This study is concerned with the effects of Opposition status upon certain policy positions adopted by a major British political party. Initially five interconnected hypotheses about party policy-making in Opposition are extracted from the existing literature. These hypotheses cover such matters as the role of party opinions in policy formation, the maintenance of policy positions, the nature and presentation of policy content, and the implementation of policy once the party returns to power. In the remainder of the thesis the hypotheses are tested in relation to the policy-making activities of the 1964 to 1970 Conservative Opposition in four linked policy areas: national economic planning, prices and incomes policy, regional policy and policy for the structure of industry. The subsequent analysis falls into four parts. In Parts One and Two the context of Conservative Party action during the 1964 to 1970 period is examined. In Part One five roles which have traditionally been attributed to constitutional Oppositions in the United Kingdom are identified, and their relevance to the policy-making activities of the 1964 to 1970 Conservative Opposition is assessed. In Part Two the policy-making process of the 1964 to 1970 Conservative Opposition is analysed. The various, policy channels which had access to the Party's key policy-making centre are outlined and it is shown that, in contrast to periods when the Party was in Government, in Opposition the opportunities available to intra-party policy channels to influence the content of Conservative policy were extended, and, conversely, those available to extra-party channels declined. In addition, the nature of Conservative ideology and the opinions of Conservative partisans are considered. Two ideological tendencies are isolated (a dirigiste, liberal tendency and an etatiate, tory tendency), and it is argued that during the 1964 to 1970 period the balance of opinions amongst Conservative partisans was biased towards the liberal viewpoint. Part Three contains a detailed analysis of the evolution of policy in the four selected areas during (i) the Conservatives' initial period as Government prior to 1964, (ii) their subsequent period as Opposition (1964-1970), and (iii) their period in office once returned to power (1970-1974), Particular attention is given to the influence of Conservative Party opinion upon the fomulation of policy, and the Conservative Opposition's responses to the development of the 1964 to 1970 Labour Government's programme. In addition, the differences between policies formulated by Conservatives as Opposition and those formulated by them as Government are noted. In Part Four the preceding sections are drawn together. The original hypotheses are assessed and reformulated in the light of the evidence presented in Part Three. Three sets of possible explanations of the way policy stances altered and developed during the Conservatives 1964 to 1970 period as Opposition are considered. Initially factors relating to the personalities and beliefs of key policy-makers and the overall pattern of events are evaluated, and, while not denying the validity of these approaches, it is argued that Opposition status also has explanatory force and deserves consideration. Finally, the policy consequences of three features of the party as Opposition (its policy-making structures its policy-making responsibilities and its goals) are analysed, and it is shown that taken together, these features are liable to produce forms of policy-making and types of policy outcomes which are significantly different from those pursued by the party as Government. The study suggests, contrary to a widely held viewpoint, that party policy statements publicised in Opposition do not offer a reliable means of judging or predicting the policy behaviour of a political party when, and if, it returns to power. In addition, the evidence produced in the thesis implies that the apparent failure on the part of recent governing parties to fully implement their electoral programmes is to some extent a product of the institutional and political conditions which characterise British Opposition politics itself. Thus, the conclusion is drawn that the remedy for any lack of continuity between policies publicised in Opposition and policies implemented in Government lies, not only in strengthening Opposition parties vis-a-vis Governments or Ministers vis-a-vis civil servants, but also in the adoption by Opposition groups of more modest policy-making functions than has recently been the case.


The 2003 call of the ABA for teachers to incorporate domestic violence into the law school curricula remains gravely important today. Domestic violence intersects many areas — from family law, to torts, to criminal law. Along with sexual assault, it is one of the most difficult subjects to teach. Students, like the general public, find it hard to comprehend why a person batters, or why a victim stays with the batterer. While students may learn about domestic violence from case law and scholarly excerpts, the best lessons may be learned through narratives, which provide a window into the reasons for battering and the multi-faceted reasons a victim stays with a batterer. In this article, I describe a teaching approach that incorporates narratives by the award-winning, multi-racial writer, Ai (1947-2010). This valuable approach offers a picture of domestic violence that is more compelling than that of casebooks or statistics, and provides students — as future lawyers — with the ability to respond to clients experiencing domestic violence with greater empathy and understanding.


In this paper a high-performance low-voltage low-power CMOS second-generation current conveyor (CCII) is presented. The proposed CCII is based on super transistor (ST) and enables low input impedance at X terminal and high output impedance at Z terminal. It also utilizes a novel power saving strategy in which a single NMOS cascode current mirror conveys X terminal current to Z terminal, provides high impedance at Z terminal and reduces the X terminal impedance all together resulting in a low-power and compact structure. As another advantage, only NMOS transistors are used in processing voltage and current signals granting the proposed CCII high frequency operation. PMOS transistors are used only for biasing. However, the proposed CCII cannot provide infinite impedance at Y terminal. HSPICE simulations using 0.18 µm parameters and supply voltage of ±0.9 V confirms that the proposed CCII exhibits impedances of 0.155 Ω, 1.6 MΩ and 47 kΩ at X, Z and Y terminals, respectively. Voltage and current bandwidths are also 377 MHz and 159 MHz, respectively. Some of the applications of the proposed CCII are given.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eie.24.2.17948


This volume traces the rise of Rome and the extension of Roman power across Europe, from the viewpoints of both conquerors and conquered, and also Rome's barbarian heirs, covering the period from 1000 BC through to AD 400. The book reconstructs as far as possible the indigenous experience of contact with Rome, showing how Roman domination impacted upon the already complex world of Iron Age Europe, before leaving a new 'barbarian' world in its wake. Using both literary and archaeological evidence, the eight expert contributors analyse the transformation of Europe, and the laying of the foundations of the Middle Ages, including chapters on Iron Age Europe, Roman society, warfare and the army, economy and trade, religions, and the cultural implications of Roman conquest, as well as narrative chapters on war and politics.


Unsupervised Domain adaptation is an effective method in addressing the domain shift issue when transferring knowledge from an existing richly labeled domain to a new domain. Existing manifold-based methods either are based on traditional models or largely rely on Grassmannian manifold via minimizing differences of single covariance matrices of two domains. In addition, existing pseudo-labeling algorithms inadequately consider the quality of pseudo labels in aligning the conditional distribution between two domains. In this work, a deep spherical manifold Gaussian kernel (DSGK) framework is proposed to map the source and target subspaces into a spherical manifold and reduce the discrepancy between them by embedding both extracted features and a Gaussian kernel. To align the conditional distributions, we further develop an easy-to-hard pseudo label refinement process to improve the quality of the pseudo labels and then reduce categorical spherical manifold Gaussian kernel geodesic loss. Extensive experimental results show that DSGK outperforms state-of-the-art methods, especially on challenging cross-domain learning tasks.


Identifying early gene expression responses to hypoxia (i.e., low dissolved oxygen) as a tool to assess the degree of exposure to this stressor is crucial for salmonids, because they are increasingly exposed to hypoxic stress due to anthropogenic habitat change, e.g., global warming, excessive nutrient loading, and persistent algal blooms. Our goal was to discover and validate gill gene expression biomarkers specific to the hypoxia response in salmonids across multi-stressor conditions. Gill tissue was collected from 24 freshwater juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), held in normoxia [dissolved oxygen (DO) > 8 mg L−1] and hypoxia (DO = 4□5 mg L−1) in 10 and 18°C temperatures for up to six days. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was then used to discover 240 differentially expressed genes between hypoxic and normoxic conditions, but not affected by temperature. The most significantly differentially expressed genes had functional roles in the cell cycle and suppression of cell proliferation associated with hypoxic conditions. The most significant genes (n = 30) were selected for real-time qPCR assay development. These assays demonstrated a strong correlation (r = 0.88; p < 0.001) between the expression values from RNA-seq and the fold changes from qPCR. Further, qPCR of the 30 candidate hypoxia biomarkers was applied to an additional 322 Chinook salmon exposed to hypoxic and normoxic conditions to reveal the top biomarkers to define hypoxic stress. Multivariate analyses revealed that smolt stage, water salinity, and morbidity status were relevant factors to consider with the expression of these genes in relation to hypoxic stress. These hypoxia candidate genes will be put into application screening Chinook salmon to determine the identity of stressors impacting the fish.


Populism research usually addresses politicians as part of the criticized elite, but neglects the media. This study explores populist attitudes against the media and their relation to political populism. The study validates the proposed antimedia populism scale and shows that antimedia populist attitudes apply to a specific and small group of German society. Confirming a relationship between political populism and antimedia populist attitudes, the results indicate that citizens who have developed a populist worldview tend to evaluate the media in congruence with this overall ideology and include the media in their conception of a detached elite. Moreover, antimedia populist attitudes are more common among individuals with feelings of relative deprivation and those with antipluralist and authoritarian submission attitudes.


Supplier risks have attracted significant attention in the supply chain risk management literature. In this article, we propose a new computational system based on the 'Fuzzy Extended Analytic Hierarchy Process (FEAHP)' method for supplier selection while considering the relevant risks. We sought to evaluate the opportunities and limitations of using the FEAHP method in supplier selection and analyzed the support of the system developed through the real case of a Brazilian oil and natural gas company. The computational approach based on FEAHP automates supplier selection by determining a hierarchy of criteria, sub-criteria, and alternatives. First, the criteria and sub-criteria specific to the selection problem were identified by the experts taking the relevant literature as a starting point. Next, the experts performed a pair-wise comparison of the predefined requirements using a linguistic scale. This evaluation was then quantified by calculating the priority weights of criteria, sub-criteria, and alternatives. The best decision alternative is the one with the highest final score. Sensitivity analysis was performed to verify the results of the proposed model. The FEAHP computer approach automated the supplier selection process in a rational, flexible, and agile way, as perceived by the focal company. From this, we hypothesized that using this system can provide helpful insights in choosing the best suppliers in an environment of risk and uncertainty, thereby maximizing supply chain performance.


A micropump with the function of ejecting droplet is designed and fabricated. It consists of the three components including the PZT actuator, pump body and nozzle plate. The pump body is made of the silicon while the nozzle plate is formed by nickel electroforming. The nozzle plate with single orifice is assembled to the pump body. The micropump is designed with the rectangular pressure chamber and the diffuser as the dynamic passive valve. It is driven by the PZT actuator which deflects the rectangular diaphragm through a bulge on diaphragm. The design of diaphragm with a bulge makes the assembly of the actuator easier and generates sufficient volume displacement. The volume displacement is not only predicted by ANSYS simulation but also verified by 2-dimensional laser scanning vibrometer. And, the prediction and measurement agree to some extent. The ejected droplets are observed by a visualization setup.


Background: Embalming is a process used to temporarily preserve a human cadaver to forestall decomposi tion
and make it suitable for di splay at funerals; thus, are agents that prevent autolysis and putrefaction. The
outbreak of maggots from a heap of inadequately embalmed bodi es due to deep cuts and bodies involved in
inferno, necessitated the need to re-investigate the efficacy of formalin based embalmi ng fl uid and i ts inabil ity
to kill maggots.
Methodology: Various strength of Formaldehyde, Xyl ene, Kerosene, and, Lime flui d, Isopropanol , Gamalin 20,
Potassi um ferrocyanide, and Physiol ogical saline as control were used i n the investigation. In the present
investigation, Two maggots under the same atmospheric conditi on were put in each of the ten selected
chemical reagents/solutions, including Li me, Kerosene, and the Gamalin 20 that are naturally available were
ini tiall y di spensed into ten glass universal containers. Maggot movements in each reagent solution were
criti cal ly observed.
Result: Maggots death occurred within the fi rst ten mi nutes in test number three groups III that contains
Concentrated Formalin and Xylene and Maggots died after fifteen minute of the experiment, but maggots did not
died until about eight hours after the test in two of the experiment.
Discussion: Results of this investigation showed cl early that Maggots were not killed as soon as expected by the
embalmer when ordinary ten percent alcoholic formalin embalming fluid is used. Equal volume of concentrated
formalin plus Xylene was found out to be effective at ki l ling maggot instantly .
Conclusion: It is therefore advisable to use Xylene plus Conc. Formalin when preserving cadaver i nfested with
Maggot and this could at the same time prevent the occurrence of Maggots Infestation and better preservation
of mass of burnt muti lated corpses in our Mortuary .


Based on the concept of parametric design, this paper realizes the parametric modeling and parametric finite element analysis by utilizing UG/OPEN secondary development tool and APDL module of ANSYS software respectively. This paper also achieves data sharing of CAD/CAE through compiling interface program between UG6.0 and ANSYS10.0. In addition, the remote design and analysis platform has been built by using ASP.NET technology, component technology, and database technology. We take piston-piston rod part of coal mining machine's cutting unit as an example to verify the system. Meanwhile, it proves system can effectively shorten design and analysis cycle time, and reduce workload of designer. Therefore, this software has potential application value in engineering.


The poultry and pig industries have for many years had a focus on feed efficiency (more meat per unit of feed), but the dairy industry has not paid sufficient attention to this. For the past decade Joseph Keenan and Sons has been researching and innovating to raise feed efficiency in dairying and beef production in concert with the sale of its feed mixer wagons. From 2006 onwards it has collected basic production records on the impact of its system on over 64,000 herds and nearly 1 million cows in 26 countries. This paper presents a number of separate approaches to analyse the effect of the system in the first 12-months in Australia/New Zealand, France, Ireland, Northern Europe and the UK. Over 70% of producers coming onto the system make positive margin gains, and the analysis is aimed at characterising the type and scale of response as well as to disentangling the reasons for success and failure. Two forms of graphic analysis have been developed based on a typology of response. Stochastic dominance analysis examines the overall effectiveness of the system and multinomial logit analysis is used to explain response in terms of conditioning factors.


: A new method of treatment of inguinal hernias is proposed. The method is based on projecting the inguinal ring onto the skin under the USI control and using suprainguinal preperitoneal oblique-transverse miniapproach, dissection of the hernia sac, fixing the mesh explant in the preperitoneal space by pi-shaped sutures, thus making the operative trauma minimal and improving the rehabilitation of the operated patients. The clinical topographic-anatomical and ultrasonic methods of investigation were used. The technology was applied in the operative treatment of 89 patients with inguinal hernias. Six episodes of recurrence were noted in the 1-4 year period following the displacement of the mesh explant because of the absence of fixation and little size of the mesh. The proposed technology is an alternative to video-laparoscopic methods of treatment.


Two highly purified IgM cold agglutinins have been mildly reduced yielding 7S subunits, with interchain covalent bonds intact. These subunits retained most of the cold-agglutinin activity as well as the specificity of the parent antibodies. However, as might be anticipated from theories of the importance of antibody size and number of subunits for complement binding, the IgM subunits were only very weakly lytic compared with the intact cold agglutinins. The findings are consistent with the presence of ten antibody-combining sites on the IgM molecule.


Reproductive abnormalities in women with a history of childhood diabetes are believed to be partially attributed to hyperglycemia. Prolonged hyperglycemia can negatively affect the ovarian function and fertility during reproductive life. To address this in an experimental setting, the present study used streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic prepubertal mouse model. The impact of prolonged hyperglycemic exposure during prepubertal life on ovarian function, oocyte quality, and functional competence was assessed in adult mice. The ovarian reserve was not significantly altered; however, the in vitro maturation potential (P < 0.001), mitochondrial integrity (P < 0.01) and meiotic spindle assembly (P < 0.05-0.001) in oocytes were significantly affected in hyperglycemic animals in comparison to control groups. The results from the study suggest that prepubertal hyperglycemia can have adverse effects on the oocyte functional competence and spindle integrity during the reproductive phase of life. Since these changes can have a significant impact on the genetic integrity and developmental potential of the embryos and fetus, the observation warrants further research both in experimental and clinical settings.


Healthcare workers (HCWs), particularly physicians, are a relevant and trusted source of information for patients, especially when health-related choices such as vaccination are concerned. Between July and November 2022, we administered a web-based survey to physicians and dentists living in the Latio region of Italy to explore whether their background might affect their willingness to recommend the COVID-19 vaccination to their patients (RCVtoPat) and their relatives (RCVtoRel). We performed a multivariable logistic regression to study the association between the two outcomes (RCVtoPat and RCVtoRel) and their potential determinants in our sample (n = 1464). We found that being a dentist, an increasing fear of COVID-19, and having been previously vaccinated against flu are positively associated with both RCVtoPat and RCVtoRel, while a better self-rated knowledge of COVID-19 vaccines is associated only with RCVtoRel. No role was found for age, sex, civil status, education level, information sources, previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, and chronic diseases. A sub-group analysis of physicians alone (n = 1305) demonstrated a positive association with RCVtoRel of being specialized in diagnostic/therapeutic services and a negative effect on RCVtoPat of being trained in general practice. We provide useful insights about the factors that should be addressed to ensure HCWs exert a positive influence on their patients and communities.


The assemblages of benthic macroinvertebrates in mangroves and open intertidal areas of the Dar es Salaam coast, Tanzania, was investigated in 2013–2014, revealing 56 species. Higher density, species richness and diversity were recorded in open intertidal areas, compared to nearby mangrove forests. Non-metric multidimensional scaling indicated differences in assemblages between mangrove and open intertidal samples. These differences were confirmed by analysis of similarity. SIMPER identified an average dissimilarity of 97.24% between mangroves and open intertidal samples, most of which were due to the malacostracan Uca annulipes and the gastropod Cerithidea decollata. PRIMER RELATE indicated significant correlation between macroinvertebrate assemblages and the measured physico-chemical parameters salinity, pH, redox potential and sediment particle size, whereas BIOENV and the Monte Carlo permutation test indicated that redox potential, sediment particle size and pH contributed significantly to variation in species composition. Mangroves were dominated by the gastropod C. decollata, and by the malacostracans Neosarmatium africanum and U. annulipes, and open intertidal areas by the bivalves Dosinia hepatica and Eumarcia paupercula. Due to the rich biodiversity in open intertidal ecosystems, it is recommended that conservation efforts along the Tanzanian coast should focus here.


Salt-marsh foraminiferal assemblages serve as a key proxy for reconstructing sea level on multi-decadal to multi-millennial timescales, enabling reconstruction of sea level to potentially within 5 to 15-cm precision. The genus Trochamminita, common in salt-marsh environments, has proven unclear in recent decades with regard to the number of species represented within it. Because different species may possess different preferred elevations relative to sea level, it is important that the number of taxa be elucidated, to ensure future sea-level reconstructions using foraminifera are as precise as possible. Here, using new specimens identified from Pauatahanui Inlet, southern North Island of New Zealand, and Aramoana salt marsh, southern South Island, the agglutinated species Trochamminita irregularis is recognised as likely distinct from Trochamminita salsa, and a new species, Pseudotrochamminita malcolmi (n. gen., n. sp.), is named, having been identified in earlier studies either as specimens of T. irregularis, or of the unrelated species Polysaccammina ipohalina. Trochamminita irregularis and Ps. malcolmi differ from one another in chamber morphology, apertural morphology and number, chamber texture, geographical distribution, and optimal heights relative to sea level.


While exceptional for an intense diversification of lineages, the evolutionary history of the order Rodentia comprises only a limited number of morphological morphotypes for the mandible. This situation could partly explain the intense debates about the taxonomic position of the latest described member of this clade, the Laotian rock rat Laonastes aenigmamus (Diatomyidae). This discovery has re-launched the debate on the definition of the Hystricognathi suborder identified using the angle of the jaw relative to the plane of the incisors. Our study aims to end this ambiguity. For clarity, it became necessary to revisit the entire morphological diversity of the mandible in extant and extinct rodents. However, current and past rodent diversity brings out the limitations of the qualitative descriptive approach and highlights the need for a quantitative approach. Here, we present the first descriptive comparison of the masticatory apparatus within the Ctenohystrica clade, in combining classic comparative anatomy with morphometrical methods. First, we quantified the shape of the mandible in rodents using 3D landmarks. Then, the analysis of osteological features was compared to myological features in order to understand the biomechanical origin of this morphological diversity. Among the morphological variation observed, the mandible of Laonastes aenigmamus displays an intermediate association of features that could be considered neither as sciurognathous nor as hystricognathous.


Targeting customers based on their interest in order to show personalised advertisements helps
companies to improve their revenue. In the retail setting, for showing personalised advertisements
customer segmentation is done. Existing customer segmentation is carried out at Albert Heijn (AH)
based on business rules.
Existing customer segmentation at AH makes use of only a few features. Manually adjusting the
threshold based on a feature can add customers that are not necessarily interested in a product
into the segment. The goal of the project is to add additional customers to existing customer segments
based on the Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm. Enrichment of the segment is done
by adding additional features. It is assumed that customers that are interested in organic products
and other customers are drawn from two different Gaussian distributions. The customers are mathematically
represented as realizations of random variables in a sample space consisting of all the
features and underlying class labels. Based on the mathematical formulation and assumptions, the
algorithm helps to classify if a customer is interested in organic products or not.
In order to show that adding additional features does help to enrich the segment, numerical experiments
are carried out on the synthetic data set. The EM algorithm suffers from locally optimal
solutions and the final parameter estimates depend on the starting parameters. So, numerical experiments
are set up with different initialization of the parameters of the distribution. Based on the
numerical experiments a number of observations is highlighted. The first observation is that adding
additional features does help to enrich the segment. It is also observed that the EM algorithm fails to
differentiate between completely overlapping clusters. The last observation is that the EM algorithm
works best when initialized based on business rules.
The EM algorithm is further applied on the AH data set. Based on visualising the data it can be
observed that that data points are not linearly separable. Similar to the numerical experiments, it is
observed that when features that are highly correlated to the organic segment are added, the algorithm
is able to decrease type 1 and type 2 error and capture most of the relevant customers in order
to enrich the segment. When features that are less correlated to the organic segment are added, the
algorithm gives a higher type 1 and type 2 error.
The problem was formulated mathematically and a framework is provided in order to segment and
enrich existing customer segments. It can be concluded that adding additional features that are
correlated with the organic customers based on business rules helps to enrich the segment. The
EM algorithm is set up which is a soft clustering algorithm and the output is easy to interpret. Further
improvements with respect to initialization of the parameters, can be done based on the results
obtained via A/B testing. A clustering based recommender system is also recommended as future
research.


Chronic use of β2-adrenoceptor agonists as a monotherapy in asthma is associated with a loss of disease control and an increased risk of mortality. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that β2-adrenoceptor agonists, including formoterol, promote biased, β-arrestin (Arr) 2–dependent activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases, ERK1/2, in human airway epithelial cells and, thereby, effect changes in gene expression that could contribute to their adverse clinical outcomes. Three airway epithelial cell models were used: the BEAS-2B cell line, human primary bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) grown in submersion culture, and HBEC that were highly differentiated at an air-liquid interface. Unexpectedly, treatment of all epithelial cell models with formoterol decreased basal ERK1/2 phosphorylation. This was mediated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and involved the inactivation of C-rapidly-activated fibrosarcoma, which attenuated downstream ERK1/2 activity, and the induction of dual-specificity phosphatase 1. Formoterol also inhibited the basal expression of early growth response-1, an ERK1/2-regulated gene that controls cell growth and repair in the airways. Neither carvedilol, a β2-adrenoceptor agonist biased toward βArr2, nor formoterol promoted ERK1/2 phosphorylation in BEAS-2B cells, although β2-adrenoceptor desensitization was compromised in ARRB2-deficient cells. Collectively, these results contest the hypothesis that formoterol activates ERK1/2 in airway epithelia by nucleating a βArr2 signaling complex; instead, they indicate that β2-adrenoceptor agonists inhibit constitutive ERK1/2 activity in a cAMP-dependent manner. These findings are the antithesis of results obtained using acutely challenged native and engineered HEK293 cells, which have been used extensively to study mechanisms of ERK1/2 activation, and highlight the cell type dependence of β2-adrenoceptor–mediated signaling. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT It has been proposed that the adverse effects of β2-adrenoceptor agonist monotherapy in asthma are mediated by genomic mechanisms that occur principally in airway epithelial cells and are the result of β-arrestin 2–dependent activation of ERK1/2. This study shows that β2-adrenoceptor agonists, paradoxically, reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation in airway epithelia by disrupting upstream rat sarcoma–C-rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma complex formation and inducing dual-specificity phosphatase 1. Moreover, these effects were cAMP-dependent protein kinase–dependent, suggesting that β2-adrenoceptor agonists were not biased toward β-arrestin 2 and acted via canonical, cAMP-dependent signaling.


Remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) can be used to measure cardiac activity by detecting the subtle color variation of the human skin tissue using an RGB camera. Recent studies have presented the feasibility and proposed multiple methods to improve the motion robustness for the subject movements. However, enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the rPPG signal is still an important issue for the contactless measurement. In this paper, we conducted an experiment to study the lighting effect on the SNR of rPPG signals. The results point out that different colors of light sources provide different SNR in each RGB channel. By providing the dedicated light sources (λ= 490-620) nm, the SNR of rPPG signals captured from the green color channel can be enhanced. Among the tested light sources, light green provides the most significant improvement from -11.09 to -6.6 dB compared with the fluorescent light.


Abstract The author points out that while a number of serious diseases have been eradicated in the recent past, most people in the world still have no access to basic health services. He argues that public health efforts should be given new priorities. War is of course a scourge which has not been eradicated, despite its immense impact on the state of health of entire populations. The author suggests that the same efforts should be undertaken to prevent armed conflict from breaking out and public health from deteriorating. He discusses a number of ways in which health personnel might contribute to such preventive action. Doctors, nurses and other health professionals are particularly well qualified to participate in such efforts as they are close to those who are affeded by war.


In this paper, numerical simulations were performed for the gas-particle two phase flow in the cold gas dynamic spray process to investigate the acceleration of micro- and nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 100nm to 50μm. Nitrogen (N2 ) and Helium (He) were chosen as the carrier gas, respectively. The acceleration of carrier gas to particles in the De-Laval-Type supersonic nozzle was strongly dependent on the characteristics of flow field, as well as the densities and the size of the particles. Two kind of particles Copper (Cu) and Platinum (Pt) were chosen as the spraying materials. The computed results showed that the flow structures of the carrier gas were very different for different gas and different spraying distance, which resulted in consequently different accelerating features. The cone-shape weak shocks (compression waves) occurred at the exit of divergent section, and the bow-shaped strong shock wave was found right before the substrate, which played a resistance role to the particles and prevented the smaller particles from approaching on the substrate.Copyright © 2005 by ASME


Mission statements of most HEIs across the UK support 'student centred learning'. In this paper, it is suggested that 'teacher centred teaching' should also have a major role to play, improving the quality of the learning experience in higher education. Students are extremely diverse in their skills, weaknesses, and learning styles, but lecturers are just as diverse in their abilities and areas of expertise. Moreover, teaching methods are now more varied than ever before (e.g. lectures, tutorials, workshops, labs, ebl/pbl, on-line provision, transferable skills exercises), often requiring specialist skills that not every university lecturer possesses. Identifying those strengths and weaknesses, and building our teaching around the qualities of our teachers, is surely one way of improving the student learning environment, and perhaps leading to happier students and more fulfilled lecturers.


Abstract. A study of the evolution of raindrop spectra (raindrop size distribution, DSD) between cloud base and the ground surface was conducted using a column model of stochastic coalescense-breakup dynamics. Numerical results show that, under steady-state boundary conditions (i.e. constant rainfall rate and DSD at the top of the rainshaft), the equilibrium DSD is achieved only for high rain rates produced by midlevel or higher clouds and after long simulation times (~30 min or greater). Because these conditions are not typical of most rainfall, the results suggest that the theoretical equilibrium DSD might not be attainable for the duration of individual rain events, and thus DSD observations from field experiments should be analyzed conditional on the specific storm environment under which they were obtained.


In Switzerland, the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is administered rather restrictively for risk assessment of recidivism among violent and sexual offenders. The aim of the present study was a first-time evaluation of the predictive validity of the PCL-R for violent and sexual recidivism in Switzerland. The PCL-R scores of 96 violent and sex offenders were evaluated by collecting the data in their psychiatric expert opinions. The scores were then compared to the rates of recidivism as shown in the criminal records. Consistent with previous studies in North America and Europe, the determined predictive accuracy was satisfying. This degree of precision supports the use of the PCL-R for risk assessment of sexual and violent recidivism in Switzerland, as long as the instrument does not constitute the sole criterion to determine future recidivism, but is applied only in combination with a thorough clinical evaluation. The use of precise cut-off scores did not prove to be a valid criterion for the prognosis of recidivism and can therefore not be recommended for Swiss offenders.


Author(s): Wells, Hallie | Advisor(s): Briggs, Charles L; Hanks, William F | Abstract: Through an analysis of slam poetry performance in Madagascar, where poets are encouraged to express themselves freely but also to "manage" this freedom, this dissertation illuminates how speakers determine what kinds of speech are possible and appropriate in various contexts, how they perform authority, and how they anticipate and manage the consequences of their speech. Slam—a performance poetry competition created in Chicago in the 1980s—has become a popular literary and social movement around the world, but in Madagascar it has flourished in a context that includes pre-colonial genres of verbal art that are central to everyday life and to politics. In many of these genres, and especially in kabary—a form of oratory that ceremonializes major social and political events—public speech has long been reserved for elder men. Slam's insistence on "free expression" thus constitutes a radical break from long-standing notions of the social roles and risks associated with public speech. As slam poets and audiences navigate the terrain of "managed freedom" in live events as well as videos that circulate online, they forge an entirely novel mode of authoritative public discourse on the slam stage and the Facebook page in a plurilingual and rapidly urbanizing postcolonial context. This research, based on a total of twenty-two months of multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork in multiple cities across Madagascar and in Paris, France, advances scholarly debates on performance, aesthetics, media, embodiment, and politics. It is also a timely intervention into the fierce debates currently raging around the possibilities and limitations of liberal framings of "free speech." This dissertation treats the concept of free speech as historically and contextually specific rather than abstract and generalizable, and illuminates how speakers balance liberal discourses of individual freedoms with notions of responsibility and accountability, dialogic authority, and embodied relationality.


Abstract. The submarine part of the North Anatolian Fault (NAF) is a very significant hazard for the 12 million people living in Istanbul (Turkey). An accurate seismic risk assessment necessitates paleoseismological data, which can be retrieved in the Marmara Sea by using sedimentary cores. Here, a record of turbidites was obtained in five cores, spanning the Tekirdag Basin, the Western High and the Central Basin linked by the Tekirdag fault segment. The turbidites are synchronous at different sites across the two basins and through the structural high pointing to shaking by earthquakes as a triggering mechanism. In particular, the M = 7.4 1912 Murefte earthquake left a distinctive sedimentary imprint in all the studied cores. Radiocarbon dating implies a turbidite recurrence interval of about 300 yr. The low number of seismo-turbidites documented in the Central Basin compared to the Tekirdag Basin suggests quasi-synchronous ruptures of the Tekirdag Segment and the adjacent Central Segment of the NAF or a partial seismic slip on the Central Segment. Both scenarios have implications regarding seismic hazard. Finally, though we obtained a paleoseismological record of the ruptures along the Tekirdag Segment, further chronological constraints are needed to better date the events and to confirm the completeness of the obtained record.


Although the description of the emplacement (Cluzel et al., 2001) and the weathering (Trescases, 1975; Latham, 1986; Chevillotte et al., 2006) of the New Caledonia peridotites is well documented in the literature, the knowledge and the age of formation of the landsurfaces formed upon the ultrabasic massifs are poorly documented. Several surfaces have been recognised along the island but no reliable ages could be attributed to the associated regolith. In fact, the overthrust of the Ophiolitic Nappe in the South is stratigraphically constrained by a younger autochthonous olistostrom dated by Late Priabonian pelagic foraminifera (Cluzel et al., 1998). The supergene weathering being still active, the beginning of the ferruginisation of the various plateaux is not well constrained and estimated to have occurred between 34 Ma and Actual. The processes of absolute dating are not relevant to these weathering profiles (K-Mn oxides are poorly concentrated). Ferricretes and various ferruginous materials have the potential to record the ancient geomagnetic field providing means of age determination. In tropical soils, most of the primary remanence carring minerals are dissolved during weathering and secondary magnetic minerals, such as goethite and haematite, are formed in situ acquiring a crystallisation (or chemical) remanent magnetization (CRM). The paleomagnetic pole recovered by demagnetizing the CRMs are plotted on the local apparent polar wandering (APWP) reference curve providing an age for the different parts of the paleoweathering profiles. The data and interpretations we present here are based on paleomagnetic analysis of ferricretes of Goro and Tiebaghi. The preliminary results suggest, for the first time ever, well constrained ages between 20 and 25 Ma of major ferruginisation stages of the peridotites of New Caledonia.


Each year, billions of dollars in online spending are lost due to consumers' fears about information security. Many studies are concerned with methods reduce perceived risk in online transactions. Of the studies that evaluate the effect of structural assurances, few use actual or simulated purchasing scenarios. This study uses a simulated purchasing scenario where participants were shown either a graphical privacy statement or a textual statement. They were then surveyed on what personal information they would share and their intent to purchase from the website. The results from this sample led to the conclusion that willingness to share increased amounts of information did not result in increased intent to purchase. In addition, the simple graphical statement read did not increase purchasing intent. Finally, there was no moderating effect of statement type on willingness to share information.


Received: 10.01.2013 This study reports the effect of some essential oils (EOs) and of some of their major fractions on soluble virulence factors and quorum sensing (QS) gene expression profiles of 15 Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical strains. EOs were extracted from various angiosperm and gymnosperm vegetal taxons by hydrodistillation in a Neo-Clevengertype apparatus and characterized by measuring the density and refractive index, as well as by gas chromatographic analysis. EOs and their major components proved to inhibit the phenotypic expression of six soluble virulence determinants (haemolysins, gelatinase, DN-ase, lipase, amylase, esculin hydrolysis) when used in sub-inhibitory concentrations, in both P. aeruginosa and S. aureus strains. EOs extracted from Salvia officinalis, Rosmarinus officinalis, Abies alba and Eugenia caryophyllata as well as some of their major compounds (limonene, eugenol and eucalyptol) inhibited QS genes expression in S. aureus, while in P. aeruginosa only E. caryophyllata EO proved to inhibit both las and rhl QS genes expression. Our results demonstrate that essential oils are efficient candidates for developing novel ecological antimicrobial strategies aiming to attenuate the pathogenicity and virulence of opportunistic pathogens isolated from severe infections.


The mechanism by which sex steroids rapidly modulate the excitability of neurons was investigated by intracellular recording of neurons in rat medial amygdala brain slices. Brief hyperpolarization and increased potassium conductance were produced by 17 beta-estradiol. This effect persisted after elimination of synaptic input and after suppression of protein synthesis. Thus, 17 beta-estradiol directly changes the ionic conductance of the postsynaptic membrane of medial amygdala neurons. In addition, a greater proportion of the neurons from females than from males responded to 17 beta-estradiol.


We analyze the statistical properties of nonparametric regression estimators using covariates which are not directly observable, but have be estimated from data in a preliminary step. These so-called generated covariates appear in numerous applications, including two-stage nonparametric regression, estimation of simultaneous equation models or censored regression models. Yet so far there seems to be no general theory for their impact on the final estimator's statistical properties. Our paper provides such results. We derive a stochastic expansion that characterizes the influence of the generation step on the final estimator, and use it to derive rates of consistency and asymptotic distributions accounting for the presence of generated covariates.


ABSTRACT Several strains that grow on medium-chain-length alkanes and catalyze interesting hydroxylation and epoxidation reactions do not possess integral membrane nonheme iron alkane hydroxylases. Using PCR, we show that most of these strains possess enzymes related to CYP153A1 and CYP153A6, cytochrome P450 enzymes that were characterized as alkane hydroxylases. A vector for the polycistronic coexpression of individual CYP153 genes with a ferredoxin gene and a ferredoxin reductase gene was constructed. Seven of the 11 CYP153 genes tested allowed Pseudomonas putida GPo12 recombinants to grow well on alkanes, providing evidence that the newly cloned P450s are indeed alkane hydroxylases.


Signals from the T cell receptor cause T cell activation if signaling also occurs through costimulatory receptors. But activation of the T cell receptor alone causes the cells to become unresponsive or anergic, producing immune tolerance. Macián et al. report that, in fact, activation of the same transcription factor--NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells)--is critical for signaling both activation and tolerance. NFAT is well known to participate in calcium-dependent gene expression in activated T cells. The authors used transcriptional arrays to identify a set of genes whose expression was increased in anergic cells. Mouse T cells lacking NFAT were resistant to induction of anergy in vitro and showed reduced expresssion of genes normally expressed in response to anergic signals. To cause a productive immune response, NFAT interacts with another transcription factor, AP-1. But expression of constitutively active NFAT induced anergy even if the protein was modified to disrupt interaction with AP-1 complexes. The authors point out that the NFAT-AP1 interface might be a useful target for agents designed to suppress immune response as required, for example, in transplant patients. F. Macián, F. García-Cózar, S.-H. Im, H. F. Horton, M. C. Byrne, A. Rao, Transcriptional mechanisms underlying lymphocyte tolerance. Cell 109, 719-731 (2002). [Online Journal]


This article explains the relationship between social habitus, social mobility and shame feelings using Elias's theoretical frame of figurational sociology. Much work to date has centred on Bourdieu's theoretical formulations and while there are clear parallels with Elias, significant differences exist. Elias identified how shame functions as a key channel for the transmission of social tensions generated by the structure of social relations into the social habitus of individuals. We explain how apparently rational decision-making in organisations obscures the emotional dynamics of shame and fear connected with processes of social elevation, habitus change and shifting power relations between social classes. Our empirical case concerns the brewer Arthur Guinness & Sons Ltd and the decision in 1927 to sanction a direct advertising campaign in Britain for the first time.


Abstract Coronaviruses have caused enough devastation in the last two decades. These viruses have some rare features while sharing some common features. Novel coronavirus disease (nCoV-19) caused an outbreak with a fatality rate of 5%. It emerged from China and spread into many countries. The present research focused on genome analysis of Indian nCoV-19 Isolate and its translational product subjected to homology modeling and its subsequent molecular simulations to find out potent FDA approved drug for treating COVID-19. Phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Indian isolate shows close resemblance with 17 countries SARS-CoV-2 isolates. Homology modeling of four non-structural proteins translational product of Indian SARS-CoV-2 genome shows high similarity and allowed regions with the existing PDB deposited SARS-CoV-2 target proteins. Finally, these four generated proteins show more affinity with cobicistat, remdesivir and indinavir out of 14 screened FDA approved drugs in molecular docking which is further proven by molecular dynamics simulation and MMGBSA analysis of target ligand complex with best simulation trajectories. Overall our present research findings is that three proposed drugs namely cobicistat, remdesivir and indinavir showed higher interaction with the model SARS-CoV-2 viral target proteins from the Indian nCoV-19 isolate. These compounds could be used as a starting point for the creation of active antiviral drugs to combat the deadly COVID-19 virus during global pandemic and its subsequent viral infection waves across the globe. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma


Characterizing how physical and psychological symptoms interact in heart transplant recipients may lead to advances in therapeutic options. This study examined associations between pain and major depression. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with adult heart transplant recipients. Pain was measured with the bodily pain domain of the Short Form-36 Health Survey and psychological distress with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10). The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, version 6.0, was used to identify participants meeting the criteria for major depression. Hierarchical linear regression was used to determine if there was an association between pain and major depression, controlling for pharmacological treatment of depression, severity of psychological distress, and clinical characteristics including immunosuppression medication which may induce pain as a side effect. Results: Average pain score of the 48 heart transplant recipients was 43 (SD ± 10, range 0–100, lower scores indicate worse pain), with moderate pain reported by 39% (n = 19). Major depression was associated with worse pain (R 2 change = 36%, β = −16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [−30, −4], p = .012). Pharmacological treatment for depression was associated with better pain scores (R 2 change = 1.5%, β = 13, 95% CI [4, 23], p = .006). Conclusions: Heart transplant recipients with major depression had worse pain after controlling for pharmacological treatment of depression, severity of psychological distress, and clinical characteristics. Thus, it is imperative that clinicians devising a treatment regimen for pain in heart transplant recipients take into account co-occurring depression and vice versa.


Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not "Is wet cupping effective in decreasing persistent nonspecific low back pain in adults?" Study Design: Review of 3 RCTs published between 2009current, all in the English language. Data Sources: Three RCTs analyzed the effectiveness of wet cupping on the reduction of persistent nonspecific low back pain (PNSLBP) compared to a control group using other various analgesic therapies. All studies were found on EBSCOhost and were selected based on relevance to the question and being a POEM. Outcomes measured: All of the articles analyzed the effectiveness of wet cupping in decreasing persistent nonspecific low back pain. The Present Pain Intensity Scale (PPI), Medication Quantification Scale (MQS), Oswestry Disability Questionnaire/Index (ODQ/ODI), and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Statistical significance was measured using ANCOVA, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, independent t tests, and NNT. Results: All 3 studies showed a statistically significant decrease in low back pain post intervention on at least one measured outcome. Farhadi et al found a statistically significant change (p<0.01) on all 3 scales at 3 months post intervention. Albedah et al also found that there was a statistically significant decrease in low back pain (p=0.0001) on all 3 scales at both primary end point and follow up. Kim et al showed that this decrease was not significant on the NRS scale, both at primary end point (p=0.37) and follow up (p=0.15), as well as the ODQ scale at both points of analysis (p>0.05). There was a significant decrease in low back pain on the PPI scale at both primary end point and follow up (p<0.01). Conclusion: The RCTs discussed in this review suggest that wet cupping may be an effective treatment for PNSLBP. The inconclusive results in Kim et al complicate the ability to confirm or rebut the hypothesis. Further studies are also warranted to implement a placebo effect, determine the number of sessions for maximum length of analgesia, as well as utilize wet cupping as an additional treatment to other forms of therapeutic modalities.


The present paper discusses the potential of Cognitive Linguistics in the study of Specific Language Needs, i.e. pupils with specific impairment in the areas of communication and language acquisition. The paper is ideally divided into two parts. Part one provides a brief overview of how Cognitive Linguistics views the relationship between language and cognition and discusses clinical evidence supporting the idea that these are interrelated in developmental disorders. Consequently, Specific Language Needs should be reframed as cognitive limitations that selectively impact the development of language and communication. The second part of the paper shows that adopting a cognitive linguistic view can also be advantageous in the teaching of second/foreign languages to pupils with Specific Language Needs. After discussing the limitations of traditional approaches to the teaching of grammar, the authors present some potential applications which help overcome some typical learning difficulties experienced by pupils with Specific Language Needs.


• Plasma norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH) activity may be altered by changes in posture, pulse rate, and BP. Twenty-three drug-free schizophrenic, ten schizoaffective, and 24 normal control subjects, and a separate group of eight schizophrenic patients treated with chlorpromazine hydrochloride and haloperidol comprised the sample. Drug-free schizophrenic patients showed higher plasma NE levels while standing and higher pulse rates when supine and standing than normal subjects. Following chlorpromazine therapy, but not following haloperidol treatment, plasma NE level increased with patients supine and standing, pulse rate increased with patients standing, and systolic BP decreased with patients standing. These findings suggest (1) a decreased peripheral α-adrenergic postsynaptic receptor sensitivity in schizophrenia and (2) a peripheral α-adrenergic blocking mechanism in chlorpromazine-induced hypotension.


In recent years, there are more and more critical services being developed on the Internet with high requirements on availability and reliability. Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) has become widespread and many web services have already been attacked. Server farms are one of the key approaches to improving the availability and reliability. However, due to the high maintenance cost and the "site disaster" problem of server farms, we are looking for cheaper infrastructure that is logically and geographical distributed to provide highly reliable services in spite of attacks and server failures. In this paper we provide highly reliable, attack resilient servers by using P2P farms of volunteers. The volunteer group can be dynamically constructed, is scalable and is resistant to service failures resulting from a the loss of a few peers.In our approach, the system will first form a self-organizing group of peers who are interested in a service. Then statistical and operational data, service response delay, client request pattern, and so on are collected. Finally, the system applies this information to select new servers, and integrate into the server farm till the target level of service is met.


Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the commonest form of disturbed cardiac rhythm. Hundreds of thousands of AF ablations are annually performed worldwide using different energy sources. One of the most popular methods is radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA). This treatment is fraught with various risks being a highly complicated technical procedure. This review paper presents data on the most frequent complication of RFA, their frequency, causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Much attention is given to the recognition and prevention of possible complications.


ABSTRACT Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) is a metabolic enzyme implicated in cancer cell metabolic reprogramming. This is underscored by the detection of functional, somatic IDH1 mutations frequently found in secondary glioblastoma. To our knowledge, there has never been a reported, validated case of an IDH1 mutation in a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Herein, we present a case of a patient with metastatic PDA that harbored a potentially actionable, albeit rare, IDH1 mutation. As part of the Know Your Tumor project (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network), a 48-year-old female was diagnosed with metastatic PDA and subsequently started on standard of care chemotherapy, during which her hepatic lesions progressed. Detailed molecular profiling was performed on a biopsy from a liver lesion that demonstrated an IDH1 mutation, R132H. This mutation was confirmed by an independent sequencing reaction from the tumor sample, and by immunohistochemistry using an antibody specific for the IDH1 R132H mutation. The patient subsequently received a mutant IDH1 inhibitor (AG-120, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA), but with no response. IDH1 mutations are common in certain cancer types, but have not been reported in PDA. We report the first case of an IDH1 mutation in this tumor type, perhaps providing a rare opportunity for a targeted therapy as a treatment option for PDA.


Aurora kinases are involved in mitotic events that control chromosome segregation. All members of this kinase subfamily possess two distinct domains, a highly conserved catalytic domain and an N-terminal non-catalytic extension that varies in size and sequence. To investigate the role of this variable non-catalytic region we overexpressed and purified Xenopus laevis auroraA (pEg2) histidine-tagged N-terminal peptide from bacterial cells. The peptide has no effect on the in vitro auroraA kinase activity, but it inhibits both bipolar spindle assembly and stability in Xenopus egg extracts. Unlike the full-length protein, the N-terminal domain shows only low affinity for paclitaxel-stabilised microtubules in vitro, but localises to the centrosomes in a microtubule-dependent manner. When expressed in Xenopus XL2 cells, it is able to target the green fluorescent protein to centrosomes. Surprisingly, this is also true of the pEg2 catalytic domain, although to a lesser extent. The centrosome localisation of the N-terminal peptide was disrupted by nocodazole whereas localisation of the catalytic domain was not, suggesting that in order to efficiently localise to the centrosome, pEg2 kinase required the non-catalytic N-terminal domain and the presence of microtubules.


ABSTRACT This study examines interreligious marriage from a legal perspective and analyses the historical and empirical evidence for it from the eastern Indonesian island of Lombok. It situates interfaith marriage at the centre of a discursive battle between religion, law, and custom (adat) and as a locus of contestation and negotiation between state, community, and religious leaders, as well as the couples involved and their extended families and communities. Building on Charles Collier's theory of 'institutional authority' and Saba Mahmood's 'personal autonomy', the article argues that issues related to interfaith marriage can be resolved through institutional authority and personal autonomy. Institutional authority constitutes an established structure of power and representation created by the state to manage its people and to serve their interests. Such authority works for, and is contested in, resolving tensions over interreligious interactions, including traditional interfaith marital elopement practised by Muslim and Hindu communities. Although Muslim–Christian relations have occasionally been unstable, interfaith unions rarely become an issue since those marriages reflect more interpersonal than intercommunal relationships, whose settlement is contingent upon personal autonomy.


Twenty-four crossbred primiparous sows were used to investigate the influence of insulin administration after weaning on the intrafollicular insulin-like growth factor i (IGF-I) system. Sows received 0.4 i.u. insulin kg-1 bodyweight or an equivalent volume of saline for 3 days (n = 5 insulin; n = 4 saline) or 5 days (n = 5 insulin; n = 6 saline) after weaning or served as untreated controls on day 1 (n = 4). The number and diameters of ovarian follicles were recorded, and fluid was aspirated from the 20 largest follicles for determination of oestradiol and IGF-I by radioimmunoassay and of insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) by western ligand blotting. The walls of the follicles were collected for mRNA analysis by RNase protection assay or granulosa cells were collected for estimation of apoptosis by flow cytometry. Insulin treatment resulted in smaller diameters of all follicles (P < 0.05) and tended (P < 0.07) to increase the number of follicles available on day 5 compared with saline-treated animals (19.8 versus 17.8). The concentration of oestradiol in follicular fluid from large (7-10 mm) follicles on days 3 and 5 was reduced (treatment by size class interaction; P < 0.05) by insulin treatment. Insulin also reduced intrafollicular concentrations of IGF-I at days 3 and 5 after weaning (treatment by day interaction; P < 0.02) while the amounts of IGFBP-3 and IGFBPs of molecular mass 30 and 22 kDa decreased from day 3 to day 5 in saline-treated animals only (treatment by day interaction; P < 0.05). Gene expression for IGF-I increased in saline-treated animals but decreased fourfold in insulin-treated sows from day 3 to day 5 (treatment by day interaction; P < 0.002). Gene expression for IGFBP-d decreased (P < 0.04) from day 3 to day 5, while expression of IGFBP-2 was unaffected by treatment or day. Overall, insulin influenced the IGF-I system in a manner consistent with slowing follicular growth and possibly allowed more follicles to become available for ovulation.


*These authors contributed equally to this work Purpose: Some circular RNAs have been found to be effective therapeutic targets for OC. However, the biological function of circ_0007444 in OC is still unknown. Thus, this study investigated the role of circ_0007444 in OC progression. Methods: circ_0007444 expression was monitored in 87 OC patients and OC cells by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. An in vitro study was performed to research the biological function of circ_0007444, including cell counting kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay, and transwell experiment. Luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were used to reveal the interaction between circ_0007444, miR-570-3p, and PTEN. PTEN protein expression was determined by Western blot. In vivo study was performed using nude mice. Ki67, PTEN expression, and apoptosis in xenograft tumors was respectively researched by immunohistochemistry and Tunel assay. Results: circ_0007444 was down-regulated in 87 OC patients, which was related to advanced tumor stage and grade, large tumor size, and low 60-month percent survival (P<0.05 or P<0.01). circ_0007444 inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promoted apoptosis of OC cells (P<0.01). circ_0007444 promoted PTEN expression via sponging miR-570-3p. miR-5703p up-regulation and PTEN down-regulation reversed the inhibitory effect of circ_0007444 on OC cells malignant phenotype (P<0.01). circ_0007444 inhibited OC growth in vivo. In xenograft tumor, circ_0007444 decreased Ki67 expression but increased PTEN expression and apoptosis. Conclusion: circ_0007444 is a tumor suppressor in OC, which inhibits OC progression by mediating the miR-570-3p/PTEN. circ_0007444 can be a potential candidate for targeted therapy of OC.


Automated Fare Collection (AFC) systems have been globally deployed for decades, particularly in the public transportation network where the transit fee is calculated based on the length of the trip (a.k.a., distance-based pricing AFC systems). Although most messages of AFC systems are insecurely transferred in plaintext, system operators did not pay much attention to this vulnerability, since the AFC network is basically isolated from the public network (e.g., the Internet)—there is no way of exploiting such a vulnerability from the outside of the AFC network. Nevertheless, in recent years, the advent of Near Field Communication (NFC)-equipped smartphones has opened up a channel to invade into the AFC network from the mobile Internet, i.e., by Host-based Card Emulation (HCE) over NFC-equipped smartphones. In this paper, we identify a novel paradigm of attacks, called LessPay, against modern distance-based pricing AFC systems, enabling users to pay much less than what they are supposed to be charged. The identified attack has two important properties: 1) it is invisible to AFC system operators because the attack never causes any inconsistency in the back-end database of the operators; and 2) it can be scalable to affect a large number of users (e.g., 10,000) by only requiring a moderate-sized AFC card pool (e.g., containing 150 cards). To evaluate the efficacy of the attack, we developed an HCE app to launch the LessPay attack; and the real-world experiments demonstrate not only the feasibility of the LessPay attack (with 97.6% success rate) but also its low cost in terms of bandwidth and computation. Finally, we propose, implement and evaluate four types of countermeasures, and present security analysis and comparison of these countermeasures on defending against the LessPay attack.


This work investigates the influence of diffusion adaptation on the behavior of networks of micro-organisms that are subject to Brownian fluctuations in the motion of their constituent agents. The organisms are assumed to share information, usually through chemical signaling. The information may signal the direction of a target (such as a foreign body) towards which the cells need to migrate. The sharing of information enables the nodes to bias the probabilities of their random walks in favor of the desired direction of motion. It is verified that the adaptive diffusion of direction information enhances the foraging and tracking ability of the cells.


We present four high dynamic range, dual-circular polarization, Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations at 22 GHz of Mrk 421, taken throughout the year following the source's unprecedented gamma-ray high state in early 2001. Previous VLBI observations of this source had shown only subluminal apparent motions in the parsec-scale jet and no apparent connection between jet components and gamma-ray flares, so we examined whether the larger gamma-ray flares of 2001 had produced a component that could be followed on the parsec-scale VLBA images. These four new VLBA observations are combined with data from our earlier 1999 paper and archival VLBA data sets that have become available since 1999 to produce a combined 28 epoch VLBA data set on Mrk 421 spanning 1994-2002. No new component associated with the 2001 flares was seen on the total intensity images, but the combined data set allowed precise measurements of the apparent speeds of the existing components. The peak measured apparent speed was for component C5, which has an apparent speed of 0.1c ± 0.02c (H0 = 71 km s-1 Mpc-1, Ωm = 0.27, and ΩΛ = 0.73). No counterjet is seen with a limit on the jet to counterjet brightness ratio J >~ 100. These observed VLBI properties of Mrk 421 are consistent with a jet with a bulk Lorentz factor Γ ~ 2 and an angle to the line of sight θ ~ 1°, suggesting a jet that decelerates between the gamma-ray producing region and the parsec scale. Although a limb-brightened structure is seen in some transverse slices across the jet, it is not seen consistently, inhibiting interpretation in terms of the fast-spine/slow-layer model that has been invoked for other sources. The VLBI core and inner jet (component C7) have fractional polarizations of ~5% and an electric vector position angle (EVPA) aligned with the jet axis. Component C5 (at 1.5 mas from the core) has a higher fractional polarization of ~15% and an EVPA nearly orthogonal to the jet axis. Significant variability is detected in the EVPA of component C6, which at two of the four epochs shows an EVPA aligned with the jet axis, possibly a sign of propagating disturbances that are only visible on the polarization images. If these propagating disturbances are linked to the 2001 gamma-ray high state, then their inferred apparent speed is between 1c and 3c.


The 99mTcO4-uptake (TcTU) was measured in 363 clinically and by laboratory findings euthyroid patients without history of hyper- or hypothyroidism, no evidence of iodine contamination and with a Delta-TSH <2,5 IU under a longterm suppressive thyroxine therapy. The medians of TcTU in the different regional groups from the Federal Republic of Germany (mail zip code 2000-8000) were not statistically different from each other, indicating that under suppression with thyroxine the effect of the iodine supply on TcTU is nearly negligible, and that, using the same method, results from different nuclear medicine departments should not differ significantly from each other.


This thesis presents the results of an investigation into the use of puzzle-based combinatorial structures for erasure correction purposes. The research encompasses two main combinatorial structures: the well-known number placement puzzle Sudoku and a novel three component construction designed specifically with puzzle-based erasure correction in mind. The thesis describes the construction of outline erasure correction schemes incorporating each of the two structures. The research identifies that both of the structures contain a number of smaller sub-structures, the removal of which results in a grid with more than one potential solution a detrimental property for erasure correction purposes. Extensive investigation into the properties of these sub-structures is carried out for each of the two outline erasure correction schemes, and results are determined that indicate that, although the schemes are theoretically feasible, the prevalence of sub-structures results in practically infeasible schemes. The thesis presents detailed classifications for the different cases of sub-structures observed in each of the outline erasure correction schemes. The anticipated similarities in the sub-structures of Sudoku and sub-structures of Latin Squares, an established area of combinatorial research, are observed and investigated, the proportion of Sudoku puzzles free of small sub-structures is calculated and a simulation comparing the recovery rates of small sub-structure free Sudoku and standard Sudoku is carried out. The analysis of sub-structures for the second erasure correction scheme involves detailed classification of a variety of small sub-structures; the thesis also derives probabilistic lower bounds for the expected numbers of case-specific sub-structures within the puzzle structure, indicating that specific types of sub-structure hinder recovery to such an extent that the scheme is infeasible for practical erasure correction. The consequences of complex cell inter-relationships and wider issues with puzzle-based erasure correction, beyond the structures investigated in the thesis are also discussed, concluding that while there are suggestions in the literature that Sudoku and other puzzle-based combinatorial structures may be useful for erasure correction, the work of this thesis suggests that this is not the case.


Aim To test the hypothesis that anthropogenic alteration of stream-flow regimes is a key driver of compositional shifts from native to introduced riparian plant species. Location The arid south-western United States; 24 river reaches in the Gila and Lower Colorado drainage basins of Arizona. Methods We compared the abundance of three dominant woody riparian taxa (native Populus fremontii and Salix gooddingii , and introduced Tamarix ) between river reaches that varied in stream-flow permanence (perennial vs. intermittent), presence or absence of an upstream flow-regulating dam, and presence or absence of municipal effluent as a stream water source. Results Populus and Salix were the dominant pioneer trees along the reaches with perennial flow and a natural flood regime. In contrast, Tamarix had high abundance (patch area and basal area) along reaches with intermittent stream flows (caused by natural and cultural factors), as well as those with dam-regulated flows. Main conclusions Stream-flow regimes are strong determinants of riparian vegetation structure, and hydrological alterations can drive dominance shifts to introduced species that have an adaptive suite of traits. Deep alluvial groundwater on intermittent rivers favours the deep-rooted, stress-adapted Tamarix over the shallower-rooted and more competitive Populus and Salix . On flow-regulated rivers, shifts in flood timing favour the reproductively opportunistic Tamarix over Populus and Salix , both of which have narrow germination windows . The prevailing hydrological conditions thus favour a new dominant pioneer species in the riparian corridors of the American Southwest. These results reaffirm the importance of reinstating stream-flow regimes (inclusive of groundwater flows) for re-establishing the native pioneer trees as the dominant forest type.


Evaporation has been recognized as a major driving force affecting coastal aquifer systems. However, its effects on subsurface flow and salinity structure have not been investigated in sufficient detail. This paper presents field measurements and numerical simulations of pore water flow and subsurface salinity structure in the supratidal zone of a sandy beach subjected to evaporation as well as rainfall. It was found that evaporation significantly increased pore water salinity, up to 85 g/L, within a shallow layer, approximately 10 cm below the beach surface. The induced density gradient generated salt fingers near the beach surface, which caused local groundwater circulation (i.e., fingering flow). However, unlike inland aquifers, the salt fingering was significantly diminished by tidal action that prompted the horizontal mixing of salt in the beach. The subsequent precipitation (e.g., rainfall) diluted the evaporation‐induced high saline plume near the beach surface and drove the plume to migrate downward; the plume gradually dispersed and was diluted along the groundwater pathways. The simulation results indicated that evaporation as well as precipitation at the beach surface induced complex driving mechanisms for supratidal groundwater flow. Depending on the intensity at the beach surface, evaporation and rainfall significantly altered the pore water flow and associate solute transport processes in the supratidal zone of the beach.


The global economy is experiencing the digitalization of production, exchange, and consumption of goods and services. The internet and cross-border data flows are becoming important channels of trade as more products are traded through the web or integrate features that rely on digital connectivity. Reflecting the autonomy states have to enact such policies, national variations in internet governance have expanded over the previous decade, with states increasingly looking to use internet and data policies for economic and trade objectives. These dynamics are having important implications on the international trade regime through challenging existing trade rules and creating demands for new rules. This has resulted in growing debates in the trade arena around "digital trade," as a number of states, led by the United States, push for rules as a way to discipline national internet policies and support trade in digital goods and services. This paper examines the political economy of this campaign. We argue that the objectives of this campaign go beyond updating rules to better fit the "Internet age" into achieving further liberalization of trade in goods and services. We highlight the technological contingency of existing international rules and show how technological shifts have been a driver of competitive regime creation and forum shifting contributing to processes of fragmentation of the international trade regime.


Mapping inter-cell signaling pathways requires an integrated view of experimental and informatic protocols. BioSig provides the foundation of cataloging inter-cell responses as a function of particular conditioning, treatment, staining, etc. for either in vivo or in vitro experiments. This paper outlines the system architecture, a functional data model for representing experimental protocols, algorithms for image analysis, and the required statistical analysis. The architecture provides remote shared operation of an inverted optical microscope, and couples instrument operation with images acquisition and annotation. The information is stored in an object-oriented database. The algorithms extract structural information such as morphology and organization, and map it to functional information such as inter-cellular responses. An example of usage of this system is included.


There are approximately one billion people predominantly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) who live in extreme poverty because they are adversely linked to the process of globalization and not optimally integrated in global value chains. In the SSA region, agriculture is the main occupation where most of the rural population are employed and earn incomes. The horticulture sector a subset of agriculture is one of the value creating sectors where opportunities exist for the rural population to link and connect to the global economy through participation in global value chains (GVCs). The global value chain perspective has been used in a number of studies analyze how global buyers organize and control operations with local suppliers. Kenya is a leading exporter of horticulture produce, where the large and medium suppliers are considerably linked to GVCs but not the small suppliers. Ghana is developing its horticulture sector where local suppliers are considerably small in size and adversely connected to GVCs. Effective participation and connection to GVCs is considered as a perquisite and under certain conditions opportunities for local supplier upgrading, leading to income generation and poverty alleviation. Local suppliers, especially small ones in both economies are challenged due to limited market access, stringent standards and quality requirements (conditions of participation) imposed by global buyers, and an inefficient operating environment. High exclusion levels due to non-compliance with high standard and quality requirements imposed by global buyer?s increases vulnerability and risks which tends to prolong the duration of poverty. Competitiveness remains a key issue due to the lack of investment in upgrading resulting in low performance and exclusion of a number of suppliers from participation in global horticulture value chains. High exclusion rates have a negative impact on incomes which further exacerbates the incidence of poverty. On the other hand opportunities for the acquisition of skills, learning and upgrading that would reduce exclusion depends on conditions of participation ? governance in GVCs imposed by global buyers In addition, transaction costs in both countries are high due to inefficient infrastructure and support institutions. There is evidence in the literature that participation in global horticulture valve chains does contribute to increased incomes but it is unclear if this has contributed or not to reducing poverty levels in Kenya and Ghana. Kenya is selected as a case study because the horticulture sector is mature has extensive experience in participating in global horticulture value chains but poverty levels remain very high. It currently ranks 145th out of 186 countries on the 2013 Human Development Index. Ghana is selected to complement the analysis because its horticulture sector is at an infant stage where the government is seeking to use the process as a diversification strategy to reduce poverty. On the same index it ranks 135th out of 186 countries. Data and information was collated from 25 global horticulture value chain participants and 6 informants complemented with secondary data were used for the analysis. This research argues that the GVC perspective in its current form is not capable of delivering the expected poverty alleviation outcomes because its emphasis on conditions of participation, the operational environment and ways in which these elements could adversely or not affect the effective participation of local suppliers leading to poverty alleviation is missing. The empirical evidence from the horticulture sectors in Kenya and Ghana supports the view that participation in global horticulture value chains does contribute to poverty alleviation but has been constrained due to a lack of focus on number of issues including the enabling operational environment. Strategies and policies that could inform a more inclusive model of GVCs that could improve the conditions of participation of local suppliers are proposed for consideration.


This paper introduces a feedforward charge control scheme, which controls the velocity of a piezoelectric actuator by the current fed to the actuator. The velocity-current relation, however, is not linear over the entire motion range, and therefore, information about the actuator voltage is also utilized. The required current is estimated using an actuator model, which is separated in two phases combining individual models for a motion phase and a static phase. The method is verified by a series of experiments, where a piezoelectric actuator is moved with variable velocities and displacements. During the experiments, the current is fed to the actuator using a current driver consisting of a voltage amplifier, a precise current meter, and a controller. The results show a significant improvement in comparison to open-loop voltage control; the hysteresis is less than 2% and the drift approximately 1%. This indicates that the motion of piezoactuators is a function of current and voltage, and does not depend considerably on the motion history. Therefore, a sensorless control scheme to overcome the hysteresis and drift would be feasible.


There has been a lot of recent research on transaction-based concurrent programming, aimed at offering an easier concurrent programming paradigm that enables programmers to better exploit the parallelism of modern multi-processor machines, such as multi-core microprocessors. We introduce Transactional State Machines (TSMs) as an abstract finite-data model of transactional shared-memory concurrentfinite-data model of transactional shared-memory concurrent programs. TSMs are a variant of concurrent boolean programs (or concurrent extended recursive state machines) augmented with additional constructs for specifying potentially nested transactions. Namely, some procedures (or code segments) can be marked as transactions and are meant to be executed "atomically", and there are also explicit commit and abort operations for transactions. The TSM model is non-blocking and allows interleaved executions where multiple processes can simultaneously be executing inside transactions. It also allows nested transactions, transactions which may never terminate, and transactions which may be aborted explicitly, or aborted automatically by the run-time environment due to memory conflicts. We show that concurrent executions of TSMs satisfy a correctness criterion closely related to serializability, which we call stutter-serializability, with respect to shared memory. We initiate a study of model checking problems for TSMs. Model checking arbitrary TSMs is easily seen to be undecidable, but we show it is decidable in the following case: when recursion is exclusively used inside transactions in all (but one) of the processes, we show that model checking such TSMs against all stutterinvariant ω-regular properties of shared memory is decidable.


How best-selling women novelists coped with fame in a man's world; In the decades spanning the nineteenth century, thousands of women entered the literary marketplace. Twelve of the century's most successful women writers provide the focus for Mary Kelley's landmark study: Maria Cummins, Caroline Howard Gilman, Caroline Lee Hentz, Mary Jane Holmes, Maria McIntosh, Sara Parton, Catharine Maria Sedgwick, E.D.E.N. Southworth, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Mary Virginia Terhune, Susan Warner, and Augusta Evans Wilson. These women shared more than commercial success. Collectively they created fictions that Kelley terms "literary domesticity," books that both embraced and called into question the complicated expectations shaping the lives of so many nineteenth-century women. Drawing on the 200 volumes of published prose and on the letters, diaries, and journals of these writers, Kelley explores the tensions that accompanied their unprecedented literary success. In a new preface, she discusses the explosion in the scholarship on writing women since the original 1984 publication of Private Woman, Public Stage and reflects on the book's ongoing relevance.


Abstract Background: Conflictual results regarding the relationship between plasmatic level of visfatin and obesity could be explained by the influence of the gene variants involved in the synthesis or action of these hormones. Objectives: The present study examined the potential implication of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) gene that encodes visfatin, in obesity, in a Romanian pediatric population. Method: A case-control study was conducted on a group of 213 children, divided into two: the case group - 130 overweight and obese children with BMI >1 SD, and the control group - 83 children with normal BMI. The variables analyzed were age, sex, anthropometric parameters, body composition based on bioimpedance analysis, lipid profile, visfatin and insulin plasmatic levels, rs4730153 and rs2302559 visfatin SNPs. Results: Significant associations were not found between rs4730153 and rs2302559 visfatin SNPs and obesity. Regarding lipid metabolism, there are statistically significant differences between triglyceride levels according to NAMPT rs2302559 genotypes (p=0.045), with heterozygous genotype having the highest level of triglycerides, and also between cholesterol levels according to NAMPT rs4730153 genotypes (p=0.030), with carriers of heterozygote genotype having the highest level of cholesterol. There is a statistically significant difference between the studied parameters in the investigated groups, regarding cholesterol, in carrier of wild-type genotype of NAMPT rs2302559 (p=0.040) and carrier of wild-type genotype of NAMPT rs4730153 (p=0.036). We observed no association of NAMPT rs4730153 and rs2302559 with visfatin levels in the studied groups. Visfatin level was lower in the case group and was correlated with weight (p=0.042), abdominal circumference (p=0.010), waist to height ratio (p=0.040), but not with the elements of the metabolic profile. Conclusion: NAMPT rs2302559 and rs4730153 polymorphisms do not seem to have a major impact in the development of obesity in children, however there may be an association with lipid profile, but further studies are needed..


The aim of this study was to co-create a definition and generic descriptors for person-centred coordinated care for Ireland generated from service users' narratives. An overarching action research approach was used to engage and empower people to tangibly impact health policy and practice. Through focus groups and a qualitative survey, primary data were collected from a national sample of health services users, caregivers and health care service users' representative groups. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Three major themes were co-produced as essential care elements. These were: 'My experience of healthcare', 'Care that I am confident in' and 'My journey through healthcare'. Through an IPPOSI partner project steering group and their membership groups' contribution, these themes were further refined into a definition of person-centred coordinated care and nineteen related generic descriptors. Key findings demonstrate that within complex, fragmented healthcare systems, the subjective expectations of service users should be integrated into care delivery, with a scaffolding of services to meet service users' needs between care settings and disciplines and over time.


Background: Surgical reconstruction is the most common treatment for full-thickness Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) tears of the elbow. However, the recovery process for a UCL reconstruction is generally 9-12 months. The purpose of this case study is to elucidate how conservative physical therapy treatment of a complete UCL tear can restore a level of athletic functionality to throwing athletes when healing time interferes with playing time. Case Description: The patient was a 20-year old female who sustained a full-thickness UCL tear of her right elbow. Intervention: Interventions included wrist flexor soft tissue mobilization, scapular strengthening, core strengthening, analysis of throwing mechanics and administration of a return to throwing program. Outcomes: Elbow ROM and scapular strength were evaluated. A DASH could have been performed and would have provided more insight into this patient's functional response to treatment. Discussion: Ulnar collateral ligament tears are on the rise among throwing athletes. Although UCL reconstruction has been reported to return patients back to sport at or near pre-injury performance, the associated recovery period invariably disrupts athletic activity for up to a year. If conservative physical therapy treatment became a more viable option for complete UCL tears long-term, throwing athletes could be provided an opportunity for amplified activity post-injury when surgery precludes participation for a prolonged period of time.


ma1 infusion lumen is used for pressure monitoring, given enough time and the above mentioned leaking, blood could travel into the thermistor connector. However, the thermistor wires are well insulated with polyimide, thus, blood could only affect the thermistor resistance if it reaches the connector solder joints. Blood would leak out of the housing and more than likely be seen by clinicians before the blood could fill the housing, resulting in an electrical short. If the leak goes unnoticed, however, the short would cause the monitor to display 'catheter fault' and catheter monitoring would be discontinued until the clinician could troubleshoot the situation. Diligent bedside care would, hopefully, detect the rare catheter problems of this sort. Certainly this was the case a t Queen Elizabeth's Hospital in Birmingham.


remaining 62 symptom-free second looks, 14 (19%) were incompletely healed and 48 (65% ) were healed. Eleven of the 12 failures and all 14 of the incompletely healed cases involved the medial meniscus. All failures and half the incomplete menisci were associated with an ACL deficient knee. Based on the results of this study, peripheral posterior horn tears of the lateral meniscus yielded the best results (96% healed) regardless of the status of the ACL. In contrast, the failure rate for the ACL deficient medial meniscus repair was 22% and incomplete healing occurred in an additional 28% of asymptomatic medial repairs associated with ACL deficiency. Healing in the ACL stable (ACL uninjured or ACL reconstructed) knees occurred in 100% of the lateral menisci and in 86% of the medial menisci repaired in this setting. There were 10 complications (2.8%) related to the 353 initial repairs which included: 3 deep infections, 4 adhesions, 1 pulmonary embolism, 1 saphenous neuroma, and 1 semimembranosus ganglion. No complications occurred related to the second look arthroscopies.


A total of 377 leaf-eating beetle species from 69 genera and 11 subfamilies (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) were revealed in Azerbaijan, some of which are important pests of agriculture and forestry. The leaf-eating beetle distribution among different areas of Azerbaijan is presented. In the Great Caucasus 263 species are noted, in the Small Caucasus 206, in Kura - Araks lowland 174, and in Lenkoran zone 262. The distribution of the leaf-eating beetles among different sites is also described and the results of zoogeographic analysis of the leaf-eating beetle fauna are presented as well. Eleven zoogeographic groups of the leaf-eating beetles were revealed in Azerbaijan, which are not very specific. The fauna consists mainly of the common species; the number of endemic species is small.


The paper describes the development of fast (less than 10 times real-time) large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR) systems based on technology developed for unlimited runtime systems assembled for participation in recent DARPA/NIST LVCSR evaluations. A general system structure for 10 times real-time systems is proposed and two specific systems that have been built for broadcast news (BN) and conversational telephone speech (CTS) recognition are described. The systems were evaluated in the DARPA/NIST April 2003 rich transcription evaluation. Results are reported and contrasted with unlimited runtime systems and previous fast systems.


BACKGROUND
Dietary calcium has long been a candidate to modulate periodontal disease. Animal as well as human studies of calcium intake, bone mineral density, and tooth loss provide a rationale for hypothesizing that low dietary intake of calcium is a risk factor for periodontal disease.

METHODS
We evaluated the role of dietary calcium intake as a contributing risk factor for periodontal disease utilizing the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), which is representative of the U.S. civilian non-institutionalized population. Dietary calcium intake was determined from a 24-hour dietary recall. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database was used as a source of nutrient composition data. Periodontal disease was measured by attachment loss. In addition, serum calcium was assessed using venous blood samples. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between periodontal disease and dietary calcium intake or serum calcium levels after adjusting for covariants including age, gender, tobacco consumption, and gingival bleeding.

RESULTS
The association of lower dietary calcium intake with periodontal disease was found for young males and females (20 to 39 years of age), and for older males (40 to 59 years of age). The relationship between low dietary calcium intake and increased levels of periodontal disease showed an estimated odds ratio (OR) of 1.84 (95% CI: 1.36 to 2.48) for young males, 1.99 (95% CI: 1.34 to 2.97) for young females, and 1.90 (95% CI: 1.41 to 2.55) for the older group of males. These odds ratios were adjusted for gingival bleeding and tobacco consumption. The dose response was also seen in females, where there was 54% greater risk of periodontal disease for the lowest level of dietary calcium intake (2 to 499 mg) and 27% greater risk in females who took moderate levels of dietary calcium (500 to 799 mg) as compared to those who took 800 mg or more dietary calcium per day. A statistically significant association between low total serum calcium and periodontal disease was found in younger females aged 20 to 39 with OR = 6.11 (95% CI: 2.36 to 15.84) but not for males or older females, after adjusting for tobacco use, gingival bleeding, and dietary calcium intake.

CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that low dietary intake of calcium results in more severe periodontal disease. Further studies will be needed to better define the role of calcium in periodontal disease and to determine the extent to which calcium supplementation will modulate periodontal disease and tooth loss.


A system for soft error detection and correction is proposed for digital Integrated Circuit (IC) implementation of convolution. The convolution is implemented in a Residue Number System using Fermat Number Theoretic Transforms. The flexibility afforded by the Modified Overlap Technique in allowing transforms of differing lengths in a convolution makes it possible to easily detect and correct soft errors by means of a Single Redundant Channel and pattern matching technique. The proposed system gives area reductions in the majority of cases examined, when compared with Triple Modular Redundancy. In the case of large (e.g. 28 and 32 bit) word lengths, the proposed system provides area reductions of up to 30%. (6 pages)