The urge to seize, to claim the past in order to experience the truth of history is a powerful impulse - one full of desire for a time apart from the here and now. Conceiving and sustaining an experience of the past is today very big business. The ongoing development of the heritage, tourism and re-enactment industries inter-link with popular historical perception in ways that raise multiple questions about the relationship between popular and academic accounts of the past and the many other ways of performing history (Dening 1996). This paper takes as its starting point a gold rush theme park, Old Mogo Town in NSW Australia, and in particular, its erasure of all evidence of the Indigenous past. From here, it is my aim to develop a revised performance of that past- one that interrogates the catastrophe of colonialism and the fate of history currently expunged from the gold rush theme park of Old Mogo Town.


This talk will discuss issues and methods for survivability of systems under malicious attacks. To protect from such attacks, it is necessary to take steps to prevent attacks from succeeding. At the same time, it is important to recognize that not all attacks can be averted at the outset; attacks that are successful to some degree must be recognized as unavoidable and comprehensive support for identifying and responding to attacks is required.
 In my talk, I will describe the recent research on attack graphs that represent known attack sequences attackers can use to penetrate computer networks. I will show how attack graphs can be used to compute actual sets of hardening measures that guarantee the safety of given critical resources. Attack graphs can also be used to correlate received alerts, hypothesize missing alerts, and predict future alerts, all at the same time. Thus, they offer a promising solution for administrators to monitor and predict the progress of an intrusion, and take appropriate countermeasures in a timely manner.


As mobile, handheld computing devices become more common and are used for an ever-increasing variety of tasks, new mechanisms for data entry must be investigated. Personal digital assistants often provide a small stylus-activated soft keyboard, as do some mobile phones that include touch screens. However, there is little data regarding the importance of keyboard size or the users' tasks, the effectiveness of these keyboards, or user reactions to these keyboards. In this article, an experiment designed to investigate these issues in the context of a palm-style QWERTY keyboard is described. In this study, 30 novices completed 6 realistic tasks using either a small, medium, or large soft keyboard. The results not only confirm that keyboard size does not affect data entry rates but that making the keyboard smaller does not increase error rates or negatively impact preference ratings. However, tasks that required users to switch between the alphabetic keyboard and the numeric keyboard do result in significantly slower data entry rates. A model that accurately predicts the time required to enter predefined text is presented, and directions for future research are discussed.


In an era that has been dominated by Structural Biology for the last 30-40 years, a dramatic change of focus towards sequence analysis has spurred the advent of the genome projects and the resultant diverging sequence/structure deficit. The central challenge of Computational Structural Biology is therefore to rationalize the mass of sequence information into biochemical and biophysical knowledge and to decipher the structural, functional and evolutionary clues encoded in the language of biological sequences. In investigating the meaning of sequences, two distinct analytical themes have emerged: in the first approach, pattern recognition techniques are used to detect similarity between sequences and hence to infer related structures and functions; in the second ab initio prediction methods are used to deduce 3D structure, and ultimately to infer function, directly from the linear sequence. In this article, we attempt to provide a critical assessment of what one may and may not expect from the biological sequences and to identify major issues yet to be resolved. The presentation is organized under several subtitles like protein sequences, pattern recognition techniques, protein tertiary structure prediction, membrane protein bioinformatics, human proteome, protein-protein interactions, metabolic networks, potential drug targets based on simple sequence properties, disordered proteins, the sequence-structure relationship and chemical logic of protein sequences.


Purpose: Object displacement in a CT scan is generally reflected in CT projection data or sinogram. Conventional registrations in the image space are often adversely influenced by the reconstruction‐induced artifacts. A direct sinogram‐based registration has been studied. Method and Materials: It is found that a rigid motion only affects the projection angle and radial distance of the CT projections instead of the intensity. Simple equations have been successfully deduced. A simulated 2D phantom model was adopted and modified to test the algorithm. A physical head phantom was scanned using a kV cone beam scanner. Fan beam sinograms were then generated for the central axial plane. Upon random 2D rigid motions, registrations were carried out in the sinogram space. For every possible motion, the relevant sinogram was generated according to the discovered relationship and compared with the reference sinogram, as a result, the most likely motion was obtained. Results: Simulated and experimental results demonstrate that the new registration technique works well for registration of rigid motion in parallel beam sampling and fan beam sampling CT scans. The images were reconstructed from the registered sinograms and the spatial accuracy of this new registration was better than 2 mm. It is also found that this sinogram registration couldn't be affected by the metal filling, the truncation, or uncompleted projection set. This makes it appealing for various applications in image guided radiation therapy(IGRT).Conclusions: The direct relationships between the object motion and the change of CT projection data (sinogram) were studied and this knowledge was successfully applied to a novel algorithm for sonogram‐based registration. Calculated and experimental results demonstrate that the new registration technique works well particularly when registering images with metal or truncation artifacts.


Conceptualizations of world society represent elementary breaks with traditional thinking styles in sociology. In this research field, nation-state myths have been disenchanted, the local is identified as global and vice versa, and the central concept of sociology—that of society, which has always been manifold and controversial within the discipline— becomes relevant again. World society approaches require the self-reflexive perspective of the constitutive conditions of the discipline of science. They also make essential contributions to the de-nationalization of concepts and to methods of empirical research. Thus conceptuality refers to the stepping out of a national context and the opening out to the global level as a reference framework for analysis. In addition, conceptualizations of world society are an important contribution to the global social responsibility of science. Sociology has, thanks to world society approaches, constructive plans to put forward a global shift of the discipline of science. For sociologists, this project will be a central challenge of the twenty-first century at the construction site of sociology.


SoC solutions for network security applications in the next generation broadband communication and networks, called the Smart gateway system, will be investigated in this paper. The Smart gateway system is intended to provide the high performance, cost-effective and value-added networking gateway system for the ever-increasing Internet security, management and versatile policy-based billing/accounting service requirements. This design will include an ASIC with fast Ethernet ports, control/mirror logic ports, and multi-platform management software. Smart gateway ASIC can be used to build a single system (with embedded CPU or none CPU), or be integrated into the third-part switch system to buildup the management capability of their network products to easily conform the complex requirement in broadband network access applications.


Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease which affects the basal ganglia control circuit (Duffy, 2013). The motor speech disorder most strongly associated with PD is hypokinetic dysarthria, which presents with distinctive speech characteristics including reduced loudness and the inability to adequately maintain loud speech (Darley, Aronson, & Brown 1969; Duffy 2013). This is due to the variable kinematics for speech breathing associated with PD, which may result in abnormal muscular excursions, reduced vital capacity, and irregular breathing cycles (Duffy, 2013). The impaired ventilatory control can be attributed to the rigidity of muscles of inhalation and exhalation, as well as bradykinesia and hypokinesia.

The study aimed to evaluate whether a patient with PD was able to manipulate their acoustic intensity, and if such intensity changes were accompanied by changes in speech breathing kinematics in a novel intraoperative environment.

The study's data were collected intra-operatively during surgery for deep brain stimulation and recordings from the subthalamic nucleus and cortex. The patient was instructed to modulate acoustic intensity while repeating three syllable CV triplets. Speech breathing kinematics of the rib cage were obtained using a Piezo Crystal Effort Sensor with a double buckle band throughout speech production. The speech breathing kinematics of interest were duration, displacement, and peak velocity of inhalation, peak velocity of exhalation, and duration from onset of exhalation to onset of speech, as well as a descriptive comparison between tidal breathing and speech breathing.

Spearman Rho correlations indicated that there were weak to no relationships observed between speech breathing kinematics and intensity in this specific participant. However, a medium effect size (Hedge's g) was observed between tidal and speech breathing for inhalation duration, and small to medium effect size for inhalation displacement and peak velocity.

While previous literature suggests that people with PD can manipulate intensity when cued as a result of kinematic modulations for speech breathing, the current study does not support these findings for this one patient. However, previously reported differences between tidal and speech breathing were supported. Potential explanations for the lack of intensity modulation are explored, including constraints induced by the intra-operative environment.


The main goals of this PhD-thesis are to answer two important questions regarding the generation of α-oxygen species in Mn-based zeolites: 1) What are the requirements that a zeolite material needs to possess in order to generate α-oxygen species? 2) What characterisation techniques can be used in order to reveal the properties of the active centre for N2O decomposition and the related formation of α-oxygen species? In order to address the first question, two types of materials were prepared presenting different properties from the geometric and electronic structure point of view. The ion-exchanged Mn-ZSM-5 materials are characterized by a dynamic geometric and electronic structure, as is evident from the changes in the coordination sphere and oxidation state of the manganese during the catalytic reactions. An opposite conclusion can be drawn for the Mn-ZSM-5 materials prepared using hydrothermal synthesis. Due to the presence of large manganese-rich domains that incorporate the majority of the present manganese, the overall system presents a static geometric and electronic behaviour. We can conclude that the generation of α-oxygen species is made possible by fulfilling a number of factors related to the Mn - cluster: a. Dynamic divalent and trivalent oxidation states with the possibility to easily exchange between them. b. The possibility to contain different coordination environments and the possibility to exchange between them c. The dispersion of the active phase should be high in order to hinder the formation of particles that can influence in a negative way the possibility to change the coordination state of the active centre. Concerning the characterization techniques, the challenge to identify the active species lies in the diversity of the species present in the catalyst materials, so discrimination between spectator and active species is necessary. In order to do that we need to identify the characterisation techniques capable of determining the characteristics presented as an answer to the first question. One possible technique is the HERFD-XAS technique, where the 3d transitions are used to determine the nature of neighbours, their number and their distances. The energy position of the K edge varies with the valence, while the pre-edge region gives information on the average valence and site symmetry of the metal sites. One of the advantages of the HERFD-XAS technique is the improved separation of the pre-edge region to the edge jump region, allowing for a detailed analysis of this region. The comparison of the pre-edge characteristics from the in-situ data with that of the references can give valuable information on the local coordination and valence of the active centre. Another technique that proved to be very helpful in understanding the morphology of the material is STEM-EELS. This technique combines the strength in spatial resolution of electron microscopy techniques with the possibility to quantitatively identify the chemical nature (i.e. element and valence state) of the measured phase given by EELS.


Changes in the morphology of the mitochondrial inventory (= chondriome), the nucleus and the flagellar apparatus during the generative (sexual) life cycle of Polytoma papillatum were examined by means of the serial sectioning technique. At the onset of copulation gametes do not differ obviously from interphase cells of the vegetative (asexual) life cycle, in that, both primarily contain one basket-shaped mitochondrion. The quadriflagellate and binucleate zygote exhibits a chondriome which consists of one large highly reticulated basket at the periphery of the zygote and 33 smaller mitochondrial units. Therefore, the basket clearly results from fusion of the two gamete chondriomes. The smaller mitochondrial fragments are either spherical to ovoid or elongated and poorly branched; they tend to occupy more central regions of the zygote. After karyogamy the mitochondrial basket disintegrates into several fragments of various shapes and sizes. Most of the mitochondrial fragments are located at the periphery. At the onset of karyogamy the nuclei and the flagellar apparatuses do not differ significantly from those of the gametes and vegetative interphase cells. The diploid nucleus, however, is characterized by: 1. many spherical bodies (diameter: ca. 200 to 600 nm) which are found both in the nucleoplasm and in the nucleolus. The major part of these bodies consists of material whose ultrastructure resembles that of the "pars fibrosa" in the nucleolus; 2. three deep invaginations of the nuclear membrane, two of which extend to the nucleolus; 3. an increase of nucleoplasm-filled cavities in the nucleolar "pars granulosa". The four flagella are considerably shortened; the basal bodies bound to the flagella have lost their striated connection and the roots have nearly completely disappeared. The results are compared with those obtained from investigations in Chlamydomonas; their significance in extranuclear genetics and in the systematics of Volvocales is discussed.


Knowledge base completion (KBC) has benefitted greatly by learning explainable rules in an human-interpretable dialect such as first-order logic. Rule-based KBC has so far, mainly focussed on learning one of two types of rules: conjunction-of-disjunctions and disjunction-of-conjunctions. We qualitatively show, via examples, that one of these has an advantage over the other when it comes to achieving high quality KBC. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to propose learning both kinds of rules within a common framework. To this end, we propose to utilize logical neural networks (LNN), a powerful neuro-symbolic AI framework that can express both kinds of rules and learn these end-to-end using gradient-based optimization. Our in-depth experiments show that our LNN-based approach to learning rules for KBC leads to roughly 10% relative improvements, if not more, over SotA rule-based KBC methods. Moreover, by showing how to combine our proposed methods with knowledge graph embeddings we further achieve an additional 7.5% relative improvement.


By adopting archival analysis method and investigation method, this paper expounds the relationship between "three rights" mortgage and farmers' financing in rural areas, and conducts analysis on behavior choosing of three rights mortgage financing in rural areas. The results show that the farmers has strong need for financing, but the satisfaction level of need is not high; the farmers have many irregular channels of financing and there is a ubiquitous phenomenon of loan being rejected without mortgage; agricultural modernization, industrialization and scaling-up management have strong need for capital. The main problems yet to be solved in the process of carrying out three rights mortgage loan are expounded and corresponding countermeasures are put forward as follows, first, we should solve the problems of mortgage registration as quickly as possible, which is the prerequisite of implementing three rights mortgage loan; second, we should establish smooth evaluation mechanism, which is important condition for promoting three rights mortgage loan; we should solve the difficulties in confirmation of farmers' house as quickly as possible, which is indispensable element of expanding mortgage loan of farmers' house; we should effectively solve the problem of turning an asset into cash and assets disposal, which is the key to expanding ' three rights mortgage financing; we should establish sound forestry factor market, which is me main part of promoting healthy development of forestry right mortgage loan; we should formulate management methods of financing risk compensation fund of rural properly rights and adopt rational measures to reduce taxation, which is the main approach to quicken offering of ' three rights mortgage loan.


Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) gradually emerged on e-commerce platforms with their influencing power on global audience. E-learning platforms followed suit on drawing the influence of educational KOLs (Edu-KOLs) for perceived learning outcome, customer retention and branding. This paper presents a systematic literature review on the thematic of traditional learning and its transformation into elearning platforms. We seek to achieve a preliminary analysis into current development and trend on educational digitalization and its effectiveness, particularly with its amplifier, Edu-KOLs who lead new waves of learning for Gen Alpha1 and beyond. This literature review summarizes terminologies on EduKOLs, and prudently reviews the locus of past research on e-commerce platforms with extracted KOLs' analysis. The findings indicate a wide research gap given few research directly yielded into Edu-KOLs' impact, whereas mounting empirical evidence for e-commerce platforms with perceived outcome through KOLs.


Starting in 2005, the GITEWS project (German-Indonesian Tsunami Early
Warning System) established from scratch a fully operational tsunami
warning system at BMKG in Jakarta.
Numerical simulations of prototypic tsunami scenarios play a decisive
role in a priori risk assessment for coastal regions and in the
early warning process itself. Repositories with currently 3470
regional tsunami scenarios for GITEWS and 1780 Indian Ocean wide
scenarios in support of Indonesia as a Regional Tsunami Service Provider (RTSP)
were computed with the non-linear shallow water modell TsunAWI.
It is based on a finite element discretisation, employs unstructured
grids with high resolution along the coast and includes inundation.
This contribution gives an overview on the model itself, the
enhancement of the model physics, and the experiences gained during the
process of establishing an operational code suited for thousands of
model runs. Technical aspects like computation time, disk space needed
for each scenario in the repository, or post processing techniques have
a much larger impact than they had in the beginning when TsunAWI
started as a research code. Of course, careful testing on artificial
benchmarks and real events remains essential, but furthermore, quality
control for the large number of scenarios becomes an important issue.


To develop Smart City, the growing popularity of Machine Learning (ML) that appreciates high-quality training datasets generated from diverse IoT devices raises natural questions about the privacy guarantees that can be provided in such settings. Privacy-preserving ML training in an aggregation scenario enables a model demander to securely train ML models with the sensitive IoT data gathered from personal IoT devices. Existing solutions are generally server-aided, cannot deal with the collusion threat between the servers or between the servers and data owners, and do not match the delicate environments of IoT. We propose a privacy-preserving ML training framework named Heda that consists of a library of building blocks based on partial homomorphic encryption (PHE) enabling constructing multiple privacy-preserving ML training protocols for the aggregation scenario without the assistance of untrusted servers and defending the security under collusion situations. Rigorous security analysis demonstrates the proposed protocols can protect the privacy of each participant in the honest-but-curious model and defend the security under most collusion situations. Extensive experiments validate the efficiency of Heda which achieves the privacy-preserving ML training without losing the model accuracy.


Project management practitioners will enjoy learning more about value and customer needs in this breakthrough book that shows why these core principles pave the pathway to success. Thirys book begins with a short history of value management that emerged during the troubled times of World War II. Shortages of critical resources, such as steel and aluminum, forced manufacturers to be creative and seek out new alternatives. Inexpensive products that were thought to be inferior inevitably outperformed the originals. Thus, value engineering was born. Its goal was to produce top-quality products at reduced costs. By centurys end, the field had broadened to become value management, with customer satisfaction as the primary determinant of product quality. Today you can learn all the detailed principles, concepts, tools and techniques you will need to succeed, right from the pages of Thirys well-written book.


Abstract Observations of the relative diffusion of 13 sets of tetroon pairs in the mixed layer during convective conditions in eastern Tennessee are reported. The root-mean-square separation S is proportional to time t raised to a power of 1 for times from 2 to 30 min and a power of 0.75 for times from 30 to 100 min. On the average, the observations are satisfied by the approximation dS/dt ≈ σy where σy is the standard deviation of the lateral wind speed fluctuations, as sensed by the tetroon.


I agree with Dr A. Bainton (Anaesthesia 1982; 37: 6967) that the use of long bevelled sharp disposable needles may lead to a lack of 'feel' when performing those peripheral nerve blocks. These procedures certainly demand the careful identification of soft tissue planes. I am, however, a little alarmed in principle by the thought of a needle with a cutting type point being moved repeatedly from side to side while being advanced blindly through the tissues. I have found the needles from intravenous cannulae or disposable spinal needles are ideal for this typc of block. They give an excellent 'feel' (being sharp but non-cutting, short bevelled) and they are readily available in almost every anaesthetic room in an assortment of gauges. These needles are also useful because of their length for performing numerous other common blocks, for example, obturator, lumbar paravertebral and the field block for repair of inguinal herniae. The intravenous cannula with a metal Luer-lock hub can also be attached to a nerve stimulator and used for the accurate location of peripheral nerves if the cannula is first primed with local or a saline solution and the needle re-inserted to obtain a good electrical contact; the needle is thus effectively insul.ated over its entire length except for the bevel.


The Court of Justice has jurisdiction under Articles 242 EC and 243 EC to entertain in interlocutory proceedings, first, applications for suspension of the operation of an act challenged by means of an action brought before it and, second, applications for other interim measures. The purpose of the procedure for interim relief is to guarantee the full effectiveness of the definitive future decision, in order to ensure that there is no lacuna in the legal protection provided by the Court of Justice. This article examines the recent trends in the case law of both Community courts. The three conditions for granting interim relief (a prima facie case, urgency, and the balance of interests) are examined in turn, as well as other questions of substance and procedure. The case law shows a constant tension between the principle of effective judicial protection and the limitations on the powers of the judge which derive from his/her constitutional role and the need to stay within the limits of the case and not to render meaningless the main case. One of the main transformations since the end of the 1980s is that the presentation has become more standardized and the orders generally contain more detailed reasoning. Although, the introduction of expedited procedures has reduced the need for interim proceedings in certain cases, this has had a limited quantitative effect on the number of requests for interim relief. In general, obtaining interim relief is a very difficult task for private applicants and Member States.


The Darjeeling–Tista transect, located in Lesser Himalaya, is a part of the North‐Eastern Himalaya. Along the transect, polyphase deformation and prograde Barrovian metamorphism have been delineated. The time relations between the phases of deformations (D1, D2 and D3) and metamorphic crystallization reveal a single major prograde metamorphic event that initiated with the D1 deformation and finally outlasted it. The earlier phase of this metamorphism is essentially regional syntectonic low grade, which may be designated (M1a). This was followed by regional static metamorphism (M1b) in the post‐tectonic phase between the D1 and D2 deformations. This M1 metamorphism is superposed by later retrogressive metamorphism (M2) during the D2 and D3 deformations. The different parageneses of pelitic rocks containing chlorite, muscovite, biotite, garnet, staurolite, kyanite, sillimanite, K‐feldspar and plagioclase show various textures that resulted from the continuous and discontinuous reactions in the different zones. The metamorphic zones and isograds delineated on the basis of specific metamorphic reactions, namely reaction isograd or isoreaction grad, and by critical mineral assemblages are as follows: (a) chlorite–biotite zone, (b) garnet–chlorite zone, (c) staurolite–biotite–chlorite zone, (d) kyanite–biotite–staurolite zone and (e) sillimanite–biotite–staurolite zone. Chemographic relations and inferred reactions for different zones are portrayed in the AKF and AFM projections. A sequence of metamorphic reactions at different isograds has been deduced through textural relations. The prograde P‐T evolution of the study area has been constrained through the use of internally consistent winTWQ programme and Perple_X software in the MnNCKFMASHTO model system. The study has the potential to instigate future researches focusing on Himalayan metamorphic evolutionary trends using modern approaches. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance (IR) is important in the development and progression of NAFLD. Nuclear erythroid 2‑related factor 2 (Nrf2) has previously been reported to be a novel regulator in NAFLD. The present study determined that Nrf2 knockdown accelerated the onset of obesity and non‑alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), via the induction of hepatic IR in mice fed a high‑fat diet (HFD), which was confirmed by an increase in total and hepatic weight in Nrf2‑null‑HFD mice, in addition to marked structural disorder in liver tissues from the Nrf2‑null‑HFD group analyzed by histopathological examination. Subsequently, it was demonstrated that hepatic IR in Nrf2‑null‑HFD mice was influenced by oxidative stress; this was confirmed by an increase in malondialdehyde levels and a decrease in glutathione levels. In addition, it was determined that the induction of hepatic IR by Nrf2 knockdown in HFD-treated mice was regulated by activation of the nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB) signaling pathway, as detected by an increase in the expression levels of nuclear NF‑κB, and its downstream effectors interleukin‑6 and tumor necrosis factor‑α. The present study provides insight into the function of Nrf2 in NAFLD, indicating that Nrf2 deletion may lead to hepatic IR by activation of NF‑κB, which is often associated with oxidative stress. Therefore, activation of Nrf2 may limit disease progression and act as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of NASH.


This article is concerned with entrepreneurial behaviour and the use of marketing by architectural professionals and their business colleagues in building services as a response to the extension of Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CTT) in the UK. CTT is where the functions of the operational divisions under local jurisdiction are offered for tender. Such tenders may be awarded to either private sector operators or the existing in‐house team. The underlying assumption by Central Government is that the outcome will be beneficial to the final consumer through, as a minimum, reduced operating costs. An appropriate academic environment in which to analyse the situation is that suggested by the marketing/ entrepreneurship interface.


Molecule property prediction has gained significant attention in recent years. The main bottleneck is the label insufficiency caused by expensive lab experiments. In order to alleviate this issue and to better leverage textual knowledge for tasks, this study investigates the feasibility of employing natural language instructions to accomplish molecule-related tasks in a zero-shot setting. We discover that existing molecule-text models perform poorly in this setting due to inadequate treatment of instructions and limited capacity for graphs. To overcome these issues, we propose GIMLET, which unifies language models for both graph and text data. By adopting generalized position embedding, our model is extended to encode both graph structures and instruction text without additional graph encoding modules. GIMLET also decouples encoding of the graph from tasks instructions in the attention mechanism, enhancing the generalization of graph features across novel tasks. We construct a dataset consisting of more than two thousand molecule tasks with corresponding instructions derived from task descriptions. We pretrain GIMLET on the molecule tasks along with instructions, enabling the model to transfer effectively to a broad range of tasks. Experimental results demonstrate that GIMLET significantly outperforms molecule-text baselines in instruction-based zero-shot learning, even achieving closed results to supervised GNN models on tasks such as toxcast and muv.1


: The significance of x-ray computer tomography in determining the mechanisms of pathogenesis of lumbar-sacral radiculopathy in patients with protrusions of intervertebral disks of the lumbar-sacral backbone is demonstrated. Pilots with the protrusions (n = 135) and the intervertebral disk herinas (79) have been examined. The clinical course of the sickness was reviewed in both groups of patients. The computer-tomographic semiotics of various protrusions was elaborated and expanded and their clinical implications demonstrated. The fresh paradigm of pathogenesis of radiculopathy at various forms of protrusions is presented. The roentgenomorphologic classification of arthrosis of archiprossesed joints was studied and proposed.


This article describes both pre- and postcolumn derivatization chemistry used in conjunction with either chromatography or capillary electrophoresis (CE) to facilitate the determination of drugs. Generally, only prederivatization is used in gas chromatography (GC), principally to enhance the volatility, temperature stability, and/or detectability. The GC section considers derivatization of drugs by reagent class: alkylation, acylation, and silylation. The GC sample-handling section describes an approach that combines the extraction and derivatization steps together. Both pre- and postcolumn derivatization are common approaches for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and many of these methods have been adapted for CE. Derivatization for HPLC is often directed toward aliphatic amines, carboxylic acids, or alcohols that are difficult to detect at low levels by absorbance, luminescence, or electrochemical means. In addition, small hydrophilic molecules upon prederivatization are often converted into larger more hydrophobic compounds, making reversed-phase HPLC easier or even feasible. The HPLC section considers derivatization of drugs based on the following types: alkaloids, amines, antibiotics, barbiturates, carbonyl compounds and carboxylic acids, catecholamines, hydroxy compounds, steroids, and sulfur compounds. For the GC and HPLC sections, tables are included, giving the structures of the more important derivatizing agents, the analytes, and the corresponding reaction products. A brief rationale for derivatization chemistry with CE concludes this article. For CE, derivatization is often done to improve detectability as the path length for absorbance detection is very short and fluorescence can be effective using laser-based systems.


This paper presents a new method for segmentation and recognition of image objects based on structural pattern recognition. The input image is decomposed into regions through a quadtree algorithm. The decomposed image is represented by an attributed relational graph (ARG) named input graph. The objects to be recognized are also stored in an ARG named model graph. Object segmentation and recognition are accomplished by matching the input graph to the model graph. The possible inexact matches between the two graphs are cliques of the association graph between them. An objective function, to be optimized, is defined for each clique in order to measure how suitable is the match between the graphs. Therefore, recognition is modeled as an optimization procedure. A beam-search algorithm is used to optimize the objective function. Experimental results corroborating the proposed approach are presented.


In this paper, we explore the task of mapping spoken language utterances to one of thousands of natural language understanding domains in intelligent personal digital assistants (IPDAs). This scenario is observed in mainstream IPDAs in industry that allow third parties to develop thousands of new domains to augment built-in first party domains to rapidly increase domain coverage and overall IPDA capabilities. We propose a scalable neural model architecture with a shared encoder, a novel attention mechanism that incorporates personalization information and domain-specific classifiers that solves the problem efficiently. Our architecture is designed to efficiently accommodate incremental domain additions achieving two orders of magnitude speed up compared to full model retraining. We consider the practical constraints of real-time production systems, and design to minimize memory footprint and runtime latency. We demonstrate that incorporating personalization significantly improves domain classification accuracy in a setting with thousands of overlapping domains.


Abstract The processes of globalisation are increasing cross-cultural interactions at exponentially faster rates and in increasingly complex ways. While these interactions can lead to much greater opportunities for positive change in all aspects of human life, they can also lead to conflict between cultures, whether overt or covert. In this article, cultural competence, a very popular framework for working across cultures, is critically examined and some of the major issues with using this framework are explored. An alternative to this framework, 'culturally dynamic partnership', is presented as being a more equitable and inclusive way of working across cultures. This framework builds on the strengths of earlier frameworks and presents a way of moving forwards that empowers all the participants in collaborative partnerships.


Recently, the online matching problem has attracted much attention due to its wide application on real-world decision-making scenarios. In stationary environments, by adopting the stochastic user arrival model, existing methods are proposed to learn dual optimal prices and are shown to achieve a fast regret bound. However, the stochastic model is no longer a proper assumption when the environment is changing, leading to an optimistic method that may suffer poor performance. In this paper, we study the online matching problem in dynamic environments in which the dual optimal prices are allowed to vary over time. We bound the dynamic regret of online matching problem by the sum of two quantities, including a regret of online max-min problem and a dynamic regret of online convex optimization (OCO) problem. Then we propose a novel online approach named Primal-Dual Online Algorithm (PDOA) to minimize both quantities. In particular, PDOA adopts the primal-dual framework by optimizing dual prices with the online gradient descent (OGD) algorithm to eliminate the online max-min problem's regret. Moreover, it maintains a set of OGD experts and combines them via an expert-tracking algorithm, which gives a sublinear dynamic regret bound for the OCO problem. We show that PDOA achieves an O(K sqrt{T(1+P_T)}) dynamic regret where K is the number of resources, T is the number of iterations and P_T is the path-length of any potential dual price sequence that reflects the dynamic environment. Finally, experiments on real applications exhibit the superiority of our approach.


Segregation in workplaces and individuals' social networks based on ethnicity, race, and/or religion may have serious social and economic consequences. The relationship between social segregation and workplace segregation has been traditionally studied as a one-way causal relationship mediated by referral hiring. In this thesis, an alternative framework is introduced which describes the dynamic reciprocal relationships between social segregation, workplace segregation, individuals' homophily levels, and referral hiring. An agent-based simulation model was developed based on this framework. The model describes the process of continuous change in composition of workplaces and social networks of agents (individuals), and how this process affects levels of workplace segregation and the segregation of social networks of the agents. The simulation results indicated that a labour market may experience significant levels of workplace segregation and social segregation even when the hiring of workers occurs mainly through formal channels. The results also show that majority groups tend to be more homophilous than minority groups, that referral hiring may be beneficial for minority groups especially when the population is highly segregated, and that the relationship between referral hiring and minority unemployment is curvilinear. Levels of workplace and social segregation were found to be negatively correlated with minority proportion, average size of individuals' social network, and firm size, while they were positively correlated with overall unemployment level and hiring discrimination. The research is based on primary data involving structured interviews with a sample of 39 employers and 122 workers (81 Muslim and 41 Coptic workers) in industrial firms in Egypt. Two secondary data sets were also used: the Social Contract Survey (SCS) and Workers' Status in Industrial Enterprises Survey (WSIES). The data were used to assess the levels of social and workplace segregation in Egypt (which found to be high), and to validate the simulation model.


Although positive CD28 costimulation is needed for the generation of natural CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells, we report that negative CTLA-4 costimulation is necessary for generating phenotypically and functionally similar adaptive CD4+CD25+ suppressor cells. TGF-β could not induce CD4+CD25− cells from CTLA-4−/− mice to express normal levels of FoxP3 or to develop suppressor activity. Moreover, blockade of CTLA-4 following activation of wild-type CD4+ cells abolished the ability of TGF-β to induce FoxP3-expressing mouse suppressor cells. TGF-β accelerated expression of CTLA-4, and time course studies suggested that CTLA-4 ligation of CD80 shortly after T cell activation enables TGF-β to induce CD4+CD25− cells to express FoxP3 and develop suppressor activity. TGF-β also enhanced CD4+ cell expression of CD80. Thus, CTLA-4 has an essential role in the generation of acquired CD4+CD25+ suppressor cells in addition to its other inhibitory effects. Although natural CD4+CD25+ cells develop normally in CTLA-4−/− mice, the lack of TGF-β-induced, peripheral CD4+CD25+ suppressor cells in these mice may contribute to their rapid demise.


Nanotechnologists have become involved in regenerative medicine via creation of biomaterials and nanostructures with potential clinical implications. Their aim is to develop systems that can mimic, reinforce or even create in vivo tissue repair strategies. In fact, in the last decade, important advances in the field of tissue engineering, cell therapy and cell delivery have already been achieved. In this review, we will delve into the latest research advances and discuss whether cell and/or tissue repair devices are a possibility. Focusing on the application of nanotechnology in tissue engineering research, this review highlights recent advances in the application of nano-engineered scaffolds designed to replace or restore the followed tissues: (i) skin; (ii) cartilage; (iii) bone; (iv) nerve; and (v) cardiac.


In the aged, pneumonia is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. As a consequence of ageing, decreased mobility, underlying illnesses and medication, especially the host defense mechanisms in the respiratory tract may become deficient. The kind of micro-organism that causes the infection depends on whether the patient lives at home or whether he is institutionalised (nursing home, skilled nursing facility, hospital). Pneumonia in patients at home is mainly caused by pneumococci, whereas in institutionalised patients also other micro-organisms, especially Gram-negative bacteria are the cause. The diagnosis is often difficult due to the lack of symptoms and signs in the aged patient. An important sign is tachypnea. For the choice of anti-microbial therapy the question whether the patient acquired the infection at home or in an institution is crucial, as is the question, whether the patient has recently used anti-microbial drugs. Finally, therapy differs in patients that produce sputum and in those who do not.


A well-functioning revenue system is a necessary condition for strong, sustained and inclusive economic development. However, the revenue systems in some developing countries have fundamental shortcomings. Using Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability assessment data, this article provides a summary of the revenue raising capabilities across 58 developing countries. Tax reforms or tax system changes need to be made mindful of that current capacity. The optimal choice of tax regime may be different when administrative capacity is low. The increasing globalisation of economic activity adds a further layer of complexity that developing countries need to manage in building and maintaining their revenue systems. Finally, any proposals to change the revenue system in a developing country need to recognise that, like developed countries, tax reforms are highly political endeavours.


Background Depression in childhood or adolescence often has morbidity implications continuing into adulthood, generating needs for specialist services and support. Aims To estimate the patterns of service use and costs in adulthood of former patients. Method Service use and other cost-related data were collected from former patients. Comparisons were made between those people with and without comorbid conduct disorder in childhood and with data for the general population. Results Data on 91 people with depression (only) and 49 with comorbid conduct disorder revealed high adulthood service utilisation rates and costs. Inpatient care and criminal justice services were used more frequently by the comorbid group and total costs were significantly higher. There were also indications of higher service use by the comorbid group than the general adult population. Conclusions The high and enduring long-term costs associated with childhood depression and conduct disorder give further reason for early and effective intervention.


Abstract 542 Introduction Von Willebrand Disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder worldwide. Men and women are equally likely to be affected, but in women VWD is more often clinically manifest because of bleeding associated with menstruation and childbirth. Most studies investigating the prevalence of gynaecological bleeding problems in women with VWD are small case series of women with mainly type 1 or mild VWD. These studies may be hampered by selection bias given the fact that patients seeking medical attention for bleeding and menorrhagia have predominantly been included. Objective The aim of our study was to assess gynaecological and obstetrical symptoms in a large unselected cohort of women with moderate and severe VWD, and to investigate whether gynaecological bleeding problems affect quality of life (QoL). Design National cross-sectional study with patients recruited from all 13 Haemophilia Treatment Centers covering the Netherlands (the Willebrand in the Netherlands, WiN Study). Setting and Participants For this analysis, all 423 women aged 16 years or above from the WiN cohort were included. Methods Participants completed a detailed questionnaire, including the SF-36 for QoL and Tosetto Bleeding Score for bleeding severity. Menorrhagia was defined as the occurrence of ≥2 of the following symptoms: subjective excessive menstrual bleeding, loss of blood clots during menstrual bleeding, requirement of iron or blood transfusion, heavy menstrual flow that interferes with daily life, menstrual period that lasts longer than 7 days. Results 274 out of 423 (65%) women had type 1 VWD, 135 (32%) type 2 VWD, 10 (2%) type 3 VWD, and in 4 (1%) type was not specified. Menorrhagia was reported by 79% of the women. The two most frequent symptoms were excessive menstrual bleeding (82%) and loss of blood clots (80%). Women with type 3 VWD compared to women with type 1 and 2 VWD had more days with heavy menstrual bleeding (5 days versus 4 and 3 days respectively, p=0.03) and needed iron suppletion or blood transfusion more frequently (70% versus 43% and 36% respectively, p=0.08). Compared to women without menorrhagia, women with menorrhagia had significantly lower VWF antigen levels (29 vs 34 U/dL, p=0.022) and VWF ristocetin-cofactor levels (17 vs 23 U/dL, p=0.005). Treatment for menorrhagia consisted mainly of oral contraceptives (68%) and/or tranexamic acid (31%). QoL scores of women with menorrhagia were similar to those of women without menorrhagia. However, the subgroup of women with severe menorrhagia (Tosetto Bleeding Score on the menorrhagia item 4), had significantly lower QoL scores compared to women with no menorrhagia (BSmenorrhagia 0) for all four physical domains, the vitality domain, the social functioning domain and the physical component summary. Two domains: bodily pain (difference -17 [CI -25,-8]) and general health perceptions (difference -11 [CI -18,-4]), were clinically relevant with effect sizes ≥ 0.5. For all affected QoL domains, women with menorrhagia who used oral contraceptives or antifibrinolytics had higher scores, reflecting better QoL, than those who were not treated. Of all VWD women, 20% underwent a hysterectomy. In the group of women >40 years even 28% underwent a hysterectomy. The occurrence of postpartum hemorrhage was strongly increased compared to the general Dutch population: 24% vs 4% for primary postpartum hemorrhage, and 4% vs 2% for secondary postpartum hemorrhage. In 52% of the women with VWD who reported pregnancy losses (elective abortions, spontaneous miscarriages and fetal deaths), additional curettage was needed because of bleeding. Conclusion Women with moderate and severe VWD frequently have menorrhagia and bleeding complications during childbirth or after pregnancy loss. These gynecological complaints are associated with a lower QoL. Treatment of menorrhagia with oral contraceptives and tranexamic acid may improve QoL. Disclosures: Mauser-Bunschoten:CSL Behring: Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Meijer:CSL Behring: Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Leebeek:CSL Behring: Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Baxter: Research Funding, round table meetings; Boehringer Ingelheim: Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees.


Since the 1960s, Swedish musicologist Nils Wallin has been exploring man's biological inheritance and its relationship to music. This book, the culmination of these many years of investigation, offers a musicological interpretation of recent research in neurophysiology and paleobiology. A model of music as a natural system which serves as a foundation for the understanding of our musical mind, its capacity, and its phylogenetic roots is proposed. And a unified bio-socio-cultural field theory of music is presented. It is here argued that music creates structures which develop and grow in a manner not unlike the processes controlling the growth of organisms. Thus, music as a system is conditioned by biological microsystems, as well as superior macrosystems of a more complex nature, such as the flow of consciousness and social, political, and economic systems - a natural synergetic system. Wallin's discourse encompasses - the musical consequences of cerebral functional asymmetry; the hierarchic and selective organization of perceptual-cognitive auditory processes; reticular-limbic responses to musical stimuli interpreted as synapse-modifying mechanisms for long-term motivation and learning, as well as for phylogentical learning; the question of remnants or retentions with roots in the sound-gestures of other vertebrates of a higher order (and not solely the non-human primates) being active in the innermost structure of music; vocalization techniques, e.g., the kolning technique of the late Paleolithic herding culture of Europe, as paleobiological retention; and, the epistemological perspective of models of life-processes as discussed in recent scientific research. The paperback edition of 2008 reproduces the work first published in 1992. This title falls in the category of Music/General; and Music/History & Criticism.


Abstract Objective  The aim of this study was to determine the association between clinical/radiographic characteristics and histopathological diagnoses of periapical granuloma and cyst obtained from the teeth treated with endodontic microsurgery. Materials and Methods  The clinical, radiographic (periapical and cone-beam computed tomography), and histopathological data were collected from patients' dental records of endodontic microsurgery on the teeth with periapical lesions. These lesions were histopathologically diagnosed as either granuloma or cyst, at the Endodontic Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, from 2016 to 2021 according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were analyzed using bivariate analysis and a multinomial logistic regression at a significance level of p -value less than 0.05. Results  A total of 83 patients (58 females and 25 males) with an average age of 45 to 49.5 years old met the criteria including 68 periapical granulomas (81.9%) and 15 periapical cysts (18.1%). A periapical lesion involving multiple teeth in a periapical radiograph was significantly associated with the histopathological diagnosis of periapical cyst ( p  < 0.05). Such periapical lesion was six times more likely to be periapical cyst than periapical granuloma. Conclusions  A significant factor for predicting periapical cyst from periapical granuloma was the presence of a periapical lesion with multiple-teeth involvement in a dental radiograph.


Abstract We present the case of a neonatal patient with atrial tachycardia with unusual characteristics – abrupt onset and cessation, non-responsiveness to overdrive, termination by direct cardio-version – in association with an ostium secundum-type atrial septal defect and a large inter-atrial septum aneurysm. Electrocardiographic recordings showed P waves with characteristics suggesting a right low septal origin, which suggested a possible involvement of the septal aneurysm. In dealing with arrhythmias, a thorough echocardiographic evaluation is mandatory to identify underlying structural malformations and to evaluate the hemodynamic status. Further research should be made concerning mechanisms of arrhythmias in patients with an associated atrial septum aneurysm.


ABSTRACT In this study, a two-phase methodology for resource allocation problems under a fuzzy environment is proposed. In the first phase, the imprecise Shannon's entropy method and the acceptability index are suggested, for the first time in the literature, to select input and output variables to be used in the data envelopment analysis (DEA) application. In the second step, an interval inverse DEA model is executed for resource allocation in a short run. In an effort to exemplify the practicality of the proposed fuzzy model, a real case application has been conducted involving 16 cement firms listed in Borsa Istanbul. The results of the case application indicated that the proposed hybrid model is a viable procedure to handle input–output selection and resource allocation problems under fuzzy conditions. The presented methodology can also lend itself to different applications such as multi-criteria decision-making problems.


The turbine rotor inlet temperature of modern aero-engines has continuously increased in order to achieve higher thrust-to-weight ratio and thermal efficiency, which requires higher cooling effectiveness for turbine components. The turbine shroud is exposed to the blade tip leakage flow, and has become a common limiting factor for the turbine stage of advanced aero-engines. The three-dimensional numerical simulation on the unsteady film cooling characteristics of the high-pressure turbine shroud for an aero-engine under the rotor-stator interaction and the high blade rotation speed was conducted. The sliding grid technology was used to realize the relative movement between the turbine blade and the turbine shroud, and the rotor-stator interaction. Effects of the blade rotation, blowing ratios and the film jet direction on the unsteady film cooling performance of the high-pressure turbine shroud were revealed. It is found that the film cooling characteristics of the turbine shroud present an unsteady and periodic phenomenon. The blade tip clearance leakage flow, leakage vortex and mainstream suppression have important effects on the film cooling performance of the high-pressure turbine shroud. More attention should be paid to the insufficient cooling margin of the front row film holes due to coolant jet liftoff from the shroud surface under the high blowing ratio.


Recent studies have shown that text-to-speech synthesis quality can be improved by using glottal vocoding. This refers to vocoders that parameterize speech into two parts, the glottal excitation and vocal tract, that occur in the human speech production apparatus. Current glottal vocoders generate the glottal excitation waveform by using deep neural networks (DNNs). However, the squared error-based training of the present glottal excitation models is limited to generating conditional average waveforms, which fails to capture the stochastic variation of the waveforms. As a result, shaped noise is added as post-processing. In this study, we propose a new method for predicting glottal waveforms by generative adversarial networks (GANs). GANs are generative models that aim to embed the data distribution in a latent space, enabling generation of new instances very similar to the original by randomly sampling the latent distribution. The glottal pulses generated by GANs show a stochastic component similar to natural glottal pulses. In our experiments, we compare synthetic speech generated using glottal waveforms produced by both DNNs and GANs. The results show that the newly proposed GANs achieve synthesis quality comparable to that of widely-used DNNs, without using an additive noise component.


The study of conflict resolution has ballooned in the last few decades, but the literature remains sparse regarding leaders' perspectives of navigating conflict. Currently, researchers have not addressed the conflict experiences of Jamaican church leaders residing in South Florida. Using phenomenology and social construction theory, I explored the lived experiences of this population as they addressed conflict. Twenty-two church leaders were interviewed for an average of 45 to 60 minutes each. The data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed, yielding seven core themes. The study has merit for its useful insights for practitioners. In addition, the study has activated voices in academic literature that might otherwise have been silent.


The present study was carried out in an experimental farm in the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P.) during March to December, 2010. The experiment was laid out in split plot design, comprising of eight different planting dates and two spacing, (viz., 30 × 20 cm and 30 × 30 cm) as sub-plot treatment at monthly intervals from, mid-March to October, 2010. Maximum flower size was recorded for April planting date crop, whereas, June planting date gave the best results for plant height and plant spread. However, maximum number of flowers and maximum yield per plant were recorded in March planted crop. Plant height, plant spread flower size and yield per plant were at maximum in a wider spacing S2 (30 × 30 cm). Maximum number of flowers per plant as well as maximum yield per plant was recorded in March planting at closer spacing S2 (30 × 20 cm).

 Key words: Horticulture, floriculture, flowering, plant.


This paper investigates the process of national identity construction among basic school pupils in Sudan. The paper adopts the assumption that identity can be constructed and negotiated via language. SPINE 3, a textbook of English as a foreign language taught to Grade 8 has been chosen as a representative of language programs implemented at basic level schools in Sudan and thus the main source of data for the study. Issues such as traditions, customs, good values, religion, clothes, food, literature, historical events, famous people, etc, have been carefully considered in terms of their representation in the textbook. A critical discourse analysis approach has been employed in the process of data analysis. Results show that SPINE 3 promote and help construct a national identity among the pupils. Yet, the identity constructed and negotiated through the textbook is based primarily on the Arabic and Islamic culture which is thought to be the most effective unifying factor of the Sudanese nation. As such, PINE 3 completely ignores and marginalize Sudan's rich linguistic, cultural and ethnic heritage. The paper concludes that paying due respect to the cultural and linguistic diversity of Sudan will help realize political and economic settlement in Sudan.


Singular-value decomposition (SVD) [and principal component analysis (PCA)] is one of the most widely used techniques for dimensionality reduction: successful and efficiently computable, it is nevertheless plagued by a well-known, well-documented sensitivity to outliers. Recent work has considered the setting where each point has a few arbitrarily corrupted components. Yet, in applications of SVD or PCA, such as robust collaborative filtering or bioinformatics, malicious agents, defective genes, or simply corrupted or contaminated experiments may effectively yield entire points that are completely corrupted. We present an efficient convex optimization-based algorithm that we call outlier pursuit, which under some mild assumptions on the uncorrupted points (satisfied, e.g., by the standard generative assumption in PCA problems) recovers the exact optimal low-dimensional subspace and identifies the corrupted points. Such identification of corrupted points that do not conform to the low-dimensional approximation is of paramount interest in bioinformatics, financial applications, and beyond. Our techniques involve matrix decomposition using nuclear norm minimization; however, our results, setup, and approach necessarily differ considerably from the existing line of work in matrix completion and matrix decomposition, since we develop an approach to recover the correct column space of the uncorrupted matrix, rather than the exact matrix itself. In any problem where one seeks to recover a structure rather than the exact initial matrices, techniques developed thus far relying on certificates of optimality will fail. We present an important extension of these methods, which allows the treatment of such problems.


Peliosis hepatis, which has previously only been reported in adults, occurred in a chronically ill 11-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis. As in cases in adults, chronic illness, long-term anabolic steroid therapy, and right ventricular congestive failure may well have been the causative factors in this case. Histologically, the phlebectatic and parenchymal types, which were presumed to be separate, were found conjointly in this case. This is compatible with its origin from severe right ventricular congestive failure. The rarity of peliosis, however, indicates that one or more as yet unknown factors might be operative in its development.


We present a probabilistic concept of reaction norms for age and size at maturation, and outline methods that can be used for their estimation in typical fisheries data. Such estimations are critical for calibrating size- and age-structured population models, for understanding phenotypic plasticity and life-history changes in variable environments, and for assessing genetic changes in the presence of phenotypic plasticity. We apply the method of reaction norm estimation to a set of measurements on Northeast Arctic cod collected between 1932 and 1998. This cod stock has shown a drastic reduction in age at maturation. In the 1930's, age at maturation was typically around 10-11 years, whereas nowadays seven years is more usual. This change has been attributed both to fisheries-induced genetic selection for earlier maturation, and to a compensatory response caused by faster individual growth rate. However, previous analyses have been unable to disentangle these hypotheses. Our analysis, based on estimation of maturation reaction norms, shows that both increase in growth rate and change in age- and size-specific tendency to mature have contributed to the observed trend towards earlier maturation. The latter component probably represents a fisheries-induced adaptive genetic change.


Most building performance evaluations only describe whether a building meets certain criteria. In contrast, this report describes the performance of the Kresge Foundation Complex (Complex) in relation to industry‐standard design and operations performance criteria while examining the appropriateness of these criteria for the Complex and similar high‐performance buildings. More specifically, this study examines the Complex's performance in 20 areas. It also highlights potential flaws in human factors, energy use, landscape water use, and acoustics criteria and suggests improvements in biodiversity and stormwater criteria. The Center for the Built Environment (CBE) and associates analyzed the performance of the Complex, a highperformance green project built in 2004 with a Platinum rating in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system for New Construction (LEED‐NC). The CBE team analyzed the following aspects of the Complex: human factors; indoor water use; stormwater management; landscape performance (water use and biodiversity); acoustics; lighting; indoor air quality (IAQ); thermal comfort; energy performance; and first, life‐cycle, and operational costs (Table 1.) CBE used evaluation criteria drawn from industry standards, guidelines, best practices when available, and professional judgment where standards were not definitive or required interpretation. The results were derived from CBE's occupant satisfaction database; the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Performance Measurement Protocols (PMP); LEED‐NC Version 2.1 design criteria; and other relevant criteria for biodiversity,1 operations, and life‐cycle costs. Appendix A contains a complete description of the basis for the scoring for each of the 20 evaluations. Table 1 shows a summary scorecard of the Complex's performance, for all 20 evaluations. The (+) sign indicates conformity with these criteria and performance consistent with what the authors consider appropriate for high‐performance buildings. The (‐) sign indicates nonconformity with relevant criteria or other causes for concern. The building meets or exceeds performance criteria in 14 of the 20 areas evaluated. The occupant survey results in Table 1 were obtained from the CBE Occupant Satisfaction Survey, which is cited in several guidelines and green building rating systems, including LEED‐NC. PMP results in Table 1 are based on ASHRAE's PMP. Although the United States Green Building Council, which developed the LEED‐NC rating system (USGBC 2002), is a coauthor of PMP, PMP differs from the LEED‐NC Version 2.1 rating system under which the building was certified. It describes performance measurement techniques for buildings in operation and is based on industry standards where applicable. It does not cover buildings in design, does not specify performance hurdles, and is not a rating system. Neither does PMP cover site issues. Instead, PMP and other criteria represent a way to evaluate how well the performance objectives of LEED‐NC were achieved.


Silica nanofibres were synthesised by electrospinning a commercially available silica solution with an aqueous 5% poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) solution to produce composite PEO/ silica nanofibres. Using a ratio of 80% PEO solution to 20% silica solution, random nanofibrous silica membrane were produced after being subject to pyrolysis at 800°C for 2 hours. The mean diameter of the silica nanofibres was 256 nm. With a solution of 50% PEO to 50% silica solution, three-dimensional wool-like network of nanofibres was achieved.


Aerosol radiative forcing in the Persian Gulf region is derived from data collected during the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Unified Aerosol Experiment (UAE 2 ). This campaign took place in August and September of 2004. The land–sea-breeze circulation modulates the diurnal variability of the aerosol properties and aerosol radiative forcing at the surface. Larger aerosol radiative forcing is observed during the land breeze in comparison to the sea breeze. The aerosol optical properties change as the onshore wind brings slightly cleaner air. The mean diurnal value of the surface aerosol forcing during the UAE 2 campaign is about 20 Wm 2 , which corresponds to large aerosol optical thickness (0.45 at 500 nm). The aerosol forcing efficiency [i.e., broadband shortwave forcing per unit optical depth at 550 nm, W m 2 (500) 1 ]i s 53 W m 2 (500) 1 and the average single scattering albedo is 0.93 at 550 nm.


e-mail: email@example.com The stressed parts of forming tools are usually made of tool alloy steel X210Cr12 with additional thermal treatment. When machining these parts, due to the high demands on shape and precision, wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) is used, which a method is belonging to the group of non-convention machining technologies. WEDM uses physical principles to cut material, which enables for machining parts which were already thermally treated. The long-term trend of improving precision and quality of the machined surface leads to the necessity of its thorough studying. This study concerns itself with evaluating the morphology of the worked surface using electron microscopy (SEM) and chemical composition analysis (EDX). The focus was to evaluate the quantity of the adhered material from the brass wire electrode. Furthermore, surface and profile parameters of the machined surface were studied using Atomic force microscope (AFM). Samples for the experiment were made of X210Cr12 steel, which was treated with 4 different thermal treatments.


The Marine Mammal Laboratory (MML) conducted aerialand ship-based surveys to count Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pups (~1 mo old) and non-pups (adults and juveniles ≥ 1 year old) on terrestrial rookery and haulout sites in Alaska in June-July 2018. The occupied aircraft survey team conducted their survey from 23 June to 11 July between the Shumagin Islands (161°W) in the western Gulf of Alaska (GULF) region and Tanaga Island (178°W) in the central Aleutian Islands (ALEU) region. The ship-based survey team conducted visual counts and used an unoccupied aircraft system (UAS or drone), to survey from 21 June to 4 July in the Aleutian Islands between Adak Island (176°W) and Attu Island (172°E). In addition, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) counted Steller sea lions from land on Round (Walrus) Island in Bristol Bay (eastern Bering Sea) on 27 June 2018.


The introduction of a novel male stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis of female sheep during seasonal anestrus, leading to the resumption of follicle maturation and ovulation. How this pheromone cue activates pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) is unknown. We hypothesised that pheromones activate kisspeptin neurons, the product of which is critical for the stimulation of GnRH neurons and fertility. During the non-breeding season, female sheep were exposed to novel males and blood samples collected for analysis of plasma LH profiles. Females without exposure to males served as controls. In addition, one hour before male exposure, a kisspeptin antagonist (P-271) or vehicle was infused into the lateral ventricle and continued for the entire period of male exposure. Introduction of a male led to elevated mean LH levels, due to increased LH pulse amplitude and pulse frequency in females, when compared to females not exposed to a male. Infusion of P-271 abolished this effect of male exposure. Brains were collected after the male effect stimulus and we observed an increase in the percentage of kisspeptin neurons co-expressing Fos, by immunohistochemistry. In addition, the per-cell expression of Kiss1 mRNA was increased in the rostral and mid (but not the caudal) arcuate nucleus (ARC) after male exposure in both aCSF and P-271 treated ewes, but the per-cell content of neurokinin B mRNA was decreased. There was also a generalized increase in Fos positive cells in the rostral and mid ARC as well as the ventromedial hypothalamus of females exposed to males. We conclude that introduction of male sheep to seasonally anestrous female sheep activates kisspeptin neurons and other cells in the hypothalamus, leading to increased GnRH/LH secretion.


Background As many drugs are unavailable for paediatric use, hospital pharmacies are often requested to develop suitable formulations. Clonidine is often used in paediatrics (in severe hypertension or in anaesthetic premedication) but no appropriate formulation is available. Purpose We developed an oral solution of clonidine dedicated to children and assessed its physicochemical and microbiological stability. Material and methods Formulation of an oral solution of clonidine hydrochloride was developed using the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), with the least excipients as possible and suitable for neonates and children. The stability study was led according to the GERPAC-SFPC guidelines. At each time point (D0, D1, D7, D15, D29, D60 and D90), the visual aspect (limpidity) was checked. pH and osmolality were measured (using 2 vials). Clonidine concentration was determined using a stability indicating HPLC-UV-DAD method (a previous forced degradation study under acidic, basic and oxidative conditions allowed the detection of 6 degradation products). Microbiological stability was also tested according to the European Pharmacopoeia monograph after assessing that the culture conditions were adequate to inhibit the effect of the preservative agent, and with the most adapted method. Solutions were stored in brown glass bottles with an oral adapter for up to 3 months under two different conditions: at 2–8°C and at 25°C with 60% residual humidity. Results The formulated oral solution was composed of API at a concentration of 10 µg/mL and potassium sorbate (0.3%), citric acid, potassium citrate (pH 5) and sodium saccharine (0.025%). On day 29, the mean percentages of the initial clonidine concentrations (±SD) were 92.95±1.28% in the solution stored at 25°C and 97.44±1.21% when stored at 2–8°C. On day 90, the mean values were, respectively, 81.82±0.41% and 93.66±0.71%. The visual aspect did not change. Physical parameters remained stable during the study: pH varied from 4.94 to 5.09 and osmolality from 82 to 92 mOsm/kg under the two conditions tested. Whatever the storage conditions, <1 microorganism/mL was identified (only environmental microorganisms) with no E coli detected. Conclusion This formulation was stable for at least 3 months when stored at 2–8°C in brown glass bottles and for 1 month when stored at room temperature. The microbiological stability was proven in accordance with the European Pharmacopoeia. No conflict of interest


Background: CDC25B is a cell-cycle regulatory protein, which is considered to be related to tumorigenesis and progression of tumours. Aims: To elucidate the role of CDC25B in glioma, the expression of CDC25B and the association of the CDC25B expression with the clinicopathological parameters were investigated. Methods: Fifty seven gliomas, which included 21 low-grade astrocytomas, 17 anaplastic astrocytomas and 19 glioblastomas, were studied. Protein expressions of CDC25B were evaluated by immunohistochemical methods. Semiquantitative and real-time RT-PCR analyses for the expression of CDC25B mRNA were also carried out. Disease-free survival (DFS) data were analysed by using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: High expression of CDC25B was identified in 18 of the 19 glioblastomas, in 10 of the 17 anaplastic astrocytomas, but not in any of the 21 low-grade astrocytomas. The CDC25B mRNA expression increased with the rise in histological grade. Increased CDC25B expression was correlated significantly with a shorter period of DFS, as shown by multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Patients with an unfavourable clinical outcome are characterised by the increased expression of CDC25B in their glioma samples. Useful clinical information, especially on its relevance as a prognostic indicator, is provided by the evaluation of CDC25B expression in gliomas.


Recent emerging evidence suggests that diabetes is associated with increased incidence of several cancers (e.g., breast, bladder, pancreas, liver) but decreased incidence of others (e.g., prostate). We suggest that the tissue-specific association with cancers is caused by a tissue-specific regulation of angiogenesis in diabetic patients. A well-known aberrant angiogenesis of diabetes (increased neovascularization in some tissues, e.g., retina and kidney, and deficient angiogenesis causing ischemia in others, e.g., skin and myocardium) has been recognized for many years and is the cause of diabetic microvascular complications (retinopathy, neuropathy, cardiomyopathy, and nephropathy). However, the molecular mechanisms of the tissue-specific diabetic angiogenesis are unknown. We have discovered a novel tissue-specific mechanism that is activated by hyperglycemia: the levels of microRNA-467 (miR-467) are upregulated in response to hyperglycemia in mouse breast cancer but not in prostate cancer. miR-467 inhibits production of a potent anti-angiogenic protein thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), and, as a result, angiogenesis is increased in a tissue-specific manner. Our preliminary data identified miR-467 as a regulator of TSP-1 production and angiogenesis in response to hyperglycemia, established a correlation between hyperglycemia-induced tumor growth and miR-467 and TSP-1
 in vivo
 , confirmed the effect of miR-467 on angiogenesis
 in vivo
 and the effect of miR-467 antagonist on hyperglycemia-induced tumor growth. In a mouse breast cancer model, hyperglycemia increased the tumor size 8 fold (0.24 g ± 0.012 vs 0.03 ± 0.002, p = 0.003), miR-467 levels 4 fold increase, and angiogenesis 7-fold (endothelial marker CD31), but decreased TSP-1 levels > 3-fold. When miR-467 antagonist was expressed in breast cancer cells, the changes detected in response to hyperglycemia (increase in angiogenesis, size of tumors and miR-467 levels and decrease in TSP-1 level) were completely prevented.

 We described a tissue-specific mechanism of diabetes-induced cancer growth, which suggests a novel breakthrough approach to block hyperglycemia-induced cancer angiogenesis and growth without affecting physiological angiogenesis.


Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in human resource management (HRM) in the Global South. Design/methodology/approach: Multiple case studies of AI tools used in HRM in these countries in recruiting and selecting as well as developing, retaining and productively utilizing employees have been used. Findings: With AI deployment in HRM, organizations can enhance efficiency in recruitment and selection and gain access to a larger recruitment pool. With AI deployment in HRM, subjective criteria such as nepotism and favoritism are less likely to come into play in recruitment and selection of employees. AI deployment in HRM also has a potentially positive impact on the development, retainment and productive utilization of employees. Research limitations/implications: AI is an evolving technology. Most HRM apps have not gained enough machine learning capabilities with real-world experience. Some of them lack a scientific basis. AI in HRM thus currently affects only a tiny proportion of the population in the GS. Practical implications: The paper explores the roles of AI in expanding recruitment pools. It also advances our understanding of how AI-based HIRM tools can help reduce biases in selecting candidates, which is especially important in the Global South. It also delves into various mechanisms by which AI helps in the development, retainment and productive utilization of employees. Originality/value: We provide details of various mechanisms by which AI brings input and output efficiencies in recruitment and selection in these countries.


Afforestation of forests in South Korea may provide an example of the benefit of afforestation on precipitation storage and erosion control. In this study, we presented the effects of afforestation on water supply and soil loss prevention. A spatio-temporal simulation of forest water yield and soil loss was performed from 1971–2010 using InVEST water yield and SWAT models. A forest stock change map was produced by combining land cover data and National Forest Inventory data. The forest water yield increased about twice with changes in forest stock and climate from 1971–2010 and showed a spatially homogeneous water supply capacity. In the same period, the soil loss decreased more than three times, and the volatility of soil loss, in the 2010s, was smaller than before. The analysis of the change in forest stock without considering climate change showed an increase of 43% in forest water yield and a decrease of 87% in soil loss. An increase in precipitation increased the water yield, but also increased the soil loss volume. A change in forest stock led to positive changes in both. This study presents functional positive effects of the afforestation program in South Korea that can be useful in various afforestation programs in other countries.


ABSTRACT Late Mississippian and early Pennsylvanian flysch sediments of the Ouachita foldbelt of southeastern Oklahoma include turbidites with abundant sole marks and other paleocurrent indicators. Directional readings on sandstones of the Jackfork, Johns Valley, and lower Atoka sequence show that sediment transport was westward, down the axis of the geosyncline and that current directions remained essentially constant during the deposition of 13,000 feet of sediment. A turbidity flow mechanism dominated during sand transport and fallout, although existing oceanic currents may have aided sand distribution. In the Arkoma basin, which adjoins the Ouachita geosyncline on the north, sediment transport was southward across the basin as evidenced by paleocurrent readings on ripple marks and cross bedding. At the south margin of the basin, in a zone 6 to 8 miles wide, paleocurrents were deflected abruptly westward to parallel those of the geosyncline. Facies relations, sedimentary petrology, and paleocurrent studies all indicate that the Ouachita geosyncline derived its sediments from marginal sources. In Oklahoma a substantial amount of the Stanley was derived from the south margin of the geosyncline, as shown by paleocurrent and petrographic studies. Petrographic studies indicate that a significant amount of the Jackfork Sandstone of Arkansas also was derived from the south. Some of the sand for the turbidites was derived from the craton to the north, transported southward across the Eastern Interior basin, and debouched into the Ouachita geosyncline in eastern Arkansas or western Mississippi. Turbidity flows transported the sand down the axis of the trough to the west where it intermingled with sediments from southern sources. > The sole marks of each major thrust plate are parallel to those of adjacent thrust plates, indicating that there was very little rotation of the thrust plates as they moved northward. It seems likely that the Arkoma basin-Ouachita geosyncline transition facies now lies buried beneath the outer edge of the Choctaw thrust plate.


Fractal image compression is promising both theoretically and practically. The encoding speed of the traditional full search method is a key factor rendering the fractal image compression unsuitable for real-time application. The primary objective of this paper is to investigate the comprehensive coverage of the principles and techniques of fractal image compression, and describes the implementation of a pre-processing strategy that can reduce the full searching domain blocks by training the Support Vector Machine which could recognized the self-similar pattern feature to enhance the domain block searching efficiency. In this paper, the novel image quality index (Structure Similarity, SSIM) and block property classifier based on SVM employed for the fractal image compression is investigated. Experimental results show that the scheme speeds up the encoder 15 times faster and the visual effect is better in comparison to the full search method.


CONTEXT
Hirsutism (i.e. facial and body terminal hair growth in a male-like pattern in women) is the principal clinical sign of hyperandrogenism, although its definition remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE
The purposes of the present study were to define 1) the degree of facial and body terminal hair, as assessed by the modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mFG) score, in unselected women from the general population; 2) the effect of race (Black and White) on the same; and 3) the normative cutoff values.

DESIGN AND SETTING
We conducted a prospective observational study at a tertiary academic medical center.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS
Participants included 633 unselected White (n = 283) and Black (n = 350) women presenting for a preemployment physical exam.

INTERVENTIONS
Interventions included history and physical examination.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Terminal body hair growth was assessed using the mFG scoring system; nine body areas were scored from 0-4 for terminal hair growth distribution.

RESULTS
The mFG scores were not normally distributed; although cluster analysis failed to identify a natural cutoff value or clustering of the population, principal component and univariate analyses denoted two nearly distinct clusters that occurred above and below an mFG value of 2, with the bulk of the scores below. Overall, an mFG score of at least 3 was observed in 22.1% of all subjects (i.e. the upper quartile); of these subjects, 69.3% complained of being hirsute, compared with 15.8% of women with an mFG score below this value, and similar to the proportion of women with an mFG score of at least 8 who considered themselves to be hirsute (70.0%). Overall, there were no significant differences between Black and White women.

CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that the prevalence and degree of facial and body terminal hair growth, as assessed by the mFG score, is similar in Black and White women and that an mFG of at least 3 signals the population of women whose hair growth falls out of the norm.


This paper describes a complete design and implementation of a low cost digital controller for a high power LED driver. The main advantages of high efficiency LEDs are their good luminosity, efficiency and long life. Due to these improved behaviour, the number of LED-based applications is increasing. Nowadays, the cost of digital processors is continuously decreasing, and the trend is that still lower costs will be achieved in the future. In addition, digital processors offer extra features, e.g. communication protocols, software protections, and so on. Therefore, this study has an increasing practical interest. Design guidelines for a LED based light supply with digital control are proposed A prototype has been built and tested, and results are shown to validate the design approach.


Background: The effect of IVIG in cancer treatment is likely to be mediated by immune cells that regulate tumor progression. Here we studied the effect of IVIG on tumor development in two immunologically contrasting mouse strains, CBA and C57BL/6. We compared the rate of tumor growth, the number of circulating neutrophils and oxidative characteristics of tumor tissue in IVIG-treated and control mice.

Results: The animals were inoculated with fibrosarcoma S37 cells, and 14 days after inoculation there was a significant difference between IVIG-treated and control mice: IVIG treatment inhibited tumor growth in CBA mice and stimulated it in C57BL/6. The changes in tumor growth rate were associated with biochemical alterations in tumor tissue. According to the data of biochemical tests, IVIG-treatment influenced activity of tissue myeloperoxidase (neutrophil azurophilic granule enzyme) in CBA and C57BL/6 and of some antioxidant enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) in C57BL/6 mice. Neutrophils content was increased in IVIG-treated CBA mice while in C57BL/6 it remained unaltered and significantly lower than in CBA as was shown by direct count on smears.

Conclusions: These results suggest the tight link between the effects of IVIG upon neutrophils and tumor tissue redox balance as a part of regulatory mechanism of tumor growth.


The Durham Triassic Basin in Piedmont North Carolina is a lowland area floored with Triassic rocks and defined on the east and west by older Paleozoic slates and Carboniferous granites. A narrow strip along the western border of the sediments was mapped, and the relationship of the pre-sedimentation and post-sedimentation structural features determined. A reconnaissance method of multiple-surface analysis was used which suggests that linears in the Triassic-crystalline contact are buried fault scarps. The method was also applied to the graphic solution of two otherwise indeterminate rotational fault problems. A figure of 1800 feet is established as the probable minimum amount of erosional stripping in the basin and on the Piedmont since faulting. An integrated structural and geomorphic history for the formation and erosion of the western part of the basin is developed. Evidence suggests that the basin was never much wider than its present western limit and certainly did not extend as far west as the Dan River Triassic Basin.


A detailed study on the surface properties of oleic acid-stabilized PtNi nanoparticles supported on silica is reported. The oleic acid-stabilized PtNi nanoparticles were synthesized using NaBH4 as the reducing agent at various temperatures and oleic acid concentrations, prior to incorporation onto the silica support. X-ray diffraction studies of the unsupported oleic acid-stabilized PtNi particles revealed that the PtNi existed as alloys. Upon incorporation onto silica support, surface properties of the catalysts were investigated using H2-temperature reduction (H2-TPR), H2-temperature desorption (H2-TPD) and H2-chemisorption techniques. It was found that for the bimetallic catalysts, no oxides or very little oxidation occurred. Furthermore, these catalysts exhibited both Pt and Ni active sites on its surface though the availability of Ni active sites was dominant. A comparison of the surface properties of these materials with those prepared without oleic acid in our previous work [N. H. H. Abu Bakar et al., J. Catal. 265, 63 (2009)] and how they affect the hydrogenation of benzene is also discussed.


A diverse range of triazoles were prepared following well established, Cu-mediated azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions with the aim of probing the anti-tubercular structure-activity relationships (SAR) within the β-lactam-ferrocene-triazole conjugate family. The anti-tubercular evaluation studies of the synthesized conjugates revealed that none of the scaffolds exhibited any activity that restricted mycobacterial growth even at high doses. The introduction of various substituents onto the N-1 of the β-lactam ring, introducing mono- or di-ferrocenylchalcone substituents at the C-3 position as well as introducing a spacer of varying chain length failed to produce any significant enhancement in the activity profiles. The described protocol was a successful attempt on the inclusion of a ferrocene nucleus in the β-lactam family tethered via triazole linkers having metabolic stability and physicochemical favourability.


Several biologicals and small molecules have been added to the therapeutic arsenal of inflammatory bowel disease, which generated a wide interest in precision medicine. In this context, both clinical features and laboratory tests have shown some correlation with therapy outcome. Recently, an online clinical decision support tool1 (CDST) was built, using clinical and biochemical variables (e.g. disease location, prior anti-TNF exposure), to help physicians predict the outcome of various biological treatments in Crohn's disease (CD). We sought to evaluate the predictive performance of this tool in patients with CD initiating ustekinumab (UST).

 Baseline data were collected from consecutive CD patients who started UST IV induction followed by eight weekly UST 90 mg SC maintenance from December 2015 through March 2021 at our referral center. The probability of achieving clinical remission (low, intermediate, or high) was determined using the online CDST using patients' data. Also, differences in rates of primary non-response and ustekinumab persistence were compared between CDST classifications. Primary non-response was defined as failing to attain endoscopic response (≥50% decrease in SES-CD) nor clinical response (a drop in the physician global assessment score or patients reported outcome), both assessed at month 6 after UST initiation. Finally, we studied the relation between the individual components used to construct the CDST and the three classifications in a univariate analysis.

 A total of 291 CD patients started UST, of whom 237 had objectively-assessed (CRP, fCal, symptoms or endoscopy) baseline disease activity. Using the CDST, the proportion of patients with "low", "intermediate" or "high" probability to attain clinical remission were 11.8 % (n=28), 55.7 % (n=132) and 32.5 % (n=77), respectively. The CDST could not discriminate patients with primary non-response (p value = 0.18; Figure 1), nor identify trends in drug persistence (p value = 0.44; Figure 2). In the univariate analysis, 3 out of 9 components (active fistulizing disease, disease location and concomitant immunomodulatory use) were not significantly contributing to the CDST classification (Table 1).

 The recently developed clinical decision support tool showed low performance in predicting short-term (primary clinical and endoscopic response) and long-term (drug persistence) real-life outcomes in CD patients starting UST. These findings underscore the necessity of incorporating molecular variables, in addition to clinical ones, to construct reliable and reproducible tools to predict therapeutic outcomes.
 1. https://via.juxlyapps.com/pathway/archemedx/ibd-cdst/index.html#/disease-selection


We describes the architecture and components of the infrastructure in construction for the National Digital Library in Portugal. The requirements emerged from the definition of the services to support, with a special focus on scalability, and from the decision to give a special attention to community building standards, open solutions, and reusable and cost effective components. The generic bibliographic metadata format in this project is UNIMARC, and the structural metadata is METS. The URN identifiers are processed and resolved as simple but very effective PURL identifiers. The storage for immediate access is provided by the LUSTRE file system, and by ARCO, a locally developed GRID architecture, for long term preservation. All these components run on Linux servers, as also the middleware for access based in the FEDORA framework.


We surveyed representative sample of 1,004 adult Poles to check the extent to which they distinguish among the entities operating in the market for personal loans in Poland, how they perceive loans and lending entities, and what is their knowledge on lending/borrowing issues. Particularly, we were interested in getting the insight into the fragment of the market that is operated by personal loan companies, with special emphasis on the profile of the average (statistical) borrower. Our examination was motivated by the controversies surrounding the law amendment started in Poland in 2015 in order to regulate the fraction of the consumer credit market represented by personal loan companies. By utilizing logistic and multivariate linear regression models with variables obtained from our survey, we tested whether the legal reform was well-informed and well-addressed. We found that Polish households have serious problems with distinguishing various entities that provide loans to private individuals and that such problems manifest even greater problem of material shortcomings in Poles' debt literacy. We also evidenced low public trust to lending entities, particularly to loan companies. In the light of the findings the law amendment is well-grounded, however it should be supported by actions aimed at enhancing households' financial literacy.


Certain bioinformatics research, such as sequence alignment, alternative splicing, protein function/structure prediction, gene identify, bio-chip data analysis, and so on, requires massive computing power, which is hardly available in a single computing node. In order to facilitate bioinformatics research, we have designed and implemented a distributed and parallel computing environment with grid technology, in which, biologists can solve bioinformatics problems using distributed computing resources in parallel and reduce execution time. In this environment, the computing power and program information of computing nodes are described with XML documents. A web service named Local Resource Management Service is deployed on each computing node so that the distributed resources can be accessed in a uniform manner. With an API suite, biologists can use distributed computing resources in parallel easily in their applications. Further more, users can monitor the status of distributed resources dynamically on the portal. A real use case of alternative splicing is also presented, through which we have analyzed the usability, efficiency, and stability of the environment.