11 Global Navigation Satellite System – Acoustic ranging combined seafloor geodetic technique 12 (GNSS-A) has extended the geodetic observation network into the ocean. The key issue for analyzing 13 the GNSS-A data is how to correct the effect of sound speed variation in the seawater. We 14 constructed a generalized observation equation and developed a method to directly extract the 15 gradient sound speed structure by introducing appropriate statistical properties in the observation 16 equation, especially the data correlation term. In the proposed scheme, we calculate the posterior 17 probability based on the empirical Bayes approach using the Akaike's Bayesian Information 18 Criterion (ABIC) for model selection. This approach enabled us to suppress the overfitting of sound 19 speed variables and thus to extract simpler sound speed field and stable seafloor positions from the 20 GNSS-A dataset. The proposed procedure is implemented in the Python-based software "GARPOS" 21 (GNSS-Acoustic Ranging combined POsitioning Solver). 22


The effects of hypotonic shock upon membrane C1 permeability of ROS 17/2.8 osteoblast-like cells was investigated using the patch-clamp technique. Hypotonic shock produced cell swelling that was accompanied by large amplitude, outwardly rectifying, currents that were active across the entire physiological range of membrane potentials (-80 to +100 mV). At strong depolarisations (> +50 mV) the currents exhibited time-dependent inactivation that followed a monoexponential time course. The currents were anion selective and exhibited a selectivity sequence of SCN- > I > Br- > Cl- > F- > gluconate. Current activation was unaffected by inhibitors of protein kinase (A (H-89) and tyrosine kinase (tyrphostin A25), and could not be mimicked by elevation of intracellular Ca2+ or activation of protein kinase C. Similarly, disruption of actin filaments by dihydrocytochalsin B, or generation of membrane tension by dipyridamole failed to elicit significant increases in cell chloride permeability. The mechanism of current activation is as yet undetermined. The currents were effectively inhibited by the chloride channel inhibitors NPPB and DIDS but resistant to DPC. A Cl- conductance with similar characteristics was found to be present in mouse primary cultured calvarial osteoblasts. The volume-sensitive Cl- current in ROS 17/2.8 cells was inhibited by arachidonic acid in two distinct phases. A rapid block that developed within 10 s, preceding a slower developing inhibitory phase that occurred approximately 90 s after onset of arachidonate superfusion. Arachidonic acid also induced kinetic modifications of the current which were evident as an acceleration of the time-dependent· inactivation exhibited at depolarised potentials. Inhibitors of cyclo-oxygenases, lipoxygenases and cytochrome P-4S0 were ineffectual against arachidonic acid's effects sugtgesting that arachidonic acid may elicit it's effects directly. Measurements of cell volume under hypotonic conditions showed that ROS 17/2,8 cells could effectively regulate their volume, However, effective inhibitors of the volume-sensitive CI" current drastically impaired this response suggesting that physiologically this current may have a vital role in cell volume regulation, In L6 skeletal myocytes, vasopressin was found to rapidiy hyperpolarise cells. This appears to occur as the result of activation of Ca2+ -sensitive K+ channels in a process dependent upon the presence of extracellular Ca2+.


In this paper, an improved threshold segmentation algorithm based on isoperimetric ratio for infrared imaging object is proposed. The segmentation weight matrix is constructed by computing the similarity among the pixies with 4 adjoining points and stored in a sparse matrix. The isoperimetric ratio is obtained after the indicator vectors are formed with 255 gray levels. The proposed algorithm selects the minimum isoperimetric ratio confined in conditions as the best partition criterion instead of the traditional minimum isoperimetric ratio. By analyzing the variation of isoperimetric ratio with the gray levels, the proposed method can find the optimum threshold to segment infrared imaging object. Experimental results show that compared with the traditional methods, the proposed algorithm can reach a higher segmentation rate and is more robust in different kinds of infrared images.


Abstract. Analysis of randomly textured interface in solar cells is an ambitious effort considering the numerous structures and variation in the texture. We use the Fourier transform based method, which takes randomly textured interface as initial input and manipulates its frequency spectrum to synthesize interface texture with the desired texture behavior. Afterward, the synthesized interfaces are applied to simulate flexible thin-film silicon tandem (aSi/μcSi) solar cells. Using the simulation, we have shown how interface between the back and front areas of the solar cell evolves, and the effect of the back contact; the front area roughness is analyzed and interference fringes observed on experiments are discussed. For the simulations, a finite integration technique with time-harmonic inverse iterative method is used. All simulations are performed on high-performance computers, which allows simulation of a big simulation domain (>5  μm×5  μm) with fine mesh size (<10  nm). The analysis performed shows that the interface roughness at the front contact remains similar to the initial back contact roughness. Furthermore, a solar cell with flat back contact can be as efficient as a solar cell with rough back contact when the front area roughness is well optimized.


The aim of the EU-FP7 Marie Curie project is 'finding fullerene–coated surfaces with maximum photosensitizing activity.' The effectiveness of fullerene as the singlet oxygen generator decreases in the case of fullerene is condensed to the bulk material form due to polymerization ability. In this thesis, the task is about finding fullerene coated surfaces with reduced ability to polymerize.In order to study the polymerization, Raman spectroscopy which provides non-destructive, fast and very informative method to get structural and electronic information about the fullerene-based structure was used. The films were irradiated with green laser (514 nm) at the laser power 1.8 mW which is close to the brightest sunlight irradiation, and results show that hydrogen plasma treated C60:H films presents less polymerization ability under the daylight irradiation.The fullerene films co-evaporated with CdS, CdTe, HNO3, TPP (tetraphenylporphyrin) or treated with the hydrogen plasma were produced in St. Petersburg, Russia. Their properties were compared with "C60_ pure" sample.The assessment of the texture was made by atomic force microscopy (AFM).We used spectroscopic ellipsometry which is also a non-destructive method for characterization. The refractive index, extinction coefficient, absorption coefficient and thickness of the films were determined. The films except the "C60_ pure" were nearly transparent in the visible-near UV spectral regions.


Ice drift recorded by ice buoys show a relatively direct pathway of ice from the North Pole to Fram Strait. An ice tethered buoy deployed in 2015 during GEOTRACES section GN04 at 89°N was recovered in August 2016 at 76°43N in Fram Strait during GEOTRACES section GN05.
Does the surface water follow a similar pathway? Tracer data collected during these two expeditions are used to investigate to what extent the water in the East Greenland Current (EGC) can be considered a downstream extension of the Transpolar Drift (TPD) at the North Pole.
The reduction of 228Ra activities and 129I/236U ratios in the EGC compared to the TPD can be explained either by a much longer (order 3-4 years) travel time than suggested by the ice drift, or by admixture of surface waters from other, presumably Pacific sources.
The pathways followed by surface water in a coupled sea-ice-ocean model suggest that the transit of surface water is indeed much more erratic and time consuming than the transit of ice. We will discuss whether N/P ratios or Nd isotopes give evidence for a change in the contribution of Pacific waters.


Abstract : Noble gas fluorine oxidizers of Neon, Krypton, Argon, and Xenon have been synthesized and characterized. KrF(+) and XeF(+) cations have been made with neutral organic bases. Kr-N and Kr-O bonded molecules are also synthesized and characterized. The hypervalent compounds ClFsub6(-) and XeFsub5(-) are made. The anions IFsub6O(-), TeFsub6O(2-), TeFsub7(-) and TeFsub8(2-) anions are also made. Proof that the ClFsub6(-) anion exists is also presented. The photoelectron spectra of XeFsub2, XeFsub4, and XeFsub6 are obtained using monochromatized synchrotron radiation. The synthesis and characterization of Sb(OTeFsub5)sub6(-)Etsub4N(+), and Bi(OTeFsub5)sub6(-)Etsub4N(+) salts is completed. Radiotracer experiments involving (18)F are also accomplished to show the inability to synthesize NFsub5 is due to mainly steric reasons.


ABSTRACT The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck North Canterbury, on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island on 14 November 2016 had significant impacts and implications for the community of Kaikōura and surrounding settlements. The magnitude and scope of this event has resulted in extensive and ongoing geological and geophysical research into the event. The current paper complements this research by providing a review of existing social science research and offering new analysis of the impact of the earthquake and its aftermath on community resilience in Kaikōura over the past five years. Results demonstrate the significant economic implications for tourism, and primary industries. Recovery has been slow, and largely dependent on restoring transportation networks, which helped catalyse cooperation among local hospitality providers. Challenges remain, however, and not all sectors or households have benefited equally from post-quake opportunities, and long-term recovery trajectories continue to be hampered by COVID-19 pandemic. The multiple ongoing and future stressors faced by Kaikōura require integrated and equitable approaches in order to build capability and capacity for locally based development pathways to ensure long-term community resilience.


In the period up till 2000 the Netherlands Research Assistance Project (NRAP) ran an Action Research programme to develop a drainage system together with farmers in an area suffering from salinity and waterlogging. Executing parties of NRAP were the International Waterlogging and Salinity Research Institute (IWASRI), Pakistan?s main research institute in salinity and waterlogging research, and International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement (Alterra-ILRI), based in the The Netherlands. The Action Research was an approach to establish an on-farm collective drainage system together with farmers, while at the same time learning how this is done best. This latter aim is achieved by systematically analysing the actions taken by all involved in the drainage development process. Action Research is unique in the sense that conclusions from the analyses are fed back into, and can lead to changes in, the process. The experiences with Action Research in case of the NRAP project lead to the conclusion that the approach has potential for other irrigation and drainage development projects as well.


Behavioral science is increasingly considered foundational for addressing various sustainable development challenges. Behavioral change and action competence have also become important goals in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), complementing and interacting with other educational goals such as the development of sustainability-relevant knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes. We argue that these interconnected learning goals of ESD can be advanced by integrating interdisciplinary behavioral science concepts, methods, and insights into the design of curricula, learning environments, and processes for participatory whole-school approaches. Specifically, we highlight the role of metacognitive competency in self-directed individual and collective behavior change and we present our educational design concept for teaching human behavior as an interdisciplinary theme in ESD.


Studies in railroad workers, truck drivers, and miners reveal diesel exhaust to be carcinogenic. Although technology has evolved, a large capacity in the U.S and globally still comprises traditional diesel engine design in transportation, mining, construction and farming. The Diesel Exhaust in Miners Study (DEMS) with an extensive exposure assessment investigated 200 lung cancer deaths in non-coal and non-metal miners. A DEMS dataset was used to calculate the excess lifetime risk for airborne concentrations of respirable elemental carbon (REC). A healthy worker survivor effect and possible confounding by non-diesel power generation and other mining exposures (e.g., explosives) were investigated along with dose-rate effects using Poisson regression methods with high-resolution classification. Lung cancer mortality declined with employment duration and more so when REC and non diesel exposure effects were also estimated, revealing a strong survivor bias. Attenuation of the REC effect was also observed with increasing (lagged) cumulative REC exposure. In underground miners, the excess relative rate of lung cancer mortality was 0.67 (p < 0.0001) for a 10 year exposure to 200 µg/"m3 REC, a typical underground exposure. At occupational REC exposures of 200, 10 and 1 µg/m3 the excess lifetime risks, respectively, were 119, 43 and 8.7 per thousand. The estimated lifetime risk was greater than some previous estimates not accounting for heathy worker survival bias. This bias was addressed using employment duration and mine above/below ground status. A model-fitted function of cumulative exposure accommodated attenuation of exposure effect. The estimated excess lifetime risks of lung cancer at old diesel REC exposure levels common in occupational groups in the past exceed 5%.


A healthy society is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of highest attainable standard of health in one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, political belief, economic or social condition‖ Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO), 1946. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has provided a definition of development as "development of the people for the people by the people" (UNDP, 1993). Egypt has been long considered as one of the most attractive countries to visit because of its historical treasures. Egypt instituted several sport-for-all initiatives in its post-colonial modernization. These included a government sports council in the 1960s and the establishment of a Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) in 1999. The MYS oversees national parks and seaside areas as well as a large-scale fitness mobilization walk/jog events. A major goal of MYS was to develop and maintain youth centers in all of Egypt's metropolitan areas that would service young people's needs in mass sport and physical activities(e.g., basketball, soccer, volleyball).With Egyptian population up to 80 million there are projects related to sport- for- all, events, and or organized programs (cooperative or competitive ) for large groups , including the general population participating in clubs, on playing fields, in gymnasiums , community centers and community recreation programs around Egypt. These were enough for the future of mass sport participation in a great nation with a great history in sport. The International Sport Management Questionnaire (ISMQ), created by Waters (1996), in order to determine the status of sport development in Egypt it was necessary that the ISMQ be translated in to Arabic. This would ensure that Egyptian's mass sport and activities leaders- all of whom speak Arabic as their ―mother tongue‖- would have every opportunity to completely understand each of the 51 question as posed specifically for mass sport and activities (and its development) and answer with accuracy, confidence, and reliability. The translation of the ISMQ was carried out by Aly& Elmahdy who are associated with this present study, then distributed to 66 Egyptian mass sport and activities leaders at different youth centers, clubs, recreation departments, in 24 out of 26 cities in Egypt. Raters were asked to provide answers to closed- and open – ended questions (n=51) on the ISMQ, which ultimately resulted in scoring. (Maximum=33 points) of eight factor components: objectives, legislation, organization, implementation, physical resources, human resources, research and evaluation, and contribution to healthy nation building. Analysis of data was through descriptive statistics (frequency distribution using a histogram graph that shows the frequency distribution of variable to evaluate the mass sport and physical activities distribution). The results showed that Egyptians practice recreation, mass sports and physical activities as a tool to promote health and prevent disease. Running, soccer, and team sports are mostly practiced in the southern part of Egypt while in the north west of the country people mostly practice aquatic sports such as beach volleyball, swimming, surfing, speed boating , fishing ,rowing, scuba diving, sailing, etc. Because of population increases over the last decade facilities like parks, schools, clubs, beaches, water facilities, and youth centers are insufficient to meet the needs of the population. In addition, poor access to private clubs doesn't help Egypt's middle class to participate in mass sports programs and activities as long as those clubs have annual membership fees. Most of the facilities for mass sport and physical activities are located in the suburban areas cities such as Cairo, Alexandria, and Ismailia. Further south there are fewer mass sport programs and physical activities and opportunities for the Egyptian population.


Thanks to the introduction of new methods to induce massive damage under controlled conditions, much information about regeneration in Drosophila imaginal discs has accumulated in recent years. In this review, we discuss results concerning primarily the wing disc, putting emphasis on the different regenerative responses of the wing appendage, which exhibits a robust regenerative potential, and the trunk region, the notum, which regenerates very poorly. The wing disc may be a paradigm of a tissue in which a common original lineage generates cells with distinct regenerative potential. We argue that a key factor in those differences is the activity of the Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) pathway, which functions differently in the appendage and the body trunk.


Transient phenomena associated with solid propellant combustion are examined by means of an oscillatory burner designed to create pressure oscillations through the use of a rotary nozzle. The oscillatory burner is designed to operate at pressures up to 20.7 MPa (3000 psi), with the target operating pressure achieved through pre-pressurization with an inert gas (helium) and manipulation of constant and variable-area nozzle diameters. A spherically focused 1 MHz ultrasound transducer is pulsed at 2.5 lcHz through the bottom of the propellant to obtain the thickness-time profile of the propellant, which is then converted to a burning rate by taking the time derivative. Two piezoelectric pressure transducers simultaneously record the pressure-time history of each experiment. The burning rate and pressure are then used to calculate the pressure-coupled response of each test. The experiments presented here were motivated by three primary goals. The first was to investigate the effect of propellant composition on the response function. The second was to evaluate effect of mean pressure on the response of propellants and the thud was to investigate the response of a propellant withm a plateau region. Experiments completed for response function purposes targeted pressures of 2.0, 5.0 and 12.5 MPa at frequencies ranging from 20-200 Hz. Data taken for propellants with different additives (aluminum and a transition metal oxide) were compared with baseline propellants to determine the effects of these additives on the response function. The effect of mean pressure was evaluated through comparison of tests on one propellant performed at two different mean pressures (2.0 and 5.0 m a ) . The response within a plateau region was investigated through low frequency tests that targeted the plateau of a composite propellant (12.5 MPa). Copyright


Introduction: Tonsillectomy is the most commonly performed procedure and generally regarded as a safe surgery. Taste disturbance is a very rare complication after tonsillectomy, with very few reports in the literature. The most possible cause of this rare complication is direct or indirect damage to the glossopharyngeal nerve or its lingual branch (LBGN). Aim: To report a very rare complication of the most commonly performed procedure i.e. tonsillectomy. Case Report: The case is a 32 years old lady who complained of taste disturbance following tonsillectomy that was performed for chronic tonsillitis. As treatment patient was given Trifluoparazine Hydrochloride a Phenothiazine derivatives and Vit B 6 + Vit B 12 . Patient recovered after 4 months postoperatively. Conclusion: Tonsillectomy should be performed with minimal trauma to the tonsillar bed to avoid injury to the Glossopharyngeal nerve or its lingual branch (LBGN) and all patients should be informed of the risk of post-operative taste disturbance after tonsillectomy. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jafmc.v10i1.22935 Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh Vol.10(1) 2014


High intake of added sugars increases the risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are widely used in many beverages and food products to reduce calories and sugar content. NNS have higher intensity of sweetness per gram than caloric sweeteners such as sucrose, corn syrup, and fruit juice concentrates. NNS approved for use have been tested and determined to be safe at levels that are within acceptable daily intake by the Joint Food Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives. The eight items of sweeteners are regulated as food additives in Korea. Dietary intake of the sweeteners was suggested as safety level by the ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2012. If substituted for caloric sweeteners without intake of additional calories from other food sources, NNS may help consumers limit carbohydrate and energy intake as a strategy to manage blood glucose and weight. Dietitians can provide guidance on the use of NNS that give the desired results in food preparation and use at the table.


Long-standing diabetes can result in the development of cardiomyopathy, which can be accompanied by myocardial fibrosis. Although exposure of cultured kidney and skin fibroblasts to high glucose (HG) concentration is known to increase collagen synthesis, little is known about cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). Therefore, we determined the influence of HG conditions on CF functions and the effects of losartan and vitamin E in these responses. We cultured rat CFs in either normal glucose (NG; 5.5 mM) or HG (25 mM) media and assessed changes in protein and collagen synthesis, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, and levels of mRNA for ANG II type 1 (AT(1)) receptors. Results indicate that HG-level CFs synthesized more protein and collagen, and these effects were not due to changes in osmotic pressure. The addition of ANG II stimulated protein and collagen synthesis in NG-concentration but not HG-concentration CFs. Interestingly, losartan pretreatment blocked the HG- or ANG II-induced increases in both protein and collagen synthesis. HG or ANG II decreased total MMP activity. Decreases in MMP activity were blocked by losartan. AT(1) mRNA levels were upregulated with HG concentration. Vitamin E pretreatment blocked the effects of HG on total protein synthesis and stimulated MMP activity. Results suggest that HG levels may promote fibrosis by increasing CF protein and collagen synthesis and decreasing MMP activity. HG levels may cause these effects via the upregulation of AT(1) receptors, which can be blocked by losartan. However, vitamin E can alter HG concentration-induced changes in CF functions independently of AT(1) mRNA levels.


Evanescent microwave principles of operation are based on the papers described by Kumar and Smith [1976] and Kumar [1976]. They described that when a dielectric/semiconductor/biological material is placed in the vicinity of the evanescent waveguide (which is connected to a cavity resonator), the reflection coefficient of the resonator changes. Both the resonance frequency and the quality factor of the cavity resonator are affected by the presence of the material. The amount of change in the resonance depends primarily on the microwave properties of the sample as well as on the distance between the wall (resonator iris to the evanescent waveguide) and the sample, and the effective area of sample in the waveguide. It was also shown that microwave properties of a material are a function of permittivity and permeability. The authors of the above paper have used the same principle, where a microstrip type resonator and an evanescent probe have been used instead of a waveguide resonator and an evanescent waveguide. Therefore, they should have referenced the original papers in their article.


A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether prophylactic beta-blockers effectively reduces the incidence of atrial fibrillation post-cardiac surgery. Altogether 113 papers were found using the reported search, of which 8 represented the best evidence on this topic. The author, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results, and study weaknesses were tabulated. We conclude that prophylactic beta-blockers clearly reduce the incidence of AF with a number needed to treat of only seven to prevent one episode of AF. The optimal beta-blocker or the benefits to patients with impaired ejection fraction are less clear.


In an era of transition and tension in American health care, Dorothy M. Owens offers a model of empathic communication that benefits both patients and physicians. Drawing from concepts in the domains of psychology and theology, she constructs a model of empathy that is ethical and reciprocal. An integrated model of empathy recognizes the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social nature of human beings. Empathy is a clinically useful, time-effective communication skill that can be taught in medical and pastoral education. Dr. Owens's unique approach to empathy is applicable to other professional and personal relationships as well.


The authors presented evidence for the effect of 6 analogues of ACTN4-10 on teaching of albino rats in a labyrinth with negative electrocutaneous reinforcement. Sixteen series of experiments on 192 rats demonstrated a positive effect of corticotropin fragments on memory processes. The activating ACTH fragment effect was shown in recording the background and bioelectrically induced rabbit brain activity in response to a photo-flash in 36 experiments on 18 animals. Three groups of 30 patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome, posttraumatic craniocerebral effect and schizophrenia received injections of corticotropin as a therapeutic agent. A high efficacy of corticotropin in the treatment of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome and after effect of craniocerebral injury and a low efficacy and sometimes aggravation of symptoms in schizophrenia patients were shown. Language: ru


An experimental was investigated the condition of reinforcement of hemp fiber and hemp fiber/epoxy resin composites with carbon nanotubes (CNTs).The CNTs were mixed with several liquid such as ethanol, latex, water glue and epoxy resin. These mixtures were added to hemp fiber and prepared the hemp fiber/epoxy resin composites. The mechanical properties of both fiber and composite samples were measured. It was found that the mixture of epoxy resin and CNTs with CNTs ratio of 20 vol% in hemp fiber showed the highest tensile strength of 25.43 N. and the same mixture in hemp fiber/epoxy resin composites showed the highest tensile strength of 31.82 MPa and elongation of 7.40 %.


This paper studies effect of packet scheduling algorithms at routers on media synchronization quality in live audio and video transmission by experiment. In the experiment, we deal with four packet scheduling algorithms: first-in first-out, priority queueing, class-based queueing and weighted fair queueing. We assess the synchronization quality of both intra-stream and inter-stream with and without media synchronization control. The paper clarifies the features of each algorithm from a media synchronization point of view. A comparison of the experimental results shows that weighted fair queueing is the most efficient packet scheduling algorithm for continuous media among the four.


Despite numerous calls for land to contribute more to government revenue, the difficulty governments confront is that recurrent land taxation is assessed on a number of different bases both within Australia and internationally, and not all are economically efficient. While there is broad support for a base which reflects unimproved land value in that it reflects highest and best use since taxing it will not influence what improvements are made on the land, in practice the existing use of capital improved value is most often adopted even though it is not an economically efficient base. If increased revenue is to be raised from an efficient land tax, the base must be efficient. While unimproved land value is an efficient base, as there are few vacant land sales available in highly urbanised cities, there is a paucity of information and evidence on which to determine unimproved land value. As a result of this paucity tax liability assessment is neither simple nor transparent when determining land value using improved property transactions. This paper argues that two issues must be resolved if an efficient, simple and transparent land tax is to operate in Australia. Firstly, that whether this base is land value or the value of land and improvements, the base must reflect highest and best use. Secondly, whichever base is chosen, particular attention must be given to the simplicity and transparency of the valuation process. Using simulations for land valuers, and surveys of the rationale for their responses, this paper provides insight into the relatively little understood practices and preferences of valuers when determining the unimproved land value. The paper finds that if capital improved value highest and best use is the preferred base of land tax (given vacant land transactions are absent), then improvements must reflect highest and best use and the valuation process must be codified when accounting for the added value of improvements in a way which ensures that what results is a base which is economically efficient, simple and transparent to taxpayers, valuers and tax administrators.


Eight dromedary camels were studied for 24 days under control conditions (3 days), and during water deprivation (14 days) and rehydration (7 days) in Tadla (Morocco), during the summer. During dehydration, food intake gradually fell and was zero on the last day and animals lost about 30% of their body weight. However, most of this reduction in weight was attributed to water loss, since body weight of the animals returned to control values following rehydration. Dehydration was associated with a decrease in plasma volume (-42 +/- 3%) and a concomitant rise in plasma Na concentration (from 154 +/- 2 to 191 +/- 3 mM). These changes were accompanied by increased plasma arginine-vasopressin (from 0.2 +/- 0.1 to 5.7 +/- 2.2 pg ml-1) and plasma renin activity (from 1.2 +/- 0.2 to 20.0 +/- 5.2 ng Al ml-1 hr-1), without significantly changed plasma concentrations of aldosterone and atrial natriuretic peptide. Dehydration was associated with increased urine osmolality (from 952 +/- 515 to 1963 +/- 498 mosm kg-1 H2O), reduced urine production (from 4565 +/- 2230 to 817 +/- 178 ml day-1), and increased Na excretion. Most of these parameters returned to control values during initial rehydration, except for plasma renin activity, which remained elevated for 7 days, and diuresis, which rose to 12773 +/- 6707 ml day-1 on Day 7 of rehydration.


Synthetic progestogens (progestins) have been linked to increased breast cancer risk; however, the role of endogenous progesterone in breast physiology and carcinogenesis is less clearly defined. Mechanistic studies using cell culture, tissue culture, and preclinical models implicate progesterone in breast carcinogenesis. In contrast, limited epidemiologic data generally do not show an association of circulating progesterone levels with risk, and it is unclear whether this reflects methodologic limitations or a truly null relationship. Challenges related to defining the role of progesterone in breast physiology and neoplasia include: complex interactions with estrogens and other hormones (e.g., androgens, prolactin, etc.), accounting for timing of blood collections for hormone measurements among cycling women, and limitations of assays to measure progesterone metabolites in blood and progesterone receptor isotypes (PRs) in tissues. Separating the individual effects of estrogens and progesterone is further complicated by the partial dependence of PR transcription on estrogen receptor (ER)α-mediated transcriptional events; indeed, interpreting the integrated interaction of the hormones may be more essential than isolating independent effects. Further, many of the actions of both estrogens and progesterone, particularly in "normal" breast tissues, are driven by paracrine mechanisms in which ligand binding to receptor-positive cells evokes secretion of factors that influence cell division of neighboring receptor-negative cells. Accordingly, blood and tissue levels may differ, and the latter are challenging to measure. Given conflicting data related to the potential role of progesterone in breast cancer etiology and interest in blocking progesterone action to prevent or treat breast cancer, we provide a review of the evidence that links progesterone to breast cancer risk and suggest future directions for filling current gaps in our knowledge.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the phenomenon of persistent vaginal bleeding in two patients with severe anorexia nervosa.

METHOD
We report two cases of young women with severe anorexia nervosa reporting vaginal bleeding that persisted for months despite trials of topical and systemic conjugated estrogen therapy.

RESULT
A speculum exam by a gynecologist ultimately revealed the source of the bleeding to be tampon-induced vaginal ulcers. These resolved, along with the vaginal bleeding, with vaginal estrogen cream and cessation of tampon use.

DISCUSSION
Most patients with anorexia nervosa are amenorrheic due to reversion of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis to a prepubertal state. Vaginal bleeding in patients with anorexia nervosa may trigger needless systemic hormonal treatments, radiographic studies, and multiple physician visits. A careful exam is warranted to evaluate for the presence of tampon-induced vaginal ulcer in patients with anorexia nervosa who have persistent vaginal bleeding.


Myopericytoma is a rare, recently described tumor demonstrating a hemangiopericytoma‐like vascular pattern. We present two cases of myopericytoma associated with trauma: a 64‐year‐old man who developed several nodules on his nose four months after sustaining multiple abrasions to his forehead and nose, and a 72‐year‐old woman with a solitary growth in the alveolar ridge of unknown duration. Biopsy specimens of the lesions in both cases demonstrated a striking concentric perivascular proliferation of bland spindle‐shaped pericytic cells characteristic of myopericytoma. Despite sharing morphologic features with angioleiomyoma, myofibroma and glomus tumor, myopericytoma is thought to represent a distinct perivascular myoid neoplasm of skin and soft tissues. The tumor is characterized by a radial and perivascular arrangement of ovoid, spindled to round neoplastic cells that are immunoreactive to alpha‐smooth muscle actin, often for h‐caldesmon as well as smooth muscle myosin‐heavy chain, and usually negative for desmin antibodies. Most cases of myopericytoma are benign, however, local recurrence and malignancy have recently been reported, Myopericytoma can be multifocal involving a single or multiple anatomic regions, and tends to occur in dermal and superficial soft tissues of adults primarily on the extremities. Our cases are unusual examples of myopericytoma manifesting as multiple nodules on the nose, and a solitary growth on the buccal mucosa after trauma.


Gangliogliomas are rare benign tumors of the central nervous system containing neoplastic ganglion and low grade glial cells. In studying 10 surgically treated cases, we evaluated the clinical, pathological, radiological, and immunocytochemical features, with follow-up. Ranging from 18 to 58 years in age, 7 patients were women, and 3 were men. The most common presenting symptom was seizure. Computed tomographic scan showed a low density enhancing mass in 8 and calcification in 5. Six had minimally abnormal vascularity on angiography. Seven patients had total and 3 had subtotal resections of the tumor. The temporal lobe was the location of the tumor in 6 cases. All of the cases met the histological criteria of Russell and Rubinstein for ganglioglioma. Four patients received postoperative radiotherapy because of subtotal resection or aggressive histological makeup. On follow-up, from 2.5 to 7 years, 8 patients are alive and tumor-free, and 7 are also seizure-free. Two died after operation: one immediately and the other of a glioblastoma that developed 5 years later. Our study confirms that ganglioglioma is a distinct histological entity, anatomically localized, with characteristic clinical and radiological findings and long term survival. Aggressive histological makeup is not a definite indication of malignant potential. The definitive role of follow-up radiotherapy for this tumor needs further study. Malignant evolution is rare, but warrants follow-up.


Aim: The present work evaluated different strategies for the control of grey mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, on wine grapes, including the use of the plant growth regulator Gibb3, leaf removal and/or botryticide treatments. The efficiency of the different control strategies (disease incidence and severity, yield) as well as the effect on the cluster structure was investigated.Methods and results: The trials were conducted in commercial vineyards in the Moselle Valley (Luxembourg) between the years 2007 and 2009, on the Pinot gris, Pinot blanc and Pinot noir grape varieties. The untreated control (T1) was compared to the following treatments : (T2) Gibb3, (T3) Gibb3 combined with leaf removal in the cluster zone after bloom, (T4) leaf removal after bloom combined with two times botryticides and (T5) Gibb3 combined with two times botryticides. The combination of Gibb3 with leaf removal or botryticide applications led to an efficiency level in grey mold reduction of around 60% and a decrease in cluster density when compared to the control. Moreover, we showed that the progression of grey mold disease was slowed down by the three treatments T3, T4 and T5.Conclusions: Gibberellic acid applied at full bloom as stand-alone treatment did not reduce in a significant way the compactness of the grape clusters and the impact on grey mold development was low. For a significant decrease of disease severity, gibberellic acid had to be combined with an additional measure, such as leaf removal or the use of botryticides. Based on its positive effect on cluster structure and microclimate, leaf removal can be recommended as a basic measure that can be further combined with an application of botryticides or gibberellic acid.Significance and impact of the study: All the tested strategies combining two measures have shown their potential to prolong the ripening period and therewith to improve wine quality. Moreover, the combined use of gibberellic acid and leaf removal represents a sustainable strategy for integrated viticulture due to its reduced input of organic-synthetic pesticides into the environment.


Previous studies identified 3 Neolithic Han Chinese super-grandfather Y haplotypes, O2a2b1a1a-F5, O2a2b1a2a1-F46, and O2a1b1a1a1a-F11, but their relationships with the archaeological and written records remain unexplored. We here report genome wide DNA data for 12 ancient samples (0.02x-1.28x) from China ranging from 6500 to 2500 years before present (YBP). They belonged to 4 different genetic groups, designated as Dashanqian (DSQ) of Xiajiadian Culture in the Northeast, Banpo (BP) of middle Yangshao Culture in the Central West, Zhengzhou Xishan (ZX) of Miaodigou Culture in the Central Plains, and Others. Present day F5 samples were closer in autosomal distances to the ZX and DSQ groups while F11, C, O1, and O2 samples were closer to the BP group. We also sequenced the Y chromosome of one of these ancient samples K12 from DSQ and found both K12 and a previously reported ~4000 year old sample MG48 from Northwest China to have the O2a2b1a1a1a2a-F2137 haplotype, belonging to the most prolific branch O2a2b1a1a1-F438 immediately under F5. We further found close relationships between ZX and DSQ and between ZX and ancient M117 Tibetans or present day Southwest Dai Chinese carrying the F5 subtype O2a2b1a1a6, implicating radiations of F5 subtypes from the putative place of F5 origin in ZX. These results are remarkably consistent with archaeological and written records.


The paper examines the innovation and export strategies of Spanish food and agriculture firms. It is based on a sample of these firms selected by PITEC for the period 2003-2010. The results show the key role of internal innovation efforts in international commercial activity. This highlights the importance of the capacity to absorb internal innovation efforts. Furthermore, process innovation has a greater effect than product innovation on the internationalization strategy, both for the agricultural and the food firms.


The urban space of colonial Rio de Janeiro was to a large degree structured by a water supply system drawn from European models, including aqueducts, fountains, and a network of underground pipes. This infrastructure, however, worked hand in hand with innumerable slaves responsible for the distribution of water from the fountains to individual households. The article analyzes the continuous social negotiation between white elites and Afro-Brazilian slaves regarding the localization, construction, usage, and valorization of the water works and the spaces produced by them. While the elites possessed the power, means, and traditions to design the infrastructure in the first instance, the slaves gave life to it, defined their eventual application and appearance, and more than once caused the white elites modify the works. Thus, by studying the city's water supply, the article brings to the forefront the slaves' ability to actively participate in the configuration of the physical and cultural identity of a colonial city.


Abstract The Mississippian shales from Wardie (Scotland) were deposited in a large normally brackish-water basin. They host siderite concretions with δ13C values ranging from −3.5 to 12.1‰ which show that sulfate reduction and methanogenesis contributed to the production of bicarbonate. Fossils are found within each of the concretions, suggesting that the decay of these organic remains provided a catalyst for concretionary growth. The pore water was freshened, which is indicated by the very negative δ18O values (from −12.8 to −4.7%). Many features indicate that the concretions are very early-diagenetic, precompactional precipitates. The concretions are mostly homogeneous; only a few exhibit complex concentric zoning. The microstructure of the homogeneous concretions indicates a pervasive growth. However, their isotopic composition reveals a clear trend towards lighter δ13C and δ18O values from the center to the edge. It is proposed that the concretions grew due to methanogenesis in microenvironments around large organic remains, which acted as nuclei. We suggest that this process may be one of the reasons for the very common occurrence of cements as mineral concretions, not as disseminated precipitates along beds. These microenvironments developed entirely within the sulfate reduction zone, which resulted in the establishment of isotopic gradients in bicarbonate dissolved in the pore water across these microenvironments. These gradients were caused by fast consumption of sulfate by the intensive oxidation of organic remains. This resulted in the isotopic trends preserved in the homogeneous concretions. The formation of the zoned concretions proceeded generally concentrically, but detailed observations suggest that pervasive growth also contributed to their formation. Afterwards, all the concretions were deeply buried, probably within the oil window, where late-diagenetic phases crystallized (mainly kaolinite, quartz, and sulfides).


Mental models are coherently organized knowledge structures used to explain phenomena. They interact with social environments and evolve with the interaction. Lacking daily experience with phenomena, the social interaction gains much more importance. In this part of our multiphase study, we investigate how instructional interactions influenced students' mental models about the quantization of physical observables. Class observations and interviews were analysed by studying students' mental models constructed in a modern physics course during an academic semester. The research revealed that students' mental models were influenced by (1) the manner of teaching, including instructional methodologies and content specific techniques used by the instructor, (2) order of the topics and familiarity with concepts, and (3) peers.


Community-directed Intervention (CDI) is an intervention approach in which communities themselves direct and execute the planning and implementation of a health intervention. The success of this approach for the intervention of Onchocerciasis led to the extension of the strategy for the intervention of the other diseases in Africa. Community Health Workers (CHWs) working under the CDI of malaria program play a vital role in primary health care of the community. Local health services and partners initially introduce the intervention and explain the community-directed approach and how it can be planned, run and controlled by the community. This project was aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the implementation of the CDI in the roll-back of malaria among under-five children in the Ndop Health District, with special emphasis of the home management of malaria (HMM) by the Community Health Workers (CHWs). Among the CHW involved in the study, 94.7% of them accepted to receive monetary incentive for their services as CHW. Up to 39.8% of them had no other source of income. Furthermore, 74.3% of the participants reported that they have regular monthly meetings with their supervisor while 25.6% of them had either irregularly-scheduled meetings or none. While 76.1% of respondents accepted to have had at least one refresher course since working under the CDI of malaria program, 23.9% reported to have never had one. While 43.3% of the respondents found their workload okay, 8.9% of them reported they were overworked. A majority (47.8%) of the respondents reported that they found their workload as community health workers manageable. While majority of the respondents reported irregularity in the supply of both antimalarial drugs (64.6%) and RDT kits (73.5%), a majority of them said the supply of registers for records and the provision of transportation means were regular (71.7% and 69% respectively).


Current methods for the treatment of excess weight can involve healthy behavior changes, pharmacotherapy, and surgical interventions. Many individuals are able to lose some degree of weight through behavioral changes; however, they are often unable to maintain their weight loss long-term. This is in part due to physiological processes that cannot be addressed through behavioral changes alone. Bariatric surgery, which is the most successful treatment for excess weight to date, does result in physiological changes that can help with weight loss and weight maintenance. However, many patients either do not qualify or elect to not have this procedure. Fortunately, research has recently identified changes in neurochemicals (i.e., orexigens and anorexigens) that occur during weight loss and contribute to weight regain. The neurochemicals and hormones may be able to be targeted by medications to achieve greater and more sustained weight loss. Two medications are approved in adjunction to lifestyle management for weight loss in Canada: orlistat and liraglutide. Both medications are able to target physiological processes to help patients lose weight and maintain a greater amount of weight loss than with just behavioral modifications alone. Two other weight management medications, which also target specific physiological processes to aid in weight loss and its maintenance, a bupropion/naltrexone combination and lorcaserin, are currently pending approval in Canada. Nonetheless, there remain significant barriers for health care professionals to prescribe medications for weight loss, such as a lack of training and knowledge in the area of obesity. Until this has been addressed, and we begin treating obesity as we do other diseases, we are unlikely to combat the increasing trend of obesity in Canada and worldwide.


Abstract In recent decades, green tramway tracks have still more often been installed in many cities as an alternative to standard rails placed on concrete sleepers or grooved rails since the vegetated tracks are beneficial to urban dwellers. In this article, we summarize and compare the benefits of grass and low-maintenance tramway tracks and link them with their investment and maintenance costs in two Czech cities. We conclude that grass surfaces offer a slightly higher rainwater retention capacity, while the rest of the benefits are similar for grass and low-maintenance surfaces. The investment costs are also similar, however, the maintenance costs are 30× higher for grass surfaces than for the low-maintenance ones.


A Pierce-type electron gun using a planar 1.9-cm-diameter lanthanum hexaboride cathode is being studied as a robust thermionic emitter at high cathode-current densities. The gun has been operated up to voltages of 115 kV, achieving beam current densities of 30 A/cm/sup 2/. The electron gun operated dependably up to 90 kV, achieving temperature-limited currents of 50 A. Due to the high fields at the tip of the Pierce-focusing electrode, the gun would usually arc at voltages >90 kV. Ten shots were obtained at a gun voltage of 115 kV, achieving transmitted currents up to 89 A, transmitted beam power up to 10.2 MW, and transmitted power densities up to 3.4 MW/cm/sup 2/. >


Privacy and trust affect our strategic thinking, yet they have not been precisely modeled in mechanism design. In settings of incomplete information, traditional implementations of a normal-form mechanism —by disregarding the players' privacy, or assuming trust in a mediator— may fail to reach the mechanism's objectives. We thus investigate implementations of a new type. We put forward the notion of a perfect implementation of a normal-form mechanism M: in essence, a concrete extensive-form mechanism exactly preserving all strategic properties of M, without relying on a trusted mediator or violating the privacy of the players. We prove that any normal-form mechanism can be perfectly implemented by a verifiable mediator using envelopes and an envelope-randomizing device (i.e., the same tools used for running fair lotteries or tallying secret votes). Differently from a trusted mediator, a verifiable one only performs prescribed public actions, so that everyone can verify that he is acting properly, and that he never learns any information that should remain private.


This paper describes an approach to the use of gradient descent search in genetic programming for continuously evolving genetic programs for object classication problems. An inclusion factor is introduced to each node in a genetic program and gradient descent search is applied to the inclusion factors. Three new on-zero operators and two new continuous genetic operators are developed for evolution. This approach is examined and compared with a basic GP approach on three object classication problems of varying difculty . The results suggest that the new approach can evolve genetic programs continuously. The new method which uses the standard genetic operators and gradient descent applied to the inclusion factors substantially outperforms the basic GP approach which uses the standard genetic operators but does not use the gradient descent and inclusion factors. However, the new method with the continuous operators and the gradient descent on inclusion factors decreases the performance on all the problems.


The force production and power consumption of plasma actuators with varying electrode geometries was measured. The geometries were varied by changing the length of the exposed and buried electrodes as well as varying the chord-wise gap between the electrodes. Each actuator was driven with a 5 kHz sine wave at 16 kVpp, and operated at pressures ranging from 10-101 kPa, which corresponds to altitudes from 16,000 m to sea level. The electric eld of each conguration was also modeled using Maxwell Ansoft. Increasing the length of the buried electrode was found to have the greatest eect on thrust production especially at low pressure. Actuators with 75 mm buried electrodes produced an average of 26% more thrust at all pressures and 34% more thrust at 20-40 kPa than the traditional 15 mm buried electrode. The gap study revealed that actuators with a 1 mm gap produced the most force at all pressures. All actuator designs were found to have a similar linear relationship between their eectivenesses and operating pressure.


This paper use the methods of lapped transform to implement DSSS system narrowband interference suppression in lapped transform domain. Interference suppression in part, by improved median filter algorithm in a treatment process can locate and suppress interference, and it will not be activated in the absence of presence of interference, thus saving processing time. From the results of Matlab simulation, we can see the structure based on the analysis of lapping transform that has good performance in anti-narrowband interference, so it will be widely used in the tracking and relay satellite communications system.


This work is an examination of potential uses of multiangular remote sensing imagery for mapping and characterizing sea ice and ice sheet surfaces based on surface roughness properties. We use data from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) to demonstrate that ice sheet and sea ice surfaces have characteristic angular signatures and that these angular signatures may be used in much the same way as spectral signatures are used in multispectral classification. Three case studies are examined: sea ice in the Beaufort Sea off the north coast of Alaska, the Jakobshavn Glacier on the western edge of the Greenland ice sheet, and a region in Antarctica south of McMurdo station containing glaciers and blue-ice areas. The MISR sea ice image appears to delineate different first-year ice types and, to some extent, the transition from first-year to multiyear ice. The MISR image shows good agreement with sea ice types that are evident in concurrent synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery and ice analysis charts from the National Ice Center. Over the Jakobshavn Glacier, surface roughness data from airborne laser altimeter transects correlate well with MISR-derived estimates of surface roughness. In Antarctica, ablation-related blue-ice areas, which are difficult to distinguish from bare ice exposed by crevasses, are easily detected using multiangular data.


Science and Roman Catholicism have both acted as powerful agents of change in Ireland and elsewhere. But the interaction between Catholicism and science in Ireland has received very little attention from historians to date. The purpose of this book, therefore, is to address this longstanding deficiency in Irish historical literature. There is a strong international dimension to this study. The period of interest is from the Famine to the "Celtic Tiger." The subject matter encompasses a diverse range of topics. Issues indigenous to Ireland include recurring controversies about university education, the relative paucity of Catholics scientists in nineteenth-century Ireland, the perception of science as a trait of a Protestant and colonial mindset, anti-Catholicism and science, the economic and political conditions in the Irish Free State which worked against the growth of science in Ireland, and the impact of science and technology on Irish Catholicism in recent decades. These subjects are interweaved with topics which extend far beyond Irish interest - such as evolutionary debates, the question of whether or not Catholicism was compatible with science, anti-modernism in the Catholic Church, Vatican pronouncements on science, the theological implications of extra-terrestrial life and of Big Bang cosmology, whether human freewill is real or not, and the importance of science in arguments about the existence of God.


The inter-physician and inter-patient variability in planning target volume delineation for the radiotherapy of breast cancer after conservative surgery is presented. Eleven experienced radiation oncologists determined the planning target volume (PTV) for four breast cancer patients. Delineation was based on CT slices taken at intervals of 15 mm. The variability in target volume delineation was determined by measuring the volumes in units of cc and the position of the drawn PTVs. Statistical analysis was based on X/R-charts and on Pareto chart and analysis. The maximum range in PTV for one patient was from 670 to 1200 cc. The observations of three physicians were in excess of the warning limit altogether 18 times. The methods used in this study clearly reveal inter-physician variability in PTV delineation and widest variations found are not acceptable. Training targeted to some physicians and more detailed and unambiguous protocols for PTV delineation are needed.


ABSTRACT It is inevitable that some people granted conditional release will (re)offend, but most will complete their order without incident. Nevertheless, the standard approach adopted by correctional agencies to communicating with the public about community corrections is one of minimal information. We suggest that this may create an impression that offenders are dark shadowy figures incapable of change or redemption. To address this, we set out an agenda for Australian governments to build public confidence in community corrections. We call for more robust program evaluation, publication of the results and regular updates on trends in successful order completion. We also highlight the importance of educating the public about crime and corrections and the need to improve the credibility of community corrections. Finally, governments should do more to humanise offenders. The public has a right to know more about how offenders are managed in the community. They also deserve to hear the stories behind the statistics.


Traditional design techniques for FPGAs are based on using hardware description languages, with functional and post-place-and-route simulation as a means to check design correctness and remove detected errors. With large complexity of things to be designed it is necessary to introduce new design approaches that will increase the level of abstraction while maintaining the necessary efficiency of a computation performed in hardware that we are used to today. This paper presents one such methodology that builds upon existing research in multithreading, object composability and encapsulation, partial runtime reconfiguration, and self adaptation. The methodology is based on currently available FPGA design tools. The efficiency of the methodology is evaluated on basic vector and matrix operations.


A study on the performance of Symbolic Dynamics Chaotic OFDM signals over Rayleigh fading channels is presented. Both Fourier OFDM and Wavelet OFDM are considered and compared with each other. First, it was found that traditional non-OFDM chaotic communications do not perform well in a multipath environment. Then, the conjugation of Symbolic Dynamics and OFDM techniques was simulated and considered to present a better BER performance comparable to non chaotic modulation schemes in the same realistic wireless environment. It was also found that Chaotic Wavelet OFDM outperforms Chaotic Fourier OFDM systems in a multipath environment.


Micropore and nanotube formation on the Ti oxide are important to improve the cell adhesion and proliferation in clinical use. In this study, nanotube and micropore of Ti alloy for biocompatibility have been investigated using FE-SEM and XRD. Ternary alloys were prepared by using high purity sponge Ti Ta, Zr and Nb sphere (99.95% wt.%). Two-step anodizing was used for surface modification of the titanium alloys. Micropore formation was first performed using a potentiostat in 1 M H3PO4 electrolyte and nanotube formation was performed in 1M H3PO4 + 0.8wt% NaF solution by using a potentiostat. The two-step anodizing process is an efficient method for forming micropores and nanotubes on the surfaces of ternary titanium alloys, and the morphology of micropore and nanotube is dependent on the alloying element and composition of ternary alloy.


The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will make ground breaking discoveries in pulsar science. In this chapter we outline the SKA surveys for new pulsars, as well as how we will perform the necessary follow-up timing observations. The SKA's wide field-of-view, high sensitivity, multi-beaming and sub-arraying capabilities, coupled with advanced pulsar search backends, will result in the discovery of a large population of pulsars. These will enable the SKA's pulsar science goals (tests of General Relativity with pulsar binary systems, investigating black hole theorems with pulsar-black hole binaries, and direct detection of gravitational waves in a pulsar timing array). Using SKA1-MID and SKA1-LOW we will survey the Milky Way to unprecedented depth, increasing the number of known pulsars by more than an order of magnitude. SKA2 will potentially find all the Galactic radio-emitting pulsars in the SKA sky which are beamed in our direction. This will give a clear picture of the birth properties of pulsars and of the gravitational potential, magnetic field structure and interstellar matter content of the Galaxy. Targeted searches will enable detection of exotic systems, such as the ~1000 pulsars we infer to be closely orbiting Sgr A*, the supermassive black hole in the Galactic Centre. In addition, the SKA's sensitivity will be sufficient to detect pulsars in local group galaxies. To derive the spin characteristics of the discoveries we will perform live searches, and use sub-arraying and dynamic scheduling to time pulsars as soon as they are discovered, while simultaneously continuing survey observations. The large projected number of discoveries suggests that we will uncover currently unknown rare systems that can be exploited to push the boundaries of our understanding of astrophysics and provide tools for testing physics, as has been done by the pulsar community in the past.


Soil erosion may cause serious environmental impacts on soil and water resources such as excessive sedimentation, especially on steep terrain and erodible soils in arid and semiarid areas. The sediment yield due to erosion has also economic consequences on dam watersheds by affecting economic life of dams, which are one of the most important infrastructure investments in Turkey. Thus, it is very important to determine potential erosion risk in order to develop adequate erosion prevention measures in dam watersheds. This study aimed to develop erosion risk map for Goz Watershed of Menzelet Dam in the eastern Mediterranean city of Kahramanmaras in Turkey. In the methodology, Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies were employed based on COoRdination of INformation on the Environment (CORINE) methodology. The results indicated that 54.52% of the Goz Watershed was under moderate erosion risk, while there was a high erosion risk in 45.48% of the watershed based on the potential erosion risk map. According to actual erosion risk maps, 11.97 and 88.03% of the watershed area was subject to moderate and high erosion risk, respectively. It was found that the most important factors for erosion risks in the watershed were steep slope (average of 38%) and lack of vegetation cover (only 11.67% of forest cover). Besides, the results indicated that potential and actual erosion risk mapping by CORINE method is a quite efficient and cost effective approach.


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Based on almost 80,000 records for Ireland, 150 native species of non-marine mollusc are evaluated for their conservation status using International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria (IUCN, 2001, 2003). Two are considered to be regionally extinct, five critically endangered, fourteen endangered, twenty-six vulnerable, six near threatened, and the rest of least concern, or data deficient.

Ireland's non-marine molluscan fauna is of international importance. Ten species have populations of significant international worth, having large proportions of their global population in Ireland. Ashfordia granulata and Leisotyla anglica are two examples of such species; both are near endemics to Britain and Ireland, with Ireland having at least a fifth of their global populations. Seven species have been listed on the global IUCN red list, for example Myxas glutinosa and Quickella arenaria, both of which are endangered species in Ireland. Six species are legally protected under European legislation. Of these legally protected species, only the Kerry slug, Geomalacus maculosus, is not considered threatened in Ireland. However, the Irish population of this species is of particular international importance as the species is restricted to south-west Ireland and northern Iberia, and the Iberian populations are severely threatened.

Some species are rare in Ireland as they are at the edge of their range or climatic tolerances (e.g. Pomatias elegans). For species that are declining in Ireland there are multiple drivers of population loss. Species declines are primarily driven by habitat loss (e.g. loss of marginal agricultural wetlands through drainage impacting species such as Vertigo antivertigo), habitat change (e.g. reduced water quality impacting species such as Pisidium pseudosphaerium and Margaritifera margaritifera) and habitat management (e.g. woodland management practices impacting species such as Spermodea lamellata). To a lesser extent species may be declining due to climate change (e.g. Pisidium conventus, a cold, deep water, montane species) and the impact of invasive species (Anodonta cygnea and A. anatina, the swan and duck mussels, are being severely impacted by the invasive species Dreissena polymorpha, the zebra mussel).

The importance of water quality and the reduction of habitat loss and change across a spectrum of habitats are identified as important components in conserving the non-marine molluscan fauna on the island of Ireland.


The internal friction of Cu50Zr50 metallic glass nano-pillars was investigated by using molecular dynamics simulations. An unusual non-monotonic variation of internal friction is revealed against the size of the specimen, which differs significantly from that of the bulk metallic glass. Meanwhile, by analyzing the rearranged atoms with high mobility, which play a vital role in affecting the internal friction, it is found that the rearrangement of surface atoms is more significant than that of the bulk ones, and their fraction depends on the sample size as well. With reducing the sample size, the fraction of rearranged atoms in the surface region increases, which could be described by an exponential equation. This finding suggests that the size dependence of internal friction originates directly from the different fractions of the rearranged atoms in the surface region of nano-pillars. Furthermore, a phenomenological model was established to describe the internal friction of the nano-pillars against their diameters. The presented results provide a quantitative insight into the size effect on internal friction in nanoscale metallic glasses, also shedding light on the atomistic mechanism of surface relaxation of amorphous solids.


This paper examines the link between REIT, financial asset and real estate returns, and tests whether it changed subsequent to the "REIT boom" of the early 1990s. The main focus is on answering the question do REIT returns now better reflect the performance of underlying direct (unsecuritized) real estate? We develop and implement a variance decomposition for REIT returns that separates REIT return variability into components directly related to major stock, bond, and real estate-related return indices, as well as idiosyncratic or sector-specific effects. This is applied to aggregate REIT sector (NAREIT) returns as well as returns to size and property-type based REIT portfolios. Our results show that the REIT market went from being driven largely by the same economic factors that drive large cap stocks through the 1970s and 1980s to being more strongly related to both small cap stock and real estate-related factors in the 1990s. There is also a steady increase over time in the proportion of volatility not accounted for by stock, bond or real estate related factors. We also find that small cap REITs are "more like real estate" compared to larger cap REITs, at least over the 1993–1998 period. We argue that this could be a result of the institutionalization of the ownership of larger cap REITs that took place in the 1990s.


Purpose To develop a satisfaction scale of Chinese clinicians with Clinical Pathway (CP) implementation and evaluate its validity, reliability and item discrimination. Materials and Methods Literature review, in-person interviews, and Delphi were used to design the scale. Data were collected in two phases using random sampling on the spot and an online survey. In the first phase, data from 239 clinicians were investigated in exploratory factor analysis. In the second phase, 513 valid questionnaires were collected and used for confirmatory factor analysis. Results The scale developed in this study has three dimensions (organization support, process identity, and effect perception) and a total of 21 items. Cronbach's alpha of each dimension was higher than 0.9. The 3-factor model had enough fitness (χ2/df = 5.602, NFI = 0.926, IFI = 0.938, CFI = 0.938, RFI = 0.914, TLI = 0.929, RMSEA = 0.095, RMR = 0.045). The standardized factor loadings of 21 variables were between 0.742 and 0.949. The average variance extracted (AVE) of each dimension was higher than 0.7, and the construct reliability (CR) of the dimensions was higher than 0.9. The Chi-square difference test results showed that the difference value between the unlimited and limited model of each two potential constructs was higher than 3.84 (P < 0.001). Conclusion The clinicians' satisfaction scale developed in this study has good construct validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, internal consistency, and item discrimination. This suggests its usefulness as a tool to assess the satisfaction of clinicians in the implementation of CP in China.


It is now a general consensus that excluding women in efforts of development is halving a change in the plight of the poor of developing countries. Through MDGs, the world committed to empower women, not only as a condition for gender equality, but also as key factor for economical and social transformation. Beliefs have long deceived strongly patriarchal societies that: "Raising a daughter is like watering a shady tree in someone else's courtyard." (Mosse, 1993). But cultures that deny opportunities for women's participation in public and private affairs do it at the cost of well-being in people's households. This book offers an analytical reflection on empowerment factors that enhance women's capabilities in undertaking successful businesses. The review of abundant literature from various scholars on empowerment, and on business environmental factors, provided useful framework to examine the relevancy of women's businesses in Kigali Markets. This book will therefore help researchers and practitioners of community development and inspire government bodies, churches and other private sector, in the making of policy that involve women in national prosperity.


Iwo Jima, in the western Pacific Ocean, consists of Motoyama, a broad volcanic cone, at the north, and Mt. Suribachi at the south, with an undulating isthmus between. Motoyama is largely light-gray-buff tuff. A thick andesitic lava flow under Suribachi, exposed in several places, is overlain by a thick deposit of cinder and scoria. The isthmus (called Tidorigahara by the Japanese) is underlain by more than 200 feet of loose black volcanic ash and fine cinder derived from Suribachi. Several small coral reefs are located about 340 and 110 feet above present sea level. Iwo Jima first came into existence, probably early in Pleistocene time, with the building above sea level of the tuff cone of Motoyama. Quite late in the active life of Motoyama, volcanic activity on the southwestern flank resulted in the formation of Suribachi. This activity may have started with the welling up of the andesitic lava which underlies Suribachi. Following the major eruption of Suribachi, relative sea level changed, and the sea stood about 360 feet higher than at present. The broad cone of Motoyama was beveled; the relative sea level then dropped 240 feet, with minor halts to about 120 feet above present level. As the island rose, Suribachi burst forth in its last stage of explosive activity. Wave erosion cut deeply into the andesite flow of Suribachi, and a prominent bench level was formed 120 feet above present sea level. The Japanese on the island were often faced with serious water shortages. Americans drilled wells and obtained moderately large supplies of usable water. The temperature of the water ranges from 105° to 179° F., and the water is somewhat mineralized. The most favorable area for ground-water development is the isthmus.


Abstract. Ammonia (NH3) is an important atmospheric constituent.
It plays a role in air quality and climate through the formation of ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate particles.
It has also an impact on ecosystems through deposition processes.
About 85 % of NH3 global anthropogenic emissions are related to food and feed production and, in particular, to the use of mineral fertilizers and manure management.
Most global chemistry transport models (CTMs) rely on bottom-up emission inventories, which are subject to significant uncertainties.
In this study, we estimate emissions from livestock by developing a new module to calculate ammonia emissions from the whole agricultural sector (from housing and storage to grazing and fertilizer application) within the ORCHIDEE (Organising Carbon and Hydrology In Dynamic Ecosystems) global land surface model.
We detail the approach used for quantifying livestock feed management, manure application, and indoor and soil emissions and subsequently evaluate the model performance.
Our results reflect China, India, Africa, Latin America, the USA, and Europe as the main contributors to global NH3 emissions,
accounting for 80 % of the total budget.
The global calculated emissions reach 44 Tg N yr−1 over the 2005–2015 period, which is within the range estimated by previous work.
Key parameters (e.g., the pH of the manure, timing of N application, and atmospheric NH3 surface concentration) that drive the soil emissions have also been tested in order to assess the sensitivity of our
model.
Manure pH is the parameter to which modeled emissions are the most sensitive, with a 10 % change in emissions per percent change in pH.
Even though we found an underestimation in our emissions over Europe (−26 %) and an overestimation in the USA (+56 %) compared with previous work, other hot spot regions are consistent.
The calculated emission seasonality is in very good agreement with satellite-based emissions.
These encouraging results prove the potential of coupling ORCHIDEE land-based emissions to CTMs, which are currently forced by bottom-up anthropogenic-centered inventories such as the CEDS (Community Emissions Data System).


Introduction The accelerated transformation in the healthcare system supported by the Saudi Vision 2030 makes the present the best time to start the real application of pharmacogenomics in Saudi Arabia. The current study aimed to assess the knowledge, perception and the application status of pharmacogenomics among pharmacists in the hospital settings in Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional observational survey was conducted among 206 qualified pharmacists working in Saudi hospitals. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to all participants. Results Only 30% of the pharmacists had received any type of formal training on PGx. Of these, only nine participants had actually put the knowledge into practice. Participants showed a moderate to low level of knowledge when responded to the pharmacogenomic knowledge indicators used in the study. The low knowledge and the availability of the pharmacogenetic test are the main barriers for the low adoption of the pharmacogenomics in the clinical practice. Approximately 83% felt the need to know more about pharmacogenomics. Participants show positive perception with high motivation levels to incorporate this technology in practice. For example, 76% stated that pharmacogenetic testing should be applied to pharmacy practice. Around 38% of participants reported that the Saudi government and the Saudi FDA had been promoting the pharmacogenomics. However, 50% of the total participants reported that their hospital management is unaware of the pharmacogenomics importance in clinical practice. Discussion This study emphasizes on two needs which can help promote the use and implementation of pharmacogenomics. One is the need to update the pharmacy education and training programs with pharmacogenomic-related areas to raise the pharmacist's knowledge and practical skill to apply pharmacogenomics in the clinical practice effectively. Another need is to increase the awareness of the decision and policy-makers with the importance of pharmacogenomics for the patient benefit and safety. This preliminary evaluation will provide future insight into the best approach to applying pharmacogenomics in the Saudi healthcare system.


Results of computer simulation of the fuel evolution in thorium nuclear cycle in a subcritical assembly in case of thorium-plutonium initial composition is presented in the paper. The simulation is conducted for specialized facility in which a long solenoid with hot plasma is situated inside of the subcritical fuel assembly. The plasma column produces additional neutrons due to D-D fusion reaction that are necessary for a fission reactor with this assembly. Total intensity of neutron emission over all plasma volume with the length of 3 m is N = 2 × 1016 neutrons per second. We have chosen the percentage of plutonium 5% in thorium-plutonium initial composition and in this case, the effective coefficient of neutron multiplication is 0.95, as shown by our simulation. The fuel evolution was calculated for duration of operation time 3000 days. As a result, we have demonstrated the decrease in the coefficient of neutron multiplication and in the power of the nuclear fission process in the described time. Results of simulations are discussed. c © 2019 The Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research


Research focusing on the nexus between digital technologies and government corruption in developing countries has reported mixed findings and painted an incoherent picture. Through a review of 90 relevant studies published over the last two decades we develop an inductive framework that connects 7 defining themes: (1) the broader socioeconomic context of developing countries (2) anti-corruption strategies and strategizing in developing countries (3) digitalization processes (4) strategic role of digital technologies and modalities of anti-corruption change (5) formative structures of government organizations (6) barriers within government organizations and (7) positive and negative effects of digitalization on corruption. Deriving from this framework, we highlight under-researched concerns and outline a research agenda to (1) clarify the links between anti-corruption strategizing and digitalization interventions (2) explicate the materialization of corruption in specific organizational domains, work systems, and processes in developing countries, their embedded nature in the organizational and broader context, and the modalities by which digitalization comes to affect or be affected by it (3) uncover digitalization enabled capabilities and dynamic capabilities in the fight against corruption and (4) embrace methodological diversity such as more processual and long-term studies; ethnographic studies, and methods that bridge quantitative and qualitative insights by exploring novel measures and evidence sources.


ABSTRACT Older people experiencing dementia are twice as likely to fall with consequences of serious injury, reduction in everyday activity, admission to long-term care and mortality. Carers of people with dementia are themselves at greater risk of physical and mental ill health, which increases as the dementia progresses. Unsurprisingly, carer burden also increases when a care-recipient falls. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of falling of community-living older people with dementia and their carers. A qualitative approach was taken using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Nine older people with predominantly Alzheimer's disease and their ten carers were recruited from a large mental health National Health Service trust and participated in one-to-one and joint in-depth interviews. Three dyads participated in repeat interviews. Three focus groups were also carried out, with nine older people experiencing memory problems and 12 carers from a local Alzheimer's Society branch. The antecedents, falls events and consequences of falls were discussed. This paper reports specifically on the impact of falls on the caring relationship. Three themes emerged: 'learning as you go', 'we're always together', 'nobody was interested'. The findings demonstrate how falling accentuates the impact of dementia on the dyad. Spouse-carers' discussion of their own falls emphasise the need for joint assessment of health and wellbeing to reduce carer burden and preserve the couplehood of the dyad.


ABSTRACT Ecological Economics has not paid sufficient attention to the macroeconomic level both in terms of theory and modelling. Yet, key topics debated in the field of Ecological Economics such as sustainable consumption, reduction in working time, the degrowth debate, the energy-exergy link, and the rebound effect require a wholistic and macro perspective. While this deficiency has been identified before and Keynesian economics has been generally suggested as a potent vehicle to establish economic system's thinking, very little concrete theorizing and practical suggestions have been put forward. We give further credence to this suggestion and demonstrate the value of tackling key concerns of Ecological Economics within a Keynesian growth framework. Contextualized by an application to climate change we suggest that policy relevant recommendations need to be based on a consistent view of the macroeconomy. We end with laying out key building blocks for a Keynesian model framework for an Ecological Macroeconomics.


This project has developed a new distribution automation system and remote metering system. It is a
customized distribution automation system (DAS) for secure fault isolation at the low voltage (LV)
downstream, 415/240V by using the Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) distribution system. It is the first
DAS research work done on customer side substation for operating and controlling between the consumer
side system and the substation in an automated manner. Most of the work is focused on developing very
secure fault isolation whereby the fault is detected, identified, isolated and cleared in few seconds.
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) techniques has been utilized to build Human
Machine Interface (HMI) that provides a graphical operator interface functions to monitor and control the
system. Microprocessor based Remote Monitoring Devices have been used for customized software to be
downloaded to the hardware. Power Line Carrier (PLC) has been used as communication media between the consumer and the substation. As result, complete DAS fault isolation system has been developed for
cost reduction, maintenance time saving and less human intervention during faults. This research has
developed Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system in addition to DAS.


This study argues that public infrastructure is an important though previously neglected driving mechanism of the structural transformation process. To assess its significance quantitatively, this study first develops a multisector neoclassical growth model with heterogeneous firms, where public infrastructure contributes to firms' production and mitigates the barriers to firms' entry. The model is calibrated using data from Brazil, a country that has significantly expanded its infrastructure in recent decades, yet remains in deep need of further infrastructure improvements. The accumulation of infrastructure accelerates the structural transformation through generating higher returns and lowering entry costs in sectors with greater public capital intensity. In the simulations, public capital formation explains about 15 percent of the process. The paper also shows the effects of different barriers to public capital formation on the structural transformation and GDP per capita.


A short wavelength coplanar waveguide employing a periodically arrayed grounded-strip structure on a silicon substrate was developed for application to miniaturised passive components on a silicon substrate. Using the coplanar waveguide, a highly miniaturised impedance transformer was realised on a silicon substrate. The impedance transformer exhibited good RF performances from 1 to 40 GHz, and its size was 0.01 mm 2 , which is 6.99% of a conventional one.


Music and memory are linked to each other in different ways and with different meanings. The physiological aspect
of memory in its musical dimension, which has been discussed mostly outside of musicology, is only one
part of it. Previous psychological research on musicality and its role for human development could raise public
attention, and has led us to new insights as well as to cultural misinterpretations. These rather popular aspects have to be taken up and re-examined from the perspective of modern musicology, dance and theatre studies, of which
include interdisciplinary approaches and detailed nalytical studies in a wider context of the performing arts and their
steadily changing sound environment.This fourth volume of the UPM book series on music research is dedicated to the topic "Music and Memory". A wide range of different studies provided by fifteen authors are arranged in the order
of themes on fieldwork related issues, ethnomusicological analysis, physiological issues under different historical and educational viewpoints, composition techniques and audio
technology.


The weather is a chaotic system. Small errors in the initial conditions of a forecast grow rapidly, and affect predictability. Furthermore, predictability is limited by model errors due to the approximate simulation of atmospheric processes of the stateof-the-art numerical models. These two sources of uncertainties limit the skill of single, deterministic forecasts in an unpredictable way, with days of high/ poor quality forecasts randomly followed by days of high/poor quality forecasts. Two of the most recent advances in numerical weather prediction, the operational implementation of ensemble prediction systems and the development of objective procedures to target adaptive observations are discussed. Ensemble prediction is a feasible method to integrate a single, deterministic forecast with an estimate of the probability distribution function of forecast states. In particular, ensemble can provide forecasters with an objective way to predict the skill of single deterministic forecasts, or, in other words, to forecast the forecast skill. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Ensemble Prediction System (EPS), based on the notion that initial condition uncertainties are the dominant source of forecast error, is described. Adaptive observations targeted in sensitive regions can reduce the initial conditions'uncertainties, and thus decrease forecast errors. More generally, singular vectors that identify unstable regions of the atmospheric flow can be used to identify optimal ways to adapt the atmospheric observing system.


An offshore energy transition, even if only a gradual one, from carbon-emitting fossil fuel extraction to cleaner sources is recommended, if we are to slow the harmful impacts of climate change. The potential for sustainable reuse of decommissioned offshore jacket platforms to support wind turbines is being considered as an attractive proposition in such a transition. To maximize the benefits of such reuse of assets, what is needed is a rational optimization strategy that considers the remaining life of a repurposed platform, associated retrofit and construction costs, and a future period of gross renewable energy generation following installation of the wind turbine. We outline a study that employs a fatigue reliability-based framework to aid in such sustainable reuse planning and optimization. The framework proposed identifies an optimized reuse plan that incorporates metocean data analysis, structural analysis, life-cycle evaluation, and revenue optimization. We employ a case study and sustainable reuse scenario for a site in the vicinity of Porto, Portugal.


The present study investigated the effects of inhalation exposure of benzene at 0, 10, 200 and 600 ppm for 1, 2 and 4 weeks on n‐6 and n‐3 fatty acids and ceramide levels in the rat liver. No signicant difference in the ratio of saturated fatty acid to unsaturated fatty acid was found on increasing benzene exposure levels, but the ratio of saturated fatty acid to unsaturated fatty acid decreased with increasing benzene exposure times, with the exception of the phospholipids of rats exposed to 200 and 600 ppm of benzene. A signicant increase in the ratio of arachidonic acid to docosahexaenoic acid was found in the phospholipids of rats exposed to 200 and 600 ppm of benzene for 4 weeks. In our study, no change in the relative amounts of sphingomyelin in phospholipids, due to benzene exposure at 600 ppm for 4 weeks resulted in the lack of sphingomyelin turnover. However, ceramide levels in the livers of rats exposed to 600 ppm of benzene for 4 weeks were signicantly reduced upon increasing the benzene concentration. This result shows that the de novo synthesis of ceramide was signicantly inhibited at higher levels of benzene and that the ratio of arachidonic acid to docosahexaenoic acid in phospholipids is dose‐dependently related to benzene exposure. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


ABSTRACT This article analyses the use of film style in Rashomon (Kurosawa Akira, 1950) to determine whether the different accounts of the rape and murder provided by the bandit, the wife, the husband and the woodcutter are formally distinct by comparing shot length data and using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) to look for relationships between shot scale, camera movement, camera angle and the use of point-of-view shots, reverse-angle cuts and axial cuts. The results show that the four accounts of the rape and the murder in Rashomon differ not only in their content but also in the way they are narrated. The editing pace varies so that although the action of the film is repeated the presentation of events to the viewer is different each time. Different types of shot are used to create the narrative perspectives of the bandit, the wife and the husband that marks them out as either active or passive narrators reflecting their level of narrative agency within the film, while the woodcutter's account exhibits both active and passive aspects to create an ambiguous mode of narration. Rashomon is a deliberately and precisely constructed artwork in which form and content work together to create an epistemological puzzle for the viewer.


- Image restoration is the process of restoring degraded images which cannot be taken again or the process of obtaining the image again is costlier. We can restore the images by prior knowledge of the noise or the disturbance that causes the degradation in the image. Image restoration is done in two domains: spatial domain and frequency domain. In spatial domain the filtering action for restoring the images is done by directly operating on the pixels of the digital image. In frequency domain the filtering action is done by mapping the spatial domain into the frequency domain by taking fourier transform of the image function. By mapping the image into frequency domain an image can provide an insight for filtering operations. After the filtering, the image is remapped into spatial domain by inverse fourier transform to obtain the restored image. Different noise models were studied. Different filtering techniques in both spatial and frequency domains, were studied and improved algorithms were written and simulated using matlab. Restoration efficiency was checked by taking peak signal to noise ratio (psnr) and mean square error(mse) into considerations.


In this report, we investigate the ability of MDGs (Multiway Decision Graphs) to carry out a verification process of a large industrial Telecom hardware which is commercialized by PMC-Sierra Inc. Until recently, the Cambridge Fairisle ATM switch fabric with 4200 equivalent gates was the largest industrial like design verified with the MDG tools. The design we consider in this study is a Telecom System Block (TSB), called RASE, containing 11400 equivalent gates. For the formal verification, we adopted a hierarchical proof methodology to handle the complexity of the design. We then carried out MDG based equivalence checking as well as model checking. To measure the performance of the MDG verification, we also conducted the verification of the same TSB with Cadence FormalCheck. The experimental results showed that in some cases, the MDG model checker was more efficient due to the ability with MDGs to use abstract state variables and uninterpreted function symbols rather than simply a Boolean modeling as in FormalCheck.


The Scandinavian influence was the earliest, and arguably one of the strongest external forces that went into the making of modern English. Consequently, a knowledge of the Icelandic language is of utmost importance. Not only does Icelandic supply a linguistic basis for such a study, it also provides the source of a great deal of the necessary information for the understanding of medieval British history. Old Icelandic literature, both in poetry and prose, presents a wealth of interesting material, which in some respects stands unrivalled among the literatures of medieval Europe, and without which, one's knowledge of the ancient North would certainly be limited. First published in England in 1910 and last printed in 1975, Geir T. Zoega's A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic has long been the foremost reference source for the Icelandic language. Compiled on the general principle of including all the words the ordinary student of Icelandic is likely to meet, the dictionary has helped to bring about a wider interest in the language and literature of Iceland and is considered an essential complement to the study of medieval Nordic literature.


We examined racial/ethnic inequities in the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and examined the association between ACEs and selected health-related behaviors and problems. Data for this cross-sectional study come from the 2018 Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Survey/Youth Tobacco Survey, a statewide survey of high school students (n = 40,188). ACEs included caregiver verbal abuse and household food insecurity, substance use or gambling, mental illness, and involvement with the criminal justice system. We estimated the prevalence of ACEs overall and by race/ethnicity, and then used multiple logistic regression to determine associations between ACEs and emotional/behavioral problems, adjusting for race/ethnicity. Outcome variables included emotional distress, poor school performance, suicidal ideation, fighting, alcohol use, and marijuana use. More than one fifth of students reported each individual ACE. Differences in the prevalence of ACEs by race/ethnicity were statistically significant (p < .001). More than one fourth (25.8%) reported one of the five ACEs, 15.1% reported two, and 15.4% reported three or more. For each ACE, reporting having experienced it (vs. not) was associated with a >30% higher prevalence for each of the outcome variables. Among students who reported three or more ACEs (relative to none), the odds of emotional distress and suicidal ideation were more than 8 times greater. Among Maryland adolescents, ACEs are common, are inequitably distributed by race/ethnicity, and are strongly linked to behavioral health. Findings suggest the need to monitor ACEs as a routine component of adolescent health surveillance and to refocus assessment and intervention toward "upstream" factors that shape adolescent health.