This paper describes an ongoing research project on application of a 4D CAD tool for design and production planning of vertical extensions of existing buildings (over-roofing) in Stockholm city, for creation of a more densely populated city as the demand for apartments in the city centre increases.
4D CAD is a concept, which combines an object oriented 3D CAD model with time. 4D CAD is a kind of information visualisation that is easier to understand than traditional methods, such as 2D drawings and time schedules, which are used to manage construction projects. 4D CAD is a logical way of imaging a construction management tool. It is a tool that is conceptually much closer to an intuitive picture of a construction process than 2D drawings and time schedules.
The 4D concept is developed at Stanford University and to support the concept researchers at Stanford have developed a prototype that is being used in some complex construction projects in California.
The focus of the research project "Integration of apartments in existing buildings by use of Light Gauge Steel Framing", which this paper is a part of it, is to improve production methods in order to reduce design, planning and construction time for conversions of, and extensions to existing buildings in the city centres. A way to improve the production methods is by utilising a 4D planning process in combination with industrialised production of building components.
Extensions to existing buildings are due to the demand for new apartments in attractive locations in the city centres and shortage of land for housing in city centres.
The Light Gauge Steel constructions have many benefits for conversions of, and extensions to existing buildings. According to research results the Light Gauge Steel Framing system is suitable for industrial production. This building system results in a very light weight building compared with traditional materials e.g. concrete which makes it suitable for over-roofing extensions. The materials used in the Light Gauge Steel Systems is thin steel members, plaster boards and mineral wool.
Many of the problems, which occur during vertical extensions of existing buildings today, are solved when they are discovered, that is sometimes on the site. Some examples of these problems are poor compatibility between the existing building (structural components and material) and the Light Gauge Steel Framing, detail solutions of the building components, shafts and piping for ventilation, water, sewage and drainage etc. It is less expensive to discover and to correct errors at an early stage compared to solving them on the site. Further a lot of construction time will be saved, which will decrease the disturbance on existing surroundings.
Several problems have to be considered in the planning process in order to minimise the disturbance on existing activities and surroundings. This could be done by the use of a 4D CAD planning tool.
An over-roofing project located in the city means that the land to use during the production period is limited and expensive. Thereby is the logistic to and from the site more complicated. Consequently the site management and logistic of building components to the building site and their storage on the site is most important.
In fact the 4D concept is an efficient planning tool to organise the logistic of the site during the planning phase instead of as today during the production. The site layout can be simulated and visualised with a 4D CAD tool for the actors in the project which in particular will help the site engineer to organise the activities, material flow and site logistic.
The value of using the 4D CAD concept is studied by comparing the traditional planning process of a number of over-roofing projects in Sweden with the planning process of the 4D CAD concept. This paper discusses how a 4D CAD tool together with an industrialised production method can be used for improving the production process for an over-roofing project in order to reduce the construction time and with secured quality. The reader will understand and appreciate the added value in form of a more efficient way of managing construction projects.


In this paper, an effort has been made to evaluate the online condition of arc contacts as a vital component of interruption chamber in high-voltage puffer-type SF6 circuit breakers. The relationship between eroded mass caused by short-circuit current interruption and different thermal stress indices, such as transferred electrical charge, current squared, and arc energy, is investigated by performing many experiments with different current amplitudes and arcing times. It is demonstrated that none of the known indices can solely determine mass erosion caused by the current interruption. Therefore, the equations including two of the defined parameters are proposed to evaluate mass erosion. The method using arc energy and transferred electrical charge owns the highest accuracy in evaluating mass loss. However, considering the complexity of arc voltage measurements, a second method using current and arcing time can be also utilized. In addition, the development of erosion during the lifetime of arc contacts is studied. It is shown that arc roots tend to form on new uneroded areas of the contacts during current interruption, resulting in different erosion rates between the first few and subsequent interruptions due to change of morphology of the contacts after the first few switching operations.


The science of "Internal Ballistics" have extensively studied the pressure generated within the cartridge and clearly indicate that maximum generated pressure (Peak Pressure) is not to exceed the yield strength of the material of which the cartridge case is made of [1]. Failure to ensure this could result in catastrophic accidents that may lead to death or serious injuries. Different test standards (SAAMI, C.I.P, MIL-STD and NATO EPVAT) were established to ensure the safety of the ammunition in terms of pressure. These standards differ in many aspects from the test procedure to the equipment used to the acceptance criteria. The main motive behind this study was understanding the need to establish a scientific correlation between pressure measurements obtained by different test standards in order to save cost, time and effort as well as ensuring that a specific type of ammunition that was pressure tested according to one standard is safe to use in a specific weapon that was tested according to another. The main aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of finding a scientific correlation between the mean peak pressure values obtained by the NATO EPVAT and CIP test standards for 7.62 x 51mm NATO Ball Reference Ammunition through derived and validated equations with fixed conversion factors in order to convert "actual" Mean Peak Pressure (MPP) and Standard Deviation (SD) values obtained by NATO EPVAT test to predict those values in the C.I.P equivalent and calculate the Average Maximum Pressure (Ptmax).Thirty 7.62 x 51mm NATO BALL reference ammo were tested according to NATO EPVAT and C.I.P and the mean peak pressure conversion factor (FMPP) was found to be 0.974, while the standard deviation conversion factor (FSD) was 1.381. Both conversion factors were used to convert the MPP and SD values obtained by EPVAT testing of the reference ammunition, to their C.I.P Equivalent. These C.I.P converted values were then used to calculate (Predict) the Maximum Average Pressure Ptmax which was 3540.26 bar. Validation of this result was achieved by conducting an actual C.I.P pressure test on the same amount of reference ammunition which resulted in a Ptmax of 3422.40 bar with an error percentage between actual and predicted Ptmax of 3.54%.


Computational modeling and experimental measurements on metal samples subject to a laser-driven, ablative Richtmyer-Meshkov instability showed differences between viscosity and strength effects. In particular, numerical and analytical solutions, coupled with measurements of fed-through perturbations, generated by perturbed shock fronts onto initially flat surfaces, show promise as a validation method for models of deviatoric response in the postshocked material. Analysis shows that measurements of shock perturbation amplitudes at low sample thickness-to-wavelength ratios are not enough to differentiate between strength and viscosity effects, but that surface displacement data of the fed-through perturbations appears to resolve the ambiguity. Additionally, analytical and numerical results show shock front perturbation evolution dependence on initial perturbation amplitude and wavelength is significantly different in viscous and materials with strength, suggesting simple experimental geometry changes should provide data supporting one model or the other.


Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which insulin hormone is ineffective or no longer produced. Multiple pathophysiologies can cause either insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or insulin independent diabetes mellitus (IIDM), which can lead to chronic hyperglycemia and an array of short and long term health risks. Prior research has shown that IDDM patients have dyslipidemia, and experiments infusing lipids directly into the blood result in heightened insulin resistance. The hypothesis that dyslipidemia increases insulin resistance was tested by performing oral glucose tolerance tests across three treatment conditions. Participants were nondiabetic college-aged students. Data from a control group was gathered and analyzed against a lipid and carbohydrate treatment. The lipid group showed the greatest increase in glucose level at any single time period, but the carbohydrate group remained steadily elevated throughout the three hour testing window. Analysis of the data showed the only significant difference existed between the carbohydrate and dextrose treatments, meaning the original hypothesis could not be supported. For future testing, it is recommended that each test group contain all the same subjects and a longer fasting period is given after the carbohydrate treatment is consumed. The research and experiments were condensed into a lab protocol so students enrolled in BMED 460 may further extend their knowledge of diabetes and help lead the future of treatment and device innovation.


Web tables are commonly used to convey information on the Internet. A good understanding of web tables' syntactic structures will not only improve the efficiency of information retrieval, but also provide a variety of angles to view the information. The web tables we study are well-formed and structured in accordance with the common human understanding. A well-formed table is comprised of a column header, a row header, a grid region to store meaningful data, and an empty stub region. The underlying layout and relational structures of a web table are revealed in its headers. Each column/row can be defined uniquely by a header-path that passes through the initial headers. Within the corpus of web tables we studied, most tables have very simple header structures, such as a linear array of symbols. Each symbol defines a particular column or row. However, some header structures are more complex. They consist of multiple layers of symbols and often have a hierarchical relation between each layer. According to a commonly used layout convention, symbols are repeated at lower layers to convey hierarchical relationship with higher layers. These observations motivate us to further explore the structures of web tables. Our goal is to discover more generic and fundamental ways of representing web table headers and improve the performance of information retrieval from web tables. We use an algebraic approach to analyze table headers. The starting point of our analysis is to represent headers using Sum of Product (SOP) equations, where '+' and '*' are redefined to correspond to spatial relationship between the header cells. Inspired by Boolean algebraic expression simplification techniques, we decomposed headers using a logic synthesis tool. As a result, header symbols are gathered into groups, which can be thought of as basic building blocks. We extract each group from the equation and call it a category . Utilizing the Shunting-Yard Algorithm and the Reverse Polish Notation , we build a parse tree representation of each category according to a specific grammar. A simple tree traversal on category parse trees produces all the header-paths. If we traverse in another order, we generate a different set of header-paths. This allows us not only to retrieve information more efficiently, but also view table information in a variety of ways. We processed 200 well-formed web tables through our system and generated production rules, SOP equations, RPNs and parse trees for all 200 tables.


BACKGROUND
Mutations in the human gene encoding the protein component of telomerase (TERT) are the most common genetic defect in patients with familial idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The subclinical phenotypes of asymptomatic members of these families have not been evaluated with respect to TERT mutation status or telomere length.

METHODS
We measured a variety of pulmonary, blood, skin, and bone parameters for 20 subjects with heterozygous TERT mutations (carriers) and 20 family members who had not inherited a TERT mutation (noncarriers) to identify the spectrum of phenotypes associated with mutations in this gene. The two groups were matched for sex, age, and cigarette smoking. Three TERT mutation carriers had IPF (IPF carriers). The rest of the carriers were apparently healthy (asymptomatic carriers) and were compared with the noncarriers.

RESULTS
Asymptomatic carriers exhibited significantly lower diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (Dlco), impaired recruitment of Dlco with exercise, radiographic signs of lung fibrosis, and increased fractional lung tissue volume quantified by high-resolution chest CT scan than noncarriers. RBC and platelet counts were significantly lower, and the mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were significantly higher in carriers than in noncarriers. Carriers reported significantly earlier graying of hair than noncarriers. TERT mutation status is more accurately predicted by short telomere lengths than any of these measured phenotypes.

CONCLUSIONS
TERT mutation carriers exhibit early preclinical signs of lung fibrosis, bone marrow dysfunction, and premature graying. These clinical features and short telomere lengths characterize patients with germline TERT mutations.


After two decades of research into Semantic Query Optimization (SQO) there is clear agreement as to the efficacy of SQO. However, although there are some experimental implementations there are still no commercial implementations. We first present a thorough analysis of research into SQO. We identify three problems which inhibit the effective use of SQO in Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS). We then propose solutions to these problems and describe first steps towards the implementation of an effective semantic query optimizer for relational databases.


Foreword Preface Problem Solving: A Professional Need The Use of the Case Study Method in Problem Solving The Problem Solving Process Organisational Culture and Climate: Setting the Stage for Problem Solving Problem Solving in a Context of Change Facilitating Creative Thinking Problem Solving Approaches and Techniques Brainstorming Nominal Group Technique Focus Groups Role Playing Technique Mathematical Modelling Fishbone Diagram Decision Trees Conflict Resolution and Mediation Techniques Case Studies Human Relations Marketing and Publicity Planning and Policy Development Liability and Risk Management Financial Management Index.


From the last decade, studies on human facial emotion recognition revealed that computing models based on regression modelling can produce applicable performance. In this study, an automatic facial expression realtime system was built and tested. The method is used in this study has been used widely in different areas such as Local Binary Pattern method, which has been used in many research projects in machine vision, and the KNearest Neighbour algorithm is method utilized for regression modelling. In this study, these two techniques has been used and implemented on the FPGA for the first time, on the side and joined together to great the model in such way to display a continues and automatic emotional state detection model on the monitor. To evaluate the effectiveness of the classifier technique for human emotion recognition from video, the model was designed and tested on MATLAB environment and then MATLAB Simulink environment that is capable of recognizing continuous facial expression in real time with a rate of 1 frame per second and implemented on a desktop PC. It has been evaluated in a testing dataset and the experimental results were promising with the accuracy of 51.28%. The datasets and labels used in this study are made from videos which, recorded twice from 5 participants while watching a video. In order to implement it in real-time in faster frame rate, the facial expression recognition system was built on FPGA. The model was built on AtlysTM Spartan-6 FPGA Development Board. It can perform continuously emotional state recognition in real time at a frame rate of 30 with the accuracy of 47.44%. A graphic user interface was designed to display the participant video in real time and also two dimensional predict labels of the emotion at the same time. This is the first time that automatic emotional state detection has been successfully implemented on FPGA by using LBP and K-NN techniques in such way to display a continues and automatic emotional state detection model on the monitor.


This essay uses the conceptual lens of the novel of formation to examine the representation of subversive female behavior in Fausta Cialente's Natalia (1930), which narrates the development of the title character from a twelve-year-old child to a young woman who appears to content herself with a life in wedlock. Between the beginning and endpoint of her formation is a series of episodes showing a profoundly nonconformist female whose transgression of expectations regarding female behavior is especially surprising given the political and cultural climate in which the novel was published. The exploration of transgression in Natalia is twofold. First is a discussion of the protagonist's sexual development that describes how self-fashioning and violation of gender norms feature prominently in her process of maturation. Though Natalia cycles through many distinct identities, the focus is on those that best demonstrate the degree to which her conduct is subversive: the one she assumes while in a sexual relationship with another woman and those associated with different phases of her relationship with a soldier, her eventual husband. Natalia's treatment of both romantic partners reflects her willingness to deceive in order to maintain a position of power, and her experiences and actions, particularly the manner in which she alters her identity and manipulates others, are important to Cialente's protest against Fascist myths of women and motherhood. Second is a consideration of aesthetic properties of the text, specifically Cialente's incorporation of elements of Magical Realism. Her unique prose style is another form of transgression and is appropriate for the narration of Natalia's unorthodox formation.


INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The 2018 AUA guideline on erectile dysfunction (ED) addressed a recently identified relationship between Phosphodiesterase-5-inhibitor (PDE-5i) use and skin cancers, specifically melanoma. Despite weak evidence of causal link, several studies have affirmed this low-probability, but statistically significant association and have been widely publicized. We sought to evaluate the public health danger posed by PDE-5i drugs for ED treatment after their introduction to the U.S. market in 1998. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, which reports cancer diagnoses between 1973-2015, was used to compare the risk of melanoma diagnosis in American men before and after PDE-5i drugs were first introduced for ED treatment in 1998. Interrupted time-series and logistic regression were used to assess this relationship. RESULTS: Over 43 years, the SEER database has reported 292,166 cases of Melanoma. Of these, male diagnoses have accounted for a mean 53.7% (SD 3%, Range 47.5% - 58.3%). The period after the introduction of PDE-5i drugs in 1998 saw no increase in this proportion, in fact demonstrating a 2% lower change in melanoma diagnoses than predicted by the pre-1998 trend, p <0.05 (Figure). On Logistic Regression analysis, men before 1998 were exposed to a 3.9% increase in the odds of melanoma diagnosis with each passing year (p < 0.01); this risk did not change afterwards (3.8% yearly increase in odds of diagnosis, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Recent studies have suggested an association between PDE-5i use and skin cancer, particularly melanoma, and have been noted by recent specialty guidelines as well as lay-press. Our analysis of the SEER database demonstrates that the era of PDE-5i use for ED has not altered men's risk of melanoma diagnosis. These findings may be of value in counseling patients anxious about the potential association between PDE-5i use and skin cancer. Figure. No caption available. Source of Funding: none


BACKGROUND
Local administration of L-arginine after balloon angioplasty has been shown to enhance NO generation and inhibit lesion formation. In this study, we assessed the mechanisms by which local delivery of L-arginine inhibits lesion formation.

METHODS AND RESULTS
New Zealand White rabbits (n=56) were fed a 1% cholesterol diet. After 1 week, both iliac arteries were balloon-denuded, and a local drug delivery catheter was introduced into both iliac arteries to deliver either L-arginine (800 mg/5 mL with and without 100 microCi L-[2,3-(3)H]-arginine) or saline. Monocyte-endothelial interaction was assessed by functional binding assay; NO activity was measured by chemiluminescence. Intramural administration of radioactively labeled L-arginine led to significantly higher counts in comparison to the contralateral segment for up to 1 week after delivery (676+/-223 versus 453+/-93 cpm/mg; P<0.02); this was associated with significantly higher NO levels in the L-arginine-treated segments (394.4+/-141.6 versus 86.3+/-34.3 nmol/mg; P<0.01). Even after 2 to 3 weeks, monocyte binding was significantly decreased by treatment with L-arginine as compared with saline infusion (P<0.01). After 4 weeks, there was a 9-fold greater number of apoptotic cells in the vessel wall of L-arginine as compared with the saline-treated segments (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
Intramural delivery of L-arginine immediately after angioplasty causes a sustained increase in tissue L-arginine levels associated with enhancement of local NO synthesis. The local increase in NO synthesis is associated with an attenuation of monocyte binding and increased apoptosis of resident macrophages. This treatment strategy could be valuable for the prevention and management of restenosis.


Leukaemia is one form of cancer disease, comprising both an acute or chronic form, and has a wide range of altemative therapy aids, as well as a highly unpredictable prognosis. This thesis is a study of 27 patients with acute and chronic leukaemia.The general aim of the present thesis was to acquire knowledge about quality of life (QOL) from the perspective of the adult individual with leukaemia. It was also to enquire how the health care system and the nursing staff can improve this individual's experienced quality of life. Data have been collected through qualitative interviews (articles I, II and III), observations, follow-up interviews and reflective conversations(articles IV and V). The data have been analysed using constant comparative analysis (articles I, II, IV and V) and narrative qualitative text analysis (article III).Quality of life was found to be experienced as 'a positive attitude to life' by those adults with acute leukaemia, and autonomy and interpersonal relationships were of great importance in experiencing this. Those with chronic leukaemia experienced quality of life as 'life satisfaction'. Even here interpersonal relationships played a major role, as did self-esteem, performance ability and social ability. When explaining the differentprofiles in quality of life experienced by those adults with acute and chronic leukaemia, uncertainty was the phenomenon found. Adults with acute leukaemia experienced uncertainty concerning the prognosis, recurrence, aggravations and set-backs. Those with chronic leukaemia were uncertain about adjusting their lives, changing life-styles as well as being in doubt. Both groups described this uncertainty as not feeling secure, not being in control and being undecided.Transition, i.e. the individual passing from one phase to another, was the core category found when studying the interaction between adults with leukaemia and their nursing staff. This transition could be described in three stages. First, being a person and trying to maintain a social status. Second, becoming a patient, accepting the disease and feeling insecure in this totally new situation. Finally, the patient becomes a leukaemia patient, isolating her/himself and becoming aware of the disease and its side-effects.In the study about the care supplied by the nursing staff and demanded by the leukaemia patients, the findings produced two core categories; routines and interaction. The care supplied was identified as routines, which could be seen as regular courses of procedures and a way of bringing order into daily life. Routines could also be a distancing manoeuvres to manage stress when working with seriously ill people. The care demanded by these leukaemia patients was human interaction. The leukaemia patient wants to be treated as a human being, with mutual respect, concern etc. The patients want to participate and interact while still maintaining their self-respect and individual integrity.This thesis points out that the QOL of those adults with leukaemia could be improved by the health care system and the nursing staff through caring for them as fellow beings, with respect and giving them autonomy and self-control. If the nurses and nursing staff are to be able to care for leukaemia/cancer patients, they have to care for themselves. If they become more aware of their own feelings and reactionS, they will also become more attentive to the patients' experiences and needs.


The complicated task of interpreting the many ubiquitin signals is mediated by specific ubiquitin binding domains. The investigations discussed in this thesis focus on two very different ubiquitin binding domains.

Chapters 3 to 5 detail the structural characterisation of the ubiquitin binding protein ZNF216. The structure of the ubiquitin binding Znf_A20 domain has been determined using multidimensional NMR techniques. A thermodynamic and structural characterisation of the interaction between the Znf_A20 and ubiquitin has been performed utilising chemical shift mapping, PRE based approaches, ESI-MS and ITC. The Znf_A20 domain forms a high affinity complex with Ub utilising a non-canonical binding site on ubiquitin centred at Asp58. The investigation was extended to the function of the Znf_A20 domain in the context of the full length protein. ZNF216, like many other ubiquitin receptors, has a 'hook and line' domain architecture with two independent domain separated by a long disordered linker.

Chapters 6, 7 and 8 focus on the UBA domain of p62. The p62-UBA domain has been identified as a 'hot spot' for mutations linked to Paget's disease of bone, a bone disorder which affects >3% of the over 55s. The dimerisation of the p62-UBA domain has been shown here to be a novel regulatory mechanism for the ubiquitin binding properties of p62. Modulation of both dimerisation and ubiquitin recognition are potential mechanisms by which mutations may disrupt p62 function and this prospect has been investigated here.

The final chapter of this thesis examines the possibility of cooperation between different ubiquitin binding domains by simultaneous interaction with Ub to form ternary complexes. Using the Znf_A20 and the p62-UBA as an example the formation of a ternary complex has been demonstrated. By examining the available ubiquitin complexes it has been suggested that the formation of Ub mediated ternary complexes is limited to only a few UBD pairings. The cormation of Ub mediated ternary complexes may have interesting implications for the formation of larger multi-protein complexes utilising ubiquitin as an interaction hub on the recognition of poly-Ub with chain linkage specificity; and for Ub mediated signalling in general.


Multiferroic compounds with general formula BiFe(1-x)Ti(x)O3 (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.35) have been synthesized by conventional solid state reaction method. The effect of Ti substitution on ferroelectric and magnetic properties is studied. From X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, a rhombohedral to orthorhombic phase transition for x > 0.3 was observed. From SQUID measurements, a magnetic field induced phase transition has been observed in the BiFe(1-x)T(x)O3 system for x = 0.3. An anomaly in dielectric constant and dielectric loss in the vicinity of antiferromagnetic Neel temperature (T(N)) and a small enhancement in magnetization have been observed. Magnetization measurements above room temperature showed no systematic variation in antiferromagnetic Neel temperatures on Ti substitution. Further it is seen that this system shows the coupling between electric and magnetic dipoles exhibiting magnetoelectric (ME) effect at room temperature and possess high dielectric constant.


Location and extent of avalanche starting zones are of crucial importance to correctly estimate the potential danger that avalanches pose to roads, railways or other infrastructure. Presently, release area assessment is based on terrain analysis combined with expert judgment. Tools for the automatic definition of release areas are scarce and exclusively based on parameters derived from summer topography, such as slope and curvature. This leads to several limitations concerning the performance of such algorithms. Foremost, they neglect the smoothing effect of the snow cover on terrain morphology. Winter terrain often considerably deviates from its underlying summer terrain, thus changing potential release area size and location of surface slab avalanches. Hence, we present a new GIS based tool which estimates potential release areas by association of traditional contributory variables, such as slope and forest cover with variables particularly related to snow cover influence on topography. We introduce a scale dependent roughness parameter and a wind shelter parameter accounting for varying winter topography and snow deposition patterns with increasing snow depth. Further, uncertainty in the definition of the parameters is accounted for by using a fuzzy logic classification approach. This approach is especially useful for defining release area scenarios e.g. depending on snow depth, which is not possible with existing tools.


For the past 50 plus years the United States has been debating the very nature of our criminal justice system. Are we too lenient? Are we too vindictive? Do we give too much power to our cops and prosecutors or too many protections to defendants? But maybe most important, is there a better way? Can we ensure we have both safety and dignity built into our system?
 These questions are extremely difficult for law makers to answer because of the moral implications involved with crime and punishment, but also because of one glaring weakness: data sharing and reporting. We simply do not have comprehensive data collection systems for policy makers to draw on to design interventions that can protect public safety and help heal community wounds.
 While there is no silver bullet that will fix these problems, we believe attention should be paid to: 1) fixing inconsistencies in key terms so data collection can be universal, 2) fixing the issues with delayed reporting so the data we have is up to date for researchers and policy makers, and 3) addressing issues with inadequate and inconsistent data storage so not only will the data be available but assessable to those who can use it to improve the system.


Hydroxyapatite powders characterized by substitutions of Mg2+, SiO4 4-, CO3 2- ions in biological like amounts, in the crystallographic site of calcium and phosphates, ions in biological like amounts, in the crystallographic site of calcium and phosphorus, were successfully prepared by synthesis in aqueous medium. The chemico-physical properties of the powders were investigated through several analytical techniques, among them: XRD, FTIR, TG-DTA, ICP-OES, HR-TEM. The entering of silicon in the HA structure progressively reduces its crystallinity, as also carbonate ions do. Silicate and carbonate ions can enter simultaneously into the HA structure, in biological-like amounts, although they compete for the occupation of the phosphate site. Solubility tests, carried out at physiological conditions, reveal an increased calcium release in the HA powders containing silicon compared to the silicon-free HA.


GPR88 is an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) enriched in the striatum. Genetic deletion and gene expression studies have suggested that GPR88 plays an important role in the regulation of striatal functions and is implicated in psychiatric disorders. The signal transduction pathway and receptor functions of GPR88, however, are still largely unknown due to the lack of endogenous and synthetic ligands. In this paper, we report the synthesis of a GPR88 agonist 2-PCCA and its pure diastereomers, which were functionally characterized in both transiently and stably expressing GPR88 HEK293 cells. 2-PCCA inhibited isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner in cells expressing GPR88 but not in the control cells, suggesting that the observed cAMP inhibition is mediated through GPR88 and that GPR88 is coupled to Gαi. 2-PCCA did not induce calcium mobilization in GPR88 cells, indicating no Gαq-mediated response. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) study of 2-PCCA was also conducted to explore the key structural features for GPR88 agonist activity.


The diagenetic alteration of a sandstone results from the combined effects of many factors. In order to ascertain the role played by a particular diagenetic factor, the remaining diagenetic factors must be held constant. For the sandstones of the basins of southern California, we have found that the effects of almost all of the principal diagenetic factors are essentially uniform; the notable exception is thermal history. Because of this, we have been able to evaluate the diagenetic imprint of temperature upon the sandstones. Measured reservoir property data taken on core samples of reservoir sandstones from 16 fields in the Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Joaquin basins were used to determine the average rate of porosity and permeability loss with depth for each field. A s raight line appears to be the proper representation for the porosity versus depth profiles for the interval of interest. The slope of this line is defined here as the porosity gradient. Porosity gradients for the fields investigated range from 1.1 to 5.8% per 1,000 ft. A direct relationship exists between the porosity gradient and the present geothermal gradient for the 16 fields that have been examined. As geothermal gradient increases, porosity gradient increases. The correlation coefficient between these variables is +0.916 for geothermal gradients between 1.6°F and 2.2°F/100 ft. A similar relationship also exists between the rate of permeability loss with depth and the geothermal gradient, but the average deviation from the mean permeability value is so great, the relations ip has little practical significance. End_of_Article - Last_Page 250------------


Growing Up in Kenya: Rural Schooling and Girls reveals the clash between the traditional values and roles of women and the school culture and expectations. Traditionally, women were brought up to value the roles of wife, mother, and cultivator. This book shows the struggle rural girls experience as they try to fit into these traditional roles while meeting the expectations of the school curriculum. Although education is central to a woman's status, because it affects every other aspect of her life, studies indicate that parents have lower occupational aspirations for their daughters than for their sons. This is true for higher socio-economic groups as well as when the daughters' academic performance is superior to that of the sons'.


Experimental techniques in biology such as microfluidic devices and time-lapse microscopy allow tracking of the gene expression in single cells over time. So far, few attempts have been made to fully exploit these data for modeling the dynamics of biological networks in cell populations. In this paper we compare two modeling approaches capable to describe cell-to-cell variability: Mixed-Effects (ME) models and the Chemical Master Equation (CME).We discuss how network parameters can be identified from experimental data and use real data of the HOG pathway in yeast to assess model quality. For CME we rely on the identification approach proposed by Zechner et al. (PNAS, 2012), based on moments of the probability distribution involved in the CME. ME and moment-based (MB) inference will be also contrasted in terms of general features and possible uses in biology.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser instrumentation of root surfaces on the morphology of fibroblasts from continuous lineage.

METHOD AND MATERIALS
Dentinal slices with 4 mm2 of surface area were obtained from teeth extracted for severe periodontal involvement. Specimens were assigned to one of three treatment groups: group 1, application of the laser with an energy level of 250 mJ at 103 pulses per second; group 2, application of the laser with an energy level of 80 mJ at 166 pulses per second; and group 3, similar to group 2, but with concomitant water irrigation of the device. The specimens were incubated in multiwell plates containing cell culture media. After 24 hours, the specimens were submitted to routine preparation for scanning electron microscopy. Three independent and blind examiners used photomicrographs to evaluate the morphology of the fibroblasts: 0 = without cells; 1 = flat cells; 2 = round cells; and 3 = combination of round and flat cells.

RESULTS
Statistical analysis indicated that there were significant differences among treatment groups and that group 3 was significantly different from groups 1 and 2.

CONCLUSION
There was no difference between groups 1 and 2 in the morphology of fibroblasts. Laser instrumentation with concomitant irrigation impaired the adhesion of fibroblasts to dentinal surfaces.


We improve previously known universality results on enzymatic numerical P systems (EN P systems, for short) working in all-parallel and one-parallel modes. By using a flattening technique, we first show that any EN P system working in one of these modes can be simulated by an equivalent one-membrane EN P system working in the same mode. Then we show that linear production functions, each depending upon at most one variable, suffice to reach universality for both computing modes. As a byproduct, we propose some small deterministic universal enzymatic numerical P systems.


Four new chiral modifiers were synthesized in order to investigate the effect of distal modifier substitution in the hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate and 1-phenylpropane-1,2-dione on a supported Pt/Al2O3 catalyst. The chiral modifiers were prepared in good to moderate overall yields by Pt-catalyzed hydrosilylation of 9-O-TMS-protected cinchonidine with triethylsilane, triphenylsilane, bis(dimethylsilyl)ethane and (+)-(R)-methyl(1-naphthyl)phenylsilane followed by cleavage of the silyl ether protective group. Comparison of the synthesized modifiers in enantioselective hydrogenation using cinchonidine as reference modifier is reported, as well as details on their synthesis and characterization. The X-ray crystal structure of the 11-(triphenylsilyl)-substituted cinchonidine analogue has been determined showing that this compound crystallizes in the open(3)-like conformation observed earlier for (–)-cinchonidine. In the hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate, the new modifiers induced notable enantiomeric excesses (ee = 62–73 %), which, however, were slightly lower than the ee obtained with cinchonidine as the chiral catalyst modifier (ee = 84 %). The rate for the racemic reaction in the absence of a chiral modifier was up to threefold higher than the reaction rate with the distally substituted modifiers whereas with cinchonidine the reaction rate was close to that of the racemic hydrogenation. In the hydrogenation of 1-phenylpropane-1,2-dione, 11-(triethylsilyl)-10,11-dihydrocinchonidine induced an ee of 70 % at 50 % reactant conversion which was notably higher than the ee obtained with cinchonidine (55 %). The dependence of enantiomeric excess on the modifier structure is clearly different in the two cases (ethyl pyruvate vs. 1-phenylpropane-1,2-dione) indicating notable differences in the enantiodifferentiating mechanisms in these two model reactions. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)


This paper concerns the design of an induction motor drive for traction application in the framework of the EU H2020 "Smart, Green and Integrated Transport" challenge. The target vehicle reflects the specification of a high-class electric vehicle, and it led to design a traction induction motor capable to provide 200 kW in the range from 6000 to 20000 rpm. The paper focuses on the performance evaluation of the motor design accounting for the drive control strategy. Design features and data are provided. Maximum performance both in the constant torque and the flux weakening zones are outlined by finite element method steady-state analyses, providing the thermal and supply limits. Then, the drive control is taken into account by dynamic simulations. The performance are evaluated over the whole torque-speed region considering the actual control strategy and driving modes of modern smart vehicles. Operating examples are provided.


Objective: To determine the prevalence of Abnormal Liver Function Tests (LFTs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis at the rheumatology out-patient clinic, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.Setting: Rheumatology out-patient clinic at KNH.Participants: One hundred and seven RA patients.Results: The overall prevalence of abnormal LFTs in the study population was 57%. The most common abnormal LFTs were direct bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which were elevated in 34.6% and 15% of the study population, respectively. Abnormal direct bilirubin was associated with longer duration of disease; adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) 0.54 (0.34, 0.86) p-value 0.009 and higher disease activity, adjusted OR 2.79 (1.23, 6.25) p-value 0.014. Abnormal ALP was significantly associated with BMI, adjusted OR 0.205 (0.074, 0.57), p-value 0.002 as well as duration of disease, adjusted OR 1.14 (1.013, 1.29), p-value 0.031.Conclusion: This study found the prevalence of liver dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis to be high, at 57%, and recommends regular monitoring of liver function tests in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.


Why use thiols in Molecular Electronics? They stink, oxidize readily, poison catalysts, and often require nontrivial protection/deprotection chemistry. In this communication we demonstrate the fabrication of tunneling junctions formed by contact of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of terminal alkynes onto silver and gold substrates. The SAMs form spontaneously upon exposure of the substrates to ethanolic solutions of the alkynes. Characterization by vibrational spectroscopy, XPS, and contact angles shows that the packing of the SAMs is nearly identical to those formed from equivalent thiols. Electrical characterization of the junctions revealed virtually no differences between SAMs on gold and silver, yielding βAu = 1.17 ± 0.04nC−1, J0 = (2.836 ± 0.001) × 103 A cm−2 for Au, and βAg = 1.23 ± 0.09nC−1, J0 = (4.722 ± 0.002) × 103 A cm−2 for Ag. These values are in excellent agreement with junctions formed from alkanethiols of the same lengths as the alkynes, suggesting that there is no functional difference between thiols and alkynes as anchoring groups for SAMs. Yet alkynes are synthetically versatile, do not poison catalysts, are not odorous, and do not spontaneously oxidize, which are all attractive features for use in Molecular Electronics.


Natural and human disturbances have caused widespread regime shifts in shallow lakes of the lower Yangtze basin (LYB, China) resulting in a severe decline of ecosystem services. Improved understanding of the relationship between environmental forcing and ecosystem response, and the mechanisms behind regime shifts has significant implications for management. However, the patterns of these regime shifts and the underlying internal mechanisms are less known. In this study, two typical lakes (Chaohu and Zhangdu) from the LYB were selected to determine the trajectories of ecological regime shifts, both of which transitioned from vegetation- to plankton-dominated states several decades ago. Ecological trajectories since the 1900s in both lakes were reconstructed using palaeolimnological proxies, mainly diatom assemblages. Although results show that regime shifts occurred in both lakes in the 1970s and the 1950s, respectively, their inherent mechanisms were different. In Lake Zhangdu, altered hydrological conditions pushed the ecosystem across an ecological threshold, providing an example of a driver-mediated regime shift. In Lake Chaohu, ongoing nutrient loading influenced ecosystem processes and drove the lake to an alternative stable state, potentially presenting an example of a critical transition after a loss of resilience. This research indicates that palaeolimnological perspectives can provide insights into regime shift changes, as well as important information regarding which restoration methods should be tailored to individual lakes.


Using class analysis to understand the dynamics of political conflict in mid-nineteenth-century France, Ronald Aminzade explores political activity among workers in three industrialized French cities--Toulouse, Saint-etienne, and Rouen. A comparative case-study design enables the author to analyze how the complex interaction between industrialization, class relations, and party development fostered revolutionary communes in some cities but not others. Challenging traditional theories of industrialization and revolution, Aminzade innovatively uses narratives to provide a historically grounded analysis of the failed municipal revolutions of 1871 and the triumph of liberal-democratic institutions in France.In each of these cities, distinctive patterns of capitalist industrialization and class restructuring intersected with shifting political opportunities at the national level to produce local republican parties with different ideologies, strategies, and alliances. Focusing on changing relations between republican parties and male workers, whose identities and economic standing were in transition, Aminzade examines struggles within local parties among liberal, radical, and socialist republicans. The outcome of these struggles, he argues, shaped the willingness of workers to embrace the ballot box or take to the barricades."


Most of the species in Scarabaeidae are economically important all over the world
 and especially in Southeast Asia. Hence, it is important to identify, construct keys
 and also develop a checklist of Malaysian Melolonthinae and Rutelinae. This study
 establishes the current taxonomical status of 15 species of these two subfamilies in
 Malaysia. A total of 320 specimens were collected from 10 states (Selangor, N.
 Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Pahang, P. Pinang, Kedah, Perak, Sabah and Sarawak), 22
 area and 72 sampling points. Four species recorded for the first time in Malaysia:
 Anomala shainica, Mimela malaise, Schoenherria vervex, Lepidiota leai. All genera
 and species have been described and illustrated. Taxonomic keys were constructed
 based on morphological characters particularly the mouth part, pronotum, elytra,
 front tibia and male genitalia. The latest checklist was developed for Malaysian
 Melolonthinae and Rutelinae. The total number of Melolonthinae species is 166
 belonging to 22 genera and the total number of Rutelinae species is 165 belonging to
 14 genera. Therefore this study successfully provides a taxonomical information on
 both subfamilies in Malaysia which will be a basic knowledge for further applied field studies.


In this thesis the study over the topic of analytical approaches for software quality and reliability assurance is presented. The focus of this research is on a specific set of techniques used for software reliability assessment called Risk Analysis. Numerous approaches are explored and different new techniques are proposed to generate the risk model of a software product. These techniques are evaluated and using the results of this evaluation a new risk model (Compound Risk Model) is proposed which is using the advantages of different classes of risk analysis techniques to generate a more precise and practical model to identify more risky components of a software product. Also a research on the topic of Automatic Bug-Fix using Genetic Programming is presented which can fix logical defects of a buggy code and evolve it to a bug-free code. Finally it is discussed that these approaches can be used as an automated tool in an integrated development environment to localize the defective components and debug them.


On 10 July, the Bank of England and the Centre for Economic Policy Research hosted the tenth Monetary Policy Roundtable. These events provide a forum for economists to discuss key issues relevant to monetary policy in the United Kingdom. There were two discussion topics, on developments in the UK labour market and on the trade-offs currently facing monetary policy makers in the United Kingdom.


: In cats, changes in arterial pressure (AP), intracardiac pressure (ICP), and blood flow volume rate following a nociceptive stimulus, stimulation of the amygdala and the combination of these before and after adrenaline (A) and norepinephrine (NE) administration into the lateral nucleus of amygdala, were studied. Nociceptive stimuli and electric stimulation of amygdala increased AP and ICP. The combination of these increased the pressor reaction. The blood flow volume rate was not altered by the nociceptive stimulus while decreasing at amygdalar stimulation. After A and NE administration the stimulation of amygdala plus the nociceptive stimulus suppressed the pressor reaction; a nociceptive stimulus was followed by the same changes as in intact cats; a nociceptive stimulus plus the stimulation of the amygdala increased the pressor reaction. The blood flow volume rate response to the stimuli was the same as in the control group. But the stimulation of amygdala after NE and a nociceptive stimulus plus amygdala stimulation (20 min after A) increased the blood flow volume rate, while the stimulation of amygdala alone with A administration reduced the blood flow.


Introduction: today cancer competes with ischemic heart disease as the leading cause of death in Cuba, even far above cerebrovascular disease, accidents, and pneumonia. In many cases, cancer has metastasized and only the primary tumor is only identified in a part of them, while in the rest, the tumor remains "hidden" behind a research considered as "optimal". Objective: to determine, in our context, how often a primary tumor is identified when the cancer has metastasized, the topographical distribution of metastasis sites and histological variants in cases of "hidden" primary. Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective and descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Internal Medicine, at Hermanos Ameijeiras Clinical Hospital from January 2010 to January 2013. The working universe consisted of 100 patients with metastasis with no primary tumor identified as diagnosis of hospitalization, who met the inclusion criteria. Location of primary tumor, metastatic sites and histological types were variables used. Descriptive statistics were mainly used, especially those applicable to qualitative variables (incidence). Results: primary tumor was identified in 50 patients. The most common sites were lung (11 %), colon, ovarian and prostate (5 % each). no primary tumor was identified in 50 % of cases. The most common site of metastasis was liver (56.0 %), followed by lymph (41.0 %) lung and pleura (19.0). the most common strain was well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (42 %) in those patients whose primary tumor failed to be identified; followed by the poorly differentiated carcinoma (34 %) and neuroendocrine carcinoma (20 %). Conclusions: In our context, identifying the primary tumor is achieved in half of the patients with metastases. This is independent of the number of metastases at presentation. Liver is the most common site of metastasis. The predominant histological variant among patients with "hidden" primary was adenocarcinoma.


This Article uses original historical research and an array of anthropological sources to suggest that efforts by Western liberals to protect practitioners of same-sex intimate conduct in Africa may be relatively unsuccessful and could further endanger the intended beneficiaries of advocacy. In recent years, Western human rights activists, scholars, and politicians have worked to advance homosexual rights in Africa. Understandably, they have tended to frame their arguments in liberal, universalist terms. Given successful reliance on liberal values of equality and autonomy to enhance the status of homosexuals in the West, this approach is intuitive. Liberal ideology has also become fully entrenched in international law, and the language of constitutions of countries across Africa reflects the influence of liberal philosophy. Nonetheless, numerous African leaders have responded to liberal appeals with hostility, and often with claims that homosexuality is un-African, a disease of the morally corrupt West.I am sympathetic to the liberal perspective, but consideration of the anti-essentialist arguments of queer theorists, communitarian philosophy, and the African anthropological record suggests reasons for caution in pursuing a liberal agenda to promote the well-being of people who engage in same-sex intimacies in Africa. Some of the anthropological evidence about the social significance of same-sex sexual intimacy in African cultures reinforces the claims of queer theorists, whose anti-essentialist arguments suggest that sexual identity is socially constructed, rather than the product of an immutable, biological imperative. In many African cultures, both historically and today, people who have engaged in same-sex intimacies have considered that behavior an insignificant component of their personal and sexual identities. Furthermore, in many societies, same-sex intimacy has been primarily socially contingent, rather than a stable feature of the lives of people who engage in such conduct. This suggests obstacles for liberal nondiscrimination arguments. Likewise, the observation of queer theorists that essentialist claims can be used as effectively as tools of oppression as of liberation provides reason for caution; tyrannical majorities have frequently used the idea of fundamental, immutable difference as a means of subjugating disfavored minorities. In the end, categorizing all Africans who engage in same-sex intimacies as homosexuals may make the intended beneficiaries of such categorization easier targets for majorities in societies disinclined to accept Western conceptions of sexual identity.Communitarian philosophy is also relevant to any discussion of the legal status of homosexuality in Africa because of the deep communitarian roots of traditional cultures across the continent. Although African countries have tended to adopt constitutions that proclaim liberal rights, many of the societies in which those constitutions have arisen have lacked the West's profound cultural commitment to individualism. Instead, a broad range of African cultures have tended to emphasize group welfare and individual responsibilities over individual rights. As a consequence, communitarian values have frequently explained the actual operation of law in African countries better than the putative liberal loyalties evinced in African constitutions. This communitarian perspective also suggests obstacles to advancement of homosexual rights in Africa through liberal arguments. Finally, a deeper appreciation of the sordid history of Western imposition of universalizing ideals to manipulate and subjugate African minds and bodies, and of Western denial of African agency, might alert liberals to the treacherous intellectual territory they inhabit and might help liberals avoid colonialist tropes that could further inflame resistance to policies aimed at enhancement of the status of people who engage in same-sex intimacies in Africa. Western liberals are correct to counter African claims that homosexuality is un-African by pointing out that European outsiders originally introduced religious intolerance and sodomy laws to African cultures that had been more amenable to same-sex intimacy. But African leaders who insist on the Western origins of homosexuality are also correct, though in an unintended sense: the presence in many contemporary African cultures of some people who define their sexual identities in terms congruous with Western conceptions of homosexuality may indeed be the consequence of Western influence. Additionally, even though there are now some Africans who consider themselves homosexuals, advocacy by Western rights advocates and threats by Western governments might cause backlash that could make their lives worse. Ultimately, if liberals hope to have a positive impact on the lives of Africans who engage in same-sex intimacies, we should structure our interactions with the cultures we hope to influence as conversations rather than as lectures or commands.


Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders found in children and adolescents. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) first published a clinical practice guideline on ADHD in 2000, which was revised in 2011 and re-published together with an accompanying process-of-care algorithm. More recently, the 2019 clinical practice guideline revision was published. Since the 2011 guideline, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), was released. In addition, the Society of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP) recently released another clinical practice guideline for complex ADHD. Although there are nonessential changes reflected in these updates, a number of changes have still been made; for example, the DSM-5 criteria lowered the diagnostic threshold for ADHD in older teens and adults. Additionally, the criteria were revised to facilitate application to older teens and adults, and a comorbid diagnosis with autism spectrum disorder is now allowed. Meanwhile, the 2019 AAP guideline added the recommendation related to comorbid conditions with ADHD. Lastly, SDBP developed a complex ADHD guideline, covering areas such as comorbid conditions, moderate-to-severe impairment, treatment failure, and diagnostic uncertainty. In addition, other national ADHD guidelines have been published, as have European guidelines for managing ADHD during the Covid-19 pandemic. To facilitate ADHD management in a primary care, it is important to provide and review clinical guidelines and recent updates. In this article, we will review and summarize the recent clinical guidelines and their updates.


Further analysis of the data obtained from 190 unselected autopsies at the University of Cairo (Faculty of Medicine) hospitals reinforces our conclusion that a high prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis leads to infection intensity causing severe uropathy and mortality, both directly and by way of complications and sequelae. Based on histological study, two stages of urinary schistosomiasis must be considered in epidemiological work: "active disease", characterized by significant egg excretion; and "inactive disease", in which eggs are excreted rarely. The proportion between active and inactive cases is progressively reversed with advancing age, while mean tissue egg burdens rise, plateau, and ultimately decrease, most sharply beyond 50 years of age. A model of the progression of active disease has been derived from the relations of individual organ egg burdens to overall infection intensity, showing that both the onset and the termination of oviposition probably begin in the urinary bladder and spread centrifugally. Therefore, extravesical activity may persist longer than bladder activity. Severe uropathy and mortality occur at all stages of the disease and depend principally, but not exclusively, on egg burden, i.e., on infection intensity. Correlations of infection intensity with degree of uropathy show that severe disease is quantitatively separable from incidental disease by its tissue egg burdens and lesions. However, the factors determining death from urinary schistosomiasis are only partly understood. They include bilateral upper obstructive uropathy and, probably, focal egg concentrations leading to rapid obstruction, such as aberrantly high egg burdens in the left ureter relative to those in the bladder. Analysis of epidemiologically homogeneous population groups reveals close mutual relationships between the total frequency of infection (active plus inactive), the intensity of infection, and the frequency of severe uropathy. A statistical model predicts that any rise in frequency beyond a 30% threshold will result in a linear increase in the frequency of severe disease, whereas below that threshold the bulk of infections will be incidental. These insights, applicable only to pathological material, must be complemented by efforts to establish clinical and laboratory criteria defining the severity and stages of urinary schistosomiasis in living patients, and to examine their population dynamics, so that effects of therapeutic and preventive measures may be evalulated more precisely.


Abstract Research suggests that the use of creative, artistic activities in later life may positively impact the psychological well-being of older adults. Social robots have been utilized in research with older adults, however, few studies have integrated participatory arts (e.g. theatre) into social robotic platforms for the purpose of implementing a psychosocial intervention with this population. An interdisciplinary team designed and delivered an intervention integrating theatre and social robotics with the aim of improving the psychological well-being of study participants both with and without cognitive impairment who live in a residential care setting. A purposive sample of older adults age 65 and older (N = 15) participated in this 3-session pilot study that involved a Shakespeare participatory art activity using the robot, NAO. Pre and post tests were conducted before and after each session with measures of depression, loneliness, and a simplified face scale for mood were asked. Results from Repeated Measurement Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed that depression, loneliness and face scores had significantly decrease across six time periods and these declines differed between people with dementia and those without dementia. In addition, only significant changes of depression before and after the intervention were found between persons with and without dementia. We discuss the promising aspects of using social robotics as a platform for participatory arts interventions with older adults and offer lessons learned from the use of innovative technology in residential care settings.


The neighborhood is a historic and contemporary site of the assertion of white racial and economic domination, particularly over Black people. Although there is strong evidence that whites continue to prefer racially segregated neighborhoods, fifty years of fair housing jurisprudence has made it more difficult to openly bar non-white residents. Among the many strategies used to protect white domination of residential space is the coordinated surveillance and policing of non-white people. In this paper, I show how Nextdoor, a neighborhood-based social network, has become an important platform for the surveillance and policing of race in residential space, enabling the creation of what I call digitally gated communities. First, I describe the history of the platform and the forms of segregation and surveillance it has supplemented or replaced. Second, I situate the platform in a broader analysis of carcerality as a mode and logic of regulating race in the United States. Third, using examples drawn from public reports about the site, I illustrate how race is surveilled and policed in the context of gentrification and integration. Finally, I discuss implications, questions, and future issues that might arise on the platform.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between synovial vascularity and joint damage progression in each finger joint of patients with RA under low disease activity during treatment with biologic agents.

METHODS
We studied 310 MCP and 310 PIP joints of 31 patients with active RA who were administered adalimumab (ADA) or tocilizumab (TCZ). Patients were examined with clinical and laboratory assessments. Power Doppler sonography was performed at baseline and at weeks 8, 20 and 40. Synovial vascularity was evaluated according to quantitative measurement. Hand and foot radiography was performed at baseline and at week 50.

RESULTS
Composite scores of the DAS with 28 joints and the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) were significantly decreased from baseline to week 8, being sustained at a low level by biologic agents during the observational period. MCP and PIP joints with positive synovial vascularity after week 8 showed more subsequent joint damage progression than joints without synovial vascularity throughout the follow-up. The changes in radiographic progression in these joints were independent of the sum of synovial vascularity from baseline to week 40 or the occasional occurrence of positive synovial vascularity.

CONCLUSION
Smouldering inflammation reflected by positive synovial vascularity under low disease activity was linked to joint damage. The damage progressed irrespective of the severity of positive synovial vascularity. Even with a favourable overall therapeutic response, monitoring of synovial vascularity has the potential to provide useful joint information to tailor treatment strategies. Trial registration. University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry; http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/; UMIN000004476.


In primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells kainate produced marked influx of 45Ca2+, partially sensitive to the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, 3-(+/-)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)- propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP), indicating involvement of an NMDA receptor-sensitive component that may be secondary to kainate-induced glutamate release. Sodium removal partially inhibited kainate's effect. Quisqualate also produced influx of 45Ca2+, but with lower efficacy and higher potency than kainate. This action of quisqualate was unaffected by CPP and by sodium removal. Preincubation of cells with the plant lectin concanavalin A (Con A), but not with its succinyl derivative, enhanced quisqualate-induced calcium influx, and to a lesser extent kainate's effect. Inclusion of quisqualate in preincubation medium antagonized Con A potentiation of quisqualate response. Also Con A was ineffective when included in the incubation medium only, without preincubation. Preincubation of rat brain cortical membranes with Con A but not with succinyl Con A increased the binding of the AMPA receptor agonist, [3H]alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid ([3H]AMPA). The results suggest that Con A enhancement of quisqualate response possibly involves the modification of an AMPA recognition site and requires preincubation in the absence of an agonist (here quisqualate).


This paper explores the link between Asian-inspired material culture and musical theatre through the collections of Anglo-Australian performer Herbert Browne (1895-1975). Brown played lead roles in 1920s Australian musical theatre productions of The Mikado and Chu Chin Chow and re-lived his connection with oriental theatre by collecting and responding to objects performatively in the Chinoiserie room of his Melbourne home. Oriental musical theatre blended exotic cultures and locales in visually spectacular productions which bore little resemblance to reality. The taste for escapist fiction in the theatre took place against a backdrop of museum collecting which aimed to reproduce authentic Asian and Other cultures. In this paper, I draw on French philosopher Merleau-Ponty's observations on the relationship between thought and the body's interaction with space to interpret the influence of Browne's theatricality on collecting choices. From this perspective, objects materialize particular understandings of the world which originate in the body and the body's performative engagement with space.


Dynamic thermal rating (DTR) of transmission system facilities is a way to maximally realize the equipment capacities while not threatening their health. With regards to transmission lines, the allowable current of conductors is forecasted based on the environmental situations expected in some forthcoming time periods. Due to the fact that weather conditions continuously vary, sampling points are very limited against many line spans, and the measurements have an inherent error, uncertainties must be appropriately included in the DTR determination. This paper adopts the fuzzy theory as a strong and simple tool to model uncertainties in the DTR calculation. Since DTR intends to determine the line capacity for some periods ahead, the capability of fuzzy computation in predicting future phenomena is very fruitful here. In the proposed model, variables, such as ambient temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and solar hour angle are assumed to be fuzzy numbers. Numerical simulations are provided based on inputs taken from real databases and reasonable assumptions as well. The results obtained support the validation and efficiency of the proposed model.


Although Halcion has received a great deal of attention and scrutiny, Halcion and the other benzodiazepines have a place in the pharmacotherapy of anxiety, panic, and sleep disturbances. Obviously, any physician's prescribing practices are going to be influenced by a variety of factors, including the popular press, to some extent. However, by paying careful attention to prudent and appropriate prescribing practices, following indications and guidelines for safety, efficacy, and patient acceptance, and by prescribing Halcion with the same cautions one would prescribe any other short-acting benzodiazepine or other hypnotic, this medication can be safe, efficacious, and a useful adjunct to the treatment of insomnia. Side effects--even such rare ones as musical hallucinations--will occur, to a greater or lesser extent, as with any medication, but these can be managed by the prudent physician, taking into account the risk/benefit considerations of Halcion, or any benzodiazepine, as a physician would in prescribing any medication for any reason.


While many behaviors have been tied to status processes, humor has largely been ignored despite its overwhelming presence within interaction. Humor is theoretically relevant to group dynamics as it may be conditioned by and/or a way of negotiating status structures. The goal of this project is to further develop a sociological theory of humor. This goal is pursued on two
fronts, both theoretically and methodologically. Theoretically, this paper extends Robinson and Smith-Lovin (2001) by exploring how characteristics about individuals and groups effect humor usage. Results indicate that humor attempts, successes, and the type of humor used are related to
individual-level and group-level characteristics. Methodologically, this paper investigates the implications of analytic choice by comparing results obtained through event history and hierarchical linear modeling techniques. Results of the methodological comparison revealed substantial overlap between the analyses. Overall, this research emphasizes how micro-level interactional processes can be conditioned by macro-level structures.


Objective. To describe the Mesial Temporal Lobe Sclerosis (MTS), in relation to its anatomical, clinical, iconographic, neurophysiologic, neuro psychologic, and surgical aspects, in reference to the epilepsy cases that needed a surgical resolution. Additionally, it's realized a statistical analysis of our series and its results. Material and methods. From the series of 469 patients (115 adults and 354 children) operated on between 1989 and 2007, at National Pediatrics . Dr. Juan Garrahan, FLENI, Dr. Cosme Argerich, and Prof. Dr. R. Rossi Hospitals; who harbored Refractory Epilepsy ; were analyzed 91 cases (19,4%) with the diagnosis of MTS; 38 patients belong to the pediatric group and 53 were adults. Results. The results were evaluated by the Engel score. Applying this classification, our population of patients showed the next pattern of distribution: 69 (75,8%) are in Engel's class IA, from this group, 36 (52,2%) are children, and 33 (47,8%), adults; 4 adults patients;( 4,4%) are in Engel's class IB, 3 patients (3,3%) in Engel's class IC; 1 (in Engel's class ID(1,1%); 4 adults in Engel's class IIA (4,4%); 5 in Engel's class IIB (5;5%) and 3 (3,3%) in Engel's class IVA; from then, one patient was a child, and underwent the implantation of VNS, the rest were adults. One adult patient committed suicide, one year after surgery (was in Engel's class IA). One patient is on his first post operative year, and then couldn't been included in statistical analysis, because follow up wasn't enough. Conclusion. The MTS is the paradigm of Refractory Epilepsy in the adult population, and in the pediatric subgroup involved a significant percentage: the presurgical evaluation must be exhaustive for adequate selection of cases. The extent of resection should be done with high degree of selectivity. The early diagnosis and treatment can obtain a high index of good results without ictal phenomena and the absence of necessity of antiepileptic drugs.


This study was undertaken to investigate the growth performance of calves born to dams with different calving dates and calving intervals. Early calving dams produced calves with the lowest birth weights, the highest actual weaning weights and the highest pre-breeding heifer weights. The higher weaning weights of early calvers were due to higher pre-weaning average daily gains and the older age of their calves at weaning. Corrected weaning weights of calves born to dams calving at different times during the calving season were not significantly different. A one-day increase in calving interval resulted in a decrease of 0.29 ± 0.01 kg for weaning weight and a decrease of 0.54 ± 0.01 kg for heifer pre-breeding weight. It is recommended that date of calving and actual weaning weight of calves should be considered when evaluating the reproductive and productive performance of breeding cows.


Although the prevalence of Executive Doctoral Programs (EDPs) is increasing, little is known about their influence on management practice. To support further research and debate into this important area, this essay presents a dynamic model of EDP impact and discusses how the model can help reorient current knowledge on practitioner–scholar behaviors and careers. The model identifies six dimensions of EDPs' personal impact: 1) cognitive development, 2) academic contribution, 3) practical impact, 4) career mobility, 5) identity transformation, and 6) community belonging. In addition, it identifies eight activities that represent EDPs' practical impact: 1) direct management application, 2) teaching or educational engagement, 3) consulting or coaching, 4) knowledge productization, 5) engagement in communities of practice, 6) creating communities of practice, 7) public speaking, and 8) influencing policy. The model is developed based on evidence from a grounded theory analysis of survey data from the EDP at Weatherhead School of Management. In conclusion, we discuss how the various stakeholders in EDPs can leverage and further develop the model and its various elements to increase the influence of practitioner–scholars on management practice.


In order to solve the existing problems of domestic applications, an innovative structure design for the draft gears of locomotive couplers is developed using the mechanical principles and the finite element method. In the condition of ensuring the performance, the draft gear structure is optimized, the number of draft gear parts is reduced, and the weight and cost of draft gear are cut down. After absorbing the foreign technologies, a new locomotive coupler draft gear is developed which achieves the equivalent-level performances as those of developed countries and fills the domestic gap.


What kind of geometry can we make with our bodies? In this 90-minute workshop we'll explore all kinds of fun ways to use our hands, arms, legs, and bodies to create fantastic shapes with ourselves and with a group. Frieze patterns, polygons, polyhedra, connected graphs, fractals and tessellations are a few of the exciting shapes we'll create. We'll present ideas, challenges, games, and problems to solve that will make you physically a part of mathematics! These ideas can be used in the math classroom to teach concepts and generate excitement for mathematics. Be prepared to get creative and bring home some great photographs.


The tumultuous North Carolina Senate primaries of 1950 are still viewed as the most bitter chapter in the state's modern political history. The central figure in that frenzied race was the appointed incumbent, Frank Porter Graham, former president of the University of North Carolina (1931-49) and liberal activist of national stature.As a Senate candidate, Graham was unrelentingly attacked for both his social activism and his racial views, and the vicious tactics used against him shocked his supporters and alarmed national observers. Peeling away the myths that have accumulated over the years, the authors present the first thoroughly researched account of Graham's eventual defeat by Raleigh attorney Willis Smith. The result, a balanced study of North Carolina politics at mid-century, is a convincing explanation of the 1950 election.Using the campaign as a prism, the authors assess the factional struggles within the state, showing that Graham was defeated by a massive loss of support among white voters in eastern North Carolina. The principal force behind this switch was the fear promulgated by the Smith campaign that a vote for Graham was a vote to end statutory segregation in North Carolina. The authors also offer the fullest portrait to date of Frank Porter Graham as political candidate and social reformer. They examine his career as an educator and public activist, the steps that led to his unorthodox appointment, and his strengths and weaknesses as a political candidate."Frank Porter Graham and the 1950 Senate Race in North Carolina" is based on manuscript materials never before examined, on interviews with more than 50 campaign participants and associates of both Graham and Smith, and on a thorough analysis of newspaper coverage and campaign literature.Originally published in 1990.A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.


With few exceptions, spatial estimation of rainfall typically relies on information in the spatial domain only. In this paper, a method that utilizes information in time and space and provides an assessment of estimate uncertainty is used to create a gridded monthly rainfall dataset for the United Kingdom over the period 1980-87. Observed rainfall profiles within the region were regarded as the sum of a deterministic temporal trend and a stochastic residual component. The parameters of the temporal trend components established at the rain gauges were interpolated in space, accounting for their auto- and cross correlation, and for relationships with ancillary spatial variables. Stochastic Gaussian simulation was then employed to generate alternative realizations of the spatiotemporal residual component, which were added to the estimated trend component to yield realizations of rainfall (after distributional corrections). In total, 40 realizations of rainfall were generated for each month of the 8-yr period. The methodology resulted in reasonably accurate estimates of rainfall but underestimated in northwest and north Scotland and northwest England. The cause for the underestimation was identified as a weak relationship between local rainfall and the spatial area average rainfall, used to estimate the temporal trend model in these regions, and suggestions were made for improvement. The strengths of this method are the utilization of information from the time and space domain, and the assessment of spatial uncertainty in the estimated rainfall values.


Copyright © 2015 by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Crit Care Med 2015 • Volume 43 • Number 12 (Suppl.) began in NIV PS for five min. The NAVA level was selected to approximate the support provided in NIV PS. Each infant underwent two separate 15-minute arms after being randomized to either start in NIV NAVA or NIV PS. Servo tracker software was used to calculate trigger delay and other asynchronies. Modified Tal score, a bronchiolitis severity score, was assigned before initiating the study and after each arm. We used a two-tailed paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed rank test for analysis as appropriate. Results: Five patients completed the study. There were no statistical differences in heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, minute ventilation, exhaled tidal volume, or leak percentage. There was a statistically significant difference in mean trigger delay (milliseconds) between NIV NAVA and NIV PS (-3.2 ms vs. 117ms, p=0.019). There were no statistically significant differences in other asynchronies. Modified Tal score was not different between comparison groups, but there was a trend toward significance between pre-NIV and completion of the study (7 vs. 5, p=0.066). Conclusions: The use of NIV NAVA in infants with bronchiolitis is associated with shorter trigger delay. The sample size potentially prevented demonstrating an improved Modified Tal score. NIV NAVA was tolerated without deleterious effect. Larger, multi-center studies utilizing patient specific outcomes are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of NIV NAVA.


Debate exists regarding the contribution of information technology to firm performance. Prior research has examined technology and firm performance in the aggregate. This study, however, focuses on a specific technology—enterprise resource planning (ERP)—and its impact on firm performance. Economic and industrial organization theories are used to predict how ERP technology should affect firm coordination and transaction costs. ERP is expected to (1) reduce costs by improving efficiencies through computerization and (2) enhance decision making by providing accurate and timely enterprise-wide information. These effects should be associated with improved firm performance. This issue is examined empirically using archival financial data of COMPUSTAT firms that have implemented ERP systems compared to control firm counterparts. Results indicate a significant increase in costs as a percentage of revenue but a decrease in the number of employees as a percentage of revenue the year after ERP implementation. However, control firms experience a greater reduction in employees. Results indicate a paradox where firms having fewer employees supporting more revenue simultaneously experience higher cost to revenue ratios after their ERP implementation.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the structure, mechanical and low temperature aging properties of colored dental zirconia ceramics. Colored 3Y-TZP zirconia dental zirconia ceramics were made by mixing colorants and their combinations into a 3Y-TZP powder, the green body were compacted at 200MPa, presinter at 1050°C and densely sintered at 1500°C for 2h. Specimens were subjected to an accelerated aging test carried out in an autoclave in steam at 134°C, 2bar, for 4hs. XRD was used to identify the crystal phases, three-point bending strength were tested before and after aging according to the ISO 6872 standard, polished and aging specimens were observed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to evaluate surface microstructure. Tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation was detected for both uncolored and colored specimens, the relative content of monoclinic phase was increased with the prolonged aging time. Aging had no significant negative effects on flexural strength on colored 3Y-TZP. The nucleation and growth of monoclinic phase were detected by AFM in surface of both colored and uncolored zirconia.


Texas's current prison population consists of far more pretrial detainees than convicted criminals. Despite United States and Texas constitutional protections, the default rule in many jurisdictions, including Texas, detains misdemeanor and non-violent felony defendants unless they can post a monetary bond or get a surety to post the bond for them ("bail bond") to obtain their release. Most pretrial detainees remain detained due not to their alleged dangerousness, but rather because they simply cannot afford to post bail (or get someone to post it for them). As a result, many pretrial detainees find themselves choosing between hamstringing their financial future or remaining in detention until trial. If Americans are serious about "honoring the presumption of innocence," we must reform the way that misdemeanor and non-violent felony defendants are treated while awaiting trial. Rather than treat them as guilty and keep them in jail unless they can pay for their release, the standard should be to release them unless there is a very good reason for not doing so. By changing the default option from pretrial detention to pretrial release, many Texas judges will be more pre-disposed to release misdemeanor and non-violent felony defendants on conditions other than the posting of monetary bail. This switch will result in fewer people being detained simply because they cannot afford to be released—which will prevent adverse economic consequences to already disadvantaged citizens. Proposed reform has been discussed for decades. Reforming the bail system in Texas is a current, critical need. This criminal justice issue undermines the public's faith in our system of justice and detrimentally affects the economic and social status of countless citizens who will ultimately be found not guilty. Doing nothing weakens our overall rule-of-law system and ultimately erodes the foundation upon which our society is built.


Despite much success in natural language processing (NLP), pre-trained language models typically lead to a high computational cost during inference. Multi-exit is a mainstream approach to address this issue by making a trade-off between efficiency and accuracy, where the saving of computation comes from an early exit. However, whether such saving from early-exiting is robust remains unknown. Motivated by this, we first show that directly adapting existing adversarial attack approaches targeting model accuracy cannot significantly reduce inference efficiency. To this end, we propose a simple yet effective attacking framework, SAME, a novel slowdown attack framework on multi-exit models, which is specially tailored to reduce the efficiency of the multi-exit models. By leveraging the multi-exit models' design characteristics, we utilize all internal predictions to guide the adversarial sample generation instead of merely considering the final prediction. Experiments on the GLUE benchmark show that SAME can effectively diminish the efficiency gain of various multi-exit models by 80% on average, convincingly validating its effectiveness and generalization ability.


80 cases of female lung carcinoma were assayed with avidin-biotin complex method for estrogen receptor (ER) and 73.8% cases revealed positive reaction. The 3 expressive types were cytoplasmic, all cellular and nuclear. There were no correlations between ER content and age, blood type, histologic types, size of tumor and metastasis of regional lymph nodes, but obvious correlations between ER content and prognosis. The 5 year survival rate in ER negative patients (72.7%) was greatly higher than in positive patients (8.8%) (P < 0.01). All had better prognosis in ER negative patients above and below 50-year groups.


The Personal Strategic Plan (PSP) is a personalized version of a strategic marketing plan. It is a written document that outlines the time-related details for achieving the career expectations of an individual in the context of satisfying the dynamic and strategic human resource needs of the organization. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of a PSP, and presents a 6-step outline for creating one. HR departments have long been accused of being out of touch with the strategic directions of their organizations (Cascio, 1999). Supporting this view, Leonard (1998) quoted one chief executive officer as saying, "HR professionals have been getting by focused on the day-to-day. They need to develop a broader and farther reaching vision, understand where their organization is headed, and how they can help steer the company in that direction." No place is this more manifest than in policies and practices involving selection and development of management employees. This paper outlines a strategic process, involving development of a Personal Strategic Plan by each managerial personnel. The Personal Strategic Plan (PSP) is a personalized version of a strategic marketing plan. It is a written document that outlines the time-related details for achieving the career expectations of an individual in the context of satisfying the dynamic and strategic human resource needs of the organization. Rationale for the PSP The development of the PSP is a response to the observation by researchers and human resource professionals that the format and content of the traditional resume limits its effectiveness as a presentation format for personal, performance, and career information (Duffus, 2001; Winchester, 1999; Boivie, 1993). Criticisms of the traditional resume include; it is historical rather than future oriented (Stokes Jr., 1997); it does not adequately address the strategic human resource needs of the organization or how the individual is likely to measure up to them (O'Sullivan, 2002; Winchester, 1999; Stokes Jr., 1997); it does not adequately capture the career expectations of the individual or outline their perceptions of the strategic path to achieve them (Winchester, 1999; Bandura, 1997; Otte & Kahnweiler, 1995; Boivie, 1993); it emphasizes credentials and job descriptions rather than performance and accomplishments (Canter, 1998); it fails to address issues of employee sensitivity to the dynamically competitive marketplace and preparations to satisfy the required human resource needs (Portanova, 1995); and, it is too structured to provide meaningful differentiation (Holley, Higgins & Speights. 1988). In short, as an evaluative tool for managerial personnel, the traditional resume is perceived as limiting of creative self-expression, short on emphasizing accomplishments, disallowing effective differentiation to obtain competitive advantage in getting the interview, and so stereotyped that it provides minimal cross-applicant differentiation. Indeed, research among undergraduate business students, human resource professionals, and business professionals found that while the resume was perceived as an effective prescreening tool for lower level personnel, the PSP was regarded as more effective in facilitating career development and advancement among senior level managers (Duffus, 2002). The PSP is particularly useful during times characterized by turbulence in the job market (Otte & Kahnweiler, 1995). The diversity and level of information available in the PSP suggests that human resource specialists should emphasize increased usage in considerations involving career development or job advancement. Research shows that this usage could facilitate orderly career development and enhance the likelihood of human resource decisions that are congruent both with the strategic human resource needs of the organization and the career objectives of the employee (Duffus, 2002). Personal Strategic Planning Strategic planning is a managerial concept that specifies where the organization is headed and how management intends to achieve the targeted results (Thompson & Strickland, 1992). …


Twentieth-century scholars tended to describe music either in constructivist terms, as a culturally produced system of signs without real effects, or in essentialist terms, as a universal force detached from sociocultural contexts. Recently, however, the field of sound studies has raised new awareness of the fact that music is, at its core, sound. It is thus both culturally constructed and ineluctably material. Given this shift in the scholarly conception of music, a reassessment of its functions is needed. Starting from the notion that music is a complex system of cultural meanings and concrete sounds, this article investigates its integrative function, that is, the notion that music is able to connect individuals from diverse backgrounds and to integrate them into a community. Richard Powers' novel The Time of Our Singing (2003) provides a valuable platform for reassessing the integrative function of music, as it unfolds it on two different levels at the same time. On its narrative level the novel insists on the long-term failure of music in uniting people from different racial backgrounds. Yet, by being also a piece of musicalised fiction and, hence, musical itself, the novel tests this function on its aesthetic level as well. It thus shows that, while failing to integrate socially divided people in the long run, in its aesthetic experience, at least, music is able to bring them together for as long as the performance last


Chemically reacting flow occurs in many industrial settings such as combustion, catalysis, chemical synthesis, materials processing, etc. It is particularly important because of its function in catalysis, since catalysis accounts for 90% of the processes in the chemical industry. Catalytic processes with temperatures in the range of 400-1000 degrees C are classified as high temperature. Some industrially relevant high temperature catalytic processes include combustion and partial oxidation of hydrocarbons for energy production, and catalytic cracking for oil refining [1].Microreactors, with characteristic dimensions less than one millimeter, have been shown to quench explosive reaction systems and are well worth exploring [2-5]. Microreactors have several advantages over conventional reactors, such as good thermal transport and increased surface-to-volume ratio. Microreactors can also be used to study explosive reaction systems such as hydrogen oxidation. Hydrogen oxidation is an important reaction for energy production through combustion and use in fuel cells. The reaction has wide flammability limits, 3-75 vol% of H2 in air, and very high flame velocities which can lead to strong explosions [6]. In order to avoid explosions and to operate this reaction safely, it would be ideal to run hydrogen oxidation via the catalytic pathway. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of microreactors for potentially explosive high temperature catalytic reactions through detailed numerical simulations, and the development of a modular silicon microreactor. In this study, simulations will be performed using the same two-dimensional boundary layer model and CRESLAF module (version CHEMKIN 4.0 will be used). These simulation studies show the suppression of the homogeneous radical formation, which allows for the safe operation of the hydrogen oxidation reaction. An experimental microreactor was designed using detailed numerical simulations in Fluent. A preliminary experimental setup was also fabricated.