The purpose of this paper is twofold. From the viewpoint of communications engineering, it presents a model of certain random perturbations that appear to come in clusters, or bursts. This will be achieved by introducing the concept of "self-similar stochastic point process in continuous time." The resulting mechanism presents fascinating peculiarities from the mathematical viewpoint. In order to make them more palatable as well as to help in the search for further developments, the basic concept of "conditional stationarity" will be discussed in greater detail than would be strictly necessary from the viewpoint of the immediate engineering problem of errors of transmission. This work is related to an earlier "new model" due to J. M. Berger and the author; the logical structure of the theory has been further streamlined and a number of fresh consequences have been derived; the empirical fit has been further improved, while recourse to ad hoc corrective terms was made unnecessary.


In a field study, circulating thyroid hormones, their free forms and indices of energy and lipid metabolism were measured in blood samples of 16 dairy cows expressing detectable oestrus signs. The cows were divided into two equal groups according to their days in milk (DIM=53-90 and DIM=100-150). In each group, 4 cows expressed the oestrus signs normally and the others were induced by hormone injection. Serum thyroxin (T4), free thyroxin (fT4), triiodothyronine (T3), free triiodothyronine (fT3), glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglyceride (TAG), cholesterol, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL-cholesterol), low density lipoproteins (LDL- cholesterol) and high density lipoproteins (HDL-cholesterol) were investigated. Comparison of all oestrus cows (normal or induced) between DIM groups (n=8 each) revealed lower levels of T4 (P=0.027) and T3 (P=0.022), but higher concentrations of fT4 (P=0.031) and fT3 (P=0.006) in the cows with lower DIM. Higher concentrations of TAG and VLDL (P=0.021) and cholesterol (P=0.046) as well as a tendency (P=0.074) for lower levels of BHB were other remarkable findings in cows with lower DIM. In cows with DIM=53-90, the normal oestrus cows had higher levels of T3 (P=0.044) as well as tendencies (P=0.083) for higher T4 and lower fT4 compared with induced cows. In cows with DIM=100-150, however, no significant difference was observed between the normal and induced oestrus cows. In conclusion, the cows that express oestrus signs normally may have better metabolic and thyroid hormone conditions compared to those that express heat by hormone injection. With progress in DIM, however, such differences may become less evident.


The digital PWM modulator circuit is capable of varying the duty cycle of the output (PWM) according to the digital input word. A digitally controlled current starved pulse width modulator is described. The current from the power grid to the ring oscillator is controlled by a header circuit. By changing the header current, the pulse width of the switching signal generated at the output of the ring oscillator is dynamically controlled, permitting the duty cycle to vary between 25% and 90%. A duty cycle to voltage converter is used to ensure the accuracy of the system under process, voltage and temperature (PVT) variations. A ring oscillator with two header circuits is proposed to control both duty cycle and frequency of the operation. Analytic closed form expressions for the operation of a PWM are provided. The proposed PWM is appropriate for dynamic voltage scaling systems due to the small onchip area and high accuracy under PVT variations. The header circuit controls the amount of current delivered to the pMOS transistors within the ring oscillator. This header circuit provides a high granularity duty cycle. It provides a duty cycle in constant frequency. Here digital to analog converter using digital pulse width modulator is designed. .


Background: The World Health Organization in approximation, reported that in 2007, about 33 million people were HIV infected globally, and approximately 2.5 million were newly infected, even as over 2 million died of AIDS despite all the huge prevention and intervention strategies in place. Although, there seems to be insufficient data regarding Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection prevalence in rural communities of Niger Delta as reported by many scholars in the region. The aim of this present study therefore, was to investigate the seroprevalence rate/prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection in Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni LGA of Rivers State.
Methods: In this Cross-sectional study, a total of 1,484 subjects with age range of>15 years were screened for Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection in Omoku General Hospital and Erema General Hospital, all in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State of Nigeria. Result.
Results: The result of the study showed an overall prevalence rate of 10.6%. The highest Human Immunodeficiency Virus seropositive infection occurred in age group 21-26years (30.6%) with a prevalence rate of 3.23%. The female had the highest prevalence of 7.61% while the male stood at 2.96%. There was no statistical significant difference (X2=0.002; P>0.05) in prevalence based on marital status, even as the married had a prevalence of 5.73% while singles had 4.85% respectively.
Conclusion: This study showed that inspite of the massive Human Immunodeficiency Virus campaign advocacies in the urban cities in the region, there is still much to be done especially in the rural villages in the region. This calls for intensified efforts on health education on the risk factors and strong awareness on attitudinal change program of the citizens. The need to strengthen the strategy of antiretroviral therapy provision in the rural villages would help to reduce Human Immunodeficiency Virus related mortality and morbidity in the infected persons in Niger Delta Communities.


Choriocarcinoma is a highly malignant tumor of trophoblastic origin. Primary fallopian tube choriocarcinoma is an extremely rare occurrence, especially in women over 50 years of age. This article concerns a case of tubal choriocarcinoma developing in a 54-year-old woman, which the authors present together with a brief review of the literature. The woman presented with irregular vaginal bleeding for two months, following three months of amenorrhea. Transvaginal dopolar and pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan showed an adnexal cystomic-solid mass. Her serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels were 29,1116 mIU/ml. The patient underwent hysterectomy and bisalpingo-oophorectomy. Histology was suggestive of tubal choriocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry tests were positive for the hCG, Ki 67, CK, PLAP, and negative for CD30, supporting the diagnosis of choriocarcinoma. A combination of 5-Fu and KSM was administrated postoperatively. After four cycles of chemotherapy, her serum hCG level fell to the normal range. The patient remains disease-free 14 months after disease diagnosis.


The issue of environmental sustainability, which is unprecedented in both magnitude and complexity, presents one of the biggest challenges faced by modern society. Engineers, including mechanical engineers, can make significant contribution to the development of solutions to this problem by designing products and processes that are more environmentally sustainable. It is critical that engineers take a paradigm shift of product design i.e. from cost and performance centered to balance of economic, environmental, and societal consideration. Although there have been quite a few design for environment (DfE, or ecodesign) tools developed, so far these tools have only achieved limited industrial penetration: they are either too qualitative/subjective to be used by designers with limited experiences, or too quantitative, costly and time consuming and thus cannot be used during the design process specially during the early design stage. This paper develops a novel, semi-quantitative ecodesign tool that targets specially on early design process. The new tool is a combination of environmental life cycle assessment, working knowledge model, and visual tools such as QFD, functional-component matrix, and Pugh chart. Redesign of staplers is selected as a case study to demonstrate the use of the proposed tool. Efforts are on going to confirm that the new design generated using this new tool does have improved environmental performance.Copyright © 2009 by ASME


Abstract Maternal obesity programmes offspring development. We addressed maternal obesity effects induced by high-fat diets on maternal mammary gland (MG) structure and function and offspring brain, liver and fat outcomes. Mothers were fed control (C, n 5) or obesogenic (MO, n 5) diet from the time they were weaned through pregnancy beginning at 120 d, through lactation. At offspring postnatal day (PND) 20, milk leptin and nutrients were determined. At the end of lactation, maternal liver and MG fatty acid profile were measured. Desaturase (Δ6D and Δ5D) and elongase (ELOVL 5 and ELOVL 2) protein was measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting (WB) in the liver and WB in the MG. In mothers, liver, MG and milk fat content were higher in MO than in C. Liver arachidonic acid (AA) and EPA and MG EPA were lower in MO than in C. Liver desaturases were higher in MO. The MG was heavier in MO than in C, with decreased Δ5D expression in MO. Desaturases and elongases were immunolocalised in parenchymal cells of both groups. Milk yield, water, carbohydrate content, EPA and DHA were lower, whereas milk leptin and AA were higher in MO than in C. At PND 21 and 36, brain weight was less and fat depots were greater in MO offspring than in C. MO decreased male absolute brain weight but not female absolute brain weight. In conclusion, maternal obesity induced by an obesogenic diet negatively affects maternal liver and MG function with the production of significant changes in milk composition. Maternal obesity adversely affects offspring metabolism and development.


Listings should contain'all relevant details and be posted, faxed or emailed to Jane Pearce, Nursing Standard, Nursing Standard House, 17-19 Peterborough Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 2AX. Fax: 020 8872 3195. email: firstname.lastname@example.com.


Aortic size index (ASI) has been proposed as a reliable criterion to predict risk for aortic dissection in Turner syndrome with significant thresholds of 20-25 mm/m(2). We report a case of aortic arch dissection in a patient with Turner syndrome who, from the ASI thresholds proposed, was deemed to be at low risk of aortic dissection or rupture and was not eligible for prophylactic surgery. This case report strongly supports careful monitoring and surgical evaluation even when the ASI is < 20 mm/m(2) if other significant risk factors are present.


Given a formula /spl Phi/ in quantifier-free Presburger arithmetic, it is well known that, if there is a satisfying solution to /spl Phi/, there is one whose size, measured in bits, is polynomially bounded in the size of /spl Phi/. In this paper, we consider a special class of quantifier-free Presburger formulas in which most linear constraints are separation (difference-bound) constraints, and the nonseparation constraints are sparse. This class has been observed to commonly occur in software verification problems. We derive a solution bound in terms of parameters characterizing the sparseness of linear constraints and the number of nonseparation constraints, in addition to traditional measures of formula size. In particular, the number of bits needed per integer variable is linear in the number of nonseparation constraints and logarithmic in the number and size of nonzero coefficients in them, but is otherwise independent of the total number of linear constraints in the formula. The derived bound can be used in a decision procedure based on instantiating integer variables over a finite domain and translating the input quantifier-free Presburger formula to an equisatisfiable Boolean formula, which is then checked using a Boolean satisfiability solver. We present empirical evidence indicating that this method can greatly outperform other decision procedures.


In this short note we consider necessary and sufficient conditions on normed linear spaces, that ensure the boundedness of any linear map whose adjoint maps extreme points of the unit ball of the domain space to continuous linear functionals.


A total of 13 barley genotypes were grown in a Randomized Complete Block Design using 6 replications to study the effect of pre-anthesis water deficit on plant height, peduncle length and spike length. Significant differences were observed amongst genotypes regarding all the characters studied. Genotypic variability was higher than the G X E. Results indicated diverse effect of the non-stressed and stressed environments overall genotypes on the studied traits. At non-stress condition, mean plant height was (67 cm) and was significantly higher than the stressed environment. Overall treatments, Morex was the tallest plant and had the longest peduncle (77.6 cm and 3.78 cm, respectively). Whereas Ubi is the shortest and MF had the shortest peduncle. Tadmor had the longest spike (7.95 cm) while Steptoe had the shortest spikes.


Dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI) following bolus injection of gadolinium contrast agent (CA) is widely used for the estimation of brain perfusion parameters such as cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and mean transit time (MTT) for both clinical and research purposes. Although it is predicted that DSC-MRI will have superior performance at high magnetic field strengths, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports of 7 T DSC-MRI in the literature. It is plausible that the transfer of DSC-MRI to 7 T may be accompanied by increased R2* relaxivity in tissue and a larger difference in ΔR2*-versus-concentration relationships between tissue and large vessels. If not accounted for, this will subsequently result in apparent CBV and CBF estimates that are higher than those reported previously at lower field strengths. The aims of this study were therefore to assess the feasibility of 7 T DSC-MRI and to investigate the apparent field-strength dependence of CBV and CBF estimates. In total, 8 healthy volunteers were examined using DSC-MRI at 7 T. A reduced CA dose of 0.05 mmol/kg was administered to decrease susceptibility artifacts. CBV, CBF, and MTT maps were calculated using standard DSC-MRI tracer-kinetic theory. Subject-specific arterial partial volume correction factors were obtained using a tail-scaling approach. Compared with literature values obtained using the tail-scaling approach at 1.5 T and 3 T, the CBV and CBF values of the present study were found to be further overestimated. This observation is potentially related to an inferred field-strength dependence of transverse relaxivities, although issues related to the CA dose must also be considered.


PARP-1 is involved in multiple cellular processes, including transcription, DNA repair, and apoptosis. PARP-1 attaches ADP-ribose units to target proteins, including itself as a post-translational modification that can change the biochemical properties of target proteins and mediate recruitment of proteins to sites of poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis. Independent of its catalytic activity, PARP-1 binds to chromatin and promotes compaction affecting RNA polymerase II transcription. PARP-1 has a modular structure composed of six independent domains. Two homologous zinc fingers, Zn1 and Zn2, form the DNA-binding module. Zn1-Zn2 binding to DNA breaks triggers catalytic activity. Recently, we have identified a third zinc binding domain in PARP-1, the Zn3 domain, which is essential for DNA-dependent PARP-1 activity. The crystal structure of the Zn3 domain revealed a novel zinc-ribbon fold and a homodimeric Zn3 structure that formed in the crystal lattice. Structure-guided mutagenesis was used here to investigate the roles of these two features of the Zn3 domain. Our results indicate that the zinc-ribbon fold of the Zn3 domain mediates an interdomain contact crucial to assembly of the DNA-activated conformation of PARP-1. In contrast, residues located at the Zn3 dimer interface are not required for DNA-dependent activation but rather make important contributions to the chromatin compaction activity of PARP-1. Thus, the Zn3 domain has dual roles in regulating the functions of PARP-1.


Southeast Asia has experienced unprecedented growth and development as a result of market-led and export-driven policies over the last thirty years. This has had pulled millions out of poverty and drastically improved living standards over the course of a single generation. As industry becomes more diversified, job requirements demand more complex and sophisticated skills. Strong vocational education programmes at the local level can play a significant role in helping national economies to adjust to changes in the labour market, advances in technology and challenges associated with globalisation.This report on Building local responsiveness in employment and skills systems in Southeast Asia presents learnings from local case studies in Thailand, Viet Nam, Malaysia and the Philippines in an effort to showcase successful examples of partnerships between employers and the vocational education system. It draws from local experiences to provide policy makers with practical advice for the implementation of vocational education programmes.


Background: Migration, intersectoral flows, early retirement, illness and premature death of General Practitioners (GPs), maintaining adequate and effective workforce has become a major challenge in many countries. The present study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the departure of physicians from the GPs field in developing countries.Methods: We used qualitative research and performed as a conventional content analysis through in-depth interview. Sampling method was purposeful sampling which was performed with variation in individuals include policy makers and different situation in GPs (including immigration, unemployment, specialty student, employment in other non-medical jobs, etc.). Lincoln and Guba evaluation method were used to determine the validity and reliability of the study. The conceptual model was used to illustrate the situation and deeper understanding of the problemResults: The results of the interviews showed, eight themes, 22 sub-themes were identified as factors influencing tendency GPs to other states. Major themes included income, referral system, specialization, human resource policy-making, education related issues, working environment conditions, quality of life and community attitude. The causal relationships were shown inside and outside each theme in the conceptual model.Conclusion: According to the results, there are various factors that lead people out of the field of GP and their tendency to different states, while lack of awareness of policy makers and officials can make decisions for years to come. A wide range of interventions is recommended to reduce these stimuli include pre-selection reforms such as "information about physicians' working conditions", during academic training such as "changing hospital education to clinic education and rural community experience" and after entering areas of the medical profession such as "defining the career path for physicians 'distribution and physicians' career development" and long-term reforms include fundamental reforms to promote family medicine referral and change community attitudes.


This article explores the ways in which the inherited fragmentation of public services and associated delivery arrangements are being addressed in Scotland. Specifically, the article considers the modernization of an established part of local governance — land use planning, and a novel articulation of modernization through community planning. There are important differences between them, yet they share common interests in securing the integration of service. Through a synthesis of research evidence, emerging policy documentation and consultation responses, we address three questions. First, is the emphasis on integration in both land use planning and community planning helping to address the fragmented state? Second, how are land use planning and community planning adapting to local circumstances? Third, what is the nature of the relationship between these different attempts to plan for local communities? The article considers to what extent this turn to integration within and between land use planning and community planning is constructive.


Augmentation mammaplasty is a common and safe plastic surgery procedure, but it is not free from complications. Galactocele after augmentation mammaplasty is rarely described in the literature. We discuss the case of a 34-year-old woman who had been taking sulpiride for 2 years and 4 months and developed galactocele approximately 100 days after augmentation mammaplasty. However, diagnosis should be suspected if breast size increases and it is associated with postoperative local heat, pain or breast discomfort. We believe that the surgeon must surgically drain galactocele to confirm diagnosis, especially to exclude the presence of breast abscess. ■ ABSTRACT


Global Talent seeks to examine the utility of skilled foreigners beyond their human capital value by focusing on their social capital potential, especially their role as transnational bridges between host and home countries. Gi-Wook Shin and Joon Nak Choi build on an emerging stream of research that conceptualizes global labor mobility as a positive-sum game in which countries and businesses benefit from building ties across geographic space, rather than the zero-sum game implied by the "global war for talent" and "brain drain" metaphors. The book empirically demonstrates its thesis by examination of the case of Korea: a state archetypical of those that have been embracing economic globalization while facing a demographic crisis-and one where the dominant narrative on the recruitment of skilled foreigners is largely negative. It reveals the unique benefits that foreign students and professionals can provide to Korea, by enhancing Korean firms' competitiveness in the global marketplace and by generating new jobs for Korean citizens rather than taking them away. As this research and its key findings are relevant to other advanced societies that seek to utilize skilled foreigners for economic development, the arguments made in this book offer insights that extend well beyond the Korean experience.


Two major categories of CDMA signature codes, namely unitary codes and complementary codes, are of interest. All currently available 2-3G CDMA systems make use of the unitary codes, such as Gold codes, m-sequences, Walsh-Hadamard sequences and OVSF codes, all of which work on a one-code-per-channel basis. On the other hand, a CDMA system based on complementary codes works on a flock-of-codes basis. Each user in such a CDMA system is assigned a flock of codes which should be sent to a receiver via different carriers to reconstruct perfect autocorrelation and crosscorrelation functions. A comprehensive analytical study of a STBC-CDMA system using different spreading codes is given and their bit error rate performance is evaluated and compared with both analysis and simulation under Rayleigh fading and multiple-access interference. The results reveal that a STBC-CDMA system based on complementary codes offers a capacity similar to that achievable in a noise-limited system, while a STBC-CDMA system based on traditional unitary codes suffers serious interference-limited problems even with full STBC diversity gain.


Instagram, with more than 1 billion monthly users, is the go-to social media platform to chronicle one's life via images, but how are people using the platform to present visual content about HIV? We analyzed public Instagram posts containing the hashtag "#HIV" (because they are self-tagged as related to HIV) between January 2017 and July 2018. We described the prevalence of co-occurring hashtags and explored thematic concepts in the images using automated image recognition and topic modeling. Twenty-eight percent of all #HIV posts included hashtags focused on awareness, followed by LGBTQ (24.5%) and living with HIV (17.9%). However, specific strategies were rarely cited, including testing (10.8%), treatment (10.3%), PrEP (6.2%) and condoms (4.1%). Image analyses revealed 44.5% of posts included infographics followed by people (21.3%) thereby humanizing HIV and stigmatized populations and promoting community mobilization. Novel content such as the handwriting image-theme (3.8%) where posters shared their HIV test results appeared. We discuss how this visual content aligns with public health priorities to reduce HIV in the US and the novel, organic messages that public health could help amplify.


ASTRUP CO., a distributor of fabrics to the awning, marine, casual furniture, and sports industries, was established in 1876 by Danish sailmaker Wm. J. O. Astrup, who had come to the U.S. and settled in Cleveland 10 years earlier. The company began as a manufacturer of sails for Great Lakes ships, but as sails became obsolete Astrup turned increasingly to the manufacture of other canvas products, especially the awnings which were growing in popularity with home and business owners. Describing himself as an awningmaker, by 1883 Astrup had moved his operations to 1114 Pearl Rd. (2937 W. 25th St.), which remained the company's location in 1995. In addition to manufacturing awnings, Astrup began to make and sell awning hardware; in the 1890s he added tents to his line of products. Incorporated in 1909 as the Astrup Co., the firm passed into the hands of one of the founder's sons, Walter C. Astrup, after the death of Wm. J. O. Astrup in 1915. By 1956 annual sales topped $10 million, and the Astrup Co. had become the country's largest manufacturer of awning hardware and distributor of awning fabric and canvas. After Walter Astrup's death in 1970, company leadership remained with the family, with 2 of his nephews, Kenneth W. Kirk and John D. Kirk, serving as officers. In 1983 the son of John D. Kirk, John H., took over as president. In 1995, with John H. Kirk still serving as CEO, Astrup employed 275 people, maintaining 11 warehouses across the U.S. and one in Canada.


PURPOSE
To study the effect of integrin αvβ6 on the proliferation and apoptosis of thyroid carcinoma cells.

METHODS
The experiment was conducted on 3 groups : the control group, the positive observation group (in which the ανβ6 on the surface of the thyroid carcinoma cell line SW579 was blocked by monoclonal antibody 10D5) and the negative observation group (in which the ανβ6 was dealt with the negative placebo of 10D5-the IgG2a). Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay, apoptosis by flow cytometry and the protein levels in Caspase-3, CyclinB1 and Bcl-xl as well as the protein levels in ERK, p-ERK, JNK, p-JNK, p38 and p-p38 were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS
The cell survival rates of the control group and the negative observation group were prominently higher than those of the positive observation group, following decrease in the apoptosis rates, and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). The protein levels in CyclinB1 and Bcl-x1 of the control group and the negative observation group were prominently higher than those of the positive observation group, whereas the levels in Caspase-3 were decreased; the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). The protein levels in p-ERK, p-JNK and p-p38 of the control group and the negative observation group were prominently higher than those of the positive observation group, while the protein levels of ERK, JNK and p38 showed no difference.

CONCLUSION
Integrin ανβ6 can mediate the MAPK signal pathway of the cells and regulate the expression of CyclinB1 and the apoptosis-related proteins like Bcl-x1 and Caspase-2, thus affecting the process of the proliferation and apoptosis of thyroid carcinoma cells.


Many real processes are composed of a n-fold repetition ofsome simpler process. If the whole process can be modelledwith a neural network, we present a method to derive a modelof the basic process, too, thus performing not only a systemidentificationbut also a decomposition into basic blocks.Mathematically this is equivalent to the problem of computingiterative or functional roots: Given the equation F(x)=f(f(x))and an arbitrary function F(x) we seek a solution for f(x). Solvingthis functional equation in a closed form is an exceptionallyhard problem and often impossible, even for simplefunctions. Furthermore there are no standard numerical methodsavailable yet. But a special topology of multilayer perceptronsand a simple addition to the delta rule of backpropagationwill allow most NN tools to compute good approximationseven of higher order iterative roots.Applications range from data analysis within chaos theory(many chaotic systems are derived from iterated functions) tothe optimization of industrial processes, where productionlines like steel mills often consist of several identical machinesin a row.


Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine how the sexuality of young people with intellectual disability (ID) are constructed, based on how school counselors describe the situatuation of these youths and based on how the counselors describe their role in giving advice and discussing sex and relationships. The empirical data were collected through semi-structured interviewes with seven scool counselors and one consultant. The material was analyzed on the basis of theories about sexual script, stigma and social constructivism. The results showed that school counselors saw the young people with ID as a vulnerable group and as a group worthy of protection. Most of them had a picture of young girls as more vulnerable than young boys. Several counselors talked about the lack of knowledge about sex and relationships regarding young people with ID. The counselors had generally an open approach towards young people with ID and their sexuality and they worked in several different ways to try to meet the needs of young people. Among other things, by talking about relationships and desire, but also the ability to set limits.Keywords: youth, intellectual disability, school counselors, sex and relationshipsNyckelord: unga, intellektuell funktionsnedsattning, kurator, sex och samlevnad


In consideration of the new features of Optical Transport Networks (OTN), the failure detection and localization has become a new challenging issue in OTN management research area. This paper proposes a scheme to detect and locate the failures based on the optical power analysis. In failure detection section of the scheme, this paper propose a method to detect the performance degradation caused by possible failures based on real optical power analysis and build a status matrix which demonstrates the current optical power deviation of the fiber port of each node in OTN. In failure localization section of the scheme, this paper proposes the multiple failures location algorithm (MFLA), which deals with both single point failure and multi-point failures, to locate the multiple failures based on analyzing the status matrix and the switching relationship matrix. Then, an exemplary scenario is given to present the result of detecting and locating the fiber link failure and OXC device failure with the proposed scheme.


Since 1968's Night of the Living Dead, zombie culture has steadily limped and clawed its way into the center of popular culture. Today, zombies and vampires have taken over TV shows, comic books, cartoons, video games, and movies. Zombies, Vampires, and Philosophy drags the theories of famous philosophers like Socrates and Descartes into the territory of the undead, exploring questions like: Why do vampires and vegetarians share a similar worldview? Why is understanding zombies the key to health care reform? And what does "healthy in mind and body" mean for vampires and zombies? Answers to these questions and more await readers brave enough to make this fun, philosophical foray into the undead.


Objectives: To compare transvaginal ultrasound with water contrast (TVUWC) with computed tomography-based virtual colonoscopy (CTC) in the detection of bowel stenosis grade in patients affected by deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). Methods: IDEA criteria were used to assess DIE ultrasonographic stadiation. Patients suspected to have a rectosigmoidal localisation at the TVU (performed with a GE Voluson E8) underwent TVUWC and CTC to estimate and quantify bowel stenosis grade by percentage. Both the examination were performed and reported by high qualified sonographers and radiologists, experienced in instrumental detection and stadiation of DIE. Results: 28 patients were recruited. The two techniques showed a good concordance: CTC detected 8 (34,8%) bowel stenosis > 50%; 7 (30.4%) of them were either detected by the TVUWC examination. Stenosis < 50% was reported in 15 (65.2%) and 16 (69.6%) cases by CTC and TVUWC respectively, with a diagnostic accuracy of 85.7%. Related to CTC, TVUWC showed a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 90%; positive predictive value was 75% while the negative one was 90%. Conclusions: Our preliminary data suggest a strong concordance between TVUWC and CTC in the detection and estimation of bowel stenosis in patient affected by recto-sigmoidal DIE. We expected to apply TVUWC as a valid first line technique, alternative to CTC in addressing patient to surgery, in consideration of its simpler execution, lower costs and risks for the patient. More data are worth to be studied related to the histological data (gold standard).


The history of the University of Canterbury in its first hundred years is published to commemorate the University's centennial in 1973. It gives a critical account of the government, administration and financing of the University and its forerunner, Canterbury College; of its academic achievement in teaching and research; of the life of the University as a community; and of its relations with the wider community beyond its walls. It emphasizes the rapid growth of the University in the last quarter-century and attempts to capture the spirit of each phase of its past, not least by pen sketches of many of the personalities who helped to mould its character. The volume is divided into three chronological Parts and an Epilogue. Part I, which carries the story up to 1918, is the work of Mr W.J. Gardner, a Canterbury graduate and at present a Reader in History in the University. Mr E.T. Beardsley, the University's Information Officer, wrote Part 2 (1918-48) and Professor T.E. Carter, Head of the Department of German, wrote Part 3 (1949-73). The book was edited by Professor N.C. Phillips, formerly Head of the Department of History and now Vice-Chancellor and Rector, who also wrote the Epilogue, which forms Part 4. It is fully documented and contains 32 pages of illustrations.


Jeffrey Steingarten is to food writing what Bill Bryson is to travel writing. Whether he is hymning the joys of the perfect chip, discussing the taste of beef produced from Japanese cows which are massaged daily and fed on sake, or telling us the scientific reasons why salad is a 'silent killer', his humour and his love of good food never fail. The questions he asks (like 'Why aren't the French dropping like flies?') will challenge everything you assume you know about what you eat, yet his characteristic wit imparts masses of revelatory information in the most palatable of ways. A must for everyone who's ever enjoyed a meal - this book contains everything you ever wanted to know about food, but were too hungry to ask...


Grounded in the innovation diffusion literature and the resource-based theory, this paper develops an integrative research model for assessing the diffusion and consequence of e-business at the firm level. Unlike the typical focus on adoption as found in the literature, we focus on postadoption stages, that is, actual usage and value creation. The model thus moves beyond dichotomous "adoption versus nonadoption" and accounts for the "missing link"--actual usage--as a critical stage of value creation. The model links technological, organizational, and environmental factors to e-business use and value, based on which a series of hypotheses are developed. The theoretical model is tested by using structural equation modeling on a dataset of 624 firms across 10 countries in the retail industry. To probe deeper into whether e-business use and value are influenced by economic environments, two subsamples from developed and developing countries are compared. The study finds that technology competence, firm size, financial commitment, competitive pressure, and regulatory support are important antecedents of e-business use. In addition, the study finds that, while both front-end and back-end capabilities contribute to e-business value, back-end integration has a much stronger impact. While front-end functionalities are becoming commodities, e-businesses are more differentiated by back-end integration. This is consistent with the resource-based theory because back-end integration possesses the value-creating characteristics of resources (e.g., firm specific, difficult to imitate), which are strengthened by the Internet-enabled connectivity. Our study also adds an international dimension to the innovation diffusion literature, showing that careful attention must be paid to the economic and regulatory factors that may affect technology diffusion across different countries.


This article explores the 'lack of meaning' in contemporary society as a consequence of Western dualist thought paradigms and ontologies, via Gilles Deleuze's concept of 'reac tive nihilism' following the colloquial murder of God. The article then explores processual and new materialist approaches in the understanding of the lived and carnal self, arguing for immanent and senseful materiality as an ethical platform for religious, environmental, and societal soli darity for tomorrow. For the theoretical justifica tion of the processual approach in understand ing the enfleshed self, the article employs John Dupré's processual approach in the philosophy of biology, as well as Astrida Neimani's critical posthumanism, and contextualizes these consid erations with Erich Fromm's ethical distinction of being and having.


Long-term survival after organ transplantation is increasing and as a result, health practitioners across multiple disciplines are encountering more patients with complications of transplantation. Immunosuppressive treatment is associated with an increased risk of various cancers, including skin cancers. Regular outpatient dermatological review of solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) is routine in South Australia, however at present, no data exists to outline the frequency of review required in a tertiary setting for these patients. We carried out a single-centre retrospective series to examine which transplant recipients were at highest risk of developing skin cancer and at what point in time post transplant. The clinical outcome was to identify a set of patient criteria and recommend a time-effective protocol for dermatology outpatient skin cancer surveillance of SOTRs. Our results support increasing age, time since transplant and male gender as risk factors for the development of skin cancer post solid organ transplantation. Our series did not identify any risk factors for multiple skin cancers, but it did demonstrate that in our SOTR population, nearly 2/3 of those who develop one skin cancer will develop at least a second. Our results also demonstrate over half of second skin cancers occur by 1 year and nearly all within 3 years from the first skin cancer detection. Our results are consistent with a number of larger publications. This study provides evidence to support the current practice of annual full skin examination of all patients following transplantation for the first 8 years post transplantation. Once a skin cancer is detected, follow up every 6-12 months would be an appropriate initial practice, and increased to 3-6 monthly after a second skin cancer occurs.


It's hard to believe now, but not long ago economists were congratulating themselves over the success of their field. Those successes — or so they believed — were both theoretical and practical, leading to a golden era for the profession. On the theoretical side, they thought that they had resolved their internal disputes. Thus, in a 2008 paper titled "The State of Macro" (that is, macroeconomics, the study of bigpicture issues like recessions), Olivier Blanchard of M.I.T., now the chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, declared that "the state of macro is good." The battles of yesteryear, he said, were over, and there had been a "broad convergence of vision." And in the real world, economists believed they had things under control: the "central problem of depression-prevention has been solved," declared Robert Lucas of the University of Chicago in his 2003 presidential address to the American Economic Association. In 2004, Ben Bernanke, a former Princeton professor who is now the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, celebrated the Great Moderation in economic performance over the previous two decades, which he attributed in part to improved economic policy making. Last year, everything came apart.


tempt at exhaustive discussion of pathophysiology or treatment. The basic differential diagnosis and common treatment are outlined. The chapter on the clinical oral examination is one of the most complete published and reflects the dentist's viewpoint. Likewise, several chapters are devoted to periodontal or dental disease. Clinical leukoplakia is discussed along with the important normal variants. Of the 16 chapters, oral premalignant and malignant conditions are limited to one chapter. Of course, this does not reflect the head and neck surgeon's main clinical interest, but the large amount of space devoted to benign conditions is the strength of the book. Clinical recognition is often preferable to obtaining biopsies of confusing lesions. To this end the book is richly illustrated with color and black/white photographs. Very little space is devoted to histopathology. The book is simply written but well referenced. It has value as a basic reference for paraprofessionals as well as dentists and physicians. Chapters are devoted to oral manifestations of systemic diseases as well as neuropsychiatric illness. This orientation makes it particularly valuable for the generalist as well as the specialist who has occasion to examine the oral cavity.


Lower vertebrates are interesting models for comparative prostaglandin studies. The greater diversity of products and the role of environmental temperature in regulating production and effect allows better understanding of the evolution of these important hormones.


This paper describes the role of multimicronutrients on improving better pregnancy outcomes. Multimicronutrients are vitamins and minerals needed for normal body function, growth and development. There are 6 vitamins and minerals involved in heme synthesis, namely Cu, vitamin B2, folic acid, vitamin B12, Fe and vitamin B6 which are the main components in the formation of red blood cells and ensure the availability of oxygenation supply in the tissues. There are 6 vitamins and minerals involved in implantation and placentation, namely vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, vitamin B1, vitamin B3 and vitamin D. There are 3 vitamins and minerals that work in overactivation of the regulatory growth pathways of the mother, Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin (mTOR) namely zinc, iodine and vitamin A which will stimulate placental expression and regulate GLUT-1 in the tissue so that the affinity for glucose increases. There are 2 vitamins that play an important role in glucose metabolism and which can affect the availability of energy for the fetus, namely vitamin D and zinc. There are 3 vitamins and minerals that play a role in the synthesis of myelin and regulate the release of neurotransmitters for brain growth, namely folic acid, zinc and iodine, Fe, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and vitamin C, and vitamin E. The administration of MMN also optimizes the collaboration network between antioxidants (antioxidant network), which occurs between all antioxidants through their respective mechanisms in counteracting free radicals. There is a synergistic relationship between vitamin C, E, ß-carotene, selenium, and zinc as antioxidants.


Two series of variants of influenza PR8-S virus have been described. While all retain the same degree of pathogenicity for mice and fertile eggs, there was a progressive loss in the ability of the variants to provoke antibody following vaccination or infection of mice and ferrets. The immunogenicity of the variants was, therefore, less than that of the original strain. Although little or no serological relationship could be demonstrated between some of the variants and the PR8-S virus a considerable degree of cross-immunity could be demonstrated in the cross-protection tests with these viruses if observations were based solely on death or survival of the mice. By employing the occurrence of lesions in the lung and the titer of virus in the lung 48 hours after challenge, the amount of cross-protection in mice could be related to the amount of serological cross-reaction. In general mice vaccinated with PR8-S virus were less resistant to infection with the variant viruses than mice vaccinated with variants and challenged with the PR8-S parent virus. The role of the immune environment of the host in the production of the variant influenza viruses with their serological differences, decreasing antigenicity, and persisting pathogenicity as well as the epidemiological implications of these findings with respect to epidemic influenza in man are discussed.


The Teamwork CASE tool allows Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) to be maintained for structured analysis. Fermilab has extended teamwork under UNIX{trademark} to permit Hatley and Pirbhai Architecture Flow Diagrams (AFDs) to be associated with DFDs and subsequently maintained. This extension, called TWKAFD, allows a user to open an AFD, graphically edit it, and replace it into a TWKAFD maintained library. Other aspects of Hatley and Pirbhai's methodology are supported. This paper presents a quick tutorial on Architecture Diagrams. It then describes the user's view of TWKAFD, the experience incorporating it into teamwork, and the successes with using the Architecture Diagram methodology along with the shortcomings of using the teamwork/TWKAFD tool. 8 refs.


Background: In response to the hurricane-related deaths of nursing home residents, there has been a steady increase in the number of facilities that evacuate under storm threat. This study examined the effects of evacuation during Hurricane Gustav on residents who were cognitively impaired. Methods: Nursing homes in counties located in the path of Hurricane Gustav were identified. The Minimum Data Set resident assessment files were merged with the Centers for Medicare enrollment file to determine date of death for residents in identified facilities. Difference-in-differences analyses were conducted adjusting for residents' demographic characteristics and acuity. Results: The dataset included 21,255 residents living in 119 at risk nursing homes over three years of observation. Relative to the two years before the storm, there was a 2.8 percent increase in death at 30 days and a 3.9 percent increase in death at 90 days for residents with severe dementia who evacuated for Hurricane Gustav, controlling for resident demographics and acuity. Conclusions: The findings of this research reveal the deleterious effects of evacuation on residents with severe dementia. Interventions need to be developed and tested to determine the best methods for protecting this at risk population when there are no other options than to evacuate the facility.


The influence of corporations in the political arena is a timely issue. Funding for political campaigns by corporate entities has increased dramatically in the past ten years, and lobbying continues to be a growth industry. A few firms have recently taken positions on controversial political issues, such as the President of Chick-fil-A sanctioning opposition to same-sex marriage. The 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, holding that many restraints on corporate involvement in contests for federal political office are an unconstitutional infringement on a corporation's constitutional right to free speech, has made it easier for corporations to get involved in the political arena. This Essay offers one perspective on how to bring issues related to the role of the firm in the political arena and, in particular, the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United into the introductory business associations course.


§** The smeared stiffness-based method is examined for finding the best stacking sequence of laminated composite wing structures with blending and manufacturing constraints . In this method, numbers of plies of the pre-defined angles (0, 90, 45 and -45 degrees) are design variables, buckling, strain and ply angle percentages are constraints and the material volume is the objective function at the global level . The ply shuffling to satisfy global blending and manufacturing constraints is performed at the local level to match zero values of lamination parameters. The latter requirement is due to the ply angle homogeneity through the stack that is assumed in the top level optimization. This integrated process utilizing the smeared stiffness technique and lamination parameters is demonstrated by the optimization of the root part of a generic aircraft wing structure. The local level optimization can be seen as a postprocessing phase for determining the detailed ply-book of the laminate.


Objective
To define the types and numbers of inpatient clinical decision support alerts, measure the frequency with which they are overridden, and describe providers' reasons for overriding them and the appropriateness of those reasons.

Materials and Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study of medication-related clinical decision support alerts over a 3-year period at a 793-bed tertiary-care teaching institution. We measured the rate of alert overrides, the rate of overrides by alert type, the reasons cited for overrides, and the appropriateness of those reasons.

Results
Overall, 73.3% of patient allergy, drug-drug interaction, and duplicate drug alerts were overridden, though the rate of overrides varied by alert type (P < .0001). About 60% of overrides were appropriate, and that proportion also varied by alert type (P < .0001). Few overrides of renal- (2.2%) or age-based (26.4%) medication substitutions were appropriate, while most duplicate drug (98%), patient allergy (96.5%), and formulary substitution (82.5%) alerts were appropriate.

Discussion
Despite warnings of potential significant harm, certain categories of alert overrides were inappropriate >75% of the time. The vast majority of duplicate drug, patient allergy, and formulary substitution alerts were appropriate, suggesting that these categories of alerts might be good targets for refinement to reduce alert fatigue.

Conclusion
Almost three-quarters of alerts were overridden, and 40% of the overrides were not appropriate. Future research should optimize alert types and frequencies to increase their clinical relevance, reducing alert fatigue so that important alerts are not inappropriately overridden.


A separation scheme for lead and uranium is described. Before the separation of lead, uranium was collected using columns with a conventional method, namely, the separation and collection of uranium were conducted using 6 M and 0.5 M hydrochloric acid, respectively. This process separated lead from iron, thallium, and probably bismuth, which would suppress lead ionization in a thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS). For lead separation, columns with a low ratio of height over inner diameter (H 10 mm, i.d. 4 mm) were employed to strip lead quickly from the resin (AG1-X2 and AG1-X8). Furthermore, 7 M nitric acid was adopted as the eluent instead of the commonly used 6 M hydrochloric acid to achieve a quantitative recovery of lead. These improvements enable us to collect lead with only 0.35 mL of 7 M nitric acid for both types of resin. Recoveries using this method obtained by the measurement of GSJ standard rock samples JA-2 and JA-3 were 96.4% and 99.7%, respectively. Total procedure blanks in two separate runs were 13 pg and 15 pg, respectively. It is therefore suggested that this method is suitable for separation and purification of lead for quantitative and isotopic analyses of geological materials.


Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. Despite tremendous advances in medical and surgical management of glaucoma in the recent years, the prevalence of glaucoma related blindness is anticipated to increase in the future decades because of the aging population. Stem cells have the potential to change the glaucoma management in several ways. There are several areas of active research to use stem cell-, and of course gene-, therapy in the field of glaucoma. One well-known target is to regenerate and repopulate the retinal ganglion cells, which are the main site of damage in glaucoma. Currently, several successful animal model of such a treatment are available. Another area of active research is to use stem cells as a source for neuro-protective agents for retinal ganglion cells; this is a very promising approach to the glaucoma treatment as neuro-protection is a long desired option for the management of the disease. Last but not the least, there are highly interesting recent publications on the use of stem cell to repopulate the trabecular meshwork with healthy, functional cells. This choice seems to be an etiologic treatment for the most common type of glaucoma, namely primary open angle glaucoma, in which increased resistance of trabecular outflow to drainage of aqueous humor is the underlying cause of increased intraocular pressure and consequent optic nerve damage. In this lecture, the above-mentioned topics would be covered briefly and some potential area for future researches would be suggested with a local perspective.
Keywords: Glaucoma, Stem cell, Retinal ganglion cells.


The hardening behaviour of Cr-Mo-Mn-Cair-hardening cast tool steel was investigated by using an electron microprobe analyser (EPMA), a transmission electron microscope (TEM), an energy dispersive X-ray diffraction spectrometer (EDS), as well as scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results obtained in the present investigation showa significantly different behaviour in the Cr-Mo-Mn-Cair-hardening cast tool steel. It is concluded that the performance of (Fe. Cr).C dissolution and (Cr. Fe).C3 reprecipitation during austenitizing is a key factor controlling the hardening behaviour as well as ultimate hardness obtained in air cooling,


Traditional media sources have adopted Twitter as a canal to broadcast information across digital audiences. This study has the objective of analyzing the characteristics of the tweets published by Spanish media sources during the twelve months in which presidential electoral processes took place. This was done to test the differences in the use of this platform, according to the content of the coverage, and the phase in which it was published. Our research uses a quantitative methodology, where we used computerized content analysis for Twitter publications that different media made during 2015 and 2016. Our results revealed a promotional use of tools such as the hashtag, or mentions in media with less followers. At the same time, political information was characterized by containing a higher use of mentions and statements by the candidates, especially during the election campaigning, favoring the creation of echo chambers in the political Twittersphere.


Indonesian ginger production rate decreased 13.3% per year in the last decade, and put Indonesia into a position to the 14 ginger exporter countries which was originally the main exporting country, due to the decline rate of productivity during the period 2004-2011. Over the periode of 2004 to 2011, the decline productivity reached of 5,88% per year and harvested area 2,03% per year. The decline productivity as the impact of the use of carelessly seed, pest and disease, application of unappropriate cultivation techniques, climate change, and competition with more profitable commodities, so that influences to the rate of planted area. To be able to compete in the free market, the strengthening of farmer capital and infrastructure improvements policy along with assistance for the implementation of cultivation techniques in accordance to the GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), and the use of of superior varieties, healthy seeds, and socialization good agriculture practices needs to be done. In the future, research to generate high yielding varieties resistant to pest and bacterial wilt disease and high moisture, as well as cultivation technology that can overcome climate change should be carried out. Key words : ginger, production, export, determinats factor


This paper uses Ethiopian data to explore credit rationing in semi-formal credit markets and its effects on farmers' resource allocation and crop productivity. Credit rationing -- both voluntarily and involuntarily -- is found to be widespread in the sampled rural villages, largely because of risk-related factors. Political and social networks emerge as key determinants of access to credit among smallholder, peasant farmers. Significant regional variation emerges as well. In high-potential, surplus producing areas where credit is largely used for agricultural production, eliminating credit constraints is estimated to increase productivity by roughly 11 percentage points. By contrast, in low-productivity, drought prone areas where loans were rarely used to acquire inputs for crop production, the authors find no relationship between credit rationing and agricultural productivity. To be effective, efforts to improve agricultural productivity not only need to increase credit supply, but also explore the reasons for credit rationing and the availability of productive opportunities.


Abstract The 13th IUPAC International Symposium on Organometallic Chemistry Directed Towards Organic Synthesis (OMCOS-13) was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 17-21 July 2005. The aim of this series of symposia is to bring together chemists from academia and industry to define and discuss the most recent developments in the areas of catalysis, new organometallic reagents and reactions, and new materials chemistry. In 2001, Sharpless, Noyori, and Knowles received the Nobel Prize for their work in this area of chemistry; and the high profile has been maintained by the award of the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Chauvin, Grubbs, and Schrock for the development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis. OMCOS-13 had a record number of nearly 1200 participants from 41 countries, and there was an encouragingly high proportion of young scientists in attendance. Very strong Asian participation at this conference reflected the outstanding level of research and leadership in this field from countries such as Japan, China, South Korea, and Taiwan. Prof. Shengming Ma, from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Science and the Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, China received the OMCOS-13 Award (sponsored by the Yen Chuang Foundation and Springer Verlag). The prize was awarded for his creative research contributions in the field of transition-metal-catalyzed reactions of allenes. Apart from the OMCOS-13 Award lecture, there were 23 plenary lectures and 20 oral communications that dealt with aspects of reactivity and chemoselectivity of main group and transition-metal organometallics. Stereoselectivity issues also figured prominently with a particular emphasis on asymmetric synthesis and catalysis. Mechanistic insights, new reagents for synthesis, new catalyst and ligand design, and ligand effects were other important topics. The quality of the 620 posters that were on display during the entire conference was also outstanding. This extraordinary poster session was highlighted with the Monday evening "poster party" and culminated in the awarding of 37 poster prizes. OMCOS-13 was held as a single session conference in an impressive lecture theater and a large exhibition area in the center of Geneva at a superb lakefront location. It was a fitting venue for the firstclass science that was presented. Thirty-seven lecturers of OMCOS-13 present their chemistry in this issue of Pure and Applied Chemistry and provide a fine recollection of last summer's conference. The 14th edition of OMCOS will be held in Nara, Japan (2-6 August 2007) under the chairmanship of Prof. Koichiro Oshima. Alexandre Alexakis OMCOS-13 Co-chair E. Peter Kündig OMCOS-13 Co-chair


It is achieved a clinical diagnosis of sensory or motor impairment of the roots of the equisetum in a patient for whom he underwent several imaging studies suggested that the clinical and imaging diagnosis of a equisetum syndrome, as it is done by nodular thickening in the conus medullaris and equisetum. It was determined to study nuclear magnetic resonance equipment under field, permanent magnet resonator, opened, Magnetom C model, from German firm "Siemens", of 0.35 teslas and spin-echo sequences T1 and T2 techniques.


The availability of land cover data at local scales is an important component in forest management and monitoring efforts. Regional land cover data seldom provide detailed information needed to support local management needs. Here we present a transferable framework to model forest cover by major plant functional type using aerial photos, multi-date Système Pour l'Observation de la Terre (SPOT) imagery, and topographic variables. We developed probability of occurrence models for deciduous broad-leaved forest and needle-leaved evergreen forest using logistic regression in the southern portion of the Wyoming Basin Ecoregion. The model outputs were combined into a synthesis map depicting deciduous and coniferous forest cover type. We evaluated the models and synthesis map using a field-validated, independent data source. Results showed strong relationships between forest cover and model variables, and the synthesis map was accurate with an overall correct classification rate of 0.87 and Cohen's kappa value of 0.81. The results suggest our method adequately captures the functional type, size, and distribution pattern of forest cover in a spatially heterogeneous landscape.


Warming ocean temperatures are considered to be an important cause of the degradation of the world's coral reefs. Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been proposed as one tool to increase coral reef ecosystem resistance and resilience (i.e. recovery) to the negative effects of climate change, yet few studies have evaluated their efficacy in achieving these goals. We used a high resolution 4 km global temperature anomaly database from 1985–2005 and 8040 live coral cover surveys on protected and unprotected reefs to determine whether or not MPAs have been effective in mitigating temperature‐driven coral loss. Generally, protection in MPAs did not reduce the effect of warm temperature anomalies on coral cover declines. Shortcomings in MPA design, including size and placement, may have contributed to the lack of an MPA effect. Empirical studies suggest that corals that have been previously exposed to moderate levels of thermal stress have greater adaptive capacity and resistance to future thermal stress events. Existing MPAs protect relatively fewer reefs with moderate anomaly frequencies, potentially reducing their effectiveness. However, our results also suggest that the benefits from MPAs may not be great enough to offset the magnitude of losses from acute thermal stress events. Although MPAs are important conservation tools, their limitations in mitigating coral loss from acute thermal stress events suggest that they need to be complemented with policies aimed at reducing the activities responsible for climate change.


Purpose: This study was designed to investigate whether nutritional supply influences biochemical markers and clinical outcomes in patients who received continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) by evaluating adequacy of nutritional supply for patients. Methods: From January 2012 to December 2013, 239 adult patients who received CRRT in the intensive care unit for more than 3 days were included. General information from electronic medical records and nutritional status related biochemical data and clinical outcomes on the first day of CRRT and 2 weeks after CRRT were collected. Results: The rate of delivered energy and protein was 68.06% and 43.13% which was much lower than energy and protein supply based on their requirement. When the patients were divided into two groups according to 70% of energy received rate and 50% of protein received rate, the group with more than 70% of energy received rate showed significant decrease of length of hospital stay (p = 0.007), length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) (p = 0.008), duration of CRRT (p < 0.001), and APACHE II score (p < 0.001) compared to less than 70% of energy received rate after adjusting for age. In addition, the group with more than 50% of protein received rate showed decreased mortality (p = 0.031), length of hospital stay (p = 0.008), length of ICU stay (p = 0.035), duration of CRRT (p < 0.001), and APACHE II score (p < 0.001) after adjusting for age. We found that the level of hematocrit (p = 0.006) was significantly improved in the group with more than 70% of energy received rate, and the level of TLC (p = 0.049), hematocrit (p = 0.041) was significantly improved in the group with more than 50% of protein received rate. We also found that energy delivery was negatively correlated with length of stay in ICU (p = 0.049) and positively correlated with level of calcium (p = 0.037). In addition, protein delivery was correlated with the levels of serum total protein (p = 0.021), serum albumin (p = 0.048), hematocrit (p = 0.009), and total cholesterol (p = 0.021) when dead patients were included, but was correlated with the levels of hematocrit (p = 0.034) and calcium (p = 0.024) when dead patients were excluded. Conclusion: Proper nutritional delivery may help patients" clinical outcomes for patients receiving CRRT. However, their actual intakes of energy and protein were not adequate for their requirements. Identification of patients with malnutrition is necessary and a multidisciplinary approach for systemic management is also required.


A serosurvey carried out in 2006 in Mayotte, a French overseas collectivity in the Indian Ocean, confirmed previous circulation of dengue virus (DENV) on the island, but since the set up of a laboratory-based surveillance of dengue-like illness in 2007, no case of DENV has been confirmed. In response to an outbreak of DENV-3 on Comoros Islands in March 2010 surveillance of dengue-like illness in Mayotte was enhanced. By September 15, 76 confirmed and 31 probable cases of DENV have been identified in Mayotte. In urban and periurban settings on the island, Aedes albopictus is the predominant Aedes species, but Ae. aegyptii remains the most common species in rural areas. Given the epidemic potential of dengue virus in Mayotte, adequate monitoring including early detection of cases, timely investigation and sustained mosquito control actions remain essential.


The intentional or accidental release of airborne chemical, biological, or radiological materials can pose a significant threat to the health of building occupants. Pre-planning and emergency response measures, such as HVAC system manipulation and sheltering during an event, can significantly reduce the exposure of building occupants. A straightforward and comprehensive vulnerability assessment methodology is an essential tool for assisting building managers and operators in preparing for airborne hazards.


In this paper, we present a comprehensive study on the operation of an antenna-coupled THz bolometer based on a micro-machined SOI-CMOS thermal sensor. The pixels are designed to operate at room temperature in vacuum. We focus on a new planar skirt antenna, which combines high sensitivity within a 0.6-1.2 THz band and 30 ° HPBW. We present an overview of the design considerations, as well as the characterization results which were obtained with both broadband and CW THz sources. The NEP of the pixel is of the order of 25 pW/Hz 1/2, with responsivity 100 mA/W at the optimal operating point. The peak responsivity to a broadband THz signal is 600 mA/W. The ease of integration with a read-out circuit and the low power dissipation make this type of pixel a good candidate for focal plane array architecture.


Some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), particularly those with a high molecular mass, have been classified as probably being carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The significance of the determination of PAHs is reflected by the special attention the European Union is paying to regulating their maximum allowed levels in various types of foodstuffs. Like tobacco and smoked meats, alcoholic drinks can also contain these carcinogenic chemicals, as the latter have been detected in the charred insides of barrels, some ingredients such as caramel or the smoke released during the drying of germinated barley in beer or whisky. This paper determined the contents of seven PAHs in alcoholic beverages of variable alcoholic strength that had been aged in charred barrels for different times (months, years). The aim was to elucidate the dependence of the formation of seven PAHs on the type of charring (traditional or convective) used and the charring intensity (light, medium or heavy). Based on the results, the way the tree raw material is toasted strongly influences PAH levels in alcoholic drinks; thus, traditional charring produces increased amounts of PAHs from the wood relative to convective toasting. The sum of the analysed PAH concentrations in the aged alcoholic beverages studied ranged from zero for a white wine to 172 ng l(-1) for a 'brandy de jerez solera'. The carcinogenic indicator benzoapyrene was found at concentrations below 10 ng l(-1). These PAH concentrations in alcoholic beverages are very low relative to those in smoked and char-broiled foodstuffs. Any health hazards, however, can be minimized by using convective toasting to manufacture the barrels where the drinks are to be aged.


Glucosinolates (GSLs) and their hydrolysis products (GHPs) are of great interest within the scientific community. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are one type of hydrolysis product that have efficacy against some forms of cancer and prevention of some neurodegenerative disorders. They can also have potent effects upon pests and diseases of crops, and give rise to the characteristic tastes and flavours of many commonly consumed Brassicales crops. The genetic mechanisms underlying GSL biosynthesis and regulation of GHPs are well elucidated in the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana, and research over the last fifteen years has also greatly expanded knowledge within Brassica spp. There are of course many hundreds of GSL-producing species within the Brassicales order, with potentially very different and/or advanced mechanisms of GSL biosynthesis, metabolism, and catabolism. This paper summarises the current understanding of GSL biosynthesis, and highlights areas of exploration beyond the 'Arabidopsis and Brassica bubble' of GSL research. Novel GSLs, and the gene encoding proteins that regulate their biosynthetic pathways, could greatly enhance our knowledge of Brassicales phytochemistry, evolution, and natural history if given more attention.


This study was carried out to assess the pattern of presentation and treatment of Dental Caries- related cases among children and adolescence presenting in Paediatric Dentistry clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. The clinical records of enrolled 1251 patients aged 16 years and below who presented with caries or its sequelae and treated at the Paediatric Dentistry clinic between June 2004 and June 2008 were analysed using the Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth/ decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT/dmft) index to evaluate dental caries. The total mean DMFT/dmft of the study group was 1.46 with highest mean dmft amongst those aged 0-6 years. More females (55.3%) presented at the clinic than males (44.7%). Age 7 (10.5%) had the highest frequency in the study which had a mean age of 9.3. Acute apical periodontitis (45.6%) was the highest diagnosed condition followed by dental caries (44.2%), dento-alveolar abscess (5.8%), irreversible pulpitis (3.9%) and the least was chronic pulpitis (0.1%). Early childhood caries (ECC) accounted for about 28.9% of the entire study group. Extraction was the most frequently carried out treatment procedure (52.4%). Glass ionomer restoration constituted 27.2%, Amalgam 9.4% of the treatment rendered and Pulp therapy (Pulp capping, Pulpotomy, Pulpectomy and Root canal therapy) constituted 2.4%, 2.3%, 3.7%, and 2.5% respectively. In conclusion, we found that the most of the children presenting with caries related problems had acute apical periodontitis (45.6%) with caries conditions affecting mostly a single tooth (71.5%). The study also found that the 0- 6 years age group with early childhood caries (ECC) had the highest dmft of 1.65 and is an indication poor early dental attendance and need for strong preventive strategies. The study also showed extraction (52.4%) as the highest mode of treatment further reinforcing the need for early oral health education and screening. Keywords : Dental Caries, Caries Sequelae, Early Childhood Caries, Treatment, Benin City


Background: Free jejunal transfer (FJT) is a standard method of reconstruction after total pharyngo-laryngo-cervical esophagectomy (TPLE) in patients with advanced head and neck cancer. However, it is related to various degrees of postoperative swallowing dysfunction. This study aimed to assess whether the tensed and straight FJT method results in a reduced rate of postoperative dysphagia compared with historical controls. Methods: Patients who were undergoing FJT after TPLE for squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx or cervical esophagus were enrolled. The primary endpoint was the rate of not developing dysphagia within 6 months of the surgery, and we compared this value with that obtained from historical data of patients who underwent FJT. The secondary endpoint was the rate of developing surgical complications. Results: Although 128 patients were registered between August 2012 and July 2015, 7 were excluded based on the exclusion criteria. Of the remaining 121 patients, FJT with the craniocaudally tensed and straight method was performed in all patients. The rate of not developing dysphagia and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were 66.1% and 57.0–74.5%, respectively. The lower limit of the CI was higher than the prespecified threshold value of 50.0%. The rate of developing complications of total necrosis of the jejunum was 3.3%, cervical infection was 9.9%, and major anastomotic leakage was 4.1%. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that the proportion of postoperative dysphagia decreased in patients who underwent tensed and straight FJT. This method may become the standard surgical method in reconstruction of defects after TPLE.


Content platforms (e.g., newspapers, magazines) post several stories daily on their dedicated social media pages and promote some of them using targeted content advertising (TCA). Posting stories enables content platforms to grow their social media audiences and generate digital advertising revenue from the impressions channeled through social media posts' link clicks. However, optimal scheduling of social media posts and TCA is formidable, requiring content platforms to determine what to post; when to post; and whether, when, and how much to spend on TCA to maximize profits. Social media managers lament this complexity, and academic literature offers little guidance. Consequently, the authors draw from literature on circadian rhythms in information processing capabilities to build a novel theoretical framework on social media content scheduling and explain how scheduling attributes (i.e., time of day, content type, and TCA) affect the link clicks metric. They test their hypotheses using a model estimated on 366 days of Facebook post data from a top 50 U.S. newspaper. Subsequently, they build an algorithm that allows social media managers to optimally plan social media content schedules and maximize gross profits. Applying the algorithm to a holdout sample, the authors demonstrate a potential increase in gross profits by at least 8%.


Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a devastating manifestation of coronary artery disease. For patients who are initially resuscitated and are admitted to an intensive care unit, mortality is high. Roughly half of all patients die, primarily due to neurological injury. In recent years, some improvement in outcomes has been seen, perhaps in some part due to interventions performed in hospital. This thesis consists of four papers that examine different aspects of post-cardiac arrest care. Paper I – A retrospective study of 84 patients with both in-hospital and out-of hospital cardiac arrest examines the potential utility of Heparin-binding protein as a prognostic biomarker. HBP, an early marker of circulatory failure in sepsis was generally elevated after cardiac arrest, primarily very early after ROSC. Levels of HBP were associated with critical illness as assessed by the SOFA-score. HBP had a modest ability to predict neurological outcome. Paper II – A post-hoc analysis of the TTM-trial studied the use of early coronary angiography for patients without ST-elevation on their initial ECG. Out of 939 patients included in the TTM-trial, 544 did not have initial ST-elevation. Among these patients 46% received a coronary angiography within 6 hours of arrest, obstructive coronary artery disease was common, as evidenced by 101 patients who received a percutaneous coronary intervention. In an adjusted analysis neither survival nor a good neurological outcome were associated with the use of an early coronary angiography. Results were similar in a propensity score analysis. Paper III – Based on the hypothesis that targeted temperature management is primarily efficacious for patients with severe brain damage, paper III examined the relationship between the effect of targeted temperature management at 33°C and 36°C in relation to no flow-time. There was no significant interaction between no flow-time and temperature. Using adjusted predictions there was no evidence that a target temperature of 33°C was more effective for patients with long no-flow times. Paper IV – There is conflicting evidence regarding if target temperature management to 33°C is associated with an increased risk of infections. Whether infections after cardiac arrest are associated with mortality in also debated. In paper IV, a post-hoc analysis of the TTM-trial, the incidence of infections was not significantly higher among patients treated at 33°C as compared to 36°C. However, there was a trend towards more infections in the 33°C group. In a multivariate analysis, infections


Numerical simulation of stochastic biochemical reaction networks has received much attention in the growing field of computational systems biology. Systems are frequently modeled as a continuous–time discrete space Markov chain, and the governing equation for the probability density of the system is the (chemical) master equation. The direct numerical solution of this equation suffers from an exponential growth in computational time and memory with the number of reacting species in the model. As a consequence, Monte Carlo simulation methods play an important role in the study of stochastic chemical networks. The stochastic simulation algorithm (SSA) due to Gillespie has been available for more than three decades, but due to the multi– scale property of the chemical systems and the slow convergence of Monte Carlo methods, much work is currently being done in order to devise more efficient approximate schemes. In this thesis we review recent work for the solution of the chemical master equation by direct methods, by exact Monte Carlo methods and by approximate and hybrid methods. We also describe two new and conceptually different numerical methods to reduce the computational time when studying models using SSA. A hybrid method is proposed, which is based on the separation of species into two subsets based on the variance of the copy numbers. This method yields a significant speed-up when the system permits such a splitting of the state space. A different approach is taken in an algorithm that makes use of low-discrepancy sequences and the method of uniformization to reduce variance in the computed density function.


Disaster responders treat more than just the immediate emotional and psychological trauma of victims: they empower individuals and families to heal themselves long into a disaster's aftermath. This requires helping survivors to rebuild their ability to meet their emotional and psychological needs, not only for themselves but also for others, which necessitates a careful consideration of survivors' social, economic, and political realities as their communities heal and recover. This comprehensive book integrates Western mental health approaches and international models of psychosocial capacity building within a social ecology framework, providing practitioners and volunteers with a blueprint for individual, family, group, and community interventions. Joshua L. Miller focuses on a range of disasters at local, regional, national, and international levels. Global case studies explore the social, psychological, economic, political, and cultural issues affecting various reactions to disaster and illustrate the importance of drawing on local cultural practices to promote empowerment and resiliency. Miller encourages developing people's capacity to direct their own recovery, using a social ecology framework to conceptualize disasters and their consequences. He also considers sources of vulnerability and how to support individual, family, and community resiliency; adapt and implement traditional disaster mental health interventions in different contexts; use groups and activities to facilitate recovery as part of a larger strategy of psychosocial capacity building; and foster collective grieving and memorializing. Miller's text examines the unique dynamics of intergroup conflict and the relationship between psychosocial healing, social justice, and peace and reconciliation. Each chapter ends with a mindfulness exercise, and a section reviews practitioner self-care.


High-index and low-index thin-film antireflection (AR) coatings for use at 355 nm have been tested to determine their resistance to laser damage. All coatings consisted of dielectric materials which were vacuum deposited onto bowl-feed polished Suprasil II by evaporation. Laser damage studies were made by irradiating several sites on each sample with a 0.6 ns, 355 nm laser pulse. Each site was irradiated by only one pulse. High-index coatings were made with both a high-index material and a low-index material. The high-index materials chosen for this study were scandia (Sc/sub 2/O/sub 3/), hafnia (HfO/sub 2/), and zirconia (ZrO/sub 2/), while the low-index materials were silica (SiO/sub 2/) and magnesium fluoride (MgF/sub 2/). All coatings had four non-quarterwave thick layers plus a halfwave-thick undercoat (barrier layer) of the low-index material. Average damage threshold values for four samples of each type ranged from 2.4 J/sq cm to 3.1 J/sq cm. Coatings made from scandia/magnesium fluoride had the highest damage thresholds. Low-index coatings contained only low-index materials. The low-index materials chosen for this study were samarium fluoride (SmF/sub 3/), lanthanum fluoride (LaF/sub 3/) thorium fluoride (ThF/sub 4/), silica, magnesium fluoride, and lithium fluoride (LiF). AR coatings containing three to six quarterwave-thick layers plusmore » a halfwave-thick barrier layers were made from nine combinations of these six materials. Average damage threshold values for four to six samples of each type ranged from <1.0 J/sq cm to 2.8 J/sq cm. Coatings made from samarium fluoride/magnesium fluoride had the highest damage thresholds. One set of four scandia/silica coatings was measured at both 355 nm and 248 nm. Damage thresholds at 248 nm for these parts were determined using 20 ns laser pulses. The average threshold was 4.2 J/sq cm.« less


In order to obtain more human like sounding humanmachine interfaces we must first be able to give them expressive capabilities in the way of emotional and stylistic features so as to closely adequate them to the intended task. If we want to replicate those features it is not enough to merely replicate the prosodic information of fundamental frequency and speaking rhythm. The proposed additional layer is the modification of the glottal model, for which we make use of the GlottHMM parameters. This paper analyzes the viability of such an approach by verifying that the expressive nuances are captured by the aforementioned features, obtaining 95% recognition rates on styled speaking and 82% on emotional speech. Then we evaluate the effect of speaker bias and recording environment on the source modeling in order to quantify possible problems when analyzing multi-speaker databases. Finally we propose a speaking styles separation for Spanish based on prosodic features and check its perceptual significance.


"The idea of the measuring rod and the idea of the clock contained with it in the theory of relativity do not find their exact correspondence in the real world. It is also clear that the solid body and the clock do not in the conceptual edifice of physics play the part of irreducible elements, but that of composite structures, which may not play any independent part in theoretical physics." Albert Einstein. In modern physics study, applied perspectives in approach logically result ubiquitiously in the definition of existing of themselves constructions that connect with a physical reality only on the fact of perception of the initial phenomenon, the remainder built of conceptual entities and applied with the notion that if test of theory intersects with the empirical that it has a proposed validity. Thus any false notion providing a semblance of explanation can be pursued, possibly to false and acceptable constructions. Nearly, the total of all current pursuits involve elaborations of this type, parented from Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, which holds, though does not adhere, to, as a starting point immediate perceptions of time and distance/a geometry and energy/motion to approximate nature. This approach fails when a unity, unified concept is pursued, and common sense in the terms of ordinarily conceived plane geometry, ideas of elapsed time becomes replaced with dualisms, pluralities to account in logical addition for construed phenomenon (of which direct empirical testimony is again absent). Thus, with the current immediate sense notions of time and space a vast abstractness emerges that can give rise to question about initial ontology and epistemology. In this presentation, I wish to make and elucidate the components of an analogy that has taken many forms in the historical pursuit of scholarship (e.g. monism verses dualism), and to support a new argument, related to the above stated notion in the quotation from Albert Einstein, that the world construed, of the measuring rod and the clock as basic elements which do not find their exact correspondence in the real world, can also be construed with an exact correspondence to the real world with the element of commonly known, and applied to the inanimate, time from which distance and perspective can be gotten. It is also in this case that philosophical and/or scientific entailments of notions result in both philosophical and scientifically different, distinct and mutually exclusive results. A mistaken notion, not necessarily philosophical, concerning the perception of a difference in notions, (though essential in order to originate the pursuit), in the cognitive construction of a "clock" and, that which, may actually exist, and is assumed inherent to nature, is challenged.


This article reviews evidence on the reliability and validity of the Children's Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ), and presents CBQ data on the structure of temperament in childhood. The CBQ is a caregiver report measure designed to provide a detailed assessment of temperament in children 3 to 7 years of age. Individual differences are assessed on 15 primary temperament characteristics: Positive Anticipation, Smiling/Laughter, High Intensity Pleasure, Activity Level, Impulsivity, Shyness, Discomfort, Fear, Anger/Frustration, Sadness, Soothability, Inhibitory Control, Attentional Focusing, Low Intensity Pleasure, and Perceptual Sensitivity. Factor analyses of CBQ scales reliably recover a three-factor solution indicating three broad dimensions of temperament: Extraversion/Surgency, Negative Affectivity, and Effortful Control. This three-factor solution also appears to be reliably recovered in ratings of children in other cultures (e.g., China and Japan). Evidence for convergent validity derives from confirmation of hypothesized relations between temperament and socialization-relevant traits. In addition, parental agreement on CBQ ratings is substantial. The CBQ scales demonstrate adequate internal consistency, and may be used in studies requiring a highly differentiated yet integrated measure of temperament for children in this age range.


Abstract : This report describes an effort to develop a system designers guidebook for designing reliable distributed command and control systems. The guidebook contains a synthesis of reliable system design principles and methods to evaluate distributed system designs for performance, reliability and functional correctness. The approach to developing the system designers guidebook in this effort is example driver. We develop a detailed design of a reliable distributed operating system and evaluate its performance. Keywords: Computer architecture, Kernels, Fault tolerant systems, Reliability electronics, Zeus operating system.


A new box model for the global cycles of sulfur, oxygen, and magnesium has been developed and coupled with a carbon-calcium-strontium model (Wallmann, 2001). The model accounts for sulfur masses in the ocean, in evaporite rocks, in sedimentary pyrite, in oceanic crust, and in the mantle. Sulfur fluxes considered are burial and weathering of evaporites and sedimentary pyrite, volcanic emission of sulfur gases originating from the mantle and subducted reservoirs, and alteration of oceanic crust and serpentinization of oceanic peridotites. Oxygen fluxes are derived from sulfur turnover, carbon cycling, and iron redox processes. Model outputs are seawater concentrations of SO4, Ca, Mg, Sr, CO2, and HCO3, atmospheric partial pressures of O2 (pO2) and CO2 (pCO2), as well as the sulfur, carbon, and strontium isotopic composition of seawater. The secular trends of δ34S, δ13C, and 87Sr/86Sr recorded in marine evaporites and carbonates are used for model optimization and control. According to sensitivity analysis, tectonic/volcanic processes affect oceanic δ34S values considerably, whereas δ13C values are determined mainly by turnover of particulate organic carbon (POC). The different control mechanisms induce a significant deviation between the secular trends of sulfur and carbon isotope data. Dependence of POC burial on atmospheric pO2 via redox-dependent phosphate recycling provides an effective negative feedback on pO2. Moreover, phosphate supply to the ocean and thus POC burial depends on weathering, which in turn is related to the prevailing pCO2 level. Therefore, emission of volcanic CO2 induces O2 production via POC burial while O2 is consumed by the coeval release and oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds from the mantle. This coupling between tectonic/volcanic processes and POC burial provides additional stabilization of pO2. Consequently, predicted pO2 values fall into a narrow range of 0.17 to 0.25 atm during the entire model period. Changes in pO2 are mainly driven by changes in tectonic activity, erosion rates, and size of exposed carbonate areas. The model indicates that carbonate weathering, unlike silicate weathering, establishes a positive feedback on atmospheric pCO2 via enhanced burial and recycling of pelagic carbonates at subduction zones.


PURPOSE
Oncogenic mutations in the KRAS gene are a well-known driver event, occurring in >95% of pancreatic cancers. The objective of this study was to identify driver oncogene aberrations in pancreatic cancers without the KRAS mutation.

METHODS
Whole-exome and transcriptome sequencing was performed on four cases of KRAS mutation-negative pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which were identified in a cohort of 100 cases.

RESULTS
One case harbored an oncogenic DCTN1-ALK fusion. The fusion gene enabled interleukin-3-independent growth of Ba/F3 cells and rendered them susceptible to the anaplastic lymphoma kinase tyrosine kinase inhibitors crizotinib and alectinib. The structure of the breakpoint junction indicated that the fusion was generated by nonhomologous end joining between a segment of DCTN1 exon DNA and a segment of ALK intron DNA, resulting in the generation of a cryptic splicing site. Another case harbored an oncogenic RRAS mutation that activated the GTPase of the RRAS protein.

CONCLUSION
Rare oncogenic aberrations, such as the ALK fusion and RRAS mutation, may drive pancreatic carcinogenesis independent of the KRAS mutation. The Oncologist 2017;22:158-164Implications for Practice: The oncogenic DCTN1-ALK fusion and the RRAS mutation were associated with the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in the absence of the KRAS mutation. Constitutional activation of DCTN1-ALK fusion protein was suppressed by the anaplastic lymphoma kinase tyrosine kinase inhibitors crizotinib and alectinib. Thus, a small subset of PDAC patients might benefit from therapy using these inhibitors.


Double Patterning (DP) is one of the main enabling technologies for expanding Photolithography beyond 40nm technology node. Geometrical pitch split is the core of DP. It is known and reviewed in this paper that not all sub-resolution layouts can be successfully split to two DP masks, so a method for early Design for Manufacturability (DfM) check is strongly required. New accurate, efficient and Litho-aware methods for DP also minimize number of split errors and "false alarms" typical for Rule-Based Mask Data Preparation for Double Patterning. In this paper we proposed the topological approach (Model assisted Topological Rules Check, MTRC) to the pitch decomposition for Double Patterning based on Litho process modeling and real Litho resolution of a process. This method allows to find features below a resolution limit of a process and automatically sort them between DP-friendly and DP-unfriendly (DfM check for requiring redesign, "native conflicts", NC) cases. MTRC helps to improve DP-unfriendly designs in optimal way at early stage and avoid costly feedback loops. The second part of the paper explains the Model based DP pitch decomposition algorithm based on layout printability. It performs accurate and efficient split of various patterns with k1<0.25 to two masks with k1>0.25 as an integrated part of the Mask Data Preparation flow. The developed algorithm of Model based DP pitch decomposition allows error-free split of patterns below the resolution limit of the Litho system to two DP masks with sufficient printability confirmed by simulations and MTRC. The analysis of performance of the complex MB DP split approach mentioned above was performed on a selection of clips representing generic designs and typical Flash, DRAM, SRAM and Logic polygon shapes.


This analysis was stimulated by the real data analysis problem of household
expenditure data. The full dataset contains expenditure data for a sample of 1224 households. The expenditure is broken down at 2 hierarchical levels: 9 major levels (e.g. housing, food, utilities etc.) and 92 minor levels. There are also 5 factors and 5 covariates at the household level. Not surprisingly, there are a small number of zeros at the major level, but many zeros at the minor level. The question is how best to model the zeros. Clearly, models that try
to add a small amount to the zero terms are not appropriate in general as at least some of the zeros are clearly structural, e.g. alcohol/tobacco for households that are teetotal. The key question then is how to build suitable conditional models. For example, is the sub-composition of spending
excluding alcohol/tobacco similar for teetotal and non-teetotal households?
In other words, we are looking for sub-compositional independence. Also, what determines whether a household is teetotal? Can we assume that it is independent of the composition? In general, whether teetotal will clearly depend on the household level variables, so we need to be able to model this dependence. The other tricky question is that with zeros on more than one
component, we need to be able to model dependence and independence of zeros on the different components. Lastly, while some zeros are structural, others may not be, for example, for expenditure on durables, it may be chance as to whether a particular household spends money on durables
within the sample period. This would clearly be distinguishable if we had longitudinal data, but may still be distinguishable by looking at the distribution, on the assumption that random zeros will usually be for situations where any non-zero expenditure is not small.
While this analysis is based on around economic data, the ideas carry over to
many other situations, including geological data, where minerals may be missing for structural reasons (similar to alcohol), or missing because they occur only in random regions which may be missed in a sample (similar to the durables)