Service robots have the potential to be of great value in households, health care and other labor intensive environments. However, these environments are typically unique, not very structured and frequently changing, which makes it difficult to make service robots robust and versatile through manual programming. Having robots learn to solve tasks autonomously through interaction with the real world forms an attractive alternative. With Reinforcement Learning (RL), a system can learn to perform tasks by receiving only coarse feedback on its actions: desired behavior is reinforced by positive rewards, undesired behavior is punished by negative rewards. In this research, a bipedal walking robot named Leo was designed and built specifically to study the application of RL to real robots. Robot Leo is able to learn two basic motor control tasks: placing a foot on a step of stairs, and walking. To learn to walk, Leo receives a positive reward for moving its foot forward, and negative rewards for falling and for spending time and energy. This process takes about 5 hours of practice in simulation, as well as thousands of falls. On the real prototype, the learning time was shortened by first letting the robot observe a hand coded, sub-optimal controller, which it was quickly able to mimic and even improve in a matter of hours. Algorithmic improvements are proposed to address complications of RL on real robots, such as time delays in the control loop and large disturbances such as a sudden push. To reduce the continuous risk of damage due to the trial-and-error nature of RL, a modular approach is proposed through which the robot can coarsely but quickly learn about the risk of its behavior and learn the actual task more safely and in more detail.


: An exploratory study was conducted on paddlefish ( Polyodon spathula ) anglers at Lake of the Ozarks near Warsaw, Missouri, to learn about their social and cultural aspects, such as activity involvement and place dependence in relation to travel distance. Although Lake of the Ozarks is a pre-mier fishery in the state of Missouri, little is known about these participants. An on-site survey was completed and returned by 423 out of 595 anglers (71% response rate). Respondents were middle-aged men who lived in rural areas in Missouri, and traveled a median distance of 179.3 km (one way) to this location. The average angler started this activity at age 25.9 and had been a participant for 11.2 years. Socialization and harvest were important reasons for angling participation. Significant differences were found between proximate and distant paddlefish anglers on activity involvement and place dependence. Since activity involvement and place dependence scores were higher for distant anglers as compared to those traveling shorter distances, implications focused on marketing Lake of the Ozarks as a destination fishery.


Metabolic networks combine metabolism and regulation. These complex networks are difficult to understand and create due to the diverse types of information that need to be represented. This chapter describes a suite of interlinked tools for developing, displaying, and modeling metabolic networks. The metabolic network interactions database, MetNetDB, contains information on regulatory and metabolic interactions derived from a combination of web databases and input from biologists in their area of expertise. PathBinderA mines the biological "literaturome" by searching for new interactions or supporting evidence for existing interactions in metabolic networks. Sentences from abstracts are ranked in terms of the likelihood that an interaction is described and combined with evidence provided by other sentences. FCModeler, a publicly available software package, enables the biologist to visualize and model metabolic and regulatory network maps. FCModeler aids in the development and evaluation of hypotheses, and provides a modeling framework for assessing the large amounts of data captured by high-throughput gene expression experiments.


Introduction:Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Zambia. It is believed that malaria is responsible for up to approximately 47% of the overall disease burden for pregnant women. In Zambia it is accountable for 20% of maternal mortality. The effects of malaria in pregnancy are many; for the mother, the most common effect is maternal anemia, which reduces her ability to cope with bleeding, leading to hemorrhage during childbirth. Malaria is both preventable and treatable, but it is a complicated disease whose prevention and control requires multiple interventions. If the prevention methods like sleeping under insecticide-treated nets, and indoor residual spraying fail then treatment is imperative. Treatment begins with recognizing the symptoms of malaria, and giving the correct medication. Competency is the simultaneous integration of knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for performance in a designated role and setting. Having competent health workers is one of the ways disease burdens can be alleviated, as this can be used to discover what gaps exists and trainings can be conducted to fill such gaps.
Method:It was a descriptive study done in Gwembe district, southern province, Zambia. All health workers that are in contact with pregnant women were given self-assessment questionnaire and scored according to standard competency of management of malaria in pregnancy. The standards were obtained from text books and experts in the field e.g. medical officers, national malaria center, etc. A baseline of 75% was assumed.Results:This study showed that the medical practitioner scored an average of 86%, nurses and the mid-wives both scored above the base-line with an average score of 78% and 76% respectively. The others scored 63%. Nurses and mid-wives lacked competency in some of the core competency in management of malaria in pregnancy as they scored low marks.
Lowess test showed that competency score was related to age and years in service
Kolmogorov-Smirnov test showed that only age had a statistically significant relationship with competency score as it had a p-value of 0.04.
Conclusion:The majority of the health workers had the competency in management of malaria in pregnancy with only a few who scored below the base line and had no knowledge of some essential competency. Training is needed to effectively improve the maternal health status and in turn help reduce maternal mortality rate in the district and the whole country at large, as all the health workers will be competent.


Introduction. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart rhythm disorder. Several life-style factors have been identified as risk factors for AF, but less is known about the impact of work-related stress. This study aims to evaluate the association between work-related stress, defined as job strain, and risk of AF. Methods. Data from the Swedish WOLF study was used, comprising 10,121 working men and women. Job strain was measured by the demand-control model. Information on incident AF was derived from national registers. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between job strain and AF risk. Results. In total, 253 incident AF cases were identified during a total follow-up time of 132,387 person-years. Job strain was associated with AF risk in a time-dependent manner, with stronger association after 10.7 years of follow-up (HR 1.93, 95% CI 1.10–3.36 after 10.7 years, versus HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.67–1.83 before 10.7 years). The results pointed towards a dose-response relationship when taking accumulated exposure to job strain over time into account. Conclusion. This study provides support to the hypothesis that work-related stress defined as job strain is linked to an increased risk of AF.


In The Rhetoric of Reaction, published in 1991, Albert Hirschman identified three standard objections to reform proposals: perversity, futility and jeopardy. In Hirschman's account, these objections define reactionary rhetoric. A proposal would be "perverse" if it would aggravate the very problem it is meant to solve; it would be "futile" if it would not even dent the problem; it would produce "jeopardy" if it would endanger some other goal or value (such as liberty or economic growth). The rhetoric of reaction comes from both left and right, though in Hirschman's account, it is a special favorite of the right. In recent years, the perversity, futility and jeopardy theses have often been invoked to challenge reforms, including nudges. While the three theses are sometimes supported by the evidence, they are often evidence-free speculations, confirming Hirschman's suggestion that the rhetoric of reaction has "a certain elementary sophistication and paradoxical quality that carry conviction for those who are in search of instant insights and utter certainties."


A comparative research on the impact of organic amendments on the soil characteristic and uptake of heavy metals, micro and macroelements of Odontarrhena chalcidica has been carried out. Experiments have been implemented in controlled conditions. The serpentine soil used in this experiment was sampled from the vicinity of the village Kazak, Bulgaria. The pot experiment was a randomized complete block design containing 9 treatments and three replications (27 pots). The treatments consisted of a control (no organic meliorants), and compost, vermicompost, biochar and activated carbon (added at 2.5% and 5.0%, respectively, recalculated based on dry soil weight). The application of organic additives to the soil influences the physicochemical properties and leads to an increase in organic matter and the content of macroelements (P, K, Ca and Mg) and trace elements (Fe, Mn, Zn) in the soil. The application of organic additives to the soil affects the uptake of Ni, micro and macroelements by Odontarrhena chalcidica. Plant biomass increased significantly, and there was a clear correlation between the amount of supplement applied and the increase in biomass. Organic additives had a positive effect on yield, influenced by the type of additive and dose. Ni yield was 3 times higher in the variants with 5% compost and 2.5% vermicompost input. The application of biochar resulted in a twofold decrease in Ni yield, while the application of activated carbon resulted in a marginal increase.


Objective:To describe the characteristics of hepatitis B (HBV) infection in HIV-infected patients and the impact of anti-HBV treatments. Patients and methods:All the patients with past or present chronic HBV infection seen in October 2005 in 17 French hospitals were included. Data were retrospectively collected from their first visit in a time-dependent manner, through a detailed standardized questionnaire. Results:Among 477 HBV-infected patients, 261 (55%) were co-infected with HIV. The HBV–HIV co-infected patients underwent fewer serological, virological and histological evaluations. Initial positive HBe antigenemia (HBe Ag) was more frequent in these patients (57.9 versus 28.6%; P < 10−4), as was cirrhosis on the initial liver biopsy (17.9 versus 7.6%; P = 0.05). Throughout the mean 5-year follow-up, HBe Ag loss was less frequent (P = 0.04), as was HBe seroconversion (incidence rate 2.6 versus 10/100 patient-years; P < 10−3). HBe Ag loss was associated with fibrosis improvement (METAVIR score −0.5 ± 0.4 versus +0.2 ± 0.6 if persistent positive HBe Ag, P = 0.01). In co-infected patients on tenofovir, adefovir or interferon, HBe seroconversions were seen in patients on combined HBV treatment, the use of which is increasing (58% in 2005). Nevertheless, no significant difference in virological, immunological or biochemical evolution was observed between these different treatments. Conclusions:In HBV–HIV co-infected patients, the assessment of HBV infection still needs to be improved, the HBV wild-type remains predominant, and HBe Ag loss is rare and associated with a better histological evolution. There is insufficient evidence of the superiority of combined HBV treatment, and this still needs be demonstrated in long term studies.


Research questions: What are the most dangerous threats organizations are exposed to when conducting in hostile environment? What are the initial impacts and the consequential effects? What are complex incidents? Which approach to mitigate the outcome of incidents is the most effective? Is the mixture of theory and experience crucial? Is there coherence between the crisis management industry's perception and their potential costumer's expectation? Is the developed approach verified by the crisis management industry's references and academic research? What are the recommendations for the clients "risk or security buyer". Methods: A multilateral approach, consisting of quantitative surveys and positivist qualitative interviews with experts offered the possibility to crosscheck the results of the questionnaire. Results: A holistic, flexible and modular crisis management approach allows companies to anticipate risks early, and mitigate them with suitable in-house solutions.


The global energy market is continuously changing due to changes in demand and fuel availability. Amongst the technologies considered as capable of fulfilling these future energy requirements, Photovoltaics (PV) are one of the most promising. Currently the majority of the PV market is fulfilled by crystalline Silicon (c-Si) solar cell technology, the so called 1st generation PV.
Although c-Si technology is well established there is still a lot to be done to fully exploit its potential. The cost of the devices, and their efficiencies, must be improved to allow PV to become the energy source of the future.
The surface of the c-Si device is one of the most important parts of the solar cell as the surface defines the electrical and the optical properties of the device. The surface is responsible for light reflection and charge carrier recombination. The standard surface finish is a thin film layer of silicon nitride deposited by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (PECVD).
In this thesis an alternative technique of coating preparation is presented. The HiTUS sputtering tool, utilising a remote plasma source, was used to deposit the surface coating. The remote plasma source is unique for solar cells application.
Sputtering is a versatile process allowing growth of different films by simply changing the target and/or the deposition atmosphere. Apart from silicon nitride, alternative materials to it were also investigated including: aluminium nitride (this was the first use of the material in solar cells) silicon carbide, and silicon carbonitride. All the materials were successfully used to prepare solar cells apart from the silicon carbide, which was not used due to too high a refractive index.
Screen printed solar cells with a silicon nitride coating deposited in HiTUS were prepared with an efficiency of 15.14%. The coating was deposited without the use of silane, a hazardous precursor used in the PECVD process, and without substrate heating. The elimination of both offers potential processing advantages.
By applying substrate heating it was found possible to improve the surface passivation and thus improve the spectral response of the solar cell for short wavelengths.
These results show that HiTUS can deposit good quality ARC for silicon solar cells. It offers optical improvement of the ARC s properties, compared to an industrial standard, by using the DL-ARC high/low refractive index coating. This coating, unlike the silicon nitride silica stack, is applicable to encapsulated cells. The surface passivation levels obtained allowed a good blue current response.


Malaria remains a serious global public health prob lem and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in sub Saharan Africa. In Zambia the disease is endemic with stable transmission, accounting for 40% of all o ut-patient attendances and is responsible for 20% deaths among children under five. Scaling up of scientifically proven high impact preventive, curative and supportive interven tions and deploying the three-ones strategy: one co ordinating mechanism; one implementation plan and one monitoring plan which is key for increased and successful p ublicprivate sector partner coordination, strengthening and mobilization. There has been marked impact in the reduction of the annual number of malaria deaths by over 60% and malaria cases by 66% (2000-2008), underfive malaria deaths by 41% (2006-2008), parasite pr evalence among children under five from 22 to16% in 2010 and severe anemia rates in children by 56% (2006-2010). Intermittent presumptive treatment in pregnanc y uptake has reached the RBM target at 86%. With these achievements, the country has surpassed targets set by: (i) the Abuja Declaration and (ii) the RBM of reducing the global malaria burden by 50% by 2010. The achievements can be attributed to increased advocacy, communication and behaviour change, efficient partnership coo rdination including strong community engagement, increased financial resources and evidence-based deployment of key technical interventions in accordance with the nati onal malaria control programme policy and strategic direction. Maintaining the momentum and the gains is critical as the programme strives to achieve universal cover age of evidence-based and proven interventions. The country offers some unique models and experiences that could really benefit other programmes in the region. Community-level integrated entomological and active cas e surveillance, prompt effective treatment and sustai ned high levels of contemporary malaria prevention tools is pivotal to the long-term success of malaria control and future malaria elimination. However, there is great need for sustained, predictable, regular resources and broadening the partnership base. To ensure sustain ability, Government needs to remain on the driving seat and committed to malaria control in terms of funding.


Introduction Symptomatic ectopic lingual thyroid is a rare condition. The purpose of our work is to demonstrate the importance of an accurate clinical, biological and radiological evaluation, in order to decide when and how to treat. Case presentation A 55 year old male patient with no history of dysthyroidism presented in outpatient clinic for the management of intermittent episodes of mouth bleeding complicated with anemia. The nasopharyngoscopy revealed a thyroid-looking lump at the base of the tongue, pushing down the epiglottis. Thyroid stimulating hormone was slightly elevated. Technetium-99m scintigraphy and ultrasonography confirmed the absence of thyroid tissue in normal position. CT scan showed a 38x32x16 mm mass, vascularized by a single ectopic artery coming from the right external carotid artery. After 4 years of suppressive medical therapy, a surgical excision was realized with a cervical approach. Safe vascular control of the ectopic gland was guaranteed by CT angiography. Conclusion Surgical management of ectopic lingual thyroid is often decided after medical treatment's failure. It requires a precise radiological evaluation, including a CT angiography, looking for an ectopic vascularization and helping to choose the safest surgical approach.


Labour markets in the EU have been profoundly changed. Recently, unemployment rates have declined due to the economic recovery. The economic growth that Europe has been enjoying is extremely labour-intensive. Statistical data show that unemployment has been falling for several consecutive years. Labour markets of the former Eastern European countries are attractive for investors for their skilled labour and low cost of labour. Nevertheless, there are processes and phenomena occurring which can have damaging consequences to the labour markets. The present study compares current trends in the Slovak and Lithuanian labour market. Since the existing analyses usually address economic situation in the V4 countries, Baltic countries or compare their performance with developed EU countries, the originality of the paper lies in comparing the selected economic indicators on the Slovak and Lithuanian labour markets. The purpose of the study is to analyse and compare selected macroeconomic indicators of individual countries, to find paradigms of development on the labour market and to predict development forecasts in individual macroeconomic indicators. The authors' research revealed that long-term sustainable growth in the labour market is secured in both countries, based on the analysis of the development of indicators affecting the labour market. A polynomial model and the moving average model are used for the analysis. The arrival of the new crisis could stop this growth, but the countries have learned from the last crisis. Therefore, they are gradually making decisions to alleviate the consequences.


The study used the partial least squares (PLS) tool to examine job-related factors influencing protean career behaviour among employees. It also measures the impact of career strategies as a moderator in protean career relationships. Quantitative data was collected from 306 full time employees in the Malaysia. Statistical results confirm that job autonomy and job feedback (i.e., job-related factor) have significant impact on protean career. Job-related variables are viewed as potential predictors of protean career. However, there is no significant moderating effect of career strategies on the relationship between job autonomy and job feedback and protean career. Findings are useful for HRD practitioners to develop relevant HRD interventions to assist individuals and organisations towards protean career behaviour development. Limitations and suggestions for future research are also included.


A computational investigation of aerodynamic characteristics of model counter-rotating fan with BPR=20, developed in CIAM in the framework of European Project COBRA (Innovative Counter rotating fan system for high Bypass Ratio Aircraft engine), is presented in the work. Unsteady nature of the flow in counter-rotating fan has been studied including analysis of rotor-rotor interaction intensity and unsteady viscous wakes propagation through the axial gap and second rotor blade passages. The results of numerical investigation of the fan tone noise in approach operational conditions are also presented. The acoustic calculations were performed using in-house CIAM aeroacoustic code 3DAS. Directivity diagrams for the first 16 harmonics of tone noise in the forward hemisphere, obtained in the calculation, are shown. Comparison between these results and analogous results for model HBR counter-rotating fan with BPR=10 (designed in VITAL project) is performed. Additionally results were compared with experimental results for HBR fan.


The ecophysiological characteristics of fig (Ficus carica, L.) trees, growing with maximum activity during the hot and dry summer, were studied in relation to growth, carbon partitioning, nutrient balance and water use. The initiation of growth was dependent on carbohydrate reserves (estimated usage = 62% ). The trees enhanced their short growth span by rapid increase in leaf area associated with high photosynthetic rate early in the season, allowing a storage of 20% of net assimilate produced for latter use. High net primary production (3200 kgDM ha-') was the result of a high relative growth rate. About 46% of this production contributes to ligneous structure of the agroecosystem. Fig trees exhibited a positive nitrogen balance, among other nutrients, as a result of withdrawing nutrients prior to leaf abscision except for the excess calcium which is removed through litter. However, large quantities of resources are harvested within fruits, hence fertilizer application is essential for maintenance of yield. Although fig trees exhibited efficient water uptake and water use capacities, yet supplementary irrigation in years of below average rainfall is also important to maintain the relatively high transpiration rate and high annual water output.


The calculation of minimum energy paths for transitions such as atomic and/or spin re-arrangements is an important task in many contexts and can often be used to determine the mechanism and rate of transitions. An important challenge is to reduce the computational effort in such calculations, especially when ab initio or electron density functional calculations are used to evaluate the energy since they can require large computational effort. Gaussian process regression is used here to reduce significantly the number of energy evaluations needed to find minimum energy paths of atomic rearrangements. By using results of previous calculations to construct an approximate energy surface and then converge to the minimum energy path on that surface in each Gaussian process iteration, the number of energy evaluations is reduced significantly as compared with regular nudged elastic band calculations. For a test problem involving rearrangements of a heptamer island on a crystal surface, the number of energy evaluations is reduced to less than a fifth. The scaling of the computational effort with the number of degrees of freedom as well as various possible further improvements to this approach are discussed.


In the case to be presented, a cyst as large as a hen's egg was situated on the greater curvature of the stomach near the pylorus, causing symptoms of pyloric obstruction. The rarity of this anomaly justifies this report. A review of the literature reveals only 1 report of a case of congenital cyst of the stomach; this was presented by Lyon. 1 He stated that an infant 3 weeks of age with a history of vomiting from birth had a large, freely movable mass in the upper part of the abdomen. Operation revealed a cyst, measuring 3½ by 2½ inches (8.9 by 6.3 cm.), on the greater curvature of the stomach, extending over the pylorus. The report is brief, and no detailed data are given of the histologic characteristics of the wall of the cyst. Chemical examination of the contents of the cyst was not reported, although aspiration was


ABSTRAC:
Notetaking during lectures has been mainly investigated using an input-output
procedure where particular subject variables are related first to notes-asproduct,
then to comprehension test scores. In contrast, the purpose of this
thesis was to look at notetaking as a process rather than a product and to discover
factors that influence the process.
The first, orienting study took a fairly traditional approach of training students
in the use of two strategies -summarizing and networking- hypothesized to improve
notetaking activity. Training was administered for a period of six weeks.
Results indicated a main effect for mathematical ability but not for training.
Differences in mean scores for training methods were non significant and not in
the hypothesized direction'fnetworking > summarizing> control.
The next study was a first-approximation to a true processing analysis.
Students' self-estimates of prior knowledge, as well as the volume of their
notetaking were linked to strategic and tactical processing variables such as
whether lecture material was written down as heard or translated into own
terms; whether they wrote only important points, and so on. This pattern was
then further related to self-estimates of lecture comprehension. The pattern of
relationship among processes, and between these processes, note volume and
comprehension varied with differing amounts of prior knowledge and with language
ability.
The third study was more ambitious in its approach to processing variables.
A videotaped lecture was segmented into idea units with a pause between each
unit. For each segment, students took notes as well as recording their understanding
of it. A regression model for the data shows that while self-estimated
prior knowledge appeared related to outcome variables (e.g. comprehension),
2
it did not relate to understanding of the lecture as it was being delivered.
A more detailed analysis by segments revealed that notes reflected the status
of transmitted information with regard to importance and the level of understanding
achieved for specific pieces of information. Mean lecture comprehension
accounted for the largest percentage of variance in the number of words in
notes.
Findings are discussed with respect to contemporary theories of note taking and
comprehension. A cognitive model of notetaking detailing how the various
processes are instantiated and related is also offered.


This study assessed the potential impacts on grower profits when the crop load management is not optimal. We used a hedonic pricing model to estimate the relationship between 'Honeycrisp' apple (Malus ·domestica) quantities and prices by size category. This information was used to assess potential changes in grower returns as the grower shifts production toward certain size fruit. A grower would realize a loss of $5332/acre if production of size 48 to 88 count per 40-lb box decreased by 5% and size 100 to 163 count/box increased by 5% compared with current 'Honeycrisp' size distribution. In addition, we used experimental auctions to estimate consumers' willingness-to-pay (WTP) for 'Honeycrisp' quality characteristics. Apple consumers, in this study, were willing to pay an average of $0.12/lb more for a one-unit increase in soluble solids concentration. A $0.12/lb discount for a decrease in soluble solids content (SSC) would represent a $1362/acre loss. Optimal sizes and SSC estimated in this study are linked with crop loads no larger than seven fruit/cm trunk cross-sectional area under Washington state growing conditions. Given the increasing popularity of 'Honeycrisp', growers and allied industries should be aware of the importance of preserving the quality of this cultivar to maintain price premiums and thus profit margins.


Objective: To determine the prevalence of upper extremity pain among traffic police of the Lahore, Pakistan.
Methodology: In this cross-sectional survey, data of 384 subjects was collected through a convenient sampling technique via self-structured questionnaire. Those participants were included in the study who were working more than 11 hours a day. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 21.
Results: A total of 384 subjects were in the study. Ages were between 30 to 40 years (mean 33± 2.86). Out of 384, 253(66%) were right-handed.263 (69%) had upper extremity pain and 206(54%) had radiating pain to the other regions. They showed 3-point degree pain on visual analogue scale (VAS).
Conclusion: We conclude that 69% who were aged between 30 to 40 years had upper extremity pain.


[1] The advance of morphodynamics research into new areas has led to a proliferation of forms of sediment mass balance equation. Without a general equation it is often difficult to know what these problem-specific versions of sediment mass balance leave out. To address this, we derive a general form of the standard Exner equation for sediment mass balance that includes effects of tectonic uplift and subsidence, soil formation and creep, compaction, and chemical precipitation and dissolution. The complete equation, (17), allows for independent evolution of two critical interfaces: that between bedrock and sediment or soil and that between sediment and flow. By eliminating terms from the general equation it is straightforward to derive mass balance equations applicable to a wide range of problems such as short-term bed evolution, basin evolution, bedrock uplift and soil formation, and carbonate precipitation and transport. Dropping terms makes explicit what is not being considered in a given problem and can be done by inspection or by a formal scaling analysis of the terms. Scaling analysis leads directly to dimensionless numbers that measure the relative importance of terms in the equation, for example, the relative influence of spatial versus temporal changes in sediment load on bed evolution. Combining scaling analysis with time averaging shows how the relative importance of terms in the equation can change with timescale; for example, the term representing bed evolution due to temporal change in sediment load tends to zero as timescale increases.


Solar flares are an abrupt release of magnetic energy in the Sun's atmosphere due to reconnection of the coronal magnetic field. This occurs in response to turbulent flows at the photosphere that twist the coronal field. Similar to earthquakes, solar flares represent the behavior of a complex system, and expectedly their energy distribution follows a power law. We present a statistical model based on the principle of minimum energy in a coronal loop undergoing magnetic reconnection, which is described as an avalanche process. We show that the distribution of peaks for the flaring events in this self-organized critical system is scale-free. The obtained power-law index of 1.84 ± 0.02 for the peaks is in good agreement with satellite observations of soft X-ray flares. The principle of minimum energy can be applied for general avalanche models to describe many other phenomena.


Visual stabilization of posture is known to improve when the distance to target fixation decreases; this is attributed to increased angular size of retinal slip induced by body sway. At near distance, however, the eyes converge and efferent or afferent oculomotor sig- nals could also be involved in posture stabilization. The goal of this study is to test whether the distance effect exists for both young and elderly and to test the role of vergence itself and of gaze position. Eighteen young (25.3 years) and 17 elderly (61.6 years) subjects were asked to fixate a target in quiet stance presented either at close (40 cm) or at far distance (200 cm); the vergence angle was 9 and 2, respectively. For each distance, three gaze positions were studied straight-ahead (0), 15 up or down. We found a decrease in the surface of center of pressure (CoP), of standard deviation of an- tero-posterior and lateral body sway and of speed var- iance at near distance that occurs for both young and elderly. At far distance, the surface of CoP is smaller for 15 up or down gaze in comparison with straight-ahead position, but at near distance there is no such gaze po- sition effect. In an additional experiment, subjects fix- ated a target at far distance (200 cm) but prisms were used to cause the eyes to converge by an amount similar to that required for 40 cm viewing distance. The use of prisms decreased surface of CoP to values similar to those for natural near viewing distance. The effect of gaze position and of convergence (experiment with prisms) leads us to suggest that in addition to retinal slip, the ocular motor signals and perhaps related neck muscle activity are involved in postural stabilization. Finally, the elderly presented higher speed variance of CoP than the young subjects even though the surface itself was similar to adult values. We suggest that increment of speed variance is the first sign of senes- cence in postural control.


Typhoid fever, which is caused by Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhi ( S . Typhi) is an exclusively human enterically transmitted, range from mild gastroenteritis to severe systemic disease and spread by the fecal-oral route via contaminated food and water.In current study done production of polysaccharide typhoid vaccine against typhoid fever from local strain ( S . Typhi). Identification of S. Typhi (local strain) by traditional methods of diagnosis as microscopic examination and biochemical tests as Api20E system diagnosis, Vitek-2 and serological test .All confirmed the identity of the bacteria belonging to the Salmonella Typhi. In current study, polysaccharide was used as immunogen to production typhoid vaccine from local strain and evaluation these vaccine biological, chemical, physical and Immunological with Commercial vaccine and comparative the results, the results of biological test as sterility, safety and pyrogenicity test were conforms. A result of chemical test (phenol content and residual formalin) by using HPLC and GC, PH value and protein content were safety side comparative WHO protocol. On the other hand, the results of physical test present particles size of local typhoid vaccine was less than Com. V. the particle, the smaller the particle size of vaccine supports the immune response increased immunization. The result Immunological test by ELISA was showed that the titration of  PS V. local strain group was high immune response and  significantly differences  (P<0.5) in the sera of treated guinea pigs between first and booster dose, control group was Non-significant. The result of cellular immune response that present in total white blood corpuscles (WBCs) count  showed no significant different of Com. Vaccine and control group between first and booster dose but, there significant different (P<0.05) of PS vaccine between first and booster dose. In challenge test the result was showed 80% and 70% ratio protected in PS and Com groups vaccines respectively and resisted with the virulent enhance challenge exposure against S . Typhi organism after give 100LD50 dose (10 8 ) to those animal.In conclusion, can reproduction of Iraqi typhoid vaccine (Killed vaccine) that was produced in VIS and stopped since 2003 by using new vaccine that recommended by WHO for humane immunization against typhoid fever, also possibility use of method evaluation for evaluates commercial typhoid vaccine. Keywords: (HPLC) High-performance liquid chromatography, (GC)gas chromatography.


Introduction: Bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody, was FDA approved in 2009 for progressive glioblastoma. Phase II clinical trials suggested an increased risk of ischemic stroke (IS) and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) while on bevacizumab. The incidence, clinical characteristics, and neuroimaging of glioma patients who developed cerebrovascular events while on treatment is lacking. We report our experience using bevacizumab for glioma patients. Methods: A retrospective review of glioma patients treated with bevacizumab at our institution from July 2005 to June 2011 was studied. Patients with MRI-confirmed IS and/or ICH while on bevacizumab was investigated and compared to historical data. Patient demographics, vascular risk factors, clinical presentations, tumor characteristics, treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation), and treatment duration were collected. Results: A total of 162 patients (65% male) received bevacizumab and 23 (14%) developed a cerebrovascular event while on treatment, with 3 (2%) IS and 20 (12%) ICH. All IS and ICH patients received prior brain radiation. In the IS group, 2 (66%) patients were symptomatic, with 1 (33%) cardiembolic and 2 (66%) lacunar strokes. None had risk factors besides hypercoagulable state from malignancy. In the ICH group, 3 (15%) patients had a symptomatic bleed and 6 (30%) had associated hypertension. All ICHs were intratumoral and 16 (80%) associated with tumor progression. Median survival after stroke was 9.8 and 3.7 months in the IS and ICH groups, respectively. Length of bevacizumab treatment was not significantly associated with development of IS ( p = 0.6) and ICH ( p = 0.3). Conclusion: Glioma patients have an inherently elevated risk of IS and ICH because of disease- and treatment-related effects. In our study, 78% of the events were asymptomatic and diagnosed on serial imaging. ICHs were more common, but all were small intratumoral bleeds, mostly in the setting of tumor progression. Development of cerebrovascular events was not associated with the duration of bevacizumab treatment. Our study, however, cannot determine causality and randomized controlled studies are needed to determine the risk of IS and ICH with bevacizumab use.


The literature suggests that when taking tax effects into account, debt ought to be preferable to equity. Thus, with all else being equal, levered firms are expected to show higher firm values. However, there are no uniform predictions of the size of this tax benefit from interest deductibility nor on the effect of changes in interest deductibility. We believe that the German corporate tax reform in 2008, which introduced an interest barrier, can serve as a promising "quasi-experiment" to investigate the effects from a reform of interest deductibility. A study of this reform on the basis of German financial statement data is of general interest because, first, similar interest barriers have been introduced in several countries and proposed by the OECD to fight BEPS. Second, the major characteristics of the German tax system can be regarded as representative for most European and major Asian countries. Third, single entity financial statements for German companies allows us to capture tax and capital structure details that have not been available in most prior studies. With significance at the 5% level, we find evidence that the companies that are affected by the interest barrier reduce their leverage by 4.7 percentage points more than companies that are not affected by the interest barrier. We are the first to employ a detailed matching approach to the underlying rich dataset, which enables us to overcome several limitations of previous studies. Our results imply that capital structure reactions most likely have been underestimated in previous studies. JEL Classification: F34, H21, H24


High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen has gained popularity in treating children with bronchiolitis, although data are scant. A systematic review of HFNC compared with standard oxygen therapy or nasal continuous positive pressure ventilation (CPAP) found nine randomised controlled trials (2121 children). HFNC was not significantly different from standard oxygen or CPAP in terms of length of hospital stay, length of oxygen supplementation, need for intubation or intensive care and adverse events. HFNC halved the incidence of treatment failure (need for escalation of treatment) compared with standard oxygen therapy (risk ratio = 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.40–0.62), but HFNC was more likely to lead to treatment failure than CPAP (Relative Risk = 1.61, 95% confidence interval 1.06–2.42). In lowand middle-income countries, HFNC was associated with reduced length of stay compared with standard therapy. HFNC is less invasive than CPAP and can be a useful intervention for babies who need more than standard oxygen treatment but do not yet need CPAP or more invasive ventilation.


Liquid of viscosity $\mu$ moves slowly through a cylindrical tube of radius $R$ under the action of a pressure gradient. An immiscible force-free drop having viscosity $\lambda\mu$ almost fills the tube; surface tension between the liquids is $\gamma$. The drop moves relative to the tube walls with steady velocity $U$, so that both the capillary number ${\hbox{\it Ca}}\,{=}\,\mu U/\gamma$ and the Reynolds number are small. A thin film of uniform thickness $\epsilon R$ is formed between the drop and the wall. It is shown that Bretherton's (1961) scaling $\epsilon\propto{\hbox{\it Ca}}^{{2}/{3}}$ is appropriate for all values of $\lambda$, but with a coefficient of order unity that depends weakly on both $\lambda$ and ${\hbox{\it Ca}}$. The coefficient is determined using lubrication theory for the thin film coupled to a novel two-dimensional boundary-integral representation of the internal flow. It is found that as $\lambda$ increases from zero, the film thickness increases by a factor $4^{{2}/{3}}$ to a plateau value when ${\hbox{\it Ca}}^{-{1}/{3}}\,{\ll}\,\lambda\,{\ll}\,{\hbox{\it Ca}}^{-{2}/{3}}$ and then falls by a factor $2^{{2}/{3}}$ as $\lambda\,{\rightarrow}\,\infty$. The multi-region asymptotic structure of the flow is also discussed.


Dr Huth has prepared the best style guide ever made available to people who write or edit medical journal articles. So much of what he offers is also of daily use and interest to people who write or edit medical books that I would proclaim Medical Style and Format to be the standard reference for people who work in any capacity with medical writing— any capacity , including the proofreading capacity and the composition capacity and the electronic transmission and retrieval capacity. There is not much the author has neglected to cover: how to write a citation for a map or computer program or abbreviate the reaches of time from s to y . There are useful sections on academic degrees and on how to divide words and spell words. I am happy to have authority for foramens and for rejecting and/or ("a lazy legalism") and to be freed forever of small


We present an analytical solution for the phase introduced by a phase-only spatial light modulator to generate far-field phase and amplitude distributions within a domain of interest. The solution is demonstrated experimentally and shown to enable excellent control of the far-field amplitude and phase.


The time-reversed reaction 15O(2p, γ)17Ne has been studied by the Coulomb dissociation technique. Secondary 17Ne ion beams at 500 AMeV have been produced by fragmentation reactions of 20Ne in a beryllium production target and dissociated on a secondary Pb target. The incoming beam and the reaction products have been identified with the kinematically complete LAND-R3B experimental setup at GSI. The excitation energy prior to decay has been reconstructed by using the invariant-mass method. The preliminary differential and integral Coulomb Dissociation cross sections (σCoul) have been calculated, which provide a photoabsorption (σphoto) and a radiative capture cross section (σcap). Additionally, important information about the nuclear structure of the 17Ne nucleus will be obtained. The analysis is in progress.


Using the example of metal theft in the United Kingdom, this study used mixed methods to evaluate the accuracy of police estimates of the involvement of organized crime groups (OCGs) in crime. Police estimate that 20–30 per cent of metal theft is committed by OCGs, but this study found that only 0.5 per cent of metal thieves had previous convictions for offences related to OCGs, that only 1.3 per cent were linked to OCGs by intelligence information, that metal thieves typically offended close to their homes and that almost no metal thefts involved sophisticated offence methods. It appears that police may over-estimate the involvement of OCGs in some types of crime. The reasons for and consequences of this over-estimation are discussed.


Abstract The Niger Delta is one of the World's largest Tertiary delta systems and an extremely prolific hydrocarbon province. It is situated on the West African continental margin at the apex of the Gulf of Guinea, which formed the site of a triple junction during continental break-up in the Cretaceous. Throughout its history, the delta has been fed by the Niger, Benue and Cross rivers, which between them drain more than 106 km2 of continental lowland savannah. Its present morphology is that of a wave-dominated delta, with a smoothly seaward-convex coastline traversed by distributary channels. From apex to coast the subaerial portion stretches more than 300 km, covering an area of 75 000 km2. Below the Gulf of Guinea, two enormous lobes protrude a further 250 km into deeper waters. The delta sequence comprises an upward-coarsening regressive association of Tertiary clastics up to 12 km thick. It is informally divided into three gross lithofacies: (i) marine claystones and shales of unknown thickness, at the base; (ii) alternations of sandstones, silstones and claystones, in which the sand percentage increases upwards; (iii) alluvial sands, at the top. Delta structure and stratigraphy are intimately related, the development of each being dependant on the interplay between sediment supply and subsidence rates. The dominant subsurface structures are syn- and post- sedimentary listric normal faults which affect the main delta sequence. They die out upwards into the alluvial sands and sole out at depth near the top of the marine claystones. Major growth-fault trends cross the delta from northwest to southeast, dividing it into a number of structural and stratigraphic belts, called depobelts, which become younger towards the south. The deltaic sequence in each of these depobelts is distinct in age, so that they actually represent successive phases in the delta's history. Hydrocarbons have been located in all of the depobelts of the Niger Delta, in good quality sandstone reservoirs belonging to the main deltaic sequence (the 'paralic sequence' of common usage). Most of the larger accumulations occur in roll-over anticlines in the hanging-walls of growth faults, where they may be trapped in either dip or fault closures. In the 30 or 50 years since the first discoveries were made, approximately 4 × 109 m3 of oil and an unestablished, but very substantial quantity of associated and unassociated gas have been discovered. Most fields are small, ranging up to 50 × 106 m3, though several larger fields contain recoverable reserves in excess of 80 × 106 m3. The hydrocarbons are found in multiple pay sands with relatively short columns, and adjacent fault blocks usually have independent accumulations.


It is a statistical fact of life that two-thirds of the law students who enter law school will not graduate in the upper one-third of their law school class. Typically, those students are disappointed in their examination grade results and in their class standing. Nowhere does this disappointment manifest itself more than in their attitude toward their classes. In the fall semester of their first year, students are eager, excited, and willing to participate in class discussion. But after they receive their first semester grade results, many students withdraw from the learning process - they are depressed and disengaged. They suffer a significant loss of self-esteem. This article considers whether law professors should prepare their students for the disappointing results - the poor grades - that many are certain to receive. I assert that professors do indeed have a role to play - in fact, a duty to their students - to confront this problem. I offer a strategy by which professors can acknowledge students' pre-examination anxiety and deal constructively with their impending disappointment. There are lessons to be learned from Casey at the Bat, Ernest Lawrence Thayer's immortal poem about failure.


Now, security of network is threaten from double layers inside and outside network, the inherent defect of firewall technology makes the intrusion detection and network traffic analysis as the main means of defense, aiding firewall. Now network intrusion detection have problem of higher false alarm rate, we apply the data warehouse and the data mining in intrusion detection and the technology of network traffic monitoring and analysis, propose a new model of intrusion detection based on the data warehouse and the data mining. The experimental result indicates this model can find effectively many kinds behavior of network intrusion and have higher intelligence and environment accommodation.


For the last 35 years, the business strategy of corporate America has been to equate infor mation services (IS) spending with business growth, increased re\'enue, and overall business success. This logic was based on the premise that productivity gains can be realized through efficient and effective delivery of business transactions and decision support. Yet, after signifi cant financial resources have been invested in IS technology, the relationship between IS in vestments and business outcomes is still supported largely with anecdotal evidence and pro ductivity measurements that mainly emphasize technical benchmarks. Such productivity criteria as volume throughput, shorter response time, and decreased processing costs, while useful measurements, do not capture or assess the newer value-added services that drive business in the 1990s. In a downturned economy, financial investments at all levels are questioned and there is a need to demonstrate a payback in terms of quality management, reduced risk and the ability to respond to rapidly changing customer needs. This paper analyzes both traditional benchmarks and new methodologies of IS productivity and investment payback.


Rosetta is one of the leading algorithms for protein structure prediction today. It is a Monte Carlo energy minimization method requiring many random restarts to find structures with low energy. In this paper we present a resampling technique for structure prediction of small alpha/beta proteins using Rosetta. From an initial round of Rosetta sampling, we learn properties of the energy landscape that guide a subsequent round of sampling toward lower-energy structures. Rather than attempt to fit the full energy landscape, we use feature selection methods—both L1-regularized linear regression and decision trees—to identify structural features that give rise to low energy. We then enrich these structural features in the second sampling round. Results are presented across a benchmark set of nine small alpha/beta proteins demonstrating that our methods seldom impair, and frequently improve, Rosetta's performance.


The image matching recognition method of phase correlation is based on the shift characteristics of the Fourier transform. The traditional image matching recognition algorithm has significant influence of the template size upon its matching accuracy and has weak resilience to noises except for the gauss noise. Addressing these shortcomings, we proposed a multi-scale matching recognition method based on phase correlation, combined with wavelet transform and edge detection. The algorithm, processed the reference image and the template image in different scales with such steps: decomposition, denoising, reconstruction, edge detection and the Fourier transform, phase correlation. Hence, it overcome the dependence upon template size effectively and improve the reliability and the resilience of various noises. Finally, we verified the algorithm with a real ground shooting image as the reference image and an intercepted part as the template image. The results have shown that the proposed approach is better than the traditional image matching method.


During the last century wheat landraces were replaced by modern wheat cultivars leading to a gradual process of genetic erosion. Landraces genotyping and phenotyping are strategically useful, as they could broaden the genetic base of modern cultivars. In this research, we explored Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers diversity in a collection of common and durum wheats, including both landraces and Italian elite cultivars. A panel of 6,872 SNP markers was used to analyze the genetic variability among the accessions, using both the Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and the Neighbour Joining clustering method. PCA analysis separated common wheat accessions from durum ones, and allowed to group separately durum landraces from durum elite cultivars. The Neighbour joining clustering validated PCA results, and moreover, separated common wheat landraces from common elite cultivars. The clustering results demonstrated that Italian durum landraces were poorly exploited in modern breeding programs. Combining cluster results with heterozygosity levels observed, it was possible to clarify synonymy and homonymy cases identified for Bianchetta, Risciola, Saragolla, Timilia and Dauno III accessions. The SNP panel was also used to detect the minimum number of markers to discriminate the studied accessions. A set of 33 SNPs were found to be highly informative and used for a molecular barcode, which could be useful for cultivar identification and for the traceability of wheat end-products.


We develop an iterative, hillclimbing-based assignment algorithm for the approximate solution of discrete-parameter cost minimization problems defined on the pixel sites of an image. While the method is applicable to a number of problems including encoding, decoding, and segmentation, this article focuses on entropy-constrained encoding. For typical statistical image models, the globally optimal solution requires an intractable exhaustive search, while standard greedy methods, though tractable in computation, may be quite suboptimal. Alternatively, our method is guaranteed to perform no worse (and typically performs significantly better) than greedy encoding, yet with manageable increases in complexity. The new approach uses dynamic programming as a local optimization "step," repeatedly applied to the rows (or columns) of the image, until convergence. For a DCT framework, with entropy-constrained TCQ applied to the coefficient sources, the new method gains as much as 0.8 dB over standard greedy encoding.


Abstract Background: Epidemiological data suggests for every 1% reduction in LDL-C there is a corresponding 1–1.5% reduction in cardiovascular events (CVEs). Additionally, for every 2–3% increase in HDL-C there is a reduction in CVEs by 2–4% that is independent of LDL-C. With numerous treatment options for managing dyslipidemia, it is important to evaluate agents that result in the greatest reduction of CVEs. Objective: To compare current high-potency dyslipidemia pharmacotherapy with respect to changes in LDL-C and HDL-C and estimate risk reductions for CVEs. Methods: This study is an analysis of existing published studies for dyslipidemia products marketed in the US. Literature searches were conducted using Medline, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Embase, and CINAH to identify trials for niacin extended-release and lovastatin (NER/L); niacin extended-release and simvastatin (NER/S); rosuvastatin (R); and, ezetimibe/simvastatin (E/S) from database inception to 1 May 2009. Demographics and changes from baseline in LDL-C and HDL-C were abstracted and HDL-C to LDL-C change (%Δ-lipids) was created for each therapy. Using a previously validated model the percent reduction in CVEs was estimated for each treatment strategy. Results: Data for 177 treatment arms (120 unique reports), accounting for drug and dose were abstracted. The range in mean ± SD %Δ-lipids depending on drug dose was: E/S, 58 ± 6 to 67 ± 3; R, 51 ± 5 to 65 ± 5; NER/L, 33 ± 7 to 75 ± 7; and NER/S, 48 to 77 ± 4. Risk reductions were greatest for NER/statin combinations, with percent risk reductions greater than 77% for NER/S, 2000 mg/10 mg and 83% NER/S, 2000 mg/40 mg. Ignoring medication strengths, reductions in CVEs ranged from 58% for R, 60% for E/S, 61% for NER/L, and 72% for NER/S. Limitations: There are several potential limitations associated with this study including: publication bias, English only search, limited published studies with NER in combination with L or S, adherent populations, and aggregation of multiple populations. Conclusion: The results of the analysis suggest that greater risk reductions in CVEs occur with combination therapies, especially those including niacin extended-release (NER). Up to an 83% risk reduction was estimated for the highest doses of NER and simvastatin (NER/S).


Background: Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) plays an important role in health-care delivery and radiation safety of patients. This study was carried out as part of a comprehensive project to establish DRLs for the radiological examinations for the first time in North Eastern Nigeria. Objective of the Study: The aim is to establish DRL for mammography examination in North Eastern Nigeria and to compare it with other established works. Materials and Methods: This study is a prospective cross-sectional study conducted in two university teaching hospitals in North Eastern Nigeria. Sixty patients were recruited for the study. Thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) chips were exposed for craniocaudal (CC) and mediolateral examinations to record the entrance skin dose (ESD). TLD readings were obtained at the Center for Energy Research and Training Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Dance formula was used to convert ESD to mean glandular dose (MGD). Student's t-test was used to determine the relationship between the mean ESD obtained in the two centers and Pearson's correlation was used to determine the relationship between the MGD and anthropotechnical parameters. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The total MGD for this study was 0.31 ± 0.05 mGy and 0.69 ± 0.11 mGy for CC and mediolateral oblique (MLO), respectively. DRL was 0.63 mGy and 1.04 mGy for CC and MLO, respectively. There was no statistically significant relationship (P > 0.05) between the MGD and anthropotechnical parameters. The DRL in this work were higher when compared with international established work. Conclusion: There is need for optimization of our radiology practice in North Eastern Nigeria and most centers in Nigeria.


This paper presents an augmented reality system using audio as the primary interface. Using the authoring component of this system, individuals can leave "audio imprints," consisting of several layers of music, sound effects, or recorded voice, at a location outdoors. Using the navigation component, individuals can hear imprints by walking into the area that the imprint occupies. Furthermore, imprints can be linked together, whereby an individual is directed from one imprint to related imprints in the area.


The cultivation of crops with novel traits could interfere with ecosystem services delivered by arthropods through bottom-up effects. Here we tested the hypothesis that a vitamin enriched maize (CarolightR) is similar in terms of plant-arthropod interactions to its wild type when compared in controlled environment and under field conditions. In order to assess the robustness of their equivalence we tested two nitrogen availability regimes. We used arthropod field abundance, the behavior and fitness of a keystone maize herbivore - the leafhopper Zyginidia scutellaris - and above ground chemistry of maize plants (volatile, hormone and metabolite profiling) as indicators of potential changes in plant-insect interactions. Nitrogen availability was the key driver of herbivore abundance and behavior, and determined direct and indirect chemical defense in maize plants. Both genotypes presented similar constitutive and inducible phytohormone profiles independently of the nitrogen regime. However, feeding by the herbivore suppressed the levels of JA-Ile and JA, without impairing the release of induced plant volatiles. CarolightR and M37W differed to some degree in the concentrations of phenolics (hydroxycinnamic acids and lignans) and in the abundance of a volatile compound. Overall the effect of maize genotype on the herbivores was smaller than the effect of nitrogen fertilization. HIGHLIGHT We show the separate and interactive effects of nitrogen availability and genotype on the performance and behavior of a herbivore, and related these changes to constitutive and inducible maize defenses.


The complex traveltime solutions of the complex eikonal equation are the basis of inhomogeneous plane-wave seismic imaging methods, such as Gaussian beam migration and tomography. We have developed analytic approximations for the complex traveltime in transversely isotropic media with a titled symmetry axis, which is defined by a Taylor series expansion over the anisotropy parameters. The formulation for the complex traveltime is developed using perturbation theory and the complex point-source method. The real part of the complex traveltime describes the wavefront, and the imaginary part of the complex traveltime describes the decay of the amplitude of waves away from the central ray. We derive the linearized ordinary differential equations for the coefficients of the Taylor-series expansion using perturbation theory. The analytical solutions for the complex traveltimes are determined by applying the complex point-source method to the background traveltime formula and subsequently obtaining the coefficients from the linearized ordinary differential equations. We investigate the influence of the anisotropy parameters and of the initial width of the ray tube on the accuracy of the computed traveltimes. The analytical formulas, as outlined, are efficient methods for the computation of complex traveltimes from the complex eikonal equation. In addition, those formulas are also effective methods for benchmarking approximated solutions.


Background: A life-attenuated vaccine aimed at preventing herpes zoster (HZ) and its main complication, post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), will soon be available in Europe. The study's objective was to assess the clinical and economic impact of a vaccination program for adults aged 70-79 years in Switzerland. Results: A vaccination strategy compared to a no-vaccination resulted in lifetime incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of 25,538 CHF (23,646 USD) per QALY gained, 6,625 CHF (6,134 USD) per HZ case avoided, and 15,487 CHF (14,340 USD) per PHN3 case avoided under the third-party payer perspective. Sensitivity analyses showed that the model was most sensitive to the discount rates, HZ epidemiological data and vaccine price used. Methods: A Markov model, simulating the natural history of HZ and PHN and the lifetime effects of vaccination, previously developed for the UK was adapted to the Swiss context. The model includes several health states including good health, HZ, PHN, and death. HZ and PHN states reflected pain severity. Conclusion: The model predicts clinical and economic benefits of vaccination in the form of fewer HZ and PHN cases and reductions in healthcare resource use. ICERs were within the commonly accepted thresholds in Switzerland, indicating that a HZ vaccination program would be considered a cost-effective strategy in the Swiss setting.


The news that ended 2018 was that Ireland had the highest recorded number of people at work in the state's history, surpassing the previous peak during the Celtic Tiger. Combined with record economic growth and profit margins in many sectors that are surpassing their 2007 peaks and the picture looks like justifying the hyperbole of Paschal Donohoe, the Finance minister, who waxed lyrical about the new jobs figures: Behind each of these additional jobs ...is a human story: one of a jobseeker getting back on his/her feet, a household putting another salary on the table at the end of the week or the school leaver joining the jobs-market. Paschal Donohue If those new jobs repeat the pattern of the last 6 years of job growth, then an inordinate number of these "human stories" will be tales of low pay, low hours and precarious contracts with no prospect of a decent pension, paid sick leave or job security.


The High Level Architecture (HLA)—Framework and Rules is the capstone document for a family of related HLA standards. It defines the HLA, its components, and the rules that outline the responsibilities of HLA federates and federations to ensure a consistent implementation. Simulations are abstractions of the real world, and no one simulation can solve all of the functional needs for the modeling and simulation community. It is anticipated that technology advances will allow for new and different modeling and simulation (M&S) implementations within the framework of the HLA. The standards contained in this architecture are interrelated and need to be considered as a product set, as a change in one is likely to have an impact on the others. As such, the HLA is an integrated approach that has been developed to provide a common architecture for simulation.


Forest clearings can potentially be an important resource for pollinators. Land use history has previously been shown to be important for the number of species and individuals of butterflies in clearings, with a larger number where it historically was meadows, even after a generation of production forest. Plant species richness has also been shown to be influenced by land use history. In this study, pollinators were collected with pan traps on clear-cuts that had at least one generation of production forest, which in the 1870s was either meadow or forest. The results showed that there was no difference in species numbers and individual number between the two types of clear-cuts when it comes to Bombus spp, Syrphinae spp, Lepturinae spp, Cetoniidae spp and Trichius spp. The result is surprising because there is a greater frequency of herbs in clearings that previously had been meadow and the expectations was therefore that there should be more pollinators there. There are indications that the catchability when it comes to the pan trap method is inversely proportional to the floral richness, and the lack of differences could therefore be due to sampling bias.


This guide is intended for students in the Fall 2013 research seminar on Victorian Literature and Culture taught by Professor David Agruss


The aim of this study is to determine the rate of teachers' use of assessment and evaluation tools given in 2005 curriculum of Turkish language teaching. To this end; we presented a list of assessment and evaluation tools on the basis of random sampling to 216 teachers of Turkish who work in Ordu, Samsun, Ankara, Trabzon and Istanbul provinces. The obtained data were analyzed via SPSS 15.0. We observed that self-evaluation, portfolio, peer evaluation, rubric, control list and observation forms were not used properly. Although these methods are included in both teacher's copies and student workbooks, it is observed that they were not given enough credit by the teachers.


ABSTRACT Supporting individuals' progression into, and completion of post-compulsory education is a key strategic policy of the UK government. However, the number of learners withdrawing from Further Education (FE) prior to qualification completion has been highlighted as an area of concern within the UK. Consequently, we aimed to explore why learners withdraw from FE. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 85 learners who had withdrawn from a FE programme in Wales in the previous 24 months. Utilising thematic analysis through an abductive approach, we identified 318 individual meaning units that were categorised into three main themes for withdrawal: (a) personal; (b) course; and (c) institutional. Personal factors (e.g. social issues; physical health) were reported to be the most prevalent, with issues relating to mental health and well-being considered as the most influential cause for learner withdrawal (n= 57 participants highlighting this as a significant contributing reason). Linked to this, we highlighted the importance of learners being able to cope with the demands they experience and institutions satisfying learners' basic psychological needs as ways of promoting mental well-being and improving retention. Collectively, our findings offer insights into learner retention in FE and support the need for greater emphasis to be placed on facilitating successful learner transition into FE, the importance of improving perceptions of institutional belonging, and the need to promote mental health and well-being in learners as well as the characteristics that might support their abilities to cope.


PECVD hydrogenated Amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) layers have been deposited at high rates using helium dilution of the reacting precursors. This allows the fabrication of very thick layers (a few tens of microns) within reasonable processing times. This technique can be applied to the fabrication of thick p-i-n detector devices to be used for direct X-ray detection. Several p-i-n devices have been processed at deposition rates as high as 15 A/sec without significant changes in the optoelectronic properties of the a-Si:H films. Capacitance-Voltage measurements have been performed in order to measure the residual space charge density in the intrinsic region of the devices. The results demonstrate a moderate increase of the N * DoS concentration with the deposition rate. DC bias photoconductivity measurements have also been performed. The experimental data have been fitted with a multiple trapping transport model for holes. The model parameters have been studied and related to the electronic properties of the films.


Xanthium strumarium L. is a major weed affecting flour corn in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. Studies conducted in 2006 and 2007 evaluated corn yield and yield component responses to competition from X. strumarium over a range of corn populations (5, 7.5, 10, and 12.5 plants m-2) and X. strumarium densities (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 plants m-2). Flour corn yield and yield components (grains ear-1, 1000-grain weight, harvest index, and days to silking) were significantly correlated with and affected by corn population, weed density, and the interaction between them. The percent reduction in grain yield was 5%-40% and fit a quadratic relationship. The number of grains ear-1 declined in a linear fashion with increasing X. strumarium density, except at the highest corn density, with an average decrease of 5%-6% in grains ear-1 for every X. strumarium plant m-2. As the X. strumarium density increased, 1000-grain weight and harvest index declined, while the number of days to silking increased slightly. Increasing densities of either crop or weed generally delayed silking and decreased yield and yield components due to inter- and intraspecific competition, suggesting that increasing crop density will likely not be effective in suppressing X. strumarium and making up for possible yield loss in corn.


The nonlocal weighted-density approximation (WDA) to the exchange- and kinetic-energy functionals of many-electron systems, proposed several years ago by Alonso and Girifalco within the framework of density-functional theory, is used to compute the ground-state electronic density and the total energy of atoms and ions with filled or half-filled electronic shells. The results and the results of analogous calculations using the well-known Thomas-Fermi-Dirac-Weizs\"acker (TFDW) approximation for the kinetic (TFW) and exchange (D) energy density functionals are compared with Hartree-Fock values. A striking improvement of the total and exchange energies, of the density at the nucleus, and of the 〈${\mathit{r}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$〉 expectation values is obtained within the WDA scheme. The local behavior of the WDA electronic- and kinetic-energy densities is also analyzed.


Richard Strauss contributed music to several ballets during his career, collaborating with prominent dance artists of his time. His ballets include an unfinished Die Insel Kythere (The Island of Cythera, 1900), inspired by French Rococo paintings; Josephslegende (The Legend of Joseph, 1914), choreographed by Leonide Massine for the Ballets Russes; a 1923 Ballettsoiree with dances by Heinrich Kroller, showcasing the Vienna Ballet and including Strauss's arrangements of music by Francois Couperin; Schlagobers (Whipped Cream, 1924), a "Comic Viennese Ballet"choreographed by Kroller; and Verklungene Feste: Tanzvisionen aus Zwei Jahrhunderten (Faded Celebrations: Dance Visions from Two Centuries, 1941), premiered in Munich with meta-historical dances by the dancer-choreographer team Pia and Pino Mlakar. In The Ballet Collaborations of Richard Strauss, Heisler considers Strauss's ballet scores alongside story, mise-en-scene, and choreography, revealing Strauss's shift from a parodic conception of classical dance in the years leading up to World War I to a belated obsession with Romantic-era ballet in its aftermath. Heisler explores issues central to Strauss's relationship to modernism: his mining in Die Insel Kythere (1900) of the decorative aspects of dance, suggesting a shared sensibility with fin-de-siecle Jugendstil and a critique of Romanticism; the dynamics of collective creation and Strauss's penchant for parody in relation to Josephslegende (1914); his stance on interwar cultural politics through the 1923 Ballettsoiree and Schlagobers (1924); and Verklungene Feste (1941) as this composer's autumnal meditation on the conceit of music and dance as vehicles for transcendence. The Ballet Collaborations of Richard Strauss is a richly interdisciplinary study that promises to nuance the popular, critical, and academic reception of this ever-popular composer. Wayne Heisler Jr. is assistant professor and Coordinator of Historical and Cultural Studies in Music at The College of New Jersey.


The execution of smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain consumes gas paid for by users submitting contracts' invocation requests. A contract execution proceeds as long as the users dedicate enough gas, within the limit set by Ethereum. If insufficient gas is provided, the contract execution halts and changes made during execution get reverted. Unfortunately, contracts may contain code patterns that increase execution cost, causing the contracts to run out of gas. These patterns can be manipulated by malicious attackers to induce unwanted behavior in the targeted victim contracts, e.g., Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks. We call these gas-related vulnerabilities. We propose eTainter, a static analyzer for detecting gas-related vulnerabilities based on taint tracking in the bytecode of smart contracts. We evaluate eTainter by comparing it with the prior work, MadMax, on a dataset of annotated contracts. The results show that eTainter outperforms MadMax in both precision and recall, and that eTainter has a precision of 90% based on manual inspection. We also use eTainter to perform large-scale analysis of 60,612 real-world contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. We find that gas-related vulnerabilities exist in 2,763 of these contracts, and that eTainter analyzes a contract in eight seconds, on average.


The etiology of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC)—a rare, reversible, and acquired form of cardiac diseases—is not yet fully explained. An exaggerated activation of the sympathetic-nervous-system (SNS) following stressful psychosocial life events is discussed to be of key importance. In this experimental study, we tested whether TTC patients, compared to heart-healthy controls, respond more strongly to supporting placebo interventions and stressful nocebo interventions targeting cardiac function. In a single experimental session, 20 female TTC patients and 20 age matched (mean age 61.5 years, ± 12.89) catheter-confirmed heart-healthy women were examined. Saline solution was administered three times i.v. to all participants, with the verbal suggestion they receive an inert substance with no effects on the heart (neutral condition), a drug that would support cardiac functions (positive condition), and a drug that would burden the heart (negative condition). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP/SBP), heart rate (HR), endocrine markers cortisol (µg/dl), copeptin (pmol/l), and subjective stress ratings (SUD) were assessed to examine alterations of the SNS and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA). Before and after each intervention SUD was rated. One pre and three post serum cortisol and copeptin samples were assessed, and a long-term electrocardiogram as well as non-invasive, continuous blood pressure was recorded. The study design elucidated a significant increase of SUD levels as a response to the nocebo intervention, while perceived stress remained unaffected during the preceding neutral and positive interventions. Increasing SUD levels were accompanied by higher SBP and an anticipatory increase of HR shortly prior to the nocebo intervention. SBP increased also as a response to positive verbal suggestions (Bonferroni-corrected p-values > .05). Alterations of cortisol and copeptin due to the interventions and significant placebo effects failed to appear. Interestingly no differences between TCC patients and controls could be found.These findings do not support the assumption of an exaggerated activation of the SNS as a discriminatory factor for TTC. Since especially the nocebo intervention revealed negative subjective and objective effects, our results underscore the urgent need to consider carefully the impact of verbal suggestions in the interaction with cardiac patients in daily clinical routine. This study is registered at the Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (DRKS00009296).


This guide is intended to highlight the most useful resources for doing research for SE2. The majority of the information provided is subscribed to by the library, and is not available freely on the Web.


Writing formal specifications can help developers understand users' requirements, and build a solid foundation for implementation. But like other activities in software development, it is error-prone, especially for large-scale systems. In practice, effective detection of specification errors still remains a challenge. In this paper, we put forward a rigorous, systematic method for the inspection of model-based formal specifications. The method makes good use of the well-defined consistency properties of a specification to provide precise rules and guidelines for inspection. The inspection process utilizes both well-defined expressions derived from the specification and human inspectors' judgments to find errors. We present a case study of the method by describing how it is applied to inspect an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) software specification to investigate the method's feasibility, and explore potential challenges in using it. We also describe a prototype software tool including its functions and distinct features to demonstrate the tool supportability of the method.


This paper seeks to measure the effects of instances of police brutality upon different political participation outcomes. The instances are identified by the use of keyword searching in a newspaper database sorted by states and across time. This treatment variable is then used in a fixed effects model to isolate the effects of these occurrences upon outcomes taken from the American National Election Studies time-series dataset ranging from 1947-2012. The main findings of the paper is that instances of police brutality have a significant positive effect on certain outcomes which are sensitive towards time fixed effects. Furthermore, through a sub-group analysis it is concluded that the estimated effects are driven by the white portion of the sample.


The recent request of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to the United States to set deadlines for the temporary use of its bases in Central Asia, and Uzbekistan's subsequent demand that the United States vacate its Karshi-Khanabad (K2) base came as a shock and triggered talk in Washington about a great game, similar to the great power competition between the Russian Empire and Great Britain over the same region in the 19th century. This time the great game is conceptualized as the desire of Russia and China to squeeze the United States out of Central Asia and keep the region under their exclusive control. Moscow denies that it is playing such a great game.


An ocean general circulation model covering the global domain is used to determine the flow regimes of the southwest Pacific, and the relationship between the Indonesian throughflow (IT), the East Australian Current (EAC) and the Coral Sea dynamics. A number of physical oceanographic surveys in the Coral Sea, using newly acquired acoustic Doppler current profiling instrumentation, show this area to be rather more complex than was at first thought. Earlier investigations of the Coral Sea led to the conclusion of a closed cyclonic gyre as the dominant pattern. The model shows a subsurface western boundary current, the New Guinea Coastal Undercurrent (NGCU), which begins on the Australian east coast near 16◦S and circulates along the coast of Papua New Guinea. The field surveys confirm the existence of this current and show the average volume to be about 25 Sv, being in fair agreement with the model. The observed flow turns northwards at the eastern tip of Papua New Guinea and is probably the source of the Vityaz Strait throughflow. An additional strong current is predicted to lie north of New Ireland during winter, and strong westwards flows through St. George's Channel have already been observed. The bifurcation of the South Equatorial Current (SEC) occurs between 14◦S and 23◦S, at varying depths along the Australian coast. The southern branch forms the EAC and the northwards flow forms the NGCU. The bifurcation has a notable baroclinic component with more of the deep water moving northwards. The Great Barrier Reef Undercurrent, flowing northwards in the Queensland Trough, is a deeper component of the SEC that bifurcates around the Queensland Plateau, while the shallower southwards flowing EAC originates from the surface bifurcation near 15◦S. The model NGCU is found to retroflect eastwards at 140◦E during summer, whence it forms the equatorial undercurrent, in good agreement with historical surveys. However, during winter, the model NGCU flows further to the west where it encounters Halmahera Island, which deflects the current northwards to near 3◦N, and it then finally retroflects again to form the Equatorial Undercurrent. If this island is moved southwards in the model, or removed, the NGCU supplies more than half the IT during winter, which is in direct contradiction to all observations. It is asserted that it is Halmahera Island which is the sole cause of the NGCU's non–participation in the IT, and not the broader scale dynamics. The model IT is found to be sensitive to modifications of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), while the South Pacific wind stress perhaps does no more than seasonally modulate the throughflow. If the world model has its southern wall at 64◦S the IT is about 15 Sv during spin–up, but falls to 10 Sv after relaxation is switched off. With the wall at 75◦S the IT remains fairly steady during all phases on integration. Thus, it is assumed that the ACC has a primary role in driving the IT. Sverdrup models predict that the IT is driven by the South Pacific wind stress since there is a 16 Sv northwards residual in the curl of the wind stress field. It is postulated that the basic assumptions of Sverdrup models are violated to some extent by real and modelled ACC. The ACC effectively sets the depth–averaged pressures at the southern tips of both Africa and South America, so the single reference pressure set in Sverdrup models in not a valid assumption. A survey in September–91 by the R.V. Franklin (Fr0791) found intense offshore flows originating from the EAC at about 24◦S, moving to more than 500 km off the coast. This is well north of the EAC's normal departure latitude (33◦S), and no such findings appear to have been reported before this survey. Using Smagorinsky viscosity in the model, intense gyres that are elongated against the western boundary are found to develop, but only if the boundary itself is meridional. Haney & Wright (1975) reported this behaviour in a barotropic quasigeostrophic model with a rectangular domain, but they concluded that it constituted an unrealistic numerical mode. However, intense recirculations of the EAC are apparent in the Fr0791 data and in the data of the March–60 cruise of the H.M.A.S. Gascoyne (Ga0260). The model gyres are very similar to the observations, and it is concluded that they have at least some degree of realism.


Non-petroleum based liquid fuels are essential for reducing oil dependence and greenhouse gas generation. Increased substitution of alcohol fuel for petroleum based fuels could be achieved by 1) use in high efficiency spark ignition engines that are employed for heavy duty as well as light duty operation and 2) use of methanol as well as ethanol. Methanol is the liquid fuel that is most efficiently produced from thermochemical gasification of coal, natural gas, waste or biomass. Ethanol can also be produced by this process but at lower efficiency and higher cost. Coal derived methanol is in limited initial use as a transportation fuel in China. Methanol could potentially be produced from natural gas at an economically competitive fuel costs, and with essentially the same greenhouse gas impact as gasoline. Waste derived methanol could also be an affordable low carbon fuel. In this paper we describe modeling studies of alcohol fuel operation in highly turbocharged direct injection spark ignition engines operated at high compression ratio. The studies suggest that these engines could be as or more efficient than diesel engines while also providing advantages of lower vehicle cost, lower emissions and higher power. The strong knock suppression resulting from the alcohol evaporative cooling enables operation with power densities (horsepower per liter) up to three times that which can be provided by diesel engines, due to increased torque and higher engine speed. This makes possible highly downsized alcohol engines (e.g. a 15 liter diesel engine could potentially be replaced by a SI engine with a displacement of 7 liters or less). M85 (around 85% methanol, 15% gasoline by volume) has roughly 60% of the range of diesel fuel for a given fuel tank size. However, the weight reduction from the highly downsized engines could essentially compensate for the increased alcohol tank and fuel weight needed to obtain the same range as a diesel vehicle. We discuss alcohol fueled vehicle operation with various mixtures of gasoline and alcohol and the possibility of an additional increase in efficiency by onboard alcohol reforming using exhaust heat. Tri-fuel (methanol/ethanol/gasoline) flexible fuel operation is also discussed.


Apoptosis is one of the key regulatory mechanisms in tissue modeling and development. In the thymus, 95–98% of all thymocytes die by apoptosis because they failed to express a TCR with an optimal affinity for the selecting intrathymic peptide-MHC complexes. We studied the possible role of two prominent nerve growth factor (NGF-TNF) family member systems, Fas ligand (FasL)-Fas receptor (FasR) and TNF-α-TNFR, in apoptosis of murine CD8+4+ double-positive (DP) thymocytes induced via TCR-CD3- and cAMP-mediated signaling. TCR-CD3ε-mediated apoptosis of DP thymocytes was found not to be dependent on either of the two systems. The FasL-FasR system was also found to be dispensable for the cAMP-mediated apoptosis. By contrast, cAMP agonists (dibutyryl-cAMP and forskolin) induced apoptosis via TNF-α, as evidenced by 1) the ability of anti-TNF-α mAbs to abrogate cAMP analogue-induced DP apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner; and 2) increased resistance of DP thymocytes from TNF-α−/− and TNFR I−/−II−/− animals to cAMP agonist-mediated apoptosis. cAMP agonists induced DP thymocyte death by a combination of two mechanisms: first, they induced selective up-regulation of TNF-α production, and, second, they sensitized DP thymocytes to TNF-α. The latter effect may be due to the down-regulation of TNFR-associated factor 2 protein. These results identify TNF-α as the critical mediator of cAMP-induced apoptosis in thymocytes and provide a molecular explanation for how the cAMP stimulators, including the sex steroids, may modulate T cell production output, as observed under physiological and pharmacological conditions.


The objective of study were to determine the effectiveness of Ovalbumin-LHRH-7 (OL) protein administered with cytosine guanine (CpG) adjuvant and Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (IFA), and used one-shot immunization (single-dose vaccination) protocol in which booster dose included in microspheres in rams. Fifty ram lambs at about a year old were used. Treatment groups receiving Ovalbumin LHRH and control contained 10 animals. They were stratified according to age (weeks), live weight and scrotal circumference size, and were randomly assigned to five groups. Scrotal circumference, sexual activities and the numbers of rams having sperm in the ejaculate were affected from treatment (P 0.05). Findings clearly demonstrate that the effects of OL immunization on reproductive traits in yearling rams were prominent when it was administered at higher dose and classical one primary and one booster immunization as free protein form. Also we observed that the effect of higher and single dose of OL protein in encapsulated form on reproductive traits had the partial suppressing. CpG adjuvant along with IFA was proved to be an effective adjuvant and could be suggested to be used and alternative to FCA in hormone immunization.


The post-Civil Rights era has produced a model of social movements that centers on advocacy organizations representing the needs of underprivileged members of society. Scholars have noted the heightened role that advocacy organizations play in marginalized communities, highlighting that while these organizations construct agendas that focus on the needs of the underprivileged, the results of their activities privilege the advantaged within these subgroups. While some scholars note the "sincere ambitions" of these organizations to represent the needs of the underprivileged, the theory of this work is that this fracture within marginalized communities elucidates a new strategy of the Racial State, one that operates through use of a Racial Contract between the State and middle class Black America. An examination of the black middle class highlights the possibility of intra-group social contracts. These contracts provide social mobility and political and economic power for elite groups within minority groups. The goal of this project is to understand the reaction of black America to Hurricane Katrina. In this case, the lack of recognition and reaction by the Black middle class surrounding the events occurring in post-Katrina represent an intra-community fracture within Black America, as middle class Black America (and the organizations that represent their interests) distanced themselves from Blacks that were classified by the State as 'undeserving'. The most stunning impact of these intra-group Racial Contracts is an erosion of the dual power strategy used by Black organizations to historically challenge racial oppression in the US.


The study investigated predictive factors for best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after ranibizumab treatment in patients with macular edema (ME) associated with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) with an original ranking for the impairment of macular microstructure. In this retrospective study, 31 eyes of 31 patients with RVO received 3 monthly consecutive ranibizumab injections and another 3 months of follow-up. An original method was applied to rank the impairment of the external limiting membrane (ELM) and the ellipsoid zone (previously called the photoreceptor inner and outer segment junction, IS/OS) integrity on the baseline optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between the baseline factors and post-treatment BCVA. ELM integrity and baseline BCVA were shown to be independent factors in the prediction of post-treatment BCVA. Comparison of post-treatment BCVA between original ELM ranks after adjusting for the baseline BCVA revealed the ELM integrity beneath the center of the fovea was important to post-treatment BCVA. ELM integrity in particular beneath the center of the fovea and baseline BCVA may be more useful than other factors in the prediction of visual function in patients with ME secondary to RVO after ranibizumab injections.


Filtering is a key step in digital image processing and analysis. It is mainly used for amplification or attenuation of some frequencies depending on the nature of the application. Filtering can either be performed in the spatial domain or in a transformed domain. The selection of the filtering method, filtering domain, and the filter parameters are often driven by the properties of the underlying image. This thesis presents three different kinds of biomedical image filtering applications, where the filter parameters are automatically determined from the underlying images.Filtering can be used for image enhancement. We present a robust image dependent filtering method for intensity inhomogeneity correction of biomedical images. In the presented filtering method, the filter parameters are automatically determined from the grey-weighted distance transform of the magnitude spectrum. An evaluation shows that the filter provides an accurate estimate of intensity inhomogeneity.Filtering can also be used for analysis. The thesis presents a filtering method for heart localization and robust signal detection from video recordings of rat embryos. It presents a strategy to decouple motion artifacts produced by the non-rigid embryonic boundary from the heart. The method also filters out noise and the trend term with the help of empirical mode decomposition. Again, all the filter parameters are determined automatically based on the underlying signal.Transforming the geometry of one image to fit that of another one, so called image registration, can be seen as a filtering operation of the image geometry. To assess the progression of eye disorder, registration between temporal images is often required to determine the movement and development of the blood vessels in the eye. We present a robust method for retinal image registration. The method is based on particle swarm optimization, where the swarm searches for optimal registration parameters based on the direction of its cognitive and social components. An evaluation of the proposed method shows that the method is less susceptible to becoming trapped in local minima than previous methods.With these thesis contributions, we have augmented the filter toolbox for image analysis with methods that adjust to the data at hand.


We present the implementation results of a digital IF software defined radio module, which can directly down-convert multiple channel IS-95 CDMA IF signals to the baseband and up-convert the multiple baseband signals to IF signals. Based on the polyphase filter bank techniques, the implemented module can selectively analyze specific channel signals from the multiple channel IF signals, and synthesize the analyzed baseband signals to the specific IF frequencies. The module, implemented by FPGA's at first, has been fabricated in ASIC and deployed in commercial digital fiber optic PCS repeaters.


This two part paper proposes a methodology of designing and analyzing an inverse controller for stable fuzzy interval linear systems according to fuzzy interval arithmetic. The first part aims at revisiting the solving of first order fuzzy linear equations. The general solution is expressed in a compact form which is directly used for deriving the condition of the solution existence. The suggested method is inspired from the a-cut principle where the fuzzy interval arithmetic is defined in terms of well-established interval arithmetic operations on closed intervals of real numbers. The so-built solution is useful for the inverse controller synthesis dealt with in part II of this paper. The validity of the proposed method is illustrated by a simulation example.