Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between air pollution and respiratory symptoms in young children. A total of 263 children at high risk of developing asthma or atopy were recruited antenatally and all respiratory symptoms experienced by the children were recorded by their parents for five years. Daily pollutant concentrations and meteorological data (ambient temperature and humidity) were collected from network monitoring sites. Logistic regression models investigating relationships between individual air pollutants and respiratory symptoms showed significant associations between Ozone (O3) (1 h and 8 h) concentrations and raised body temperature (lag 0); Carbon monoxide (CO) (8 h) and wheeze/rattle and runny/blocked nose (lag 5 and additive exposure over 5 days); Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) (24 h) concentrations and cough (lag 0 and additive exposure over 5 days) and PM2.5 and visibility (BSP) (1 h) with cough (lag 0). These associations were observed even though air pollutant concentrations were below national standards throughout the study period.


This thesis contains three essays in Microeconomic Theory.
Chapter 1 studies the incentives of a seller to voluntarily disclose or sell information about a buyer to a third party. While there are obvious benefits to sharing information with other sellers, there is also an incentive cost which is due to her learning about the buyer through her own trade with him. To study this trade-off we analyse a model in which a buyer interacts sequentially with two sellers, each of whom makes a take-it-or-leave-it offer.
The buyer learns his valuation for the good of each seller sequentially but these might be correlated. We model information disclosure using Bayesian persuasion. Chapter 2 provides various extensions of the model presented in Chapter 1.
Chapter 3 provides empirical evidences that demonstrate that the investors of a fund update their opinion on the fund manager's ability faster during bear markets. We build a theoretical model to demonstrate a channel which would result on this empirical observation. We consider a continuum of potential investors who allocate funds in two consecutive periods between a manager and a market index. The manager's alpha, defined as her ability to generate idiosyncratic returns, is her private information and it is either high or low. In each period, the manager receives a private signal on the potential performance of her alpha, and she also obtains some public news on the market's condition.
In Chapter 4 we demonstrate that the relative job security that CEOs enjoy can be partly attributed to the high sophistication of the managerial labour market. To do this we build a theoretical model in which a representative investor proposes a contract to a manager, which also specifies the conditions of his termination. Production is a function of the manager's effort and ability, both of which are his private information. The former is a choice variable, whereas the latter follows a Geometric Brownian motion. The manager's post-termination payoff is generated by an exogenous managerial labour market, and it is equal to his expected ability. The market learns his ability with some given probability, which we interpret as its sophistication. Otherwise, it forms its posterior based on his termination time.


Progranulin (GRN) gene mutations are a major cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Most mutations identified to date are null mutations, which are predicted to cause the pathology via haploinsufficiency. Decreased peripheral progranulin protein (PGRN) levels are associated with the presence of GRN null mutations and are accepted as reliable biomarkers. In this study, our aim was to test whether the presence of specific GRN splice site mutations (c.- 8+2T>G and c.708+6_9del), could be predicted by peripheral mRNA or protein GRN levels, by studying affected and asymptomatic individuals from FTD families. We also tested four missense GRN variants to assess if altered GRN levels depended on the type of mutation.Our results confirmed a reduction in both mRNA and protein PGRN levels in the splice site mutation carriers, which is consistent with previous reports for null mutations. Our results also suggested that both decreased peripheral GRN mRNA and serum PGRN levels indicate the presence of pathogenic mutations in affected individuals, and identify the asymptomatic individuals at risk, without previous knowledge of genetic status. Both inferences suggest a potential use of peripheral GRN mRNA or serum PGRN levels as biomarkers for families with FTD.


Optical Characterization of Complex Aerosol and Cloud Particles: Remote Sensing and Climatological Implications Li Liu Optical characterization of aerosol and cloud particles has been a challenge to researchers involved in a wide range of disciplines including remote sensing and climate studies. This thesis addresses several important atmospheric radiation problems involving cloud and aerosol particles with complex structure. We solve these problems by (i) extensively using state-of-the-art theoretical techniques to compute radiative properties of nonspherical and composite atmospheric particulates; (ii) combining theoretical and highquality laboratory data for single scattering by irregular dust-like aerosols; (iii) applying advanced retrieval algorithms to analyze satellite observations of tropospheric aerosols; and (iv) validating satellite retrievals with high-quality ground-based data. In Chapter 1, the superposition T-matrix method is used to compute electromagnetic scattering by semi-external aerosol mixtures in the form of polydisperse, randomly oriented two-particle clusters with touching components. The results are compared with those for composition-equivalent external aerosol mixtures. It is concluded that aggregation had a relatively weak effect on radiative properties of composite aerosols. In Chapter 2, scattering and absorption characteristics of water cloud droplets containing black carbon (BC) inclusions are calculated in the visible spectral range by a combination of ray-tracing and Monte Carlo techniques. In addition, Lorenz-Mie calculations are performed assuming that the same amount of BC particles are mixed with water droplets externally. It is concluded that under normal conditions the effect of BC inclusions on the radiative properties of cloud droplets is weak. In Chapters 3 and 4, we compare and combine the results of laboratory measurements of the Stokes scattering matrix for nonspherical quartz aerosols at a visible wavelength in the scattering angle range 5°–173° and the results of Lorenz-Mie computations for projected-area-equivalent spheres with the refractive index of quartz. A synthetic normalized phase function is constructed and then used to analyze the potential effect of particle nonsphericity on the results of retrievals of mineral tropospheric aerosols based on radiance observations from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). Chapter 5 presents the validation results of the aerosol optical thickness retrieved from AVHRR channel 1 and 2 radiances. The satellite retrieved optical thickness is compared with the accumulated historical ship-borne sun-photometer measurements. Comparisons of single-scattering albedo and Angstrom exponent values retrieved from the AVHRR data and those measured in situ at Sable Island indicate that the currently adopted value 0.003 can be a reasonable choice for the imaginary part of the aerosol refractive index in global satellite retrievals. In chapter 6, we analyze existing lidar observations of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) and derive several constraints on PSC particle miscrophysical properties based on extensive T-matrix computations of light scattering by polydispersions of randomly oriented, rotationally symmetric nonspherical particles.


The present study was performed to evaluate the predictive capacity of the 8th edition vs. the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system for overall survival (OS) of patients with gastric cancer. Data of eligible patients with gastric cancer in our institution between June 2004 and June 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 1,506 patients were followed up to July 2016, among whom 1,484 patients with complete stage information were included in the TNM staging analysis. A total of 339 (22.8%) patients presented stage migration, including 325 (21.9%) migrating to a lower tier and 14 (0.9%) to a higher tier. All patients with stage migration to a lower tier were in stage III, including 177 (54.5%) patients migrating from stage IIIB to IIIA, and 148 (45.5%) from stage IIIC to IIIB. Patients migrating from IIIB to IIIA yielded a median OS time and 5-year OS rate closer to those remaining in stage IIIA. Similarly, patients migrating from IIIC to IIIB yielded a median OS time and 5-year OS rate closer to those remaining in stage IIIB. The 7th edition of the staging system exhibited prognostic discrepancy in discriminating stage IIIA from IIIB on survival curves, which was improved in the 8th edition. The 8th edition had a better predictive capability of survival, as evidenced by a smaller value of -2log likelihood in the Cox proportional regression model (7th edition 4738.859 vs. 8th edition 4736.683). Therefore, the present study demonstrated that the 8th edition of the AJCC TNM staging system is superior to the 7th edition in predicting the OS of patients with gastric cancer.


Telomere maintenance is one of the mechanisms ensuring indefinite divisions of cancer and stem cells. Good understanding of telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMM) is important for studying cancers and designing therapies. However, molecular factors triggering selective activation of either the telomerase dependent (TEL) or the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway are poorly understood. In addition, more accurate and easy-to-use methodologies are required for TMM phenotyping. In this study, we have performed literature based reconstruction of signaling pathways for the ALT and TEL TMMs. Gene expression data were used for computational assessment of TMM pathway activities and compared with experimental assays for TEL and ALT. Explicit consideration of pathway topology makes bioinformatics analysis more informative compared to computational methods based on simple summary measures of gene expression. Application to healthy human tissues showed high ALT and TEL pathway activities in testis, and identified genes and pathways that may trigger TMM activation. Our approach offers a novel option for systematic investigation of TMM activation patterns across cancers and healthy tissues for dissecting pathway-based molecular markers with diagnostic impact.


The E-learning is a new technology in educational field in which transmitting and sharing the information is done by computers and computer nets, and some advantageous of applying such technology is: a more interaction between the student and teacher, consistency in teaching process, high rate of transmitting the information, augment of capabilities, and increasing the potential abilities of the students. A smart school is a physical school whose management and control is based on the technology and computer webs, and the content of most courses is electronic. Designing a smart school is to create such an environment of teaching and learning, and improving the system of education management of the school. Regarding the increasing importance of electronic teaching and learning, the educational system should be along with the changes of modern society, too. One of the functions in educational system, is improving the application of modern technologies of information and connections in educational systems, and consequently setting up and improving smart schools. The general aim, in this article, is a review on the way of learning by students in smart schools that analyzes electronic learning, its feedbacks, and outputs, in the idea of students.


Two methods for determining the forms of ammonia nitrogen in water are described. A univalent cation electrode can be used to detect ionized ammonium if potassium and sodium concentrations of the solution are constant. AtpH values less than 7.5 this will correspond to the total ammonia concentration in a water sample. Another approach is to employ a membrane electrode, which is sensitive to unionized ammonia and subject to fewer interferences. It involves an alkalization of a sample to pH 12 and subsequent measurement of liberated unionized ammonia (total ammonia). A direct measurement of free ammonia can be made without alkalization. Suitability of both methods for determination of high ammonia concentrations (above 0.2 to 0.5 mg/liter N) in water samples, mainly fish tanks, is discussed. There is no upper limit of detection, and samples therefore do not require any dilution.


Orange jasmine, Murraya paniculata (Rutaceae), is a plant from India widely used in folk medicine as antinociceptive, antiinflammatory, and antioxidant. Although oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin are the mainstays of treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM), there is a significant demand for new natural products to reduce the development of diabetic complications. Alloxan‐induced diabetic rats were treated for 60 days with a hydroalcoholic extract of M. paniculata (MPE), at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg. MPE decreased glycemia and also cholesterol and triglyceride levels, starting 1 week after treatments, as compared with the same group before treatments. Glucose values were reduced toward normality after 1 week of treatment. MPE hypoglycemic effects were potentiated by glibenclamide and metformin. MPE also decreased fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin values. MPE reduced diabetes‐induced morphological alterations of the kidney, pancreas, and liver. MPE acts similarly to glibenclamide and metformin, and its glucose‐lowering action is partly a consequence of ATP‐sensitive K+ channel inhibition. MPE may be a potential therapeutic alternative for the treatment of diabetes and its complications. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Serum amyloid A (SAA) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels were compared in 830 serum samples from 155 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Correlation coefficients were calculated for all samples (r=0.73), for samples from non‐corticosteroid treated (CFNS) patients (n=698, r=0.80), and for samples from corticosteroid treated (CFS) patients (n=132, r=0.35). SAA was the more sensitive indicator of pulmonary inflammation when SAA and CRP were compared to pulmonary function tests of 49 hospitalized patients at admission and discharge. CRP levels were significantly (p<.05) lower at admission in CFS patients than in CFNS patients, whereas SAA levels were not significantly different between the two groups. All nine CFS patients hospitalized had elevated SAA levels (average 22 times above normal limits) at admission, while only six had elevated CRP levels (average 3.7 times above normal limits) at admission. In the 40 CFNS patients both SAA and CRP levels were significantly elevated at admission. In each case SAA and CRP levels declined as pulmonary functions improved with effective antimicrobial therapy. In three instances SAA levels increased during hospitalization while CRP levels did not. In each case, rising SAA levels indicated clinical deterioration associated with evolving resistance of P. aeruginosa which required a change in antibiotic therapy. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


A high thermally conductive underfill material is key for the efficient removal of heat generated by a 3-dimensional chip stack. Improved thermal properties are achieved by creating a percolating microparticle network within the composite underfill material. In this work, the directed assembly of nanoparticle necks formed by capillary bridging is investigated in order to improve the thermal transport in microparticle to microparticle contacts. The morphology of the formed necks using different alumina nanoparticle sizes and distributions, as well as a sol-gel binding system are characterized. High density and defect free nanoparticle necks were formed by using a mixture of small (28 - 43 nm) and large (200 - 300 nm) nanoparticles. The formation of such necks in the percolating alumina microparticle network increased the thermal conductivity of the underfill material from 1 W/mK without necks to 2.4 W/mK, a 2.4 × improvement in thermal conductivity.


A technique for automatically adding hardware for testability is proposed. The technique is closely integrated with a symbolic test method which can deal with realistic data paths. The symbolic test technique is based on novel controllability and observability descriptions. These descriptions are also used for the testability analysis. In case of testability problems, various ways to add hardware are considered and an algorithm which finds the optimal set of hardware solutions is given.<<ETX>>


INTRODUCTION
This study analyzed the occurrence and the contamination of triatomines by trypanosomatids in Orbignya speciosa (babassu) specimens in the State of Rondônia, Brazil, in two different environments (pasture and woods).

METHODS
Capture of triatomines on babassus and microscopic search for trypanosomatids in their digestive tube were carried out.

RESULTS
Four hundred ninety-four (494) specimens were captured (Rhodnius prolixus and R.robustus), of which 35.6% of the triatomines were positive for trypanosomatids.

CONCLUSIONS
The high index of natural infection along with the abundance of triatomines points out to the necessity to create an epidemiological surveillance system to monitor vector-borne transmission and deepen the studies on the ecology of such vectors in the Amazon.


With the breakdown of relations between Washington and Havana after the Cuban revolution in 1959, officials in Ottawa found themselves in an unenviable position. Increasingly, Canadian diplomats and politicians felt caught between, on one side, their most important ally and trading partner, and, on the other, a country that had not caused harm to Canada in any significant way. Alarmed by this state of affairs, Canadian officials on several occasions considered mediating the dispute between Cuba and the United States. Ultimately, however, policymakers in Ottawa stopped short of taking this step, largely because they recognized that their U.S. allies disapproved of mediation. Many historians, in playing up the differences between Canadian and U.S. foreign policies toward Cuba, have ignored Canada's caution in choosing an independent stance. This article shows that in dealings over Cuba, Canadian officials were mindful both of Canada's limited capabilities and of its position as a close ally of the United States.


Background and objective Personal smoking is widely regarded to be the primary cause of chronic bronchitis (CB) in adults, but with limited knowledge of contributions by other factors, including current asthma. We aimed to estimate the independent and relative contributions to adult CB from other potential influences spanning childhood to middle age. Methods The population-based Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study cohort, people born in 1961, completed respiratory questionnaires and spirometry in 1968 (n=8,583). Thirty-seven years later, in 2004, two-thirds responded to a detailed postal survey (n=5,729), from which the presence of CB was established in middle age. A subsample (n=1,389) underwent postbronchodilator spirometry between 2006 and 2008 for the assessment of chronic airflow limitation, from which nonobstructive and obstructive CB were defined. Multivariable and multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate relevant associations. Results The prevalence of CB in middle age was 6.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.5, 6.8). Current asthma and/or wheezy breathing in middle age was independently associated with adult CB (odds ratio [OR]: 6.2 [95% CI: 4.6, 8.4]), and this estimate was significantly higher than for current smokers of at least 20 pack-years (OR: 3.0 [95% CI: 2.1, 4.3]). Current asthma and smoking in middle age were similarly associated with obstructive CB, in contrast to the association between allergy and nonobstructive CB. Childhood predictors included allergic history (OR: 1.3 [95% CI: 1.1, 1.7]), current asthma (OR: 1.8 [95% CI: 1.3, 2.7]), "episodic" childhood asthma (OR: 2.3 [95% CI: 1.4, 3.9]), and parental bronchitis symptoms (OR: 2.5 [95% CI: 1.6, 4.1]). Conclusion The strong independent association between current asthma and CB in middle age suggests that this condition may be even more influential than personal smoking in a general population. The independent associations of childhood allergy and asthma, though not childhood bronchitis, as clinical predictors of adult CB raise the possibility of some of this burden having originated in childhood.


There is a long-held but inaccurate belief that new teachers' expertise and talent is mostly innate and that it peaks and plateaus within their first few years of teaching. William Slotnik and Bryan Goodwin explain that school systems need to abandon this conventional wisdom and instead build true talent development systems that support the careerlong development of teachers' professional practices. The path forward requires school districts to understand how people develop expertise and create ways for teachers to develop their talent at all stages in the process.


The new-generation standards of Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS) take the measurement and verification of manufactured parts according to the duality principle. The Specification Surface Model (SSM) is a simulation model of the actual manufactured part which plays a decisive role in the process of duality verification. The existing methods, however, have not been found to carry out much related research on the generation of SSM. This paper presents a method to generate the SSM for the characteristic of planar feature with flatness under the standards of GPS. The mathematical model of the flatness tolerance is firstly established. Secondly, in order to get the simulation points to simulate the actual characteristics of the manufactured parts, both of the functional requirements of the parts and the influences of the manufacturing process are considered. And then the simulation points under the normal distribution are generated within their tolerance zone by computer. By using the approximation method of the least-squares SSM is then obtained. Finally, an example is used to illustrate the proposed method.


Macro- and meso-tidal beaches are ubiquitous global coastal features about which comparatively little is known compared to their micro-tidal counterparts. A review of the literature reveals a considerable range in macro-tidal beach morphology and dynamics but with little perceived order in the range. This review together with recent morphological data from macrotidal beaches on the central Queensland coast are combined to provide an overview, and to identify three types of macro-tidal beaches. Two are true beaches. Higher waves, and particularly swell produces moderate gradient (1-3°), concave, planar beaches dominated by incident, though infragravity wave energy. Moderate waves and sea conditions tend to produce lower gradient (0.5°), multi-bar (ridge and runnel) topography also attributable to infragavity standing waves. As wave energy drops still further a third type results with a high tide beach fronting tide-dominated tidal flats. This latter is not a true beach but rather a transition from beach to tidal flat.


Objectives: This paper proposes the new idea of intrusion detection system to improve the security in mobile adhoc networks. Methods/Analysis: Intrusion is defined as form of undesirable hobby occurred in community that's affecting the integrity and confidentiality of community. The present intrusion detection method superior Adaptive Acknowledgement Scheme (EAACK) takes longer time for encrypting facts and signature length is also large which creates network overhead. Findings: In proposed technique intrusion detection method is carried out via the use of superior Encryption preferred (AES) and routing via on demand Distance Vector (AODV) protocol. The proposed technique continues security alongside development in performance of MANET like PDR and end to stop delay. The proposed method calls for less time for encrypt and decrypt the records so it overcomes the hassle of EAACK. Novelty/Improvement: The overarching interruption discovery method EAACK builds overhead inside of the group, so in future depictions will attempt to lessen the group overhead. Experimenting with the execution of proposed artistic creations in genuine group environment as opposed to programming recreation.


Titanium alloys are widely used in aerospace industry due to their excellent mechanical properties. Because of their low thermal conductivity, high chemical activity, large friction coefficient and so on, such problems occur during the cutting process as high cutting temperature, large specific cutting force and serious tool wear, leading to low machining efficiency. The cutting force, forms of tool wear; wear mechanics were experimentally studied and analyzed while machining titanium alloy TC4 using carbide tools YS8 and YG8. The experimental results indicated that the tool wear of YG8 influenced cutting force not very remarkable when flank wear smaller than 0.25mm. But when the flank wear was bigger than 0.25mm, the cutting force increased rapidly with the flank wear increased. And the tool wear influenced the cutting force dramatically. The forms of tool wear during machining TC4 using carbide tool were adhesion wear, tool chipping and. The desquamation and chipping of tool caused by adhesion wear were the main reason of the tool failure.


When the density current smashes into the lower dense fluid mass a plunge region will occur. Since the plunge depth bounds between density current and ambient fluid, determining of this point is important. In this research, the hydraulic parameters of density current and bed slope of stagnant fluid were investigated. To achieve the purpose of this research a physical model was built in the hydraulic laboratory of Shahid Chamran University (SCU) and various experiments were performed. In the experiments, the plunge depth at the different discharge of density current and density difference 6, 9, 13 and 16 kg/m 3 at three slopes 8, 12 and 16% was measured. Then using Flow-3D under RNG turbulence model, plunge depth was simulated for the same experimental condition. The comparison of results obtained showed that the predicted plunge depth with Flow- 3D under RNG turbulence model had a high and satisfactory accuracy. Finding showed that for the 8% bed slope, the results of RNG turbulence model 14% was more than experimental data. While, for the entire slope, the results of RNG turbulence model was predicted 10.5% in average more than measured data. Generally, the statistical investigations showed that the RNG turbulence model with satisfactory precision estimated the plunge point depth.


The literature on women of color (WOC) faculty is replete with accounts of marginalization (Balderrama, Texeira, & Valdez, 2006; Benjamin, 1997; Garcia, 2005; John, 1997; Li & Beckett, 2006; McKay, 1997; Reyes, 2005). For instance, Balderrama et al. (2006) explains, "I come from a family of survivors, but I never realized it would come to that in academia …Little did I know I was entering one of the bastions of conservative ideology and practices – a far cry from a meritocracy working for the public good" (Balderrama et al., 2006, p. 224). Concomitantly, the higher education literature extols the presence of race and gender diversity because they are associated with elevated learning outcomes and intercultural engagement (Chang, 2002; Gurin, 1999; Milem & Hakuta, 2002). Therein lies the quandary. Given the importance of illuminating the challenges that WOC face within the academy, how then can that discourse be broadened to include empirical and theoretical claims about the relationship between WOC agency and structural transformation? In other words, how can WOC move beyond or within structural constraints to contribute to the teaching and learning environment? Equally important, how does the presence of WOC encourage a diversity conversation beyond student learning outcomes to one that emphasizes social equity? This chapter intends to participate in these emergent conversations in two ways. First, drawing from an empirical study of Black female faculty, I discuss how the participants contributed to their institutions and how those contributions embody and expand on the following diversity narratives: structural access and climate, learning outcomes, intercultural competencies, and meritocracy. Second, I theoretically expound upon the Black female faculty findings to discuss implications for similarly situated WOC. In all, this chapter demonstrates that difference – a woman of color difference – dislodges reactionary strongholds within the academic enterprise.


We formulate a general Association rule mining model for extracting useful information from very large databases. An interactive Association rule mining system is designed using a combination of genetic algorithms and a modified a-priori based algorithm. The association rule mining problem is modeled as a multi-objective combinatorial problem which is solved using genetic algorithms. The combination of genetic algorithms with a-priori query optimization make association rule mining yield fast results. In this paper we use the same combination to extend it to a much more general context allowing efficient mining of very large databases for many different kinds of patterns. Given a large database of transactions, where each transaction consists of a set of items, and a taxonomy (is-a hierarchy) on the items, we find associations between items at any level of the taxonomy. We show how the idea can be used either in a general purpose mining system or in a next generation of conventional query optimizers.


ZiYuan-3 (ZY-3), launched in January 09, 2012, is China's first civilian high-resolution stereo mapping satellite. ZY-3 is equipped with three-line scanners (nadir, backward and forward) for stereo mapping, the resolutions of the panchromatic (PAN) stereo mapping images are 2.1-m at nadir looking and 3.6-m at tilt angles of ±22° forward and backward looking, respectively. The stereo base-height ratio is 0.85-0.95. Compared with stereo mapping from two views images, three-line arrays images of ZY-3 can be used for DSM generation taking advantage of one more view than conventional photogrammetric methods. It would enrich the information for image matching and enhance the accuracy of DSM generated. The primary result of positioning accuracy of ZY-3 images has been reported, while before the massive mapping applications of utilizing ZY-3 images for DSM generation, the performance evaluation of DSM extraction from three-line arrays imagery of ZY-3 has significant meaning for the routine mapping applications. The goal of this research is to clarify the mapping performance of ZY-3 three-line arrays scanners on china's first civilian high-resolution stereo mapping satellite of ZY-3 through the accuracy evaluation of DSM generation. The comparison of DSM product in different topographic areas generated with three views images with different two views combination images of ZY-3 would be presented. Besides the comparison within different topographic study area, the accuracy deviation of the DSM products with different grid size including 25-m, 10-m and 5-m is delineated in order to clarify the impact of grid size on accuracy evaluation.


Abstract : Mine Impact Burial Experiment (MIBEX) was conducted at Monterey Bay on May 23, 2000 using a simulated mine. During the experiment, we carefully observe mine track and mine burial depth while simultaneously take gravity cores. After analyzing the gravity cores, we obtain the bottom sediment shear strength data set. Such synchronous mine burial depth and shear strength data were used to evaluate the Navy's Impact Burial Prediction Model (IBPM) which creates a two-dimensional time history of a bottom mine as it falls through air, water, and sediment. The output of the model is the predicted burial depth of the mine in the sediment in meters, as well as height, area, and volume protruding. Model input consists of environmental parameters and mine characteristics, as well as parameters describing the mine's release. The MIBEX data show that the current IBPM model needs to be improved.


Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an immune-mediated disorder characterized by abnormal fibrosis and diffuse microangiopathy with skin and internal organ involvement due to both T- and B-lymphocyte activation. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of long-term treatment with rituximab (RTX), a chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets B-cell CD20. The rationale for the use of RTX in SSc is based on experimental data suggesting a key role for B cells in regulating the fibrotic process. Objectives The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of long-term treatment with rituximab (RTX) in systemic sclerosis patients. Methods Eleven SSc patients (M/F 3/8, mean age 43.2±10.5SD years, mean disease duration 3.6±6.2SD years) underwent to RTX cycle (weekly infusion of RTX 375 mg/m2 of body surface plus 100 mg methylprednisolone for 4 weeks); in 10/11 RTX was repeated every 6 months for a total of 2-6 cycles. Patients' clinical-serological evaluation, including HAQ assessment and visual analogical scale (VAS), was performed every six months. Results At the end of the follow-up period (3.7±2.8 SD years) an improvement of the skin sclerosis involvement was constantly observed; in particular, patients with diffuse SSc cutaneous variant showed a significant decrease of modified Rodnan skin score (from 25±4.1 to 17.2±4.1; p<0.004). Similarly, the articular involvement, melanodermia, and calcinosis ameliorated if compared to baseline; these positive clinical variations were mirrored by a subjective recovery of patients' well being in all cases (HAQ, VAS). No significant variations were observed with regards to other SSc clinical manifestations; in particular, lung involvement remained stable or showed a moderate progression at the last patients' evaluation. Finally, in no cases significant side effects were observed. Conclusions Our results indicate that treatment of SSc patients with RTX may be particularly effective for severe skin sclerosis, as suggested by other preliminary trials. The scarce efficacy of RTX on some disease manifestations may suggest the use of combined treatment, namely RTX with other antifibrotic/vasoactive drugs. Disclosure of Interest None declared


Green manufacturing is a key technology to realize eco-industry and sustainable development, it is causing people's great attention. The implementation of green manufacturing has produced revolutionary influence on the products of the manufacturing industry and manufacturing industry. Through analyzing and researching historical evolvement of product attribute, this thesis summarizes the evolving law of product attribute, and indicates developing trends of manufacturing industry green products.


The linear combination of atomic potentials (LCAP) approach is implemented in the AM1 semiempirical framework and is used to design molecular structures with optimized properties. The optimization procedure uses property derivative information to search molecular space and thus avoid direct enumeration and evaluation of each molecule in a library. Two tests are described: the optimization of first hyperpolarizabilities of substituted aromatics and the optimization of a figure of merit for n-type organic semiconductors.


This is a partial draft of a long-delayed project. I posted it because of continued interest in the draft, and still hope to complete it.The conventional contractarian explanation for why only common shareholders have voting rights is that they are the firm's principal residual claimants, and therefore have an incentive to maximize firm value. This explanation doesn't fit the facts. Other claimants, including employees, creditors, preferred shareholders, option holders, suppliers, customers, and the government (as tax collector), also generally gain when a firm does well and suffer when the firm does badly.I argue that instead of asking why only common shareholder vote, we should be asking why, in a world where common shareholders, employees, creditors, preferred shareholders, and others are all important residual claimants, are control rights (of which voting rights are only one flavor) divided as they are? To answer this question, we must explain both why common shareholders receive control rights and why other residual claimants often do not. Why don't employees, suppliers, customers, and the government receive formal control rights, unless they also own common shares? Why do preferred shareholders receive voting rights that are almost uselessly weak? Why do banks receive covenant-based contractual control rights, while trade creditors receive only nonpayment-based rights, even though trade creditors have lower-priority, hence less-fixed claims.This article seeks more to raise questions than to answer them, but I sketch some tentative answers. In my view, multiple factors affect which claimant classes have control rights, including: the transferability of a class's residual interests; the homogeneity of interests within a claimant class; bargaining costs if different claimants receive overlapping control rights; a claimant class's access to (and incentives to obtain) the information needed to use control rights effectively; whether two claimant classes have similar incentives, so that one can monitor on behalf of the other; and whether informal control rights can substitute for formal rights.


Many companies are now attempting to achieve triple bottom line performance on financial, environmental and societal metrics. Successful strategies for such performance, however, generally require new relationships among multiple players in multiple sectors across a company's supply chain for products and talent. The Balanced Scorecard (BSC), originally developed to describe and implement a single organization's strategy, needs to be adapted to reflect such multi-stakeholder strategies for triple bottom line performance. The Financial perspective is replaced by "Outcomes" to encompass financial, environmental, and metrics; Customer becomes "Stakeholders" to reflect the interests of the multiple participants in the ecosystem; and Learning & Growth becomes "Enablers" to include the new capabilities for collaboration and alignment. The paper motivates and illustrates the new framework with examples from innovative agribusiness ecosystems.


Abstract. In this present study the ability of the SimSphere Soil Vegetation Atmosphere Transfer (SVAT) model in estimating key parameters characterising land surface interactions was evaluated. Specifically, SimSphere's performance in predicting Net Radiation (Rnet), Latent Heat (LE), Sensible Heat (H) and Air Temperature (Tair) at 1.3 and 50 m was examined. Model simulations were validated by ground-based measurements of the corresponding parameters for a total of 70 days of the year 2011 from 7 CarboEurope network sites. These included a variety of biomes, environmental and climatic conditions in the models evaluation. Overall, model performance can largely be described as satisfactory for most of the experimental sites and evaluated parameters. For all model parameters compared, predicted H fluxes consistently obtained the highest agreement to the in-situ data in all ecosystems, with an average RMSD of 55.36 W m−2. LE fluxes and Rnet also agreed well with the in-situ data with RSMDs of 62.75 and 64.65 W m−2 respectively. A good agreement between modelled and measured LE and H fluxes was found, especially for smoothed daily flux trends. For both Tair 1.3 m and Tair 50 m a mean RMSD of 4.14 and 3.54 °C was reported respectively. This work presents the first all-inclusive evaluation of SimSphere, particularly so in a European setting. Results of this study contribute decisively towards obtaining a better understanding of the model's structure and its correspondence to the real world system. Findings also further establish the model's capability as a useful teaching and research tool in modelling Earth's land surface interactions. This is of considerable importance in the light of the rapidly expanding use of the model worldwide, including ongoing research by various Space Agencies examining its synergistic use with Earth Observation data towards the development of operational products at a global scale.


Stephen A. Ross had an uncanny talent for translating economic theory into intuitive and rigorous concepts that were useful to researchers and practitioners alike. His most famous accomplishment, the arbitrage pricing theory, has inspired the ongoing search for factors that explain security returns. His work on agency theory is applied to portfolio performance evaluation and compensation. This introduction summarizes the contributions in this issue primarily from his former students and colleagues, who reflect on what they learned from Steve, how he influenced their work, and how his ideas continue to be adapted and refined.


The volumetric shape of a human embryo and its development is hard to comprehend as they have been viewed as a 2D schemes in a textbook or microscopic sectional image. In this paper, a CAI and research support system for human embryology using multimedia presentation techniques is described. In this system, 3D data is acquired from a series of sliced specimens. Its 3D structure can be viewed interactively by rotating, extracting, and truncating its whole body or organ. Moreover, the development process of embryos can be animated using a morphing technique applied to the specimen in several stages. The system is intended to be used interactively, like a virtual reality system. Hence, the system is called Virtual Embryology.


Critical discourse in juvenile justice particularly where a child is in conflict with the law is only just beginning to find its voice in Malaysia. This is in part due to the interwoven elements of politics, penal policies and socio-cultural norms. Hence, although Malaysia has taken steps to comply with aspects of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), there are gaps in the expectations of the CRC and the actual working of the criminal justice system as far as the child in conflict with the law is concerned. This is not surprising considering the fact that while there are general expressions of the CRC, State parties have a level of discretion to decide on the exact nature and content of the measures for dealing with children in conflict with the law. Further given Malaysia's reservations to a number of the CRC Articles and given the punitive culture existent, the issue of a child rights-based approach to diversion that sets out to realise all children's rights relevant to diversion (as set out in the CRC and other instruments) merits analysis. Thus, this research involves a qualitative analysis of the state of the law and policies governing children in conflict with the law with a particular focus on the rights of the child as far as diversion within the juvenile justice framework in Malaysia is concerned. This research involves an empirical analysis of a range of international conventions, standards, treaties, rules and decided cases and contextualising these with conversations with principal stakeholders and boys in the Henry Gurney School, which, taken together, seeks to establish whether there is a basis for a rights-based argument for diversion in Malaysia.


Controlling gene expression by light with fine spatiotemporal resolution not only allows understanding and manipulating fundamental biological processes but also fuels the development of novel therapeutic strategies. In complement to exploiting optogenetic tools, photochemical strategies mostly rely on the incorporation of photo-responsive small molecules into the corresponding biomacromolecular scaffolds. Therefore, generally large synthetic effort is required and the switching of gene expression in both directions within a single system remains a challenge. Here, we report a trans encoded ribo-switch, which consists of an engineered tRNA mimicking structure (TMS), under control of small photo-switchable signalling molecules. The signalling molecules consist of two amino glycoside molecules that are connected via an azobenzene unit. The light responsiveness of our system originates from the photo-switchable noncovalent interactions between the signalling molecule and the TMS switch, leading to the demonstration of photochemically controlled expression of two different genes. We believe that this modular design will provide a powerful platform for controlling the expression of other functional proteins with high spatiotemporal resolution employing light as a stimulus.


Neoclassical models imply convergence of the entire distribution, not just the mean income levels. In this paper, we test for convergence in income inequality across countries. We compile extensive data on gini indices over a period of 25 years. Convergence in inequality is tested separately for developed and developing countries, using cross-section and panel data. We estimate a dynamic panel model using the GMM estimator and as well as an efficient OLS estimator for a smaller sample. Our results indicate that during 1980 and 2005 inequality converged across countries. The speed of convergence in gini indices is faster than the conventional 2% per year speed of convergence in per capita income. Developed countries appear to have converged faster than developing countries. The result of convergence in inequality is robust across different time horizons, data sources and estimation methods.


Previous studies have shown that blood levels of carbon monoxide increase during cigarette smoking. It has generally been assumed that increases in blood levels of carbon monoxide could be interpreted as evidence that deep lung penetration of cigarette smoke had occurred. This study was designed to examine whether increased blood levels of carbon monoxide could result from absorption in the nasal and oral cavities. The nasal and oral cavities of cynomolgus monkeys were exposed, independently of the lungs, to cigarette smoke under rigorous smoking conditions. Pre- and post-exposure blood levels of carbon monoxide were measured. As a positive control, similar volumes of cigarette smoke were passed directly into the lungs, thus bypassing the oral and nasal cavities, and blood levels of carbon monoxide were again measured. The results indicate that absorption of carbon monoxide in the oral and nasal cavities is negligible under the heavy smoking regimen employed here, and hence, would be negligible under normal smoking conditions.


The transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is activated by a diverse number of stimuli including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1, UV irradiation, viruses, as well as receptor tyrosine kinases such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). NF-κB activation by the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) involves the formation of a multiprotein complex termed a signalosome. Although previous studies have shown that the activated EGFR can induce NF-κB, the mechanism of this activation remains unknown. In this study, we identify components of the signalosome formed by the activated EGFR required to activate NF-κB and show that, although the activated EGFR uses mechanisms similar to the TNFR, it recruits a distinct signalosome. We show the EGFR forms a complex with a TNFR-interacting protein (RIP), which plays a key role in TNFR-induced NF-κB activation, but not with TRADD, an adaptor protein which serves to recruit RIP to the TNFR. Furthermore, we show that the EGFR associates with NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) and provide evidence suggesting multiprotein complex formation between the EGFR, RIP, and NIK. Using a dominant negative NIK mutant, we show that NIK activation is required for EGFR-mediated NF-κB induction. We also show that a S32/36 IκBα mutant blocks EGFR-induced NF-κB activation. Our studies also suggest that a high level of EGFR expression, a frequent occurrence in human tumors, is optimal for epidermal growth factor-induced NF-κB activation. Finally, although protein kinase B/Akt has been implicated in tumor necrosis factor and PDGF-induced NF-κB activation, our studies do not support a role for this protein in EGFR-induced NF-κB activation.


Australia is experiencing the most dramatic and comprehensive reform of its water industry, placing it at the leading edge of water management internationally. A key feature of the reforms is the explicit linking of economic and environmental objectives: in that the reforms seek to improve environmental management of the nation's river systems by increasing efficiency of water use via water markets. However, there is growing evidence to evince that water markets are failing to achieve environmental objectives. This paper uses the insights of economic sociology to analyse this failure, and argues that economic efficiency does not and will not guarantee environmental effectiveness because newly constructed water markets are embedded in existing social processes/industry structures and are permeated by existing power relations. For real environmental benefits to accrue, existing water markets must be seriously restructured. This paper explores the elements of such a restructure and suggests that it is unlikely to succeed without strong state action and coordinated policymaking, institutional reform, adjustment packages, significant community involvement, and the participation of the rural sector. Finally, it proposes that social capital could play a pivotal role in the restructuring of the Australian water industry.


In this article it is argued that a link between the analysis of political language use and language criticism exists. Nevertheless, there is disagreement as to how far the linguistic analysis of political language use should be critical or descriptive. The author of this article argues that the different approaches of lay linguistic criticism and critical discourse analysis are not convincing from a linguistic point of view. On the other hand, it is not disputed that linguistic analysis on a purely descriptive level is impossible. Particularly with regard to the euphemistic language use of the National Socialists in Germany, a purely descriptive analysis seems to be unsatisfactory. It is argued that linguistic discourse analysis allows to combine both – linguistic description and a critical view on political communication.


To determine if listeners can accurately identify various environmental sounds, a total of 40 sounds, including animal, inanimate, musical, and human sounds, were recorded, randomly arranged on a master tape, and presented to 30 judges for identification. Analysis indicated that, in general, listeners can accurately identify environmental sounds. However, their accuracy was not equal for all four classes of sounds investigated: human sounds yielded the highest accuracy, followed by musical and inanimate sounds, and animal sounds were least accurately identified. Implications and suggestions for research are discussed.


Marine mussels are able to firmly affix on various wet surfaces by the overproduction of special mussel foot proteins (mfps). Abundant fundamental studies have been conducted to understand the molecular basis of mussel adhesion, where the catecholic amino acid, l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) has been found to play the major role. These studies continue to inspire the engineering of novel adhesives and coatings with improved underwater performances. Despite the fact that the recent advances of adhesives and coatings inspired by mussel adhesive proteins have been intensively reviewed in literature, the fundamental biochemical and biophysical studies on the origin of the strong and versatile wet adhesion have not been fully covered. In this review, we show how the force measurements at the molecular level by surface force apparatus (SFA) and single molecule atomic force microscopy (AFM) can be used to reveal the direct link between DOPA and the wet adhesion strength of mussel proteins. We highlight a few important technical details that are critical to the successful experimental design. We also summarize many new insights going beyond DOPA adhesion, such as the surface environment and protein sequence dependent synergistic and cooperative binding. We also provide a perspective on a few uncharted but outstanding questions for future studies. A comprehensive understanding on mussel adhesion will be beneficial to the design of novel synthetic wet adhesives for various biomedical applications.


The application of Time-Modulated Array (TMA) to radar is described. Some techniques based on TMA are compared, in terms of capabilities and hardware requirements. It is shown that they permit to keep the main lobe constant which is required for radar. Low sidelobes can be synthesized as well as interference suppression.


The goal of this study was to assess the utility of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for the determination of content uniformity, tablet crushing strength (tablet hardness), and dissolution rate in sulfamethazine veterinary bolus dosage forms. A formulation containing sulfamethazine, corn starch, and magnesium stearate was employed. The formulations were wet granulated with a 10% (wt/vol) starch paste in a high shear granulator and dried at 60°C in a convection tray dryer. The tablets were compressed on a Stokes B2 rotary tablet press running at 30 rpm. Each sample was scanned in reflectance mode in the wavelengths of the NIR region. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the NIR tablet spectra and the neat raw materials indicated that the scores of the first 2 principal components were highly correlated with the chemical and physical attributes. Based on the PCA model, the significant wavelengths for sulfamethazine are 1514, (1660–1694), 2000, 2050, 2150, 2175, 2225, and 2275 nm; for corn starch are 1974, 2100, and 2325 nm; and for magnesium stearate are 2325 and 2375 nm. In addition, the loadings show large negative peaks around the water band regions (≈1420 and 1940 nm), indicating that the partial least squares (PLS) models could be affected by product water content. A simple linear regression model was able to predict content uniformity with a correlation coefficient of 0.986 at 1656 nm; the use of a PLS regression model, with 3 factors, had anr2 of 0.9496 and a sandard error of calibration of 0.0316. The PLS validation set had anr2 of 0.9662 and a standard error of 0.0354. PLS calibration models, based on tablet absorbance data, could successfully predict tablet crushing strength and dissolution in spite of varying active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) levels. Prediction plots based on these PLS models yielded correlation coefficients of 0.84 and 0.92 on independent validation sets for crushing strength and Q120 (percentage dissolved in 120 minutes), respectively.


Lean manufacturing is a philosophy of eliminating waste through continuous improvement. This paper is an outcome of a case study conducted in a textile industry in south India. Though the concept of lean manufacturing has shown good results in continuous process industry, it has not been extensively used as compared to discrete manufacturing industries. Process industries, especially textile industries, have automatic machinery which are highly inflexible and have high volume/low variety products. This nature of the textile industry makes implementing lean manufacturing techniques a challenge; hence implementing lean techniques in a textile industry has been taken up as a challenge. We have chosen a combination of value stream mapping (VSM), 5S, kanban, kaizen, poka-yoke, and visual controls to improve the processes. The achievement potential scores before and after lean implementation has been highlighted using radar diagrams. The findings of this study reveal that a thorough analysis of the process, setup, and changeover time (CO), use of colour coding for identification of volume-mix, use of kaizen and quality circles which empower the workforce, are some of the various keys to a successful lean implementation in a textile industry.


We report on a 34-year-old patient suffering from erythema chronicum migrans, who developed clinically and histologically typical morphea, which was confined to the area previously involved by the erythema migrans. The patient's serum antibody level against borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes was significantly elevated. By means of the silver impregnation technique, we were able to identify spirochetal organisms both in the lower dermis and within the septa of the subcutaneous fatty tissue. In frozen sections, spirochetes were demonstrated by the immunoperoxidase method using specific anti-spirochetal antibodies. For a better assessment of the composition of the inflammatory infiltrate in morphea, we applied a panel of monoclonal antibodies to a sensitive two-stage immunoperoxidase technique. Helper-inducer T-cells and a large number of suppressor-cytotoxic T-cells were observed both in the perivascular infiltrate and between collagen fibers in close proximity to the HLA-DR reactive fibroblasts. A large number of mast cells were seen in the dermal infiltrate. The detection of spirochetal organisms in histological sections as well as the demonstration of closely associated helper-inducer T-cells, macrophages, and activated fibroblasts in the dermis strongly suggest that a cell-mediated immune response against borrelia may be the dominant pathogenetic event in this variant of scleroderma. Activated T-lymphocytes and various factors secreted either by activated lymphocytes or mast cells may cause proliferation of fibroblasts, which can lead to increased collagen synthesis and dermal fibrosis.


"Ethics and Integrity in Public Administration" presents cutting-edge perspectives on the role of ethics in public sector management - what it is and where it is going. The contributors include a cross-section of authoritative authors from around the globe, and from both the academy and government. They cover a wide range of topics, diverse theoretical and conceptual paradigms, and global examples, and provide a broader view than what is typically offered in other books. The book includes both theoretical insights and commentaries grounded in practice. Chapters are divided into three parts: Ethical Foundations and Perspectives, Ethical Management and Ethical Leadership, and International and Comparative Perspectives.


This roadmap bundles fast developing topics in experimental optical quantum sciences, addressing current challenges as well as potential advances in future research. We have focused on three main areas: quantum assisted high precision measurements, quantum information/simulation, and quantum gases. Quantum assisted high precision measurements are discussed in the first three sections, which review optical clocks, atom interferometry, and optical magnetometry. These fields are already successfully utilized in various applied areas. We will discuss approaches to extend this impact even further. In the quantum information/simulation section, we start with the traditionally successful employed systems based on neutral atoms and ions. In addition the marvelous demonstrations of systems suitable for quantum information is not progressing, unsolved challenges remain and will be discussed. We will also review, as an alternative approach, the utilization of hybrid quantum systems based on superconducting quantum devices and ultracold atoms. Novel developments in atomtronics promise unique access in exploring solid-state systems with ultracold gases and are investigated in depth. The sections discussing the continuously fast-developing quantum gases include a review on dipolar heteronuclear diatomic gases, Rydberg gases, and ultracold plasma. Overall, we have accomplished a roadmap of selected areas undergoing rapid progress in quantum optics, highlighting current advances and future challenges. These exciting developments and vast advances will shape the field of quantum optics in the future. Journal of Optics J. Opt. 18 (2016) 093001 (28pp) doi:10.1088/2040-8978/18/9/093001 12 Guest editor of the roadmap. 2040-8978/16/093001+28$33.00 © 2016 IOP Publishing Ltd Printed in the UK 1


Abstract : There are a number of military and commercial applications for high-power laser systems in the mid-to-long-infrared wavelength range. By virtue of their demonstrated watt-level performance and wavelength diversity, quantum cascade laser (QCL) and amplifier devices are an excellent choice of emitter for those applications. To realize the power levels of interest, beam combining of arrays of these emitters is required and as a result, array technology must be developed. With this in mind, packaging and thermal management strategies were developed to facilitate the demonstration of a monolithic QCL array operating under CW conditions. Thermal models were constructed and simulations performed to determine the effect of parameters such as array-element ridge width and pitch on gain region temperature rise. The results of the simulations were considered in determining an appropriate QCL array configuration. State-of-the-art micro-impingement cooling along with an electrical distribution scheme comprised of AlN multi-layer technology were integrated into the design. The design of the module allows for individual electrical addressability of the array elements, a method of phase control demonstrated previously for coherent beam combining of diode arrays, along with access to both front and rear facets. Hence, both laser and single-pass amplifier arrays can be accommodated. A module was realized containing a 5 mm cavity length monolithic QCL array comprised of 7 elements on 450 m pitch. An output power of 3.16 W was demonstrated under CW conditions at an emission wavelength of 9 micro(m).


One of the striking characteristics of much 'big picture' penal scholarship is that it stops at the gates of the prison, or breaches its surface somewhat barely or briefly. This article proposes that such work could be advanced and made more compelling if its insights were married with – and modified through – those provided by empirical and ethnographic analyses of the practice and experience of penal power. It then sets out a framework which would enable this form of engagement and analysis, first providing an account of the development of the main components of the framework, before elaborating in more detail how its constituent parts – depth, weight, tightness, and breadth – might be conceptualised. It concludes by offering some reflections on the practical implications of this agenda for prison researchers.


Abstract Studies of the reactions between the MgO–C refractory and a CaO–Al2O3–SiO2–MgO slag system have been carried out through thermodynamic simulations, laboratory experiments and microscopy studies of the microstructure of the refractory samples after the experimental procedures. Corrosion experiments were conducted using the rotating immersion method of the MgO–C refractory rods in a liquid slag: in the temperature range of 1773–1923 K, revolution speed of 200 rev min−1, with varying slag compositions and times (2700–8100 s). Laboratory experiments have shown that the time during which the ladle lining is exposed to a liquid slag with high stirring and slag composition are two important parameters which have large effect on the kinetics of the refractory wear. The rate constants calculated in the present work are in the range of 4×10−7 to 1×10−6 m s−1. The estimated activation energy from the experimental results is 26 kJ mol−1.


Two inbred substrains of Long-Evans rats have been maintained under identical laboratory conditions. In one substrain (Olson-Goss) 25% of the neonates have spontaneously occurring membranous ventricular septal defects; in the other (California) only 4% are affected. Since a genetic etiology was indicated, two series of reciprocal crosses were made to evaluate the possibilities that the defects might result from an abnormal fetal genotype, a genetically abnormal intrauterine environment, or both. In both series parents of a highly defective litter ("high-incidence" pairs) were reciprocally mated to parents of a completely normal litter ("low-incidence" pairs). In Series I, all parental pairs were Olson-Goss animals; in Series II, the low-incidence pairs were California animals. Substitution of a low- for a high-incidence male consistently and appreciably decreased the incidence of defects in the progeny of high-incidence females. Conversely, low-incidence females produced a relatively large number of defective pups when mated to high-incidence males. These data suggest that the primary factor responsible for septal malformation is the fetal genotype rather than the intrauterine environment. Patroclinous reciprocal cross differentials, particularly marked in the substrain crosses, suggest, however, that secondary factors may also be implicated.


The author of the article suggests the taxonomy of the objectivation methods of pragmatic and linguistic norms of professional sublanguage: subjective method, semantic method (by enumerating referent's nominations), method of limiting the "domain of the possible" and the method of extensional definition. Professional sublanguage demonstrates the implementation of pragmatic and linguistic norm primarily as pointing out the "domain of the possible" (dysphemisation and the derisionof referent). The article shows that the relevance of norm is increased in the context of external contacts and the elimination of communication.


Understanding the privacy relevant characteristics of data sets, such as reidentifiability and joinability, is crucial for data governance, yet can be difficult for large data sets. While computing the data characteristics by brute force is straightforward, the scale of systems and data collected by large organizations demands an efficient approach. We present KHyperLogLog (KHLL), an algorithm based on approximate counting techniques that can estimate the reidentifiability and joinability risks of very large databases using linear runtime and minimal memory. KHLL enables one to measure reidentifiability of data quantitatively, rather than based on expert judgement or manual reviews. Meanwhile, joinability analysis using KHLL helps ensure the separation of pseudonymous and identified data sets. We describe how organizations can use KHLL to improve protection of user privacy. The efficiency of KHLL allows one to schedule periodic analyses that detect any deviations from the expected risks over time as a regression test for privacy. We validate the performance and accuracy of KHLL through experiments using proprietary and publicly available data sets.


The results of treatment of 127 patients, suffering cervix uteri cancer stage IIB in period of 1998 - 2012 yrs, were analyzed. Complications of surgical stage of the combined treatment have had occurred in 40.9% patients, including 40.5% patients, to whom neoadjuvant chemotherapy was conducted and in 41.5%--radiation therapy (RTH). The main postoperative complications--retroperitoneal lymphatic cysts--were revealed in 35.4% patients. The factors, raising the risk of postoperative complications occurrence, are following: the primary tumor spreading, metastatic affection of lymphatic nodes of pelvic cavity, preoperative conduction of RTH or chemotherapy.


ABSTRACT A field survey of the Strong River, Mississippi, in 2001 yielded 69 live mussels and 489 valves, representing fourteen species. Potamilus purpuratus and Tritogonia verrucosa were the most numerically abundant species found, while Pyganodon grandis was the least abundant species encountered. Neither Elliptio arctata nor Ligumia recta, both imperiled species, was found.


Staphylococcus aureus is a cause of food poisoning in humans characterized by vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea that occur 1-6 hours following consumption of contaminated food. This study was carried to determine the rate of contamination of milk and meat products with enterotoxigenic S. aureus in Nairobi. Analysis was done at the Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi. A total of 400 milk and meat products were collected around Nairobi. The samples included 200 raw milk, 100 beef carcass swabs, 50 minced meat samples and 50 chicken carcasses. Mannitol salt agar was used as selective and indicator medium for isolation of S. aureus from food samples. Staphylococcus was identified using a number of different diagnostic tests, which included oxidative fermentation, Mannitol fermentation, coagulase production and deoxyribonuclease (Dnase) production assays. Enterotoxin production was detected using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using Staphylococcus Enterotoxin Enzyme Immunoassay (SET-EIA) kit. One hundred and one (101) S. aureus were isolated from food samples. Of these, 22 were from chicken, 16 from minced meat, 55 from raw milk and 8 from beef carcasses. Sixty-seven of S. aureus were found to be enterotoxigenic. Staphylococcal enterotoxins SEA, SEB, SEC and SED were tested for, and SEC was the most frequent accounting for 59 (88%). Twenty-four (38.5%) of the enterotoxigenic S. aureus produced single enterotoxins. Chicken carcasses accounted for the highest percentage (44%) of enterotoxigenic S. aureus in foodstuff with SEC producing strains having the highest percentage. Keywords : Staphylococcal enterotoxins among foodstuff > Journal of Tropical Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 3(1) 2007: pp. 23-28


ABSTRACT Purpose: Report global adalimumab safety and efficacy outcomes in patients with non-infectious uveitis. Methods: Adults with non-infectious intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis were randomized 1:1 to receive placebo or adalimumab in the VISUAL I (active uveitis) or VISUAL II (inactive uveitis) trials. Integrated global and Japan substudy results are reported. The primary endpoint was time to treatment failure (TF). Results: In the integrated studies, TF risk was significantly reduced (hazard ratio [95% CI]) with adalimumab versus placebo (VISUAL I: HR = 0.56 [0.40–0.76], p < 0.001; VISUAL II: HR = 0.52 [0.37–0.74], p < 0.001). In Japan substudies, no consistent trends were observed between groups (VISUAL I: HR = 1.20 [0.41–3.54]; VISUAL II: HR = 0.45 [0.20–1.03]). Adverse event rates were similar between treatment groups in both studies (854 to 1063 events/100 participant-years). Conclusions: Adalimumab lowered time to TF versus placebo in the integrated population; no consistent trends were observed in Japan substudies. Safety results were consistent between studies.


Fluctuations of the sediment volume stored in mountain channels are driven by stochastic variations of discharge and sediment supply and can inhibit bedrock incision if sediment thickness is too large. Here, I study how this shortƒ]term stochasticity propagates into the longƒ]term reduction of bedrock incision efficiency (the cover effect) at geological time scales. I introduce a new numerical model that resolves sediment transport and bedrock incision at daily time scales, and is run for thousands of years. It incorporates (1) a transport threshold and daily stochastic variations in water discharge and sediment supply, (2) a freely evolving channel width and slope, and (3) an explicit treatment of alluvial thickness variations and corresponding bed incision reduction. For typical mountain river conditions the model predicts that alluvial cover oscillates between complete and negligible incision reduction. In this intermittent regime the longƒ]term cover effect is mainly set by the fraction of time spent in full cover, and the presentƒ]day extent of alluvial cover is not representative of longƒ]term dynamics. The longƒ]term integrated cover effect law differs strongly from proposed theoretical and experimental models, and it is controlled by sediment supply stochasticity rather than the details of cover development at the hydraulic time scale. Model results also suggest that steady state channel configuration always depends on sediment supply rate, while being never limited by transport capacity or strictly detachment limited. These results point out that discharge and sediment supply stochasticity should not be considered less important than the intricate details of incision laws to model long-term bedrock channel dynamics.


Stacey Margolis rethinks a key chapter in American literary history, challenging the idea that nineteenth-century American culture was dominated by an ideology of privacy that defined subjects in terms of their intentions and desires. She reveals how writers from Nathaniel Hawthorne to Henry James depicted a world in which characters could only be understood—and, more importantly, could only understand themselves—through their public actions. She argues that the social issues that nineteenth-century novelists analyzed—including race, sexuality, the market, and the law—formed integral parts of a broader cultural shift toward understanding individuals not according to their feelings, desires, or intentions, but rather in light of the various inevitable traces they left on the world.

Margolis provides readings of fiction by Hawthorne and James as well as Susan Warner, Mark Twain, Charles Chesnutt, and Pauline Hopkins. In these writers' works, she traces a distinctive novelistic tradition that viewed social developments—such as changes in political partisanship and childhood education and the rise of new politico-legal forms like negligence law—as means for understanding how individuals were shaped by their interactions with society. The Public Life of Privacy in Nineteenth-Century American Literature adds a new level of complexity to understandings of nineteenth-century American culture by illuminating a literary tradition full of accidents, mistakes, and unintended consequences—one in which feelings and desires were often overshadowed by all that was external to the self.


Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technological revolution that is expected to soon replace barcode systems. One of the important features of an RFID system is its ability to search for a particular tag among a group of tags. This task is quite common where RFID systems play a vital role. To our knowledge not much work has been done in this secure search area of RFID. Also, most of the existing work do not comply with the C1G2 standards. Our work aims to fill that gap by proposing a protocol based on Quadratic Residues property that does not use the expensive hash functions or any complex encryption schemes but achieves total compliance with industry standards while meeting the security requirements.


Abstract Background COVID-19 public health measures like handwashing and social distancing can help stem the spread of the virus. Adherence to guidelines varies between individuals. This study aims to identify predictors of non-adherence to social distancing and handwashing guidelines. Methods A cross-sectional weekly telephone survey was conducted over eight weeks (11/06/2020-05/08/2020). The sample included adults resident on the island of Ireland (75:25 split between ROI and NI). Data were collected on demographics, threat perceptions, fear of COVID-19, response efficacy and self-efficacy, response cost and social norms, COVID-19 behaviours, mood, loneliness, and self-reported health. Results 3011 participants were surveyed. Handwashing non-adherers were more likely to be male (OR: 5.2, 95% CI: 2.4 - 11.3), to have higher levels of loneliness (OR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.1 - 3.1), and higher perceptions of handwashing costs (OR: 3.4, 95% CI: 2.2 - 5.2). Those reporting rarely engaging in social distancing were more likely to be members of lower socioeconomic groups, to be younger (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96 - 0.98), male (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.1 - 2.5), healthcare workers (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.1 - 3.4), to report lower mood (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.3 - 2.2), were less likely to live in households with people aged under-18 (OR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.6 - 0.9), and to have lower fear of COVID-19 (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.6 - 0.9). Conclusions Non-adherers to handwashing differ from social distancing non-adherers. Public health messages should target specific demographic groups and different messages are necessary to improve adherence to each behaviour.


Genetic profiling in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a moving target. Only 4 years ago, AML was re‐classified, based on karyotypic abnormalities. However, numerous important new mutations and other genetic abnormalities that were not considered in this classification have been identified. Current cytogenetic‐based classification is limited by the substantial number of intermediate‐risk patients in whom the preferred therapy is debatable. In addition, the majority of AML patients co‐express multiple mutations and cannot be easily categorized into predefined homogenous groups. The tremendous progress in mass sequencing allows parallel identification of multiple genetic aberrations in large cohorts. Thus, a new concept of genetic profiling has arisen. Genes and proteins biologically interact with each other; therefore, it should not be surprising that mutations in different genes interact. Prognosis is determined by the composition of mutations and aberrations in leukaemic stem cells. As a consequence, clinical decisions no longer rely on scant genetic data and require comprehensive genetic evaluation. Some non‐genetic parameters are also important and should be incorporated into the clinical decision algorithm. Genetic interaction‐based profiles are challenging and recent studies demonstrate an improvement in prognostic predictions with this model. Thus, genetic profiling is likely to have a major therapeutic impact, at least for intermediate‐risk cytogenetics.


Consumer satisfaction is an important part for any business as it has been shown to be a major factor for consumer loyalty. Identifying satisfaction in products is also important as it allows businesses alter production plans based on the level of consumer satisfaction for a product. With consumer satisfaction data being very volatile for some products due to a short requirement period for such products, current consumer satisfaction must be identified within a shorter period before the data becomes obsolete. The fast fashion industry, which is part of the fashion industry, is adopted as a case study in this research. Unlike slow fashion, fast fashion products have short shelf lives and their retailers must be able to react swiftly to consumer demands. This research aims to investigate the effectiveness of current data mining techniques when used to identify consumer satisfaction towards fast fashion products. This is carried out by designing, implementing and testing a software artefact that utilises data mining techniques to obtain, validate and analyse fast fashion social data, sourced from Twitter, to identify consumer satisfaction towards specific product types. In addition, further analysis is carried out using a sentiment scaling method adapted to the characteristics of fast fashion.


The fraction of galaxies supported by internal rotation compared to galaxies stabilized by internal pressure provides a strong constraint on galaxy formation models. In integral field spectroscopy surveys, this fraction is biased because survey instruments typically only trace the inner parts of the most massive galaxies. We present aperture corrections for the two most widely used stellar kinematic quantities V/σ and λ_R (spin parameter proxy). Our demonstration involves integral field data from the SAMI (Sydney-AAO Multi-object Integral-field spectrograph) Galaxy Survey and the ATLAS^(3D) survey. We find a tight relation for both V/σ and λ_R when measured in different apertures that can be used as a linear transformation as a function of radius, i.e. a first-order aperture correction. In degraded seeing, however, the aperture corrections are more significant as the steeper inner profile is more strongly affected by the point spread function than the outskirts. We find that V/σ and λ_R radial growth curves are well approximated by second-order polynomials. By only fitting the inner profile (0.5R_e), we successfully recover the profile out to one R_e if a constraint between the linear and quadratic parameter in the fit is applied. However, the aperture corrections for V/σ and λ_R derived by extrapolating the profiles perform as well as applying a first-order correction. With our aperture-corrected λ_R measurements, we find that the fraction of slow rotating galaxies increases with stellar mass. For galaxies with log M*/M⊙ > 11, the fraction of slow rotators is 35.9 ± 4.3 per cent, but is underestimated if galaxies without coverage beyond one Re are not included in the sample (24.2 ± 5.3 per cent). With measurements out to the largest aperture radius, the slow rotator fraction is similar as compared to using aperture-corrected values (38.3 ± 4.4 per cent). Thus, aperture effects can significantly bias stellar kinematic integral field spectrograph studies, but this bias can now be removed with the method outlined here.


The roots of T. minus race B have yielded 9 alkaloids, thalirabine (1), thaliracebine (13), thalfine (19), thalfinine (20), thalrugosaminine (22), thalidasine (13), obaberine (24), thaliglucinone (25) and (S)-reticuline (26). The first two, possessing marked hypotensive activity, were assigned complete structures by physical and chemical methods. Thalfine (19) was given S-configuration at its one asymmetric center and was converted to thalfinine (20) and epithalfinine (21), thus the stereochemistry was established at one of the two optically active positions. The other alkaloids were identified by direct comparison with known samples. Antimicrobial testing showed thalirabine, thaliracebine, thalfine, and thalfinine to be active against Mycobacterium smegmatis.


Consensus clustering has emerged as a method of improving quality and robustness in clustering by optimally combining the results of different clustering process. In last few years, several approaches are proposed. In this paper, we propose a new method of arriving at a consensus clustering. We assign confidence score to each partition in the ensemble and compute weighted co-association for all pairs of data objects. In order to derive the consensus clustering from the co-association matrix, we use cross-association technique to group the rows and columns simultaneously. The objective is to derive as many clusters of homogenous blocks as possible. The set of non-zero blocks are taken as the resulting partition. The use of cross-association technique captures the transitive relationship. We show empirically that for the benchmark datasets, our technique yields better consensus clustering than any other known algorithms.


Radio frequency energy harvesting is being considered for realizing energy efficient relay networks. This letter focuses on decode-and-forward relaying in an energy harvesting network and develops analytical expressions of the outage probability and overall throughput. A three-step scheme has been proposed that allows the bidirectional exchange of information between two nodes via an intermediate relay. The performance of the proposed scheme has been evaluated and compared with a recent work.


Occupational risks in everyday military service are often underestimated as compared to the risks faced during military missions. However, long-term exposure to "common" hazards can lead to chronic illness or, more importantly, affect person's fitness for military service. A survey of work environment and health risks of Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) was initiated to assess health status and occupational exposures among military personnel in Estonia. A questionnaire was developed to assess self-perceived health and work environment in active service. A web-based questionnaire was sent to all servants of EDF in March 2015. Altogether 788 persons completed the questionnaire. The majority of respondents were male (87.0%) and had a service time over 9 years (67.8%). Self-rated health was assessed as good or very good by 63.8%. The most frequent exposures reported were electromagnetic fields, camouflage pastes, smokes and static work in forced positions. Although the majority (79.8%) was satisfied with their work environment in general, there were higher-risk structural units reporting dissatisfaction or health-related problems (Scouts Battalion, Artillery Battalion, Navy). Health problem during last 12 months limiting their usual activities was reported by 40% of respondents. Injuries causing temporary sick-leaves occurred in 10% of subjects, and they were mainly associated with shooting- or vehicle-related occupations. The most frequent health complaints, associated with work environment, were eye irritation, joint, low-back and neck-shoulder pain and unexplained fatigue. Hearing loss in the last 3 years was reported by 37.7%. Stress and anxiety symptoms occurred in 14.8% and it was associated with service in Special Operations Unit, Intelligence Centre and Artillery Battalion. Overall, the self-reported health status, satisfaction with service and work environment was rated highly among military personnel. In spite of positive results, there are units inside EDF with considerably higher occupational exposures, dissatisfaction of work conditions and consequent health problems.


An 82-year-old male was referred to our institution for evaluation and treatment of a protruding lesion in the stomach. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed a small protruding lesion and a large superficial elevated lesion on the lesser curvature of the stomach (macroscopic type: 0-I and 0-IIa, resp.). CT and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) visualized a small round lymph node (LN) 11 mm in size near the lesser curvature, although submucosal invasion was not evident. These two lesions were resected en bloc by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Pathological examination of the resected specimen showed moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma (tub2) and well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma (tub1), respectively, which were limited to the mucosal layer. Because lymphatic-vascular involvement was not detected by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, additional gastrectomy was not performed. Two months after ESD, follow-up EUS and CT showed an enlarged LN. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for the LN revealed metastasis. Therefore, total gastrectomy with LN dissection was performed. His postoperative course was uneventful. After discharge, he has been followed up at the outpatient department without any sign of recurrence for 5 years. Histological reexamination of the ESD specimen using immunohistochemistry showed lymphatic invasion of cancer cells in the lamina propria of the 0-I lesion 13 mm in size.


IMPORTANCE
Antagonism of the postsynaptic metabotropic glutamate subtype 5 receptor is a novel approach to modulate glutamatergic function and has proven efficacy in a number of preclinical behavioral models of depression.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of basimglurant modified-release (MR) vs placebo as adjunctive therapy to ongoing antidepressant medication therapy in patients with MDD who had inadequate response within the current episode.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
In this phase 2b, double blind, randomized clinical trial of 333 adult patients with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of MDD across 59 research clinics globally, patients were assigned to 1 of 2 doses of basimglurant MR (0.5 or 1.5 mg) or placebo once daily, adjunctive to ongoing antidepressant medication therapy (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor). Patients were enrolled from October 5, 2011, through July 26, 2013.

INTERVENTIONS
Six-week treatment with 0.5 mg of basimglurant MR, 1.5-mg basimglurant MR, or placebo once daily, adjunctive to ongoing antidepressant medication therapy.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The primary end point was the mean change from baseline score on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), as rated by the clinician at week 6. Other measures included patient-rated MADRS, Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report, Clinical Global Impression-Improvement, Patient Global Impression-Improvement, and Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scales and adverse events.

RESULTS
A total of 596 patients were screened, and 333 were randomized into the study (mean [SD] age, 47 [11.2] years; 216 female [65.1%]). The primary end point (mean change in clinician-rated MADRS score from baseline to end of treatment) was not met (effect size [ES] = 0.16, P = .42; intent-to-treat [ITT] mixed-effects model for repeated measures [MMRM] analysis for comparing 1.5-mg basimglurant MR and placebo). Across secondary and exploratory end points, 1.5-mg basimglurant MR revealed larger improvements vs placebo on the patient-rated MADRS (-16.2 vs -13.3, ES = 0.28, nominal P = .04), Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report (-7.5 vs -5.8; ES = 0.37, nominal P = .009), Clinical Global Impression-Improvement mean score, and Patient Global Impression-Improvement mean score. Improvements were also seen in the patient-rated MADRS remission rate (36.0% vs 22.0%; nominal P = .03) and response rate (50.5% vs 40.4%; nominal P = .13), A 0.5-mg dose of basimglurant MR had no benefit over placebo in any of these measures. The most common adverse event was dizziness, which was mostly transient and of mild intensity.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
No difference was observed on the study's primary outcome measure, the clinician-rated MADRS change from baseline to end of treatment, between adjunctive basimglurant MR vs placebo. Adjunctive 1.5-mg basimglurant MR daily revealed, however, an antidepressant effect across secondary end points, particularly in patient-rated measures. These findings combined with good tolerability warrant further investigation with this compound in depressive disorders.

TRIAL REGISTRATION
clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01437657.


Previous psychometric analyses of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale and the abbreviated version (FMPS–Brief) have resulted in inconsistent findings regarding the scale's bidimensionality or unidimensionality. Different studies evaluating the scale with different statistical analyses and comparative samples report different results and recommendations. This study assessed the FMPS-B's psychometric properties by conducting both confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and pure bifactor modeling in order to address previous findings and guide future use of the scale. The results indicate that the two-factor model is the best fit. Going forward, the FMPS-B's subfactors "strivings" and "evaluative concerns" may be studied separately. Implications for future research and challenges in bifactor modeling are discussed.


The implementation of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme has allowed for the expansion of low intensity psychological interventions offered to individuals with depression and anxiety in England (Department of Health, 2008), with over 900,000 people accessing services per annum and increasing year-on-year recovery rates (Health and Social Care Information Centre, 2017).  The relationship between positive therapeutic outcomes and the therapeutic alliance between practitioner and client has well-documented within current literature (Horvath, De Re, Fluckiger, & Symonds, 2011), with numerous studies highlighting the essentiality of the therapeutic relationship with regards to effective intervention.  However, comparatively few studies have identified the most influential factors which contribute to the therapeutic alliance, particularly within the specialism of low intensity psychological interventions for children and young people. This article discusses factors such as warmth, empathy, and collaboration as well as outlining and exploring concepts relating to the assessment procedures for children and young people awaiting low intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (LICBT).


Medium access control (MAC) implementations control access of network devices to a transmission medium. For emerging communication protocols, the MAC is typically implemented in software, to enable adaptation to evolving de-facto or industry standards. Software MAC implementations are typically realized as state machines, executing code related to successive MAC states within periodic interrupts. This software construct yields minimal memory footprint and energy efficiency, but the resulting implementations are often tightly coupled to the platform's system software, and are thus nonportable across hardware and system platforms. This article presents an architecture that decouples MAC and system software, enabling portability, while preserving software efficiency.


We prove the mixing conjecture of Michel and Venkatesh for toral packets with negative fundamental discriminants and split at two fixed primes; assuming all splitting fields have no exceptional Landau-Siegel zero. As a consequence we establish for arbitrary products of indefinite Shimura curves the equidistribution of Galois orbits of generic sequences of CM points all whose components have the same fundamental discriminant; assuming the CM fields are split at two fixed primes and have no exceptional zero.
The joinings theorem of Einsiedler and Lindenstrauss applies to the toral orbits arising in these results. Yet it falls short of demonstrating equidistribution due to the possibility of intermediate algebraic measures supported on Hecke correspondences and their translates.
The main novel contribution is a method to exclude intermediate measures for toral periods. The crux is a geometric expansion of the cross-correlation between the periodic measure on a torus orbit and a Hecke correspondence, expressing it as a short shifted convolution sum. The latter is bounded from above generalizing the method of Shiu and Nair to polynomials in two variables on smooth domains.


The purpose was to study the clinical features and genetics of a large Chinese family with Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) disease. A genome‐wide linkage scan using Applied Biosystems v. 2.5 411 short tandem repeat (STR) markers was performed in this family. Mutation screening was conducted on connexin 32 (Cx32). Prediction of impact of the mutation and sequence alignments of Cx32 in 10 vertebrates were performed using Polyphen and Clustal W, respectively. Twelve family members were diagnosed as CMT type 1. An X‐chromosome locus (DXS991) was linked to the phenotype of this family by the genome‐wide linkage analysis. An H100Y mutation found in Cx32 was predicted to be possibly damaging to the function of Cx32, with a PSIC score difference of 1.758. The H100 of Cx32 is highly conserved among the 10 vertebrates. A large Chinese family had CMTX1 linked to Xq13.1 caused by an H100Y mutation in the Cx32 gene. Muscle Nerve, 2010


-Solar energy is renewable, eco-friendly and found in abundance. If optimized properly, it can fulfill the energy requirements of contemporary world. At present, the efficiency of Silicon based solar cells lies between 10-15% and also it is not cost effective. Due to certain limitations of Si-based solar cells researchers are moving towards an alternative i.e. Organic Semiconductors. Organic Semiconductors possess properties like good electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, optical absorption, photoluminescence, easy and cheap manufacturing etc. In this paper, we aim to design a solar cell that intercepts most of the energy spectrum of sunlight and converts it into electricity efficiently. After having a detailed study of latest researches and analyzing the properties of many substances, we created a theoretical model of polymer based solar cell. The model uses aluminum studs at the interface and Bulk-Heterojunction of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) and Organic polymer- Poly Butylene Terephthalate (OP-PBT) as an electron donor and acceptor respectively. We will explain how our model –EOPV intercepts and interacts with the photons of different wavelengths and how these photons penetrate and produce 'excitons' which in turn generates photocurrent. Based on certain assumptions and calculations our EOPV model exhibits the efficiency of more than 40% which is comparatively better than existing conventional models.


The taxonomic position of two mycolic-acid-producing actinomycetes, isolates J81T and J82, which were recovered from activated sludge foam, was clarified. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence studies indicated that the organisms formed a distinct lineage within the Corynebacterineae 16S rRNA gene tree. The taxonomic integrity of this group was underpinned by a wealth of phenotypic data, notably characteristic rudimentary right-angled branching. In addition, isolate J81T contained the following: meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose and galactose; N-glycolated muramic acid residues; a dihydrogenated menaquinone with eight isoprene units as the predominant isoprenologue; a fatty acid profile rich in oleic and palmitoleic acids and with relatively small proportions of myristic, stearic and tuberculostearic acids; mycolic acids with 44-52 carbons; and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannosides as major polar lipids. Strain J81T was found to have a chemotaxonomic profile that serves to distinguish it from representatives of all of the other taxa classified as belonging to the suborder Corynebacterineae. In the light of these data, it is proposed that the two isolates be classified in a novel monospecific genus. The name proposed for this taxon is Millisia brevis gen. nov., sp. nov.; strain J81T (=DSM 44463T = NRRL B-24424T) is the type strain of Millisia brevis.