Event correlation is a widely-used data processing methodology for a broad variety of applications, and is especially useful in the context of distributed monitoring for software faults and vulnerabilities. However, most existing solutions have typically been focused on "intraorganizational" correlation; organizations typically employ privacy policies that prohibit the exchange of information outside of the organization. At the same time, the promise of "interorganizational" correlation is significant given the broad availability of Internet-scale communications, and its potential role in both software maintenance and software vulnerability exploits. In this proposal, I present a framework for reconciling these opposing forces in event correlation via the use of privacy preservation integrated into the event processing framework. By integrating flexible privacy policies, we enable the correlation of organizations' data without actually releasing sensitive information. The framework supports both source anonymity and data privacy, yet allows for the time-based correlation of a broad variety of data. The framework is designed as a lightweight collection of components to enable integration with existing COTS platforms and distributed systems. I also present two different implementations of this framework: XUES (XML Universal Event Service), an event processor used as part of a software monitoring platform called KX (Kinesthetics eXtreme), and Worminator, a collaborative Intrusion Detection System. KX comprised a series of components, connected together with a publish-subscribe contentbased routing event subsystem, for the autonomic software monitoring of complex distributed systems. Sensors were installed in legacy systems. XUES' two modules then performed event processing on sensor data: information was collected and processed by the Event Packager, and correlated using the Event Distiller. While XUES itself was not privacy-preserving, it laid the groundwork for this thesis by supporting event typing, the use of publish-subscribe and extensibility support via pluggable event transformation modules. Worminator, the second implementation, extends the XUES platform to fully support privacypreserving event types and algorithms in the context of a Collaborative Intrusion Detection System (CIDS), whereby sensor alerts can be exchanged and corroborated—a reduced form of correlation that enables collaborative verification—without revealing sensitive information about a contributor's network, services, or even external sources as required. Worminator also fully anonymizes source information, allowing contributors to decide their preferred level of information disclosure. Worminator is implemented as a monitoring framework on top of a COTS IDS sensor, and demonstrably enables the detection of not only worms but also "broad and stealthy" scans; traditional single-network sensors either bury such scans in large volumes or miss them entirely. Worminator has been successfully deployed at 5 collaborating sites and work is under way to scale it up further. The contributions of this thesis include the development of a cross-application-domain event correlation framework with native privacy-preserving types, the use and validation of privacypreserving corroboration, and the establishment of a practical deployed collaborative security system. I also outline the next steps in the thesis research plan, including the development of evaluation metrics to quantify Worminator's effectiveness at long-term scan detection, the overhead of privacy preservation and the effectiveness of our approach against adversaries, be they "honest-but-curious" or actively malicious. This thesis has broad future work implications, including privacy-preserving signature detection and distribution, distributed stealthy attacker profiling, and "application community"-based software vulnerability detection.


A variation in the course of the thoracic duct was found in the cervical portion of a male cadaver during routine dissection of the head and neck region for undergraduate students. The thoracic duct, while arching laterally above the clavicle, was coursing posterior to the vertebral vein but anterior to the vertebral artery; it normally passes anterior to both the vertebral vein and artery. To the best of our knowledge, this variation in relation to the vertebral vein has not yet been reported. In addition, after coursing posterior to the vertebral vein, the thoracic duct divided into two branches that drained separately, one at the angle between the internal jugular vein and subclavian vein, and the other into the subclavian vein. Knowledge of these variations is essential in order to prevent injury to the thoracic duct while performing surgeries at the root of the neck.


The aim of this study is to examine what effect an extensive affirmative action programme has had on a group of black women in the South African media, and how they perceive how existing power structures affect their everyday experiences within their respective media companies. The empirical base is an interview study with eight black women who hold or held top editorial positions in South Africa . Drawing on Bourdieu's field theory, the results suggest that there is an escape from journalism as other forms of symbolic capital have not managed to outweigh the negative capital of being a black woman in South African journalism .


This presentation is a short summary of an article sent to Journal of Safety Research (Hedlund, Ateg m fl.). Knowledge about hazards in working life and ways to measure, eliminate and minimize them is growing. However, there are obstacles between this knowledge and actions to reduce workers' exposure to hazards. A common problem is that the workers not are motivated to use available technology and knowledge. It is assumed that the workers' motivation to actively take part in improvements to the work environment is important for the efficiency of investments for that purpose. With this as a background has a questionnaire that measure motivation for improvements to the work environment been developed. The objective is to present the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the questionnaire. A second objective is to explore the factorial structure of the instrument comprising different aspects of motivation for work environment improvements.


The malaria situation in Indonesia is reviewed in the major island group of Java-Bali and the remainder of the archipelago called the Outer Islands. Based on their varying epidemiological patterns the areas for control have been stratified and efforts are directed towards the rational use of antimalarial drugs and the institution of integrated vector control ie chemical control in conjunction with biological control and environmental management. The targets of malaria control vary as well between island groups. Administrative, technical and operational constraints are identified. Drug-resistant malaria, forest-related malaria, lack of personnel, supervision and coordination, inadequate resources, and community participation are among the main issues confronting the national malaria control program. Research and training needs are emphasized in the recommendations.


ABSTRACT Very high resolution (VHR) remote-sensing imagery can reveal ground objects in great detail, depicting the colour, shape, size and structure of the objects. However, VHR also leads to a large amount of noise in the spectra, which may reduce the reliability of the classification result. This article presents an extension of the mean filter (MF), which is named 'modified mean filter (MMF)', for smoothing the noise of VHR imagery. First, the MMF is a shape-adaptive filter that is constructed by gradually detecting the spectral similarity between a kernel-anchored pixel and its contextual pixels through an extension detector with eight neighbouring pixels. Then, because pixels of an objective are usually homogeneous with spatial continuity, the pixels located at the hollow area within an extended region are rectified to enhance the smoothing effect. Finally, the spectral value of the kernel-anchored pixel is determined by the mean of the group of pixels within the adaptive region. Despite the proposed filter is a simple extension of MF, it has an advantage in preserving the edge between different classes, and smoothing the noise of intra-class. The MMF approach is investigated through comparing with the classification of VHR images based on filter processing, including the traditional mean filter (MF), the median filter (MedF) and the recursive filter (RF) which has been proposed for image classification in Kang, Li, and Benediktsson (2014). The experimental results obtained by considering two VHR images show the effectiveness of the proposed of MMF, which improves the performance of the classification and implies more potential applications.


A compact frequency tripler designed for 60 GHz transceivers is implemented in 0.13μm SiGe technology. The common emitter class-A frequency tripler uses a transformer based output filter combined with transmission lines to achieve high harmonic suppression. The frequency tripler followed by an amplifier covers a 3dB frequency range between 48 GHz to 58 GHz with a peak output power of 9.5 dBm. Fundamental frequency is suppressed by more than 28 dBc and the 4th harmonic is suppressed by more than 35 dBc between -40°C to 85°C degrees across the frequency band. The tripler design occupies only 390 μm × 495 μm and consumes 62 mW from a 2.7 V supply, the design followed by an amplifier occupies 960 μm × 980 μm raising the DC consumption to 220 mW.


A standard binary microlensing event light curve allows just two parameters of the lensing system to be measured: the mass ratio of the companion to its host and the projected separation of the components in units of the Einstein radius. However, other exotic effects can provide more information about the lensing system. Orbital motion in the lens is one such effect, which, if detected, can be used to constrain the physical properties of the lens. To determine the fraction of binary-lens light curves affected by orbital motion (the detection efficiency), we simulate light curves of orbiting binary star and star-planet (planetary) lenses and simulate the continuous, high-cadence photometric monitoring that will be conducted by the next generation of microlensing surveys that are beginning to enter operation. The effect of orbital motion is measured by fitting simulated light-curve data with standard static binary microlensing models; light curves that are poorly fitted by these models are considered to be detections of orbital motion. We correct for systematic false positive detections by also fitting the light curves of static binary lenses. For a continuous monitoring survey without intensive follow-up of high-magnification events, we find the orbital motion detection efficiency for planetary events with caustic crossings to be 0.061 � 0.010, consistent with observational results, and 0.0130 � 0.0055 for events without caustic crossings (smooth events). Similarly, for stellar binaries, the orbital motion detection efficiency is 0.098 � 0.011 for events with caustic crossings and is 0.048 � 0.006 for smooth events. These result in combined (caustic-crossing and smooth) orbital motion detection efficiencies of 0.029 � 0.005 for planetary lenses and 0.070 � 0.006 for stellar binary lenses. We also investigate how various microlensing parameters affect the orbital motion detectability. We find that the orbital motion detection efficiency increases as the binary mass ratio and event time-scale increase, and as the impact parameter and lens distance decrease. For planetary caustic-crossing events, the detection efficiency is highest at relatively large values of semimajor axis ?4 au, due to the large size of the resonant caustic at this orbital separation. Effects due to the orbital inclination are small and appear to significantly affect only smooth stellar binary events. We find that, as suggested by Gaudi, many of the events that show orbital motion can be classified into one of the following two classes. The first class, separational events, typically show large effects due to subtle changes in resonant caustics, caused by changes in the projected binary separation. The second class, rotational events, typically show much smaller effects, which are due to the magnification patterns of close lenses exhibiting large changes in angular orientation over the course of an event; these changes typically cause only subtle changes to the light curve.


The significant potential for early and accurate detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) through neuroimaging data is becoming increasingly attractive in view of the possible advent of drugs which are able to modify or delay disease progression. In this paper, we aimed at developing an effective machine learning scheme which leverages structural magnetic resonance imaging features in order to identify and discriminate individuals affected by mild AD on a single subject basis. Selected features included one- and two-way combinations of subcortical and cortical volumes as well as cortical thickness and curvature of numerous brain regions which are known to be vulnerable to AD. Additionally, several feature combinations were fed into support vector machines (SVMs) as well as Naïve Bayes classifiers in order to compare scheme accuracy. The most efficient combination of features and classification scheme, which employed both subcortical and cortical volumes feature vectors and a SVM classifier, was able to distinguish mild AD patients from healthy controls with 86% accuracy (82% sensitivity and 90% specificity). While this investigation is of preliminary nature, and further efforts are currently underway towards automated feature selection, best classifier determination and parameter optimization, our results appear very promising in terms of automated high-accuracy discrimination of disease stages which cannot easily be distinguished though routine clinical investigation.


Background and Purpose: Physical and occupational therapy practices in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) were greatly impacted by the 2019 Medicare Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM). Under the PDPM, the practice of multiparticipant therapy—treating more than one patient per therapy provider per session—increased in SNFs, but it is unknown how substituting multiparticipant therapy for individualized therapy may impact patient outcomes. This cross-sectional study establishes baseline relationships between multiparticipant therapy and patient outcomes using pre-PDPM data. Methods: We used Minimum Data Set assessments from all short-term Medicare fee-for-service SNF stays in 2018. Using generalized mixed-effects logistic regression adjusted for therapy volume and patient factors, we examined associations between the proportion of minutes of physical and occupational therapy that were received as multiparticipant sessions during the SNF stay and 2 outcomes: community discharge and functional improvement. Multiparticipant therapy minutes as a proportion of total therapy time were categorized as none, low (below the median of 5%), medium (median to <25%), and high (≥25%) to reflect the 25% multiparticipant therapy limit required by the PDPM. Results and Discussion: We included 901 544 patients with complete data for functional improvement and 912 996 for the discharge outcome. Compared with patients receiving no multiparticipant therapy, adjusted models found small positive associations between low and medium multiparticipant therapy levels and outcomes. Patients receiving low levels of multiparticipant therapy had 14% higher odds of improving in function (95% CI 1.09-1.19) and 10% higher odds of community discharge (95% CI 1.05-1.15). Patients receiving medium levels of multiparticipant therapy had 18% higher odds of functional improvement (95% CI 1.13-1.24) and 44% higher odds of community discharge (95% CI 1.34-1.55). However, associations disappeared with high levels of multiparticipant therapy. Conclusions: Prior to the PDPM, providing up to 25% multiparticipant therapy was an efficient strategy for SNFs that may have also benefitted patients. As positive associations disappeared with high levels (≥25%) of multiparticipant therapy, it may be best to continue delivering the majority of therapy in SNFs as individualized treatment.


BACKGROUND
The rate of significant conduction disturbances requiring permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) following surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) is 2-8%. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an alternative management approach in patients with severe aortic stenosis who are not considered candidates for AVR. The TAVI using the CoreValve (CV) bioprosthesis is associated with a nearly 30% rate of conduction disturbances requiring postprocedural PPI.

AIM
To provide an initial evaluation of the rate of conduction disturbances and the need for PPI, and to analyse factors that increase the risk of this complication in patients undergoing TAVI using CV bioprosthesis. In addition, we evaluated the rate of permanent conduction disturbances in patients who underwent PPI at one year after TAVI.

METHODS
We studies 22 initial patients in a single centre who underwent CV bioprosthesis implantation in 2009-2010. After exclusion of 6 patients with preprocedural PPI, we ultimately evaluated 16 patients. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed using χ(2), Fisher, and Wilcoxon tests, and logistic regression analysis was performed using the SAS software.

RESULTS
Overall, 8 (50%) patients in our study group required PPI after TAVI (TAVI + PPI), and the remaining 8 patients did not require PPI (TAVI). The most common indication for PPI was complete heart block. The decision to implant a pacemaker was made on average at 9 ± 7 days following TAVI (range 3 to 22 days). When we analysed risk factors for PPI that were unrelated to the TAVI procedure, we found that the TAVI + PPI group was characterised (vs the TAVI group) by a significantly larger diameter of the native aortic valve (p = 0.03) and a larger left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) dimension in the frontal (p = 0.02) and the corresponding frontal dimension in the transverse view (p = 0.01) by computed tomography angiography. Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of PPI increased more than 2.5 times for each increase in the aortic annulus diameter by 1 mm (OR 2.64; 95% CI 0.90-7.74). None of the risk factors related to TAVI resulted in a significant increase in the rate of PPI. Among the patients who underwent PPI, we only noted a trend for a larger valvulotomy balloon diameter (p = 0.08), shorter procedure duration (p = 0.06), and deeper CV insertion within LVOT (p = 0.09). In addition, the bioprosthesis was inserted deeper in those patients who developed new LBBB after TAVI (p = 0.06). The ECG analysis at one day after the procedure showed a significant prolongation of PR, QRS, QT, and QTc intervals, and increased left axis deviation in the TAVI + + PPI group. In addition, the TAVI + PPI group showed increased QRS duration (p = 0.03) and increased left axis deviation (p = 0.049) compared to the TAVI group. Each increase in QRS duration by 10 ms was associated with 2.5-fold increase in the risk of PPI (OR 1.10; 95% CI 0.97-1.22), and each increase in PR interval duration by 10 ms with a 23% increase in risk (OR 1.02; 95% CI 0.99-1.05). New LBBB following CV implantation was noted significantly more frequently in the TAVI + PPI group vs the TAVI group (p 〈 0.0003). Pacemaker interrogation at one year after TAVI showed that the mean percentage of ventricular pacing in all patients with a pacemaker (DDD and VVI) pacing was 41%, and it was less than 10% in 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONS
1. Transcatheter implantation of a CV bioprosthesis is associated with an increased risk of persistent conduction disturbances and subsequent PPI. 2. New LBBB after TAVI may predict the need for PPI. 3. Careful ECG monitoring is necessary for one week after CV bioprosthesis implantation due to a risk of atrioventricular conduction disturbances and the need for PPI. 4. Patients at an increased risk of postprocedural PPI may be those with deep bioprosthesis insertion in LVOT, larger LVOT diameter, and larger aortic annulus diameter in the frontal view. These observations require confirmation in a larger group of patients.


: The clinical, radiographic, and etiological factors of neurofibromatosis have been discussed. A rare case of a large neurofibroma of the mandible in association with systemic neurofibromatosis and a characteristic mandibular dysplasia has been presented. The unique coexistence of mandibular dysplasia associated with sphenoidal and orbital dysplasia should be considered in the diagnosis of multiple neurofibromatosis.


Reducing Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding in the hope of improving the ED's operational efficiency and health care delivery ranks high on every health care decision maker's wish list. The current study concentrates on developing efficient work shift schedules that make the best use of current resource capacity with the objectives of reducing patient waiting time and leveling resource utilization as much as possible. The study introduces two iterative heuristic algorithms, which combine simulation and optimization models for scheduling the work shifts of the ED resources: physicians, nurses and technicians. The algorithms are distinctive because they account for patients being treated by multiple care providers, possibly over the course of several hours, often with interspersed waiting. In such instances, patient arrival time is not a good indicator of when the various care providers are needed. The algorithms were tested using a detailed simulation based on data from five general hospital EDs. A patient's Length of Stay (LOS) is measured as the time a patient spends in the ED until being admitted to the hospital or discharged. The first algorithm achieved an average reduction of between 20 and 45% in the total patient waiting time, which led to a reduction of between 7 and 17% in the combined average patient LOS. By allowing a restructure of the ED resource capacities, the second algorithm achieved an average reduction of between 20 and 64% in the total patient waiting time, leading to an 11 to 29% reduction in the combined average patient LOS.


Hot-dip galvanising is commonly used in industry to increase the corrosion resistance of cold-rolled steel products for commercial use such as roofing and walling of buildings. Traditionally, the zinc coated steel surface is characterised by a relatively smooth surface with large spangle relief which is detrimental to corrosion resistance. One of the techniques to modify the surface appearance consists of a water-mist spray solution which allows for the creation of a large number of nucleation sites giving rise to micro rather than macro spangles, thereby producing a much smoother surface. In addition, controlling the spray parameters allows the hot, zinc coated, steel surface to be 'roughened' facilitating its bonding to concrete or for lamination. The proper control of water droplet impact parameters such as impact velocity, droplet diameter and crater size is essential for a successful implementation of this technique. Certain aspects of the second of these processes, the production of rough, non-skid galvanised steel sheet surfaces, has been addressed by this thesis. Although an experimental investigation of the effect of such water droplet parameters on the formation of zinc surface characteristics such as crater diameter and depth would provide a great deal of valuable data it is fraught with difficulties. The presence of hot metal surfaces exceeding 450C and the boiling and evaporation of water droplets taking place at very small timescales (microseconds) all combine to make an experimental study difficult to implement not to say unsafe. On the other hand computer simulations with a properly constructed mathematical model are a valuable tool for the investigation of these parameters. A comprehensive modelling of the process would include the process of heat transfer: such as conduction through a vapour layer, internal droplet and vapour convection, radiation from the hot surface, solidification of the zinc liquid layer; as well as the fluid dynamical aspects: such as surface tension at the droplet-air, droplet-zinc and zinc-air interfaces, the droplet impact phenomena such as spreading and splashing and the formation of impact craters and wave propagation in a thin viscous zinc layer. As a first stage in the modelling exercise this thesis will concentrate on an investigation of single water droplet impact on a thin liquid zinc layer with a steel substrate which provides a simplified and computationally tractable model of the spraying process. The objectives of this thesis are twofold: firstly, the development and construction of an accurate, robust mathematical model and, secondly, the solution of the model for the impact of a single water droplet onto a thin liquid layer of zinc on a steel substrate. This model must be able to deal with 7 rapidly deforming moving interfaces and maintain stability in the presence of very large density and viscosity ratios. This moving boundary problem requires the tracking of three fluid interfaces while also maintaining incompressibility. The Godunov-Marker-Particle Projection Scheme developed in this thesis is able to satisfy these requirements. Through a combination of approximate projection methods, Godunov convective differencing, Marker-Particle interface tracking and velocity filters the method is able to treat viscous, multi-fluid free surface flows. The modelling of free surface flows with more than two separate immiscible fluids, to the author's knowledge not yet published in the literature, is a secondary aim of the thesis. A major part of the thesis deals with the thorough testing of each aspect of the combination of numerical methods used: firstly, the Poisson solver with discontinuous coefficients and homogeneous boundary conditions used in the approximate projection method, analytical solutions for the construction of an initial solenoidal velocity field, testing of the projection and velocity filters and kinematic tests of the Marker-Particle method for tracking of fluid interfaces; secondly, dynamical tests of the viscous incompressible Navier-Stokes equations for: an exact solution, the Lid-Driven Cavity and the Rayleigh-Taylor instability. The combined method is also successfully tested on the limited two-fluid droplet-solid and droplet-liquid impact problems before solving the thesis problem. It is shown that, for the impact of a single water droplet onto a thin liquid zinc layer, impact crater growth, diameter and depth, are linearly dependent on impact velocity. For a given impact velocity, crater diameter is not effected by increasing zinc layer depth although crater depth is linearly dependent. The time at which the droplet commences penetration of the zinc layer is inversely dependent on impact velocity and the maximum crater diameter and depth are nonlinearly dependent on impact velocity. The model shows that, within the convective timescale, droplet impact on thin liquid zinc layers can be approximately described by droplet spreading on a solid zinc surface. The droplet is shown to spread preferentially to the zinc layer splashing after completion of spreading. This shows that adjustment of the droplet impact velocity or zinc layer depth can vary the surface roughness appropriately.


We present a system for generation and recognition of oscillatory gestures. Inspired by gestures used in two representative human-to-human control areas, we consider a set of oscillatory motions and refine from them a 24 gesture lexicon. Each gesture is modeled as a dynamical system with added geometric constraints to allow for real time gesture recognition using a small amount of processing time and memory. The gestures are used to control a pan-tilt camera neck. We propose extensions for use in areas such as mobile robot control and telerobotics.


The concept of "urban forest" (UF) is gaining momentum in urban planning in the context of climate adaptation. Principles from the field of urban forestry are mainstreamed into urban planning, but little is known about effective tools for the successful implementation of new UFs. This article presents explorative research comparing how three cities (Almere, Madrid, and Boston) are dealing with the planning of a UF project, and their alignment with distinct organisational and typological interpretations of a UF. We employed a mixed-methods approach to gain insights into the main goals of the project, their organisational structure, and the employed planning process through the analysis of project documents and expert interviews. Our results point to an effective mainstreaming of environmental questions among stakeholders, but also indicate a poor development of objective criteria for the success of a UF. We note that municipal planners circumvented current internal rigidities and barriers by relying on intermediaries and local academia as providers of external knowledge, or by facilitating experiments. Finally, our results show that there may not be just one UF type to achieve the desired environmental and social goals and overcome implementation barriers. Conversely, each of the governance and organisational models behind the implementation of each type present collaborative and mainstreaming challenges. Therefore, we see an opportunity in further research examining processes and institutions towards the collaborative building of UFs that could bridge gaps between top-down and bottom-up approaches and activate different types of agencies.


A novel connectionist architecture of artificial neural networks is presented to model the assignment of meaning to test sentences on the basis of learning from relevantly sparse input. Training and testing sentences are generated from simple recursive grammars, and once trained, the architecture successfully processes thousands of sentences containing deeply embedded clauses, therefore experimentally showing the architecture exhibits partial semantic and strong systematicities — two properties that humans also satisfy. The architecture's novelty derives, in part, from analyzing language meaning on the basis of Cognitive semantics (Langacker, 2008), and the concept of affirmative stimulus meaning (Quine, 1960). The architecture demonstrates one possible way of providing a connectionist processing model of Cognitive semantics. The architecture is argued to be oriented towards increasing neurobiological and psychological plausibility as well, and will also be argued as being capable of providing an explanation of the aforementioned systematicity properties in humans.


Abstract Background Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have become an important biomarker in breast cancer. Different isolation tech-niques based on their biological or physical features were established. Currently, the most widely used methods for visualization after their separation are based on immunofluorescent staining, which does not provide the information on the morphology. Materials and methods The aim of this study was to evaluate how two different separation techniques affect cell morphology and to analyse cell morphology with techniques used in routine cytopathological laboratory. A direct side-by-side comparison of physical (Parsortix®) and biological (MACS®) separation technique was performed. Results In the preclinical setting, both isolation techniques retained the viability and antigenic characteristics of MCF7 breast cancer cells. Some signs of degeneration such as cell swelling, cytoplasmic blebs, villous projections and vacuolization were observed. In metastatic breast cancer patient cohort, morphological features of isolated CTCs were dependent on the separation technique. After physical separation, CTCs with preserved cell morphology were detected. After biological separation the majority of the isolated CTCs were so degenerated that their identity was difficult to confirm. Conclusions Taken together, physical separation is a suitable technique for detection of CTCs with preserved cell morphology for the use in a routine cytopathological laboratory.


D uring the past 2 years, Clinical Diabetes has published "Diabetes Foundation," an eight-part series intended to explain and review facets of diabetes care for general physicians and physicians in training. The goal of the series has been to improve diabetes care for patients treated by such physicians because only a very small percentage of patients with diabetes have access to an endocrinologist.

Although previous articles have focused on individual topics related to diabetes care and have reviewed available scientific data, this final article will focus on summarizing recommendations from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and integrating them as a set of clinical practice guidelines. Information supporting the recommendations has appeared in the previous installments of "Diabetes Foundation" and from the ADA.1 Although there are always exceptions, it is likely that the majority of patients with diabetes or glucose abnormalities would benefit from implementation of many of these guidelines for prevention of diabetes itself and of the complications of diabetes and diabetes treatments.

Patients who are experiencing symptoms of diabetes such as polyuria, polydipsia, or unexplained weight loss should be screened for diabetes, especially if they are obese or overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m2). Asymptomatic adult patients should be tested at any age if they are overweight or obese and have an additional risk factor for diabetes. Children who are overweight (BMI greater than the 85th percentile or weight > 120% of ideal for height) should be screened for type 2 diabetes if they have a family history of type 2 diabetes, are of an ethnic background predisposed to diabetes, have signs of insulin resistance such as acanthosis nigricans on physical examination, have a maternal history of diabetes or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), or have other conditions typically associated with type 2 diabetes. Such testing in children should …


Mixed-machine heterogeneous computing (HC) environments utilize a distributed suite of different high-performance machines, interconnected with high-speed links, to perform different computationally intensive applications that have diverse computational requirements. HC environments are well suited to meet the computational demands of large, diverse groups of tasks. The problem of optimally mapping (defined as matching and scheduling) these tasks onto the machines of a distributed HC environment has been shown, in general, to be NP-complete, requiring the development of heuristic techniques. Selecting the best heuristic to use in a given environment, however, remains a difficult problem, because comparisons are often clouded by different underlying assumptions in the original study of each heuristic. Therefore, a collection of 11 heuristics from the literature has been selected, adapted, implemented, and analyzed under one set of common assumptions. It is assumed that the heuristics derive a mapping statically (i.e., off-line). It is also assumed that a metatask (i.e., a set of independent, noncommunicating tasks) is being mapped and that the goal is to minimize the total execution time of the metatask. The 11 heuristics examined are Opportunistic Load Balancing, Minimum Execution Time, Minimum Completion Time, Min?min, Max?min, Duplex, Genetic Algorithm, Simulated Annealing, Genetic Simulated Annealing, Tabu, and A*. This study provides one even basis for comparison and insights into circumstances where one technique will out-perform another. The evaluation procedure is specified, the heuristics are defined, and then comparison results are discussed. It is shown that for the cases studied here, the relatively simple Min?min heuristic performs well in comparison to the other techniques.


Context of being boy- or girlfriends in collegian groups at present has gotten meaning shifting. Have an affair is not meant as a tools to know the couple's character anymore, but it is only as a label that have affair, only for increase self-confident and even it's only as sexual libido satisfaction. So, it is more sticking out desires satisfactory, not as a tool to know couple's characters. Where, presently affair behavior on collegian has ignored both morality norms and religion norms (Islam). Collegian affair behavior has directed to sexual behavior, such as,
kissing, necking, petting, and intercourse. So that, collegian is plunged into irresponsible free sex. It is because of the lack of personal fortress and the lack of religion knowledge. Where collegian are expected to have high religion maturity, because they will be able to control their behavior that direct to sexual behavior so they can control their selves in making affair. Type of this research is descriptive quantitative research. The purpose of this research is to know religion maturity and affair sexual behavior on collegian. Population of this research is the students of Muhammadiyah University of Malang. Sampling technique uses accidental sampling technique, where the number of its sample is 70 respondents. Data collecting technique uses Likert scale. There are 2 scales they are religion maturity scale and scale of affair sexual behavior on collegian. Data analysis method is percentage. From the obtained research result shows that from 70 respondents there are 22 respondents who do sexual intercourse in making affair, there are students who have quite high religion maturity, but they remain to do sexual behavior. It means that religion maturity, which collegian had, does not become a measurement to be having good behavior in their affair. There is also collegian with religion maturity has tendency to be bad in behavior and vice versa. It show that the high religion maturity may be as ritual only not the inspired values in their spirit that represents energy limiting which applicable and inapplicable behaviors


Comparative effectiveness studies using observational data are increasingly used. Despite their high potential for bias, there are no detailed recommendations on how these studies should best be analysed and reported in rheumatology.To conduct a systematic literature review of comparative effectiveness research in rheumatology to inform the EULAR task force developing points to consider when analysing and reporting comparative effectiveness research with observational data.All original articles comparing drug effectiveness in longitudinal observational studies of ≥100 patients published in key rheumatology journals (Scientific Citation Index > 2) between 1.01.2008 and 25.03.2019 available in Ovid MEDLINE® were included. Titles and abstracts were screened by two reviewers for the first 1000 abstracts and independently checked to ensure sufficient agreement has been reached. The main information extracted included the types of outcomes used to assess effectiveness, and the types of analyses performed, focusing particularly on confounding and attrition.9969 abstracts were screened, with 218 articles proceeding to full-text extraction (Figure 1), representing a number of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Agreement between the two reviewers for the first 1000 abstracts was 92.7% with a kappa of 0.6. The majority of the studies used several outcomes to evaluate effectiveness (Figure 2A). Most of the studies did not explain how they addressed missing data on the covariates (70%) (Figure 2B). When addressed (30%), 44% used complete case analysis and 10% last observation carried forward (LOCF). 25% of studies did not adjust for confounding factors and there was no clear correlation between the number of factors used to adjust and the number of participants in the studies. An important number of studies selected covariates using bivariate screening and/or stepwise selection. 86% of the studies did not acknowledge attrition (Figure 2C). When trying to correct for attrition (14%), 38% used non-responder (NR) imputation, 24% used LUNDEX1, a form of NR imputation, and 21% LOCF.Most of studies used multiple outcomes. However, the vast majority did not acknowledge missing data and attrition, and a quarter did not adjust for any confounding factors. Moreover, when attempting to account for attrition, several studies used methods which potentially increase bias (LOCF, complete case analysis, bivariate screening…). This systematic review confirms the need for the development of recommendations for the assessment and reporting of comparative drug effectiveness in observational data in rheumatology.[1]Kristensen et al. A&R. 2006 Feb;54(2):600-6.Support of the Standing Committee on Epidemiology and Health Services ResearchKim Lauper: None declared, Joanna KEDRA: None declared, Maarten de Wit Grant/research support from: Dr. de Wit reports personal fees from Ely Lilly, 2019, personal fees from Celgene, 2019, personal fees from Pfizer, 2019, personal fees from Janssen-Cilag, 2017, outside the submitted work., Consultant of: Dr. de Wit reports personal fees from Ely Lilly, 2019, personal fees from Celgene, 2019, personal fees from Pfizer, 2019, personal fees from Janssen-Cilag, 2017, outside the submitted work., Speakers bureau: Dr. de Wit reports personal fees from Ely Lilly, 2019, personal fees from Celgene, 2019, personal fees from Pfizer, 2019, personal fees from Janssen-Cilag, 2017, outside the submitted work., Bruno Fautrel Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Lilly, MSD, Pfizer, Consultant of: AbbVie, Biogen, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Lilly, Janssen, Medac MSD France, Nordic Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi Aventis, SOBI and UCB, Thomas Frisell: None declared, Kimme Hyrich Grant/research support from: Pfizer, UCB, BMS, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Florenzo Iannone Consultant of: Speaker and consulting fees from AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, MSD, Speakers bureau: Speaker and consulting fees from AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, MSD, Pedro M Machado Consultant of: PMM: Abbvie, Celgene, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and UCB, Speakers bureau: PMM: Abbvie, BMS, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche and UCB, Lykke Midtbøll Ørnbjerg Grant/research support from: Novartis, Ziga Rotar Consultant of: Speaker and consulting fees from Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Medis, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi., Speakers bureau: Speaker and consulting fees from Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Medis, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi., Maria Jose Santos Speakers bureau: Novartis and Pfizer, Tanja Stamm Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Roche, Consultant of: AbbVie, Sanofi Genzyme, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Roche, Sanofi, Simon Stones Consultant of: I have been a paid consultant for Envision Pharma Group and Parexel. This does not relate to this abstract., Speakers bureau: I have been a paid speaker for Actelion and Janssen. These do not relate to this abstract., Anja Strangfeld Speakers bureau: AbbVie, BMS, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Robert B.M. Landewé Consultant of: AbbVie; AstraZeneca; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Eli Lilly & Co.; Galapagos NV; Novartis; Pfizer; UCB Pharma, Axel Finckh Grant/research support from: Pfizer: Unrestricted research grant, Eli-Lilly: Unrestricted research grant, Consultant of: Sanofi, AB2BIO, Abbvie, Pfizer, MSD, Speakers bureau: Sanofi, Pfizer, Roche, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Sytske Anne Bergstra: None declared, Delphine Courvoisier: None declared


This paper presents the design of Discrete Frequency Coded (DFC) sequences with good auto correlation properties using Particle Swarm Optimization with Cauchy Mutation (PSOCM) technique. The cross- ambiguity function method is used to detect the stationary and moving targets in various target detection scenarios. The contour plots of the cross-ambiguity function are computed as a function of delay and Doppler frequency shift. The results are compared with DFC sequences of the sequence lengths N = 32 and N = 100.


In many real world applications such as image annotation, gene function prediction, and insider threat detection, the data collected from heterogeneous sources often exhibit multiple types of heterogeneity, such as task heterogeneity, view heterogeneity, and label heterogeneity. To address this problem, we propose a Hierarchical Multi-Latent Space (HiMLS) learning framework to jointly model the triple types of heterogeneity. The basic idea is to learn a hierarchical multi-latent space by which we can simultaneously leverage the task relatedness, view consistency and the label correlations to improve the learning performance. We first propose a multi-latent space approach to model the complex heterogeneity, which is then used as a building block to stack up a multi-layer structure in order to learn the hierarchical multi-latent space. In such a way, we can gradually learn the more abstract concepts in the higher level. We present two instantiated models of the generalized framework using different divergence measures. The two-phase learning algorithms are used to train the multi-layer models. We drive the multiplicative update rules for pre-training and fine-tuning in each model, and prove the convergence and correctness of the update methods. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is verified on various data sets.


A paradigm is developed for generating structured finite element models from solid models by means of implicit surface definitions. The implicit surfaces are defined by radial basis functions. Internal features, such as material interfaces, sliding interfaces and cracks are treated by enrichment techniques developed in the extended finite element method. Methods for integrating the weak form for such models are proposed. These methods simplify the generation of finite element models. Results presented for several examples show that the accuracy of this method is comparable to standard unstructured finite element methods. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Information in a PSK modulation format is contained in the phase. For Gray-coded DEQPSK, this information is contained in the change in phase. With advances in DSP technology, fundamental trigonometric signal processing functions which have, in the past, been unavailable, now provide a mechanism for recovering the phase differential directly from the phase plane. This paper presents a new algorithm for recovering step phase changes for a DEQPSK modulated signal by computing the phase angle from the arctangent of the ratio Q/I and comparing it with the previous phase. This phase difference is then mapped to a monotonic metric for the purpose of soft-decision Viterbi decoding.


Abstract. Different spatial resolutions satellite imagery with global almost daily revisit time provide valuable information about the earth surface in a short time. Based on the remote sensing methods satellite imagery can have different applications like environmental development, urban monitoring, etc. For accurate vegetation detection and monitoring, especially in urban areas, spectral characteristics, as well as the spatial resolution of satellite imagery is important. In this research, 10-m and 20-m Sentinel-2 and 3.7-m PlanetScope satellite imagery were used. Although in nowadays research Sentinel-2 satellite imagery is often used for land-cover classification or vegetation detection and monitoring, we decided to test a fusion of Sentinel-2 imagery with PlanetScope because of its higher spatial resolution. The main goal of this research is a new method for Sentinel-2 and PlanetScope imagery fusion. The fusion method validation was provided based on the land-cover classification accuracy. Three land-cover classifications were made based on the Sentinel-2, PlanetScope and fused imagery. As expected, results show better accuracy for PS and fused imagery than the Sentinel-2 imagery. PlanetScope and fused imagery have almost the same accuracy. For the vegetation monitoring testing, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from Sentinel-2 and fused imagery was calculated and mutually compared. In this research, all methods and tests, image fusion and satellite imagery classification were made in the free and open source programs. The method developed and presented in this paper can easily be applied to other sciences, such as urbanism, forestry, agronomy, ecology and geology.


As students with disabilities prepare to move from high school to vocations or postsecondary schooling it is essential they be able to self-advocate for their needed services. During their public school years, school psychologists, counselors, and other school administrative personnel are responsible for ensuring they are provided with an "appropriate," barrier-free education under federal law. But upon graduation from high school, that responsibility shifts entirely onto the individual. In order to self-advocate successfully a student with a disability must know about their cognitive strengths and weaknesses. In regards to learning the student must be able to describe them to others effectively; and be able to specify the needed services based on their weaknesses. They must also know something about the relevant laws so that if they experience resistance, they can reference their educational rights. Currently, there is very little research on how to go about informing students of their strengths and weakness. In order to talk appropriately to students with learning disabilities we must first understand how they and their nondisabled peers understand and talk about learning and cognitive processing. The purpose of this study is twofold; first, to understand how students talk about an effortful cognitive task, such as reading. Second, to investigate any relationships that may lie within responses collected from students of different age groups (fourth and sixth graders). In doing so, this study aims to find patterns within responses and deviations between responses. Due to low participation, only fourth grade students were interviewed. Patterns within their responses reflect dominantly there is an enjoyment of reading, but that may be contingent on material and difficulty. There is the conceptualization of the beginning stages or reading and that it occurs early in one's academic career and the process gets easier with continued practice. And finally, responses reflect that by fourth grade students "thinking" while reading is directed towards the comprehension of the text and less towards the cognitive effort of reading.


Ti-6Al-4V is currently used in aeronautic and aerospace industry mainly for applications that require resistance at high temperature such as, blades for aircraft turbines and steam turbine blades. The titanium affinity by oxygen is one of main factors that limit the application of their alloys as structural materials at high temperatures. Notable advances have been observed in the development of titanium alloys with the objective of improving the creep properties. Increased oxygen levels are associated with increased microhardness and decreased ductility in titanium. In spite of this, Ti-6Al-4V containing an (+) structure continues to be the workhorse of the titanium industry due to their high specific strength, corrosion resistance, excellent high temperature properties and metallurgical stability. The objective of this work was to study the influence of equiaxed and Widmanstätten microstructures on oxidation rates and creep behavior of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The samples were exposed to different conditions of time and temperature to evaluate the oxidation rates. This influence on the oxidation rates was evaluated in terms of weight gain, -case depth and microhardness profile at 500 and 600 °C. Preliminary results indicated that the equiaxed microstructure with average grain size of 10 m exhibits faster oxygen diffusion. Short-term creep tests were performed under constant load in a stress range from 291 to 472 MPa at 500 °C and in a stress range from 97 to 291 MPa at 600 °C. The stress exponents obtained lie in the range from 4.0 to 11.3. The apparent activation energies for steady-state creep determined in the present work were estimated to be 316 and 415 kJ/mol at 291 MPa for the equiaxed and Widmanstätten microstructures, respectively. On the basis, the creep of Ti-6Al-4V is consistent with the lattice diffusion-controlled dislocation climb process in -Ti, for both microstructures. The creep rates of Widmanstätten microstructure were two orders of magnitude lower than of equiaxed microstructure in both temperatures. Apparently, the higher creep resistance with a Widmanstätten microstructure can be attributed to / interfaces acting as obstacles to dislocation motion and to the average grain size of 395 m, which reduces the grain boundary sliding, dislocations sources and the rate of oxygen diffusion along grain boundaries.


Vapor condensation is a ubiquitous phase change phenomenon in nature, as well as widely exploited in various industrial applications such as power generation, water treatment and harvesting, heating and cooling, environmental control, and thermal management of electronics. Condensation performance is highly dependent on the interfacial transport and its enhancement promises considerable savings in energy and resources. Recent advances in micro/nano-fabrication and surface chemistry modification techniques have not only enabled exciting interfacial phenomenon and condensation enhancement but also furthered the fundamental understanding of interfacial wetting and transport. In this chapter, we present an overview of dropwise condensation heat transfer with a focus on improving droplet behaviors through surface design and modification. We briefly summarize the basics of interfacial wetting and droplet dynamics in condensation process, discuss the underlying mechanisms of droplet manipulation for condensation enhancement, and introduce some emerging works to illustrate the power of surface modification. Finally, we conclude this chapter by providing the perspectives for future surface design in the field of condensation enhancement.


Across primates, socially integrated individuals exhibit improved genetic fitness compared to their peripheral conspecifics. However, the mechanisms through which this disparity operates is unclear. One hypothesis is that social bonds mitigate the stressors imparted by environmental instability. To date, this relationship has gone critically unexamined, owing to the inability to anticipate and account for instability in prospective research design. In this dissertation, I evaluate this hypothesis within a population of free-ranging rhesus macaques (M. mulatta). I employ a long-term behavioral data set comprised of 691 unique individuals across 6 groups, followed from 1 to 8 years. I employ the tool-kit of social network analysis to integrate social phenotypes at the individual, dyadic, and group-level. I examine two destabilizing events. First, I examine how affiliation patterns precede a matrilineal overthrow, an outburst of aggression which resulted in group dissolution. As a prelude to this analysis, I investigate the manifestation of rank instability more generally, and, in concert with other dimensions of social life, examine its relationship to psychosocial stress. Second, I examine affiliation in the wake of environmental disaster: here, that of Hurricane Maria, which in 2017 had caused near-complete deforestation. I find that instability leaves an enduring signature in expressions of psychosocial stress. In the context of instability, monkeys show critical transformations in their affiliative patterns — in frequency, variability, and direction — but in ways highly dependent on the type of instability experienced. Such transformations are not experienced uniformly across social units, but instead are concentrated upon those most likely to suffer (or endure) the costs of that instability. This analysis indicates that rhesus monkeys exhibit considerable social flexibility in response to environmental instability and that social bonds, rather than static, are continually renegotiated. Destabilizing events are rare but can impart instantaneously brutal fitness consequences. It is critical, then, that we accumulate case studies of their effects —messy though they may be — to avoid blind spots in our understanding of the evolution of social bonds. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Anthropology First Advisor Michael L. Platt


This study aims at: (1) describing the implementation of international English curriculum, (2) describing the problems encountered in implementing international English curriculum, (3) exploring the teachers' solution toward problems encountered in implementing international English curriculum, and (4) exploring the effects of the teaching on students' achievement.This study applies a case study method which had been carried out at SMP Tazkia International Islamic Boarding School (IIBS) Malang in the second semester of the academic year of 2016/2017. The data were collected through document analysis, observation, interview, and questionnaire. The data were, then, analyzed through interactive method.The findings of this study reveal that first, the implementation of Cambridge curriculum in Tazkia has made English as the main language to communicate not only in classroom, but also in daily life. Additionally, the appropriate combinations of teaching technique, class activities, learning material, and media supported the teaching-learning process. Second, the problem encountered related to the absence of language laboratory as one of the requirements of the implementation of Cambridge curriculum to teach English. The other problems were related to the way of students' thinking which was difficult to solve the problems given during the teaching and learning process, lack of English book in the library, and the absence of language laboratory. Third, to overcome the problems related the students' difficulties in solving the problem, the teachers guided students in every process of learning. To maintain the lack of English book in the library, the school initiated by providing Wi-Fi connection, so that students could access other information from the internet. The absence of language laboratory was minimized by using speaker while listening practices. Fourth, related to students' achievement, the researcher found out that most students achieved the passing grade. Only some of them still got under the passing grade. In regard to the students' achievements, it is interestingly found that the implementation of Cambridge curriculum brings positive effect on the students who have high motivation and confidence to develop their skill.Considering the result of this study, the implementation of Cambridge curriculum at SMP Tazkia International Islamic Boarding School (IIBS) Malang gave positive effects on the students' achievements, so that it could be an alternative way of teaching English in other schools.Keywords: Cambridge curriculum, TEFL, case study


Two recombinant core streptavidins were designed and characterized to understand the role of the terminal sequences, present in naturally truncated core streptavidins, in the properties of streptavidin. One recombinant core streptavidin, Stv-25, has an amino acid sequence very similar to natural core streptavidins. The other recombinant molecule, Stv-13, has further truncation of the terminal residues and consists essentially of only the β-barrel structure characteristic of streptavidin. These recombinant core streptavidins are tetrameric and bind four biotins/molecule, as does natural streptavidin. The solubility characteristics of Stv-13, determined by varying the concentration of ammonium sulfate or ethanol, were almost the same as those of Stv-25 and natural core streptavidin. However, Stv-13 showed an enhanced structural stability compared with Stv-25 and natural core streptavidin. For example, Stv-13 retained greater than 80% of its biotin binding ability after incubation in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride at pH 1.5, under which conditions, Stv-25 and natural core streptavidin retained only about 20% of their biotin binding ability. In addition, Stv-13 showed higher accessibility to biotinylated DNA than natural core streptavidin. Apparently, the terminal regions, present on the surface of natural core streptavidin, spatially hinder biotinylated macromolecules from approaching the biotin binding sites.


Like all other forms of modern media, video games impact society and human behavior in often surprising ways. Understanding the growing effect of digital entertainment on twenty-first century culture is critical to anticipating the future of social interactions.

Cases on the Societal Effects of Persuasive Games investigates the connection between multimedia technologies and game-based learning for an improved understanding of the impact and effectiveness of serious games in modern societies. With examples from the fields of education, business, healthcare, and more, this book serves as a crucial reference source for researchers, educators, developers, and students in higher and continuing education.


This paper concerns research into the influence of salt (sodium chloride) on growth, viability and fermentation performance in a winemaking strain of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Experimental fermentations were conducted in both laboratory-scale and industrial-scale experiments. Preculturing yeasts in elevated levels of sodium chloride, or salt "preconditioning" led to improved fermentation performance. This was manifest by preconditioned yeasts having an improved capability to ferment high-sugar containing media with increased cell viability and with elevated levels of produced ethanol. Salt-preconditioning most likely influenced the stress-tolerance of yeasts by inducing the synthesis of key metabolites such as trehalose and glycerol. These compounds may act to improve cells' ability to withstand osmostress and ethanol toxicity during fermentations of grape must. Industrial-scale trials using salt-preconditioned yeasts verified the benefit of this novel physiological cell engineering approach to practical winemaking fermentations.


One hundred and eighty drinking water samples were collected from five zones of Riyadh governorate including Riyadh main zone, Ulia, Nassim, Shifa, and Badiah zones. The water was collected from the main water network and underground and upper household tanks in each zone. The water quality was found to be acceptable for drinking with respect to chemical characteristics; however, analyses exhibited some microbial contamination. The water quality index (WQI) is a mathematical method used to facilitate water quality explanation. The WQI was calculated using several physico-chemical and microbial parameters. The results showed that more than 88% of Riyadh main zone, 91% of Ulia, 97% of Nassim, 88% of Shifa, and 100% of Badiah waters zones were considered excellent for drinking (class I). The remaining waters were considered unsuitable for drinking (class V) due to microbial contamination.


As commonly observed among closely related species within a variety of taxa, Drosophila species differ considerably in whether they exhibit sexual dimorphism in coloration or morphology. Those Drosophila species in which male external sexual characters are minimal or absent tend, instead, to have exaggerated ejaculate traits such as sperm gigantism or seminal nutrient donations. Underlying explanations for the interspecific differences in the presence of external morphological sexual dimorphism versus exaggerated ejaculate traits are addressed here by examining the opportunity for sexual selection on males to occur before versus after mating in 21 species of Drosophila. Female remating frequency, an important component of the operational sex ratio, differs widely among Drosophila species and appears to dictate whether the arena of sexual selection is prior to, as opposed to after, copulation. Infrequent female mating results in fewer mating opportunities for males and thus stronger competition for receptive females that favors the evolution of male characters that maximize mating success. On the other hand, rapid female remating results in overlapping ejaculates in the female reproductive tract, such that ejaculate traits which enhance fertilization success are favored. The strong association between female remating frequency in a given species and the presence of sexually selected external versus internal male characters indicates that the relationship be examined in other taxa as well.


We consider the problem of streaming kernel regression, when the observations arrive sequentially and the goal is to recover the underlying mean function, assumed to belong to an RKHS. The variance of the noise is not assumed to be known. In this context, we tackle the problem of tuning the regularization parameter adaptively at each time step, while maintaining tight confidence bounds estimates on the value of the mean function at each point. To this end, we first generalize existing results for finite-dimensional linear regression with fixed regularization and known variance to the kernel setup with a regularization parameter allowed to be a measurable function of past observations. Then, using appropriate self-normalized inequalities we build upper and lower bound estimates for the variance, leading to Bersntein-like concentration bounds. The later is used in order to define the adaptive regularization. The bounds resulting from our technique are valid uniformly over all observation points and all time steps, and are compared against the literature with numerical experiments. Finally, the potential of these tools is illustrated by an application to kernelized bandits, where we revisit the Kernel UCB and Kernel Thompson Sampling procedures, and show the benefits of the novel adaptive kernel tuning strategy.


Nine biologically important pyrimidine derivatives have been prepared by conventional method and UV-irradiation methods. The percentage yield of a product was substantially higher (40%-88%) by UV-irradiation method compared to that (18%-51%) by conventional method. Moreover, the UV-irradiation method is an environmentally friendly method and avoids the pollution problem in organic synthesis. The structures of the compounds were verified by microanalysis (CHN), Infrared (IR) and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopies and X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The investigated compounds consist of a pyrimidine ring and two benzene rings with intermolecular N–H---N interaction between the adjacent molecules. The compounds crystallized in the monoclinic space group P-1. The synthesized products have also been tested for their anti-bacterial/anti-fungal and anti-oxidant activities. The compounds have shown comparatively higher activities against the fungal microbes as compared to the gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The products exhibited excellent anti-oxidant potential which was rendered to the presence of multi-chloro groups on the phenyl rings.


When cities are covered over with layers of augmented reality, what shadows are cast by this new ability to see? The Japanese anime series Dennō Coil explores exactly this question, following a group of children living in a near-future society where augmented reality glasses have become as essential to daily life as smartphones have today. Comparing debates over 'seamful' design in ubiquitous computing with the role of the alpha channel in digital image compositing, the author argues for understanding the sensory environments of augmented reality as part of a longer history of bringing the animated image out into the spaces of everyday life. This article explores the new physical and psychological demands placed on individuals as they seek to navigate the protocols of this newly augmented world, while cultivating and conditioning what the author calls the 'composited self'.


In the Earth sciences, the concept of fractals and scale invariance is well recognized in many natural objects. However, the use of fractals for spatial and temporal analyses of natural hazards has been less used (and accepted) in the Earth sciences. This book brings together 12 contributions that emphasize the role of fractal analyses in natural hazard research, including andslides, wildfires, floods, catastrophic rock fractures and earthquakes. A wide variety of spatial and temporal fractal-related approaches and techniques are applied to 'natural' data, experimental data and computer simulations. These approaches include probabilistic hazard analysis, cellular-automata models, spatial analyses, temporal variability, prediction and self-organizing behaviour. The main aims of this volume are (a) to present current research on fractal analyses as applied to natural hazards and (b) to stimulate the curiosity of advanced Earth science students and researchers in the use of fractals analyses for the better understanding of natural hazards.


The hypercube, Qd, is a natural and much studied combinatorial object, and we discuss various extremal problems related to it. A subgraph of the hypercube is said to be (Qd, F )-saturated if it contains no copies of F , but adding any edge forms a copy of F . We write sat(Qd, F ) for the saturation number, that is, the least number of edges a (Qd, F )-saturated graph may have. We prove the upper bound sat(Qd, Q2) < 10 · 2, which strongly disproves a conjecture of Santolupo that sat(Qd, Q2) = ( 1 4 + o(1) ) d2d−1. We also prove upper bounds on sat(Qd, Qm) for general m. Given a down-set A and an up-set B in the hypercube, Bollobás and Leader conjectured a lower bound on the number of edge-disjoint paths between A and B in the directed hypercube. Using an unusual form of the compression argument, we con rm the conjecture by reducing the problem to a the case of the undirected hypercube. We also prove an analogous conjecture for vertex-disjoint paths using the same techniques, and extend both results to the grid. Additionally, we deal with subcube intersection graphs, answering a question of Johnson and Markström of the least r = r(n) for which all graphs on n vertices may be represented as subcube intersection graph where each subcube has dimension exactly r. We also contribute to the related area of biclique covers and partitions, and study relationships between various parameters linked to such covers and partitions. Finally, we study topological properties of uniformly random simplicial complexes, employing a characterisation due to Korshunov of almost all down-sets in the hypercube as a


The Chukua Hatua is a five-year governance and accountability initiative being implemented by Oxfam GB and partners in five regions in Tanzania. The goal of Chukua Hatua is to increase the accountability and responsiveness of government to its citizens. The programme aims to achieve this by creating active citizenship; that is citizens who know their rights and responsibilities, are demanding them, and are able to search for and access information. The philosophy of the programme, as strongly encouraged by both the funder and Oxfam, is for a continuous cycle of planning, monitoring, reflection, learning and adaptation, and the programme has been continuously evolving since its inception, in response to changes in the context and learning about what works and what doesn't. This report documents the findings of a qualitative impact evaluation, which brought process tracing together with elements of Outcome Harvesting (building on an Outcome Mapping monitoring and evaluation approach being used by the programme) to assess the effectiveness of the project.


Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are the most investigated nanomaterials for theragnosis applications. In a research field where live cell assays, as well as the tracking of nanomaterials into a cell's environment, are of extremely importance, water-soluble AuNPs have been intensively studied to overcome the toxic effects exerted by coatings. Unfortunately, AuNPs fluorescent tagging often fails due to self-quenching and a careful design must be carried out to maintain optoelectronic properties and biocompatibility. In this work, the synthesis of fluorescent gold nanoprobes, able to enter the cell's environment (biotags) and target the cell nucleus, was designed and the particles tracked by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The coating of AuNPs with maleimide poly(ethylene glycol) and fluorescent oligoaziridine biocompatible oligomers, resulted in robust, optically active biotags that open novel insights into cancer theragnosis.


The safety of miners is of interest to all countries. In the event of a coal mine disaster, how to locate the miners remains the biggest and most urgent issue. The aim of this study is to propose a precise positioning method for underground mine environments to a low cost and with acceptable accuracy. During the research work, in-depth learning and analysis of current geolocation methods for indoor areas have been carried out: advantages, disadvantages and the level of suitability of each method for mine environment have been presented. A layered two-step Hidden Markov Model has been proposed to simulate human walking in underground mine environments and an improved Viterbi algorithm suitable for the model has been implemented. The result of the positioning accuracy is quite satisfying compared to other positioning methods in the same category. A small modification to the proposed model has been illustrated in the future work which makes it more suitable for different situations rather than that limited by assumptions. The proposed positioning method can be claimed to be quite suitable for underground mine environments to a low cost and with acceptable accuracy.


A system for automatic Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) data collection and processing is described. Hardware for the system consists of a Dynatech microplate reader and Apple II series microcomputer. Software developed by the authors allows automatic configuration of the reader and direct data input from the microplate reader to the microcomputer. After optical density data is input through the interface, it can be printed out as either optical density values, or as scaled values (from 0 to 9) in a color-coded matrix. Data can be stored and later recalled in either format, allowing several sets of data to be merged into one large, color-coded chart. Results from several different microplates can be combined and sorted in a single printout to expedite interpretation of data.


Abstract Sassafras albidum (Sassafras) is an ecologically important tree species that is widely distributed throughout the eastern United States. Sassafras is presently threatened by Raffaelea lauricola, a fungus vectored by Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae; Redbay Ambrosia Beetle), which causes a lethal vascular wilt known as laurel wilt disease (LWD). This study summarizes the status of Sassafras across the entire eastern United States and in areas with LWD in particular, so that LWD-induced changes in the Sassafras resource may be properly understood. Inventory data collected by the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program of the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service indicated that as of 2013–2014 there were 1.9 billion live Sassafras trees and saplings across 28 states, 53 ecoregion sections, and 69 forest types in the eastern United States. Only 1.7% of Sassafras trees ≥2.5 cm diameter at breast height occurred in counties with LWD; an additional 2.8% occurred in neighboring counties. To date, LWD has not reached the heart of the Sassafras range, yet discontinuous jumps of the disease beyond its advancing front suggest that future introductions may be possible. Landowners and forest managers within the range of Sassafras should be diligent to watch for LWD symptoms and consider the changes that may occur in their forests if the disease becomes established.


In experiments on anaesthetised cats, studies have been made of the effect of hyperoxia (6 kgs/cm2 pressure) on the bioelectrical activity in the symmetrical parts of the cortex in the right and left hemispheres. At the initial stages of its action, hyperoxia makes more evident the existence of functional heterogeneity between the left and right hemispheres. On further oxygen intoxication, interhemisphere asymmetry in the electrical activity of the brain cortex is abolished.


We analyze the costs and benefits of financial intermediaries on access to credit using confidential regulatory data on mortgages securitized by the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs). We find evidence of lenders pricing for observable and unobservable default risk independently from the GSEs. We explain these findings using a model of competitive mortgage lending with screening in which lenders acquire information beyond the GSEs' underwriting criteria and retain a positive loss given default. The model shows that the discretionary behavior of lenders, relative to a counterfactual in which lenders passively implement the GSEs' underwriting requirements and price competitively, benefits some borrowers with high observable risk at the expense of the majority of borrowers. Finally, the model suggests that the observed differences between banks and nonbanks are more consistent with differences in their expected loss given default rather than screening quality.


Abstract. Building damage assessment caused by earthquakes is essential during the response phase following a catastrophic event. Modern techniques include terrestrial and aerial photogrammetry based on Structure from Motion algorithm and Laser Scanning with the latter to prove its superiority in accuracy assessment due to the high-density point clouds. However, standardized procedures during emergency surveys often could not be followed due to restrictions of outdoor operations because of debris or decrepit buildings, the high human presence of civil protection agencies, expedited deployment of survey team and cost of operations. The aim of this paper is to evaluate whether terrestrial photogrammetry based on a handheld amateur DSLR camera can be used to map building damages, structural deformations and facade production in an accepted accuracy comparing to laser scanning technique. The study area is the Vrisa village, Lesvos, Greece where a Mw 6.3 earthquake occurred on June 12th, 2017. A dense point cloud from some digital images created based on Structure from Motion algorithm and compared with a dense point cloud acquired by a laser scanner. The distance measurement and the comparison were conducted with the Multiscale Model to Model Cloud Comparison method. According to the results, the mean of the absolute distances between the two clouds is 0.038 m while the 94.9 % of the point distances are less than 0.1 m. Terrestrial photogrammetry proved to be an accurate methodology for rapid earthquake damage assessment thus its products were used by local authorities for the calculation of the compensation for the property loss.


Paper presented at the 21st National Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science (AICS 2010), Galway, Ireland, 30 August - 1 September, 2010


Pancreatic adenosquamous carcinoma is a rare primary pancreas malignant tumor with very poor prognosis, for which there is no standard treatment. The case was of a 71-year-old woman who was admitted to the hospital with jaundice. A pancreatic head tumor was found, and pancreatic adenosquamous carcinoma was diagnosed in EUS-FNA. Despite confirmed distant metastasis, a multidisciplinary treatment centered on chemoradiotherapy gave her a 28-month prognosis.


Background: Patients diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers have an increased risk for depression compared to the general population. The aims of the present study were to determine the rate of depressive symptoms in the clinical range, identify predictors of depression, and to determine if depression was a predictor of immune system parameters in both patients and caregivers.

Methods: A secondary analysis of baseline data from two clinical trials was used for the purposes of this study. Patients and caregivers completed a battery of questionnaires. Patients were assessed on sociodemographic factors, fatigue, perceived stress, and pain levels. Caregivers reported measures on sociodemographic factors, quality of life, and sleep quality. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were performed to test the hypotheses.

Results: Of the 259 patient and caregiver dyads that were included in the analyses, the mean age of patients was 64.7 (SD = 10.5), and the majority were Caucasian (92.9%) and female (56.6%). The mean age of caregivers was 58.5 (SD = 12.5), and the majority were Caucasian (93.2), female (73.7%), and the spouse of the cancer patient (63.5%). The rate of depressive symptoms in the clinical range in patients was 37.4% and 36.7% in caregivers. In 35 dyads (15.6%) both the patient and caregiver reported depressive symptoms in the clinical range. We found that high levels of fatigue (Beta = -0.116; OR = 0.890; 95% CI, 0.848-0.935; p = <0.001) and perceived stress (Beta = 0.198; OR = 1.219; 95% CI, 1.127-1.318; p = <0.001) were predictive of depressive symptoms in patients. Poor quality of life (Beta = 0.067; OR = 1.069; 95% CI, 1.040-1.099; p = <0.001) was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms in cancer caregivers. We found that depressive symptoms did not predict immune system parameters in either patients or caregivers after adjusting for sociodemographic factors and psychosocial and behavioral covariates.

Conclusions: This one of a limited number of studies to examine the predictors of depression for patients and caregivers in the context of the dyad. Due to the high rates of depression observed, psychosocial interventions designed to target the predictors, for patients and caregivers, is recommended.


Orthopaedic surgery, like many other medical specialties, suffers from a lack of representation in its professional ranks from groups other than Caucasian males. This not only has measurable impact on the quantity and quality of care delivered to underrepresented groups, but also affects research and policy decisions. Orthopaedic care as perceived by many in the African American community is primarily for salvage procedures such as amputations. Evolving the current system to produce more efficacious and fair healthcare delivery requires training more orthopaedic surgeons of African American extraction. Department chiefs of residency programs must be enlisted to achieve this goal.


This project is to produce a design solution from a specification by a fictitious client. It is intended to replicate a common scenario found in the yacht design industry. The brief was to design an aluminium hulled yacht to accommodate a family of four plus guests and provide facilities for SCUBA diving with an integral garage for the tender. Aesthetics were important to the client, who expressed a desire for uncluttered decks and sleek lines. The yacht needed to be capable of being sailed short handed. In this case, the client is both the author and the designer and the design is loosely based around his interests. The type of yacht chosen was seen to be more challenging from a designer's point of view as apposed to a racing yacht, for example, where there are fewer compromises and design decisions are clearer cut. The project began with research into tenders and dive boats as garaging, combined with accommodation for eight passengers would determine the general arrangement and size of the vessel. The process was carried out this way as client had not specified the length of the yacht, but its practical requirements. From this a study was carried out on vessels of the appropriate size and the initial parametrics were produced and the design spiral started. The finished design was for a seventy foot yacht, 15 foot wide. It included a stern garage for the tender, also housing the liferaft and compressor. To double cabins with en-suites and two single cabins with additional 'Pullman' berths and a shared head were arranged as close to amidships as possible. This reduced seaway accelerations, creating a layout that was both practical and comfortable for passengers. A large galley and saloon was placed on the port side. A two-rudder configuration was selected to counter balance the problems associated with the wide flat hull. Other specific design features included: - a self tacking jib and automated sailing controls. A safety survey of the craft was undertaken and full range of safety features were incorporated into the design. Challenges of this design included the general arrangement and the logistics of fitting a large tender into a comparatively small boat. Performance from the specified metal hull needed to be enhanced without compromising safety or comfort, whilst all the time maintaining an aesthetically pleasing design


In this work, we analyze the carrier recombination kinetics and the associated charge carrier density in methylammonium lead iodide perovskite (MAPI) solar cells that use mesoporous TiO2 as selective contact (m-MAPI) and flat solar cells (without the mesoporous TiO2, f-MAPI), which are the most common device architectures for perovskite solar cells. The use of PIT-PV (photoinduced transient photovoltage) and L-TAS (laser transient absorption spectroscopy) showed that for devices that cannot reach efficiencies close to 19% there is a slow component of the photovoltage decay that corresponds to a charge recombination pathway for carrier losses responsible for the lower device efficiency. Moreover, we have also identified a primary interfacial charge recombination pathway for carrier losses that is common in all devices studied, independent of their efficiency or their device structure, which we have associated with the recombination reaction between electrons in the perovskite and holes in the organic semic...


CO2 based heat pumping systems have in recent years received considerable focus world-wide. Now, attention has been turned toward heating and cooling of larger, non-residential buildings. With plate heat exchanger's now becoming available for CO2, this natural refrigerant becomes a real alternative for larger applications, considering both efficiency and economy. However, research and design tools have not been readily available to fully design optimized systems for larger buildings. Simulation-aided design is particularly valuable for CO2 systems, as existing conventional systems cannot be used with good results. However, the special properties of CO2 both increase the need for discretization of component models, and require more complex fundamental equations for thermophysical properties. Because of this, circuit simulations with CO2 are considerably slower compared to simulation of conventional refrigerant systems, to the extent that it is limiting the ability to design optimal CO2 systems. In this work, an existing circuit simulation tool, CSIM, has been extended and modified to be suited for efficient design and optimization of heat pumping systems with complex-configuration plate heat exchangers. The modification of CSIM performed in this work includes a versatile and configurable plate heat exchanger model, and a general method to handle more complex fluid stream configurations. The new model can describe the local behavior in individual, parallel flowing, plate channels, including asymmetric heat transfer, pressure drop and mass flow distribution. Implemented into CSIM, this model can be used to predict the system performance impact due to local behavior in the component. A demonstration simulation case was carried out, comparing the predicted system performance using a simple uniform model, and the new advanced plate heat exchanger model. The results showed that the additional information in the new plate heat exchanger model could have a large impact on the predicted system performance. A profiling of CSIM simulations on six test cases revealed that approximately 99.85% of the time was consumed calculating thermophysical properties for CO2. To increase the simulation performance, a new, considerably faster thermophysical library (FTL) for CO2 has been developed and implemented. FTL is based on linear interpolation in lookup tables containing pre-calculated values of CO2 properties. Through careful design of extracting functions and table grid, even the highly non-linear properties around the critical point was described with acceptable accuracy. A test suite was performed, focusing on the accuracy and calculation speed compared to the reference equation of state. Overall, simulation results showed only very minuscule differences, but the simulation time was on average reduced from 945 seconds to 2.2 seconds, a reduction of 99.77%. This considerable reduction in simulation time will facilitate the more advanced component and system models needed to optimize CO2 system design.


BaBiO3 (BBO) particles were successfully synthesized through solid-state route, to provide better understanding of its transport properties, which is not well studied yet. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement confirmed that the particles were crystallized with monoclinic structure in single phase. The Raman spectrum of BBO sample revealed the existence of two different Bi sites (the octahedral BiO6/3 and the triangular pyramidal BiO4/2 cluster). Subsequently, the observation of low resolution and lattice scale imaging through high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) indicated the formation of monoclinic BBO particles of size ~ 50-60 nm. The ring pattern obtained from selected area electron diffraction (SAED) inveterate polycrystalline nature of the sample and calculated structural parameters well harmonized with XRD results. As expected, BBO showed semiconducting behavior with resistivity of ~ 3.8 kΩ-cm at room temperature along with an excellent NTC (negative temperature coefficient) thermistor characteristic. The dielectric measurements and impedance spectroscopy studies reveal that BBO exhibit two typical characteristics, i.e., diffuse phase transition and frequency dependent dielectric maxima, of relaxor oxides; with negative dielectric constant above 550 K. Copyright © 2016 VBRI Press.


Abstract This paper presents the results of a survey of phonological, lexical, and morphosyntactic variation in British English, based on over 14,000 responses. We map twelve variables using geospatial "hotspot" analysis. One of our aims is to document the patterning of under- and unstudied variables. A second aim is to track changes in real time, which we do by comparing our findings to those of the 1950s-era Survey of English Dialects (SED; Orton, 1962). We improve upon previous dialectological work by paying careful attention to the phonemic status of mergers and splits: In our contemporary data, we do this by asking subjects if they have a phonemic contrast; in the SED data, we do this by superimposing the isoglosses for individual phones. We find evidence for both stability and change; we document previously unverified patterns. Perhaps most importantly, we identify a number of directions for future research.


This study was undertaken to evaluate some important prognostic factors in human breast cancer. The prognostic value of accepted clinicopathological factors such as the presence of axillary lymph node métastasés, histologic grade, clinical and pathological stage was confirmed. In a cohort of stage T3,T4,M0 breast cancer with 91 patients (paper I) DNA ploidy by static cytometry (SCM) turned out to be the most important prognostic factor. In a cohort of stage T2,M0 breast cancer with 99 patients (paper III) the presence of involved axillary nodes and low histologic grade were independent prognostic factors. According to life-table analyses DNA ploidy by flow cytometi7 (FCM) and SCM were significant prognostic predictors for survivi but S-phase fraction (SPF) was not. The significant discrimination between euploid and aneuploid tumours was seen also among the node-negative patients. In a patient material with 158 tumours of predominantly low stages (73% T0,T1, papers IV and V) and calculated mammographie tumour volume doubling time (DT) DNA ploidy by FCM gave no significant prognostic information. A computer program was used to calculate SPF from the histograms obtained by FCM. SPF with a cut-off value of 7.5% between tumours with high and low proliferation rate was a highly significant and independent prognostic factor for survival. The other independent prognostic predictors were low histologic grade, the presence of involved axillary nodes and stage II and III {versus stage I). DT values for 158 patients (papers IV and V) varied between 0.6 and 65.8 months (mean 10.9 months) and 11 tumours showed no growth at all between mammographies. The median value of 9.0 months was chosen as cut-off point between slow and fast growing tumours. The prognostic power of DT was however low, and the difference between slow and fast growing tumours was significant only for distant disease-free survival. Seventy-one of the 158 tumours were detected by mammographie screening. The screening detected carcinomas with predominantly long DT:s were discovered at an early stage and showed favourable characteristics concerning DNA ploidy and SPF. FCM was a rapid and reliable method for DNA analysis with a better prognostic discrimination between euploid and aneuploid groups than SCM (papers II and III). SPF, DNA ploidy and histologic grade are significantly correlated to one another but show no strong correlation to the presence of axillary lymph node métastasés. There is also a significant correlation between DT on one hand and DNA ploidy and SPF on the other hand. In conclusion the classic prognostic factors are still valuable. DNA ploidy as a single prognostic factor seems to have a relatively low prognostic power and seems to be of limited clinical value. SPF is a highly significant prognostic predictor for breast cancer of low stage, but the clinical value is not defined.


The AFO (activating private forest owners to increase forest fuel supply) project was set up to discover the best tools for activating an important fraction of the 12 million PFOs (private forest owners) in Europe to supply wood fuel, especially to small and medium-sized heating plants. It aimed to increase the utilization of Europe's vast forest fuel reserves. This was expected to benefit both the economy of the forest owners and rural areas and increase the use of renewable energy sources. The project was carried out between 2009 and 2012. The project operated in selected target regions that have a high proportion of private forest ownership (France, Slovenia, Latvia and the UK). It started by analyzing the potential wood fuel supply and use in relation to current regional markets. After assessing through inquiries the potential wood fuel supply and demand and the parties involved, the next step was to initiate and support the formation of wood fuel supply clusters and organize supply chains. This was followed by the dissemination of best practice examples from Austria and Finland—countries with the most expertise and long traditions of forest fuel production. In the last phase of the project, results and approved activation methods were disseminated to all 27 EU (European Union) countries.


We re-examine the quantization of structure constants, or equivalently the choice of lattice in the so-called flat group reductions, introduced originally by Scherk and Schwarz. Depending on this choice, the vacuum either breaks supersymmetry and lifts certain moduli, or preserves all supercharges and is identical to the one obtained from the torus reduction. Nonetheless the low-energy effective theory proposed originally by Scherk and Schwarz is a gauged supergravity that describes supersymmetry breaking and moduli lifting for all values of the structure constants. When the vacuum does not break supersymmetry, such a description turns out to be an artifact of the consistent truncation to left-invariant forms as illustrated for the example of ISO(2). We furthermore discuss the construction of flat groups in d dimensions and find that the Scherk--Schwarz algorithm is exhaustive. A classification of flat groups up to six dimensions and a discussion of all possible lattices is presented.


: The authors report the result of a statistical study under stake for screening of congenital dislocation of the hip. Several factors was analyzed (season, maternal age, delivery, gestational age, sex, weight). 6.135 newborn child study in 36 months. In 130 (2.1%) baby were suspected congenital dislocation and the traumatological exploration was: 76 baby (58%) were normal; 54 baby (41%) were diagnosed congenital dislocation of hip. The incidence was 0.8% and the rate female/male: 6/1.


This study examines how rurality and gender are related to online health activities. Rural women face greater health risks and yet have access to a weaker health system infrastructure, which has resulted in a health disadvantage. New health information technologies may ameliorate some of these disparities; thus, the authors examine the relevance of gender and place in going online to search for health information, buy medicines, participate in health-related support groups, communicate with physicians, or maintain a personal health record. Analyzing data from the National Cancer Institute's 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey, the authors found that the relations between rurality and gender vary, depending on the specific type of online health activity, and that gender may be a more salient factor than rurality in determining whether individuals engage in particular types of online health activities. This study contributes to the literature by examining how gender and place are related to online health activities, a combined area neglected in past research, and advancing research on gender and technology. This research highlights the importance of expanding high-speed access in rural locations, increasing technological and health literacy, and tailoring the Internet to specific populations.