Background The incidence of cardiac arrests per year in the United States continues to increase, yet in-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates significantly vary between hospitals. Current methods of training are expensive, time consuming, and difficult to scale, which necessitates improvements in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) training. Virtual reality (VR) has been proposed as an alternative or adjunct to high-fidelity simulation (HFS) in several environments. No evaluations to date have explored the ability of a VR program to examine both technical and behavioral skills and demonstrate a cost comparison. Objective This study aimed to explore the utility of a voice-based VR ACLS team leader refresher as compared with HFS. Methods This prospective observational study performed at an academic institution consisted of 25 postgraduate year 2 residents. Participants were randomized to HFS or VR training and then crossed groups after a 2-week washout. Participants were graded on technical and nontechnical skills. Participants also completed self-assessments about the modules. Proctors were assessed for fatigue and task saturation, and cost analysis based on local economic data was performed. Results A total of 23 of 25 participants were included in the scoring analysis. Fewer participants were familiar with VR compared with HFS (9/25, 36% vs 25/25, 100%; P<.001). Self-reported satisfaction and utilization scores were similar; however, significantly more participants felt HFS provided better feedback: 99 (IQR 89-100) vs 79 (IQR 71-88); P<.001. Technical scores were higher in the HFS group; however, nontechnical scores for decision making and communication were not significantly different between modalities. VR sessions were 21 (IQR 19-24) min shorter than HFS sessions, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration task load index scores for proctors were lower in each category, and VR sessions were estimated to be US $103.68 less expensive in a single-learner, single-session model. Conclusions Utilization of a VR-based team leader refresher for ACLS skills is comparable with HFS in several areas, including learner satisfaction. The VR module was more cost-effective and was easier to proctor; however, HFS was better at delivering feedback to participants. Optimal education strategies likely contain elements of both modalities. Further studies are needed to examine the utility of VR-based environments at scale.


Recently, Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) has proven to be a powerful machine learning tool for Computer Aided Diagnosis (CADx) and disease prediction. A key component in these models is to build a population graph, where the graph adjacency matrix represents pair-wise patient similarities. Until now, the similarity metrics have been defined manually, usually based on meta-features like demographics or clinical scores. The definition of the metric, however, needs careful tuning, as GCNs are very sensitive to the graph structure. In this paper, we demonstrate for the first time in the CADx domain that it is possible to learn a single, optimal graph towards the GCN's downstream task of disease classification. To this end, we propose a novel, end-to-end trainable graph learning architecture for dynamic and localized graph pruning. Unlike commonly employed spectral GCN approaches, our GCN is spatial and inductive, and can thus infer previously unseen patients as well. We demonstrate significant classification improvements with our learned graph on two CADx problems in medicine. We further explain and visualize this result using an artificial dataset, underlining the importance of graph learning for more accurate and robust inference with GCNs in medical applications.


Purpose: Little is known about radiological aspects of hepatic artery calcification. For this reason, the sonographic features of calcified hepatic arteries were studied in patients with chronic renal failure who frequently develop tissue calcification due to hyperparathyroidism. Material and Methods: Ultrasound was performed in 314 patients on dialysis who underwent examination of the liver, spleen and kidney twice in the past 4 years and were reevaluated with particular attention to acoustic shadowing. Abdominal CT was carried out in 219 of these 314 patients, and ultrasound findings were reevaluated with reference to CT findings. Results: A large acoustic shadow was seen in the hilum that corresponded to the calcified hepatic artery on CT in 8 patients, and in another 9, a similar large shadow was seen in the hilum without CT confirmation. Acoustic shadows of various sizes were definitely or most likely due to arterial calcification within the liver in 36 patients. The strength of shadow depended on the angle at which the ultrasound beam hit the artery. Probable calcification of small arteries accompanying portal veins was seen in 70 patients. These changes are different from those due to pneumobilia and biliary tract diseases. Conclusion: Calcification of the hepatic artery can be identified by its acoustic shadow.


Marine reserves, areas protected from ex ploitative anthropogenic processes, are being widely implemented to conserve biodiversity and initiate species recovery. Evidence supports the effectiveness of marine reserves in improving biological attributes such as biodiversity, density, biomass, and body-size for sedentary species or those with r-selected life histories. However, there is limited long-term time series-based information determining the effectiveness of these protected areas for elasmobranchs. Marine reserve effectiveness is commonly evaluated spatially by examining differences in species' biological parameters inside and outside of protective boundaries, which can often mask the occurrence of slow population declines. We used a temporal fishery-independent standardized longline survey at Glover's Reef Mar ine Reserve, Belize, to monitor long-term population trends in the commercially important Caribbean reef shark Carcharhinus perezi for more than a decade. Linear models were performed to examine whether the factors habitat, year, or their interaction had a significant impact on C. perezi catch per unit effort (CPUE) and on catch demographic composition. Only the factor 'habitat' had a significant influence on CPUE, with the forereef catch significantly higher than in the lagoon. Our results support that the population of Caribbean reef shark at Glover's Reef Marine Reserve appears stable with no significant decline in CPUE or decrease in mean total length detected. This is evidence that marine reserves can be an effective conservation tool for reef-associated shark species. Caribbean reef sharks Carcharhinus perezi —a commercially targeted species in the region—patrol the coral reef in Belize. Photo: © Caine Delacy 2017


In large-scale spatial surveys, such as the forthcoming ESA Euclid mission, images may be undersampled due to the optical sensors sizes. Therefore, one may consider using a super-resolution (SR) method to recover aliased frequencies, prior to further analysis. This is particularly relevant for point-source images, which provide direct measurements of the instrument point-spread function (PSF). We introduce SPRITE, SParse Recovery of InsTrumental rEsponse, which is an SR algorithm using a sparse analysis prior. We show that such a prior provides significant improvements over existing methods, especially on low SNR PSFs.


The genus Raricirrus is characterized by the absence of feeding palps, presence of filamentous branchiae, posterior segments shorter and wider than preceding ones, and by having diverse types of chaetae, including serrate capillaries, long natatory capillaries, falcate and finely pectinate, coarsely serrate chaetae and simple curved spines. A new species of Raricirrus is proposed based on morphological and mitochondrial DNA data. The K2P distance comparison of 16S and COI sequences from Raricirrus specimens collected from sunken wood in the deep-sea (3100 m) off Monterey, California, differed in less than 0.02 in both loci from those of another undescribed Raricirrus species collected at deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the East Scotia Ridge, Southern Ocean, and they are considered conspecific. This species is unique among its congeners by the lack of serrate chaetae, presence of acicular spines and neuropodial capillaries. Raricirrus jennae sp. nov. has only long capillaries on anterior notopodia, straight acicular spines with companion capillaries on posterior notopodia (from chaetigers 15-20), and similar acicular spines and companion capillaries throughout neuropodia. Raricirrus jennae sp. nov. appears to be an opportunistic and widely distributed species. The genus Raricirrus is emended to include the presence of acicular spines and keys to all cirratulid and ctenodrilid genera and Raricirrus species are presented.


Abstract This paper examines variation in old-age income inequality between industrialized nations with modern welfare systems. The analysis of income inequality across countries with different retirement income systems provides a perspective on public pension policy choices and designs and their distributional implications. Because of the progressive nature of public pension programs, we hypothesize that there is an inverse relationship between the quality of public pension benefits and old-age income inequality—that is, countries with comprehensive, universal, and generous public pension systems will exhibit more equal distributions of income in old age. Luxembourg Income Study data indeed show that cross-national variation in old-age income inequality is partly explained by differences in the percentage of seniors' total income derived from public pension transfers. Sweden, for example, has the highest level of government transfers and the lowest level of old-age income inequality, while Israel and the United States have the lowest levels of dependency on government transfers and the highest levels of income inequality. A notable exception is Canada, where public transfers represent only a moderate portion of elderly income, yet old-age income inequality is relatively low. These findings suggest that quality of public pension benefits does indeed play a role in explaining differences in old-age income inequality between industrialized nations, yet these variations are also likely influenced by other factors.


A technique based on the Wiener path integral (WPI) is developed for determining the stochastic response of diverse nonlinear systems with fractional derivative elements. Specifically, a reduced-order WPI formulation is proposed, which can be construed as an approximation-free dimension reduction approach that renders the associated computational cost independent of the total number of stochastic dimensions of the problem. In fact, the herein developed technique can determine, directly, any lower-dimensional joint response probability density function corresponding to a subset only of the response vector components. This is done by utilizing an appropriate combination of fixed and free boundary conditions in the related variational, functional minimization, problem. Notably, the reduced-order WPI formulation is particularly advantageous for problems where the interest lies in few only specific degrees-of-freedom whose stochastic response is critical for the design and optimization of the overall system. An indicative numerical example is considered pertaining to a stochastically excited tuned mass-damper-inerter nonlinear system with a fractional derivative element. Comparisons with relevant Monte Carlo simulation data demonstrate the accuracy and computational efficiency of the technique.


The purpose of this manuscript is to provide a current overview on the Shiga Toxin / verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) with emphasis on the epidemiology, clinical and laboratory manifestations, pathogenesis, recommended assessment, treatment strategies and prognosis. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a cause of the community-acquired acute renal insufficiency in young children. The outbreak in Germany illustrated both the emerging importance of non-O157 serotypes as agents of human disease and the potential for large-scale methods of food production and distribution to result in widespread disease. Children with STEC-induced HUS typically have a prodromal illness that can rapidly develop severe and multisystem life-threatening complications. STEC infection is acquired through contaminated food or water. Thrombotic microangiopathy is the mechanism of the development of the characteristic pathologic lesion of HUS. Any patient with a recent history of diarrhea and signs of a multi-organ disorder requires a proper assessment for the possible development of HUS. Appropriate laboratory testing for both O157 and non-O157 serotypes, as well as prompt initiation of infection control procedures for confirmed or suspected cases, will facilitate follow-up investigation to identify the source of disease and will help to prevent secondary transmission. Currently, diagnostic test to predict which patients will develop HUS is not available. Supportive care and intravenous fluid replacement are the cornerstones of treatment because of the current lack of safe and specific therapeutic intervention. Culizumab and/or plasma treatment may be considered in patients with severe CNS involvement who have a poor prognosis. None of the multiple therapeutic agents including antithrombotic agents, plasma exchange and/or plasma infusion, tissue-type plasminogen activator, and oral Shiga toxin-binding agent that have been used is recommended. For most patients with uncomplicated STEC-associated gastroenteritis who are treated with supportive care, the prognosis was excellent. Public health interventions are the key to prevent STEC-associated diarrhea and HUS. Researches will improve the care of patients with different HUS types in the years to come. The identification of genetic factors associated with HUS will contribute to a better insight of the pathogenesis of HUS and will have potential therapeutic and preventive implications.


We present a public suite of weak-lensing mock data, extending the Scinet Light Cone Simulations (SLICS) to simulate cross-correlation analyses with different cosmological probes. These mocks include Kilo Degree Survey (KiDS)-450- and LSST-like lensing data, cosmic microwave background lensing maps and simulated spectroscopic surveys that emulate the Galaxy And Mass Assembly, BOSS, and 2-degree Field Lensing galaxy surveys. With 844 independent realizations, our mocks are optimized for combined-probe covariance estimation, which we illustrate for the case of a joint measurement involving cosmic shear, galaxy–galaxy lensing, and galaxy clustering from KiDS-450 and BOSS data. With their high spatial resolution, the SLICS are also optimal for predicting the signal for novel lensing estimators, for the validation of analysis pipelines, and for testing a range of systematic effects such as the impact of neighbour-exclusion bias on the measured tomographic cosmic shear signal. For surveys like KiDS and Dark Energy Survey, where the rejection of neighbouring galaxies occurs within ∼2 arcsec, we show that the measured cosmic shear signal will be biased low, but by less than a per cent on the angular scales that are typically used in cosmic shear analyses. The amplitude of the neighbour-exclusion bias doubles in deeper, LSST-like data. The simulation products described in this paper are made available at http://slics.roe.ac.uk/.


In this paper we present techniques for comparison between behavioral level and register transfer level (RTL) design descriptions by mapping the designs into virtual controllers and virtual datapaths. We also discuss about how the equivalence between behavioral level and RTL designs can be defined precisely using the proposed "attribute statements" in an interactive fashion. Implementation issues as well as considerations on real life industrial design examples are presented as well.


Soot oxidation was conducted over Ag/Al2O3 and Ag/SO42−/Al2O3 catalysts. Spent catalysts were found to exhibit higher activities than fresh ones for soot oxidation in oxygen. Environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM) was performed for the catalytic oxidation of soot over fresh and spent catalysts. Aggregation of silver nanoparticles occurred significantly on the alumina support under very low oxygen pressure. On increasing the oxygen pressure, redispersion of large Ag particles was observed on both supports, which explains the superior activities of the spent catalysts. Sulphated alumina was found to anchor the silver species effectively and deter the migration of silver to soot particles. Hence, the aggregation of silver was alleviated over Ag/SO42−/Al2O3, leading to higher activity than the Ag/Al2O3 catalyst.


CaVi provides a uniform interface to state-of-the-art simulation methods and formal verification methods for wireless sensor network. Simulation is suitable to examine the behavior of a wireless sensor network in great detail. Due to the probabilistic behavior of these systems, however, the simulation covers only a small fraction of all possible behaviors.Formal model checking techniques, based on Markov decision processes, use less detailed and more abstract models and compute exact probabilities and expected values for the entire behavior, where simulation can only give averages. CaVi allows for creating a single model for simulation, Monte-Carlo simulation, and model checking.


Extracellular acidification regulates the biophysical properties of many voltage-gated potassium channels. Most often acidic pH reduces peak current and enhances current decay during depolarization. Here we review recent data from single channel and voltage clamp fluorimetry studies, which suggest that these two effects of protons are mediated by distinct kinetic processes. This new mechanistic insight directly demonstrates that the whilst the enhanced decay of current observed with acidic pH is due to an accelerated entry of open channels into P/C-type inactivation, the main mechanism for the reduction in peak channel conductance is a stabilization of resting channels in closed-inactivated states. Thus acidic pH acts to reduce the conductance of open channels, as well as to prevent other channels from opening at all, and in so doing, reveals that both open- and closed-state inactivation processes can co-exist in Kv channels.


In this paper, the gear material 20CrMnTi was selected as the research object. Friction and wear behavior was performed on the M2000 friction and abrasion tester. The friction and wear mechanisms of 20CrMnTi steel were discussed under coupling of rolling and sliding. The results show that damage of steel-steel couples under coupling of rolling and sliding is caused by the interaction of mechanical fatigue with dynamical phenomena of rolling and sliding friction. Lubrication directly determines the friction and wear behaviors. Under dry friction, the wear mechanisms of 20CrMnTi steel are mainly adhesive wear, abrasive wear, oxidation wear and fatigue pitting under dry friction. Under lubricating conditions, the wear mechanism of 20CrMnTi steel is mainly surface fatigue wear.


Construction 4.0 is bringing change to our industry through digitization and technological innovation. Such change deliberately impacts 'traditional' ways of working, as it actively seeks to disrupt the norm and so enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of construction project delivery. Yet technology is not neutral, it brings with it an autonomy and an amorality that is potentially cause for concern. Here we draw on Ellul's theory of technique, as associated with technology, to unpack Construction 4.0 from critical perspectives and explore the potential it has to bring social and ethical challenges to our industry, and specifically its people. For example, trade workers may become usurped by technologies that automate their work, whilst professionals may find their roles within the design, engineering and construction processes become more heavily influenced and shaped by the technologies themselves. Indeed, the role of the 'technology owner' may become more powerful than any traditional profession in the future, as they become dominant actors within the construction industry space. This paper aims to stimulate discussion and debate in this area, and encourage the development of a more critical voice to supplement the technocratic optimism that currently surrounds Construction 4.0.


Historically, any DNS RR may occur for any domain name. Recent
additions have defined DNS leaf nodes that contain a reserved node
name, beginning with an underscore. The underscore construct is used
to define a semantic scope for DNS records that are associated with
the parent domain. This specification explores the nature of this DNS
usage and defines the "underscore names" registry with IANA.


|The paper studies the design of efficient disinflation programmes in open economies using the sacrifice ratio, that is, the cumulative additional unemployment or cumulative lost output required to achieve a one percent sustained reduction in the rate of inflation, as the metric of efficiency. The 'new Keynesian' Phillips curve first proposed by Calvo has a zero sacrifice ratio: costless disinflation is possible, because the inflation process is purely forward-looking. There is inertia or rigidity in the price level but not in the rate of inflation. More interesting inflation kernels for which current inflation is partly forward-looking and partly back-ward looking have a positive sacrifice ratio. Real exchange rate appreciation early in the disinflation process may raise the sacrifice ratio relative to a policy that keeps the real exchange rate constant. The sacrifice ratio is lower under gradualism than under 'cold turkey'. Efficient disinflation policies may, however, be time-inconsistent and therefore not credible.


We report the combination of a vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometer, operating on the basis of synchrotron radiation, with an environmental reaction smog chamber for the first time. The gas- and pseudo-particle-phase products of OH-initiated isoprene photooxidation reactions were measured on-line and off-line, respectively, by mass spectrometry. It was observed that aldehydes, methacrolein, methyl vinyl ketone, methelglyoxal, formic acid, and similar compounds are the predominant gas-phase photooxidation products, whereas some multifunctional carbonyls and acids mainly exist in the particle phase. This finding is reasonably consistent with results of studies conducted in other laboratories using different methods. The results indicate that synchrotron radiation photoionization mass spectrometry coupled with a smog chamber is a potentially powerful tool for the study of the mechanism of atmospheric oxidations and the formation of secondary organic aerosols.


This paper presents expected efficiency studies on two possible grid connected small wind turbine systems. One of the systems is based on Permanent Magnet Generator (PMG) and the other system is based on Wound Rotor Induction Generator (WRIG). Experimental test benches for both systems are implemented using Wind Turbine Emulator (WTE) and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) control strategy. The procedure for calculate the Power Conditioning System (PCS) losses, energy capture and energy loss is presented. The expected efficiency of the systems is investigated for wind distributions at eight sites in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is shown that a WRIG-based system could provide 5% higher efficiency in contrast to a PMG-based system.


Monkey B virus (BV) infection in humans and other macaque species has a mortality rate of approximately 80%. Because BV infects humans through bites, scratches, and other injuries inflicted by macaques, the simple and rapid diagnosis of BV in field laboratories is of great importance to protect veterinarians, laboratory researchers, and support personnels from the threat of infection.

Two recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assays with a closed vertical flow (VF) visualization strip (RPA-VF-UL27 and RPA-VF-US6) were developed that target two conserved genes combined with a one-off, closed visualization strip device. We compared the sensitivities and specificities of the two assays after optimization of the reaction conditions. The performance of RPA-VF-US6 at room temperature was determined to evaluate its potential in point-of-care (POC) testing.

RPA-VF-US6 specifically detected the positive plasmid control (rather than nucleic acids of herpesviruses) with a detection limit of 28 copies, while RPA-VF-UL27 had cross-reactivity with HSV-1, but even 3.4 copies of plasmid standards were readout by this assay. Moreover, RPA-VF-US6 had excellent performance at room temperature (the detection limit was 2,800 plasmid copies), indicating the potential of RPA-VF-US6 in POC testing.

We developed two RPA assays for BV visualization diagnosis. RPA-VF-US6 is a simple, rapid, and specific detection method for BV. The entire reaction can be performed at a constant temperature within 30 min, suggesting the potential of RPA-VF-US6 for POC testing in field laboratories without sophisticated instruments.


The aim of this study was to gain insight into the factors that affect the permeation of volatiles through starch films. These films were obtained by casting gelatinized starch/water/glycerol mixtures. The films were dried and conditioned under different conditions (temperature and relative humidity) resulting in films that vary in the degree of starch crystallinity and glycerol and water content. The permeation of two model volatiles (carvone and diacetyl) at 20 degrees C and at 30, 60, or 90% relative humidity (RH) was analyzed gravimetrically. Further, the solubility of the two model compounds (under conditions where the permeation experiments were carried out) was determined. From the obtained permeation and solubility data, the diffusion coefficients of these compounds in the different starch films were calculated. The crystallinity in the starch films increased with increasing water content of the films during preparation. The water content of the resulting films in turn increased with increasing glycerol and when the films were exposed to a higher RH during drying or conditioning. For films with the same composition, the flux for diacetyl was greater than for carvone. The solubilities of diacetyl and carvone were slightly dependent on the properties of the films. It was found that with increasing starch crystallinity the diffusion coefficient for both compounds decreases, which is probably due to the impermeability of starch crystallites. Interestingly, in films with about the same extent of crystallinity, the diffusion can be described with the free volume model, with water and glycerol determining the amount of free volume.


Heart is an important and hardest working muscular organ of the human body. Inability of the heart to restore normal perfusion to the entire body refers to cardiac failure, which then with symptoms results in manifestation of congestive heart failure (CHF). Impairment in systolic function associated with chronic dilation of left ventricle is referred as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The clinical examination, surface electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, blood markers and echocardiography play major role in the diagnosis of CHF. Though the ECG manifests chamber enlargement changes, it does not possess sensitive marker for the diagnosis of DCM, whereas echocardio-graphic assessment can effectively reveal the presence of asymptomatic DCM. This work proposes an automated screening method for classifying normal and CHF echocardiographic images affected due to DCM using variational mode decomposition technique. The texture features are extracted from variational mode decomposed image. These features are selected using particle swarm optimization and classified using support vector machine classifier with different kernel functions. We have validated our experiment using 300 four-chamber echocar-diography images (150: normal, 150: CHF) obtained from 50 normal and 50 CHF patients. Our proposed approach yielded maximum average accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 99.33%, 98.66% and 100%, respectively, using ten features. Thus, the developed diagnosis system can effectively detect CHF in its early stage using ultra-sound images and aid the clinicians in their diagnosis.


From 3.457 epileptic patients, 1.574 females from 12 to 50 years old, considered probably in ovulatory age, were studied regarding the influence of menstruation upon epileptic fits. The females were compared with a group of epilepsies in general and with a group of male epileptic patients (476 cases) of same age exhibiting monthly seizures, a rhythm similar to the menstrual cycle in woman. The results led the author to the following conclusions: 1) In 353 epileptic females (22,4%) the epilepsy was influenced by the menstruation. 2) The exacerbation of fits predominate in the premenstrual and menstrual periods. 3) No significant differences was observed when compared females in ovulatory age exhibiting monthly seizures (14%) with male of similar age and similar frequency of seizures (16%); this fact is against the correlation between the cyclical events represented by epileptic fits and menstruation. 4) Focal non-temporal abnormalities predominate in the females that was influenced by menstruation.


OBJECTIVE
Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world and may affect the risk of gout via various mechanisms. We prospectively evaluated the relationship between coffee intake and the risk of incident gout in a large cohort of men.

METHODS
Over a 12-year period, we studied 45,869 men with no history of gout at baseline. Intake of coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, and total caffeine was assessed every 4 years through validated questionnaires. We used a supplementary questionnaire to ascertain whether participants met the American College of Rheumatology survey criteria for gout.

RESULTS
We documented 757 confirmed incident cases of gout. Increasing coffee intake was inversely associated with the risk of gout. The multivariate relative risks (RRs) for incident gout according to coffee consumption categories (0, <1, 1-3, 4-5, and > or = 6 cups per day) were 1.00, 0.97, 0.92, 0.60 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.41-0.87), and 0.41 (95% CI 0.19-0.88), respectively (P for trend = 0.009). For decaffeinated coffee, the multivariate RRs according to consumption categories (0, <1, 1-3, and > or = 4 cups per day) were 1.00, 0.83, 0.67 (95% CI 0.54-0.82), and 0.73 (95% CI 0.46-1.17), respectively (P for trend = 0.002). Total caffeine from all sources and tea intake were not associated with the risk of gout.

CONCLUSION
These prospective data suggest that long-term coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of incident gout.


The reform of public transport introduced in the Netherlands in 2001 is showing its first interesting results as about two third of the country (excluding the four largest agglomerations) has now been submitted to competitive tendering. Differently from many competitive regimes introduced in other parts of Europe, the Dutch regime aims at stimulating innovation in public transport. To this effect, a new passenger transport legislation allows the transport authorities to give operators the possibility to re-design the transport services (routes, timetables, fares, vehicles, etc.) during competitive tendering and/or during the contract period. This paper focusses on the allocation of the tactical level (service design) between transport authority and transport operator and reviews a few of the opposite evolutions that can be observed in these practices since this first analysis. Besides presenting the essential features of the cases studied, the paper concentrates on the reasons that have led transport authorities to these opposite choices in terms of allocation of service design power between operator and authority in a second tendering round. The paper draws conclusions on the various (institutional) aspects that may have lead to these evolutions and sets a few questions for the future of the Dutch regime. The cases presented show a wide variety of arrangements at the levels L3 (Governance) and L4 (Resource allocation) and the location of the tactical level within level L4 shows the most interesting changes in the Netherlands. A main issue for the future is whether the practice across the country converge towards some common model. Will there be a tendency for the authorities to entangle 'their fingers in the machinery' or will the dream of the legislator come true? The current observations of the analysed cases, but also taking into account the rest of current practices in the Netherlands, seems to indicate a strong and/or probably growing involvement of the authorities at the tactical level; which also entails a substantial monitoring need. But it is too early to predict the outcome of the current learning process; many of the interesting new concessions, such as North Holland, South Holland or North Brabant, still have to start operating. It is only after a few years that will become more apparent whether this tendency is confirmed and whether it is the result of some intrinsic feature of the current regime at level L2 (Institutional environment), or whether it was only a temporary behavioural feature that could be overcome by emulation. The future will also tell whether the institutional setting proves fit to find the right balance at levels L3 and L4 between the equally undesirable extremes of uncontrolled central planning with route operators and ineffectively controlled network concessionaires. For the covering abstract see ITRD E135582.


The experiences of refugee youth with school closure due to COVID-19: A qualitative study on increasing educational inequality of young people from Syria in Rotterdam

 This paper focusses on the experiences of Syrian refugee youth in Rotterdam with the first school closure (spring 2020), due to COVID-19 policy measures. Based on repeated qualitative interviews with 19 boys and girls – before, during and after the school closure – we examine how Syrian refugee youth have experienced the school closure, and how this influence their educational position by using the four central tasks of education of . Syrian refugee youth in our study emphasize that online education is more difficult to understand and stress they miss their friends at school. Moreover, their circumstances at home are not ideal for online learning, and therefore reaching the appropriate level of education becomes harder. This paper highlights the importance of the social aspect of education. Whereas going to school normally also stimulate friendships and their socialization in Dutch society, the school closure makes this more challenging. Especially for refugee youth school has extra relevance for reasons of e.g. mental health, resiliency, and socialization. Through our case studies, we argue that the school closure contributes to an accumulation of risks and inequalities. We conclude that the school closure will likely increase educational inequality for young people with a refugee background and makes their educational position more vulnerable.


Scans 1 Summary The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a cross-sectional scan as an alternative to the total body DXA scan for predicting the body composition of pigs in vivo. A total of 212 pigs (56 to 138 kg live body weight) were scanned by DXA. The DXA scans were analyzed for percentage fat and lean in the total body and in 14 cross-sections (57.6 mm wide): 5 in the front leg/thoracic region, 4 in the abdominal region, and 5 in the back leg region. Regression analysis was used to compare total body and cross-sectional DXA results and chemical analysis of total body fat, protein and water. The relation (R 2 ) between the percentage fat in individual slices and the percentage of total body fat measured by DXA ranged from 0.78 to 0.97 and by chemical analysis from 0.71 to 0.85, respectively. The relation between the percentage of lean in the individual slices and chemical analysis for percentage of total body protein and water ranged from 0.48 to 0.60 and 0.56 to 0.76, respectively. These results indicate that total body composition of the pig can be predicted (accurately) by performing a time-saving single-pass cross-sectional scan.


The number of people with disabilities is continuously increasing. Providing patients who have disabilities with the rehabilitation and care necessary to allow them good quality of life creates overwhelming demands for health and rehabilitation services. We suggest that advancements in intelligent agent technology provide new opportunities for improving the provided services. We will discuss the challenges of building an agent for the health care domain and present four capabilities that are required for an agent in the health care domain: planning, monitoring, intervention and encouragement. We will discuss the importance of personalizing all of them and the needto facilitate cooperation between the automated agent and the human care givers. We will review recent technology that can be used toward the development of agents that can have these capabilities and their promise in automating services such as physiotherapy, speech therapy and cognitive training.


The objectives of the research are (1) to identify the infrastructure of green open space (RTH) concept on the road corridor, (2) to analyze the fulfillment of road space conditions against the requirements of road functional (SLFJ), (3) to analyze the completeness and condition of the road facilities to meet the green open space standard (SRTH), and (4) to set up development directives and design concepts for the management and maintenance of road space infrastructures that support green open space standards based on road functional requirements. Primary data for the analysis were obtained by direct observation/survey at the research site in Jalan Abu Bakar Ali, Malioboro, and Solo in Yogyakarta City and survey of respondents of road users with questionnaires. Secondary data used to support the analysis are (a) road map and condition of around study sites, (b) assumptions in design standards, (c) standards on markers, signs, lighting, drainage, and (d) related study reports. The method of quantitative and qualitative analysis according to SLFJ and SRTH was applied rationally. It can be concluded that the knowledge and perceptions of respondents about the use of road space and environmental conditions around the road in the three locations was obtained in Good category with scores of 3.4; 3.52; and 4.2, respectively. In Jalan Abu Bakar Ali respondents responded Agreed (score of 4.18), meaning that it required additional facilities and maintenance of the RTH's facilities and landscape. The management and maintenance of RTH's infrastructure and facilities of Jalan Abu Bakar Ali, Jalan Malioboro and Jalan Solo has been done by Yogyakarta City Planning Agency, organized and well-scheduled. Based on the evaluation of road functional requirement in Jalan Abu Bakar Ali (secondary collector), Jalan Malioboro (secondary artery), and Jalan Solo (secondary artery), all that are categorized as Conditional Function (LS). It means that the road has not fulfilled some road functional requirements in terms of utilization of road space, or there are still technical recommendations that must be met so that roads can be categorized as Function (LF). It obtained that Road Use Space (RUMAJA) is not effectively used, which characterized by still many permanent and non permanent buildings in the RUMAJA area. The design concept of the management and maintenance of road infrastructure should be based on the principle of maximizing road function (according to SLFJ) and the fulfillment of green open spaces on sidewalks and around (according to SRTH).


Abstract In the intake structure of a nuclear power plant, undesirable pump operating characteristics such as vortices and nonuniform pump-approach flow around the pump bells take place frequently due to poorly arranged intake geometry. Therefore, prior to the construction or renovation of intake structure or internal auxiliary facilities, a hydraulic modeling test should be performed to predict the undesirable hydraulic phenomena. In this study, a three-dimensional turbulence model was applied for a numerical modeling test, and a 1:10 scale, geometrically undistorted physical model was employed to investigate the hydraulic behavior and simulate pump operating conditions in the intake structure of Kori Nuclear Units 3 and 4 in Korea. The results from these numerical and physical model tests were compared, and an antivortex device was also proposed to ensure a stable suction condition of the pumps.


Punching bonding made for study context and Autoform selected for platform, numerical simulation of stamping was carried under different shapes, different materials, different parameters, and the different simulation results was gained . And deformation, the thickness of the forming limit analysis of simulation results, etc., and thus such important parameters as the thickness of sheet metal, punch diameter, the speed and the size of power punching and etc.,was modified and debuged, the combination of optimized process parameters of sheet metal was achieved in the final. Therefore, AutoForm not only can be used to overcome the difficulties,which there is no standard available, relying on repeated experiments to determine the parameters of the connected so as to achieve green design stamping; but also be made for stamping die design and production of connections to increase the efficiency and the expansion of the stamping connections the scope of the application.


SUMMARY Talitrid amphipods employ vision for zonal recovery behaviors on sand beaches and for entraining circadian activity rhythms. Using a hierarchy of methods, we examined visual spectral and response–intensity functions in Talorchestia longicornis, a species in which orientation and rhythm entrainment are wavelength-specific behaviors. Microspectrophotometry, electroretinogram recording and behavioral assays were used to determine visual pigments, retinal spectral sensitivity and whole-animal spectral responsivity, respectively. Diel changes in absolute sensitivity were also investigated at retinal and whole-animal levels. Two receptor spectral classes were identified, with values for visual pigment λmax of 427 and 518 nm. Retinal spectral sensitivity varied with electrode position along the distal–proximal axis. Chromatic adaptation of distal and proximal photoreceptors resulted in sensitivity peaks at 430 and 522 nm, respectively. In accordance with identified visual pigments and spectral sensitivity, T. longicornis photobehavioral responsivity covered a broad range (420–580 nm). Collectively, a dual-pigment visual system underlies wavelength-specific behavior in T. longicornis, with the short-wavelength pigment likely to be localized in the distal R5 retinular cell. While response–intensity functions did not change over the diel cycle at the retinal level, behavioral photoresponsiveness varied between day and night. At a wavelength used by T. longicornis for celestial orientation (420 nm), photobehavior was heightened at night, potentially aiding in nocturnal orientation. By contrast, at a wavelength used to entrain its circadian rhythm (520 nm) and for routine visual tasks, photobehavior was heightened during the day, and spectral sensitivity matched to the twilight spectrum, facilitating crepuscular vision and entrainment by irradiance at sunrise and sunset.


Equipping pre-service teachers with technology skills and knowledge is now regarded as a vital element of any teacher-training program so as to capacitate the new teachers to meet the educational demands of the twenty-first century. Therefore, it is important to establish whether these teachers do actually apply these skills when they first get to the field and if not, what could be the hindering factors. This study investigated technology use by pre-service teachers during teaching practice. The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) was used as an evaluative framework for the study. Observations, interviews, and document analysis were used to collect data. The results indicated that the majority of the participants did not use technology in the delivery of their lessons, even though they reported high competency levels in the use of technology resources. The underlying reasons for this lack of technology use were identified. The results point to a need to develop a systematic and comprehensive strategy toward technology implementation involving all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition for pre-service teachers as they move from training to practice and to have technology use reinforced at all levels.


This article discusses the interplay between computational experiments and scientific advancement in dynamical meteorology and climate dynamics. In doing so, the emphasis is on the dual role of computations in prediction and experimentation, permitting the development of physical insight and confidence in the mechanistic insight through verification. Modern climate dynamics has steadily evolved because of the ready access to computational power that has developed over the past quarter century. The landscape for state-of-the-art computational climate science is changing rapidly, however, with the drive toward greater complexity in climate models in order to more fully represent the interactions among components, the need for higher-resolution atmospheric and oceanic models to fully capture critical aspects of the variability in these components, and the advent of petascale and (eventually) exascale computing facilities. Finally, the manner in which the combination of these changes will likely alter the pla...


We study the maximum flow possible between a single-source and multiple terminals in a weighted random graph (modeling a wired network) and a weighted random geometric graph (modeling an ad-hoc wireless network) using network coding. For the weighted random graph model, we show that the network coding capacity concentrates around the expected number of nearest neighbors of the source and the terminals. Specifically, for a network with a single source, l terminals, and n relay nodes such that the link capacities between any two nodes is independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) /spl sim/X, the maximum flow between the source and the terminals is approximately nE[X] with high probability. For the weighted random geometric graph model where two nodes are connected if they are within a certain distance of each other we show that with high probability the network coding capacity is greater than or equal to the expected number of nearest neighbors of the node with the least coverage area.


We study an intertemporal consumption and portfolio choice problem under Knightian uncertainty in which agent's preferences exhibit local intertemporal substitution. We also allow for market frictions in the sense that the pricing functional is nonlinear. We prove existence and uniqueness of the optimal consumption plan, and we derive a set of sufficient first-order conditions for optimality. With the help of a backward equation, we are able to determine the structure of optimal consumption plans. We obtain explicit solutions in a stationary setting in which the financial market has different risk premia for short and long positions.


Ice records at Lake George, an oligotrophic and dimictic freshwater lake in upstate New York, United States reveal that it has failed to freeze over completely 13 times since 1990. This transition from annual to intermittent ice cover is analogous to many other dimictic freshwater lakes globally. Over 60 years of meteorological observations from a nearby airport are analysed and a complicated picture emerges when considering the specific characteristics of each year. For example, Lake George froze over in 1983 and 2007 despite the air temperature having a net warming effect on the lake in the month prior to ice‐in. Simple machine learning classifiers are trained using local weather data to predict the presence of complete ice coverage on Lake George and are found to perform adequately compared to observations, with one configuration having an accuracy of 91%. Using downscaled data from a coupled‐climate model through to 2,100, projections with the trained classifiers suggest complete ice coverage will be a phenomenon of the past by the mid‐to‐late 21st Century. Furthermore, by 2080–2,100 the mean air temperature is projected to warm up to +8.0 C under Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5. These projections will be of concern to the communities and policy makers of Lake George responsible for the management of the ecological and socio‐economic systems.


Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is extensively used in analytical chemistry as a powerful, non-invasive, and non-destructive tool to elucidate detailed structures of small molecules in complex mixtures. A major initiative in NMR is the identification of metabolic changes in biological fluids, particularly urine, as potential biomarkers for specific diseases or occupational exposure. However, major challenges are encountered during data processing of complex NMR spectra, presenting obstacles in the use of NMR analysis in clinical applications. In this report, metabolite concentrations were determined using three different computational approaches with complex NMR spectra obtained using 33 replicates of quality control (QC) human urine samples. We have used a new computational method involving Monte Carlo (MC) simulation to automatically deconvolve and quantify metabolites in NMR spectra from human urine. MC simulation is independent of experimental bias or human error, and is recommended as the least biased approach to peak fitting for NMR spectra derived from human urine samples. We found that similar results could be obtained using MC simulation in urine samples compared with two previous approaches that are subject to experimental bias and/or human error.


Recommender systems are used in variety of domains affecting people's lives. This has raised concerns about possible biases and discrimination that such systems might exacerbate. There are two primary kinds of biases inherent in recommender systems: observation bias and bias stemming from imbalanced data. Observation bias exists due to a feedback loop which causes the model to learn to only predict recommendations similar to previous ones. Imbalance in data occurs when systematic societal, historical, or other ambient bias is present in the data. In this paper, we address both biases by proposing a hybrid fairness-aware recommender system. Our model provides efficient and accurate recommendations by incorporating multiple user-user and item-item similarity measures, content, and demographic information, while addressing recommendation biases. We implement our model using a powerful and expressive probabilistic programming language called probabilistic soft logic. We experimentally evaluate our approach on a popular movie recommendation dataset, showing that our proposed model can provide more accurate and fairer recommendations, compared to a state-of-the art fair recommender system.


A secular milestone is approached by the world in line of reaching Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). After December 2015, a new of flexible and global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were set, replace MDGs by SDGs. Infant mortality rate (IMR) is a pivotal indicator of development in a given country that embedded in Millennium Development Goal (MDG).  After that in manner of strong clinical reasons, IMR has been replaced by the neonatal mortality rate (NMR); here, we were interested to write a concise chronological fantastic story about what had happened on IMR's life span in Iran.


Diabetic neuropathy is common, under or misdiagnosed, and causes substantial morbidity with increased mortality. Defining and developing sensitive diagnostic tests for diabetic neuropathy is not only key to implementing earlier interventions but also to ensure that the most appropriate endpoints are employed in clinical intervention trials. This is critical as many potentially effective therapies may never progress to the clinic, not due to a lack of therapeutic effect, but because the endpoints were not sufficiently sensitive or robust to identify benefit. Apart from improving glycaemic control, there is no licensed treatment for diabetic neuropathy, however, a number of pathogenetic pathways remain under active study. Painful diabetic neuropathy is a cause of considerable morbidity and whilst many pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions are currently used, only two are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. We address the important issue of the 'placebo effect' and also consider potential new pharmacological therapies as well as nonpharmacological interventions in the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy.


BACKGROUND
Omega-3 fatty acid intake during pregnancy has been confirmed to affect newborn birth outcomes in the developed world. However, the association between maternal omega-3 fatty acid intake and birth size is unknown in developing countries.

OBJECTIVE
To examine the association of maternal omega-3 fatty acid intake with newborn birth size.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN
A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 282 pregnant women aged 19-40 years who had a gestational age of >32 weeks and received antenatal care at 10 health centres and one referral hospital in East Jakarta, Indonesia. Maternal habitual intake of omega-3 fatty acids, including α-linolenic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid, was assessed using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Birth weight and head circumference were measured using a paediatric weighing scale and tape, respectively, and birth length was obtained from medical records. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to provide adjusted associations.

RESULTS
The median total intake of omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and α-linolenic acid was lower than the recommended dietary intake. The newborns of mothers with an α-linolenic acid intake lower than 0.82 g/d had a significantly lower (β=114, 95% confidence interval=-216, -13.5; p=0.014) weight compared with those of mothers with high α-linolenic acid intake, after adjustment for confounding factors.

CONCLUSION
Inadequate maternal intake of α-linolenic acid, but not omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid, or eicosapentaenoic acid, was associated with lower birth weight. Enhanced promotion of consumption of foods rich in essential fatty acids during pregnancy may facilitate attaining optimal infant weight in urban areas.


The evolution of software bugs has been a well-studied topic in software engineering. We used three different program analysis tools to examine the different versions of two popular sets of programming tools (gnu Binary and Core utilities), and check if their bugs increase or decrease over time. Each tool is based on a different approach, namely: static analysis, symbolic execution, and fuzzing. In this way we can observe potential differences on the kinds of bugs that each tool detects and examine their effectiveness. To do so, we have performed a qualitative analysis on the results. Overall, our results indicate that we cannot say if bugs either decrease or increase over time and that the tools identify different bug types based on the method they follow.


The study of intra-individual variability of acellular cementum apposition is a major issue in the estimation of age-at-death using cementochronology. Since the literature is scarce on the subject we extracted 51 modern teeth from 15 of known-age patients. We manually counted the acellular cementum increments on five cross sections from the middle third root of each tooth. Age estimation was then calculated by summing the number of lines to the average age of dental eruption. Our results showed some variability between counts within tooth, especially on premolars. The intra-individual variability of cementum deposition has been highlighted by comparing age estimates obtained for each tooth of one individual which is not surprising considering problems already described in the literature on this issue. Once premolars were excluded, the variation between teeth of an individual dropped to 0 to 5 years in 73% of cases. In conclusion, the intra-individual and intra-dental variability of cementum have to continue to be studied and quantified to obtain the most accurate and reliable estimation of age-at-death and potentially predict which region of interest should be considered prior to sectioning and counting.


This study was a pilot investigation of the initial validity of a newly developed behaviour -screening instrument for early intervention service providers. Group Special Education, Early Intervention (GSE/EI) (2005) adapted the Canterbury Behaviour Screening Protocol (CBSP) from a widely used behaviourscreening instrument the Early Screening Project. The CBSP consisted of 49 items in 2 checklists. GSE/EI identified 10 early childhood centres with a total roll of 712 to participate in the study. Staff were asked to categorise children's problem behaviours as either withdrawn/isolated or aggressive/oppositional, using profiles provided. Next, they were asked to nominate 2 children in each category, and an additional 2 children in either category, and to rank them from most concerning to least concerning. Centres identified 25 children in the withdrawn/isolated category, and 28 children in the aggressive/oppositional category. Staff completed checklists for children with parent/carer consent, which were scored according to preset protocols. Scores on the CBSP were assigned risk values ranging from "extreme" to "no risk". The estimated prevalence of "high" to "extreme" behaviour problems was 7.2% based on CBSP protocols and teacher nominations. The level of agreement between teacher rank and CBSP score was 79%, and this determined the initial specificity. Next, independent observations of the behaviour of the nominated children were conducted during free play periods at the centres by an observer blind to the children's nominated category, teacher ranking or checklist score. Risk levels were assigned based on the observation scores, using a cut-off value of 37% time spent in problem behaviour for girls and 40% for boys. There was agreement in terms of teacher rank and observation scores, (categorised into either "no risk" and "at/high/extreme risk) for 65% for children in the withdrawn/isolated category, and 75% for children in the aggressive/oppositional category. The level of agreement between the CBSP score and the observations (categorised into either "no risk" or "at/high/extreme" risk) was 40% for children in the withdrawn/isolated category, and 46% for children in the aggressive/oppositional category. Using the cut-off values, a prevalence estimate for high risk or extreme risk for behaviour disorders, based on independent observation of children, was 3.2%. Centre staff completing a feedback form determined the social validity of the CBSP. Although responses were generally favourable, a number of suggestions were also made to improve the procedure. Despite limitations in the design of the draft, the CBSP shows promise for a first step in a screening procedure designed to screen New Zealand early childhood centres for children who may be at risk for developing behaviour and/or social emotional problems. The independent observation may also be useful as a second step, prior to extensive eligibility assessment. A number of suggestions were made for future drafts such as addressing the limitations specified, conducting the CBSP with a greater number of children, and determining the concurrent validity, and test-retest reliability. Chapter


In this paper, a dynamic displacements‐based model updating method using a motion capture system (MCS) is proposed. The dynamic characteristics from MCS are used to find the parameters that minimize the difference between updated model and direct measurement. Using a multi‐objective optimization algorithm of non‐dominated sorting genetic algorithm‐II, the number of objective functions for model updating is set to the same number of modes under consideration, and all the objective function are simultaneously minimized. To consider the contribution of each mode on model updating and to avoid biased results, a rule for weighting of solutions associated to each mode based on modal participation factors is suggested and tested. Using a free vibration experimental test of a three‐story shear model, the performance of model updating method is verified by the comparison of the dynamics characteristics between the updated model and direct measurement by MCS. In addition, time histories of displacements from the updated model are compared with the direct measurement. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


to treat rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in infants. Enzyme assisted vitrectomy to separate the firm vitreoretinal juncture may prevent the development of subsequent macular pucker. Frequent examinations and careful management are required even after successful reattachment surgery.


The corporate governance systems of continental Europe have traditionally been quite different to those of the liberal market economies (e.g., the United States and the United Kingdom). Company ownership has been dominated by incumbent blockholders, with a relatively minor role for minority shareholders and institutional investors. However, since the mid‐1990s, European corporations have adopted many of the characteristics of the Anglo‐American shareholder model. Furthermore, such an increased shareholder orientation has coincided with a significant role for the Left in European government. This presents a puzzle, as conventional wisdom does not conceive of the European Left as the natural ally of pro‐shareholder capitalism. This book provides an analysis of this paradox by arguing that the postwar support of the European Left for the prevailing blockholder‐dominated corporate system depended on the willingness of blockholders to share economic rents with employees, both through higher wages and greater employment stability. However, during the 1990s, product markets became more competitive in many European countries. The sharing of rents between social actors became increasingly difficult to sustain. In such an environment, the Left chose to relinquish its traditional social partnership with blockholders and embraced many aspects of the shareholder model. The hypothesis is initially explored through a panel data econometric analysis of fifteen non‐liberal market economies. Subsequent case study chapters examine the political economy of recent corporate governance change in Germany and Italy.


The principles of potentiometry from liquid phase electrochemistry have already
been applied to the gas phase by considering a flame as an ionised gaseous
environment which can behave as a dilute electrolyte. This study focused on the
design, construction and optimisation of a 3-electrode electrochemical cell for
direct electron transfer in the gas phase. Three electrochemical cells were
developed with the final design deemed satisfactory to conduct electrochemical
measurements. Particular attention was given to the development of the reference
electrode, which allows for stable voltage measurements. The reference
electrodes analysed for their voltage stability and polarisability were metal wires,
a dynamic type electrode and metal / metal oxide powders packed into ceramic
supports. Through extensive studies, titanium wire (which forms a solid oxide
layer once placed in the flame) was deemed to behave as a stable reference
electrode. In conjunction with the electrode assembly and the titanium metal wire
reference electrode, two metal salt clusters were individually introduced into the
flame. The metal salt clusters were characterised by their reproducible
electrochemical responses through cyclic voltammetry. Three negative peaks
were observed when ammonium molybdate tetrahydrate was introduced into the
flame. In contrast, four negative peaks were observed (at different voltage
positions) when the metal salt cluster was replaced with ammonium
metatungstate hydrate. The results suggest that electroreduction is indeed
possible in the gas phase with reproducible Faradaic current responses being
observed. The results are well supported by unambiguous correlation of the
reduction potentials for peaks observed for the metal salt clusters to the vertical
electron detachment energies obtained from photoelectron emission
spectroscopy. The developed electrochemical cell and technique can be used to
further characterise other chemical compounds.


The growth-promoting effect of combined therapy with GH and IGF-I in normal rats is not known. We therefore investigated the efficacy of treatment with recombinant human (rh)GH and/or rhIGF-I on longitudinal bone growth and bone mass in intact, prepubertal, female Sprague-Dawley rats. rhGH was injected twice daily sc (5 mg/kg·d) and rhIGF-I continuously infused sc (2.2 or 4.4 mg/kg·d) for 28 days. Longitudinal bone growth was monitored by weekly x-rays of tibiae and nose-anus length measurements, and tibial growth plate histomorphology was analyzed. Bone mass was evaluated by peripheral quantitative computed tomography. In addition, serum levels of IGF-I, rat GH, acid labile subunit, IGF binding protein-3, 150-kDa ternary complex formation, and markers of bone formation and degradation were measured. Monotherapy with rhGH was more effective than rhIGF-I (4.4 mg/kg·d) to increase tibia and nose-anus length, whereas combined therapy did not further increase tibia, or nose-anus, lengths or growth plate height. In contrast, combined rhGH and rhIGF-I (4.4 mg/kg·d) therapy had an additive stimulatory effect on cortical bone mass vs rhGH alone. Combined treatment with rhGH and rhIGF-I resulted in markedly higher serum IGF-I concentrations vs rhGH alone but did not compromise the endogenous secretion of GH. We conclude that rhIGF-I treatment augments cortical bone mass but does not further improve bone growth in rhGH-treated young, intact, female rats.


In many modern experimental settings, observations are obtained in the form of functions, and interest focuses on inferences on a collection of such functions. We propose a hierarchical model that allows us to simultaneously estimate multiple curves nonparametrically by using dependent Dirichlet Process mixtures of Gaussians to characterize the joint distribution of predictors and outcomes. Function estimates are then induced through the conditional distribution of the outcome given the predictors. The resulting approach allows for flexible estimation and clustering, while borrowing information across curves. We also show that the function estimates we obtain are consistent on the space of integrable functions. As an illustration, we consider an application to the analysis of Conductivity and Temperature at Depth data in the north Atlantic.


Microarchitectural attacks threaten the security of computer systems even in the absence of software vulnerabilities. Such attacks are well explored on x86 and ARM CPUs, with a wide range of proposed but not-yet deployed hardware countermeasures. With the standardization of the RISC-V instruction set architecture and the announcement of support for the architecture by major processor vendors, RISC-V CPUs are on the verge of becoming ubiquitous. However, the microarchitectural attack surface of the first commercially-available RISC-V hardware CPUs still needs to be explored.This paper analyzes the two commercially-available off-the-shelf 64-bit RISC-V (hardware) CPUs used in most RISC-V systems running a full-fledged commodity Linux system. We evaluate the microarchitectural attack surface and introduce 3 new microarchitectural attack techniques: Cache+Time, a novel cache-line-granular cache attack without shared memory, Flush+Fault exploiting the Harvard cache architecture for Flush+Reload, and CycleDrift exploiting unprivileged access to instruction-retirement information. We also show that many known attacks apply to these RISC-V CPUs, mainly due to non-existing hardware countermeasures and instruction-set subtleties that do not consider the microarchitectural attack surface. We demonstrate our attacks in 6 case studies, including the first RISC-V-specific microarchitectural KASLR break and a CycleDrift-based method for detecting kernel activity. Based on our analysis, we stress the need to consider the microarchitectural attack surface during every step of a CPU design, including custom ISA extensions.


Commercially available friction modifiers are used in many different countries that have widely different atmospheric conditions. These variations in atmospheric conditions lead to varying levels of railhead oxidation and debris build-up. Friction modifiers can be applied to the rail without any prior cleaning of the rail and this can lead to varying friction modifier/iron oxide ratios potentially affecting the performance of the friction modifier. This paper reports the results of an investigation that was performed to determine the effects of varying atmospheric and oxide conditions on the performance of friction modifiers. A pin-on-disk test rig with an attached environmental chamber was used for the study. Results show that relative humidity has a pronounced effect on the way in which the friction modifier affects friction levels, and also the amount of time it remains on the disk. This also depends on the concentration of oxide in the friction modifier. Glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy analysis was also carried out to assess the effect of the friction modifier and atmospheric conditions on the chemical composition of the surface of the disk. Results show that the depth of surface modification is vastly different depending on the conditions and level of railhead debris.


Abstract
In this paper, we concerned about improving inefficiences of the business processes at store room areagrocery
products in a grocery company. Due to inefficiencies of the inventory management, it is
necessary to improve them related with providing good information and data management. The main
problem is miss information related with early warning system of lifetime products. They often have
unsold inventory grocery products as impact of expired date. This journal analyzes a system to find out
the need for system, then designs the system based on the system requirement obtained from the analysis.
The information system of store room area grocery product is designed by using an object-oriented
approach and UML modeling language to identify the actor, to make the system use case, to model the
business process using the activity chart, to make interaction scheme using sequence diagram and to
identify class. In the designing stage, this database and interface design is made. After database and
interface design, the next stage is to make the program code by considering the use case and interaction
diagrams that are made previously in modeling the object-oriented system. The result of this research
consists of input constituting login form, product, suppliers, unit, category, action, location, and
personnel data, addition, withdrawal, and action transactions, searching for product data, personnel
data, location data and report input. Meanwhile the output constitutes withdrawal list, increment,
product early earning reports approaching the expired date, product list, location list, personnel list,
stock op name checklist, and the product master label. The outputs of the information system are reports
and documents in monitor screen view and in printing. The validation showed that the information system
designed can support the early warning system of expired date of grocery products in store room area.
Keywords: information system, object oriented, early warning, inventory management, expired date


I greet you at the beginning of Lent. In this year I'm going to invite you to think about the ancient traditions of preparing in solidarity with candidates for baptism, to think about the old disciplines of prayer and fasting and alms-giving and study, through the focus on those beyond our communities, in the developing world, who live in abject poverty. I invite you to use the Millennium Development Goals as your focus for Lenten study and discipline and prayer and fasting this year. I'm going to remind you that the Millennium Development Goals are about healing the worst of the world's hunger. They're about seeing that all children get access to primary education. They're about empowering women. They're about attending to issues of maternal health and child mortality. They're about attending to issues of communicable disease like AIDS and malaria and tuberculosis. They're about environmentally sustainable development, seeing that people have access to clean water and sanitation and that the conditions in slums are alleviated. And finally, they are about aid, foreign aid. They're about trade relationships, and they're about building partnerships for sustainable development in this world. As you pray through the forty days of Lent, I encourage you to attend to the needs of those with the least around the world. I would invite you to study, both about how human beings live in other parts of the world and our own responsibility as Christians. What the Bible says more often than anything else is to tend to the needs of the widows and orphans, those without. Jesus himself says, "Care for the least of these." I invite you to consider your alms-giving discipline this Lent and remember those in the developing world who go without.


A beneficial association between rhizobacteria and roots of leguminous plant may results in the development of more nodulation on the roots of legume. Therefore, co-inoculation of rhizobia and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) was tested for improving nodulation and yield of mungbean under salt stressed conditions. In this study, one pre-isolated strain of each Rhizobium ( Rhizobium phasoli ) and PGPR ( Pseudomonas putida - KB 3 ) were tested as sole inoculation as well as in all possible combinations at three salinity levels (Original, 4.0 and 8.0 dS m -1 ) with six replicates by using two factorial under Complete Randomized Design (CRD). The results demonstrated that co-inoculation increased the plant height, fresh biomass, straw yield, grain yield, 100-grain weight, number of nodules per plant, nodule fresh weight, nodule dry weight, root length, root dry weight significantly at different salinity levels under pot conditions. Biochemical analysis of plant samples (straw and grain) showed a significantly (P<0.05) higher protein content, N concentration in straw, P concentration in grain and straw at different salinity levels under pot conditions in comparison to respective control (uninoculated). Post-harvest soil analysis revealed that the integrated use of bacterial co-inoculants along with compost also improved the quality of soil health. The finding of this study imply that co-inoculation with R. phasoli and P. putida - KB 3 could be the most effective for achieving better nodulation and yield of mungbean under saline conditions


Significance Bacteria use regulatory modules called two-component systems to respond to changes in their surrounding environment. Bacteria have evolved ways to insulate each two-component system, thereby preventing unwanted cross-talk. Here we describe an example where partners of distinct two-component systems show remarkable cross-specificity for each other. Loss of the quorum-sensing Escherichia coli (Qse)BC sensor QseC leads to robust cross-interaction of its cognate partner QseB with the polymyxin resistance (Pmr)AB two-component system. This cross-interaction in the absence of the cognate sensor is detrimental, severely attenuating pathogen virulence. Our findings suggest that (i) robust cross-talk between noncognate partners is possible and (ii) this interaction can be manipulated for developing antivirulence strategies against uropathogenic E. coli and potentially other QseBC−PmrAB-bearing pathogens. Bacterial two-component systems (TCSs) mediate specific responses to distinct conditions and/or stresses. TCS interactions are highly specific between cognate partners to avoid unintended cross-talk. Although cross-talk between a sensor kinase and a noncognate response regulator has been previously demonstrated, the majority of reported interactions have not been robust. Here, we report that in the case of the quorum-sensing Escherichia coli (Qse)BC TCS, absence of the cognate sensor QseC leads to robust, constitutive activation of the QseB response regulator by the noncognate polymyxin resistance (Pmr) sensor kinase PmrB. Remarkably, the noncognate PmrB exhibits a kinetic preference for QseB that is similar to QseC. However, although PmrB readily phosphorylates QseB in vitro, it is significantly less efficient at dephosphorylating QseB, compared with QseC, thereby explaining the increased levels of active QseB in the qseC mutant. In addition to PmrB activating QseB on the protein level, we found that the PmrA response regulator contributes to qseB transcription in the absence of QseC and PmrA specifically binds the qseBC promoter, indicative of a direct regulation of qseBC gene transcription by PmrAB under physiological conditions. Addition of ferric iron in the growth medium of wild-type uropathogenic E. coli induced the expression of qseBC in a PmrB-dependent manner. Taken together, our findings suggest that (i) robust cross-talk between noncognate partners is possible and (ii) this interaction can be manipulated for the development of antivirulence strategies aimed at targeting uropathogenic Escherichia coli and potentially other QseBC−PmrAB-bearing pathogens.


American Progressivism inaugurated the beginning of the end of American scientific racism. Its critics have been vocal, however, largely confusing the ideas that Progressives inherited from those they developed for themselves. Progressives have been charged with promotion of eugenics, and thus with mainstreaming practices such as housing segregation, compulsory sterilization of those deemed unfit, and exclusion of immigrants on racial grounds. But if the Progressives were such racists, why is it that since the 1930s Afro-Americans and other people of color have consistently supported self-proclaimed progressive political candidates, and typically by very wide margins?When examining the Progressives on race, it is critical to distinguish the views that they inherited from those that they developed. The rise of Progressivism coincided with the death of scientific racism, which had been taught in American universities since the early nineteenth century and featured prominently in the scientific debate over Darwin's theory of evolution. Eugenics, which attempted to use genetics and mathematics to validate many racist claims, was its last gasp. The most notable thing about the Progressives is that they were responsible for bringing scientific racism to an end, although that did not happen immediately.My argument here is, first, that one of the most powerful characteristics of the progressive State was its attentiveness to science – a characteristic that it retains to this day. When the Progressive Era was forming, however, genetic racism was the scientific model of the day, cutting across a wide range of disciplines and reaching people of all political persuasions, even into the most elite of American research institutions. By and large, non-Progressives were just as racist as Progressives and some significantly more so. Further, the Progressive period lay entirely within the southern era of Jim Crow legislated segregation, often making it impossible to identify particular racial attitudes in the New South as "Progressive" or simply as inherited features of long held southern racial ideas. The all important question for the historian is, Which racial ideas did the Progressives inherit from their predecessors, and which did they develop on their own?Second, if Progressive public policy on race differed from prevailing alternatives, it was that Progressives believed in a more active State. Racism supported by an activist legislative agenda can be much uglier than racism that is simply tolerated. One cannot characterize most of the segregationist, exclusionary, and other racist legislation passed during this era as "Progressive," however. Southern states actively regulated racial exclusion by statute, and all of the racial zoning laws sometimes attributed to Progressives were passed in formerly slave holding states. Whatever the ideological or scientific sources of these laws, they were supported by staunch anti-Progressives. The same thing is true of compulsory sterilization laws. For example, the Supreme Court Justices who voted consistently against Progressive labor protective and other regulatory legislation voted to uphold compulsory sterilization of mental "defectives." While many Progressives advocated for more restrictive immigration laws, nothing that was passed during the Progressive Era matched the explicit restrictions on Chinese immigration that came earlier, or the racist immigration restrictions enacted during the terms of anti-Progressive Presidents Harding and Coolidge after the Progressive Era had ended. Finally, the attempts to link Progressive support for minimum wage laws to racial exclusion fail because they misunderstand the objectives of the Progressive minimum wage commitment and, further, pick and choose a small number of idiosyncratic examples from an enormous economic literature.Third, the one place where a sharp difference emerged between progressives and their various opponents was in the subsequent rejection of genetic racism in favor of more environmentalist, nurture-based models of human nature and development. More environmentalist views began to take hold in the social sciences in the 1910s and 1920s and began to change legal thinking in the 1940s. They found expression in a Supreme Court that was almost unanimously Democrat and self-acknowledged progressive. The result was gradual emergence of a division that has endured to this day, with progressives largely appearing as promoters of racial inclusion and diversity.


I Dates: i 13th to 16th September 2022;I Location: i University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany;I Contact: i email@example.com;I Website: i https://phowo.ifp.uni-stuttgart.de Today, the Photogrammetric Week enjoys international recognition as an upgrading seminar and a platform for the exchange of experience. This regular event was initiated by Carl Pulfrich in 1909 as a "vacation course in photogrammetry";since 1973 it has been held at the University of Stuttgart. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Photogrammetric Record is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)


Abstract. We present a design algorithm to compute the positions of identical, hexagonal mirror segments on a spherical surface, which is shown to provide a small variation in gap width. A one-dimensional analog to the segmentation problem is developed in order to motivate the desired configuration of the tiling patterns and to emphasize the desire for minimizing segment gap widths to improve optical performance. Our azimuthal equidistant centroid tiling algorithm is applied to three telescope architectures and produces mirror segment arrangements that compare favorably with existing and alternative designs.


OBJECTIVES
To describe the clinical features of a Brazilian kindred with C9orf72 frontotemporal dementia-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and compare them with other described families with C9orf72 and frontotemporal dementia-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-causing mutations.

DESIGN
Report of a kindred.

SETTING
Dementia center at a university hospital.

PATIENTS
One kindred encompassing 3 generations.

RESULTS
The presence of a hexanucleotide (GGGGCC) expansion in C9orf72 was confirmed by repeat-primed polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot. The observed phenotypes were behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with dementia, with significant variability in age at onset and duration of disease. Parkinsonian features with focal dystonia, visual hallucinations, and more posterior atrophy on neuroimaging than is typical for frontotemporal dementia were seen.

CONCLUSIONS
Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia due to C9orf72 expansion displays some phenotypic heterogeneity and may be associated with hallucinations, parkinsonism, focal dystonia, and posterior brain atrophy. Personality changes may precede the diagnosis of dementia by many years and may be a distinguishing feature of this mutation.


Superelasticity is one of the most important properties of shape memory alloy. In this paper, the superelastic deformation behavior of NiTi shape memory alloy subjected to cyclic loading with stable superelasticity is experimentally investigated. According to test data, a constitutive model for the superelasticity of shape memory alloy is presented based on the artificial neural network (ANN). Numerical results agree well with experimental observations that verified the constitutive model being of high accuracy. This model can avoid the difficulties of other models on the determination of the parameters and is suitable for practical engineering application. Thus, a new method is provided for building the constitutive model of shape memory alloy.


The increasing demand for food, fibre and animal products inevitably requires intensifying agricultural production worldwide. This can present a number of environmental and farming systems challenges in Mediterranean climate areas of the world. Developments of novel strategies, employing ecologically sound intensification practices, are crucial to enhance production in the Mediterranean agropastoral production systems. In this paper, we have discussed forage based systems that improve productivity, profitability, environmental quality and resilience of the farming systems. Key opportunities include better use and integration of diverse genetic resources, new agronomic techniques and the utilization of perennial forage plants that are adapted to land that may not be suited to traditional species. This article has a specific focus on the recent developments on forage based production options for the ecologically sound intensification and enhanced livestock productivity in the low to medium rainfall (< 500 mm/year) Mediterranean agropastoral production systems from the farming context of smallholdings of south Mediterranean countries (West Asia and North Africa; WANA) and large-scale farming systems of southern Australia.


: Of nine pushbutton attachments the force was determined which is necessary for separating the elements from each other, from unused state and in regular intervals up to 44000 times. The initial forces were between 3150 p and 775 p. It appears that forces between 400 and 1000 p should be sufficient for the anchorage of partial dentures. It is suggested that the retentive forces of such retentive elements be standardized. In extracoronal attachments, the use of two abutments soldered together is recommended.


Existing studies of trade reform in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) -- and elsewhere -- are mainly qualitative in character, partly because of the difficulty of measuring the intensity of trade liberalisation. This paper uses a quantitative measure of trade liberalisation to provide statistical evidence on the conditions accounting for Africa's timid reforms. This measure captures the change in the tariff equivalent of all trade barriers and is therefore a summary indicator of the intensity of reform. The measure provides a fairly accurate description of the trade liberalisation experience of SSA countries, indicating that the most significant reforms occurred during the period 1986--90. The empirical model includes a set of hypotheses suggested both by theory and the anecdotal evidence of Africa's liberalisation experience. The empirical methodology distinguishes between the conditions that affect the likelihood of reform and the factors that determine the intensity of trade liberalisation. The empirical results justify this distinction. The findings suggest that larger aid flows, higher levels of urbanisation, a strong current account position and a relatively large manufacturing sector enhance the probability that trade reform is adopted. There is also some evidence that economic crises facilitate reform. Conversely, heavier fiscal dependence on trade taxes, greater import competition and a large government make trade reform less likely. However, only five of these factors -- current account balance, size of manufacturing sector, size of government, fiscal dependence on trade taxes and aid -- are found to exert a statistically significant effect on the intensity of trade reform. Copyright 2003, Oxford University Press.


Environment protection has been, even since ancient times, one of man's major interests, given the obvious negative impact of anthropic activities on natural environment. For ancient cities the need for clean water supply was a necessity and managing waste became necessary whenever people organized a settlement. It is vital for us to know the ecological state of the world, as well as to determine the dangers that might affect the environment, including the irrational exploitation of natural resources, demographical problems, unsustainable development and climate change. A hazard is a very damaging natural or anthropic phenomenon, whose occurrence is due to the overstepping of safety measures each society has to observe. A hazard turns into a disaster if there are at least 10 human lives lost or 50 people injured and material losses of over a million dollars. New technologies such as GPS or laser scanning have significant potential use in the analysis of natural hazards such as landslides. Relying on the recent advances in the mentioned techniques, this paper aims to present the monitoring of a landslide situated in Slănic Prahova, Romania. The present paper takes the opportunity to use GPS and laser scanner data to attempt an analysis for ground displacements induced by landslide hazard, thus showing its high level of topicality. Moreover, the paper's originality is given by the fact that, for the monitoring process which is very important in ensuring sustainable development, state of art technology was used The methods and instruments presented in this paper are characteristic to geodetic and topographic engineering. Although varied and very elaborate, these methods have limits, namely they only help monitoring, anticipating and reconstructing after disasters, but they cannot be used to avoid such hazards from taking place. The importance of this paper also lies in stressing the importance of the surveying profession needed for hazard monitoring, in particular landslide monitoring, thus contributing to achieving sustainable development.


International joint ventures (IJVs) have become an important means of market entry for many firms, particularly those seeking entry into Asia (Lin & Germain, 1999). This study examines firm and environmental characteristics that impact the overall satisfaction with marketing performance and economic performance of IJVs in Thailand. The data for this study were collected via a mail survey of 1,047 Thai-foreign IJVs in Thailand. The analysis indicated that IJV marketing performance was influenced by market characteristics, commitment, marketing orientation, and organizational control and that these variables differentially impact overall satisfaction with marketing performance and economic performance. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


This report proposes a simple classification for maxillary hard-soft palate defects (6-4 classification) that can be used by surgical oncologists and maxillofacial prosthetists to describe the type and extent of maxillary defects. This classification can also hopefully be used to predict the functional result of maxillofacial prosthetic treatment.This classification is simply based on the defect area compared with the total area of the hard palate-alveolarregion and that of the soft palate. The total area is expressed as a fraction of 6 for the palate-alveolar region and asa fraction of 4 for the soft palate region.A questionnaire survey of head and neck surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons, and other specialists indicates thatthis 6-4 classification can be used easily and correctly. Our classification will hopefully promote better communicationsamong multidisciplinary specialists, including maxillofacial prosthetists.


Common techniques currently used for afforestation in the Mediterranean basin consider the pre‐existing vegetation (mainly shrubs) as a source of competition for trees, and consequently it is generally eliminated before planting. Nevertheless, it has been demonstrated that woody plants can facilitate the establishment of understory seedlings in environments that, like the Mediterranean area, are characterized by a pronounced dry season. In this study, we experimentally analyze the usefulness of shrubs as nurse plants for afforestation of two native conifers, Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) and Pinus nigra Arnold (black pine). Two‐year‐old seedlings were planted in four microhabitats: (1) open interspaces without vegetation (which is the usual method used in afforestation programs), (2) under individuals of Salvia lavandulifolia, (3) under the north side of spiny shrubs, and (4) under the south side of spiny shrubs. Pine survival was remarkably higher when planted under individuals of the shrub S. lavandulifolia (54.8% for Scots pine, 81.9% for black pine) compared with open areas (21.5% for Scots pine, 56.8% for black pine; chi square, p < 0.05). The survival of both pines was also higher when planted on the north side of spiny shrubs, although the survival on the south side was similar to that found in open areas. In addition, pine growth was not inhibited when planted in association with shrubs. This pattern appears to result from the combination of abiotic conditions imposed by the presence of a nurse shrub, which leads to improvement in seedling water status and therefore reduced summer mortality by drought. The results show that the use of shrubs as nurse plants is a technique that offers both economic and ecological advantages, in terms of savings in labor and plant material and reduced and even negligible impact on the pre‐existing vegetation.