A population of cultivated cardoon (Cynara cardunculus var. altilis DC) was grown in Madrid (Spain) as a reference crop to select outstanding individuals for energy applications. The work was carried out within the frame of the Spanish funded projects PROBIOCOM (INIA) and FP13-ENER. Seeds for this work were produced by one of the partners of PROBIOCOM - the Agro-Energy Group of UPM - and came from a clonal crop (in vitro propagated plants) previously grown in Madrid. IMIDRA, as Head of that Project, established the reference crop according to the protocol for cardoon energy crop and was responsible for the crop. Seeds were sown in seed trays and once the plants had true leaves they were transplanted into the field. Collection of field data involved 449 individuals at the rosette stage and the dataset comprised the measurement of plant height, rosette diameter and leaf length; leaf type was determined as well. Individuals exhibiting larger leaf size were selected and categorized into two categories: undivided-like leaf blade (16 individuals) and pinnately lobed leaf blade (12 individuals). For these individuals, leaf fresh weight, number of leaves and leaf length of previously selected leaves were determined. Furthermore, three measurements were performed with a SPAD chlorophyll meter and the Munsell color chart. Morphological features were taken according CPVO-OCVV and UPOV protocols. Most plants exhibited pinnately leaves which generally resulted in larger sizes than the undivided-like leaf plants. Results suggested that the morphological plant type could be used as a preliminary selection criterion of C. cardunculus for biomass production; however, further studies are needed at harvest time to confirm this trend.


The pharmacokinetics of diclofenac was studied in 10 clinically normal male Yorkshire pigs, following intramuscular (i.m) administration of a single dose of diclofenac-sodium (2.5 mg/kg body weight). Diclofenac serum concentrations were determined by high pressure- liquid-chromatography (HPLC), with UV detection (226 nm). Following i.m. administration all individual diclofenac serum levels best fitted the one-compartment open model for extravascular administration. The maximal diclofenac serum concentration of 5.88 ± 0.934 mg/L was reached after 0.80 ± 0.35 h. The absorption half-life was 0.36 ± 0.25 h, and the area under the concentration vs. time curve (AUC0→∞) was 20.32 ± 4.521 mgh/L. A monoexponential concentration decline and small volume of distribution (Vd) of 0.29 ± 0.100 L/kg indicated a rapid, but not extensive distribution of diclofenac between central and peripheral compartment(s). Total clearance was 0.13 ± 0.034 L/h/kg, and elimination half-life was short (1.67 ± 0.743 h), as a result of a rapid distribution and extensive metabolism of diclofenac in the pig's body. When administered i.m. to pigs, diclofenac is absorbed and distributed rapidly. Distribution is not extensive, suggesting that diclofenac is predominantly retained in the central compartment. The elimination of the drug from the pig's circulation is also rapid, most of it probably being a result of extensive metabolism in the liver.


This article is aimed to codify these steps so as to simplify and clarify the procedures, using a new and simple system that will enable the dental professional to go beyond the usual uninteresting creative standards in esthetic rehabilitation. In the fist part the principal tooth forms, their characteristics, and the relationship between surfaces will be analyzed. This will create the base for the introduction of a new tooth form classification guide, called Dental Anatomical Combinations. By sectioning the three principal forms of teeth and recombining their individual characteristics new tooth forms can be created. Then, the numerous possibilities for anatomical tooth reproduction, in order to achieve the most suitable form for each particular case, are highlighted. Application of the new system will be demonstrated in a clinical case.


Evapotranspiration is a major component of the global water cycle and provides a critical nexus between terrestrial water, carbon and surface energy exchanges. Evapotranspiration is inherently difficult to measure and predict especially at large spatial scales. Remote sensing provides a cost‐effective method to estimate evapotranspiration at regional to global scales. In the past three decades a large number of studies on remote sensing based evapotranspiration estimation have emerged. This review summarizes the basic theories underpinning current remote sensing based evapotranspiration estimation methods. It also lays out the development history of these methods and compares their advantages and limitations. Several key directions for further study are identified and discussed, including identification of uncertainty sources in remote sensing evapotranspiration models, merging of different remote sensing methods, application of data assimilation and fusion techniques in producing robust evapotranspiration estimates, and utilization of multi‐source remote sensing data and latest sensor technologies. Further advances in the remote sensing of evapotranspiration will enhance capabilities for monitoring of the global water and energy cycles, including water availability and ecosystem responses and feedbacks to climate change and human impacts. WIREs Water 2016, 3:834–853. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1168


The availability of reliable, simple procedures providing assistance in evaluating human exposure to radiofrequency fields from base station antennas is essential for mobile communications. In the paper, sample results of 'rigorous' full-wave numerical analysis of the electromagnetic field morphology in vicinity of a representative base station (BS) panel antenna are presented. Having recognized the field morphology, two simple approximate calculational models suitable for routine evaluation of exposure from BS antennas are examined and compared.


Recent studies have demonstrated that WC-12Co and WC- 10Co-4Cr coatings were the best performing HVOF coatings against erosion. This paper looks at the influences of the HVOF process parameters for WC-12Co and WC-10Co-4Cr materials on the erosion resistance of the coatings. The effect of powder morphology, matrix chemistry and HVOF process parameters with respect to both silica slurry erosion and alumina dry erosion has been studied. All coatings were produced using the HVOF JP-5000 system with kerosene-oxygen flame. The spraying parameters were analyzed in term of sprayed particle velocity and temperature as measured with the DFV2000 optical diagnostic system. Simultaneously with in-flight particle measurements, the substrate-coating temperature was monitored by infrared pyrometry during coating deposition. The resulting coating microstructure was evaluated in terms of microhardness, porosity type and extent of wear damage after dry and slurry erosion. The material volume loss under various erosion conditions was related to the coating properties and microstructure. According to the experimental results, the following conclusions are drawn: 1) the kerosene flow rate affects the inflight particle state (velocity and temperature) and the coating porosity. 2) Cobalt-chrome matrix cermet performs better in slurry erosion while denser and harder cobalt matrix cermet performs better in dry erosion. 3) The use of kerosene-rich flame with lower oxygen stoichiometry reduces the carbide degradation and optimizes the wear performance of WC-12Co coatings in both dry and slurry erosion.


Collapses and regime changes are pervasive in complex systems (such as marine ecosystems) governed by multiple stressors. The demise of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) stocks constitutes a text book example of the consequences of overexploiting marine living resources, yet the drivers of these nearly synchronous collapses are still debated. Moreover, it is still unclear why rebuilding of collapsed fish stocks such as cod is often slow or absent. Here, we apply the stochastic cusp model, based on catastrophe theory, and show that collapse and recovery of cod stocks are potentially driven by the specific interaction between exploitation pressure and environmental drivers. Our statistical modelling study demonstrates that for most of the cod stocks, ocean warming could induce a nonlinear discontinuous relationship between fishing pressure and stock size, which would explain hysteresis in their response to reduced exploitation pressure. Our study suggests further that a continuing increase in ocean temperatures will probably limit productivity and hence future fishing opportunities for most cod stocks of the Atlantic Ocean. Moreover, our study contributes to the ongoing discussion on the importance of climate and fishing effects on commercially exploited fish stocks, highlighting the importance of considering discontinuous dynamics in holistic ecosystem-based management approaches, particularly under climate change.


BACKGROUND
It is not clear if changes in serum lipid profile during menopause are related to changes in the distribution of fat or to insulin resistance.

AIM
To look for an association between insulin resistance and changes in serum lipid levels in post menopausal women.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Cross-sectional study of 66 early postmenopausal women aged 45 to 55 years. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to hip ratio (WHR), total body adiposity, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBF), mean blood pressure (MBP) and pulse pressure (PP) were measured. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, glucose and insulin were determined in a fasting blood sample. Insulin sensitivity was calculated using the homeostasis model assessment method (HOMA) and patients were stratified in quartiles according to this parameter.

RESULTS
Patients stratified in the different quartiles of insulin sensitivity were comparable in age and postmenopausal period, but had no differences in serum lipid levels. Compared to women in the lower quartile of insulin resistance, women in the upper quartile had higher BMI (23 and 27 kg/m(2) respectively, p =0.02), SBP (110 and 125 mmHg respectively, p <0.01) and MBP (83 and 93 mmHg respectively, p <0.01). Differences in total body adiposity were observed between the lower, third, and the upper quartile (30%, 35% and 36% respectively, p <0.01).

CONCLUSIONS
In this group of early postmenopausal women, no association was observed between the level of insulin sensitivity and serum lipid levels.


The effect of the nanocrystallization conditions on the structure, magnetic characteristics and temperature stability of the Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9, Fe73.5Cu1Nb1.5Мo1.5Si13.5B9, Fe69Cu1Nb1.5Мo1.5Si13.5B9Co4.5, and (Fe0.6Co0.4)86Hf7B6Cu1 nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys has been analyzed. The samples were nanocrystallized in the absence of a field, in a dc or ac magnetic field. It has been shown that the Fe73.5Cu1Nb1.5Мo1.5Si13.5B9 alloy has unique magnetic properties and a high temperature-time stability. It has been found that nanocrystallization of the (Fe0.6Co0.4)86Hf7B6Cu1 amorphous alloy in an ac magnetic field considerably improves its static and dynamic magnetic properties.


In this thesis optimal control problems governed by linear convection-diffusion equations and bilateral control constraints are investigated. The optimal control problem is seen as a multiobjective optimization problem, with the objectives being the deviation of the state variable from a prescribed desired state on the one hand and the costs of the control function on the other hand. Therefore, techniques to handle multiobjective optimization problems are presented. As optimality notion the Pareto optimality is chosen and methods to provide Pareto optimal points are introduced. Analytical and geometrical properties are shown for these methods. The theoretical problem of how to get the set of all Pareto optimal points, the so-called Pareto front, is investigated by looking at two parameter-dependent method classes: the weighted sum method and reference point methods. A continuous dependency of the solution of Euclidean reference point problems on the reference points is proved. Based on that, a numerical algorithm to approximate the Pareto front using the Euclidean reference point method is proposed. The approximation quality is ensured by the algorithm which generates the reference points. It is shown how the above mentioned optimal control problems can be transformed, such that they fit into the framework of multiobjective optimization. The Euclidean reference point method is applied to the transformed problems and the adjoint equation is introduced to get a numerically evaluateable representation of the derivatives of the cost function. As the finite element discretization of the controlled partial differential equation (PDE) yields high dimensional equation systems, which have to be solved repeatedly, proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is used to get a reduced-order approximation of the optimal control problem. A-priori convergence results of the solution of the reduced problem to the solution of the full problem and a-posteriori error estimates are shown. Lastly, numerical experiments are presented to show the successful functioning of the presented algorithm and to evaluate the quality of the solutions of the model order reduced problem.


Arts-based inquiry which emphasises the language, practices and forms commonly employed in the arts is offering rich opportunities for exploring knowledge, meaning, and learning beyond creative arts education. Educational researchers and practitioners across a range of educational settings and sectors are recognising the potential of arts-based inquiry for explicating the complex realities, changing issues, emotions and dilemmas that constitute educational worlds. And for revealing the complexity underpinning critical educational questions such as 'what does it mean to teach?' This paper illustrates the remarkable meaning-making and pedagogical capabilities of arts-based research methods. It offers a sonata-styled narrative that tracks the journey of an early childhood educator as she engages in a personal and collaborative inquiry into what it means to teach. It follows her experimentation with arts-based shapes—story, drawing, and metaphor—artistic and literary shapes that worked to access her knowledge. Shapes that became visible products of reflection, and acted as catalysts for awareness, knowledge construction and transformation. Shapes that like torches, shed light on the particular educational dilemmas and situations that mattered to her, and helped her see, think and respond differently to her work. For researchers and others interested in educational matters, this paper demonstrates how arts-based methods support the investigation of educational questions in personal, social, engaging and connected ways. Ways that invite meaning, story, and empathy, and that reach and are accessible to diverse audiences.; ;


We prove limitations on what neural networks trained by noisy gradient descent (GD) can efficiently learn. Our results apply whenever GD training is equivariant, which holds for many standard architectures and initializations. As applications, (i) we characterize the functions that fully-connected networks can weak-learn on the binary hypercube and unit sphere, demonstrating that depth-2 is as powerful as any other depth for this task; (ii) we extend the merged-staircase necessity result for learning with latent low-dimensional structure [ABM22] to beyond the mean-field regime. Under cryptographic assumptions, we also show hardness results for learning with fully-connected networks trained by stochastic gradient descent (SGD).


Introduction: The confusion around the diagnosis of 'medically unexplained symptoms' has lead to a paradigm shift in criteria for diagnosis of somatization disorder. Aims: 1. To compare the socio-demographic variables in patients of somatization disorder 2. To compare the levels of depressive and anxiety scores of patients of somatization disorder along with the severity of disorder. Material and Methods: Somatization patients visiting the psychiatry outdoor of TMMC & RC, were randomly selected and diagnosed as per DSM-IV TR. After obtaining informed consent and applying exclusion criteria, demographic and clinical details were obtained on a self designed Performa. The HAM-A scale and MADRS scale were applied to calculate anxiety and depression scores. Results: The prevalence of somatization disorder was 2.35% in men and 6.7% in women. Females were significantly higher in number. Headache was the chief complaint. The anxiety scores and MADRS scores were highest in patients complaining of chest pain. The HAM-A and MADRS scores increased significantly as number of complaints increased. Female patients and patients belonging to rural background had significantly higher number of complaints. Illiterate patients had a significantly higher duration of illness. Conclusion: Somatization disorder comprises unique group of patients with high co-morbidities and longer duration of illness. It is imperative to identify and clarify severity of this subgroup as treatment decisions need to be modified accordingly.


To the Editor: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging transmissible disease first reported in Asia in February 2003. The disease is characterized by acute onset of fever with nonproductive cough, myalgia, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing (1). Approximately 14% of case-patients require mechanical ventilation (1,2). The syndrome is caused by the previously unrecognized SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) (3). The primary mode of SARS transmission is through close person-to-person contact. In March 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued two travel advisories to SARS-affected countries. Despite these advisories, probable case-patients traveled by air internationally, thereby spreading the disease globally. The extent of risk posed by probable cases for in-flight transmission of SARS is unclear.

A study was conducted by the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin, Germany, to document SARS transmission during international flights. On April 11, 2003, the Institute was notified that a probable SARS-infected person had flown from Hong Kong to Frankfurt, Germany, on March 30 to 31, 2003, and then traveled extensively in Europe after onset of symptoms. In 5 days, the traveler, a 48-year-old Hong Kong businessman, had flown on seven flights throughout Europe (Table). On March 31, symptoms of SARS, including fever and general malaise developed; whether he had a cough at this time is unclear. He was admitted to a hospital in Hong Kong on April 8, and mechanical ventilation was initiated. He was reported to WHO as a suspected SARS patient on April 9 and diagnosed with SARS on April 10. Polymerase chain reaction analysis conducted on the patient's nasopharyngeal aspirate showed positive results for SARS-CoV on April 14.

Table

Flight itinerary of SARS patienta

Passenger manifests from the seven flights on which the patient had flown were requested by the local health departments and the Institute. In a previous study, Kenyon et al. indicated that airline passengers seated within two rows of an infectious tuberculosis patient were at greatest risk for infection (4). To determine an association between seating proximity to the SARS patient and transmission of SARS, a study that included all airline passengers seated within four rows (i.e., front, back, and same row) of the index patient (4) was conducted. Passengers >18 years of age who lived in Germany were contacted by the Institute and asked to participate in the study; all participants gave informed consent for inclusion in the study. Passengers in other countries were not included in the study because contact information was not available. Passengers <18 years of age were not included in the study; ethical approval from an Institutional Review Board, which would have delayed the study, would have been necessary. Contact information for study participants was forwarded to local health departments so that public health officials could provide follow-up care. Study participants were interviewed approximately 3 months after their flights because contact information was not available earlier. A standardized questionnaire was developed to collect information on demographics, flight details, countries visited before the flights, use of mask, and symptoms. Furthermore, 5–10 mL of whole blood was drawn and tested for SARS-CoV antibodies by using immunofluorescence assay.

A total of 250 passengers were identified and selected for the study. Contact information was available for 109 passengers; 69 of the 109 were living in Germany. Sixty-two of those 69 passengers were contacted, and 41 passengers agreed to participate in the study. Thirty-six participants completed questionnaires and had blood samples taken. The male-to-female ratio was 3:5, and the median age was 41 years (25–59 years). Contact information was not available for five passengers, which made their inclusion in the study impossible. All serologic samples (N = 36) tested were negative for SARS-CoV immunoglobulin G antibodies, and none of the 36 passengers reported symptoms characteristic of SARS. Ten passengers complained of cough, headache, and muscle aches. One passenger reported a cough, muscle aches, and fever, but symptoms started 10 days after the flight. An analysis of the seating arrangement showed that the study participants were randomly distributed around the index patient.

No SARS transmission was shown among contacted passengers seated in close proximity to the index patient; these results suggest that in-flight transmission of SARS is not common. These results are consistent with other studies that assessed the risk for in-flight transmission of SARS (5,6). The results also suggest that SARS-CoV is not efficiently transmitted, as reflected in its basic reproduction number R0 (range 2–4) (7). The SARS-infected patient on the indicated flights was in his first week of illness; infectivity is greatest in the second week (8). Therefore, the likelihood of SARS transmission on the indicated flights was not high. These results are further supported by the fact that all contacts were asymptomatic 13 days after their last contact with the SARS patient. No information was available on healthcare contacts. Although we did not observe any SARS transmission, we cannot rule out the possibility that it may have occurred. We had no contact information on 56% of the passengers on the indicated flights and, therefore, had to exclude them from the investigation. Obtaining complete contact information from the remaining passengers was difficult, which severely impeded the investigation. Similarly, we were unable to contact crew members and had to exclude them. Recent studies have documented SARS transmission to passengers seated more than four rows away from an index patient (5,9); thus, studying the passenger proximity to the patient may not be sufficient. Because of these limitations, our final sample size was small and probably biased. Since we did not observe any evidence to indicate in-flight transmission of SARS, we were unable to assess the importance of seat assignment proximity as a risk factor.

The study shows that the roles of public health authorities and the aviation industry should be to "harmonise the protection of public health without the need to avoid unnecessary disruption of trade and travel" in public health emergencies such as global SARS transmission (10). We recommend strengthening the collaboration between national health authorities and the airline industry. Furthermore, the International Air Transport Association should establish procedures to ensure that complete contact information is available for all passengers and that rapid notification can be accomplished in case of potential exposure to infectious diseases.


This paper deals with electronic employment. Possibilities of e-recruitment and the use of online social networking websites and business-oriented social sites in employment, are analyzed and presented. The model of e-employment, also shown in this paper, is an attempt to find new, more efficient ways in the search for, selection and recruitment of human resources using information technologies and communication networks. The model of e-employment is based on the concepts of e-business and human resource management methods. The proposed model is adapted to conditions of employment in Serbia.


Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are responsible for a substantial share of the energy consumed in commercial buildings. Energy used by HVAC systems has increased over the years due to its broader application in response to the growing demand for better thermal comfort within the built environment. While existing case studies demonstrate the energy saving potential of efficient HVAC operation, there is a lack of studies quantifying energy savings from optimal operation of HVAC systems when considering indoor environmental conditions. This research aims to improve the performance of HVAC systems by optimizing its energy consumption without compromising indoor environmental conditions.

The concept of maintaining indoor environmental conditions poses new challenges to the optimal operation of HVAC systems. While the primary objective of ensuring optimal operation is to minimize energy consumption, controlling the indoor environmental parameters, e.g., temperature, humidity, the level of carbon dioxide (CO2), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to remain within the acceptable range imposes excess energy use. These two conflicting objectives constitute a multi-variable constrained optimization problem that has been solved using a particle swarm algorithm (PSO).

A real-time predictive model has been developed for individual indoor environmental parameters and HVAC energy consumption using Nonlinear Autoregressive Exogenous (NARX) neural network (NN). During model development, efforts have been paid to optimize the performance of the model in terms of complexity, prediction results, and ease of application to a real system. The proposed predictive models are then optimized to provide an optimal control setting for HVAC systems taking into account seasonal variations. An extensive case study analysis has been performed in a real commercial building to demonstrate the effectiveness of developing predictive models and evaluating the relevance of integrating indoor air quality (IAQ) within the optimization problem.

Results show that it is possible to minimize 7.8% energy consumption from HVAC systems without compromising indoor environmental conditions. This study demonstrates that the proposed optimal control settings maintain the indoor environment within the acceptable limit of thermal comfort conditions (indoor air temperature between 19.60 to 28.20C and indoor air humidity between 30 to 65 %RH as per ASHRAE Standard 55-2017) and air quality (CO2 ≤ 800 ppm and VOC ≤ 1000ppm as per Australian Standard AS 1668.2 2016). The outcomes of this research will act as a guideline for energy management practices, not only for energy efficient building design and retrofitting but also for building energy performance analysis. This research provides insight into the aspects that affect the performance of predictive models for indoor temperature. The proposed feature selection approach establishes its efficacy to determine salient and independent input parameters without compromising prediction performance. The application of this approach will minimize the measurement and data storing cost of variables. Further, using fewer numbers of input parameters in the model will reduce the computational cost and time. Thus, the proposed model establishes its applicability in a real system for a more extended period of advanced prediction. In addition, the need to better account for building-occupant interactions as an important step to maintain a healthy indoor environment has been recognized through evaluating a real-life demand control (DCV) system. Lastly, the proposed optimization approach, where four defined environmental parameters are considered simultaneously presents a new outlook within the HVAC control system by eliminating the unseen interface between thermal comfort and IAQ.

Overall, this unexploited potential to simultaneously improve the performance of HVAC systems and indoor environmental conditions drives the discussion on reconsidering the set-point configuration standards of HVAC in commercial buildings, either as part of individual building retrofit planning or as part of building regulatory applications.


In this work, we investigate the viability of the stacked generalization approach in predictive modeling of a direct marketing problem. We compare the performance of individual models created using different classification algorithms, and stacked ensembles of these models. The base algorithms we investigate and use to create stacked models are Neural Networks, Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machines (SVM), Naïve Bayes and Decision Tree (CART). These algorithms were selected for their popularity and good performance on similar tasks in previous studies. Using a benchmark experiment and statistical tests, we compared five single algorithm classifiers and 26 stacked ensembles of combinations these algorithms on two popular metrics: Area Under ROC Curve (AUC) and lift.  We will demonstrate a significant improvement in the AUC and lift values when the stacked generalization approach is used viz a viz the single-algorithm approach. We conclude that despite its relative obscurity in marketing applications, stacking holds great promise as an ensembling technique for direct marketing problems.


This study was conducted to find out the best performance resulted from Cat Swarm Optimization (CSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). CSO is one of the algorithms developed based on the behavior of a number of cats to solve optimization problems. It is noted that they include two problem-solving modes such as seeking and tracing. The seeking mode happens passively and cautiously. Being cautious means become aware of the prey or other cats. The latter mode, however, occurs when the cats are active in searching the prey by moving toward it. Since they spend most of the time to idle, the seeking mode is more frequently found. In order to maximize the improvement of tracing mode, a recent calculation method was added. This study implemented three experiment functions such as sphere, Rastrigin, and knapsack. Each experiment was conducted ten times to find out the number of iterations and time needed for each method. The results show that CSO is better than GA due to its performance in terms of iterations and time.


The physico-chemical analysis of terbium caprylate (anionic surfactant) was carried out by FTIR, XRay Diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements. The IR results have shown that caprylic acid exist as dimer through hydrogen bonding and terbium caprylate possess partial ionic character. The Xray diffraction measurements have been used to calculate the long spacings. Thermogravimetric analysis has shown that this compound is thermally stable up to 480°C. The thermal decomposition reaction found zero ordered kinetic and value of energy of activation was found to be in the region of 3.29 to 7.43k cal mol.


Introduction: Intestinal blood flow is often named as a key factor in the pathophysiology of anastomotic leakage. The distribution between mucosal and serosal microperfusion during surgery remains to be elucidated. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess if the mucosal microcirculation of the intestine is more vulnerable to a surgical hit than the serosal microcirculation during surgery. Methods: In an observational cohort study (n = 9 patients), the microcirculation of the bowel serosa and mucosa was visualized with incident dark-field imaging during surgery. At the planned anastomosis, the following microcirculatory parameters were determined: microvascular flow index (MFI), percentage of perfused vessels (PPV), perfused vessel density (PVD), and total vessel density (TVD). Data are presented as median (interquartile range [IQR]). Results: Perfusion parameters and vessel density were significantly higher for the mucosa than the serosal microcirculation at the planned site for anastomosis or stoma. Mucosal MFI was 3.00 (IQR 3.00–3.00) compared to a serosal MFI of 2.75 (IQR 2.21–2.94), p = 0.03. The PPV was 99% (IQR 98–100) versus 92% (IQR 66–94), p = 0.01. The TVD was 16.77 mm/mm2 (IQR 13.04–18.01) versus 10.42 mm/mm2 (IQR 9.36–11.81), p = 0.01, and the PVD was 15.44 mm/mm2 (IQR 13.04–17.78) versus 9.02 mm/mm2 (IQR 6.43–9.43), p = 0.01. Conclusions: The mucosal microcirculation was preserved, while lower perfusion of the serosa was found at the planned anastomosis or stoma during surgery. Further research is needed to link our observations to the clinically relevant endpoint of anastomotic leakage.


Heart transpLantation, indications and resuLts at tHe university HospitaL of Liege summary : Heart transplantation remains undoubtedly the most effective treatment for end-stage heart failure, whatever its cause. Last decade has witnessed significant improvements in terms of morbidity and mortality following heart transplant. The 5-year survival rate is now beyond 70 %. However, the shortage of potential donors limits its use and requires strict criteria before listing a candidate for heart transplantation. Herein, we present a review of current indications and results of the heart transplantation program at the University hospital of Liège.


Teachers face unique challenges when teaching children who have individualized education plans (IEPs) and/or 504 plans, including managing problematic behaviors and knowing about the symptoms and accommodations necessary when children present with health conditions. The factors that predict teachers' self-efficacy when working with these children have not been established. This was a quantitative retrospective design utilizing a survey of teachers' past experiences teaching children with IEP's and/or 504 plans. K-8 elementary school teachers were surveyed using the Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale for Children with IEP/504 Plans (2017), which was developed by the authors and was adapted from a previous measure, the Teachers' Sense of Efficacy Scale (TshannenMoran & Woolfolk Hoy, 2001). In total, 179 participants began and 134 completed the survey. Results of the study indicated that perceived knowledge of the condition, perceived ability to engage students in schoolwork and vary instructional methods, perceived ability to manage classroom behavior, and perceived ability to manage emotional responses significantly predicted teacher self-efficacy when working with children with IEPs and/or 504 plans. Years of teaching was not a significant predictor variable.


HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) in South Africa has been shown to be disproportionately higher than among the general population. Increased vulnerability to HIV among MSM has been associated with structural, social and individual factors. While information and communication technologies (ICT) now commonly mediate the sexual practices of many MSM, little research exists on how to design and deliver effective biomedical and combination HIV prevention interventions targeting MSM that consider the role of ICT in this context. In this paper, we describe the use and impact of ICT for a biomedical HIV prevention trial in South Africa as part of the larger Global iPrEX trial. We outline the research rationale, design and results and examine how SMS, email, social networking sites, and the Internet were used to target MSM. Drawing on our experience, we argue that the low cost and wide usage of various components of ICT among MSM offer significant potential for future targeted HIV prevention efforts.


Abstract Forest fires are a disturbance where the effects can range from benign to extreme devastation within a given ecosystem. The stage of stand development coupled with prior management dictates the amount and composition of potential fuels. Thus, fire policy exerts a strong influence on fire effects. Changes in cultural acceptance and use of fire typically drive fire policy. This linkage is perhaps exemplified by America's 300 year love/hate relationship with this powerful natural force. This article uses the four stages of stand development (stand initiation, stem exclusion, understory reinitiation and old-growth), as described by Oliver and Larson (1996), to present opportunities and constraints to fire use, and management options are suggested. Using a selective review of research in the USA that emphasizes the longleaf pine ecosystem in the south-east, the focus is on three themes presented from the viewpoint of a resource manager trying to attain a specific result. First, some high points in the history of fire in America and its ecological ramifications on the landscape are outlined, using examples to illustrate key concepts of behavior, intensity and periodicity. Secondly, examples are given of how people have sought to exclude fire from the landscape, often with disastrous consequences. Thirdly, the topic of prescribed fire in an ecosystem maintenance and restoration role is touched on. Some challenges associated with reintroducing fire into areas where past fire policy dictated its exclusion are also related.


In this study, it was aimed to examine of socio-economic structure of farmers related to organic olive cultivation activity in Gökçeada district of Çanakkale province in Turkey and to determine the knowledge level and approaches towards their organic agriculture. The data of the present study were obtained by survey from 121 farms related to organic olive cultivation determined by using the whole counting method. Data cover the production period in 2016-2017. Descriptive statistics and 5-point Likert-type scale was used to analyse the data. According to the results of study, it was found that the average age of farmers was 53.6 years, the average year of schooling of farmers was 7.5, the average household size was 3.7 persons, the average experience of farmers in organic olive cultivation was also 8.3 years and 10.7% of the farmers had the highest income (50.001₺-60.000₺). Furthermore, the most consciousness level about organic agriculture was determined as ''not use hazardous chemicals for nature and health in organic agriculture'' concept for farmers that make organic olive cultivation. As a result, this study is expected to contribute the development of district's economy and to rural development.


A site analysis and restoration proposal, for the gardens and plantations of the former royal estate of Tatoi was undertaken. Tatoi was the summer residence of the Royal family of Greece since 1872 and included a pilot farm, with cowshed, dairy, winery, vineyards and olive groves, as well as the royal cemetery. It is located on Mount Parnitha, near Athens, the capital of Greece. Tatoi was abandoned in 1967 and in 2003 it was passed on to the Greek state. The estate is characterized as "historical site" and the buildings within it as "modern monuments". Within the estate over thirty buildings are preserved, some of which date back to the 1880s. The estate is open to the public in spite the lack of any organization that would accommodate the visitors. The Greek Ministry of Culture has commenced a program for the restoration of several buildings. Yet there has not been made any such effort for the gardens and the plantations of the estate. Following the site analysis, the original design of the gardens and plantations, as well as the modifications undergone over the years, were studied. On the south side of the palace, is well evident, the palace garden, which was first created in 1892. The trails and many other basic elements of the original design are preserved and are associated with the eclecticism movement. North of the palace, traces of a "park" were found, for which there is not many information in the literature. Concerning the plantations, there are still preserved the olive grove, part of the vineyard and a greenhouse that probably dates back to the beginning of the 19th century. Based on the Florence Chart we proposed interventions for the restoration of the palace garden, the "park" and the plantations. Solutions are recommended for the most pressing functional problems of the site associated with visitors. It is emphasized that all the interventions should be part of a system that would ensure financial independence and would render the estate a suburban park with recreational and educational aspects.


Escherichia coli isolates showing alpha hemolytic on blood agar were found in calves with bloody diarrhoea from Bandung, Sukabumi and Bogor. Three E. coli isolates designated as (B34c, B909, B910) were pathogenic for mice and selected for vaccine candidates. Crude supernatant of tryptic soy broth (TSB) cultures precipitated with saturated ammoniumsulphate caused cytopathic effect on vero cell line. For vaccine preparation the isolates were grown on tryptic soy agar (TSA). Whole cell inactive vaccine containing equal proportion of each isolate was prepared and emulsified in aluminum hydroxide gel at a final concentration of 1.5% and cell concentration equal to the tube number 10 of MacFarland standard. Mice and rabbits were injected subcutaneously of monovalent vaccine with the dose of 0.2 ml and 1 ml respectively. Four weeks later mice or rabbits were boostered with the same dose. Before injection each animal was bleed, subsequently every two weeks period up to 4 weeks after the second injection. The sera were separated and kept at -20oC up to serological assay with an enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) was done. Vaccinated mice with VTEC were challenged with homologous isolate did not die, where as 60% of unvaccinated mice died within 2 days post challenged. Pregnant cows were given 2 doses of three valent vaccine 6 weeks and again 2 weeks before expected date of calving. Calves born were given colostrum and milk of the own mother. The three day old calf was challenged with three isolates of verotoxigenic E. coli studied. Calves born from vaccinated cows did not show diarrhoea at post challenged, whereas calf from unvaccinated cow demonstrated bloody diarrhoea at post challenged. From the experimental animals (mice and calves) demonstrated the presence of protection against challenged. The antiverotoxic antibody probably involved in important role of immunoprotection. These were supported by the presence of high titer anti verotoxic antibody in serum of experimental animals (mice and cows), as well as in experimental rabbits, but none in the unvaccinated animals. Key words: E. coli , alpha hemolytic, verotoxic, dysentery, vaccine


We present a process variation tolerance technique for current sensing on-chip links. Process variation affects the signal integrity of a current sensing receiver. As the amount of worst-case current variation is increasing in sub-100nm technologies, the conventional worst-case process variation assumption has a high power consumption cost. We propose adjusting currents at every power start-up of the system through receiver and driver reconfiguration when an error is detected. This makes the link adaptive to the effect of variations enabling continuous and reliable operation of the link. It also results in lower power consumption than the worst-case approach. An error detection scheme as well as a reconfiguration algorithm and methodology are developed. Furthermore, reconfiguration control and communication circuits are designed and simulated for a multilevel current sensing link. Depending on the detected error(s), the time it takes to adjust the currents and start the normal data transmission phase ranges from 2.66ns to 5.72ns. The proposed technique is area efficient for relatively wider links. For a 64-bits link the overhead is 4.67% silicon area and 2.63% wiring area. The circuits are designed and simulated in Cadence Analog Spectre using 65nm CMOS technology from STMicroelectronics.


In simultaneous SPECT(Tl-201)/TCT(Tc-99m) data acquisition, emission and transmission images are degraded by both scatter photons and cross-contamination between emission and transmission photons. In this work, the authors aim to reduce these image degradations by optimizing the position and width of the energy window in a triple-camera fan-beam SPECT system. A statistical criterion based on maximizing the Figure-of-Merit (FOM) was used in the optimization by determining a compromise between increased detection efficiency of primary photons and reduced scatter and contamination photons. Scatter events were modeled using Monte Carlo (MC) simulation method. Experimental studies were performed to verify the simulations and to estimate the lead X-rays and scatter in the collimator which were not modeled in the MC program. Results suggest that cross-contamination degrades the emission and transmission data. However, they do not significantly alter the optimal energy window settings which centered at 75 keV with a window width of 30-35% for detecting the Tl emission photons, and centered at 140 keV with a window width of 15/spl sim/20% for detecting the Tc transmission photons.<<ETX>>


Autonomous and connected cars (ACCs), together with edge computing (EC), have been recognized as a promising solution to achieve green intelligent transportation for smart cities. This paper aims to address short-term traffic prediction, a fundamental enabler for the success of ACC applications, under the European Telecommunications Standards Institute multi-access EC (MEC) architecture that exhibits constraints different from conventional cloud computing. First, a data-centric experiment platform is designed and implemented to facilitate traffic prediction algorithm development. This paper further proposes a novel short-term traffic prediction model that integrates a traffic light model and a vehicle velocity model, considering limited computing resources of MEC servers. We note that the effects of traffic lights are complicated and have not been rigorously examined in most, if not all, of the related work. This work models the queueing time when a driver arrives at a road intersection and faces a red light. Moreover, to forecast the vehicle velocity, we propose a novel low-complexity semiparametric prediction model considering periodic features and spatial/temporal correlations of dynamic road events. The experiment results demonstrate that our vehicle-velocity prediction model achieves almost equivalent accuracy to the well-known Long Short-Term Memory Neural Network model, requiring much lower computational complexity. Our experiment results also confirm that since our integrated model pays attention to the traffic-light effects and the individual driver behavior, it can more effectively capture the real-time changes of traffic conditions.


Few data exist from which an optimal strategy for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening can be deduced. This strategy should compromise between the dual purpose of screening, to wit monitoring the incidence of ROP and determining an optimal moment for therapeutic intervention. We recorded the timely incidence and course of ROP in all except four premature infants admitted during a 1-year period. The study results indicate that a single screening moment is not likely to detect more than 70% of all cases. When relying, however, on a single screening, the investigation should be performed between the 7th and 9th weeks. The unpredictable course of ROP, varying between early starting, rapidly progressing forms and very late starting, usually benign forms probably precludes the possibility of 100% ROP detection. Screening during the 4th to 5th, 8th, and 11th weeks probably gives the best chances for determination of an optimal moment for treatment and approximation of the incidence.


Purpose
Online social media has become an important marketing communication tool for entrepreneurs and their customers because of its ability to simplify various constraints in the communication process. Online social media allows entrepreneurs to access customers, suppliers, partners and other necessary resources that were not easily reachable before at significantly lower costs. Therefore, the current study aims to examine entrepreneurs' motivations, expected benefits and intentions to use online social media in an emerging market.

Design/methodology/approach
This study used a quantitative approach to investigate the entrepreneurs' online social media use behaviors. Data are collected from n = 368 entrepreneurial organizations using structured questionnaires and personal interviews. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) along with structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized relationships in the conceptual model.

Findings
Results from the data analyses show that entrepreneurs' perceptions about efforts needed, performance expectations and various social influences helped explain a significant proportion of the variation in entrepreneurs' intentions to use online social media. All hypotheses tested in the study were confirmed.

Research limitations/implications
Efforts need to be spent on developing positive entrepreneurial attitudes toward online social media usage. As social media becomes more integrated with personal and business life, entrepreneurs need to use social networking sites to build relationships with existing customers or to reach new customers. A larger and more representative sample would have improved generalizability of the findings about entrepreneurial use of online social media. Future research studies should consider using additional independent measures to validate the study results.

Practical implications
This study contributes to the entrepreneurial literature by providing empirical evidence for the link between entrepreneurs' perceptions and attitudes about social media and their intentions to use it in an emerging market. Additionally, entrepreneurs need to expend more effort in understanding and effectively using social media and should develop positive attitudes toward online social media. Entrepreneurs' feelings, perceptions and efforts need to be nurtured through support from online social media providers, educational institutions and local chapters of business organizations (i.e. SBA, Chamber of Commerce) alike.

Originality/value
This research is one of the few studies that has attempted to examine the effects of various antecedent factors in the context of entrepreneurs' intentions to use online social media for business purposes in an emerging market. This study contributes to the entrepreneurial literature by providing empirical evidence for the link between entrepreneurs' perceptions and attitudes about social media and their intentions to use it in an emerging market. Additionally, this study contributes to our understanding about the role of social influences, effort and performance expectancies on the formation of entrepreneurial intentions to use social media.


Abstract. The paper is based on a detailed observational study of the Equatorial Spread F (ESF) events on geomagnetically quiet (Ap≤20) days of the solar maximum (2001), moderate (2004) and minimum (2006) years using the ionograms and magnetograms from the magnetic equatorial location of Trivandrum (8.5° N; 77° E; dip lat ~0.5° N) in India. The study brings out some interesting aspects of the daytime Equatorial Electrojet (EEJ) related electric field variations and the post sunset F-region electrodynamics governing the nature of seasonal characteristics of the ESF phenomena during these years. The observed results seem to indicate a plausible linkage of daytime EEJ related electric field variations with pre-reversal enhancement which in turn is related to the occurrence of ESF. These electric field variations are shown to be better represented through a parameter, termed as "E", in the context of possible coupling between the E- and F-regions of the ionosphere. The observed similarities in the gross features of the variations in the parameter "E" and the F-region vertical drift (Vz) point towards the potential usage of the EEJ related parameter "E" as an useful index for the assessment of Vz prior to the occurrence of ESF.


Introduction Most people with lower-limb amputation (LLA) rely on a prosthetic foot for participation at home and in the community. The published literature describes problems with mobility after LLA, yet there have been few published accounts of peoples' participation experiences. The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of the impact of prosthetic feet on participation in the activities of daily life by examining the experience of prosthetic users and professionals. Materials and Methods Users of prosthetic feet and health care professionals who prescribe prosthetic feet were invited to complete a brief online questionnaire before participating in one of five focus groups. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize questionnaire data. Focus group sessions were audio recorded and transcribed. Each transcript was thematically coded independently by four researchers. Emergent themes were discussed, categorized, and cross-referenced. Results Eleven prosthetic foot users (68.8%) and 11 professionals (100%) completed the online questionnaires. Although the prosthetic foot users rated their difficulty with usual activities as none to slight, 36% reported falling within the last 6 months, and 45% indicated that they modified their participation because of the potential for falls. Sixteen prosthetic foot users and 11 health care professionals took part in focus groups. There was a significant overlap in themes discussed by prosthetic foot users and health care professionals. Identified barriers to full participation included the ability to stand for extended periods, navigate in confined spaces, carry heavy objects, and change body posture. Absence of sensory feedback created significant concerns about safety when driving a car, navigating uneven terrain, or climbing ladders. Characteristics of existing prosthetic feet that impact participation included limited durability, lack of waterproofing, and limited range of motion. Current designs limited choices of footwear and created difficulties donning and doffing shoes. Conclusions Participants' reported confidence in forward walking on even ground suggests that current prosthetic feet are well-suited for this limited use. However, they also identified a number of situations in which their current prosthetic feet caused significant difficulties, often with safety implications. While some stories, such as rocks on the sidewalk, are consistent with the literature, other stories describe situations such as ladders and stepstools that are not well documented. Our study highlights the utility of focus groups in identifying previously unrecognized needs and concerns, with significant implications for the design of prosthetic feet. Future studies should include more diverse participants, particularly with regard to age and overall physical health.


Congestion cost allocation is an important issue in congestion management. This paper presents a genetic algorithm (GA) to determine the optimal generation levels in a deregulated market. The main issue is congestion in lines, which limits transfer capability of a system with available generation capacity. Nodal pricing method is used to determine locational marginal price (LMP) of each generator at each bus. Simulation results based on the proposed GA and the Power World Simulator software are presented and compared for 3-bus and 5-bus test systems.


We present a novel instance-based approach to handle regression tasks in the context of supervised domain adaptation. The approach developed in this paper relies on the assumption that the task on the target domain can be efficiently learned by adequately reweighting the source instances during training phase. We introduce a novel formulation of the optimization objective for domain adaptation which relies on a discrepancy distance characterizing the difference between domains according to a specific task and a class of hypotheses. To solve this problem, we develop an adversarial network algorithm which learns both the source weighting scheme and the task in one feed-forward gradient descent. We provide numerical evidence of the relevance of the method on public datasets for domain adaptation through reproducible experiments accessible via an online demo interface at: https://antoinedemathelin.github.io/demo/.


As a first step in the broad characterization of plant 14-3-3 multiprotein complexes in vivo, stringent and specific antibody affinity purification was used to capture 14-3-3s together with their interacting proteins from extracts of Arabidopsis cell suspension cultures. Approximately 120 proteins were identified as potential in vivo 14-3-3 interacting proteins by mass spectrometry of the recovered complexes. Comparison of the proteins in this data set with the 14-3-3 interacting proteins from a similar study in human embryonic kidney cell cultures revealed eight interacting proteins that likely represent reasonably abundant, fundamental 14-3-3 interaction complexes that are highly conserved across all eukaryotes. The Arabidopsis 14-3-3 interaction data set was also compared to a yeast in vivo 14-3-3 interaction data set. Four 14-3-3 interacting proteins are conserved in yeast, humans, and Arabidopsis. Comparisons of the data sets based on biochemical function revealed many additional similarities in the human and Arabidopsis data sets that represent conserved functional interactions, while also leaving many proteins uniquely identified in either Arabidopsis or human cells. In particular, the Arabidopsis interaction data set is enriched for proteins involved in metabolism.


Introduction In JET, nitrogen (N) seeding has been in use to decrease the power loads on the divertor by increasing its radiation and thereby lowering its temperature. Furthermore, in recent experiments with the ITER-like wall (ILW) it was observed that the injection of the extrinsic impurity N in high-triangularity ELMy H-mode plasmas led to a recovery of the edge pedestal pressure, which had dropped by 40% with the change from the carbon wall to the ILW [Giroud 2013, Giroud 2014]. Existing pedestal models did not predict this effect [Leyland 2014], and a better understanding of the underlying physics is necessary. The recovery of pedestal pressure with N can arguably be related to changes in the properties of turbulence within the pedestal. It is therefore important to have diagnostics dedicated to the measurement of such properties. Radial correlation reflectometry (RCR) is capable of making localized measurements of density fluctuations, and the recently upgraded RCR diagnostic in JET can be programmed in a flexible way to adapt to different experimental conditions [Meneses 2011]. This paper describes RCR measurements inside the edge pedestal during N seeding experiments in high triangularity plasmas with 2.5 MA and 2.7 T, using the same divertor configuration reported in [Giroud 2013].


In the field of communications much is still to be known about Filipino vlogs. And yet vlogs are subject to much public discourse. Anchored in Jessica De Boeck's (2015) work, this study determines the purposes that vlogs serve in this computer-mediated communication by examining the opening and closing strategies in 10 Filipino YouTube vlogs. Generally, the results of the study are constitutive of De Boeck's findings. However, Filipino vlogs have interesting additions to these identified strategies. For the opening strategies, some Filipino vloggers identify their viewers by denoting names to their fan base. They also include short clips or video previews, which I argue as "digital markers." And as for the closing strategies, some Filipino vloggers operate the discourse marker "so" as a final closing strategy. Lastly, the topic shading forecasts vloggers' arrangement and framing. By and large, the vlogs' employed strategies are deemed to provide a profound sense of involvement, engagement, and belongingness.


Current storage appliances have been traditionally designed to meet either the storage demands of a local or a wide area network. The grid is unique in that it escapes this limitation and allows users to share resources both within and between local area networks. However, this freedom creates many new challenges to storage appliances that would be used on the grid. NeST is a user-level software-only storage appliance that is being specifically designed to meet the unique storage needs of grid computation. A virtual protocol layer allows arbitrary data transfer and authentication protocols to be used. An abstract storage interface allows a wide range of physical storage devices to be optimally utilized. Multiple concurrency architectures provide the flex needed to achieve high levels of throughput across multiple host platforms. Flexible mechanisms allow storage within NeST to be both reserved and limited and there is planned support for guaranteed levels of service as well. Finally, a policy language such as Condor ClassAds can be used to advertise the NeST and allow discovery of both the physical storage and of the data contained thereon.


In this article, we present the discussions of Bulgarian economists as regards the strategic development opportunities of the Balkans and Bulgaria in particular within Europe. We focus on the integration efforts of Bulgaria within an economic unit larger than national market during the decades of the so-called first Bulgarian capitalism. Those are the years since the Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman rule in 1878 to the forced imposition of the Communist regime in 1944. The public expenditures on bureaucracy, army, foreign policy etc. increased after Bulgaria's Liberation. The integration efforts on Bulgarian side were an attempt to ameliorate some negative consequences of the lost "public goods" of being part of the Ottoman Empire. This was the main source of the Bulgarian economists' pro-European enthusiasm. However, the enthusiasm was combined with skepticism. The main fuel of skepticism came from the fear that industrially developed countries of Central and Western Europe would not allow the industrialization or modernization of the Bulgarian economy. The presentation follows the historical stages of development of the Bulgarian economy and society. It starts from the late pre-liberation era goes through the late 19th and early 20th-century ideas for Balkan economic integration, the World War I, and the Great Depression effects, and finishes with the Second World War.


This report compares the manner in which the avulsed tooth was handled at home versus at school, and presents the different outcomes of the replanted teeth in both groups. Eighteen of 32 avulsed teeth were not replanted, and four replanted teeth could not be followed. Thus, the material comprised 10 avulsed permanent incisors of 10 traumatized children, aged between 8 and 13 years, who were treated at the Pediatric Dental Clinic of Niigata University Dental Hospital. Half of the patients avulsed the tooth at school and the other half at or near home. Of the five teeth avulsed at school, three were kept under wet conditions. The time until their replantation ranged between 0.5 and 3.5h. Their outcomes were fairly good, except for one incisor that was extracted about 3 years later owing to the undesirable replantation procedures by the dentist. Of the avulsed teeth at or near home, three were left under dry conditions. Their time until replantation ranged scattered between 0.5 and 12h. Of these, two incisors preserved under wet conditions survived without significant root resorption. These results suggested that information about the way to keep the avulsed tooth was relatively well known to school nurse-teachers compared with parents. Depending on the kind of lay people, it appears that it is necessary to select the best way to convey information about the management of avulsed permanent teeth.


To evaluate two different grazing systems, one with set stocking grazing and the other one with rotational grazing using electrical fencing system, for the performance of grazing beef cattle on hilly rangeland conditions with altitude of above 2000 m two grassland areas were chosen next to each other and an area of 10 ha was fenced with wires for RG. Biomass available for grazing was also monitored. A total of 60 Simmental beef cattle were assigned to the experimental units equally. The experiment lasted for 90 days. The daily live weight gains were higher in RG (P<0.05) with no difference in mean biomass dry matter and sward height. It was concluded that RG using electrical fencing system can substantially improve grazing performance of beef cattle on hilly rangeland conditions.


The purpose of this study was to reveal the students' perceptions on blended learning through the Q method. The originality of the research stems from determining whether the students have a general tendency towards the blended learning process and evaluating the whole process through identifying its prominent components. The research data was compiled through the Q-Sort and the judgemental statements created by the researchers from 31 students attending the 3rd and 4th classes of the Faculty of Education during the 2016-2017 academic year. The data analysis ascertained that the students were in affirmative consensus on blended learning and the prominent components of the process were listed as teaching staff, face-to-face classes, student roles and the features of online course materials. The findings obtained were discussed within the frame of the relevant literature and the suggestions were made on blended course design.


Although Wellhausen had already rejected the historicity of the patriarchs, and with it their religion, and argued that the patriarchal traditions were retrojections of the Monarchical period reflecting the time that the stories arose in Israel, Albrecht Alt made a to definitive beginning to the study of patriarchal religion with his essay, 'Der Gott der Vifter, in which he argued both for a patriarchal religion distinct from Mosaic religion and for the possibility of its originating during or just before the settlement of Israelite clans in Canaan. While many since Wellhausen have continued to reject the historicity of the patriarchs, a number of scholars, in the light of Ugaritic and other archaeological discoveries, have followed Alt in arguing for a distinct patriarchal religion before exodus and before Moses. However, the study of patriarchal religion has chiefly been confined either to the different divine names or to the social and legal practices attested in Genesis.The result of this is that the patriarchal religious and cultic practices frequently attested in Genesis have hardly been focused upon, except by a few scholars who have touched upon them only in passing.

The present thesis takes its departure both from the scholarly consensus and from the Hebrew Bible's own testimony that patriarchal religion was distinct from Mosaic religion. In the present thesis, this distinction is chiefly sought in patriarchal worship and cultic practices, such as altars, prayer, pillars, tithes, vows and ritual purity. These aspects are studied in the light of both second millennium ancient Near Eastern and Israelite parallels. This is legitimate since patriarchal religion is portrayed as pre-Mosaic, and since the narrators are Israelites with a Yahwistic ethos. Our findings have been that the patriarchs shared elements in common with both the ANE and Israel only in regard to the concept of their worship and cultic practices. However, the manner of their cultic activity bore no comparison to that of the ANE or Israel, in that the patriarchs themselves built altars and made sacrifices, conducted prayer, raised pillars and offered worship, all without the aid of an established cult or priests. Further, they did these things in an informal and family setting wherever they moved or happened to camp. Neither were the patriarchal religious activities of tithing, vowing or purifying performed at a cult place. While Jacob himself was the sole officiant of the ritual purification of his family at Bethel, Abraham's tithe was voluntary and secular, and Jacob's religious tithes and vows were unpaid probably due to the absence of any cult or the priests who would be expected to appropriate them. Thus, patriarchal religion was distinct from both the ancient Near Eastern and Israelite religions, and compatible only with the lifestyle portrayed in Genesis.


This report reviews literature on splenic infarction. It also describes the case of a 27-year-old female who was bedridden because of a muscular disease and who was admitted to the emergency department with chest pain. She experienced continuous squeezing and compressing pain, which originated from the lower left hemithorax and radiated to the left axilla. A splenic infarct was detected after 24 h follow-up in the emergency room. Emergency physicians should keep in mind that chest pain originating from the lower left thorax and radiating to the left shoulder can be a sign of splenic infarction. (Eurasian J Emerg Med 2015; 14: 154-6)


Marine terraces on the northern Sanriku Coast are mapped, verifying their emergent times with a tephra analysis to provide accurate information on long-term coastal uplift along the Sanriku Coast. The results contradict the conventional view of century-long subsidence and coseismic subsidence associated with the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake. Eight visible tephra layers are found to cover the Taneichi surfaces reported as Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 marine terraces in previous research on the northern Sanriku Coast, and these correlate with To-H, To-Of, To-G, To-Ok2, To-AP, To-CP, Toya, and ZP2 tephra layers previously identified at the Kamikita Plain based on petrographic properties. Consequently, because the Toya tephra (ca. 112⊖115 ka) covers marine sand and/or gravel beds composing the terraces, they are confirmed to be MIS 5e marine terraces. The paleo-shoreline of the MIS 5e marine terraces is inferred, considering topographic profiles and aeolian deposits covering terrace surfaces, and their heights are measured with high-resolution digital elevation models to be ca. 40 m above the present sea level at the Kamikita Plain and ca. 20⊖30 m at the northern Sanriku Coast. In addition, uplift rates from the Kamikita Plain to the northern Sanriku Coast are estimated to be 0.3 mm/yr and 0.1⊖0.2 mm/yr, respectively, tending to gradually decrease toward the south, and may be subject to subsidence further south along the southern Sanriku Coast.


More than a century after the foundation of the illustrious University of Zulia, research is still the subject of unfair treatment; the importance of science in university life is discussed over and over again, with authorities feeling proud of the quantity and quality of researchers, but such pride is divorced from the support received by research centers, departments and institutes. However, science transcends all obstacles; research must be the ultimate goal of our University, so that it continues to be the University.


Author(s): Schwartz, Peter; Gerke, Brian; Potter, Jennifer; Robinson, Alastair; Jagger, David; Sanders, Kelly; Wen, Yao-Jung; Shepard, Jasmine; Kisch, Teddy | Abstract: Commercial lighting represents a significant potential source of demand response (DR) for the electrical grid, via traditional load shedding and rapid-dispatch (fast-DR) ancillary services when DR is enabled by networked lighting controls (NLCs). However, despite the significant opportunity and a regulatory push, DR-enabled lighting is installed in relatively few buildings because most building owners do not recognize its strong value proposition. Although NLCs can reduce energy bills, optimize facilities, and increase revenue, these co-benefits are not well quantified. This project analyzed lighting DR resources and energy-related co-benefits for commercial buildings in California. Using more than 100,000 individual hourly load profiles, the team forecasted the potential DR resources likely available from commercial lighting in 2025 and estimated revenues available from participation of these DR resources in energy markets. Combining these results with field-study estimates for NLC installation costs and energy savings provided a detailed accounting of site-level cost and energy-related co-benefits by building type from NLC's DR enablement. In many cases, energy savings alone can deliver significant net value, justifying NLC DR-enabled adoption. Additionally, the study considers the sometimes-larger non-energy benefits (NEBs).


The middle Miocene shallow-marine siliciclastic succession in the Sinop Peninsula, north-central Turkey, bears a well-preserved sedimentary record of syndepositional deformation associated with the buried escarpment of an oblique-slip dextral reverse fault and attributed to seismotectonic activity. The deposition occurred in a marginal trough at the edge of a tectonically inverted retroarc foreland basin of the Central Pontides. The synsedimentary deformation involved contemporaneous shoreface deposits and their consolidated, weakly cemented littoral substrate. Deformation features include neptunian dykes, convolute stratification, plumose transposition structure, injection dykes, diapirs, and large sandstone blocks dislodged from the fault escarpment. The genetic sequence of deformation structures deciphered from the outcrop section indicates 3 main episodes of seismotectonic activity associated with the fault and separated by renewed sediment accumulation. The first episode formed a surface rupture equal to about a third of the total minimum vertical displacement, estimated at \sim5.5 m, with a detachment of a large sandstone block from the fault scarp. The second episode is inferred to have involved at least 2 closely consecutive earthquakes, which caused partial liquefaction and fluidization of footwall sediment. The last episode of fault activity caused detachment of an even larger sandstone block and was followed by abrupt basin subsidence, possibly accompanied by a minor tsunami. The seismotectonic events postdated the Pontide orogen and are considered to represent an early phase of neotectonic activity in the north-central Turkey, heralding the development of the North Anatolian Fault Zone. Similar deformation features associated with fault escarpments are potentially common in the stratigraphic record, but may have been lumped with fault breccias or talus deposits and escaped recognition. The study offers detailed sedimentological criteria for the recognition of syndepositional seismotectonic activity.


This case presentation provides an illustration of the impact a clinical pharmacy specialist can have with regard to treatment planning, medication selection, and goal achievement in the management of a patient with grossly uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

A wheelchair-bound, 64-year-old white man presented to the pharmacist-managed metabolic clinic with a history of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. The patient was referred by his primary care provider (PCP) for diabetes management and insulin adjustment, with the intention of eventually converting the patient from a traditional insulin therapy regimen to concentrated U-500 regular insulin.

The patient had a history of metformin and glipizide combination therapy and was converted to a regimen of glargine and aspart when his oral medication regimen failed to control his diabetes. Glipizide therapy was discontinued when insulin was initiated in 2010, and metformin was discontinued in 2011 because of declining renal function.

The patient's weight was 335.9 lb; his BMI was calculated to be 48.2 kg/m2. He reported currently smoking a pack of cigarettes per day with no intention of enrolling in a cessation program. He reported no alcohol or illicit drug use. During the intake interview, he reported a fair diet, with intake of simple carbohydrates being a prominent dietary source of glucose. He reported limited physical activity aside from wheelchair use. The patient also reported a positive family history for type 2 diabetes in his mother. His diagnosis list is shown in Table 1.

View this table:

Table 1.
Current Diagnoses

The patient's medication profile, as originally prescribed, is provided in Table 2. He reported poor adherence to his insulin regimen but close adherence to his oral medication regimen, aided by the use of a daily/weekly pillbox. When pressed for details about his insulin failure, he reported that he simply forgot to use both his basal and bolus …


The article is devoted to the analysis of the activity of leading research institutions in the field of library science in Ukraine at the present stage. Using the methodological basis of the systematic approach and the content analysis method of scientific publications and open access resources, the author investigates the achievements of Ukrainian librarianship. The purpose of the article is to analyze the main directions of activity of the scientific institutions of the librarian branch in 2010s; the problems of the dissertation researches aimed at improving the activity of the library social institute; the development of professional communication through scientific events and periodicals. Among the main objects of research are the Institute of Library Science, Institute of Information Technologies and the Center for Social Communication Research of the Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine; Lviv National Scientific Library of Ukraine named after V. Stefanyk; State Scientific and Pedagogical Library of Ukraine named after V.O. Sukhomlinsky; National Scientific Agricultural Library of NAAS of Ukraine. The article also analyzes the achievements of scientific schools of Kharkiv State Academy of Culture, Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, National University «Lviv Polytechnic». The conclusion is that the main tendencies of library investigations carried out in research centers - leading libraries and institutions of higher education of Ukraine include: the development of interdisciplinary research, in which the library as a social institute becomes an active component of public communications, global information influences; development of researches devoted to scientific and informational support of branch science (educational, agrarian) in the context of European integration and globalization processes; the librarianship investigation from the media space point of view, in particular in the system of public use of social media, or as an equal partner in its creation; increasing attention to interaction and coordinated
formation of consolidated information resources of libraries, archives and museums. The study may be followed up as the study of the experience and prospects of international cooperation in the field of scientific activities, especially library science, as well as librarianship issues, which are covered in scientific communication - in professional journals, scientific forums, etc.


Abstract As cricket training typically involves separate skill and conditioning sessions, this study reported on the movement demands, physiological responses and reproducibility of the demands of small-sided cricket games. Thirteen amateur, male cricket players (age: 22.8 ± 3.5 years, height: 1.78 ± 0.06 m, body mass: 78.6 ± 7.1 kg) completed two sessions of a generic small-sided cricket game, termed Battlezone; consisting of six repeat 8-over bouts. Heart rate and movement demands were continuously recorded, whilst blood lactate concentration and perceived exertion were recorded after each respective bout. Batsmen covered the greatest distance (1147 ± 175 m) and demonstrated the greatest mean movement speed (63 ± 9 m · min−1) during each bout. The majority of time (65−86%) was spent with a heart rate of between 51−85% HRmax and a blood lactate concentration of 1.1−2.0 mmol · L−1. Rating of perceived exertion ranged between 4.2−6.0. Movement demands and physiological responses did not differ between standardised sessions within respective playing positions (P > 0.05). The reliability for the majority of movement demands and physiological responses were moderate to high (CV: 5−17%; ICC: 0.48−1.00) within all playing positions. These results suggest that the physiological responses and movement characteristics of generic small-sided cricket games were consistent between sessions within respective playing positions.


A planning application was submitted to Pendle Borough Council by Persimmon Homes Ltd, for the development of 30 dwellings, including the refurbishment of two existing buildings and the creation of an appropriate infrastructure and landscaping at Edge End Farm, Nelson, Lancashire. Conditional permission was granted with a requirement for an archaeological investigation to be carried out in the form of archaeological building recording of the earlier of the two buildings. Lancashire County Archaeology Service (LCAS) issued a specification for the building recording in order to allow the client to meet the terms of the condition. OA North was commissioned by Persimmon Homes Ltd to undertake the building investigation in December 2005.
The map regression analysis and building investigation at Edge End Farm has revealed that the house in question was probably constructed in the mid-late nineteenth century. A structure first appears in this position on the 1893 OS map,
which would concur with the general architectural and constructional details of the building. It is apparent that other surrounding buildings have been demolished and the
farmhouse now stands alone and isolated. The building has suffered over recent years and has been stripped of most internal fabric, which forced limited analysis of the
original form.


The small RNA ReaL of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been characterized. Our results indicate that ReaL contributes to P. aeruginosa virulence. In the Galleria mellonella infection model, reaL gene deletion resulted in decreased virulence, while ReaL overexpression resulted in a hyper-virulent phenotype. We also demonstrate that ReaL is embedded in the P. aeruginosa quorum sensing (QS) with the role of linking las to pqs systems. We show that ReaL is negatively regulated by the las regulator LasR and impacts positively the synthesis of the pqs quinolone signal PQS by a positive post-transcriptional effect on the pqsC gene. Perturbations of ReaL levels affect pyocyanin synthesis, biofilm formation and swarming motility, processes that are known to be influenced by PQS synthesis. In addition to being regulated by LasR, ReaL is also responding to infection relevant cues that P. aeruginosa can experience in mammalian hosts such as temperature and oxygen availability. Furthermore, ReaL shows a growth phase-dependent pattern of expression, being up-regulated in stationary phase, due to the activity of the alternative σ factor RpoS. Together, these regulations of ReaL expression are expected to contribute to the fine co-modulation of PQS synthesis and, ultimately, virulence.


Communication is vital for education, and investigations are to be made into various ways this is carried out in the context of a particular group of learners. A detailed literature review was carried out on various aspects of Cerebral Palsy, technologies, legislation, design and disability within education, identifying each of the difficulties experienced in the learning environment, such as using a standard mouse and keyboard. All media (sources of information) will be explored including journals, newspapers, text, and web sites. Ideas and methods were drawn from a review of concepts, technological improvements, and ICT equipment. However, as anticipated, the best and most reliable information came directly from the users.

Technology can aid communication and interaction with their peers. Research was undertaken into methods of communicating in various schools. Can technology be adapted to enable the disabled child to fit in with their classmates without seeming different? Attention was drawn to the fact that no two young people are identical, each has their individual needs. This does not necessary mean technology has to be different, everyone could benefit.

A small selection of technological devices was purchased, including speech recognition software, head mice and word predictors. This was in order to learn how to use them and identify their strengths and weaknesses. A small group of young people, both disabled and non-disabled tried a set of experimental trials designed specifically for this study. The results were automatically saved onto a database and analysed at a later date. Once analysed, the results were illustrated as graphical representations to investigate further developments into this project.

This research attempts to ease the issues of communication, enabling young people with disabilities the opportunity to communicate and interact at the same level as their peers, providing independence, without extra assistance from a support worker or LSA. The research is part of an MPhil dissertation and the current findings determine which device was most successful. The findings point towards first hand knowledge from users themselves to discover whether the devices purchased were effective in a way whereby, with improvements they could replace a standard mouse and keyboard.


Angiogenesis plays important roles in tumor growth and cancer cell dissemination in almost all cancers. In prostate cancer, there is general agreement that increased angiogenesis is an important factor in determining tumor development and prognosis in these patients. Microvessel density is recognized as a useful marker for evaluating the angiogenic status of cancer tissues. Many investigators have reported that microvessel density is significantly associated with pathological features and outcomes in prostate cancer patients; however, some researchers have expressed opposing opinions. As the reason for such discrepancy, previous reports have suggested differences in the methodologies of measuring microvessel density in cancer tissues. In the present review, we focus on the variation in such methods, including the selected area and the method used for (semi)quantification. In particular, we discuss the relationship between malignancy potential, tumor progression, and survival and differences in the antibodies used for detection of endothelial cells in detail. We briefly compare the pathological significance and prognostic roles of microvessel density measured using von Willebrand factor, CD31, CD34, and CD105. Based on these analyses, the advantages and limitations of microvessel density measurements in prostate cancer tissues are clarified. Improved "real" and "specific" markers of cancer‐related angiogenesis are necessary for better predictions of prognoses and for discussion of treatment strategies for patients with prostate cancer. However, establishment of a satisfactory cancer‐related endothelial marker could take a long time. Therefore, knowledge regarding the pathological significance of microvessel density – based on understanding of the advantages and limitations of microvessel density determination methods – is important.


The importance of safeguarding children from violence is internationally recognised. However, detecting, intervening and protecting children from abuse both within the family and in institutions is complex. This paper specifically focuses on safeguarding in England and how workforce reform in the early years offers the opportunity to forge new partnerships with families and professionals. These relationships have the potential to support more positive outcomes for babies, young children and families who are 'in need' or where the children are at risk of significant harm or abuse has occurred. The paper draws on the findings from research exploring the impact of workforce reform in the early years and how the changes impact upon the wider safeguarding agenda. It will argue that the introduction of an inter-disciplinary graduate professional in the early years has afforded an opportunity to forge new partnerships that have the potential to significantly impact on child maltreatment.


This thesis concentrates on the 1860s migration and settlement experience of the first German settlers of Gramzow on Queensland's Logan River. It also describes the internal migration of some among them to the North Arm of the Maroochy River in the early 1880s. The latter journey was undertaken in the company of other Germans from the Logan River district and formed part of a pattern of cluster and chain migration to the North Coast. The first chapter in this thesis discusses the early German settlers' decision to migrate from their homelands, and their economic and societal reasons for migration. The role played by Johann Christian Heussler in the Germans' choice of Queensland as a destination, and his contributions to the economic development of Queensland through his position as Emigration Agent to the German States, are reviewed. This thesis also attempts to bring balance to the reputation of Godeffroy and Son, the Hamburg shipping line engaged by Heussler, which brought most of the German settlers to Queensland in the 1860s. The company's visible commercial strengths such as their size and experience in the Pacific, and their private, internal weaknesses such as failure to adopt new technologies, are examined. Conditions on the Godeffroy vessels are compared with the conditions on ships sailing from Hamburg to America. This approach avoids the usual comparison of German with British sailing ships coming into Moreton Bay. Britain's exemplary standards for passenger health were beyond the reach of emigrant fleets who operated under Hamburg's older regulations. The research concludes that, in the early 1860s, conditions on the Godeffroy ships for Queensland were superior to Hamburg ships for New York. Furthermore, this thesis describes the 1868 German settlement of Gramzow on the Logan River and compares it to Bethania. The significance of Queensland's 1868 lands legislation to the German settlers is explored. It is suggested that the 1868 Crown Lands Alienation Act is connected to the U.S. Homestead Act, 1862, and a comparison is drawn between the Australian, American and Canadian lands settlement legislation. This comparison enables the further suggestion that homestead selectors of the Logan were part of an international group of homesteaders whose occupational identity was tied to opening the land to agricultural smallholding at little cost through many similar or identical legislative rules that predominantly impacted their economic standing positively. How land orders enabled Logan settlers to increase their land holdings is discussed, as are the negative aspects of the lands legislation such as the upper 160 acre limit on land holding. The migration of early German settlers of the Logan district north to Maroochy occurred under Queensland's 1876 lands legislation. This thesis examines the settlement of Germans on the Canando Run along the North Arm of the Maroochy River in the early 1880s, and describes their settlement conditions. Their motives for moving are examined, how the discovery of gold at Gympie affected them is explored, and the establishment of three German businesses at Maroochy is described. A chart comparing the settlers' land holdings on the Logan with those at Maroochy illustrates that by moving north, some settlers were able to increase their land holdings threefold. The disappearance of Deutschtum ('German culture') after the turn of the century is examined in the final chapter. This thesis asks whether it is appropriate to continue to use the term 'assimilation' when speaking of Queensland's German settler community before and during the First World War. The term appears to draw a veil over the political and economic subjugation of the community during this period. The thesis proposes that it was easier to survive the difficulties of war in rural rather than in urban communities. Although the historiography of the German settlers of Queensland supports an academic conversation on topics such as German emigration, land acquisition and settlement, this thesis focuses on issues outside the boundaries of the current academic thrust. These issues include the settlement of Gramzow in 1868, the homestead provisions in the 1868 Crown Lands Alienation Act and their origins in lands legislation in America, the services provided through Johann Christian Heussler by the German emigrant shipping line 'Godeffroy and Son,' the settlement of the North Arm of the Maroochy River by Logan Germans in the early 1880s, and a rejection of the term 'assimilation' to describe the eradication of German culture in Queensland after 1914. The leitmotif of this thesis is cultural identity and it explores change in German settlers through various aspects of their identity such as their psychological identity, diasporic experiences, language, and legal and political identity after taking citizenship.


We construct the conditional versions of a multidimensional random walk given that it does not leave the Weyl chambers of type C and of type D, respectively, in terms of a Doob $h$-transform. Furthermore, we prove functional limit theorems for the rescaled random walks. This is an extension of recent work by Eichelsbacher and Koenig who studied the analogous conditioning for the Weyl chamber of type A. Our proof follows recent work by Denisov and Wachtel who used martingale properties and a strong approximation of random walks by Brownian motion. Therefore, we are able to keep minimal moment assumptions. Finally, we present an alternate function that is amenable to an $h$-transform in the Weyl chamber of type C.


This research is themed around development of tools for discrete analysis of stochastic processes subject to limited or missing data; more specifically, estimation of stochastic process power spectra from which new process time-histories may be simulated. In this context, the author proposes three novel approaches to power spectrum estimation subject to missing data which comprise the main body of this work. Of particular importance is the fact that all three approaches are adaptable for use in both stationary and evolutionary power spectrum estimation. Numerous arrangements of missing data are tested to simulate a range of possible scenarios to demonstrate the versatility of the proposed methodologies. The first of the three approaches uses an artificial neural network (ANN) based model for stochastic process power spectrum estimation subject to limited / missing data. In this regard, an appropriately defined ANN is utilized to capture the stochastic pattern in the available data in an "average sense". Next, the extrapolation capabilities of the ANN are exploited for generating realizations of the underlying stochastic process. Finally, power spectrum estimates are derived based on established frequency (e.g. Fourier analysis), or versatile joint time-frequency analysis techniques (e.g. harmonic wavelets) for the cases of stationary and non-stationary stochastic processes, respectively. One of the significant advantages of the approach relates to the fact that no a priori knowledge about the data is assumed. The second approach uses compressive sensing (CS) to solve the same problem. In this setting, further assumptions are imposed on the nature of the underlying process of interest than in the ANN case, in particular that of sparsity in the frequency domain. The advantages being that when compared to ANN, significant improvements in efficiency and accuracy are achieved with increased reliability for larger amounts of missing data. Specifically, first an appropriate basis is selected for expanding the signal recorded in the time domain. As with the ANN approach, Fourier and harmonic wavelet bases are utilized. Next, an L1 norm minimization procedure is performed for obtaining the sparsest representation of the signal in the selected basis. Further, an adaptive basis procedure is introduced that significantly improves results when working with stochastic process record ensembles. The final approach is somewhat different, in that it aims to quantify uncertainty in power spectrum estimation subject to missing data rather than provide deterministic predictions. By relying on relatively relaxed assumptions for the missing data, utilizing fundamental concepts from probability theory, and resorting to Fourier and harmonic wavelets based representations of stationary and non-stationary stochastic processes, respectively, a closed-form expression is derived for the probability density function (PDF) of the power spectrum value corresponding to a specific frequency. Numerical examples demonstrate the large extent to which any given single estimate using deterministic methods, even for small amounts of missing data, may be unrepresentative of the target spectrum. In this regard, this probabilistic approach can be potentially used to bound deterministic estimates, providing specific validation criteria for missing data reconstruction.