The electrical conductivity dependence of temperature of the polymers were measured and the polymers exhibit the semi-conducting behavior, confirming that the electrical conductivity increases with increasing temperature. The poly(CINOEMA-co-DEAEMA) polymer doped by CH3I for 15 min shows the highest conductivity. The optical band gap, activation energy and room temperature conductivity values of these polymers were obtained. These electronic parameters suggest that the poly(CINOEMA-co-DEAEMA)s doped by CH3I for 15 min is an organic semiconductor with the thermally activated conduction mechanism.


FDR -- the wily political opportunist glowing with charismatic charm, a leader venerated and hated with equal vigor -- such is one common notion of a president elected to an unprecedented four terms. But in this first comprehensive study of Roosevelt's leadership of the Democratic party, Sean Savage reveals a different man. He contends that, far from being a mere opportunist, Roosevelt brought to the party a conscious agenda, a longterm strategy of creating a liberal Democracy that would be an enduring majority force in American politics.The roots of Roosevelt's plan for the party ran back to his experiences with New York politics in the 1920s. It was here, Savage argues, that Roosevelt first began to perceive that a pluralistic voting base and a liberal philosophy offered the best way for Democrats to contend with the established Republican organization. With the collapse of the economy in 1929 and the discrediting of Republican fiscal policy, Roosevelt was ready to carry his views to the national scene when elected president in 1932.Through his analysis of the New Deal, Savage shows how Roosevelt made use of these programs to develop a policy agenda for the Democratic party, to establish a liberal ideology, and, most important, to create a coalition of interest groups and voting blocs that would continue to sustain the party long after his death. A significant aspect of Roosevelt's leadership was his reform of the Democratic National Committee, which was designed to make the party's organization more open and participatory in setting electoral platforms and in raising financial support.Savage's exploration of Roosevelt's party leadership offers a new perspective on the New Deal era and on one of America's great presidents that will be valuable for historians and political scientists alike.


Advanced phase myeloproliferative neoplasms (AP-MPN) are associated with a very poor prognosis. The Phase Ib PHAZAR study set out to assess the safety & tolerability of oral ruxolitinib (RUX) in combination with 5-azaciditine (AZA) in patients (pts) with advanced-phase-MPN, defined as blast count >10%. The study included an observational arm for pts not suitable for the trial intervention. The clinical results of this study are presented in a separate abstract. Here we evaluate the molecular characteristics of PHAZAR pts and correlate with clinical features, outcome and therapy response.
 Driver mutation (JAK2/CALR/MPL) allele burdens were quantified using targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) and non-driver mutation analysis was performed using an ISO accredited Illumina TruSeq Custom Amplicon Panel, including 32 gene mutation hotspots & exons (~36,000 bp, 287 amplicons). SNP karyotyping was performed using the Illumina InfiniumOmniExpress-24v1-3 BeadChip assay. Data analysis was performed using R v4.0.
 Clinical data were censored in February 2020, and NGS sequencing data were available for 24 interventional trial and 13 observational cohort participants. 11/13 observational pts received best supportive care, while 2/13 were treated with high-dose chemotherapy. All pts had a mutation in ≥1 targeted gene. 16% of pts were 'triple-negative' for MPN driver mutations, while 59%, 16% & 8% carried canonical mutations in JAK2, CALR & MPL respectively. 89% carried additional non-driver mutations, with a median of 2 (range 0-4) detected per pt (Fig 1A). Mutations in epigenetic regulators were detected in 21/37 pts (57%) (TET2, 38%; EZH2, 19%; ASXL1, 14%; PHF6, 5%; SETBP1, 3%) while 8/37 (22%) carried mutually exclusive spliceosomal mutations (SRSF2, 8%; U2AF1, 8%; SF3B1, 5%). 10/37 (27%) were TP53 mutant. High molecular risk (HMR) mutations (ASXL1, EZH2, IDH1/2, SRSF2, TP53, U2AF1 Q157) were detected in 24/37 (65%), and >1 HMR mutation in 7/37 (19%).
 SNP karyotyping data were available for 42 pts (n=29 interventional, n=13 observational). 4/42 (10%) were wild-type, while 90% harboured >=1 chromosomal aberrations (median 4, range 0-16). Of these, 21 were recurrent in 3+ samples. 9 frequently recurrent events in >=5 samples included gains at 1q, 3q26, 17q21and losses of 5q, 6q12, 17p13, 19q13, 20q, and multiple losses and gains on chromosome 21q. 5 pts demonstrated evidence of chromothripsis. The presence of TP53 mutation was associated with a higher number of chromosomal aberrations (median of 3 vs 6.5, p=0.02).
 Concerning clinical correlation, baseline driver mutation status did not impact on OS nor likelihood of achieving a durable response (DR, defined as having achieved a minimum of 6 months of complete or partial remission or stable disease as per published criteria (Cheson Blood 2006, Mascarenhas Leuk Res 2012)). The presence of >=3 additional mutations significantly impaired OS regardless of trial arm (1 yr OS 12% vs 55%, p=0.02), as did the presence of HMR mutations (1 yr OS 22% vs 73%, p=0.008) and TP53 mutations in isolation (1 yr OS 13% vs 55%, p=0.05). The presence of HMR mutations reduced the likelihood of achieving a DR (p=0.02). Pts with losses of >=1 chromosomal arms (other than 5q-) had a poor prognosis (1yr OS 27% vs 58%, p=0.05), while no pt with chromothripsis (n=5) survived to a year (1yr OS 0% vs 53%, p=0.002).
 Mutational profiling of serial samples on therapy were available for 5 pts who achieved a remission during AZA and RUX therapy. One pt achieved a CMR but developed clonal evolution and emergence of a new ETV6 mutant clone at relapse. The other 4 cases demonstrated no change in clonal abundance during remission. This supports the hypothesis that response to AZA is mediated by alteration of subclonal contributions or prevention of further clonal evolution, rather than elimination of founder clones.
 AP-MPN continues to confer a very poor prognosis and more effective therapies are urgently required. Genetic and molecular profiling of this prospective trial cohort demonstrates the high mutational burden and structural variants seen in this disease. Initial serial sample profiling demonstrates that molecular responses to AZA and RUX are rare and, where they occur, are not sustained. Incorporation of molecular profiling into trial design may help inform which patients are more likely to benefit from the intervention - e.g. those without evidence of chromothripsis at trial entry.

 Harrison: Gilead Sciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; CTI Biopharma Corp: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Incyte Corporation: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Promedior: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Sierra Oncology: Honoraria. Drummond:Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Blueprint Medicine Corporation: Research Funding. Knapper:Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Mead:Gilead: Consultancy; CTI: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.


In recent years, the interest for parallel multicell converters has grown, which is partially due to the possibility of coupling the inductors used to connect the different commutation cells together. Coupling the inductors to form an InterCell Transformer (ICT) does not usually modify the output current, but it reduces the current ripple in the windings and the flux swing in some regions of the core. It can be shown that this brings a reduction of copper and core losses in the magnetic component. The reduction of the phase current ripple also reduces the difference between turn on and turn off current in the switches, which brings a reduction of switching losses for devices generating more losses at turn off than at turn on. The design of an ICT is not that different from any other magnetic component but it is very specific and inherent features must be taken into account. Taking full benefit of the potential advantages of ICTs requires the development of special tools and methods which are the focus of the study. We show how to design ICTs considering several topologies and different methods, from the most precise and time-consuming to the less accurate but more quickly calculated. The explanation of the ICT design is divided in four main parts: Copper Losses, Core Losses, Flux Density Saturation and Thermal Aspects. Further attention is given to high frequency copper losses since complex phenomena such as skin and proximity effects highly influence the ICT design. Based on Finite Element Method simulations, smart practices are suggested to reduce high and low frequency copper losses, not only in ICTs but also in inductors and transformers. Simple tables are developed to help transformer designers to identify the best configuration of conductors inside a given core window, depending on the current waveform and frequency, number of turns and geometrical parameters. Optimization routines to reduce the ICT total mass, volume, losses or cost are developed and multidimensional interpolation of pre-simulated values of AC resistance and leakage inductance is used to speed up the optimization routine. Comparison of ICT designs with regard to core and conductor material, number of cells and switching frequency is performed. Comparison with regular inductors is also made in order to verify the benefits of this kind of magnetic component. Multilevel converter control aspects applied to three- hase systems is also investigated in terms of the ICT flux. Zero sequence signals, specific for a PWM strategy and converter/load topology, are created in order to minimize the flux in ICTs and consequently reduce even further the mass and size of these components. Comparison between several PWM methods are performed and experimentally verified.


As the population in water stressed areas increases, it is critical that wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) continue to replenish depleted water supplies, and serve as an alternative water source. WWTPs depend on microorganisms in activated sludge to remove pollutants from wastewater and therefore an understanding of how these microorganisms are affected by various conditions and pollutants is needed. Also, as consumer products and industrial processes evolve, so do the pollutants they discharge to wastewater. The research herein assesses microbial community dynamics of the response of nitrifying microorganisms in activated sludge to variation in ammonia concentration and evaluates the impact of engineered nanoparticles on activated sludge microbial communities and other emerging pollutants, such as antibiotic resistance genes and disinfection by-products. In order to assess microbial community dynamics of the response of nitrifying microorganisms to removal of ammonia in the feed, nitrifying activated sludge reactors were operated at various relevant temperatures and the nitrifying microbial community was characterized using activity assays and bio-molecular techniques. We found that Nitrospira spp. were the dominant nitrifying microorganisms, exhibiting stable relative abundance across multiple trials and over a range of temperatures. These results indicate the possibility of comammox bacteria in the system and highlight the complexity of nitrifying microbial communities in activated sludge relative to past understanding. Both microbial and chemical impacts of engineered nanoparticles on WWTP processes were also investigated. Metagenomic analysis of DNA extracted from activated sludge sequencing batch reactors dosed with gold nanoparticles with varied surface coating and morphology indicated that nanoparticle morphology impacted the microbial community and antibiotic resistance gene content more than surface coating. However, nanoparticle fate was controlled by surface coating more than morphology. Disinfection by-product formation in the presence of nanoparticles during WWTP disinfection was assessed using silver, titanium dioxide, ceria, and zero valent iron nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles were found to enhance trihalomethane formation, which was attributed to the citrate coating of the nanoparticles. These studies both raise concern over the relationship between engineered nanoparticles and other emerging concerns in WWTPs, and take a step towards informing nanoparticle design in a manner that limits their associated environmental impact. Effects of Microbial Community Stress Response and Emerging Contaminants on Wastewater Treatment Plants


We previously demonstrated that truncated desmoplakin I (DP I) molecules containing the carboxyl terminus specifically coalign with and disrupt both keratin and vimentin intermediate filament (IF) networks when overexpressed in tissue culture cells (Stappenbeck, T. S., and K. J. Green. J. Cell Biol. 116:1197-1209). These experiments suggested that the DP carboxyl-terminal domain is involved either directly or indirectly in linking IF with the desmosome. Using a similar approach, we have now investigated the behavior of ectopically expressed full-length DP I in cultured cells. In addition, we have further dissected the functional sequences in the carboxyl terminus of DP I that facilitate the interaction with IF networks. Transient transfection of a clone encoding full-length DP I into COS-7 cells produced protein that appeared in some cells to associate with desmosomes and in others to coalign with and disrupt IF. Deletion of the carboxyl terminus from this clone resulted in protein that still appeared capable of associating with desmosomes but not interacting with IF networks. As the amino terminus appeared to be dispensable for IF interaction, we made finer deletions in the carboxyl terminus of DP based on blocks of sequence similarity with the related molecules bullous pemphigoid antigen and plectin. We found a sequence at the very carboxyl terminus of DP that was necessary for coalignment with and disruption of keratin IF but not vimentin IF. Furthermore, the coalignment of specific DP proteins along keratin IF but not vimentin IF was correlated with resistance to extraction by Triton. The striking uncoupling resulting from the deletion of specific DP sequences suggests that the carboxyl terminus of DP interacts differentially with keratin and vimentin IF networks.


Besides the demonstration of the findings, modern museums organize educational programs which aim to experience and knowledge sharing combined with entertainment rather than to pure learning. Toward that effort, 2D and 3D digital representations are gradually replacing the traditional recording of the findings through photos or drawings. The present paper refers to a project that aims to create 3D textured models of two lekythoi that are exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens in Greece; on the surfaces of these lekythoi scenes of the adventures of Odysseus are depicted. The project is expected to support the production of an educational movie and some other relevant interactive educational programs for the museum. The creation of accurate developments of the paintings and of accurate 3D models is the basis for the visualization of the adventures of the mythical hero. The data collection was made by using a structured light scanner consisting of two machine vision cameras that are used for the determination of geometry of the object, a high resolution camera for the recording of the texture, and a DLP projector. The creation of the final accurate 3D textured model is a complicated and tiring procedure which includes the collection of geometric data, the creation of the surface, the noise filtering, the merging of individual surfaces, the creation of a c-mesh, the creation of the UV map, the provision of the texture and, finally, the general processing of the 3D textured object. For a better result a combination of commercial and in-house software made for the automation of various steps of the procedure was used. The results derived from the above procedure were especially satisfactory in terms of accuracy and quality of the model. However, the procedure was proved to be time consuming while the use of various software packages presumes the services of a specialist.


There is a need for stakeholders, at all levels of education, to be able to locate, access, and use the preponderance of data available about schools and students' demographic information and academic performance. The reason for findability, accessibility and usability of the data is for the stakeholders to make data-driven decisions based on trends the data bring to light. However, in many cases, data are located in portals that are cumbersome and difficult to navigate. This article explores the complexity of educational data portals; the wide gap in technology skills of the user of the data; and, interface design challenges.