Utilizing the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) theory and the literature on citizen engagement (or participation), we formulated a multiple-mediation model, examining (1) the contextual antecedents of e-participation and e-government development; and (2) the mediating role of e-participation (in form of e-information sharing, e-consultation, and e-decision-making) on the relationships between the TOE contextual factors and e-government development. Specifically, we hypothesized that information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, human capital and governance in a country have both direct and indirect relationships with its e-government development through the mediating roles of e-participation. Based on archival data from 170 countries, our results showed that ICT infrastructure, human capital and e-participation had a direct relationship with e-government development. Of the three dimensions of e-participation, e-information sharing and e-decision-making were positively associated with e-government development, and econsultation was negatively related. Further, all three dimensions of e-participation partially mediated the influence of ICT infrastructure and human capital on e-government development. Results also indicated that governance in a country did not significantly contribute to its e-government development, and their relationship was not mediated by e-participation. Implications of our findings are discussed.


This report presents the results of wind tunnel tests of a wing in combination with each of three sizes of Fowler flap. The purpose of the investigation was to determine the aerodynamic characteristics as affected by flap chord and position, the air loads on the flaps, and the effect of flaps on the downwash.


Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) stands at the crossroads of many signaling pathways responsible for cell proliferation, differentiation, cell homeostasis and apoptosis. Consequently, it is no surprise that Hsp90 is associated with all the six hallmarks of cancer and has become a prime anticancer target. Central to the Hsp90 mechanism is its ATPase activity, which is coupled to a conformational cycle involving a complex set of structural changes that involve all Hsp90 domains. The mechanism by which Hsp90 activates "client" protein is still poorly understood. However, there has been excellent progress on elucidating the molecular details of the complex structural changes required for Hsp90's catalytically active state and how this activity is influenced by a variety of co-chaperones and client proteins. This review aims to bring together structural investigations that have so far contributed to our understanding of this ATPase-coupled conformational cycle and how this activity is regulated and ultimately has become the prime target for Hsp90 drugs.


Background:The introduction of HAART has decreased mortality and progression to AIDS in perinatally HIV-1-infected children, but information on modification of the rate of specific clinical events is limited. Method:An observational population study on changes in HIV-1-related morbidity was conducted on 1402 perinatally HIV-1-infected children enrolled in the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children and prospectively followed in the pre-HAART (1985–1995) and post-HAART periods (1996–2000, and 2001–2005). Of this group, 773 children (55.1%) were followed from birth. Median observation time was 8.58 years (interquartile range, 3.71–13.72). Results:Overall, 666 (47.5%) children developed AIDS and 420 (29.9%) died. Improved survival over time was evidenced at Kaplan–Meier analysis (P < 0.0001). Poisson regression analysis indicated that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention class B and C clinical event rates and most of the HIV-1-related organ complication rates significantly decreased starting from 1996–2000. Significant reductions in rates of cancer and opportunistic infections were evidenced after 2000. Nevertheless, opportunistic infections still occurred at high rates (6.09/100 person-years) in 2001–2005, with high rate of bacterial infections (3.55/100 person-years), particularly pneumonia (1.66/100 person-years), in this period. CD4 cell percentage was > 15% in 58.5% children with pneumonia. Conclusions:Progressive reductions of both mortality and rates of class B and C clinical events, including organ complications, were evidenced in the HAART era. Nevertheless, severe bacterial infections, particularly pneumonia, still occurred at considerable high rates, even in the absence of a severe CD4 cell depletion.


A closed-form, per-unit formulation is proposed, for the design of surface mounted permanent magnet motors with high number of poles. The model evaluates the shear stress, the power factor and the specific Joule loss as the indicators of the machine performance, and demonstrates that this is determined by the correct choice of a very limited set of key-geometrical parameters. The design criteria are described analytically and then applied to example designs, FEA validated. Distributed- and concentrated-winding configurations are considered. The conclusions of the paper are consistent with the literature and aim to give a roadmap for designers of PM machines in modern applications, such as wind power synchronous generators.


Good practice and standards set strict requirements for optimization and continuous improvement of physical asset management. The new international standard for asset management provides a framework for asset intensive industries to develop and implement sound asset management systems. Unlike the largest and most global industries, there are very few, if any, providers of services in the water sector that have developed and implemented a full set of best practices, in compliance with specifications created by the standard. Oslo Water and Sewerage Works (Oslo VAV) has worked systematically to evolve its asset management system by standardizing work processes and operating procedures in its Business Process Management System, implementing good practice in infrastructure asset management, and by improved management and control of the private contractor that operates the wastewater treatment plant9s processes and activities. This paper provides insight into Oslo VAV9s asset management system, assessment of current practice vs. best practice for complying with the standard and high priority areas for improvement.


Background Animals interact with a diverse array of both beneficial and detrimental microorganisms. These interactions sometimes spark obligate symbioses where the host depends on beneficial bacteria for survival and reproduction. In insects, these obligate symbioses in many cases allow feeding on nutritionally unbalanced diets such as plant sap and vertebrate blood. It is, however, still not clear how are these obligate intracellular symbioses maintained at the cellular level for up to several hundred million years. Exact mechanisms driving host-symbiont interactions are only understood for a handful of model species and data on blood-feeding hosts with intracellular bacteria are particularly scarce. Results Here, we analyzed interactions at the symbiotic interfaces of an obligately blood-sucking parasite of sheep, the louse fly Melophagus ovinus. We assembled a reference transcriptome from one male and one female individual and used RNA-Seq with five biological replicates to compare expression in the midgut cells housing bacteria to the rest of the gut (foregut-hindgut). We focused on nutritional and immunity interactions between the insect host and its obligate symbiont Arsenophonus melophagi, and also generated lower-coverage data for three facultative bacterial symbionts (Sodalis melophagi, Bartonella melophagi, and Wolbachia sp.) and one facultative eukaryote Trypanosoma melophagium. We found strong evidence for the importance of zinc in the system likely caused by symbionts using zinc-dependent proteases when acquiring amino acids, and for likely different immunity mechanisms controlling the symbionts than in closely related tsetse flies. Conclusions Our results show that cellular and nutritional interactions between this blood-sucking insect and its symbionts are less intimate than what was previously found in some (but not all) plant-sap sucking insects such as aphids, psyllids, whiteflies, and mealybugs. This finding is likely interconnected to several features observed in symbionts in blood-sucking arthropods, particularly their midgut intracellular localization (as opposed to being localized in truly specialized bacteriocytes), intracytoplasmic presence (as opposed to having an outermost host-derived 'symbiosomal' membrane), less severe genome reduction, and relatively recent associations caused by frequent evolutionary losses and replacements. Data deposition Raw RNA-Seq data were made available through the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) database under the study accession number PRJEB30632. All assemblies and additional large supplementary files are available on FigShare [https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.6146777.v1]. All commands used for data analyses are available on Github [https://github.com/filip-husnik/melophagus].


The unique character of medical education in the outpatient setting has created challenges in teaching and learning that cannot be solved by the adaptation of traditional inpatient approaches. Previous work and the authors' own observational study describe a relatively passive learner focused on reporting history and physical examination data to the preceptor. Based on the work of Bordage in cognitive learning, and that of Osterman and Kottkamp on reflective practice for educators, the authors have developed a collaborative model for case presentations in the outpatient setting that links learner initiation and preceptor facilitation in an active learning conversation. This learner-centered model for case presentations to the preceptor follows a mnemonic called SNAPPS consisting of six steps: (1) Summarize briefly the history and findings; (2) Narrow the differential to two or three relevant possibilities; (3) Analyze the differential by comparing and contrasting the possibilities; (4) Probe the preceptor by asking questions about uncertainties, difficulties, or alternative approaches; (5) Plan management for the patient's medical issues; and (6) Select a case-related issue for self-directed learning. The authors conducted a pilot study of SNAPPS, introducing the model to both third-year medical students and their preceptors. Feedback was enthusiastic and underscored the importance of the paired approach. SNAPPS represents a paradigm shift in ambulatory education that engages the learner and creates a collaborative learning conversation in the context of patient care.


It has been established that the hormone, erythropoietin, is concerned in the control of normal adult erythropoiesis in mammals; it is known to act by stimulating maturation of progenitor cells. The part played by erythropoietin during foetal life in not clear; its mode of action on sensitive cells is also uncertain. The hormone may be assayed in vitro by neorurin the incorporation of 59Po into protein-bound ham by erythroid sell cultures. The erythroid activity and response to erythropoietin of cells from rat yolk sac, fcetal liver and foetal spleen were investigated; similar studies were carried out on rabbit foetal liver cells. The pattern of in vivo activity and sensitivity to erythropoietin observed during gestation suggested that, in both species, foetal erythropoiesis was controlled, in part, by erythropoietin; it was concluded that erythropoietin, probably of foetal origin, controlled red cell production except during yolk sac erythropoiesie. In many mammals the foetus produces haemoglobin distinct from the adult haemoglobin. Using starch gel electrophoresis the nature of the haemoglobins in circulating cells during gestation of mouse and rabbit foetuses was determined. Two haemoglobins were found in the blood of young rabbit footless; three were found in young mouse foetuses. In both species these disappeared during gestation and were replaced by a single adult haemoglobin. The site of production of the different haemoglobins was determined by starch gel electro-phoresis of 59Fe-labelled haemoglobin synthesised by erythroid cells in vitro. Only foetal haemoglobins were made by mouse yolk sac cells while only adult haemoglobin was made by foetal liver cells. Erythropoietin, to which only foetal liver cells were sensitive, stimulated only adult haemoglobin synthesis; it did not appear to affect haemoglobin synthesis directly, in circulating cells. Two haemoglobins were found in the blood of young rat foetuses; three others appeared during the early stages of foetal liver erythropoiesis. After birth, the amount of one of the components first present decreased to very lom levels in adult animals. The relative rates of synthesis of the haemoglobins were characteristic of the stage of gestation and remained the same during much, if not all, of cell maturation. It was found that erythropoietin treatment of feetal or adult erythroid cells had only a quantitative effect on haemoglobin synthesis; it did not alter the relative amounts of each haemoglobin present. As in mouse, it appeared to have no direct effect on haemoglobin synthesis by circulating cells. The effects of inhibitors, colchicine, FUdR, aotinomycin D and puromycin, on the response to erythropoietin of mouse foetal liver cells indicated that syntheses of DNA, RNA and protein, but not cell division, were essential for erythropoietin induced haemoglobin synthesis. Further studies indicated that cells usually divided after erythropoietin treatment but that this wan not mandatory for haemoglobin synthesis. The technique was altered to measure synthesis of DNA, RNA and total protein, as well as haem synthesis after erythropoietin treatment. These studies, including the effect of inhibitors upon the response, suggested that the first detectable result of erythropoietin treatment was mRNA synthesis; this permitted protein synthesis which was essential for DNA synthesis. These events occurred very quickly and DNA synthesis doubled within 1 hr. of crythropcietin treatment. Afterwards, cell maturation, including haemoglobin synthesis, could proceed. The time-course of the response suggested that erythropoietin might stimulate maturing cells, capable of DNA synthesis, as well as progenitor cells; the responding cells, whatever their nature, appeared to be sensitive to erythropoietin during the G1 period of their cycle. These results were discussed in relation to in vitro studies on other differentiating cells.


Abstract We analyse the effects of inflation and growth uncertainty on the monetary policy reaction function of the Central Bank Republic of Turkey (C.B.R.T.), considering possible asymmetries in the reaction function over the business cycle. We follow Bec, Salem, and Collard's approach in order to specify an asymmetric reaction function suggesting that central banker interventions are influenced by business cycles. Our results reveal that the C.B.R.T. has asymmetric preferences. We find that the C.B.R.T. targets inflation stabilisation, both in recession and expansion periods. Moreover, the C.B.R.T. reacts more aggressively to any inflation gap during recessions than it does during expansions. On the other hand, the C.B.R.T. tries to smooth fluctuations in output, both during recessions and expansions. We further discover that the C.B.R.T. reacts to inflation and growth uncertainties more aggressively in expansion periods.


i Increased dilatation force You cannot have the grey area unless you have black and white to start from. You cannot have a mixture of lifestyle unless you have freedom and slavery to refer to initially, and that there is a constant active struggle between the two. That is, there is a' struggle between the individual in favour of freedom on the one hand, and the group against the individual in favour of slavery on the other hand. TREVOR N. BEST. 177 Warners Bay Road, Mount Hutton, N.S.w. 2290.


During auditory task performance, cortical processing of task-relevant information enables mammals to recognize sensory input and flexibly select behavioral responses. In mouse auditory cortex, small neuronal networks encode behavioral choice during a pure-tone detection task, but it is poorly understood how neuronal networks encode behavioral choice during a pure-tone discrimination task where tones have to be categorized into targets and non-targets. While the interactions between networked neurons are thought to encode behavioral choice, it remains unclear how patterns of neuronal network activity indicate the transmission of task-relevant information within the network. To this end, we trained mice to behaviorally discriminate target vs. non-target pure-tones while we used in vivo 2-photon imaging to record neuronal population activity in primary auditory cortex layer 2/3. We found that during task performance, a specialized subset of neurons transiently encoded intersection information, i.e., sensory information that was used to inform behavioral choice. Granger causality analysis showed that these neurons formed functional networks in which task-relevant information was transmitted sequentially between neurons. Differences in network structure between target and non-target sounds encoded behavioral choice. Correct behavioral choices were associated with shorter timescale communication between neurons. In summary, we find that specialized neuronal populations in auditory cortex form functional networks during auditory task performance whose structures depend on both sensory input and behavioral choice.


Pancreatic cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. Despite improvements in imaging, surgical techniques, chemotherapy agents, and radiation techniques, the prognosis for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains poor. Traditionally, radiotherapy (RT) has been utilised as neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or definitive treatment, and represents an important therapeutic option in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), a more recent RT technique, has the potential to deliver an adequate dose to the tumour volume with a minimal dose to the surrounding critical structures such as duodenum, small intestine, liver, kidneys, and spinal cord. This article provides a review about the role of IMRT in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, concerning clinical outcomes such as toxicity, local control, and overall survival.


The 3D tree visualization faces multiple challenges: the election of an appropriate layout, the use of the interactions that make the data exploration easier and a metaphor that helps in the process of information understanding. A good combination of these elements will result in a visualization that effectively conveys the key features of a complex structure or system to a wide range of users and permits the analytical reasoning process. In previous works we presented the Spherical Layout, a technique for 3D tree visualization that provides an excellent base to achieve those key features. The layout was implemented using the TriSphere algorithm, a method that discretized the spheres's surfaces with triangles to achieve a uniform distribution of the nodes. The goal of this work was centered in a new algorithm for the implementation of the Spherical layout; we called it the Weighted Spherical Centroidal Voronoi Tessellations (WSCVT). In this paper we present a detailed description of this new implementation and a comparison with the TriSphere algorithm.


Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) following immunosuppressive conditioning and T cell depletion of the graft is "a valuable option for individual" children with severe autoimmune/rheumatic disease recalcitrant to currently used treatments, although recent evidence of only transient benefit suggest this is not a curative procedure. Potentially curative allogeneic HSCT is "generally not recommended" and unacceptable for the paediatric rheumatology community, even for selected patients at the very severe end of the disease spectrum, as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and transplant-related mortality are considered too high a risk.1 Results Our data on autologous T cell-depleted HSCT in 6 children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis have been recently published2: four are long-term survivors, three in complete drug-free remission, one relapsed and two died. The authors compare these with the results of allogeneic HSCT in seven children with well-defined, severe and treatment-resistant autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus (1), immunodysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked syndrome (3), autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (2), complex periodic fever syndrome due to both mevalonic kinase and TNF-receptor gene mutations (1). Half received HSC from an HLA-matched sibling and half from an unrelated donor; 5/7 received modified myeloablative or reduced intensity conditioning. One child died; 6 achieved remission from their underlying disease: four are cured with 2–6 year follow-up, one with slipping donor chimerism requires further treatment and one is still <1 year post-HSCT. Acute GVHD was frequent but resolved with therapy. Conclusion The benefit–risk ratio for allogeneic HSCT using contemporary protocols in specialised centres may have surpassed T cell-depleted autologous HSCT for severe autoimmune/rheumatic disease.


ABSTRACT: Considering the damage caused by terrestrial gastropods in strawberry producing areas in southern Brazil, this study aimed to i) identify the species associated with Fragaria x ananassa in rural properties in municipalities of Paraná State, Brazil; ii) describe and illustrate the diagnostic morphological and conchology features of the mollusk species; iii) construct an illustrated key based on these morphological and conchology features; iv) analyze two species collected in March 2017 to investigate the possible occurrence of parasitic nematodes of medical importance. Taxonomic determination of the mollusks was performed through morphological analysis of samples, and parasitological analysis was carried out using artificial digestion. The following gastropod species were identified: Bradybaena similaris (Bradybaenidae), Rumina decollata (Subulinidae), Deroceras leave (Agriolimacidae), Limacus flavus (Limacidae), and Meghimatium pictum (Philomycidae). Rumina decollata, L. flavus,and M. pictum were recorded for the first time as damaging strawberries in Brazil. No larvae of medical or veterinary importance, associated with samples, were reported. The main diagnostic features are described and illustrated. Besides, the potential of the gastropods as crop pests and vectors of nematodes associated with zoonotic diseases are discussed. Results can facilitate identification of gastropod species in strawberry crops and provide background information for future studies on bioecology and pest control.


It is well known that higher fold and increased sampling is a sure path to improved data quality, and that vibroseis productivity rates are often the limiting factor on land 3D surveys. We want to find ways to use multiple sources simultaneously, so as to make a step change in both sampling density and productivity. In 2006 BP carried out a test of a very simple simultaneous vibroseis method, which we call ISS (Independent Simultaneous Sweeping). In this method all vibrators worked independently without any attempt to synchronise their activity, and the underlying principle of this test was that all interference between sources should be treated as 'noise'. The noise was randomised as much as possible, and a standard suite of noise removal tools was used during processing. There was no requirement for specialised wavefield separation techniques. In this simple and robust approach, there is no apparent limit to the number of sources that can be operated simultaneously, there is no waiting time for any vibrator, and very little central control or communication is required. It is very well suited for work in many environments including difficult terrain, where vibrator manoeuvring is slow, or where radio communication is challenged.


Time resolved EUV photoabsorption spectra of a manganese plasma have been recorded using the dual laser plasma technique. The 43 - 73 eV photon energy range is dominated by the 3p-3d giant resonance and to a lesser extent the 3p-4s resonances in both Mn2+ and Mn3+, recorded at an interplasma time delay of 80 ns and 30 ns respectively. These experimentally observed resonances are well reproduced by synthetic spectra calculated using the Hartree-Fock method. The synthetic spectra allow for absorption from excited states of the Mn2+ and Mn3+ ions.


Type 1 diabetes is characterised by the absence of circulating insulin due to the autoimmune destruction of beta-cells in the pancreas. Patients are traditionally treated with multiple daily injections of exogenous insulin analogues. However, although these therapies improve quality of life, they are associated with the risk of hypoglycemic episodes and do not prevent the development of debilitating secondary complications. For these reasons, there is increasing demand for new therapies and preventions. One approach is the use of viral or non-viral gene therapy to modify skeletal muscle to produce and secrete insulin into the circulation and/or to increase muscle glucose uptake. Skeletal muscle is a desirable target tissue for the treatment of diabetes not only for its central role in whole body metabolism and glucose homeostasis, but also for its accessibility and amenability to many potential gene therapy technologies. Here, we review the basic metabolic principles of skeletal muscle in the absorptive and post-absorptive states at rest and during exercise and discuss how these processes are affected in type 1 diabetes. Finally, current viral and non-viral strategies for modification of skeletal muscle and their application to the treatment of type 1 diabetes are also presented.


The roads of your veins is an interactive biometric-data artwork that allows participants to scan their veins and find the roads that match their vein lines. The vein data as one of the fascinating forms of biometric data contain uniquely complicated lines that resemble the roads and paths surrounding us. The roads resemble how our vein lines are interconnected and how the blood circulates in our bodies in various directions, at various speeds, and in different conditions. This new artwork explores the line segmentation and the structure of veins and compares them to roads in the real world. Through this project, users can explore the correlation between individuals and environments using the hidden patterns under the skin and the vein recognition techniques and image processing. This project also has the potential to lead the way in the interpretation of complicated datasets while providing aesthetically beautiful and mesmerizing visualizations.


The problem of deciding the validity of formulas in extensions of propositional dynamic logic (PDL) is considered. The extensions are obtained by adding programs defined by nonregular languages. In the past, a number of very simple languages were shown to render this problem highly undecidable, whereas other very similar-looking languages were shown to retain decidability. Understanding this rather strange phenomenon and generalizing the isolated extensions have remained elusive. The authors provide decision procedures for two wide classes of extensions, thus shedding light on the general problem. The proofs are novel, in that they explicitly consider the machines that accept the languages, in this case special classes of PDAs and stack automata. It is shown that the emptiness problem for stack automata on infinite trees is decidable, a result of independent interest, and the result is combined with the construction of certain tree models for the corresponding formulas.<<ETX>>


In this paper, a dominant firm and competitive fringe supply substitute goods to a retailer who has private information about demand. We show that it is profitable for the dominant firm to condition payment on how much the retailer buys from the fringe (market-share contracts). The dominant firm thereby creates countervailing incentives for the retailer and, in some cases, is able to obtain the full-information outcome (unlike in standard screening models, where the agent earns an information rent in the high-demand state and output is distorted in the low-demand state). Our results have implications for fidelity rebates, all-units discounts, and competition policy. Although some crowding out of the fringe may occur when demand is low, we show that market-share contracts need not be harmful for welfare.


As a new kind of light source, LED light source has found wide application in many fields, especially in automotive lamp light source with the rise of luminous efficacy. The paper puts forward an iterative model, which approximates the light intensity variation of LED by adding up a series of the luminous flux of sub light sources with uniform light intensity, and accurately reflects the attenuation feature of LED light intensity. As long as the tracing ray is sufficient, the calculation error will be very small, and the result ideal, thus making it suitable for engineering application.


The purpose of this study is to correlate genetic mutations, amino-acid variants, signaling pathways with platiunum based drug activity to shed light on personalized treatment of cancer. Platinum anticancer drugs such as cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxalipaltin are widely used to treat a variety of cancers. Although DNA is the molecular target for these platinum therapies, their efficacies, toxicities, and resistance mechanisms vary widely among various categories and sub-categories of cancers. To comprehend this great variability, an integrated analysis was performed to determine the impact of somatic mutations on protein functions, signaling pathways, and drug activity (sensitivity or resistance) among the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) 60 human tumor cell lines based on Z-scores to predict a priori treatment outcome using CellMiner (http://discover.nci.nih.gov/cellminer). Specifically, somatic mutations of significantly mutated genes from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) were analyzed along with the driver genes (oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes) from catalogue of somatic mutations in cancer (COSMIC) for total 188 genes that belong to more than 20 different signaling pathways. The functional impact of individual amino-acid variant for each gene and its correlation with the activity of carboplatin, cisplatin and oxaliplatin for each cancer cell line were explored. Particular attention was given to colon cancer for which nearly 40% of tumors are known to have mutated KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog) gene. Resulting analysis revealed that colon cancer cell lines with KRAS mutations for codon 12 (G12V-mutant from SW620 cell line) and codon 13 (G13D-mutant from HCT116 and HCT15 cell lines) correlated with the sensitivity to oxaliplatin. Conversely, oxaliplatin resistant HCC2998 colon cancer cell line did not show any correlation with mutated KRAS for codon 146 (A146T-mutant). Notably, all the colon cancer cell lines were resistant to both carboplatin and cisplatin with no correlation to the KRAS mutants. Based on our integrated analysis we further predicted gene networks related to oxaliplatin activity for colon cancer. The network includes the epidermal growth factor (EGFR) signaling pathway that involves PIK3CA, PIK3CG and MTOR from the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) (PIK3/mTOR) pathway, and JAK3 from Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway in addition to KRAS from Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway. We conclude that instead of considering all mutations of a gene in the same way to assess their clinical significance, it may be beneficial to categorize them into different classes based on their functional impact and efficacies towards the anti-cancer drugs for personalized treatment. Similar analytical approach is being extended to non-small cell lung and ovarian cancers where platinum therapies are widely used. S. Tripathi gratefully acknowledges the support through a training fellowship from a grant by the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (Grant No. RP140113 to R.N.Bose). Citation Format: Swarnendu Tripathi, Louiza Belkacemi, Margaret S. Cheung, Rathindra N. Bose. Correlation between oncogenic mutations, signaling pathways, and efficacy of platinum-based drugs against colorectal cancers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Computational and Systems Biology of Cancer; Feb 8-11 2015; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(22 Suppl 2):Abstract nr B1-02.


This article examines the question of how climate change awareness and media usage are related to each other. An integrated model for explaining awareness of environmental problems and behavioural intentions is developed. The model is then tested using data from a Germany-wide representative survey. In contrast to most previous studies, this investigation focuses not on the effects of selective, topic-specific media usage, but on the differential effects of information usage on multiple dependent variables. The results show that media usage does have a certain influence on awareness of climate problems and on related behavioural intentions, but the results cannot be explained by a simple formula. The findings differ both with respect to the various dependent variables and across different media. The fact that media do not always have a mobilizing, awareness-enhancing effect is certainly one of the most interesting results of this study.


Automated program evolution has existed in some form for almost forty years. Signal understanding (e.g., signal classification) has been a scientific concern for longer than that. Generating a general machine learning signal understanding system has more recently attracted considerable research interest. First, this thesis defines and creates a general machine learning approach for signal understanding independent of the signal's type and size. This is accomplished through an evolutionary strategy of signal understanding programs that is an extension of genetic programming. Second, this thesis introduces a suite of sub-mechanisms that increase the power of genetic programming and contribute to the understanding of the learning technique developed.
The central algorithmic innovation of this thesis is the process by which a novel principled credit-blame assignment is introduced and incorporated into the evolution of algorithms, thus improving the evolutionary process. This principled credit-blame assignment is done through a new program representation called neural programming and applied through a set of principled processes collectively called internal reinforcement in neural programming . This thesis concentrates on these algorithmic innovations in real world signal domains where the signals are typically large and/or poorly understood.
This evolutionary learning of algorithms takes place in PADO , a system developed in this thesis for "parallel algorithm discovery and orchestration" and as a demonstrably effective strategy for divide-and-conquer in signal classification domains. This thesis includes an extensive empirical evaluation of the techniques developed in a rich variety of real-world signals. The results obtained demonstrate, among other things, the effectiveness of principled credit-blame assignment in algorithm evolution.
This work is unique in three aspects. No other currently existing system can learn to classify or otherwise "symbolize" signals with no space or size penalties for the signal's size or type. No other system based on genetic programming currently exists that purposefully generates and orchestrates a variety of experts along problem specific lines. And, most centrally, the thesis introduces the first analytically sound mechanism for explaining and reinforcing specific parts of an evolving program.
The goal of this thesis is to argue, explain, and demonstrate how representation and search are intimately connected in evolutionary computation and to address these dual concerns in the context of the evolution of Turing complete programs. Ideally, this thesis will inspire future research in this same area and along similar lines.


Cetaceans have elicited the attention of researchers in recent decades due to their importance to the ecosystem and their economic values. They use sound for communication, echolocation and other social activities. Their sounds are highly non-stationary, transitory and range from short to long sounds. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is a popular method used for monitoring cetaceans in their ecosystems. The volumes of data accumulated using PAM are usually big, so they are difficult to analyze using manual inspection. Therefore different techniques with mixed outcomes have been developed for the automatic detection and classification of signals of different cetacean species. So far, no single technique developed is perfect to detect and classify the vocalizations of over 82 known species due to variability in time-frequency, difference in the amplitude among species and within species' vocal repertoire, physical environment, among others. The accuracy of any detector or classifier depends on the technique adopted as well as the nature of the signal to be analyzed. In this article, we review the existing techniques for the automatic detection and classification of cetacean vocalizations. We categorize the surveyed techniques, while emphasizing the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques. The article suggests possible research directions that can improve existing detection and classification techniques. In addition, the article recommends other suitable techniques that can be used to analyze non-linear and non-stationary signals such as the cetaceans' signals. Several research have been dedicated to this topic, however, there is no review of these past results that gives a quick overview in the area of cetacean detection and classification. This review will help researchers and practitioners in the field to make insightful decisions based on their requirements.


One of the controversial areas of the International Law of the Seas is the delimitation of the maritime boundary of continental shelf between states with opposite or adjacent coasts. The 1958 Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf established the equidistant principle, which became the accepted rule as regards the parties to the convention. As regards states which are not parties to the convention as has been the case predominantly in International adjudication bodies the rules of customary international law have to be employed. The first time a maritime dispute of such a nature was submitted to the International Court of the Justice was in the North Sea Continental Shelf Cases where it held that customary international law warrants the application of the rules of equity to delimitate the boundary of the continental shelf. Whereas the equidistant principle was applied in the Anglo French Arbitration. From an understanding of the decisions of the World Court and arbitral tribunals it appears there exists a divergence in opinion on which rule reflects customary international law the equitable principle or the equidistant principle? The object of this paper is summarily to determine at length how the principles of equity have developed and how far they would be applicable in disputes of such a nature with an insight into the India, Bangladesh and Myanmar dispute.


Hypoxia enhances MMP2 expression and the invasion and metastatic potential of melanoma cells. CD147 has been shown to induce MMP2 in multiple cancers. To investigate the role of CD147 in hypoxiainduced MMP2 activation, we performed immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining in 206 normal and melanoma tissue samples, and analyzed the correlation between HIF1α and CD147. ChIP (chromosome Immunoprecipitation) in melanoma cell lines supports that HIF1α directly binds to CD147 promoter. Moreover, we made a series of deletion mutants of CD147 promoter, and identified a conserved HIF1α binding site. Point mutation in this site significantly decreased CD147 response to hypoxia. Importantly, knocking down CD147 attenuates MMP2 response to hypoxia in melanoma cell lines. MMP2 could not be efficiently activated by hypoxia in CD147 depletion cells. ELISA data showed that MMP2 secretion was reduced in CD147 depletion cells than control under hypoxia condition. To verify the data from cell culture model, we performed in vivo mouse xenograft experiment. IHC staining showed reduced MMP2 level in CD147 depleted xenografts compared to the control group, with the HIF1α level being comparable. Our study demonstrates a novel pathway mediated by CD147 to promote the MMP2 activation induced by hypoxia, and helps to understand the interplay between hypoxia and melanoma progression.


Clinical observations for 5 1/2 years and a postmortem examination, including radiographic and microscopic evaluation, showed a mandibular staple bone plate functioned well for a 78-year-old patient in compromised health.


Nonobligate bacterial predator strain N-1 was highly resistant to copper. In fact, it required more than minimal amounts of copper to initiate growth, but not for growth that followed growth initiation. Strain N-1 made a peptide growth initiation factor (GIF) to marshal copper from its environment for growth initiation. Production of this GIF occurred before the onset of growth initiation, but production was shut down if excess copper was present. At high copper levels, the time required for onset of growth initiation was directly related to the amount of copper that was present. At low copper levels, a similar graded response occurred for increments of added GIF. Agromyces ramosus is a predator in its own right, but it also is a prey species for strain N-1. A. ramosus was found to be very sensitive to copper and to the copper GIF produced by N-1. It is possible that the copper GIF is the means used by N-1 to kill A. ramosus.


ABSTRACT Advances in gene sequencing technology have made it easier to generate large molecular datasets with novel DNA sequences for phylogenetic analysis. Because morphological data are difficult to collect and not required for molecular phylogenetic analyses, they are often excluded in studies of the systematic relationships of extant taxa. This fact is especially apparent in the Bovidae, the highly diverse, widespread clade of hoofed mammals most often characterized by the presence of permanent bony horn cores covered with keratin sheaths. Analyses of molecular data have reconstructed well-supported phylogenetic relationships within the clade. However, morphological data are also required to integrate fossil taxa into these studies, and may support different topologies when they are included in total evidence phylogenies. In this study, I performed a maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of a total evidence dataset including mitochondrial genomes, nine nuclear genes, and 196 morphological characters. The dataset comprises 156 species, 13 of which are fossil taxa, one of the most complete analyses of the family to date, and the first time many of the fossil species have been included in a total evidence analysis. Character optimizations on this topology produced seven synapomorphic morphological characters for Bovidae and multiple characters for each tribe. These analyses support the use of total evidence phylogenetics as a means of uncovering morphological characters that may serve as new synapomorphies and elucidate the systematic relationships of fossil species.


The emergence of smart city concept increases the needs for updating the abilities of the traditional network (Loffreda, 2015). The network of smart cities requires updating its topology and services dynamically using management software to automate this operation. In addition, it needs to run multiple logical networks over a single network infrastructure similarly to the data centres nowadays. The automation of dynamic behaviour achieves using a novel paradigm of the network that contains a forwarding devices have a central management, called Software-Define Network (SDN). SDN provides faster, cheaper and more efficient network. In addition, it strongly supports Network Function Virtualization (NFV), which enables executing the network functions using the software component instead of physical devices (Foundation, 2015). Therefore, NFV enables to run multiple logical networks on the single physical network. Moreover, it enables faster deployment of new services or updates the old ones.
The aim of the research is to develop a management algorithm automates the dynamical adaptation for network topology in smart cities.


Dominant negative inhibition is most com- monly seen when a mutant subunit of a multisubunit protein is coexpressed with the wild-type protein so that assembly of a functional oligomer is impaired. By analogy, it should be possible to interfere with the functional assembly of a mono- meric enzyme by interfering with the folding pathway. Exper- iments in vitro by others suggested that fragments of a monomeric enzyme might be exploited for this purpose. We report here dominant negative inhibition of bacterial cell growth by expression of fragments of a tRNA synthetase. Inhibition is fragment-specific, as not all fragments cause inhibition. An inhibitory fragment characterized in more detailformsaspecificcomplexwiththeintactenzymeinvivo, leading to enzyme inactivation. This fragment also associated stoichiometrically with the full-length enzyme in vitro after denaturation and refolding, and the resulting complex was catalytically inactive. Inhibition therefore appears to arise from an interruption in the folding pathway of the wild-type enzyme, thus suggesting a new strategy to design dominant negative inhibitors of monomeric enzymes.


Background Dying patients in hospital may have little emotional support at the end of their life and may die alone. Alongside this, family and friends can feel isolated and overwhelmed by the experience. A key challenge for hospitals is how to provide emotional support when staff are needed to provide nursing care on busy wards. A charity trained 28 volunteer "companions" to accompany, advocate and support people during this difficult time. Supported by a service manager, the "companions" deliver emotional comfort 12 hours a day, every day of the year. Aims The main objectives of this innovative service are: to provide emotional support to the dying and their families to facilitate increased understanding about the emotional and social needs of the dying, and their families, within the community and across the hospital environment. Methods On the whole, healthcare professionals refer patients/families to the service manager who then meets the patients/families to understand their needs. An appropriate "companion" is allocated by the service manager and the "companion" is then introduced to the patient/family to provide face-to-face support tailored to their needs. The service is evaluated on a continuous basis, using: Stakeholder feedback: from patients/families, staff and "companions" to explore the impact of the service on improving emotional support Activity data: completed by the "companions" capturing what support was delivered. Results An earlier review suggested that hospital staff, dying patients and their families had very positive experiences of the service, with nursing staff seeing benefits in terms of patient and family wellbeing and their own stress levels. The initial pilot has increased from three adult wards to supporting all 20, and has received over 250 referrals since launch in August 2014. The service is the only one of its kind in the country, and was outlined in the Care Quality Commission report as an example of outstanding practice.


Cyanide is one of the few diatomic ligands able to interact with the ferric and ferrous heme-Fe atom. Here, the X-ray crystal structure of the cyanide derivative of ferric Mycobacterium tuberculosis truncated hemoglobin-N (M. tuberculosis trHbN) has been determined at 2.0 A (R-general = 17.8% and R-free = 23.5%), and analyzed in parallel with those of M. tuberculosis truncated hemoglobin-O (M. tuberculosis trHbO), Chlamydomonas eugametos truncated hemoglobin (C. eugametos trHb), and sperm whale myoglobin, generally taken as a molecular model. Cyanide binding to M. tuberculosis trHbN is stabilized directly by residue TyrB10(33), which may assist the deprotonation of the incoming ligand and the protonation of the outcoming cyanide. In M. tuberculosis trHbO and in C. eugametos trHb the ligand is stabilized by the distal pocket residues TyrCD1(36) and TrpG8(88), and by the TyrB10(20) - GlnE7(41) - GlnE11(45) triad, respectively. Moreover, kinetics for cyanide binding to ferric M. tuberculosis trHbN and trHbO and C. eugametos trHb, for ligand dissociation from the ferrous trHbs, and for the reduction of the heme-Fe(III)-cyanide complex have been determined, at pH 7.0 and 20.0 degrees C. Despite the different heme distal site structures and ligand interactions, values of the rate constant for cyanide binding to ferric (non)vertebrate heme proteins are similar, being influenced mainly by the presence in the heme pocket of proton acceptor group(s), whose function is to assist the deprotonation of the incoming ligand (i.e., HCN). On the other hand, values of the rate constant for the reduction of the heme-Fe(III)-cyanide (non)vertebrate globins span over several orders of magnitude, reflecting the different ability of the heme proteins considered to give productive complex(es) with dithionite or its reducing species SO(2)(-). Furthermore, values of the rate constant for ligand dissociation from heme-Fe(II)-cyanide (non)vertebrate heme proteins are very different, reflecting the different nature and geometry of the heme distal residue(s) hydrogen-bonded to the heme-bound cyanide.


Pure Cu, CuZr and an Al-alloy were processed by Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) at room temperature applying route Bc. Microstructure evolution during ECAP and subsequent annealing was investigated. The deformed and annealed states were characterized by EBSD, TEM and microhardness tests. The microstructure variation was recorded and compared to the behavior of conventional cold rolled material. The study revealed a very low thermal stability of ECAP deformed pure Cu samples compared to cold rolled material with same total strain. However, the thermal stability was significantly improved by alloying with Zr. In contrast, ECAP deformed Al-alloy showed higher thermal stability than cold rolled material.


Methods: A total of 657 women with16 weeks – 41 weeks of normal gestation were enrolled in the study who received routine obstetric ultrasound in our hospital from September 2008 to March 2015. The volume and blood flow parameters of kidney and fetal growth parameters were measured by two and three dimensional ultrasound. The relations between various parameters of kidney with gestational age, growth indexes were analysed. Results: Renal volume was linearly associated with gestational age, and renal volume = -7.01 + 0.554 × gestational age (16 weeks≤ gestational age≤ 41 weeks). Fetal volume was significantly related to growth indexes, and the correlation with height, weight before pregnancy was not obvious. PSV, EDV and TAMXV of renal artery increased with gestational age; S/D, PI and RI decreased with gestational age. Conclusions: The volume of normal fetal kidney increases gradually along with the gestational age, a linear correlation is between them. The size of normal fetal kidney is associated with fetal growth itself, but is not affected by maternal height, weight before pregnancy. With the increase of gestational age, the blood flow of fetal renal artery speeds, resistance drops and blood flow perfusion increases.


Planning as satisfiability is an efficient technique for classical planning. In previous work by the second author, this approach has been extended to conformant planning, that is, to planning domains having incomplete information about the initial state and/or the effects of actions. In this paper we present some domain independent optimizations to the basic procedure described in the previous work. A comparative experimental analysis shows that the resulting procedure is competitive with other state-of-the-art conformant planners on domains with a high degree of parallelism.


The Internet provides an easily accessible way to meet certain needs. Over-reliance on it leads to problematic use, which studies show can be predicted by psychological distress. Self-determination theory proposes that we all have the basic need for autonomy, competency, and relatedness. This has been shown to explain the motivations behind problematic Internet use. This study hypothesizes that individuals who are psychologically disturbed because their basic needs are not being met are more vulnerable to becoming reliant on the Internet when they seek such needs satisfaction from online activities, and tests a model in which basic needs predict problematic Internet use, fully mediated by psychological distress. Problematic Internet use, psychological distress, and basic needs satisfaction were psychometrically measured in a sample of 229 Hong Kong University students and structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model. All indices showed the model has a good fit. Further, statistical testing supported a mediation effect for psychological distress between needs satisfaction and problematic Internet use. The results extend our understanding of the development and prevention of problematic Internet use based on the framework of self-determination theory. Psychological distress could be used as an early predictor, while preventing and treating problematic Internet use should emphasize the fulfillment of unmet needs.


Periodic homogenization of random heterogeneous materials generally requires the description of a complex, underlying random microstructure. In this context, Bignonnet et al. recently proposed a framework where smooth mesoscopic elasticity random fields are defined through a filtering procedure [1], hence allowing for the use of coarser discretizations in numerical homo-genization methods. Interestingly, the above random fields have the remarkable consistency property to yield the same effective moduli at macroscale, regardless of the filtering resolution. The present work is devoted to the construction, calibration and validation of a prior elasticity random field representation for a model microstructure. For illustration purposes, the latter is made up of an elastic matrix reinforced by bi-disperse spherical stiff heterogeneities. On the basis of a statistical characterization, we first introduce an information-theoretic model adapted from [2]. Next, the calibration task is performed by using either statistical estimators or the maximum likelihood principle. Both approaches are compared in terms of convergence and computational cost. Finally, the validation of the model is discussed by comparing experimental and simulated quantities of interest, such as the induced mesoscale stress field or the macroscopic homogenized properties. References [1] F. Bignonnet, K. Sab, L. Dormieux, S. Brisard, and A. Bisson. Macroscopically consistent non-local modeling of heterogeneous media. Comput. Method. Appl. M., 278:218–238, 2014. [2] J. Guilleminot and C. Soize. Stochastic model and generator for random fields with symmetry properties: Application to the mesoscopic modeling of elastic random media. Multiscale Model. Sim., 11(3):840–870, 2013.


SUMMARY: Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus 111 to tetracycline was due to an extrachromosomal genetic unit (plasmid) that could be eliminated by growth at 44°. The susceptible (eliminated) strain actively concentrated tetracycline from the nutrient medium by an energy-dependent transport system. The resistant culture accumulated the drug to a much lesser degree than the susceptible culture, both according to the E 380 of the bacterial extract and to its radioactivity after incubation with tritiated tetracycline. Accumulation of tetracycline was low and independent of the external concentration until this reached a level corresponding approximately to the minimal inhibitory concentration.
Pre-incubation with tetracycline at low concentrations decreased ability to accumulate the drug. This pre-incubation effect was not prevented by nalidixic acid but was by actinomycin D.


The cannabinoids are involved in regulation of immune function.
This action can be mediated either through cannabinoid
receptors which subtypes CB1 and CB2 have been identified on
leukocytes, or by non-receptor mechanism not clearly understood
yet. The present study investigated th influence of the CB2
receptor agonist palmitoylethanolamide and the CB2 receptor
antagonist AM 630 on the cellular immune function on leukocyte
phagocytosis. Phagocytic activity of mouse leukocytes was
measured in chemiluminescence (CL) assay using zymosan
induction of phagocytosis and luminol potentiated of CL in
vitro.


Induratio penis plastica (IPP) or Peyronie disease is characterized by the developing of fibrotic plaques in the tunica albuginea of penis, that in the latter stages can lead to impotence. The etiology of this disease is still unknown even if various factors such as inflammation, autoimmunity or traumas are involved. Usually it occurs after 40 years of age, even if cases in young patients have been described. The onset of IPP can be acute in about 50% of the patients, while in the others it is characterized by a chronic but progressive progress. In this work, we describe the cases of two patients 52 and 66 years old, who arrived to our department for a decrease of libido and sexual potency in the last months. The patients were not smokers and took no drugs and they had never complain symptoms and signs of IPP. In both subjects an endocrine pattern compatible with partial hypopituitarism was present and in the first patient it was associated with an ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism. Pituitary imaging with MRI showed in both patients the presence of a mass compatible with macroadenoma, that in the first patient showed characteristic of invasiveness. Both subjects underwent transphenoidal neurosurgery with the exeresis of the neoplasia, with resolution of the secondary hypogonadism and reappearance of the sexual potency. With the resume of sexual activity the patients complained the appearance of painful penis bending during erection. Dynamic echographic evaluation of the penis with 7.5 Mhz linear probe, after the intracavernous injection of prostaglandin E1 10 micrograms, showed in both patients the presence of a hyperechogenic plaque in the tunica albuginea compatible with IPP. Both patients underwent successfully surgery for the excision of the plaque and the apposition of a patch of dura mater. The authors want to underlie as the onset of IPP can be sudden, promoted by the resolution of the hypogonadism secondary to pituitary neoplasia, and contemporary to the normalization of testosterone levels.


Abstract:This article examines the process by which Japanese came to be solidified as the national language of instruction in public schools during the first decade of colonial rule (1911–22). First, I analyze Government-General of Korea language policy and the recollections in 1917 by the policy insider Oda Shogō, which reveal a confidence in the efficiency of administration but also a tension between the official discourse on Japanese language nationalization and the perceived proficiency of Korean instructors and students. The March First Movement less than two years later exploded the misconception of a complacent student body and brought to the fore simmering grievances, notably the language of instruction issue in public schools. Through an analysis of the language of instruction debate in the popular press, I demonstrate the rupture that had developed between Japanese officials and the Korean public, an unbridgeable divide due to the impasse between co-educationalists calling for integrated education in Japanese only and "language nationalists" demanding more instruction in Korean. The Second Rescript on Education proclaimed by the Government-General in 1922 thus affirmed the dominant position of Japanese in the curriculum and ensured the continuing vitality of private sŏdang well into the 1920s.


The objective of this study is to determine the dominance effects of environmental factors such as Illuminance (lux), relative humidity (%) and WBGT (°C) on the operators' productivity at Malaysian automotive industry. One automotive parts assembly factory had been chosen as a subject for the study. The subjects were workers at the assembly section of the factory. The environment examined was the Illuminance(lux), relative humidity (%) and WBGT (°C) of the surrounding workstation area. Two sets of representative data including the Illuminance, relative humidity (%) and WBGT (°C) level and production rate were collected during the study. The production rate data were collected through observations and survey questionnaires while the illuminance level was measured using Babuc apparatus which is capable to measure simultaneously those mentioned environmental factors. The time series data of fluctuating level of environmental were plotted to identify the significant changes of factors. Then Taguchi Method is being utilized to find the sequence of dominance factors that contributed to the productivity of operator at the specified production workstation. From there, optimum level for the three factors will be determine for optimum productivity. Further multiple linear regressions were employed to obtain the equation model in order to represent the relationship of these environmental factors towards productivity. The study reveals that the dominant factor contribute to the productivity at the body assembly production line is WBGT and Illuminance whereas the empirical finding is closely related to the perception study by survey questionnaire distribution.


This Research Guide provides links to community resources and information about the rules and regulations designed to keep communities safe despite the toxic presence of lead particles in and around many homes.


This paper describes an evolutionarily plausible description of of a specialized working memory system involved in information management for high-order cognitive tasks through its capability for controlled maintenance and schematic access to symbolic representations. Along a volatile serially accessible symbolic storage that serves a basic maintenance function the system utilizes other accessory volatile memory systems along long-term memory (LTM) and learning systems for execution of schematic access to its content. Accessory systems can help encode the episodic information including the current state of the task and more importantly provide a means for address-based access to the content of symbolic storage. LTM and learning systems help map the current state of the task onto execution programs and thus help render schematic access and process of the retained symbolic information. Implications of this feature of the model are examined for the case if concurrent-counting task.


Background. A gluten-free diet is the only treatment for diseases related to gluten intolerance. Bread is the basic ingredient of any diet. In recent years, we have observed an increase in the availability of gluten-free products on the Polish market, but their quality still differs from traditional products. The production of gluten-free food is associated with many technological difficulties in ensuring that products have the appropriate consistency and texture. Lactose intolerance is also relatively common in people who are newly diagnosed with celiac disease. Therefore, it seems advisable to undertake research aimed at replacing milk with plant-based drinks in a gluten-free bread recipe. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the addition of plant drinks on the quality of gluten-free bread. Milk, soy, almond and rice drinks were used for baking. Gluten-free bread was subjected to a sensory evaluation. The weight, specific weight, volume, moisture, texture and color of the bread were also tested. Results and conclusion. The type of drink used affects both the taste, aroma, structure and texture. Breads with milk substitutes have a less noticeable taste of bread and yeast. However, in the assessment of sensory desirability, the best results were obtained in the case of gluten-free bread with the addition of a soy drink. It was found that the use of plant drinks did not significantly affect the weight after baking, specific weight and moisture. The use of plant-based drinks to obtain gluten-free bread may be an alternative for people on a vegan diet.


Contemporary century humans live in the chaotic ecstasy of communication, along with the disappearance of private space. Public space is no longer a spectacle and private space is no longer a secret. The difference between the inside and the outside is erased along with the ambiguous boundary between public space and private space. The most intimate life, now a life support for virtual media. The media that support contemporary human life today have an impact on simulacra that influences the mind as if the virtual world of the media is real without presenting original reality essentially and fnally simulacra can control humans by trapping them to believe that simulation is real and also to make humans dependent on simulation and can't live without it. The world like this is a concept introduced by Jean Baudrillard which represents no longer the boundary between the real and the false, so that it impacts on the collapse of human social lifebecause it is no longer able to socialize due to the media. Human life will be divided into individuals who carry out activities that they unwittingly distance from each other, and result in a lack of close relations between the people directly. So at that time human social life experienced a collapse caused by the era of media communication simulcra.


Colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with the presence of particular gut microbes, as observed in many metagenomic studies to date. However, in most cases, it remains difficult to disentangle their active contribution to CRC from just a bystander role. This review focuses on the mechanisms described to date by which the CRC-associated microbiota could contribute to CRC. Bacteria like pks+ Escherichia coli, Fusobacterium nucleatum, or enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis have been shown to induce mutagenesis, alter host epithelial signaling pathways, or reshape the tumor immune landscape in several experimental systems. The mechanistic roles of other bacteria, as well as newly identified fungi and viruses that are enriched in CRC, are only starting to be elucidated. Additionally, novel systems like organoids and organs-on-a-chip are emerging as powerful tools to study the direct effect of gut microbiota on healthy or tumor intestinal epithelium. Thus, the expanding knowledge of tumor-microbiota interactions holds promise for improved diagnosis and treatment of CRC. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Cancer Biology, Volume 6 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.


Introduction: Rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS) increases the risk of both atrial fibrillation (AF) and thromboembolism. Methods: Patients with mitral stenosis and normal sinus rhythm were enrolled in the study prospectively.The present study was designed to study whether echocardiographic evaluation in patients with mitral stenosis and normal sinus rhythm could predict the occurrence of symptomatic AF .

RESULTS
Sixty-two patients (51 females) with mitral stenosis and normal sinus rhythm were included in the study. Seven patients (11.3%) developed symptomatic AF and the remaining 55 were free of AF during a followed-up of 22±5 months. The following echocardiographic parameters were significantly increased and predicted the development of AF; left atrial (LA) mediolateral diameter (5.5 ± 0.5 cm vs 4.7 ± 0.7 cm), right atrial mediolateral diameter (4,7 ± 1.0 cm vs 3.6 ± 1.3 cm), LA area in the apical two chamber view ( 31 ± 3.2 cm2 vs 25 ± 5.8 cm2), right atrial volume (52 ± 22 cm3 vs 34 ± 19 cm3), and interatrial conduction time (IACT) (142 ± 22 msec vs 115 ± 16 msec). Conclusions: This study revealed that echocardiography can be used to predict symptomatic AF in patients with RMS and sinus rhythm.


We investigate a generic self-adaptation method to reduce the design effort for System-on-Chip (SoC). Previous self-adaptation solutions at chip-level use circuitries which have been specially designed for the current problem by hand, leading to an elaborate and inflexible design process, requiring specially trained engineers, and making design reuse difficult. On the other hand, a generic self-adaptation method that can be used for various self-adaptation problems promises to reduce the necessary design effort, but may come with reduced performance and other costs. In this paper, we analyze the performance, self-adaptation capabilities and costs of a generic self-adaptation method. The proposed method allows chip-level self-adaptation of a SoC, can tolerate unforeseen events, and can generalize from previous self-adaptation tasks. Furthermore, the method helps to improve the design process by allowing design reuse, providing generic applicability, and offering a uniform design process for various self-adaptation tasks. Simulation results show that the performance of our method lies only 10% below the performance of a perfect, non-adaptive system in the average case, and only 32% in the worst case. In case of unforeseen events, where the performance of a non-adaptive system decreases significantly, the method can keep its performance level by self-adaptation. We also compare other costs involved.


The vision and mission of Universitas Terbuka (UT) is to become a highly qualified open and distance education institution and to provide higher education access to all communities. Graduates of UT are expected to acquire adequate knowledge, hard skills and soft skills. Soft skills play important roles in the world of work. The aim of this article is to describe: (1) whether the open and distance education systems are capable of providing graduates with soft skills, (2) how soft skills are acquired during the period of study, and (3) how are the range of soft skills acquired by graduates and required by stakeholders at work. This article uses 2009 UT tracer study, which employed survey and in-depth interviews to selected respondents and stakeholders. 2.417 pairs data (graduates and stakeholders) were analysed. The rating scales were from 1 (very poor) to 4 (excellent). The attributes analysed were personal, interpersonal and situational skills. The results show that learning systems that are based on individual learning and tutorial did provide graduates with soft skills. Graduates and stakeholders perceived interpersonal skills as fair. In general, soft skills required at work were time management, self-confidence, problem solving, creativity and team-work.


At each time, a firm facing uncertainty over future market conditions have to make a decision whether they should continue to produce or stop the process? As the traditional principle, the firm will go out of production when the price of the typical unit does not cover the average variable cost that it must incur to produce the typical unit. In reality the firm can suffer losses today however it can get more gains tomorrow that is enough to make up the losses. It means that this rule seems not be suitable absolutely in an uncertainty environment. And it leads to a rule that the firm only stop producing if average variable costs of unit exceed the price of unit by a positive amount. This paper expects to find this exceeding amount and when a firm will stop producing. Under uncertainty, the price of unit and the average variables cost are assumed to follow a continuous time stochastic process. We wish to apply the optimal stopping time approach in order to solve it.


Following years of consultations since 8 October 2008 on the proposal of the EU Commission, Directive 2011/83/EU has been published on 22 November 2011. The article introduces briefly the debate prior to the enactment of the legislative proposal, in particular on the level of harmonisation versus approximation of rules, the aims of the directive and the historical context of consumer protection in the Treaty of Rome. In the light of the Lisbon Treaty, the article aims to analyse the legislative intent and to highlight the goals and future outcomes of the 67 recitals from a perspective of common rules as under competition law. The scope of application of the directive shows how much of its substance, particularly on unfair contracts, has been left outside its scope. The article concludes with the need for European codification as to avoid the fragmentation of private law, but it questions the usefulness of such codes for later stages of European integration where 'borders' as trade barriers cease to exist.


The analysis of time-varying temperature field of a composite concrete-steel deck plate under strong solar radiation is carried out in this study. By assuming the temperature distribution along the bridge longitudinal direction is basically constant, one typical segment of the deck plate is investigated. Two-dimensional heat transfer models are utilized to determine the time-dependent temperature distribution of deck plate, deck trough and deck pavement of the bridge. A modified solar radiation model is utilized to predict the variation of solar radiation in a whole day. A thermodynamic model is established and a transient heat transfer analysis is conducted to predict the time-varying temperature distribution of the deck plate at different time. The measured ambient temperature data are used as thermal boundary conditions during the numerical analysis. The made observations demonstrate that the simulated temperature variation of the deck plate based on the modified solar radiation model agrees well with measurement results, as compared with those obtained from the traditional solar radiation model..


This study aimed to identify quality of life and its associated factors within women who are overweight and have noncommunicable diseases. It was a cross sectional study with a convenience sample of 50 adult and elderly women enrolled in an "Academia da Cidade" in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. For quality of life assessment, the WHOQOL-bref was used. A descriptive analysis in addition to uni and multivariate linear regression were conducted. "Social relations" was the domain which most have contributed to quality of life, followed by "physical" domain. Worse quality of life was associated with self-reported presence of gastritis/ulcer (beta = -11.980, p = 0.011), medication use (beta = -7.730, p = 0.035), high per capita consumption of sugar (beta = -0.092, 0.045), elevated body mass index (beta= -1.218, p = 0.048) and high carbohydrate intake (beta = -0.388, p = 0.042). Many factors are associated to quality of life, that should be considered in health programs.


The role of the abscisic acid (ABA) in biosynthesis of raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) and galactosyl cyclitols (Gal-C) in tiny vetch ( Vicia hirsuta [L.] S.F. Gray) seeds was investigated. The ABA was applied through incubation of seed at various stage of its development. The level of RFOs and Gal-C was determined in seed maturing on plant and in seed maturing in vitro. In early stages of V. hirsuta seed development, the ABA activated the biosynthesis of galactinol, although the level of arisen galactinol quickly declined. In the later stages of V. hirsuta seed development ABA had stimulatory effect of RFOs and Gal-C biosynthesis. Influence of ABA on biosynthesis of a-galactosides in Vicia hirsuta seed seems to be dependent on abscisic acid concentration. Low concentration of ABA had stimulatory effect on a-galactosides biosynthesis, but high concentration of ABA inhibited the process.


PURPOSE
To commission and evaluate gated RapidArc radiotherapy of a linear accelerator (Varian TrueBeam) for treatment of moving targets using a programmable dynamic phantom.

METHODS
The phantom used had different dosimetry inserts for measurement of dose and dose distribution. It could be programmed to move in the anterior-posterior and superior-inferior axes with different motion patterns, amplitudes and frequencies to simulate lung motions of patients. A set of 4D CT images was acquired with the aid of a Varian RPM system. Images acquired at the 40, 50 and 60% of the motion cycle were selected and transferred to a treatment planning system (Varian Eclipse) for planning. A two-arc RapidArc treatment plan was generated for a C-shaped target volume with a conformity index of 1.49 and transferred to the TrueBeam for treatment delivery. Dose and dose distribution measurements were performed using a 0.057 cc ionization chamber and radiochromic films, respectively and compared with the TPS calculations. Five treatment fractions were given in three days with two different target motion patterns to assess the consistency of the dose delivery.

RESULTS
Agreement between TPS calculation and measurement were within 1.64% for dose and 3% or 3mm in distance to agreement for dose distribution. Repeatability of dose delivery between treatments was within 0.1% (1SD) in the five treatment fractions delivered in three days. The time required to deliver a dose of 2 Gy to a moving C-shaped target using gated RapidArc technique with two gantry rotations was about 15 minutes.

CONCLUSIONS
The geometric and dosimetric accuracy and consistency of gated RapidArc radiotherapy had been verified. Our study indicated that the accuracy and consistency of the treatment modality were acceptable for clinical implementation.


We consider the single item lot-sizing problem with capacities that are non-decreasing over time. When the cost function is (i) non-speculative or Wagner–Whitin (for instance, constant unit production costs and non-negative unit holding costs) and (ii) the production set-up costs are non-increasing over time, it is known that the minimum cost lot-sizing problem is polynomially solvable using dynamic programming. When the capacities are non-decreasing, we derive a compact mixed integer programming reformulation whose linear programming relaxation solves the lot-sizing problem to optimality when the objective function satisfies (i) and (ii). The formulation is based on mixing set relaxations and reduces to the (known) convex hull of solutions when the capacities are constant over time. We illustrate the use and potential effectiveness of this improved LP formulation on a few test instances, including instances with and without Wagner–Whitin costs, and with both non-decreasing and arbitrary capacities over time.


With a clear emphasis on the business and management elements of information technology, Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition continues to be the ideal resource for upper-level business students and MBA students. Updated to include the latest information technologies, practices, and trends, this book uses more real-world examples and case studies than ever before, providing skills and knowledge that are easily transferable to the business world. From overviews of the information age to online business and business intelligence, readers will gain a sound balance of the technical and business elements of information technology.


Thanks to digitization of industrial assets in fleets, the ambitious goal of transferring fault diagnosis models from one machine to the other has raised great interest. Solving these domain adaptive transfer learning tasks has the potential to save large efforts on manually labeling data and modifying models for new machines in the same fleet. Although datadriven methods have shown great potential in fault diagnosis applications, their ability to generalize on new machines and new working conditions are limited because of their tendency to overfit to the training set in reality. One promising solution to this problem is to use domain adaptation techniques. It aims to improve model performance on the target new machine. Inspired by its successful implementation in computer vision, we introduced Domain-Adversarial Neural Networks (DANN) to our context, along with two other popular methods existing in previous fault diagnosis research. We then carefully justify the applicability of these methods in realistic fault diagnosis settings, and offer a unified experimental protocol for a fair comparison between domain adaptation methods for fault diagnosis problems.


The article gathers the results of 714 complicated reparative operations on aorta, as well as iliac, femoral, and tibial arteries. The author formulated the principles of emergency angiosurgical care. Recommendations concerning surgical tactics in concomitant and multiple injuries are enclosed. The article proves the necessity to use various methods of revascularization of ischemic segments for simultaneous or consecutive treatment during a single hospitalization. The number of lethal cases came down to 5.8%, and postoperative complications--to 12.4%.


A sandwich-structured reduced graphene oxide/germanium/reduced graphene oxide hybrid (denoted as rGO/Ge/rGO) is successfully synthesized through a facile thermal reduction method for the first time. The rGO/Ge/rGO hybrid, with submicron Ge crystals (200–600 nm) uniformly encapsulated in a conductive rGO matrix, offers several favorable features: enough void space to accommodate the volume change, fast electrons and lithium ions transport, and superior structural stability. When acting as the anode in lithium ion batteries (LIBs), rGO/Ge/rGO exhibits significantly improved electrochemical performance compared to that of pure Ge, owing to the sufficient wrapping of Ge by rGO and strong chemical interaction between Ge and rGO. Enhanced reversible specific capacity of 1085 mA h g−1 after 500 cycles can be achieved at 1C rate (1C = 1600 mA g−1) with the capacity loss of ∼0.017% per cycle. Furthermore, the coin-type full cell composed of the rGO/Ge/rGO anode and the LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 cathode delivers a high specific capacity of 940 mA h g−1 with a capacity retention of 93.6% after 100 cycles at 1C rate. Such a sandwich-type rGO/Ge/rGO hybrid, which presents excellent cycle life and remarkably high capacity, is expected to be a promising anode material candidate for further application in next-generation high energy density LIBs and other electrochemical devices.


S cience . Dr. Noitall, you are the world authority on elections, the man who invented the electoral college, the man who showed how tombstones could vote, the man who created the absentee voter.

Noitall . A vast understatement of my true worth.

Science . What do you think of the recent mess in the vote for the president?

Noitall . This is not a mess. This is democracy at its best. The American Constitution is pure genius. What other country could take two dull characters and produce an exciting election?

Science . But there is widespread belief that there have been errors in voting procedures and reporting of results.

Noitall . That only strengthens democracy. People are used to scandals involving celebrities and presidents, but the newspapers rarely mention the meek little citizens whose day-to-day heroics maintain our democracy. Who knows the name of the skipper of a supertanker, the usher in a movie theater, the signaler at a train crossing, the election commissioner of a state; yet those people perform vital functions for a democracy. They are only heard of when something goes terribly wrong. Then they are on prime-time TV. When else have you heard an election commissioner on TV? I call it the democratization of error. In the past, "The Making of the President" was written by some behind-the-scenes guru in the party high command. In the future, it will be written by the precinct worker.

Science . True, but isn't it likely to involve a setback to democracy? Foreigners are already saying we look silly.

Noitall . Nonsense. Society only gets progress on the basis of error. DNA has mutations; elections have mix-ups; airplanes have crashes. You learn from the error and move forward. Error is essential for progress.

Science . But the wise people are saying that we are already spending too much money on elections and these errors are the last straw.

Noitall . You are talking about the pontificators: the columnists, the TV anchors, the taxi drivers, and the barbers. These people don't know what they are talking about. American societal values are based on money. Voters are secretly delighted at news that their vote cost the political party $10,000. Voters in districts where little money is spent have a self-esteem problem.

Science . So you are not even convinced that money and close elections can corrupt the electoral process?

Noitall . Quite the contrary. Making the election more expensive may require better cost-benefit analysis. Kennedy said, after his victory by a narrow Illinois vote, that he was pleased. His father had said he didn't have enough money to buy his son a landslide. Donors might demand an anti-Floridation guarantee as a condition of their support.

Science . So you are not alarmed by the legal wrangles? Do you think that this chad controversy is likely to bring in machines as a requirement for foolproof voting?

Noitall . Big machines are just what the voters won't like. Ambiguity in the laws is conducive to democracy. Each side can say "I was robbed" for different reasons on different occasions. Machines and online voting are too impersonal and too unambiguous. Our great-grandchildren will be hearing stories of the good old days when Gush and Bore ran and people were still going to the polls personally and voting on paper ballots. It was the last great election before the hackers took over and judges and commissioners were replaced by IBM machines.

Science . So you are not hopeful about the future?

Noitall . Not about machines. Part of the excitement of elections is the uncertainty. We've already gone a long way in reducing uncertainty by polling that predicts the outcome. The impeccable machine will complete the image of a rigged election. So the closeness has created new interest by introducing uncertainty where we never expected it. Physicists learned to welcome an uncertainty principle. Fortunately, I think we will be able to perform genetic engineering on voters so they can cope with uncertainty and even enjoy it.


The Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANET) raises as an emerging technology for smart transport as observed in the recent decade. However, there are some hurdles affect the applications of VANET, the advancement of VANET needed to cope up with the requirement of smart transport in smart cities. The routing is the important factor for having effective communication between smart vehicles, which need to be addressed smartly. Many factors affect the communication between the vehicles such as topology fragmentation which results in the phenomenon of Local-Maximum-Problem that lead to packet delivery failure. The traditional routing schemes failed to address the problem of the trade-off between Packet-Delivery-Ratio and the high cost, in term of End-to-End-Delay, of packet recovery from the failures that occurs frequently because of Local-Maximum-Problem. Therefore, this article works out to analyses the performance of existing position-based routing protocols for Inter-vehicle ad-hoc network and introduced Intersection-based Distance and Traffic-Aware Routing (IDTAR) protocol. IDTAR aims to provide optimal performance in environments of smart transport in smart cities. The experiments evaluate IDTAR against famous position-based routing protocols such as GyTAR, A-STAR-SR and GSR considering several densities of vehicles. Simulation result shows that IDTAR protocol has a fewer End-to-End-Delay and high packet delivery ratio in smart cities circumstances. This concludes that IDTAR can be adaptive for smart transport in smart cities communication with some consideration in terms of its security, compatibility and reliability.


Biodiesel is found to be the ideal replacement for petroleum diesel among the alternative fuels. Bio-diesel is a clean burning fuel, produced from renewable resources (vegetable oils both edible and non-edible). It can be used in CI engines as a substitute for diesel oil with least modifications. It is completely miscible with diesel oil and it can be blended with diesel oil in any proportion. It is non-toxic and devoid of sulphur. It is obtained by the transesterification of vegetable oil. In the present investigation, Pungam (Pongamia Glabra) oil was taken up as the raw material. The most important process variables affecting the yield of the process are the percentage of excess alcohol required above the stochiometric requirement, the amount of catalyst used in the reaction and the temperature maintained during the reaction process. In this work, a parametric analysis was done to determine the optimum conditions, which would result in maximum yield of esters. These conditions in turn can be applied for mass production. From this analysis, it wasconcluded that the optimized conditions are 6:1 molar ratio of methanol to Pungam oil, 1.92 weight percent of volumeof Pungam oil as catalyst (KOH) and 55 0 C reaction temperature.


Objective: Electrical power delivered to a load must be of sufficient quality to allow the load to function properly. Source side voltages and currents must be distortion free and of the proper magnitudes and frequencies. Critical equipment may undergo failure if quality power is not provided. So, the electrical voltages and currents flowing through our distribution system has to be monitored and analyzed to ensure quality power and thus proper working of the machineries in a technical institute. This paper presents a Power Quality Survey in a technical institute as per Standards. Methods: A Power Quality Survey has been conducted and the measured parameters are compared against Standards. Simulation study of the complete system is conducted using ETAP 12.5.0 software, so as to understand the existing load flow and harmonic profile. Findings: Current and voltage harmonics was found to be within the limits at PCC. Improvement: Harmonic profile of UPS-Academic block improved, when the old UPS was replaced with a modern numeric UPS.


We treated 80 obese and 28 nonobese children diagnosed as having type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Among these patients, 26 obese and 23 nonobese children were assigned to pharmacologic therapies during the course of diabetes. Pharmacologic therapies were started if the HbA1c (NGSP) value exceeded 7.0% despite dietary and exercise management. For the 26 obese patients, metformin alone or in combination with an additional medication was frequently used. Only 2 patients independently received sulfonylureas (SUs) in the form of glimepiride. In addition, 9 patients were treated with basal insulin supported with oral hypoglycemic drugs (OHDs) or biphasic premix insulin. On the other hand, the 23 nonobese patients were frequently treated with insulin alone or in combination with an additional medication followed by SUs. The nonobese patients tended to require pharmacologic therapies, in particular insulin, at an earlier stage of diabetes as compared with the obese patients. New antidiabetic drugs, DPP-4 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists, seemed to exert positive effects on glycemic control without occurrence of hypoglycemic episodes in some patients regardless of the type of diabetes. These results suggest that pharmacologic treatment strategies in childhood T2DM should be tailored to individual patient characteristics.


Quality beef and pork production becomes more and more important for both producers and consumers. We first establish an integrated approach of the different attributes that producers and consumers attach to 'superior' quality. This results in the clustering of producers in a traditional and conscious group which reveals relevant differences in attitudes but not in valorisation. On the contrary, the clustering of producers in function of their adherence to a label gives clear differences in labour income. Especially specific labels generate higher revenue because they seem to succeed to communicate credence attributes of 'superior' quality to consumers.


Weeds are considered as one of the major factors responsible for current low wheat yield in Bangladesh. Although chemical weed control is well established in many wheat growing countries, in Bangladesh, the herbicides are typically not used by farmers to manage weeds in wheat. Hence, to evaluate the efficacy of pre- and post-emergence herbicides in mechanized drilled sown wheat, a two-year field study was conducted in southwest Bangladesh. The study evaluated the performance of four pre-emergence herbicides (oxadiargyl 80g, pendimethalin 850 g, pyrazosulfuron 15 g, and mefenacet + bensulfuran methyl 550 g a.i. ha-1) applied at 2 days after sowing (DAS) and four post-emergence herbicides (2,4-D 1400 g, ethoxysulfuron18 g, penoxsulam22.5 g, and fenoxaprop 56 g a.i. ha-1) applied at 20 DAS, on weed control efficacy. A season long weed-free and a season long weedy plots were also maintained to compare the results. The weed control option using a single pre- or post-emergence herbicide was not adequate to control weed effectively when weed infestation was relatively higher. The best yield provided by pre-emergence (pendimethalin and oxadiargyl) and post-emergence (2,4-D and ethoxysulfuron) herbicide treatments were respectively 13-15% and 12-17% lower than the yield (4.1-4.2 t ha-1) of weed-free treatment. Post-emergence herbicides fenoxaprop was the best in controlling weeds; however, due to phytotoxic effects on wheat plants, the plots applied with fenoxaprop produced very low yield (2.6-2.8 t ha-1). Similarly, even after good weed control by the post-emergence application of penoxsulam, phytotoxicity on wheat resulting in low yield. The study suggested that the best weed control option for wheat is to use a pre-emergence (pendimethalin or oxadiargyl) followed by (fb) a post-emergence (2,4-D or ethoxysulfuron) herbicides depending upon weed species which would benefit the farmers by providing high weed control efficacy at lower cost compared to manual weeding.


TheArcticOcean is expected to transition into a seasonally ice-free state bymid-century, enhancing Arctic warming and leading to substantial ecological and socio-economic challenges across theArctic region. It has been proposed that artificially increasing high latitude ocean albedo could restore sea ice, but the climate impacts of such a strategy have not been previously explored.Motivated by this, we investigate the impacts of idealized high latitude ocean albedo changes onArctic sea ice restoration and climate. In our simulated 4xCO2 climate, imposing surface albedo alterations over the Arctic Ocean leads to partial sea ice recovery and amodest reduction inArctic warming.With themost extreme ocean albedo changes, imposed over the area 70°–90°N, September sea ice cover stabilizes at ∼40%of its preindustrial value (compared to∼3%without imposed albedomodifications). This is accompanied by an annualmeanArctic surface temperature decrease of∼2 °C but no substantial globalmean temperature decrease. Imposed albedo changes and sea ice recovery alter climate outside theArctic region too, affecting precipitation distribution over parts of the continental United States andNortheastern Pacific. For example, following sea ice recovery, wetter andmilderwinter conditions are present in the Southwest United States while the East Coast experiences cooling.We conclude that although ocean albedo alteration could lead to some sea ice recovery, it does not appear to be an effective way of offsetting the overall effects of CO2 induced global warming.


We have developed novel Al doped zinc oxide (AZO) films, AZO-X films, using d.c. magnetron sputtering process and have investigated their electro-optical properties and their surface morphology. AZO-X films showed a good balance between the transmittance in near-infrared area and the durability under 85°C-85%RH condition. And AZO-X film also had higher haze value after wet chemical etching than the value obtained in normal AZO film. Furthermore, AZO-X films have been applied to amorphous Si (a-Si) single-type solar cells as the front electrodes. The efficiency as high as 10.1% with high short-circuit current has been obtained, showing that this novel AZO-X is the new promising material for front electrode of a-Si solar cells.


the author rejects Leibniz's view tha t mathematics is independent of intuition.—After a short survey of a few of the msny points in which modern logic has superseded or supplemented the traditional theory, the author puts forward the view tha t the development of symbolic logic makes it theoretically possible to formulate a metaphysical theory in the sense of an all-embracing world-view presented in the form of a logico-deductive system; he points to Whitehead's work as an example. Finally, the author deals briefly with the problem of the interpretat ion of the variables in the sentential calculus (cf. Tarski, 28513), which he considers as related to the problem