The field of influence maximization (IM) has made rapid advances, resulting in many sophisticated algorithms for identifying "influential" members in social networks. However, in order to engender trust in IM algorithms, the rationale behind their choice of "influential" nodes needs to be explained to its users. This is a challenging open problem that needs to be solved before these algorithms can be deployed on a large scale. This paper attempts to tackle this open problem via four major contributions: (i) we propose a general paradigm for designing explanation systems for IM algorithms by exploiting the tradeoff between explanation accuracy and interpretability; our paradigm treats IM algorithms as black boxes, and is flexible enough to be used with any algorithm; (ii) we utilize this paradigm to build XplainIM, a suite of explanation systems; (iii) we illustrate the usability of XplainIM by explaining solutions of HEALER (a recent IM algorithm) among ∼200 human subjects on Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT); and (iv) we provide extensive evaluation of our AMT results, which shows the effectiveness of XplainIM.


The IEEE 802.11b standard is today the only commonly used standard in Europe for fast wireless networks. This makes it possible to connect computers to networks in places where it is not possible to use wires. Examples of such situations are internet access at airports, communication in emergency areas or for military communication. Common for all these situations is that network security is important. This thesis consists of two different parts. The first part handles the security mechanisms and the second part is an evaluation of the possibilities to use IEEE 802.11b in embedded applications. The part that handles the security includes the security mechanisms found in the standard, flaws in these mechanisms and methods that try to reduce these problems.


In Phase I dose escalation studies the 3+3 design is a commonly used method. We suggest a modification of this method to include a parametric model and the concepts of optimal design theory, with the aim of improving this method. The performance of the original and the new approach are investigated by simulations.


Abstract We examine the phenomenon of child labor in conditions where child labor is hazardous, unpaid family work, and exists in local industries. The overriding purpose of this study is to develop theoretical generalizations that may help comprehend the causes of hidden hazardous child labor in similar conditions eventually leading to effective steps in eradicating or controlling it. We consider child labor as a basic human rights issue and, hence, investigate it as a complex social phenomenon by merging two academic perspectives, i.e. the subaltern tradition in history, and the economic theories of entitlement, capability and function as propounded by Prof. Amartya Sen. We have found that the kiln-workers are invisible to the society. Their marginal existence allows them minimal options for improvement leading to a sense of despondency that decimates their self-esteem to the point where they believe that their basic human rights are negotiable. We conclude that to ameliorate the conditions of the kiln-workers there is a need to create an environment in which they are given the capability to exercise their given legal, political, and economic rights. Finally, we conclude that such an environment can be created through a multi-stakeholders approach spearheaded by the government and supported by unions, and non-governmental organizations.


Introduction Pain is a risk factor for work disability, however, routes of exit out of paid employment among those with chronic pain have not been examined in detail. We aimed to examine the contribution of chronic back pain to subsequent transitions out of paid employment, accounting for covariates. Methods We included participants of the Whitehall II study cohort (n=8445, 69% men, aged 35–55 at baseline), with measurements of back pain between phases 1 and 3 (1985–1994). Exit from paid employment (health-related, retirement not related to health, unemployment, other) was observed between 1995–2013 (phases 4–11). Those remaining in paid employment served as the reference group. Sex, age, parental and own socioeconomic position, job demands, job control, and body mass index were controlled for. Repeated measures logistic regression models were fitted. Result Altogether 10% of the participants exited paid employment due to health-related reasons, 2% due to unemployment and further 6.5% due to other reasons. After full adjustments, reporting back pain at one time point (26%) was unassociated with exit due to health reasons, whereas reporting repeated pain (18%) was associated with such exit (OR 1.53, 95% CI: 1.17 to 2.00), when compared to those who did not report pain during phases 1–3 (56%). Associations were somewhat stronger among middle or lower class employees, and non-existent among high class employees. Otherwise differences e.g. by age, working conditions or obesity were small. The risk of exit due to other routes than health-related did not vary between participants with or without pain. Discussion These results highlight the need for early detection of chronic pain to prevent the risk of health-related early exit out of paid employment. The results further emphasise the importance of identification of high risk groups and their modifiable risk factors, such as adverse working conditions


Due to increased product requirements, usual conditions for materials cannot be applied anymore. To reduce energy consumption, lightweight constructions are demanded but they cannot stand necessary mechanical stress. Therefore, local reinforced elements are applied for instance. According to actual research in material sciences, it is prerequisite to verify the position of this strengthening. Various physical principles can be used for non-destructive testing of this effect. In this article, an approach based on acoustic signals is presented. On the one hand a strategy could be to do comparative studies between nominal and sample and on the other to predetermine the place just by acoustic parameters like eigenmodes. In preliminary test, vibration characteristics of these innovative materials (e.g. bake-hardening plate and sandwich structure) are determined and reveal capabilities for acoustic methodologies. So, this approach could be a promising tool to localize reinforced elements.


We present the full phase diagram of the dumbbell model of spin ice as a function of temperature, chemical potential and staggered chemical potential which breaks the translational lattice symmetry in favour of charge crystal ordering. We observe a double winged structure with five possible phases, monopole fluid (spin ice), fragmented single monopole crystal phases and double monopole crystal, the zinc blend structure. Our model provides a skeleton for liquid-liquid phase transitions and for the winged structures observed for itinerant magnets under pressure and external field. We relate our results to recent experiments on Ho$_2$Ir$_2$O$_7$ and propose a wide ranging set of new experiments that exploit the phase diagram, including high pressure protocols, dynamical scaling of Kibble-Zurek form and universal violations of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem.


Fairfield and Charman provide a modern, rigorous and intuitive methodology for case-study research to help social scientists and analysts make better inferences from qualitative evidence. The book develops concrete guidelines for conducting inference to best explanation given incomplete information; no previous exposure to Bayesian analysis or specialized mathematical skills are needed. Topics covered include constructing rival hypotheses that are neither too simple nor overly complex, assessing the inferential weight of evidence, counteracting cognitive biases, selecting cases, and iterating between theory development, data collection, and analysis. Extensive worked examples apply Bayesian guidelines, showcasing both exemplars of intuitive Bayesian reasoning and departures from Bayesian principles in published case studies drawn from process-tracing, comparative, and multimethod research. Beyond improving inference and analytic transparency, an overarching goal of this book is to revalue qualitative research and place it on more equal footing with respect to quantitative and experimental traditions by illustrating that Bayesianism provides a universally applicable inferential framework.


Skeletal muscle has an outstanding capacity for regeneration in response to injuries, but there are disorders in which this process is seriously impaired, such as sarcopenia. Pharmacological treatments to restore muscle trophism are not available, therefore, the identification of suitable therapeutic targets that could be useful for the treatment of skeletal reduced myogenesis is highly desirable. In this in vitro study, we explored the expression and function of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in human skeletal muscle tissues and their derived satellite cells. The results obtained from analyses with various techniques of gene and protein CaSR expression and of its secondary messengers in response to calcium (Ca2+) and CaSR drugs have demonstrated that this receptor is not present in human skeletal muscle tissues, neither in the established satellite cells, nor during in vitro myogenic differentiation. Taken together, our data suggest that, although CaSR is a very important drug target in physiology and pathology, this receptor probably does not have any physiological role in skeletal muscle in normal conditions.


Rheological properties of styrene-butadiene-styrene polymer (SBS) modified bitumens were studied using conventional test methods (penetration, softening point, kinematic viscosity and Fraass breaking point) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The study indicated that SBS modification improved the viscoelastic properties of bitumens, which can be demonstrated using DMA but not conventional methods. Significantly improved properties of binders included increased dynamic mechanical moduli and decreased phase angle at high temperatures, as well as reduced complex modulus and increased phase angle at low temperatures. SBS modification also caused reductions in glass transition temperature, Fraass breaking point, and temperature susceptibility. The degree of improvement was observed to be influenced by bitumen source/grade and polymer content/structure. Comparison showed that certain relationships exist between parameters obtained using conventional methods and DMA, such as between penetration and complex modulus, kinematic viscosity and complex viscosity, and Fraass breaking point and glass transition temperature. However, the main conclusion of the study is that conventional test parameters such as penetration and softening point are not suitable for characterization of rheological properties of SBS modified bitumens.


In this paper, we investigate 2727 galaxies observed by MaNGA as of June 2016 to develop spatially resolved techniques for identifying signatures of active galactic nuclei (AGN). We identify 303 AGN candidates. The additional spatial dimension imposes challenges in identifying AGN due to contamination from diffuse ionized gas, extra-planar gas and photoionization by hot stars. We show that the combination of spatially-resolved line diagnostic diagrams and additional cuts on H$\alpha$ surface brighness and H$\alpha$ equivalent width can distinguish between AGN-like signatures and high-metallicity galaxies with LINER-like spectra. Low mass galaxies with high specific star formation rates are particularly difficult to diagnose and routinely show diagnostic line ratios outside of the standard star-formation locus. We develop a new diagnostic -- the distance from the standard diagnostic line in the line-ratios space -- to evaluate the significance of the deviation from the star-formation locus. We find 173 galaxies that would not have been selected as AGN candidates based on single-fibre spectral measurements but exhibit photoionization signatures suggestive of AGN activity in the MaNGA resolved observations, underscoring the power of large integral field unit (IFU) surveys. A complete census of these new AGN candidates is necessary to understand their nature and probe the complex co-evolution of supermassive black holes and their hosts.


A triple-mode silver-plated ceramic cavity filter with wide spurious-free response is presented. It uses single mode ceramic slabs as interfacing resonators with the cube to give wide spurious-free performance up to 4 GHz for an 1800-MHz base station filter. Three square apertures at the slab-cube interface give simple and flexible control of transmission zero placement while maintaining low insertion loss. The parallel nature of the slab-to-cube coupling allows a simple cuboid structure without chamfers or intermode coupling elements. A seven-pole filter in the DCS-1800 transmit band is built using a slab-slab-cube-slab-slab structure and measured. Along with wide spurious-free performance, the filter achieves around 1 dB of band edge insertion loss with more than 50 dB of attenuation, 20 MHz from the band edges, and from an 11-cm3 package. The near band performance shows all of the seven poles in the return loss. The insertion loss is 1.1 dB on the low side (1805 MHz), 1.0 dB on the high side (1880 MHz), and 0.6 dB at the band center. The wideband response shows more than 40 dB of attenuation up to the frequency 3.7 GHz.


Stocks markets play their financial roles of price shocks and hedging just when they are proficient. The imperative highlights of productive market are that one cannot make extraordinary profit from the stocks markets. This research investigates whether China wheat futures price can be predicted by employing artificial intelligence neural network. This would add to our knowledge whether wheat futures market is resourceful and would enable traders, sellers, and investors to improve cost-effective trading strategy. We utilize the traditional financial model to forecast the wheat futures price and acquire out of sample point estimates. We additionally assess the robustness of our outcomes by applying several alternative forecasting techniques such as artificial intelligence with one hidden layer and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model. Furthermore, the statistical significance of our point estimation was further tested through the Mariano and Diebold test. Considering random walk forecast as the bench mark, we used a number of economic indicators, trader's expectation towards futures prices, and lagged value of futures price of wheat in order to forecast the evaluation of wheat futures price. The computable significance of out of sample estimations recommends that our ANN with one hidden layer has the best anticipating presentation among all the models considered in this exploration and has the estimating power in foreseeing wheat futures returns. Furthermore, this investigation discovers that the futures price of wheat can be predicted, and the wheat futures market of China is not productive.


A 79-year-old male was admitted to stroke ward following two episodes of mild headaches, slurred speech and left arm weakness over the past 3 days. On both occasions, the symptoms resolved within an hour. On admission to the ward he suffered 2 focal seizures. He denies any fever. He has the background of benign oesophageal stricture which was recently dilated, and melanoma on his neck which was resected 5 years ago. Neurological examination was unremarkable. WBC- normal, CRP- slightly high. LP was also normal. The MRI brain revealed 4 ring-enhancing lesions bilaterally. DWI showed restricted diffusion. After discussion with neuroradiologists and neurosurgeons, antibiotics started for brain abscesses. Despite this, he gradually developed progressive left arm weakness. After another discussion, it was thought that his lesions were metastases. Biopsy/aspiration could not be performed due to limited resources. We stopped antibiotics and started dexamethasone. His left arm weakness subsequently improved. However, MRI scan repeated after 2 weeks showed increase in size of lesions. Thus, antibiotics restarted, and the subsequent scans showed improvement. Discussion Brain abscess is a rare but serious complication following oesophageal dilation. A cystic lesion that markedly restricts centrally on DWI should be considered an abscess until proven otherwise.


This paper presents a new approach for object recognition using affine-invariant recognition of image patches that correspond to object surfaces that are roughly planar. A novel set of affine-invariant spectral signatures (AISSs) are used to recognize each surface separately invariant to its 3D pose. These local spectral signatures are extracted by correlating the image with a novel configuration of Gaussian kernels. The spectral signature of each image patch is then matched against a set of iconic models using multidimensional indexing (MDI) in the frequency domain. Affine-invariance of the signatures is achieved by a new configuration of Gaussian kernels with modulation in two orthogonal axes. The proposed configuration of kernels is Cartesian with varying aspect ratios in two orthogonal directions. The kernels are organized in subsets where each subset has a distinct orientation. Each subset spans the entire frequency domain and provides invariance to slant, scale and limited translation. The complete set of orientations is utilized to achieve invariance to rotation and tilt. Hence, the proposed set of kernels achieve complete affine-invariance.


The overall purpose of this paper is to explore the role of leadership, vision and motivation of the employees (empowerment) in order to get a better understanding of how the top manager of a Born Global company can develop the company. The study is based on two explorative case studies, where interviews have been conducted with both the top manager as well as the employees. This study is considered crucial in case of born global where the top manager spends maximum time in travelling. Top manager needs to integrate such a culture where employees are set in a framework wherein the operations are handled smoothly during the absence of top manager. In this era of global competition the key for a successful firm lies in the empowerment of employees with well defined boundaries.A qualitative strategy and a research design with two case studies on Swedish Born Global companies were used in reaching the purpose of this study. The primary empirical data were mainly collected from six interviews. Two interviews were conducted with top manager and rest with employees. Secondary data like general company information were gathered from the website of the companies prior to primary data collection to have a better understanding and preparation.The results of the study indicate that the vision is more important for the top manager compared to the employees working in a born global company. However, the vision manages to establish a supportive culture where their daily activities and decisions of the employees are in line with the vision of the company. We see that this has been possible due to the leadership style and motivational factors like delegation of responsibility and autonomy of work. Our findings indicate that empowering employees has a significant advantage supporting the growth and internationalization of the born global company.Based on these findings, practical and theoretical implications are presented and discussed in the paper.


The present paper describes the contacting technology to the diluted magnetic semiconductor Cd1-xMnxTe having potential applications in optoelectronic and spintronic devices. For efficient spin injection into a spintronic material, a matching ohmic contact is the demand of the time. Since cadmium telluride has a well-known contact problem, its manganese-doped counterpart is also facing a similar difficulty. In the present case Cd1-xMnxTe was fabricated using thermally assisted interdiffusion and compound formation between repeated stacked elemental layers of manganese, cadmium and tellurium. A wet electroless deposition technique was employed to deposit manganese doped nickel phosphide as a magnetic contact onto Cd1-xMnxTe. It appeared that the contact resistivity improved compared to the case of gold contact. The details of the contacting technology and the results have been described in the text of the paper.


The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is the primary vector of the phloem-limited bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (LAS) associated with huanglongbing (HLB, citrus greening), considered the world's most serious disease of citrus. Stylet morphometrics of ACP nymphs and adults were studied in relation to citrus vein structure and to their putative (histologically verified) feeding sites on Valencia orange leaves. ACP nymphs preferred to settle and feed on the lower (abaxial) side of young leaves either on secondary veins or on the sides of the midrib, whereas adults preferred to settle and feed on the upper (adaxial) or lower secondary veins of young or old leaves. Early instar nymphs can reach and probe the phloem probably because the distance to the phloem is considerably shorter in younger than in mature leaves, and is shorter from the sides of the midrib compared to that from the center. Additionally, the thick-walled 'fibrous ring' (sclerenchyma) around the phloem, which may act as a barrier to ACP stylet penetration into the phloem, is more prominent in older than in younger leaves and in the center than on the sides of the midrib. The majority (80–90%) of the salivary sheath termini produced by ACP nymphs and adults that reached a vascular bundle were associated with the phloem, whereas only 10–20% were associated with xylem vessels. Ultrastructural studies on ACP stylets and LAS-infected leaves suggested that the width of the maxillary food canal in first instar nymphs is wide enough for LAS bacteria to traverse during food ingestion (and LAS acquisition). However, the width of the maxillary salivary canal in these nymphs may not be wide enough to accommodate LAS bacteria during salivation (and LAS inoculation) into host plants. This may explain the inability of early instar nymphs to transmit LAS/HLB in earlier reports.


A field survey was conducted in the Quercus wutaishanica shrubs in Liupan Mountains of Ningxia, Northwest China to study the predation and removal of rodents on the seeds of Q. wutaishanica, Prunus salicina and Pinus armandii, aimed to explore the effects of seed size and pericarp traits on the predation and removal behaviors of rodents. The in situ seed predation rates of smaller Q. wutaishanica seeds and P. armandii seeds were significantly higher than those of larger Q. wutaishanica seeds and P. salicina seeds. The P. salicina seeds with hard and thick pericarp (endocarp) had the highest predation rate and hoarding rate after the removal by rodents. The movement distance of larger Q. wutaishanica seeds during predation events was the longest (3.10 m), and the seed hoarding distance of this species (6.48 m) was significantly longer than that of the three other types of seeds. Over 80% of sites were used as the predation sites by rodents for the seeds, except that the P. salicina seeds contained only a single seed and the cache sites contained a single seed accounted for over 90% for all types of seeds. Few predation and cache sites containing over two seeds were detected. Higher proportion of P. armandii seeds were predated in microhabitats except at the base of shrubs and in the holes after removal by rodent, while the seeds of other three types were predated mainly at the base of shrubs and in the holes after removal by rodents. The seed hoarding patterns after removal by rodents were primarily determined by pericarp traits, and higher proportion of soil burial that the rodents hoarded seeds with hard pericarp (endocarp) was detected.


This thesis deals with two types of agrarian remains in relation to settlement remains; clearance cairns, low stone walls and house terraces in the area of Northeastern Uppland and the area north of Lake Malaren, during the middle Iron Age. The aim whit this thesis is trying to get a better understanding of the relation between agrarian and settlement remains in Uppland. Three places have been chosen where these three elements are present and they are interpreted through Richard Whites concept of middle ground but also Landesque capital. The three elements have shown to be expressed in different ways in all three sites. It is possible to see two areas with different traditions, but also to see two areas that closely interact with each other, this opens up for a new discussion around agrarian remains in both areas. The discussion circuits around concepts of meeting, misunderstanding and resistance; but also a will to assimilate different expressions.


The methods previously described have been applied to a study of the scattering of 6 5 MeV deuterons by deuterium, helium, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and neon. In the case of deuterium, helium and oxygen the elastically scattered deuterons can be clearly distinguished at all angles of scattering from groups of particles due to other nuclear processes. In experiments with these gases it is thus possible to determine the angular variation of the scattered intensity. The results show that P and D terms make appreciable contributions to the amplitude of the scattered wave. This result is in contrast with that obtained previously in experiments with protons of approximately the same speed, in which it was found that the scattered intensity could be described by an interaction of the Coulomb term with an S-wave only. In experiments with carbon, nitrogen and neon, the peaks in the range distributions due to the elastically scattered deuterons are confused with those produced by protons or oparticles from (d-p) and (d-ca) reactions, and the results are less reliable or are confined to restricted intervals in the angle of scattering. The Q values of the reactions giving rise to the proton groups have been determined and values thus obtained of the energy of a number of excited states in the product nuclei. A study of the variation with the angle of scattering of the range of deuterons elastically scattered by helium nuclei is shown to afford a method of investigating the range-energy relation for an emulsion which has advantages over that previously employed.


Abstract This article argues that risk is central in (re)producing the unaccountable commercial military/security markets that are a normal part of our political reality. The argument is twofold: first it is suggested that risk rationalities and the associated 'preventive imperative' has a depoliticising effect – accentuated by the impersonal spread of risk rationalities and the strategies of risk professionals – which lowers the eagerness to seek accountability. However, and second, depoliticisation is significant above all as a serious obstacle to the innovative thinking that is the sine qua non of effective accountability. The enmeshed, 'hybrid', nature of the market places it in the 'blind spot' of law and is as such fundamental to the current lack of accountability. Consequently, moving beyond established regulatory frameworks and technical understandings of accountability (that is, politicising the market) is a precondition for more effective accountability. Failing to do so, will leave the current rapid legal innovation impotent while reinforcing impunity as the focus on and confidence in established regulatory frameworks grows. The failure to politicise creates an 'accountability paradox' where the pursuit of accountability diminishes it. The article develops this argument with reference to Blackwater's (now Xe) role in the so called CIA 'Killing Program'.


DiffServ mechanisms have been developed to support Quality of Service
(QoS). However, the level of assurance that can be provided with
DiffServ without substantial over-provisioning is limited. Pre-
Congestion Notification (PCN) investigates the use of per-flow
admission control to provide the required service guarantees for the
admitted traffic. While admission control will protect the QoS under
normal operating conditions, an additional flow pre-emption mechanism
is necessary in the times of heavy congestion (e.g. caused by route
changes due to link or node failure). This document provides a
problem statement on the addition of flow admission control and flow
pre-emption functionality to a DiffServ network, in particular for the
support of real time services such as voice and video.


One of the JCI's Deputy Editors, Stephen G. Emerson, is stepping aside, after almost two and a half years in the position, to focus on his role as the thirteenth president of Haverford College in Haverford, Pennsylvania, USA.

Emerson (Figure (Figure1)1) has been a Deputy Editor on the editorial board of the JCI since a group of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania took over the leadership of the journal in March 2007. At that time, he ran a highly successful laboratory researching the biology and clinical potential of bone marrow stem cells. However, on July 1st, 2007, Emerson returned to his alma mater as the thirteenth president. The JCI recently got a chance to talk to Emerson about his time as a Deputy Editor of the JCI, his role as president of Haverford College, and what the future holds.

Figure 1

Stephen G. Emerson says he is enjoying the challenge of being the thirteenth president of Haverford College, a place he describes as "the ultimate 'hands-on' community."

JCI: You spent nearly two and half years as Deputy Editor of the JCI. What was the most important thing that you learned?

Emerson: Science is continually evolving, and the standards of scientific quality are continuously increasing. What we might have found novel and important five years ago we no longer do, as other, competing observations move similar and related fields along ever more quickly. I've also been reminded how enjoyable it is to discuss great science with colleagues from a variety of fields.

JCI: For most of your time as Deputy Editor of the JCI you were also President of Haverford College. How did you manage to balance the demands of your position at Haverford and the demands of the journal?

Emerson: I maintain a laboratory at Haverford (it may be the only funded stem cell biology lab at a liberal arts college) that we run just like my old lab at Penn, except it's undergraduates, not post-docs, so I love to remain in science. But the added time involved in reviewing and supervising reviews has been extraordinary. Thank goodness for wonderful reviewers, editors, and staff, and the internet after midnight.

JCI: Why is now a good time to step down from the editorial board of the JCI to focus on Haverford College?

Emerson: There's never a good time, and I will deeply miss the JCI. But being a college president is already two jobs, and the candle has just burned too thin.

JCI: What drove your decision to leave academia and become President of Haverford College?

Emerson: Ouch. I hope I haven't left academia! But I know what you mean. The answer is really simple: I had the fortune of attending Haverford College many years ago (1970–1974); I think it's the best place in the world to educate smart, idealistic 18- to 22-year-olds; and I was honored to serve when asked. I do love the idea of trying to figure out the best ways to prepare students to be the sort of physician-scientists (or legal theorists, public policy activists, poets, playwrights, or teachers) who will really change the world for the better in the next half-century.

JCI: As you mention above, you are a Haverford College alumnus. What was it about the undergraduate experience that brought you back as President?

Emerson: I had the good fortune to be able to study everything from non-equilibrium thermodynamics to complex analysis and differential topology to continental philosophy, to play lacrosse, make best friends for life, and to really learn that there is "a common spark" in everyone. Can't beat that.

JCI: Do you miss being an active physician-scientist?

Emerson: I do miss being a full-time physician-scientist, for sure. But hopefully, if my students stay as incredibly engaged as they were this past year (we're sending off two papers this summer) and I can keep getting to a couple of meetings per year, I won't go too far away. But if I ever were to leave science in the (far) future, I would dearly miss it, because all my Haverford science faculty are active investigators (NIH, NSF, and/or HHMI funded, etc.).

JCI: What plans do you have to stay connected to the scientific community, now that you are no longer on the editorial board of the JCI?

Emerson: In addition to our own science, and meetings, I would like to become more involved in policy questions and venues involving nourishing the pipeline of physician-scientists. We graduate four or five combined-degree matriculants every year (about 1.5% of our senior class), but I realize that this is not the norm nationally. So I would like to see if we can offer what we've learned from our experience, learn from others with different viewpoints, and see if we can help together, on a national level.

JCI: We understand you are a keen bridge player. One of your partners indicates that your style is "aggressively, perhaps irrationally, optimistic". Assuming you concur, has this approach to bridge helped you in your approach to being President of Haverford?

Emerson: Hah! But seriously, isn't being relentlessly optimistic (while also self-critical) the key to success in science? It certainly is the key to growing into a potentially happy and successful college graduate, so I hope that I'm just leading by doing. The bottom line is . . . I can't help it.


Fluorescent androgen ligands were employed to study putative androgen-binding (AB) sites in a number of men with prostatic adenocarcinoma. Results were compared with biochemical androgen receptor determinations in over 150 patients with agreement in 86% (p less than 0.001). AB by histochemistry correlated significantly with the outcome of hormonal manipulation (p less than 0.001) but not with response to radiation therapy (p = 0.55) or to 125I implantation (p = 0.54). There was a degree of positive interaction between histochemically and biochemically determined AB sites which produced a significant improvement in assay specificity (p less than 0.05). These findings indicate that the best method for prediction of hormone response in prostate cancer is provided by a combination of assay techniques.


Downstream of Lake Kinneret the climatic regime of the Jordan river catchment changes to semiarid or even arid conditions. Hence specific tools are required to cope with enhanced spatial and temporal variability of rainfall and adequate modelling of generated overland flow by saturation or infiltration excess. To simulate climatological variability, historical extremes (dry and wet seasons) are modelled using C-band rainfall radar data as model input. A parsimonious model concept (the ZIN-model) was successfully tested in a neighbouring 680 km 2 catchment. It was run both in a single event and continuous mode using a constant set of field derived parameters. When model runs were started at high antecedent moisture conditions, single event simulations were promising, while longer term continuous simulations were less accurate both under- and overestimating the catchment scale runoff response. For the Jordan River it is envisaged to couple this process-based approach with the hydrological model TRAIN. This model focuses on the continuous simulation of processes at the interface between soil, vegetation and atmosphere and thus helps to identify e.g. water use from vegetated surfaces and related water stress conditions. The model combination leads to improved simulations of longer term components (evapotranspiration, soil moisture, ground water recharge) of the water cycle. As such, detailed patterns of available water resources for historical extremes are expected. These will be correlated to climatic change scenarios to arrive at sound estimates of induced changes in water availability all across the lower Jordan River.


The consequence of being failed by the education system has life-long implications – if one is deprived of basic education, of literacy and numeracy skills, one is excluded from economic, social, and political participation. Success in education offers the marginalised freedom, choices and possibilities. The Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) supports teachers and their students in accessing and succeeding in the mainstream curriculum.
A central plank of the programme is the JCSP Literacy Strategy, which provides schools with an opportunity to put in place a school-wide approach to literacy improvement. Accelerating literacy is key to curricular success, however, there is little research in Ireland as to what works. Such evidence is crucial if our teachers will have confidence in improving adolescent literacy.
The purpose of the study is to explore how the JCSP Literacy Strategy impacts on developing reading literacy among groups of first year JCSP students, with a specific focus on the JCSP Literacy Medley. Thirty five schools implemented the JCSP Literacy Medley which involved implementing at least three of the JCSP reading initiatives over one academic year with at least one first year JCSP group and setting up a JCSP reading space/corner in their school. Over one thousand students were involved in the study along with over one hundred and fifty teachers.
A mixed methods research approach was taken. Methods included carrying out a student reading survey of 3,653 first year students to gather their perspectives on reading; teachers' and librarians' feedback was gathered through interviews; and a focus group was used as well as online evaluation tools. Standardised reading test information was also gathered from 700 students to establish reading progress which supplemented teacher observations. Additionally, a case study of one school ensured rich data was gathered to complete the picture.
Ten steps to success have emerged from this study that should be considered within the context of a process of change management in participating schools. These include implementing a range of motivational reading interventions supported by bespoke CPD, time to read and access to books in attractive reading spaces.


We analyse the impacts of the CAP reforms on the technical efficiency of the crop farms. We use an output distance function and an inefficiency effects model which incorporates the influences of exogenous variables on farm efficiency. We formulate policy variables (e.g. the CAP subsidies) and producer characteristics as explanatory variables in the inefficiency effects model. We use the 1995- 2004 FADN data to estimate the production frontiers of the crop farms in Germany, Netherlands and Sweden, to derive their technical efficiency, and to determine the effects of the explanatory variables. The study shows that the 10-year average technical efficiency of crop farms is 59% in Germany, 75% in Netherlands, and 70% in Sweden. The average annual technical efficiency change is 0.1%, 0.7% and 2.7% respectively for Germany, Netherlands and Sweden.


Purpose: To compare the outcome of surgery and postoperative complications between using manually dissected cornea in Descemet's stripping with endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) and using eye bank automated precut cornea in Descemet's stripping with automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) Methods: Forty eyes with indication of endothelial keratoplasty (EK) were included in this randomized prospective clinical trial. The eyes were randomly divided into two groups. Donor cornea in one group was dissected with curved blade by the surgeon, while precut cornea from eye bank was used in other group. All surgeries were performed in one center by three surgeons, authors of the article. Patients were followed for 3 months. Results: Baseline parameters and demographic features were not significantly different between the two groups. The most common indication of EK in both groups was pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) (60%). Endothelial cell loss in DSEK and DSAEK were 51.59% and 50.70%, respectively after 3 months follow-up (P=0.947). Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) and intraocular pressure (IOP) after surgery and postoperative complications were not significantly different in both groups. Prevalence and intensity of interface opacity was significantly lower in DSAEK group after surgery. BSCVA equal or more than 20 /100 was detected in 85% and 75% individuals in DSAEK and DSEK groups, respectively. Conclusion: In conclusion, three months postoperative outcomes of EK were similar in the two groups of precut DSAEK and manually dissected DSEK. Smooth and uniform layer in precut DSAEK leads to lower interface opacity in patients.


Purpose To examine relationships among applicant personality, Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) performance, and medical school acceptance offers. Method The authors conducted an observational study of applicants who participated in the MMI at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine during the 2010–2011 admissions cycle and responded to the Big Five Inventory measuring their personality factors (agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, openness). Individuals' MMI performance at 10 stations was summarized as a total score. Regression analyses examined associations of personality factors with MMI score, and associations of personality factors and MMI score with acceptance offers. Covariates included sociodemographic and academic performance measures. Results Among the 444 respondents, those with extraversion scores in the top (versus bottom) quartile had significantly higher MMI scores (adjusted parameter estimate = 5.93 higher, 95% CI: 4.27–7.59; P < .01). In a model excluding MMI score, top (versus bottom) quartile agreeableness (AOR = 3.22; 95% CI 1.57–6.58; P < .01) and extraversion (AOR = 3.61; 95% CI 1.91–6.82; P < .01) were associated with acceptance offers. After adding MMI score to the model, high agreeableness (AOR = 4.77; 95% CI 1.95–11.65; P < .01) and MMI score (AOR 1.33; 95% CI 1.26–1.42; P < .01) were associated with acceptance offers. Conclusions Extraversion was associated with MMI performance, whereas both extraversion and agreeableness were associated with acceptance offers. Adoption of the MMI may affect diversity in medical student personalities, with potential implications for students' professional growth, specialty distribution, and patient care.


Utilizing area-based agri-environmental programs, our work involves focus groups and interviews with program managers, landowners, and elected officials to assess the impact of on-farm managerial interventions on broader countryside conservation issues. Initially, two areas were compared: The Skaneateles Lake Watershed Agricultural Program (NY) and the High Weald Land Management Initiative (England). The organizing principle for this research is that the British experience with countryside management provides crucial insight from which New York agricultural and environmental interests can benefit. For example, one difference is that contributions and challenges of land management by farmers in England are understood and discussed by a much wider set of agricultural and community interests than in the U.S. Yet in New York (and most of the Northeast) changes in agriculture have played out on the landscape (i.e., countryside) but with far less discussion about other nonfood, public benefits derived from the working landscape. Better understanding the British view of countryside as "lived-in landscapes" that are protected through positive managerial incentives for farmers may provide important insights for New York agricultural, community, and environmental stakeholders. Adopting a British approach to land management, explicitly taking into account the cultural and political realities in the Northeast, could help New York communities be more responsive to overall community environmental management.


Epidemiological studies indicate that cleaners are at increased risk of asthma. Many cleaners work in precarious employment conditions potentially leading to stress, a known risk factor for asthma. Therefore, we aimed to analyse whether the high prevalence of asthma in cleaners might partly be explained by psychosocial working conditions. The study population of this cross-sectional study included 199 cleaners employed at regional public health services in Puno province (Peru). They were compared to 79 unexposed workers from Lima, Peru (response 83%). Both groups answered the short version of the European Working Condition Survey and a modified version of the European Community Respiratory Health screening questionnaire. After multiple imputation, the association between type of job, employment conditions, job strain and control, social support, bullying, violence, distress and asthma (wheeze without cold or use of asthma medication) was assessed. The 12-months prevalence of asthma was 22% among cleaners compared to 5% among unexposed workers (pChi2 = 0.001). Cleaners were more likely than unexposed workers to be female, be non-smokers, work with temporary contracts and as subcontractors, have a high employment insecurity, high strain working conditions and low social support (all pChi2 < 0.05). Twenty six percent vs. 10% reported a high bullying score; 39% vs. 8% had experienced violence during the 12-months prior to the study (both pChi2 < 0.001). High bullying score (adjusted Odds Ratio 5.6; 95% Confidence Interval 1.5–21.4) and violence at the workplace (2.4; 1.1–5.4) were main predictors of asthma. Taking these factors into account, being a cleaner was no longer statistically significantly associated with the outcome (3.5; 0.9–13.8). The poor psychosocial working conditions of cleaners may partly explain the high prevalence of asthma in this group. The underlying mechanism might be a stress-induced inflammatory immune response.


The purpose of this paper is to report a de tailed description of an instrument for evaluating the devel opment of active and passive muscle power in preterms be yond term age. The instrument is constructed on a basis of age-specific items that assess these two components of muscle power and on the assumption that a persistent discrepancy between them serves to detect those preterms at most risk for disturbances in motor development. The application of the instrument is illustrated by reporting the individual trajecto ries of five case studies without any serious medical compli cations. It is concluded that if a marked discrepancy between active and passive power persists beyond the corrected age of 3 months, then this may be a sign of underlying pathology which will eventuate in abnormal postural outcomes and thereby disturbances in the control and coordination of movement. Having now provided a detailed description of how this instrument should be applied in postterm follow-up of preterm infants, we are currently examining its sensitivity and specificity on a much larger sample of similar subjects.


Public private partnership (PPP) was introduced in Malaysia in the 1980s. Malaysian government used this tool for the provision of infrastructure and public services efficiently. However, a few PPP arrangements are under-achieved due to problems in risk identification and management. Therefore, this paper aims to rank risk factors based on criticality. Apart from ranking of risks, this paper provides preferred allocation of critical risk factors. In addition, this study aims to assess the difference of perceptions about the criticality of the risks between contracting parties. First, a few interviews were conducted to screen the risk factors provided in literature and then a set of questionnaires was served upon both private and public sector for the ranking and allocation of risks. To rank risks, a matrix was provided to the respondents and the percentage method was used to allocate the risks. The results of study suggest that 31 out of 44 risk factors are critical and out them 5 critical risk factors should preferably be allocated to private sector. However, a significant difference in perceptions of private and public sector about critically of risks has been identified. The results conclude that the construction and operation stages are critical and for the success of PPP projects both public and private sectors have to improve risk communication to avoid the difference in perception about criticalities of risks.


Compressed sensing deals with the reconstruction of a high-dimensional signal from far fewer linear measurements, where the signal is known to admit a sparse representation in a certain linear space. The asymptotic scaling of the number of measurements needed for reconstruction as the dimension of the signal increases has been studied extensively. This work takes a fundamental perspective on the problem of inferring about individual elements of the sparse signal given the measurements, where the dimensions of the system become increasingly large. Using the replica method, the outcome of inferring about any fixed collection of signal elements is shown to be asymptotically decoupled, i.e., those elements become independent conditioned on the measurements. Furthermore, the problem of inferring about each signal element admits a single-letter characterization in the sense that the posterior distribution of the element, which is a sufficient statistic, becomes asymptotically identical to the posterior of inferring about the same element in scalar Gaussian noise. The result leads to simple characterization of all other elemental metrics of the compressed sensing problem, such as the mean squared error and the error probability for reconstructing the support set of the sparse signal. Finally, the single-letter characterization is rigorously justified in the special case of sparse measurement matrices where belief propagation becomes asymptotically optimal.


Retroviral integrases mediate site-specific endonuclease and transesterification reactions in the absence of exogenous energy. The basis for the sequence specificity in these integrase-viral DNA recognition processes is unknown. Structural analogs of the disintegration substrate were made to analyze the disintegration reaction mechanism for the Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) integrase (IN). Modifications in the target DNA portion of the disintegration substrate decreased enzymatic activity, while substitution of the highly conserved CA in the viral long terminal repeat portion had no effect on activity. The role of the His-Cys finger region in catalysis was addressed by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) modification of the cysteine residues of M-MuLV IN as well as by mutations. Both integration activities, 3' processing, and strand transfer, were completely inhibited by NEM modification of M-MuLV IN, while disintegration activity was only partially sensitive. However, structural analogs of the disintegration substrates that were modified in the target DNA and had the conserved CA removed were not active with NEM-treated M-MuLV IN. In addition, mutants made in the His-Cys region of M-MuLV IN were examined and found to also be completely blocked in integration but not disintegration activity. These data suggest that the domains of M-MuLV IN that are required for the forward integration reaction substrate differ from those required for the reverse disintegration reaction substrate.


This research was conducted against the backdrop that the Radio Prambors Semarang can not be a prime choice for young people in Semarang. As in the AC Nielsen survey, Prambors has not been able to outperform its competitors, RCT FM and Trax FM. Though the difference is only in the percentage of Indonesian and Western music playback. This interesting phenomenon that happens researchers to investigate more about the strategy of radio communications made Prambors Semarang to communicate the program. Because communication has been done Trax FM has been considered very maximum and is expected to attract new listeners than done Prambors.
The purpose of this study was to assess the communication strategy which has been run by Prambors Semarang and learn communication strategies that should be done to increase the number of listeners Prambors Semarang. The study was based on studies SOSTAC (Paul R. Smith), the theory of AIDA (Elmo Lewis), the theory of marketing (Kotler & Armstrong), the study of communication strategies (Onong Uchjana Effendy), and the study of radio listeners (Masduki).
This type of qualitative research is that referring to case study research method. Subjects in this study is the radio Prambors Semarang, by involving the parties involved directly with the communication process is the General Manager, Masima Solution Manager, Program Director, announcer and listener. Analysis of the data used is as disclosed explanation Robert K. Yin.
The result shows Prambors has not been able to communicate the program and its brand. Absence of a budget for promotion makes Prambors Semarang only have the choice of communication media through their own media and twitter. Prambors Semarang must be able to utilize other media to communicate the brand programs or Prambors itself, and will become even better when using opinion leaders as a promotional event mouth to mouth that does not take a lot of cost.

Keywords: communication strategy, radio, promotions


Naturally occurring Clostridium piliforme infection (Tyzzer's disease) was found in a calf. Light microscopic examination revealed multifocal coagulative necrosis in the liver, catarrhal gastroenteritis, tracheitis and pneumonia, and thymic atrophy. Warthin-Starry staining clearly showed large filamentous bacilli in bundles or criss-cross patterns within the hepatocytes and epithelium and smooth muscle cells of the ileum and cecum. Immunohistochemistry using anti-C. piliforme RT and MSK strain antisera showed positive reaction against the bacilli. Electron microscopic examination revealed bacilli within the hepatocytes that demonstrated a characteristic vegetative form, with peritrichous flagella, and spores. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) study using the paraffin-embedded liver sections, the 196-bp DNA fragment specific to 16S ribosomal RNA of C. piliforme was amplified. The characteristics of these bacilli are consistent with those of C. piliforme. The PCR technique using paraffin-embedded sections should be useful for confirming C. piliforme infection in spontaneous cases.


In company with medical instruments ' development, the corresponding software plays more and more role in the application. And medical image processing software has become an important component of the medical ultrasonic instruments. Image segmentation plays an important role in both qualitative and quantitative analysis of medical ultrasound images. But state-of-arts methods in the aspect of segmentation can not get satisfactory results. We propose an intelligent image segmentation method for medical ultrasonic images. The algorithm improved active contour model with relevance vector machine, where the advantages of supervised learning classification and the global region distribution information can be exploited to enhance the performance. In order to improve the segmentation speed and get precise initial contour, relevance vector machine also is used to obtain initial contour firstly. A large amount of experimental results have proved that our method outperforms many state-of-arts methods in the aspect of segmentation, and the method can be used in ultrasonic instruments effectively.


In recent years, instant messaging (IM) has started to replace short message service (SMS) in communication. IM offers more functionality but there is a great downside. IM demands more power and drains the mobile device battery faster. This paper shows the energy consumption of IM when the user is not using the application and how the consumption can be reduced by enabling mobile sensors and sending fewer packets by the application. We began by investigating the various sensors that are supported by mobile devices. With the retrieved vendor information, we evaluated the different sensors and chose two sensors, light sensor and proximity sensor in order to study their use for reduction of energy in an instant messaging scenario. These two sensors can together estimate if the mobile device is placed in the pocket of the user. The development of a simple IM application was completed and sensors were used to create an extension to the application. The extension would lengthen the interval between the updates of the automatic update function when the mobile was inactive, reducing the energy consumption.Two types of tests were performed. The first test evaluated if the extension would correctly deduce that the mobile device was placed inside a pocket. The mobile device with the pocket-aware application was used in different common situations and the tests showed that the extension made a correct computation in seven of nine situations. The faulty situations were when the mobile device is placed with the screen faced down to a surface. The second test compared the energy consumed by a pocket-aware application compared to a mobile device without our extension. Based on the results that we retrieved, we estimated that during a one minute period the pocket-aware application with an update interval of ten seconds could save on average 12% and could save on average 62% when the update interval was increased to fifteen seconds.


Regional (or segmental) colitis has been defined (Neuman et al. 1954) as ' an inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology involving initially one or more segments of the large intestine, exclusive of the rectum and rectosigmoid, either as a continuous lesion or as multiple discontinuous lesions': and is said to constitute 4 to Io'per cent. of all cases of chronic ulcerative colitis (Bargen, I943). Since the early part of this century when inflammatory tumours of the large bowel of unknown origin were reported by several authors (Moynihan, o907; Mayo Robson, I908; Tietze, 1920; Moschowitz and Wilensky, 1923) and Dalziel (1913) described the lesions of the terminal ileum which are now associated with the name of Crohn (Crohn, Ginsburg and Oppenheimer, 1932) a considerable, and sometimes confusing, body of literature has accumulated on the subject of the non-specific granulomata of the large and small intestine. Granulomatous lesions affecting isolated segments of the colon, with or without subsequent involvement of either the terminal ileum or rectosigmoid or both and variously described as examples of regional migratory chronic ulcerative colitis, right-sided regional colitis, regional enterocolitis and regional or segmental colitis have been the subject of papers or references have been made to lesions of this type in papers on Crohn's disease or chronic ulcerative colitis. The disease is usually chronic in nature, and in a recent study of a large series of cases from the Mayo Clinic (Neuman et al. 1954) the average duration of symptoms prior to the first examination was 3.6 years. No mention is made of any patient having been first seen as an acute abdominal emergency. It follows, therefore, that patients for whom surgical treatment was considered necessary were subjected to planned operations only after careful preliminary investigations had made the diagnosis reasonably certain. Brownlee (I95 ), reporting three cases of regional colitis that had first presented as surgical emergencies, drew attention to an uncommon variety of this disease which has had little recognition in the literature of emergency abdominal surgery. He discussed the treatment and showed that although a pre-operative diagnosis was almost impossible, knowledge of the condition should at least enable a provisional diagnosis to be made at laparotomy. Failure to recognise the lesion or to be aware of its possibility may result in a decision for' masterly inactivity' with consequent embarrassment for the surgeon and increased risk and anxiety for the patient. This is shown in the case reported by Thompson (I950), in which two laparotomies were done before the true nature of the condition was revealed by a barium enema. The case to be reported is another example of this uncommon disease manifesting itself for the first time in an acute form.


Improving energy efficiency keeps on being one of the most pressing problems for Russian industry. The paper aims to examine the prospects of using microgrids in Russian regions, including in the old industrial ones, to reduce energy costs of industrial enterprises. The methodological basis of the study comprises theoretical aspects of pricing within the models of retail and wholesale energy markets, tenets of uneven demand for energy under the use of microgrids. The authors apply analysis, synthesis, systematisation and statistical observation, create matrices and positioning maps and explore the parameters of energy consumption schedules at industrial enterprises of various types as well as the values of 'common pot' electricity transmission tariffs introduced in the subjects of the Russian Federation. The researchers develop own system of indicators for assessing the variability in the cost of electricity transmission services and present a map of Russian regions that illustrate the prospects of using microgrids and mechanisms of demand management in industrially developed regions with a view to cutting energy costs.


Golden egg bug (Phyllomorpha laciniata) females lay eggs on the backs of both female and male conspecifics. Bugs receive eggs voluntarily and involuntarily, and even when males carry eggs, many eggs are not fertilised by the carrier. Carrying the eggs of another individual is unexpected, particularly if egg carrying bears a cost in survival. We examined the predation risk associated with egg carrying experimentally in the field. P. laciniata individuals were enclosed with workers of one of two ant species, Pheidole pallidula or Cataglyphis piliscapus, which co-occur with the bug in the wild. Pheidole pallidula workers preyed on golden egg bugs and their eggs, but Cataglyphis piliscapus workers did not. In P. pallidula enclosures, golden egg bugs carrying larger egg loads were eaten first. These results suggest that golden egg bugs experience high predation pressure and that egg carrying increases the risk of predation. Due to the direct survival costs associated with egg carrying and the lack of relatedness between the eggs and the carrier, we suggest the golden egg bug as the first known intraspecific parasite in which parasitism is not related to active parental care.


Business Architecture (BA) is often used as a blueprint that aligns an enterprise's capabilities and processes with its strategic objectives and structures. Conventionally, the alignment is established manually by subject matter experts through the association between model elements based on their domain knowledge; while the quality of the alignment is high, the effort is costly and time-consuming. To overcome these issues, we propose a novel yet complementary approach wherein associations between model elements are automatically and dynamically established and maintained through semantic analytics, such as natural language understanding and synonym tag generation. In this paper, we describe how the dynamic model association is implemented in IBM's CBM.next project, evaluate initial results from the deployment, and discuss directions for future research.


-Using the covariance of Maxwell's equations and the phase invariance principle of plane waves, distortion of the electromagnetic pulses undergoing total internal reflection from a moving dielectric half-space has been studied. It is concluded that the distortion of the reflected pulse depends strongly upon the velocity, direction of motion, and angle of incidence. In much concern has been shown to the reflection and transmission of electromagnetic waves by moving media its direct relevance t.0 t.he of current interest, vis., satellite communications and reent,ry vehicles etc. With the plane monochromatic wave propagation problem practically re-solved, wort.hwhile to investigate the more practical problem


For planetary sciences, the main archives to archived access to mission data are ESA's Planetary Science Archive (PSA) and the Planetary Data System (PSA) nodes in the USA. Along with recent and upcoming planetary missions the amount of different data (remote sensing/in-situ data, derived products) increases constantly and serves as basis for scientific research resulting in derived scientific data and information. Within missions to Mercury (BepiColombo), the Outer Solar System moons (JUICE), and asteroids (NASA`s DAWN), one way of scientific analysis, the systematic mapping of surfaces, has received new impulses, also in Europe. These systematic surface analyses are based on the numeric and visual comparison and combination of different remote sensing data sets, such as optical image data, spectral-/hyperspectral sensor data, radar images, and/or derived products like digital terrain models. The analyses mainly results in map figures, data, and profiles/diagrams, and serves for describing research investigations within scientific publications.

Handling these research products equivalently to missions´ base data in the main archives, web-based geographic information systems became a common mean to impart spatial knowledge to all kinds of possible users in the last years. So, further platforms and initiatives came up handling planetary data within web-based GIS, services, or/and virtual infrastructures. Those systems are either built upon proprietary software environments, but more common upon a well-established stack of open source software such as PostgreSQL, GeoServer (server for sharing geospatial data) and a graphical user interface based on JavaScript. Applicable standards developed by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), such as the Web Map Service (WMS) and the Web Feature Service (WFS) server-based data storage as interface between the user interface and the server.

This contribution aims to a prototypical system for the structured storage and visualization of planetary data compiled and developed within or with the contribution of Institute for Planetary Research (PF, DLR). Consequently, it enables user groups to store and spatially explore research products centrally, sustainably across multiple missions and scientific disciplines [1].

Technically, the system is based on two components: 1) an infrastructure that provides data storage and management capabilities as well as OGC-compliant interfaces for collaborative and web-based data access services, such as the EOC Geoservice [2]. 2) UKIS (Environmental and Crisis Information Systems), a framework developed at DFD for the implementation of geoscientific web applications [3]. Substantially the prototype based on a recent approach developed within PF [4] where an existing database established at Planetary Spectroscopy Laboratory (PSL), handling different kind of spatial data, meets a vector-based data collection of thematic, mainly geologic and geomorphologic mapping results [5].

An information system of this kind is essential to ensure the efficient and sustainable utilization of the information already obtained and published. This is considered a prerequisite for guaranteeing a continuous and long-term use of scientific information and knowledge within institutional frameworks.

[1] Naß, et al (2019) EPSC #1311

[2] Dengler et al. (2013) PV 2013, elib.dlr.de/86351/

[3] Mühlbauer (2019) dlr.de/eoc/UKIS/en/

[4] Naß, d ’Amore, Helbert (2017) EPSC #646-1

[5] Naß, Dawn Science Team (2019) EPSC #1304


Ensemble consisting of: A) Jacket of woven silver metallic, heavy-weight thread in a diamond pattern; scoop neckline; short, raglan sleeves; open-front; reverse pleat at center-back below waistline; crescent, princess seams at back and front; 2 slit pockets at sides; knee-length; fully lined in ivory silk organdy.

B) Blouse of off-white silk organza moire, sleeveless and cinched under the armpit; scoop neckline embellished at front with various rectangular pieces of fabric swatches in self-fabric and white knit with triangular and square crystal gem accents; under-layer of self-moire with an extended hem; attached tie at waist sides of white cotton.

C) Mini-skirt of ivory crisp woven fabric (wool) with wide waistband, with box pleat at center-front; 2 pleats at back; waistband has double breasted snap closure at back and is lined in ivory silk; center-back zip closure that adjusts to a slit with 2 zipper tabs; lined in silk taffeta; 18 ½" length.


Online donation platforms, such as DonorsChoose, GlobalGiving, or CrowdFunder, enable donors to financially support entities in need. In a typical scenario, after a fundraiser submits a request specifying her need, donors contribute financially to help raise the target amount within a pre-specified timeframe. While the goal of such platforms is to counterbalance societal inequalities, biased donation trends might exacerbate the unfair distribution of resources to those in need. Prior research has looked at the impact of biased data, models, or human behavior on inequality in different socio-technical systems, while largely ignoring the choice architecture, in which the funding decisions are made. In this paper, we focus on (i) quantifying inequality in the project funding in online donation platforms, and (ii) understanding the impact of platform design on donors' behavior in magnifying those inequalities. To this end, we borrow decomposable measures of income inequality from economics, and apply it to identify candidate factors contributing to inequality on the DonorsChoose website. Analyzing longitudinal changes in the website design, we show how the platform design impacts the relative contribution of the different factors. Our work motivates the need for a careful investigation of the impact of choice architectures on user decisions, in donation platforms in particular, and in online platforms more generally.


Study Design. Benchtop biomechanics study examining kinematic effects of progressive resection in a human cadaveric spine model. Objective. To determine the effects of posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) resection, unilateral and bilateral foraminotomy, and laminectomy on cervical intervertebral rotation and translation after cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA). Summary of Background Data. Although the clinical results after CDA have been studied, there remain unanswered questions regarding the surgical techniques used at the time of device insertion. For example, it is unclear whether a surgeon should retain or resect the PLL and uncinate processes at the time of primary surgical intervention. Further, the effect of a subsequent posterior decompression (foraminotomy or laminectomy) on the stability of a motion segment containing a disc arthroplasty is unknown. Methods. Three-dimensional intervertebral motion was measured by biplanar videography in human cadaveric spines at C4–C5 or at C5–C6 subjected to a 1.5-Nm moment applied to induce motion in the sagittal plane. Coupled motions were not constrained. After measuring intact spine motion, disc arthroplasty with bilateral ventral foraminotomy was performed without PLL resection. Sequentially, rotations and translations were measured after PLL resection, unilateral foraminotomy, bilateral foraminotomy, and laminectomy. Results. CDA with bilateral ventral foraminotomy increased sagittal rotation by 0.4° (16%) compared with the intact spine. The addition of PLL resection increased rotation by 0.5° (14% increase). Unilateral and bilateral foraminotomy had negligible effects on sagittal rotation or anteroposterior (AP) translation. Laminectomy resulted in an additional sagittal plane rotation of 2°. The sagittal-plane interverterbal rotation resultant after all interventions was 6°, with 1.5 mm of AP translation occurring only. Conclusion. Given that a greater degree of motion was seen with PLL resection combined with ventral foraminotomy, we recommend that PLL resection be performed when performing CDA. In our benchtop model, unilateral and bilateral posterior foraminotomies were not associated with the creation of significant sagittal rotational or AP translational instability.


A crucial constraint on the evolution of the ca. 1100 Ma Midcontinent Rift (MCR) in North America comes from the Jacobsville Sandstone, Bayfield Group, and other equivalent sedimentary rocks (JBE) that overlie the volcanics and sediments deposited in the MCR basin near Lake Superior. The MCR began extending ca. 1120 Ma and failed—ceased extending—at ca. 1096 Ma, although volcanism continued for ∼10 m.y. The JBE's age is poorly constrained, with proposed ages ranging from ca. 1100 to ca. 542 Ma (i.e., youngest Precambrian). It has been proposed that the JBE were deposited shortly prior to or during the time when the MCR failed due to regional compression occurring ca. 1060 Ma as part of the Grenville orogeny (1300–980 Ma). However, the JBE are not conformable with the youngest rift-filling strata and differ compositionally from them. We present an analysis of 2050 new detrital-zircon ages showing that the JBE are younger than 959 ± 19 Ma. Thus, the JBE and the compression recorded in them that inverted the basin postdate the Grenville orogeny and are unrelated to the rift's failure. The JBE may be significantly, perhaps ∼200–300 m.y., younger than the maximum age from zircons and may have been deposited shortly after a Snowball Earth event.


In anesthetized cats under conditions of acute overheating, resistance to the blood flow increased in arteries of the small intestine whereas compliance of the postcapillary vascular bed reduced in respective linear dependence. The correlation-regression analysis indicated a close linear dependence between changes in arterial vessels of the small intestine to heating and their responses to the pressor carotid sinus reflex. The mechanism responsible for splanchnic vasoconstriction under conditions of acute overheating of the organism seems to involve increased efferent impulses activity mediated by the adrenoreactive structures.


The paper analyzes the regulation of Geographical Indications (GIs) in the wine sector, making reference to the national (Italy, Australia, USA), supranational (European Union) and international (WTO) contexts. While Europe has created an ad hoc regime for GIs, clearly distinguishing them from trademarks, this does not seem to be the case for Australia and the USA, where such differentiation does not exist or is in its initial stage of development. The paper argues that the differences emerging at comparative level lie in the idea behind the notion of GIs. While Europe conceive them as a kind of common property strongly linked to tradition and culture, Australia and the USA look at GIs as private property rights.


The outlook does not appear particularly bright for affirmative action programs in the United States that grant preferences based on race to blacks, Hispanics, and others in hiring, university admissions, and bidding on government contracts. These programs continue to be unpopular with the public and face increasing hostility in courts of law. In its place, courts and commentators have been promoting an alternative form of affirmative action called "race-neutral affirmative action." Race-neutral affirmative action seeks to change the racial composition of those who benefit from employment, education, or government spending not by granting preferences based on race, but by granting preferences based on characteristics that are correlated with race. In this chapter, I examine the rise of race-neutral affirmative action in the United States and assess the costs and benefits of trying to diversify through race-neutral means. I conclude, first, that, although courts have been promoting race-neutral affirmative action, they have yet to confront serious questions about whether it is any more constitutional than racially explicit affirmative action. In my view, it is hard to square race-neutral affirmative action with the Supreme Court's cases that prohibit programs that have both the purpose and effect of racial discrimination. Second, even if the courts decide not to adhere to these past cases, it is unclear whether race-neutral affirmative action is any less problematic than racially explicit affirmative action. Although race-neutral affirmative action may be less divisive and less stigmatizing to its beneficiaries, it may be so much less efficient at bringing about racial diversity that it will require institutions to make much greater sacrifices to other aspects of their missions. Indeed, the race-neutral programs that are likely to be the least divisive and least stigmatizing are probably also those that are the least efficient at diversifying. For both of these reasons, I am not sure race-neutral affirmative action is the panacea that many seem to think it is.


The present paper studies a new class of problems of optimal control theory with differential inclusions described by fourth order Sturm-Liouville type differential operators (SLDOs). Then, there arises a rather complicated problem with simultaneous determination of the SLDOs with variable coefficients and a Mayer functional depending of high order derivatives of searched functions. The sufficient conditions, containing both the Euler-Lagrange and Hamiltonian type inclusions and "transversality" conditions are derived. Formulation of the transversality conditions at the endpoints \begin{document}$t = 0$\end{document} and \begin{document}$t = 1$\end{document} of the considered time interval plays a substantial role in the next investigations without which it is hardly ever possible to get any optimality conditions. The main idea of the proof of optimality conditions of Mayer problem for differential inclusions with fourth order SLDO is the use of locally-adjoint mappings. The method is demonstrated in detail as an example for the semilinear optimal control problem, for which the Weierstrass-Pontryagin maximum principle is obtained.


efficacy and acceptability. BMJ 1993;306:683-7. (13 March.) 2 Johnson DAW. Non-compliance with antidepressant therapyan underestimated problem. Intemnational Medicine 1986; (suppl II): 14-7. 3 Montgomery SA, Dufour H, Brien S, et al. The prophylactic efficacy of fluoxetine in unipolar depression. Br _7 Psychiatry 1988;193(suppl 3):69-76. 4 Dougan DP, Caillard V. Sertraline in the prevention of depression. BrJ7Psychiatny 1992;160:217-22.


We have reexamined a series of 1119 patients consecutively submitted to fine needle aspiration of nodules of the neck. Among these in 166 cases ultrasonography combined with aspiration suggested the presence of cysts. 60 patients were submitted to cyst aspiration and 34 were aspirated and submitted to cyst injection with tetracycline hydrochloride. The patients were followed up clinically and ultrasonically 3 and 12 months after treatment. Cure was defined as the absence of any residual cystic lesion and an ultrasonic cyst volume less than 50% with respect to basal after 12 months from the start of treatment. 18 of the 60 (30%) patients only aspirated and 24 of the 34 patients (70%) in the tetracycline group were cured (statistically significant; p < 0.005). We conclude that tetracycline seems an effective sclerotherapy in treatment of thyroid cysts.


High levels of surface shear experienced during rolling, grinding or machining can cause 6000 series aluminium to develop an ultra-fine grained surface layers which dramatically increase susceptibility to filiform corrosion (FFC) under paint films. In-situ Scanning Kelvin Probe (SKP) measurements in humid air are used to compare the kinetics and mechanism of FFC on abraded and lacquer-coated samples of high copper containing AA6111 and low level copper AA6016. FFC is initiated by applying a small volume of aqueous HCl to a penetrative defect on polyvinylbutyral (PVB) coated alloy samples prior to placement in a chamber maintained at constant humidity and temperature. The SKP is then repeatedly scanned over a fixed surface area to produce a time-lapse animation showing the dynamic evolution of localized free corrosion potential patterns. The spatial distribution of potential variation provides insight into the FFC mechanism and the numerical integration of areas of dissimilar potential provides a measure of the time-dependent area of coating delamination. Various possible FFC inhibition strategies are investigated for use under circumstances where removal of the surface layer prior to application of an organic (paint) coating is not feasible. The two strategies shown in this paper are the use of an anti-corrosion pigments based on an intrinsically conducting polymer called polyaniline. An anion-exchange pigment called hydrotalcite is also used.


New and more advanced applications are supporting end-to-end quality-of-service (QoS) guarantees through the configuration and management of distributed resources. As an effect of the sharing of static resources across multiple concerns, coupled with the use of dynamically changing resources such as mobile communications, the general availability of resources in a distributed environment is variable and potentially unpredictable. In this paper, we discuss the requirements for QoS adaptation mechanisms and QoS-based distributed resource management, together with our approaches to QoS monitoring and adaptation, in the context of our recently developed Distributed Resource Management Architecture (DRMA).


A solution to the classic unsolved problem of olefin hydromethylation is presented. This highly chemoselective method can tolerate labile and reactive chemical functionalities and uses a simple set of reagents. An array of olefins, including mono-, di-, and trisubstituted olefins, are all smoothly hydromethylated. This mild protocol can be used to simplify the synthesis of a specific target or to directly "edit" complex natural products and other advanced materials. The method is also amenable to the simple installation of radioactive and stable labeled methyl groups.


Consumers' desires to either reduce the risk of or manage a specific health condition through improved diet have stimulated the research of agricultural products for their potential health beneficial components such as tocopherols and natural antioxidants. Soft wheat is one of the major crops in Maryland, with little information available about its potentially beneficial components. This study examined eight selected Maryland-grown soft wheat varieties or experimental lines for their potential beneficial components including tocopherols, carotenoids, total phenolics and phenolic acids and their antioxidant properties, including Fe(2+) chelating capacity and free radical scavenging activities against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH(*) ), radical cation ABTS(*)(+), and oxygen radical (ORAC). The results showed that all tested soft wheat grain samples contained alpha-tocopherol, with a range of 3.4-10.1 microg/g. Lutein was the primary carotenoid present in the grain samples at a level of 0.82-1.14 microg/g, along with significant amounts of zeaxanthin and beta-carotene. Vanillic, syringic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids were found in soluble free, soluble conjugated, and insoluble bound forms in the grain extracts, with ferulic acid as the predominant phenolic acid. The eight soft wheat varieties differed in their antioxidant properties. The tested wheat grain samples exhibited ED(50) values against DPPH(*) of 23-27 mg of grain equiv/mL, ORAC of 32.9-48 micromol of Trolox equiv (TE)/g, and ABTS(*)(+) scavenging capacity of 14.3-17.6 micromol of TE/g. These data suggest the possibility of producing soft wheat varieties rich in selected health beneficial factors for optimum human nutrition though breeding programs.


Understanding wetting behavior and surface coverage of resins on a wood surface is important to obtain satisfactory adhesion and optimize adhesive application for wood composite manufacturing. Sessile and micro-droplets of urea- and phenol-formaldehyde (UF and PF) resins were generated on wood surfaces to observe wetting behaviors using three directional image generation system and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The generated micro-droplet sizes varied in diameter from 1-100 μm and showed differing wetting behavior based on droplet size and surface conditions. Rougher wood surfaces prevented micro-droplet spreading and resulted in higher contact angles. Contact angles along the fiber direction of the earlywood significantly differed from the angles collected across the fiber direction. Sessile droplet models and dimensionless droplet shape factors (DSF) were used to develop the parameters governing the droplet shape changes from a spherical droplet to an enclosing hemispherical droplet for early- and latewood surfaces. Droplet dispersing areas with earlywood showed 111% with UF and 42% for PF faster changes along the fiber surface as compared to across the fiber surface.


This study examined the effect of Corporate Governance on Reported Earnings Quality in Nigerian deposit money banks. Cross sectional data were obtained from Ten (10) listed deposit money banks in Nigerian Stock Exchange for over a period of ten years (2008-2017). The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Earnings predictability was adopted as a proxy for reported earnings quality, while board size, board independence, foreign directorship and firm size were used as proxies for corporate governance. The study found board size having a positive and insignificant relationship with earnings quality; a negative and insignificant relationship between board independence and earnings quality; a positive and significant relationship between foreign directors on board and earnings quality; and also a negative and insignificant relationship between firm size and earnings quality. It was therefore recommended that deposit money banks should increase both their board size and number of foreign directors on board as these will enhance their reported earnings quality.


Rescue robotics has been suggested by a recent DARPA/NSF study as an application domain for the research in human-robot integration (HRI). This paper provides a short tutorial on how robots are currently used in urban search and rescue (USAR) and discusses the HRI issues encountered over the past eight years. A domain theory of the search activity is formulated. The domain theory consists of two parts: 1) a workflow model identifying the major tasks, actions, and roles in robot-assisted search (e.g., a workflow model) and 2) a general information flow model of how data from the robot is fused by various team members into information and knowledge. The information flow model also captures the types of situation awareness needed by each agent in the rescue robot system. The article presents a synopsis of the major HRI issues in reducing the number of humans it takes to control a robot, maintaining performance with geographically distributed teams with intermittent communications, and encouraging acceptance within the existing social structure.


Background: Treatment of gestational diabetes (GDM) reduces the risk of large for gestational age (LGA) birthweight and associated complications in infants. Pregnant people with gestational glucose intolerance (GGI, abnormal glucose loading test (GLT) without GDM) usually remain untreated. We examined the risk of LGA among women with GGI in a large cohort.
 Methods: In a retrospective cohort study of 44,628 singleton pregnancies delivered at an academic center at >28 weeks' gestation, pregnancies with a GLT >140 mg/dl and either a normal 3-hour 100-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) or one abnormal OGTT value were classified as GGI, and those with 2 abnormal OGTT values as GDM. We used generalized estimating equations for logistic regression to examine the risk of LGA (birthweight >90th percentile for gestational age) in GGI versus normal glucose tolerance (NGT, GLT <140 mg/dl) pregnancies after adjustment for age, gender, 1st trimester BMI, parity, insurance, race/ethnicity, and marital status. A second model adjusted for gestational weight gain (GWG) .
 Results: LGA was present in 7.7% of 36,964 pregnancies with NGT, 9.6% of 4357 with GGI and normal OGTT, 14.3% of 15with GGI and one abnormal OGTT value, and 14.5% of 1800 with GDM. The odds of LGA were higher in GGI than NGT pregnancies (adjusted OR 1.4 [1.3-1.5], p<0.001) . When compared separately with NGT, both types of GGI had elevated odds of LGA: normal OGTT adjusted OR 1.2 [1.1-1.4], p<0.001, one abnormal OGTT value adjusted OR 1.8 [1.5-2.1], p<0.001. The latter was similar to that in GDM compared to NGT: adjusted OR 1.8 [1.5-2.0], p<0.001. Increased odds of LGA were also present for GGI/GDM groups after GWG adjustment: normal OGTT OR 1.3 [1.2-1.5] p<0.001, 1 abnormal OGTT value OR 1.8 [1.5-2.1] p<0.0GDM OR 2.2 [1.9-2.5] p<0.001.
 Conclusion: Infants of untreated people with GGI have increased risk of LGA birthweight. The risk of LGA in GGI pregnancies with one abnormal OGTT value was similar to that in GDM in a clinical setting where only GDM was treated.

 J.Maya: None. D.J.Selen: None. T.Thaweethai: None. S.Hsu: None. C.Yu: None. K.James: None. A.Kaimal: None. M.Hivert: Advisory Panel; American Heart Association, Research Support; American Diabetes Association. C.E.Powe: None.

 MGH (Physician Scientist Development Award and Claflin Distinguished Scholar's Award)


Introduction Intravenous tPA is a recommended first line therapy for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Its administration has increased because of telemedicine networks as part of a "drip and ship" methodology for patients that have moderate and severe strokes (NIHSS >8). REACH-MUSC is a telemedicine network of 12 hospitals in rural South Carolina, all of which are a minimum of 60 miles from MUSC. We performed a retrospective review of prospectively collected data evaluating the clinical outcomes of patients who qualified for IV tPA that presented to MUSC or one of the REACH-MUSC telemedicine sites. Methodology A prospective database of all MUSC and telemedicine patients is maintained which includes time of onset, presenting NIHSS, administration of IV tPA, and 90-day modified Rankin Scores. A retrospective review of these patients from July 2010-June 2011 was completed. Results Seventy-three patients received IV tPA after presenting to MUSC or its telemedicine system. The mean NIHSS = 12.4 (range 2–28), 47 patients had NIHSS >8 (moderate or severe stroke), and 26 patients had NIHSS ≤8 (mild stroke). Overall, 28 patients (38%) had a good 90-day outcome (mRS 0–2). 77 of the 73 patients either presented directly to MUSC or were transferred to MUSC after IV tPA to be evaluated to IA therapy. Six patients remained at the local hospital or transferred to another facility for acute care. Eleven patients (15%) who presented to a telemedicine hospital with a presenting NIHSS >8 had a good 90-day outcome (mRS 0–2). Imaging upon arrival to MUSC demonstrated completed infarct in 90% of the patients who were transferred from these facilities. During the same time period, an additional 15 patients received IV tPA from local non-telemedicine hospitals (all within 15 miles of MUSC) and were transferred for IA thrombectomy evaluation. The mean NIHSS was 17. Overall, six patients (40%) had a good 90-day outcome (mRS 0–2). Of these 15 patients, 13 were suffering a moderate or severe stroke (NIHSS >8), with five patients (38%) achieving a good 90-day outcome mRS (0–2). All 13 patients underwent IA intervention after IV tPA. Discussion Although our overall good outcome (mRS 0–2) is on par with current literature, this was driven by the minority of patients (37%) having a mild stroke—65% of those mild stroke victims achieved a good 90-day outcome. The telemedicine patients with moderate or severe strokes were less likely to achieve the 90-day good outcome compared to those who presented to a local hospital (15% vs 38%). All patients transferred to MUSC underwent re-imaging with CT/CTA/CTP to evaluate for IA therapy. Based on that imaging, only 10% of those arriving from the telemedicine hospitals qualified for IA intervention, with zero patients achieving a 90-day mRS of 0–2. Time required to transport and intensity of care before and during transport are possible reasons for the discrepancy. Conclusion Patients presenting to hospitals in time for IV tPA did well overall, however this benefit is lost in patients with moderate and severe strokes. Competing interests R Turner: Microvention, Codman. ev3, Penumbra, Mindframe. A Turk: None. I Chaudry: None.


Purpose: Choice of the best mini invasive surgical approach for total hip replacement remains a controversial topic. The posterior approach is traditionally associated with a higher dislocation rate and the obligation of postoperative restrictions. Soft tissue repair reduces the risk of dislocation yet, posterior closure it is often challenging because of capsular and external rotator contractures. In this article, an original procedure of capsular lengthening and tension-free closure is described and the results of a retrospective single surgeon series of minimally invasive posterior total hip replacement (THR) with capsular repair are presented. Methods: A total of 925 mini posterior total hip replacements performed between 2009 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. 2 original types of capsulorrhaphy to decrease tension of the repaired tissues were employed. Absence of posterior envelope stretch during flexion and internal rotation was confirmed intraoperatively with a dynamic test. No postoperative restrictions were used. Results: Capsular lengthening with 1 of the described techniques was required in over 50% of cases for a tension-free closure. 3 patients dislocated in the 867 reviewed procedures (0.35%), 1 requiring revision for instability (0.11%). Conclusions: This soft tissue repair technique after mini posterior approach THR is technically easy, provides a tension-free closure and a low dislocation rate.


This study was planned to determine the happiness level of nurses. The population of this descriptive study was done with 121 nurses who accepted to participate in the study out of 323 nurses who worked at a research and training hospital. The average happiness score of the nurses is 108.63 ± 19.48. However, the mean scores of happiness scale of nurses who had an average working time of 120–180 hours per month and who were satisfied with nursing and working in the institution were higher (p < 0.005) and these findings were statistically significant. In conclusion, nurses' happiness level was found to be higher than the average level (moderate level). But, it was identified that nurses who did not exceed weekly working hours were happier and nursing not being satisfied with working in the institutional negatively affects the level of happiness.Keywords: Hospital, nurse, happiness.


International Journal of Palliative Nursing 2016, Vol 22, No 2 © 2 01 6 M A H ea lth ca re L td Abstract Background: This literature review aims to offer practitioners an overview of the key components involved in designing the evaluation of a paediatric hospice-at-home pilot that will assess the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the programme. The literature was reviewed in two stages: the first examined existing literature in the area of paediatric palliative care. The second looked at the wider field of adult palliative care to gain further insights into evaluation tool design. The findings are presented as a conceptual model to highlight each component of the pilot development stage as identified for evaluation purposes, emphasising their role and impact on the resultant delivery of integrated care. The clarity and transparency of this model offers a comprehensive overview of the evaluation process to all involved in the pilot.


Presented is a preliminary investigation into the modeling, active control design, and simulation of a vertical axis pendulum wave energy converter, or vertical axis PWEC. Seeking to leverage their promising potential for energy extraction, an active control strategy for the PWEC pendulum dynamics is developed such that net electric power production is increased. Equations of motion for a generic PWEC power take off system are developed. Finally, an active control strategy is derived, being based on optimal and model predictive control theories. Simulations of the generic vertical axis PWEC, both with and without active control, are implemented within a representative Oregon irregular ocean wave environment. Comparisons of the simulations indicate strong increases in net PWEC electric power generation by actively controlling the pendulum's dynamics. Future pathways for active control development and PWEC advancement are then proposed.


Autonomous mobile robots are constrained in their long-term functionality due to a limited on-board power supply. Typically, rechargeable batteries are utilized that may only provide a few hours of peak usage before recharging is necessary. Recharging requires a robot to be taken offline, and attached to a battery charger via human intervention. This is unacceptable in environments where long-term autonomous capabilities are necessary. We present a method to provide long-term autonomy by implementing autonomous recharging. A recharging station design is presented, consisting of a stationary docking station and a docking mechanism mounted to a Pioneer 2DX robot. The docking station and robot docking mechanism are designed to work together, providing a mechanical and electrical connection between the charging system and the robot. Algorithms are implemented to monitor the battery voltage and control the docking procedure, as well as account for any errors that may occur. Initial experiments that demonstrate the validity of the approach and design are presented.