Relevance and Method: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Emergency Physiotherapy Practitioner (EPP) service against quality care indicators identified as part of the "gold standard" for emergency care in England. The study was prospective and evaluated time to initial assessment, total time in the emergency department and un-planned re-attendance rate within a seven-day period for all patients seen by the EPP's over a period of one year. Outcomes: One thousand and seven patients were seen by EPPs in the emergency department. The median wait time for treatment by an EPP was 34.5 minutes (95th percentile = 122). Regional median wait time was 45 minutes (95th percentile = 138). National median wait time was 55 minutes (95th percentile = 192). Median total time spent in ED for patients seen by EPPs was 99 minutes (95th percentile = 224). Regional median total time in ED was 223 (95th percentile = 239). Nationally median total time in ED was 136 minutes (95th percentile = 336). Three percent of patients seen by an EPP returned to the ED, compared to 6% regionally and 7.5% nationally. Conclusions: EPPs excelled in all three indicators and exceeded regional and national figures. The re-return rate met the current standard of being less than 5%. It could be justified that the addition of the EPPs to the emergency department was an efficient and effective service development.


The conformational behaviour of a series of monohydroxamic acids, p-RC6H4CONR′OH (R = Me, R′= H, Me; R = MeO, R′= H, Me; R = NO2, R′= H), and a series of dihydroxamic acids, (CH2)n(CONR′OH)2(n= 3–8, 10, R′= H and n= 7, R′= Me), in methanol, DMSO and chloroform and in the solid state has been examined using IR and NMR spectroscopy. X-Ray crystal structure determinations of p-MeC6H4CONMeOH and the monohydrate of glutarodihydroxamic acid (n= 3) together with ab initio molecular orbital calculations for several hydrated and unhydrated hydroxamic acids have been performed. Hydrogen bonding effects are shown to be important in both the solid state and solution. The cis(Z) conformation of the hydroxamate group(s)(CONHOH) is preferentially stabilized by hydrogen bonding with water molecules.


Viral susceptibility and disease progression is determined by host genetic variation that underlies individual differences. Genetic polymorphisms that affect the phenotype upon infection have been well-studied for only a few viruses, such as HIV-1 and Hepatitis C virus. However, even for well-studied viruses the genetic basis of individual susceptibility differences remains elusive. Investigating the effect of causal polymorphisms in humans is complicated, because genetic methods to detect rare or small-effect polymorphisms are limited and genetic manipulation is not possible in human populations. Model organisms have proven a powerful experimental platform to identify and characterize polymorphisms that underlie natural variations in viral susceptibility using quantitative genetic tools. We summarize and compare the genetic tools available in three main model organisms, Mus musculus, Drosophila melanogaster, and Caenorhabditis elegans, and illustrate how these tools can be applied to detect polymorphisms that determine the viral susceptibility. Finally, we analyse how candidate polymorphisms from model organisms can be used to shed light on the underlying mechanism of individual variation. Insights in causal polymorphisms and mechanisms underlying individual differences in viral susceptibility in model organisms likely provide a better understanding in humans.


The urgency of the discussed issue is caused by the need to increase the quality of the prepared gas and to increase the competence of engineering staff of low-temperature gas separation plant using computer modeling systems. The main aim of the study: to create software package that simulates the changing technological performance of low-temperature separation unit in real time study the effect of single unit work on the system as a whole. The methods used in the study: chemical processes mathematical modeling method. The results: a program of three-phase separator calculating one of the most important elements of low-temperature separation considering the influence of the control parameters of the system (control valves for gas and liquid), the geometric dimensions of the unit and generally accepted principles of the separation of the three-phase mixture (Stokes' law, the laws of the phase equilibrium and so on) was created. Developed module allows to create interactive software package that simulates the work of low-temperature separation in real time.


When optimizing large-scale applications, striking the balance between steady-state performance, start-up time, and code size has always been a grand challenge. While recent advances in trace compilation have significantly improved the steady-state performance of trace JITs for large-scale Java applications, the size control aspect of a trace compilation system remains largely overlooked. For instance, using the DaCapo 9.12 benchmarks, we observe that 40% of traces selected by a state-of-the-art trace selection algorithm are short-lived and, on average, each selected basic block is replicated 13 times in the trace cache.
 This paper studies the size control problem for a class of commonly used trace selection algorithms and proposes six techniques to reduce the footprint of trace selection without incurring any performance loss. The crux of our approach is to target redundancies in trace selection in the form of either short-lived traces or unnecessary trace duplication.
 Using one of the best performing selection algorithms as the baseline, we demonstrate that, on the DaCapo 9.12 benchmarks and DayTrader 2.0 on WebSphere Application Server 7.0, our techniques reduce the code size and compilation time by 69% and the start-up time by 43% while retaining the steady-state performance. On DayTrader 2.0, an example of large-scale application, our techniques also improve the steady-state performance by 10%.


The importance of force and tactile display in virtual reality technology has been recognized recently and numerous researches have been done including development of various force and/or tactile display devices. However, many of them are always in touch with fingers or hands of operators and it is impossible for an operator to feel difference between contact and noncontact state with a virtual object directly from sensory channel of touch in his/her finger or hand. This paper presents a new haptic display device we have developed which provides both touch and force feeling to the operator's fingers. This device tracks the operator's finger with no contact when the finger is not in contact with any virtual object. It touches and displays force to the finger only when some virtual object is in touch with the finger. A control algorithm for the system to display dynamic virtual objects is given. Preliminary experimental results are also presented.


Ice cores provide the most direct evidence available about the past atmosphere. For long-lived trace gases, ice cores have provided clear evidence that in the last two centuries, concentrations of several greenhouse gases have risen well outside the natural range observed in the previous 650 000 years. Major natural changes are also observed between cold and warm periods. Aerosol components have to be interpreted in terms of changing sources, transport and deposition. When this is done, they can also supply evidence about crucial aspects of the past environment, including sea ice extent, trace element deposition to the ocean, and about the aerosols available for cloud nucleation, for example. It is much more difficult to extract information about shorter-lived chemical species. Information may be available in components such as nitrate and formaldehyde, but to extract that information, detailed modern atmospheric studies about air to snow transfer, preservation in the ice, and the link between the polar region boundary layer and other parts of the atmosphere are urgently required.


We present a new integrated algorithm for binary arithmetic coding and probability estimation, competitive in speed and compression performance with state-of-the-art algorithms such as the QM-coder and Z-coder. The chief innovation is representing the bracketing interval width both directly and by a logarithmic approximation. Performance is evaluated by experiments using bilevel-image data sets. An open-source software version is available.


The paper presents the results of experiments for determination of response of spherical shells having load-bearing layer from fiber glass under radially symmetrical inner explosive loading. We carried out assessment of dynamic strength of two shell types with diameter of 500 mm, which differed in the scheme of fiber glass layer coiling. It was demonstrated that a shell with more even thickness (of 15-20 mm) of load-bearing fiber glass layer has significant advantage. Such a sheath has approximately twofold reserve of strength during explosion of a charge equal in energy to 1. 4 kg of trinitrotoluene in its geometrical center. It has been found that transition from one-axial strains, which are realized under explosive loading of a cylindrical shell, to two-axial strains, when spherical shells are used, does not change the value of limiting strains of fiber glass (on the destruction threshold). This value is determined by limiting strains of a glass thread. It is equal to 4-5 %. Tested spherical shells from fiber glass reinforced by steel layer allow to obtain record high value of the explosion-proofness property, i. e. relation between the high-explosive charge mass, where explosion of this high-explosive charge is confined inside of the sheath cavity, and mass of this shell. It is equal to 3-6 %.


A series of studies present the development and validation of the Communication Anxiety Regulation Scale (CARS), a self-report measure designed to assess the use of emotion regulation strategies to manage acute communication anxiety—in contrast to measures of general emotion regulation tendencies. Study 1 delineates the item derivation and selection process that yielded the final 12 CARS items. Results of an exploratory factor analysis supported the existence of four distinct subscales, each representing one of four anxiety regulation strategies (suppression, reappraisal, avoidance, and venting). Study 2 confirmed this factor structure and also examined correlations of the CARS with existing measures in an attempt to establish concurrent validity. Finally, Study 3 presents results of an item-sort task demonstrating the scale's face validity and items' substantive validity. Overall, findings provide preliminary support for the utility of the CARS as measure of communication anxiety regulation to be used by communication and psychology researchers.


In cities and towns across Pennsylvania, many physicians have come to the realization that only by working together can they maintain a high level of influence over patient care and the business of medical practice. This case history focuses on the efforts of one group of physicians that has been helped by PennMed Member Services Company (PMSCO). The location and the identity of the group have been changed to ensure confidentiality.


Objectives The aim of this study was to analyse, within a French cohort of workers previously occupationally exposed to asbestos, incidence and mortality from various sites of head and neck cancers (larynx excluded) and to examine the potential link of these cancers with pleural plaques. Methods A 10-year follow-up study was conducted in the 13 481 male subjects included in the cohort between October 2003 and December 2005. Asbestos exposure was assessed by industrial hygienist analysis of a standardised questionnaire. The final cumulative exposure index (CEI; in equivalent fibres.years/mL) for each subject was calculated as the sum of each employment period's four-level CEI. The number of head and neck cancers recorded by the National Health Insurance fund was collected in order to conduct an incidence study. Complementary analysis was restricted to men who had performed at least one chest CT scan (N=4804). A mortality study was also conducted. We used a Cox model with age as the time axis variable adjusted for smoking, time since first exposure, CEI of exposure to asbestos and pleural plaques on CT scans. Results We reported a significant dose–response relationship between CEI of exposure to asbestos and head and neck cancers after exclusion of laryngeal cancers, in the mortality study (HR 1.03, 95% CI (1.01 to 1.06) for an increase of 10 f.years/mL) and a close to significant dose–response relationship in the incidence study (HR 1.02, 95% CI (1.00 to 1.04) for an increase of 10 f.years/mL). No statistically significant association between pleural plaques and head and neck cancer incidence was observed. Conclusions This large-scale study suggests a relationship between asbestos exposure and head and neck cancers, after exclusion of laryngeal cancers, regardless of whether associated pleural plaques were present.


A finite-element method-based parallel computing simulator for multiphysics effects in resistive random access memory (RRAM) array, which is suitable for supercomputer platforms even with thousands of cores, is developed to simulate oxygen vacancy migration, current transport, and thermal conduction. Exponentially fit flux Galerkin method is introduced to improve algorithm convergence when solving the 3-D oxygen vacancy drift-diffusion equation. The accuracy of our algorithm is validated by comparison with commercial software. Scalability of our parallel algorithm is also investigated. The simulation results for the high-density integration RRAM array indicate that the heat generated during the writing process can result in high temperature, and lead to severe reliability problem. Even the RRAM cells without bias voltage applied can be transferred from low-resistance state to high-resistance state unintentionally, and lose their stored information. Increasing the feature size or equivalently decreasing the integration density lowers the power density, hence improves reliability performance. Large electrode thickness with Dirichlet boundary applied on their side surfaces can drain out heat faster and enhance reliability of RRAM array.


Although there is increasing emphasis on targeting of improved technology towards poor and female farmers, few adoption studies assess the uptake of new practices by these groups in a comprehensive manner. In this study, community members used the wealth ranking method to identify the different wealth groups in their communities, to determine each household.s wealth status, and to assess the association of wealth and different types of households with the planting of improved tree fallows, a practice for improving crop yields. There were no significant differences between the proportions of women and men planting improved fallows nor were there differences between single women and female heads of households who were married. There was some evidence of association between planting improved fallows and wealth. That 22% of the .poor. group and 16% of the. very poor. group were planting them suggests that there are no barriers preventing low-income households from doing so. Moreover, the proportion of females, poor, and very poor people planting improved fallows varied considerably among villages, suggesting that opportunities exist for increasing their use of the technology. Whereas the use of mineral fertilizer is strongly associated with high- income, male farmers, improved fallows appear to be a gender-neutral and wealth-neutral technology. Poor farmers appreciate improved fallows because they permit them to substitute small amounts of land and labour for cash, their most scarce resource. Finally, the high degree of consistency among different key informants in classifying households among wealth groups confirmed the effectiveness and accuracy of the wealth ranking exercise.


English teaching in kindergarten is very important. Because we need to introduce English as soon as possible for children. They need to know and learn English to adapt with global communication. The ability of pupils in kindergarten to communicate with English can be the great assets for a better future for those children. The aims of study from this research are to explain and make the readers believe and know about the teaching methods of English Teaching in Tunas Pertiwi Kindergarten and the English teaching matters to teach in Tunas Pertiwi kindergarten, the good methods in teaching English for pupils in kindergarten are very important. Because in that ages, they have fresh mind in absorbs the matters that given in kindergarten. The methods that used in this research, to get the data and information, which is relevant. The methods that used in this research are field research, including interviews, observations and library research. The results from this research are data available from Tunas Pertiwi kindergarten. A brief description of institution, English teaching hour and teaching materials.


An experimental study was performed to understand the heat transfer and fluid dynamic characteristics of Sub-Cooled Hybrid Condenser (SCHC), which conventional condenser and receiver dryer are integrated into. SCHC also employs a sub-cooled refrigerant passages at the end of the condenser in order to supply perfect liquid refrigerant to the expansion unit. Throughout the present study it was found that the developed SCHC increases in the degree of sub-cooling by 10~100% compared to conventional condenser. The excessive sub-cool has improved the cooling performance by 10%, and that leads reduction in evaporator outlet air temperature 1.5℃. Also found through the study is that the refrigerant pressure drop across SCHC is fairly increased due to insertion of the desiccant cartridge in the receiver tank which is composed of zeolite, filter and supporter plate.


Background First-pass effect (FPE), restoring complete or near complete reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) 2c-3) in a single pass, is an independent predictor for good functional outcomes in the endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke. The economic implications of achieving FPE have not been assessed. Objective To assess the economic impact of achieving complete or near complete reperfusion after the first pass. Methods Post hoc analyses were conducted using ARISE II study data. The target population consisted of patients in whom mTICI 2c–3 was achieved, stratified into two groups: (1) mTICI 2c–3 achieved after the first pass (FPE group) or (2) after multiple passes (non-FPE group). Baseline characteristics, clinical outcomes, and healthcare resource use were compared between groups. Costs from peer-reviewed literature were applied to assess cost consequences from the perspectives of the United States (USA), France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom (UK). Results Among patients who achieved mTICI 2c–3 (n=172), FPE was achieved in 53% (n=91). A higher proportion of patients in the FPE group reached good functional outcomes (90-day modified Rankin Scale score 0–2 80.46% vs 61.04%, p<0.01). The patients in the FPE group had a shorter mean length of stay (6.10 vs 9.48 days, p<0.01) and required only a single stent retriever, whereas 35% of patients in the non-FPE group required at least one additional device. Driven by improvement in clinical outcomes, the FPE group had lower procedural/hospitalization-related (24–33% reduction) and annual care (11–27% reduction) costs across all countries. Conclusions FPE resulted in improved clinical outcomes, translating into lower healthcare resource use and lower estimated costs.


Following an application from Pierre Fabre Medicament, submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of France, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scienti fi c substantiation of a health claim related to V0137, a ' DHA-enriched fi sh oil ' , and ' helps to slow the age-related cognitive decline in domains such as memory and executive function ' . The food, V0137, which is the subject of the health claim, is suf fi ciently characterised. The Panel considers that a reduced loss of cognitive function is a bene fi cial physiological effect. The applicant submitted fi ve human studies for the substantiation of the health claim, four of which were carried out with foods other than V0137. No conclusions could be drawn from these four studies for the scienti fi c substantiation of the claim. The remaining study was a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, 3-years parallel trial in 1,680 subjects of at least 70 years and at risk of cognitive decline. The subjects were distributed to the four following study groups: (i) V0137 + multidomain intervention (MDI; physical and cognitive exercise, nutrition recommendations); (ii) V0137 without MDI; (iii) placebo + MDI; (iv) placebo without MDI. The primary endpoint of the study was a change in cognitive function, as assessed by a composite cognitive score. There were no statistically signi fi cant differences between the study groups for changes in the composite cognitive score at 36 months. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of V0137 and a reduced loss of cognitive function. Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.


Background:
 Clinical observation revealed inconsistent ED decision-to-needle tPa times due to differing processes including pharmacist mixing in the central pharmacy, ED RN mixing at the bedside, and holding the tPa vial for stroke neurologist to mix upon arrival at the bedside

 Purpose:
 Implement a consistent process for tPa calculation and mixing Reduce decision-to-needle times, increasing the opportunity for successful patient outcome

 Method:
 Conduct retrospective chart review to establish baseline tPa decision-to-needle times in the ED Review current process of calculating, mixing, and administering tPa Identify areas for process streamlining and reducing potential for error by calculating and mixing tPa at the bedside Established goal of zero minute decision-to-needle time Clinical Pharmacist added to Code Stroke pager team in May 2010 Initial Clinical Pharmacist role consisted of dose calculation and verification with ED nurse at bedside Expanded Clinical Pharmacist role to include mixing tPa at beside in conjunction with nurse, while maintaining compliance with
 USP 797 Guidelines
 * Implement process of bedside conference between Clinical Pharmacist and ED RN to identify eligible candidates, allowing the Clinical Pharmacist to prepare tPa in preparation of anticipated administration Clinical Pharmacist's role progressed to include immediate bedside medication education to patient and/or family, including verbal and written education materials

 Results:

 Addition of Clinical Pharmacist to Code Stroke team, with responsibility of calculating and mixing tPa at the bedside, has resulted in improved zero minute decision-to-needle times.

 2010: zero minute decision-to-needle time not achieved

 2011: zero minute decision-to-needle achieved in 60% of administrations

 2012: (through July): zero minute decision-to-needle achieved in 78% of administrations

 Conclusion:
 Addition of a Clinical Pharmacist to the Code Stroke team resulted in a reduction of decision-to-needle tPa times in the Emergency Department

 Implications for Practice:
 Utilization of Clinical Pharmacist during Code Stroke to calculate and mix tPa reduces decision-to-needle time *
 http://www.emlab.com/s/services/USP_797.html


A Steer-by-Wire system has so many advantages comparing with conventional mechanical steering system that it is expected to take key role in future environment friendly vehicle and intelligent transportation system. The mechanical connection between the hand wheel and the front axle will become obsolete. SBW system provides many benefits in terms of functionality, and at the same time present significant challenges - fault tolerant, fail safety - too. In this paper, failure analysis of SBW system will be performed and than sensor fusion technique will be proposed for fail safety of SBW system. A sensor fusion logic of steering angle sensor by using steering angle sensor, torque sensor and rack position sensor will be developed and simulated by fault injection simulation.


Fescue toxicosis is a multifaceted disease that negatively impacts cattle. It was hypothesized that exposure to endophyte-infected fescue during the stocker phase affects finishing phase growth and carcass characteristics. Eight-month-old steers were sorted by weight and randomly assigned to receive one of four treatments for 56 days in confinement: endophyte-free seed (0 ug/kg ergovaline) with either 18% (EF-18; n = 9) or 14% dietary protein (EF-14; n = 9) and endophyte-infected seed (500 ug/kg ergovaline) with 18% (EI-18; n = 9) or 14% dietary protein (EI-14; n = 9). Following fescue exposure calves were backgrounded on novel endophyte fescue pastures for 8 mo. At 18 mo, all steers were vaccinated, implanted, and reentered the feedlot for a 112 d growing phase and 52 d finishing phase. Body weight was recorded every 28 d and carcass data was collected at slaughter. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS for effects of BW, ADG, dressing percentage (DP), HCW, backfat, ribeye area (REA), KPH, USDA Yield grade (YG), and USDA Quality grade (QG). Statistical significance was determined at P > 0.05) HCW, BW, backfat, REA, DP, or QG. TheEI-14 had a greater ADG (1.69 kg/d) during the feedlot growing phase compared to the other treatment groups (1.53, 1.47, 1.55 for EI-18, EF-14, EF-18, respectively; P > 0.05). Steers stockered on 18% dietary protein had greater BW compared to steers previously fed at 14% (501.3±3.8 vs. 489.7±3.8; P = 0.0339). In addition, 18% protein in stocker diet resulted in greater KPH (2.3±0.2 vs. 1.78±0.2; P = 0.0129) and YG (3.4±0.1 vs. 3.0±0.1; P = 0.0168) compared with steers fed 14% dietary protein. Finishing growth and carcass characteristics were not affected by exposure to ergot alkaloids at weaning as much as dietary protein when cattle had a background period prior to feedlot entry


In 1909, Carl Wilhelm Seidenadel published a grammar, vocabulary and texts of a Philippine language that he called Bontoc Igorot. Although there are serious problems with his description of the phonology, his treatment of the syntax of the language was in some ways quite perspicacious. He was probably the first linguist to reject the traditional (at that time) treatment of the various transitive constructions of Philippine languages as passives, and offered an analysis that considered them to be active constructions. This chapter will review the work in the light of what is now known about the language, in particular his descriptions of the phonology and syntax, and relate his views to current issues in the typological characterization of the languages of the Philippines.


Economics can clarify the discussion on invasive species in at least three ways. First is through the use of incentives to change human behavior so as to enhance protection against the introduction, establishment, and spread of invasive species across the world. The second recognizes the public good characteristics of invasive species control, and develops institutions to support the weakest members of our global community (Perrings et al. 2002). The third component involves choosing optimal investment in invasive species management across space, species, and time. This paper is a first attempt at addressing the third component, optimal spatial containment of an invasive species.


This paper introduces an interface that helps understand the correspondence between the patient and medical images. Surgeons determine the extent of resection by using tomographic images such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) data. However, understanding the relationship between the patient and tomographic images is difficult. This study aims to visualize the correspondence more intuitively. In this paper, we propose an interactive visualizer for medical images based on the relative position and orientation of the handheld device and the patient. We conducted an experiment to verify the performances of the proposed method and several other methods. In the experiment, the proposed method with a line laser showed the minimum error.


[1] In most models of glacial erosion, glacier sliding velocity is hypothesized to control rates of bedrock erosion. If this hypothesis is correct, then the elevation difference between hanging and trunk valley floors, the hang height, should be dictated by the relative sliding velocities of the glaciers that occupied these valleys. By considering sliding velocity to be proportional to balance velocity and using mass continuity, hang height is expressed in terms of glacier catchment areas, slopes, and widths, which can be estimated for past glaciers from the morphology of glacial valleys. These parameters were estimated for 46 hanging valleys and their trunk valleys in three adjacent regions of Jasper National Park. The variability in valley morphology can account for 55–85% of the hang height variability if erosion rate scales with balance velocity raised to a power of 1/3. This correspondence is in spite of spatial variations in glaciation duration, snow accumulation rates, and other variables that likely affected hang heights but cannot be readily estimated and so are not included in our formulation. Thus it appears that balance velocity, and by extension, sliding velocity if the two are proportional, may be a reasonable control variable for assessing erosion rate.


This study was performed to investigate the relation between total oxygen consumption (VO2) and the velocity of reheating in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass with hypothermia. A total of 17 males undergoing this procedure were studied prospectively (mean age: 63 years, range: 52-72); during surgery they were cooled at 28 degrees C whole-body temperature. Before rewarming, patients were divided at random in two groups. Group A (n = 8) was reheated between 10 and 25 minutes, and group B (n = 9) between 26 and 50 minutes. In group A, VO2 expressed in ml.min-1 x m-2 increased from 76.6 +/- 6.99 at 28 degrees C until 100.0 +/- 6.72 at 34 degrees C; in group B increased from 68.4 +/- 4.55 until 129.1 +/- 4.73 at similar temperatures (analysis of variance: p < 0.01 at 28 degrees C). A greater VO2 in group B could indicate that slow rewarming would cause an even distribution of temperature with enough time for tissues to rid of their oxygen debt.


Abstract Kenya is actively encouraging HIV testing and notification services in order to identify persons living with HIV and link them to treatment. Recently, Kenya and international supporters of its HIV program have sought to scale up these services through increased capacity and training. However, little is known about how this strategy has been implemented and is being sustained, particularly regarding the human rights of persons living with or at risk for HIV. This exploratory qualitative study seeks perspectives from health providers and populations at risk for HIV, including young women, men who have sex with men, sex workers, and injection drug users. Our primary data collection methods will be focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. We will transcribe and analyze data under a grounded theory approach to compare outputs from populations at risk for HIV with outputs from health providers. We will also apply a rights analysis to the data's codes and themes to assess how effectively Kenya's HIV strategy, policies, and practices adhere to a human rights-based approach. The results will support both rights realization among at-risk populations and the public health objectives for HIV testing and treatment.


Objective: To study the histo-pathological findings in lung biopsies of critical COVID-19 cases.
Study Design: Case series.
Place and Duration of Study: Pakistan Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul to Dec 2020.
Methodology: Deceased patients who remained on ventilatory support with a confirmatory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 both by PCR and radiological evidence on HRCT and clinically established severity of disease as per CALL scoring were included in the study. Written informed consent for lung biopsy was taken from the deceased's next of kin
Result: Mean age of the study group was 67.20 ± 6.01 years. The patients had a mean high resolution computed tomography score of 36.73 ± 1.59, and the mean CALL score was 12.73 ± 0.691 on admission. The average time after intensive care unit admission to intubation was 1.23 ± 0.50 days. Histopathological examination of the lung biopsy showed 27 (87.1%) patients had the exudative stage of adult respiratory distress syndrome while three (9.7%) patients had a proliferative stage of adult respiratory distress syndrome.
Conclusion: Histopathological findings of an exudative stage of adult respiratory distress syndrome in the lung biopsies of critical COVID-19 showed no significant difference with typical adult respiratory distress syndrome and are correlated with very high mortality rates in critical COVID-19.


Due to concerns about meeting the strict legislation currently in force, anaerobic treatment is being investigated for the treatment of a variety of waste streams. Instant coffee wastes are one type of industrial effluent that appears to be amenable to anaerobic digestion, and this paper presents some results on the biodegradation of this effluent. The method used was a batch bioassay technique known as the Biochemical Methane Potential assay (BMP), which gave 84% degradation of a composite coffee waste sample. Various fractions of the coffee waste revealed mixed degradation results mostly attributed to structural differences, with the liquid fractions being almost 60% degradable, and the solids filter cake fraction, containing most of the lignocellulosic material being only 9% degradable. Volatile fatty acid (VFA) analysis revealed high concentrations of formate being formed and subsequently degraded in the bioconversion process, and a possible role for formate production was postulated. Variations in structure did not appear to affect the route by which VFAs were produced. Bioconversion of 5-6 major classes of pure organic compounds thought to be potentially recalcitrant in coffee effluent was investigated to determine possible mechanisms of degradation, and the extent to which structural variation affected degradability. The phenolics and chlorogenic acids gave the highest degradation of 70% and 60% respectively, and the cyclic volatiles the least degradation at 40%.


Abstract Haspelmath argues that certain universal asymmetries in linguistic distance previously analyzed as examples of iconicity of distance are better analyzed as the result of frequency. It is argued here that Haspelmath's arguments can be countered by an advocate of iconicity of distance as an explanatory factor. Iconicity of distance is not different in kind from iconicity of contiguity, which Haspelmath endorses. Haspelmath's argument works only if one takes relative frequency instead of absolute frequency; yet it is generally accepted that economy effects are the result of absolute frequency. The empirical frequency data that Haspelmath presents is inconclusive. However, Haspelmath presents data that suggest that an iconicity of distance analysis, at least for possession constructions, must be revised as iconicity of length. Finally, criteria are offered to differentiate the effects of economy, iconicity of distance/length, and iconicity of independence.


3-D modeling, object detection, and pose estimation are three of the most challenging tasks in the area of 3-D computer vision. This paper presents a novel algorithm to perform these tasks simultaneously from unordered point-clouds. Given a set of input point-clouds in the presence of clutter and occlusion, an initial model is first constructed by performing pair-wise registration between any two point-clouds. The resulting model is then updated from the remaining point-clouds using a novel model growing technique. Once the final model is reconstructed, the instances of the object are detected and the poses of its instances in the scenes are estimated. This algorithm is automatic, model free, and does not rely on any prior information about the objects in the scene. The algorithm was comprehensively tested on the University of Western Australia data set. Experimental results show that our algorithm achieved accurate modeling, detection, and pose estimation performance.


Despite significant advances in treatment and diagnostics, cancer remains a major healthcare problem worldwide. The incidence of cancer had significantly increased globally due to the high rates of exposure to risk factors and increasing average life expectancy. It is known, that the immune system is responsible for development of a specific response against tumors. However, activated immunocompetent cells are frequently failed in their mission to reject the tumor, which leads to cancer progression and metastasis. Such failure of immune system is linked with the phenomenon of cancer recurrence, which is based on widespread of highly metastatic tumor cells with low immunogenicity. Therefore, the tumor cells acquire the ability to avoid the monitoring of immune system and become resistant to anti-cancer drugs. This specificity of the tumor cell is the key barrier to the successful treatment and management of cancer. The role of specific genes, epigenetics as well as tumor microenvironment should be further investigated and determined.


In order to assess the prevalence of use of natural remedies for "nervous" disorders, a global random online survey was conducted in July 2017 using RDITTM sampling methodology. There were 75,101 respondents worldwide. For both nervousness and common colds, the preference was for natural plant remedies over prescription drugs, with at least a 3:2 margin for most of the 50 countries surveyed. The preference for natural products was not restricted to any specific demographic although respondents over age 65 were less likely than younger respondents to endorse this preference. The two countries that were exceptions to this general observation were Japan and Thailand, and the reasons for this are probed in the discussion. Despite known safety hazards of natural remedies, their use has become a universal phenomenon.


Parallel Imaging MRI (pMRI) and Compressive Sensing (CS) are two reconstruction techniques that have recently been applied to increase MRI performance. In this paper we demonstrate that a combined analysis of the pMRI and CS problems leads to a conceptually simple, yet effective technique that outperforms independent approaches to both reconstruction problems. We argue that the proposed technique is also naturally resilient to noise, due to its relation to the MAP image denoising formulation. A modified Basis Pursuit (BP) formulation of the CS-MRI problem allows it to handle the pMRI problem at the same time. We also present an exact solution to this BP problem, using the split Bregman technique, with discrete shearlet transform (DST) regularization. The DST is an excellent choice for natural image applications, due to its optimal sparsity property. Results show that this Compressive Parallel Sensing (COMPASS) reconstruction algorithm outperforms more traditional MRI reconstruction algorithms in both pMRI and CS experiments.


Abstract The doctrine and case law on expropriation in international investment law is an unsettled area due to a variety of factors such as the diversity of interests between capital importing and exporting states, the divergence in legal, economic, and cultural concepts of property rights, and, more importantly, the regulatory role of the state in cross-border investment activities. Although China has been an active 'treaty-maker' in the universe of international investment arbitration, evidenced by its nearly 130 bilateral investment treaties (BITs), the notion of expropriation in these BITs is in a state of flux. This article scrutinizes the expropriation clauses in China's BITs, in particular, the Peru–China BIT and the Peru–China free trade agreement, by reference to the final award of Tza Yap Shum v. The Republic of Peru, the first Chinese BIT arbitration case. This article attempts, in a comparative context, to understand the underlying rationale for China's evolving stance on expropriation.


It is known that vertical acoustic travel time (τ), round-trip from the seafloor to the sea surface as measured by inverted echo sounders (IESs), can be interpreted in terms of dynamic height. This relationship is generalized and quantified in this paper for dynamic height (ΔDi, j) integrated between a variety of pressure limits (pi, pj) which span different portions of the main thermocline. The generalized form of the ΔDi,j(τ) relationships is nonlinear; the conventional linear relationship is valid when the limits of integration span the entire main thermocline. Velocity and temperature records are shown to be highly correlated vertically, indicating that the variability of the Gulf Stream and adjacent eddy field is dominated by the lowest baroclinic mode, which is called a gravest empirical mode (GEM). A "parallel isotherms model" is used to approximate the GEM and to develop analytic expressions for the observed ΔDi,j(τ) relationships in the Gulf Stream. The analytic expressions represent the observations well, with noise-to-signal variance ratios that are typically 1%. Using these new ΔDi,j(τ) relationships, the baroclinic velocity structure can be determined geostrophically by measuring the horizontal gradients with laterally separated τ measurements from IESs. Baroclinic velocities determined from a two-dimensional array of IESs in the Gulf Stream during 1988–1990 agree with velocity shears directly measured by current meters. The rms velocity difference between these two measurements of velocity shear at 400 dbar relative to 1000 dbar was 12 cm s−1 in the presence of typical currents of 50 cm s−1. Ageostrophic motions (at both mesoscale and submesoscale), measured by the current meters but not by the IESs, contribute most of the velocity differences.


Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is an important site for energy expenditure, for instance to generate heat in times of cold exposure. BAT expansion and activation can increase energy dissipation of an organism. This involves the coordinated activation of mitochondrial metabolism and heat generation through uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, the Shirihai group uncovers a novel potentiation pathway for BAT energy expenditure. Changes in mitochondrial dynamics, in particular mitochondrial fission, act in synergy with fatty acid-induced uncoupling to activate BAT metabolism in response to the hormone norepinephrine.


Background. Alcohol and nicotine are commonly co- abused. The search for a common core of neural, behavioral, and genetic factors underlying addiction has been the goal of addiction research. Purpose. Genetic predisposition to high alcohol intake has been studied in rats by selectively breeding rats that have high preference for alcohol. The current experiments were conducted to determine if the level of intravenous nicotine administration for the various lines of alcohol-preferring rats differs from that for nonalcohol-preferring controls. Study design. Adult alcohol-na¨ selectively-bred alcohol-preferring male rats from four lines (P, AA, HAD-1, sP) and their control nonalcohol-preferring rats (NP, ANA, LAD-1, sNP) were trained and given access to self-administer nicotine (0.03 mg/kg/infusion). Results. The results show that the P rats self- administered significantly more nicotine than NP rats. In contrast, there were no significant differences in nicotine self-administration between the sP and sNP or the AA and ANA rats. Unexpectedly, high alcohol-drinking HAD-1 rats self-administered significantly less nicotine than low alcohol-drinking LAD-1 rats. Conclusion. This suggests that some genetic factors that underlie high-alcohol intake have more general effects in promoting high nicotine intake tendencies, while other genetic factors are more specific to only heavy drinking.


This article studies Morris's development and cultivation of an optical rhetoric in his political lectures and journalism, as well as his utopian fiction, of the 1880s and 1890s. I begin by tracing its discursive base in the social and aesthetic criticism of Thomas Carlyle and John Ruskin, and by contrasting the contradictory ideological inflections of visual rhetoric in the writing of Matthew Arnold and James McNeill Whistler. Through an examination of his political journalism and lectures on art and society, I show how Morris's inheritance and secularisation of Carlyle's discourse of spiritual optics sets him apart from other figures associated with the fin de siecle socialist movement, at the same time as it produced important ideological contradictions in Morris's socialist writing. I conclude with an examination of the extension and differentiation of Morris's optics in his utopian romance News from Nowhere (1890).


Control valves are an increasingly vital component of modern manufacturing around the world, since control valves are mechanical devices, their performance is less than ideal, and degrades over time. For a plant to perform optimally control valve performance must be tracked and maintained. Backlash is one of much invertible nonlinearity present in control valve, if a valve has some backlash, the loop will have a tendency to oscillate, which will get bigger and bigger as time goes by and will also make the loop slower to respond. At present, pneumatic valve Positioner is used which uses mechanical cam to correct the non-linear nature of control valves. Pneumatic valves Positioner typically are very simple and do not implement integral control. In this project a novel low cost Smart Positioner is designed and developed to improve the performance of control loops. A rotary potentiometer with a linear actuator is used to give feedback signals to the controller of the current position of the control valve. A specially designed control system which is cascade in nature increases the performance of the control system. The Position sensor control being a slave controller acts faster to position the valve and thereby avoiding backlash problem. The developed design is implemented in the Second Order Two Tank Level control system and the performance metrics such as Rise time, Settling time and Steady state errors evaluated found improved after implementing smart Positioner. The oscillation of control valve was found minimum compared to pneumatic Positioner which clearly an indication of reduced backlash in the system. The low cost smart Positioner is RVDT which fixed on a pinion rack and interfacing the proposed second order system using MATLAB for error analysis and LabVIEW software and NI DAQ6008 to run the proposed second order system.


In the present work we suggest a general covariant theory which can be used to study the stability of any physical system treated geometrically. Stability conditions are connected to the magnitude of the deviation vector. This theory is a modification of an earlier joint work, by the same authors, concerning stability. A comparison between the present work and the earlier one is given. The suggested theory can be used to study the stability of planetary orbits, astrophysical configurations and cosmological models.


In this memo we provide technical documentation of the impulse responses to some representative shocks in NEMO. The impulse responses are shown both with the new specification of the monetary policy loss function presented in MPR 1/12 and with the specification used in the recent MPRs. The new monetary policy loss function entails a somewhat higher weight on output than the old. In addition, weight on deviations of the key policy rate from a simple rule in the old loss function is replaced by weight on deviations of the key policy rate from a normal level. In general, with the new loss function, the interest rate response to supply shocks will be smaller than with the old loss function. The interest rate responses to demand shocks have not changed much, while the response from an exchange rate shock is marginally smaller with the new loss function than with the old.


The SO 2 content of green plantain slices sulfited in metabisulfite solutions increases with dipping time, but not in direct linear relationship. Increasing the concentration of the dipping solution resulted in a proportional increase in the SO 2 content. Lowering the pH of the sulfiting solution resulted in higher SO 2 uptake. Sulfurous acid solutions at pH 2.2 gave the higher SO 2 content at a given clipping time. When sulfiting plantain slices in K 2 S 2 O 5  solutions at pH 3.3, blanching increases the bisulfite absorption. Sulfiting in sulfurous acid solutions resulted in higher levels of SO 2  in hand peeled unblanched slices and lowest in steam peeled and blanched slices. The SO 2  content increased with the length of the blanching treatment for both water and steam blanching. Increasing the temperature during water blanching from 71.1° C (160° F) to 93.3° C 200° F) had no appreciable effect on the SO 2  content. When slices were sulfited in K 2 S 2 O 5  solutions, the loss of SO 2  during frying was greater in blanched fruit, either hand- or steam-peeled. When the slices were sulfited in sulfurous acid solutions, the greater loss of SO 2  during frying occurred in steam peeled fruit and neither the blanching method used nor the temperature had any effect on the SO 2  loss. Sulfiting to levels of 100-150 p/m SO 2  proved effective in controlling browning. The loss at this level during frying amounted to 50-60 percent, leaving a residue of SO 2  which could not be detected by tasters, and did not affect the flavor of the product.


One of the major challenges faced by agricultural industry is the need for accurate and early detection of diseases that affect crops. Diseases affect the quality of crops and are capable of wiping out hectares of crop yield resulting in major loss to farmers. Current diagnostic techniques are time consuming and require the presence of highly skilled professionals to analyze the affected plants, understand the symptoms, identify the disease and thereby suggest suitable remedies. The limitations of such techniques have enforced the need to look for alternative techniques which can detect and classify diseases at an early stage. Smart farming using suitable infrastructure can help in tackling and providing solutions to such problems. Data mining techniques, in the recent years have shown great promise in identifying and classifying patterns in similar areas of research. Current research aims to evaluate the performance of algorithms like XGBoost, Gradient Boost, Convolutional Neural Network(CNN) and its architectures like VGG16 and VGG19 coupled with data augmentation and transfer learning against traditional machine learning algorithms like Support Vector Machine(SVM), random forest and measure their effectiveness in identifying and classifying maize plant diseases in terms of accuracy, precision, recall and training time. Training of the models were performed on an open source database containing close to 4000 images, encompassing four distinct classes, including healthy plant images. Out of the models developed, VGG19 architecture of CNN with transfer learning performed the best by achieving an overall accuracy of 95 percent, thereby satisfying the need of building an effective and robust classification model. Also, the performance of the models developed were found to improve with increase in amount of training data. The results obtained using transfer learning techniques on CNN architectures are highly promising and can be extended further to form a comprehensive plant disease identification system that is capable of operating in real world environment. It can thus empower the agricultural community to diagnose diseases and initiate timely treatment without the intervention of trained experts.


Built environment provides infrastructure and space that supports users' activities through facility services. Space provides the context in which services are constructed. Facility ser‐ vices management is facing challenges in information management that requires vast and heterogeneous information from design to operations of a building across various service systems. Building information modelling (BIM), an object‐oriented modelling technol‐ ogy seeks to integrate information throughout the entire lifecycle of a building project. However, BIM is limited to meeting the needs of information arising from operation and management of facility services, and the requirements for BIM development are yet unclear. Though BIM building semantics can be enriched, but mainly focusing on building fabrics for design and build. BIM does not support the consideration of building opera‐ tion activities and the context of building in‐use. From a semiotic perspective, the lack of address in pragmatic and social aspects of a building project limits BIM as a through‐life solution. This research deployed semiotics, a theory of signs, to analyse and develop BIM from an information system's point of view. Organizational semiotics is a sub‐branch of semiotics, which offers a set of methods that can enhance BIM to link building fabrics to facility service activities.


Abstract To investigate natural enemies of emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), in northeastern China, we conducted field surveys of ash (Fraxinus Linnaeus (Oleaceae)) trees in semi-natural forests and plantations at variable EAB densities from 2008 to 2013. Our surveys revealed a complex of natural enemies including eight hymenopteran parasitoids and two apparently parasitic Coleoptera, woodpeckers, and several undetermined mortality factors. Parasitoid complex abundance and its contribution to EAB mortality varied with the time of year, type of ash stands, and geographic regions. The egg parasitoid Oobius agrili Zhang and Huang (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and the larval parasitoid Tetrastichus planipennisi Yang (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were frequently observed in Jilin, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang provinces and in Beijing, but not in Tianjin. Spathius agrili Yang (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), however, was more prevalent near Beijing and further south in Tianjin. Larvae of two species of apparently parasitic beetle, Tenerus Laporte (Coleoptera: Cleridae) species and Xenoglena quadrisignata Mannerheim (Coleoptera: Trogossitidae), were also recovered attacking overwintering EAB in Liaoning Province, with Tenerus species being a dominant mortality agent (~13%). Our findings support the need to consider the geographic origin of insect natural enemies for EAB biocontrol, as well as an expanded foreign exploration for EAB natural enemies throughout its native range in Asia.


The Netherlands, a small country, has been particularly rich in astronomers in the twentieth century, and Hendrik van de Hulst was among the most notable. He is distinguished for three far–reaching contributions to our knowledge of the Cosmos. As a graduate student he predicted that the hyperfine transition at 1420 MHz in atomic hydrogen (the 21 cm line) would be observable, and later participated in its discovery and early exploitation. He guided Dutch and European space research and its organization from the beginnings. Throughout his entire career he developed the theory of the scattering of radiation by small particles. He was consequently called on to be a member or chairman of important national and international committees, and his contributions, to the advancement of knowledge and effective organization alike, have been recognized by numerous awards and distinctions.


In this study, the in vivo wear of highly cross-linked polyethylene (CLPE) cups against alumina ceramic femoral heads was evaluated by radiographic and retrieval analysis. The radiographic wear of six ethylene oxide gas-sterilized (i.e., non-cross-linked) conventional polyethylene (PE) cups with the mean follow-up of 20.9 years and 60 CLPE cups with the mean follow-up of 7.4 years was measured. The retrieved 16 PE cups with clinical use for mean 21.5 years and 10 CLPE cups with clinical use for mean 2.9 years was evaluated as a retrieval analysis. In the radiographic analysis, the linear wear of CLPE cups was significantly lower (99% reduction) compared to conventional polyethylene cups. The results of retrieval analyses for both cups were similar to those of radiographic analyses. Even when third-body wear occurred during clinical use, no surface damage was observed on the surface of ceramic femoral heads. The surface is not sensitive to third-body wear, and hence, the ceramic femoral head has a great advantage in terms of the wear of CLPE under third-body wear conditions. In conclusion, CLPE cups used with alumina ceramic femoral heads in total hip arthroplasty should have favorable wear resistance in several in vivo situations.


In this paper, through the collection and collation of ancient herbs, medical books and prescriptions, combined with modern literature, the historical changes of the name, origin, position, medicinal parts, collection, processing and processing of bluegrass were systematically combed and verified.It can be seen from the research that bluegrass was first used as medicine by the fruit, namely blueberry, which was originally Polygonum tinctorium. Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, blueberry was rarely used, and it has been no longer used medicinally. In the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the medicinal parts extended to the stems and leaves, and most of them used juice as medicine.Since the Tang Dynasty, origin has been extended to Isatis indigotica, Baphicacanthus cusia, Indigofera tinctoria, Compositae plant Wulan, etc. In the Song Dynasty, the medicinal parts extended to the roots, and the "Banlangen" began to appear, and gradually became the main medicinal parts of blue medicinal materials, the main base of which was B. cusia. Since the Qing Dynasty, I. indigotica, a Cruciferae, has gradually become a genuine indigo root, while B. cusia has become a southern indigo root. It was the first mineral dye imported from abroad for thrush, and then used as medicine, also known as clam powder. Because it was found that it had the same effect with the extract of bluegrass, it was also named indigo naturalis in China, which has lasted till now. The main stream of Isatidis Folium in the past dynasties is the dry stem and leaf of Clerodendrum cyrtophylum. Since the Qing Dynasty, the stem and leaf of Isatis indigotica, P. tinctorium and other blue grasses have been gradually mixed as substitutes and gradually become the mainstream.


Stretchable conductive composites (SCCs) have been widely used as interconnects and sensors in stretchable electronic devices due to their tunable electromechanical properties and intrinsically high stretchability compared to solid metals. SCCs can be readily made by mixing (or breaking bulk) conductive fillers within an elastomeric polymer, which are subsequently cured. Despite the simplicity of this, most fabrication methods follow customized protocols and lack precise automatic control. These methods also require bulky and costly equipment (e.g. stirrers, mixers, ovens, and vacuuming machines). Also, variations in the production process make it challenging to maintain the consistency of SCC's electrical and mechanical properties produced in different batches. To solve this problem, this work develops an automatic SCC production platform (ASPP) that can be programmed to produce SCCs with high consistency in properties. The versatility of ASPP is demonstrated by fabricating SCCs with single and hybrid fillers, and porous structures. The consistency of SCCs' electromechanical properties is examined using samples fabricated in different batches following the same protocol. We further utilize the fabricated SCCs to realize various intelligent tactile sensing and heating platforms. The capability demonstrated for the ASPP shows its potential in fabricating SCCs for applications in soft robotics and wearable devices.


Neutral models characterize evolutionary or ecological patterns expected in the absence of specific causal processes, such as natural selection or ecological interactions. In this study, we describe and evaluate three neutral models that can, in principle, help to explain the apparent 'twigginess' of asexual lineages on phylogenetic trees without involving the negative consequences predicted for the absence of recombination and genetic exchange between individuals. Previously, such phylogenetic twiggyness of asexual lineages has been uncritically interpreted as evidence that asexuality is associated with elevated extinction rates and thus represents an evolutionary dead end. Our first model uses simple phylogenetic simulations to illustrate that, with sexual reproduction as the ancestral state, low transition rates to stable asexuality, or low rates of ascertained 'speciation' in asexuals, can generate twiggy distributions of asexuality, in the absence of high extinction rates for asexual lineages. The second model, developed by Janko et al. (2008 ), shows that a dynamic equilibrium between origins and neutral losses of asexuals can, under some conditions, generate a relatively low mean age of asexual lineages. The third model posits that the risk of extinction for asexual lineages may be higher than that of sexuals simply because asexuals inhabit higher latitudes or altitudes, and not due to effects of their reproductive systems. Such neutral models are useful in that they allow quantitative evaluation of whether empirical data, such as phylogenetic and phylogeographic patterns of sex and asexuality, indeed support the idea that asexually reproducing lineages persist over shorter evolutionary periods than sexual lineages, due to such processes as mutation accumulation, slower rates of adaptive evolution, or relatively lower levels of genetic variability.


The education system had shifted from face-to-face to online modality as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift in the educational paradigm also affected pre-service teachers in the delivery of their practice teaching. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of pre-service teachers in their practice teaching. Data were gathered from four student teachers during the focus group discussion using open-ended semi-structured questions. The gathered data were transcribed and analyzed using active analysis. Three themes were developed in the study; 1) Problems encountered by student teachers during practice teaching, 2) Actions taken to solve problems encountered, and 3) Reflections based on their practice teaching experiences. It is noted that the guidance of their respective cooperating teachers is necessary to bridge the gap between the expectations of the practice teachers and practice teaching as preparation for a real-world teaching career. Moreover, it necessitates support from the administration to amplify the results of pre-service students' experiences. It is recommended the conduct exit assessments among the pre-service teachers on their experiences to further enhance programs to create more meaningful practice teaching experiences among future pre-service teachers. Keywords: Phenomenology, Practice Teaching, Pre-service Teachers, Philippines


Excerpt] Over the 50 years since President Lyndon Johnson launched the War on Poverty, women have made unprecedented strides in education to the point where they now outnumber men at every level of the higher education ladder. In 1964, only 40.7 percent of women enrolled in college after graduating from high school. Today, that figure is 70.2 percent, and there are roughly 240,000 more women in college than men. About 60 percent of all Associate's and Master's degrees go to female candidates, and the ratio is almost the same for Bachelor's degrees. Women recently surpassed men in doctoral degrees awarded as well. All in all, the story of women's access to higher education and their graduation rates in recent decades is one of remarkable success. This paper examines a paradox: women in general are doing better in terms of educational attainment than ever before and yet still are failing to realize their full earnings potential, regardless of their educational level. Why, when we know that education is critical to women's advancement, do so many women facing future economic insecurity fail to pursue any kind of education after high school? And even if they do pursue postsecondary education or training, why do so many women make choices for themselves that limit their lifetime earnings? This paper also will identify some of the existing barriers that limit women's educational success. We look at the life choices women make in school and in the workplace and how these choices influence wage outcomes. Further, we will examine the deep-seated biases and social pressures that cause so many women to gravitate to occupations, courses of study and college majors that offer relatively low pay and income insufficient to support a family. Finally we explore the implications of women's educational success on intergenerational economic mobility and improved economic opportunities over time.


The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of pressure treatment conducted by means of Medical Z compression clothing as an auxiliary method in the treatment of burn scars and cheloids. The innovation behind the products examined stems from the fabrics used that are endowed with thermoregulating properties and are soft and sensitive so as to augment the comfort of wearing compression clothes and do not cause skin irritation. The material comprised 20 patients hospitalized in the Rehabilitation Ward in Burn Treatment Center over the period 2006-2007. The group examined was composed of 18 men and 2 women aged 18 to 50 years affected by thermal burn of the IIa/IIb° and III° degrees with the surface of 2% to 60% TBSA. Patients wore individually tailored Medical Z compression clothing. The fabric warranted the pressure within the range 17-24 mmHg, evinced good ventilation properties and caused no irritation of the skin. Patients wore the clothing 20-24 hrs daily. At the outset of the therapy the patients required 1-2 weeks' period of adaptation that consisted in gradual elongation of the time the clothing was worn. The surveillance period lasted for 5 to 12 months. Results: In all patients upon the application of Medical Z compression clothing improvement was detected in the treatment scar of hypertrophic scars manifest in coloration change (scar of paler hue), flattening and augmented elasticity evident in increased articulation mobility. Conclusions: 1. The examined patients who applied Medical Z compression clothing were found to show a considerable improvement of the scar appearance.


Here, a 4N-in-1 hybrid substrate concept (nanocolumnar structures, nanocrack network, nanoscale mixed oxide phases, and nanometallic structures) for ultra-sensitive and reliable photo-induced-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (PIERS), is proposed. The use of the 4N-in-1 hybrid substrate leads to an ≈50-fold enhancement over the normal surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, which is recorded as the highest PIERS enhancement to date. In addition to an improved Raman signal, the 4N-in-1 hybrid substrate provides a high detection sensitivity which may be attributed to the activation possibility at extremely low UV irradiation dosage and prolonged relaxation time (long measurement time). Moreover, the 4N-in-1 hybrid substrate exhibits a superior photocatalytic degradation performance of analytes, allowing its reuse at least 18 times without any loss of PIERS activity. The use of the 4N-in-1 concept can be adapted to biomedicine, forensic, and security fields easily.


In this study, we have identified and evaluated the cardiovascular anomalies associated with Williams-Beuren syndrome in children.In a retrospective, lineal, and observational study, we reviewed the files of children who were seen from 1980 through 2005 (25 years) after a clinical diagnosis of Williams-Beuren syndrome.Forty children were diagnosed with this syndrome at the National Institute of Pediatrics in Mexico City. Of these, 32 (80%) were found to have congenital heart defects. The male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1 and ages ranged from 6 months to 15 years (mean, 4.4 years) at the time of diagnosis. All of the patients had morphologic and genetic characteristics typical of the syndrome.We emphasize the cardiovascular aspects from a clinical point of view. Supravalvular aortic stenosis was our most frequent finding, in 18 of 32 patients (56%); gradient differences in these patients ranged from 14 to 81 mmHg. Five patients showed combined lesions, the most frequent being supravalvular aortic stenosis in combination with pulmonary artery brachial stenosis, or with atrial and ventricular defects. Patients with incomplete atrioventricular defect and bicuspid aortic valve, as were seen at our hospital, have not to our knowledge been reported in other studies.One of the patients was scheduled for balloon dilation; another was scheduled for surgery; a 3rd patient was operated on twice for the placement of an aorto-aortic bridge; another underwent ventricular septal defect closure; and yet another underwent aortoplasty, this last dying shortly after surgery.


The objective of this trial was to investigate the effects of diets containing corn silage, bermudagrass hay, or elephantgrass silage on intake and apparent total tract and partial digestibilities of nutrients in cattle. A forage to concentrate (soybean meal) ratio of 90:10 was used. Six ruminally and omasally fistulated bovines averaging 351 kg of initial body weight were used in two replicated 3 x 3 Latin squares. Each experimental period lasted 16 days with 10 days for animal adaptation and six days for samples collection. The internal marker indigestible neutral detergent fiber (INDF) was used to estimate abomasal DM flow and fecal DM excretion. No significant difference in DM intake was observed between corn silage and bermudagrass hay diets. However, total digestible nutrient intake was greater on corn silage than bermudagrass hay. Animals fed the bermudagrass hay diet had the greatest NDF intake (4.52 kg/day) while those fed corn silage showed the highest NFC intake (1.95 kg/day). In addition, the corn silage diet also resulted in the greatest apparent total tract digestibilities of DM (66.3%), OM (68.9%), NDF (55.7%), and total carbohydrates (68.2%). Rumen was the main site for digestion of total carbohydrates and NDF in all four diets. It was observed an inverse relationship between apparent total tract DM digestibility and INDF intake. Therefore, forage INDF content can be used to estimate digestibility of tropical grasses. Estimated NFC true digestibility averaged 96.6% across diets in the present study.


The content provided in these pages has informed the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's FY 2010 Youth Gang Prevention and Intervention Program. While additional research needs to be done, by adapting the secondary prevention programs described herein and similar evidence-based approaches to address their local gang problems, communities can ensure a better future for their youth.


Urbanization is a process that affects economic and social development of developing countries. The urbanization processes arisen not only comprises the issue of migration among the residents, but also involves the social environment transformations of the people in the city. Urban evolution has a positive and negative impact on urban residents. Malaysian life quality index assess the level of income, physical well-being, psychology and social, health, safety, housing, education, environment, culture and recreation, transportation and communication. Urbanization and quality of life exhibits an ongoing structure to achieve sustainable development. Despite this, emphasis still needs to be given on equality, fairness and freedom in pursuing the quality of social life in the city.


The scholarship on Indigenous peoples is deeply steeped in colonization and often assumes a Western perspective. I start this article with my poetry as a female kalaaleq (Inuk from Greenland) poet. I contextualize my writing through discussions on praxis and new knowledge creation through poetry. In this article, I argue for a process of decolonization of written, academic knowledge on Indigenous peoples by inviting Indigenous writers to consider writing in poetry form, which comes from giftedness of inner soul-namely the spirit. Keywords : epistemology; narrative; Inuit worldview; decolonization; praxis


The relationship between gender, emotion and normative ideals is a prominent theme in British sensation fiction of the 1860s, and a central concern in Mary Elizabeth Braddon's novel Lady Audley's Secret (1862). But despite critical assent concerning the importance of emotions in the text, there are no focused studies of their meaning and narrative function. This study explores how representations of anger and shame convey gender specificity, and how the way characters express and perform emotions interplays with constructions of social power in the novel. Braddon's work contains more examples of women than men exhibiting signs of anger and more instances of men than women showing shame, which means that anger might be understood as a female and shame as a male quality in the text. The contexts where these emotions occur indicate the opposite, however. Women displaying anger are shown to transgress gendered conduct codes, whereas men mostly experience shame because of women's misbehaviour and as their guardians. Although the distribution of instances when male and female characters show anger or shame could initially be understood as a manifestation of the disruptive qualities of the sensation genre, such an interpretation is undermined by the gendered relations between emotional expression, power and control in the novel.


Article history Received: 21 October 2019 Accepted: 7 April 2020 Published Online: 15 April 2020 The article consists of two parts. Part I shows the possibility of quantum / soft computing optimizers of knowledge bases (QSCOptKBTM) as the toolkit of quantum deep machine learning technology implementation in the solution's search of intelligent cognitive control tasks applied the cognitive helmet as neurointerface. In particular case, the aim of this part is to demonstrate the possibility of classifying the mental states of a human being operator in on line with knowledge extraction from electroencephalograms based on SCOptKBTM and QCOptKBTM sophisticated toolkit. Application of soft computing technologies to identify objective indicators of the psychophysiological state of an examined person described. The role and necessity of applying intelligent information technologies development based on computational intelligence toolkits in the task of objective estimation of a general psychophysical state of a human being operator shown. Developed information technology examined with special (difficult in diagnostic practice) examples emotion state estimation of autism children (ASD) and dementia and background of the knowledge bases design for intelligent robot of service use is it. Application of cognitive intelligent control in navigation of autonomous robot for avoidance of obstacles demonstrated.


This book is the first to examine the history of imaginative thinking about intelligent machines. As real artificial intelligence (AI) begins to touch on all aspects of our lives, this long narrative history shapes how the technology is developed, deployed, and regulated. It is therefore a crucial social and ethical issue. Part I of this book provides a historical overview from ancient Greece to the start of modernity. These chapters explore the revealing prehistory of key concerns of contemporary AI discourse, from the nature of mind and creativity to issues of power and rights, from the tension between fascination and ambivalence to investigations into artificial voices and technophobia. Part II focuses on the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in which a greater density of narratives emerged alongside rapid developments in AI technology. These chapters reveal not only how AI narratives have consistently been entangled with the emergence of real robotics and AI, but also how they offer a rich source of insight into how we might live with these revolutionary machines. Through their close textual engagements, these chapters explore the relationship between imaginative narratives and contemporary debates about AI's social, ethical, and philosophical consequences, including questions of dehumanization, automation, anthropomorphization, cybernetics, cyberpunk, immortality, slavery, and governance. The contributions, from leading humanities and social science scholars, show that narratives about AI offer a crucial epistemic site for exploring contemporary debates about these powerful new technologies.


Complementary information, when combined in the right way, is capable of improving clustering and segmentation problems. In this paper, we show how it is possible to enhance motion segmentation accuracy with a very simple and inexpensive combination of complementary information, which comes from the column and row spaces of the same measurement matrix. We test our approach on the Hopkins155 dataset where it outperforms all other state-of-the-art methods.


Infection with the HIV-2 virus can result in progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) similar to that seen in HIV-1 infections. However, the majority of HIV-2 infected individuals do not show evidence of disease progression and maintain a functional immune system. It was hypothesized that there was a better balance between effector and regulatory responses in HIV-2 infection that contributed to virus control and immune activation. Furthermore, the role of T regulatory cells was investigated in the development of Immune Reconstitution Syndrome in HIV-1 and HIV-2 patients commencing antiretroviral therapy. In the present study I first determined the appropriate immunological signature of Tregs in HIV infections. Tregs were defined on the basis of CD4+CD127lo/-FOXP3+ and were shown to be strongly correlated with CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ or CD4+FOXP3+ cells. However measurement of Tregs using flow cytometry and real time PCR did not correlate. Hence measurement of Tregs from whole blood using flow cytometry was used in subsequent studies. HIV-2 infected subjects had a significantly lower percentage and absolute number of Tregs compared to HIV-1 infected individuals when matched by CD4 count. In both infections, Treg percentage increased as CD4 T cell count declined while the absolute level was positively correlated with CD4 T cell count. In addition the percentage levels of Tregs positively correlated with the immune activation and viral load in HIV-2 infection only. The next study measured the level of HIV specific immune responses and immune activation in asymptomatic HIV-1 and HIV-2 patients. HIV-2 infected subjects showed much higher percentage levels of HIV specific CD4 and CD8 T cell and lower percentage levels of activated T cells. Furthermore, it was shown that Tregs in HIV-2 patients were functional as their depletion resulted in increased HIV specific immune responses from CD4 and CD8 T cells. To assess whether Tregs contributed to the development of Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome, HIV-1 and HIV-2 infected patients that were scheduled to commence antiretroviral therapy were recruited and followed up for six months. Longitudinal measurement of Tregs showed no differences in the magnitude or trend of percentage or absolute numbers in patients that developed IRIS compared to those that did not. Collectively these results suggest that the balance between effector and regulatory responses is maintained in HIV-2 infections which may in turn contribute to the improved prognosis of these patients compared to HIV-1 infections. The IRIS study showed that Tregs did not influence the development of IRIS though further functional characterization of these cells is required.


ABSTRACT As demonstrated by Indigenous and rural scholars, participatory research approaches can facilitate capacity building, promote data accessibility, and accomplish community goals within complex hydrosocial systems. To demonstrate challenges and opportunities for participatory research, we describe hydrosocial territories in a mining-impact region in northern Idaho. We then compare two community-university partnerships in the study region, which included Tribal and non-Tribal rural communities. We find that the Participatory Action Research and Indigenous Research Methodologies frameworks provide a robust set of practices and methods for conducting more equitable and inclusive research. Further, participatory research approaches in research involving mining-impacted hydrosocial systems should: (1) build from established programs, goals, and practices; (2) identify respectful levels of partnership engagement, and (3) recognize partnership limitations. Future inquiry in complex hydrosocial systems should continue to build from the existing collection of participatory scholarship to address power imbalances and cultural differences and implement non-intrusive approaches to evaluate outcomes.


This letter presents signal processing techniques to detect a passive thermal threshold detector based on a chipless time-domain ultrawideband (UWB) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The tag is composed by a UWB antenna connected to a transmission line, in turn loaded with a biomorphic thermal switch. The working principle consists of detecting the impedance change of the thermal switch. This change occurs when the temperature exceeds a threshold. A UWB radar is used as the reader. The difference between the actual time sample and a reference signal obtained from the averaging of previous samples is used to determine the switch transition and to mitigate the interferences derived from clutter reflections. A gain compensation function is applied to equalize the attenuation due to propagation loss. An improved method based on the continuous wavelet transform with Morlet wavelet is used to overcome detection problems associated to a low signal-to-noise ratio at the receiver. The average delay profile is used to detect the tag delay. Experimental measurements up to 5 m are obtained.


OBJECTIVES
To assess the molecular epidemiology and prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli causing urinary tract infections of elderly patients from community and hospital settings. Also, to determine whether the possession of antibiotic resistance and virulence-associated genes can be linked to patient location or the clonal group of the organisms in question.

METHODS
E. coli were isolated from the urine samples of elderly patients from the Nottingham area, and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing, virulence gene detection by PCR and multilocus sequence typing.

RESULTS
No correlation was observed between community- or hospital-derived strains with regard to antibiotic resistance levels or virulence gene profiles. E. coli ST131 (where ST stands for sequence type) was the predominant ST found in both hospital and community samples, and demonstrated high levels of antibiotic resistance to the test panel, but did not possess a significantly larger array of virulence genes or a specific gene profile compared with other STs.

CONCLUSIONS
The level of antibiotic resistance or virulence gene possession in uropathogenic E. coli is not directly associated with the healthcare setting of the patient, but there is a variation in antibiotic resistance and virulence gene possession depending on clonal group. ST131 is highly virulent and demonstrates high levels of antibiotic resistance, but its virulence does not appear to be attributable to the possession of a specific virulence-associated gene set or the possession of any virulence-associated gene in significantly higher levels than in any other ST.


Speech is characterized by phonemes and prosody. Neurocognitive evidence supports the separate processing of each type of information. Therefore, one might suggest individual development of both pathways. In this study, we examine literacy acquisition in middle childhood. Children become aware of the phonemes in speech at that time and refine phoneme processing when they acquire an alphabetic writing system. We test whether an enhanced sensitivity to phonemes in middle childhood extends to other aspects of the speech signal, such as prosody. To investigate prosodic processing, we used stress priming. Spoken stressed and unstressed syllables (primes) preceded spoken German words with stress on the first syllable (targets). We orthogonally varied stress overlap and phoneme overlap between the primes and onsets of the targets. Lexical decisions and Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) for the targets were obtained for pre-reading preschoolers, reading pupils and adults. The behavioral and ERP results were largely comparable across all groups. The fastest responses were observed when the first syllable of the target word shared stress and phonemes with the preceding prime. ERP stress priming and ERP phoneme priming started 200 ms after the target word onset. Bilateral ERP stress priming was characterized by enhanced ERP amplitudes for stress overlap. Left-lateralized ERP phoneme priming replicates previously observed reduced ERP amplitudes for phoneme overlap. Groups differed in the strength of the behavioral phoneme priming and in the late ERP phoneme priming effect. The present results show that enhanced phonological processing in middle childhood is restricted to phonemes and does not extend to prosody. These results are indicative of two parallel processing systems for phonemes and prosody that might follow different developmental trajectories in middle childhood as a function of alphabetic literacy.


It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you all to the 12th Stockholm Water Symposium and to the World Water Week. This annual event has indeed developed dramatically from its beginning in 1991 until today. I doubt that any of the 200 participants in the first Symposium could then imagine the size of the event today, or the importance it has had over the years for the international policy debate on water-related issues. Today, we are very grateful to those involved, in the city of Stockholm and in the Stockholm Water Company and amongst the founding companies, for the far-sighted decision in 1990 to start the Stockholm Water Symposium and to establish the Stockholm Water Prize.


Microstructured optical fibers (MOFs) are traditionally prepared using the stack and draw technique. In order to avoid the interfaces problems observed in chalcogenide glasses, we have developed a new casting method to prepare the chalcogenide preform. This method allows to reach optical losses around 0.4 dB/m at 1.55 µm and less than 0.05 dB/m in the mid IR. Various As(38)Se(62) chalcogenide microstructured fibers have been prepared in order to combine large non linear index of these glasses with the mode control offered by MOF structures. Small core fibers have been drawn to enhance the non linearities. In one of these, three Stokes order have been generated by Raman scattering in a suspended core MOF pumped at 1995 nm.


The electrocatalytic activity of well-characterized Pt-Ru alloy electrodes toward the electrooxidation of CO in acidic electrolyte at room temperature was measured on alloy surfaces prepared in UHV (ultrahigh vacuum). Clearly defined surface composition was determined via LEIS (low-energy ion scattering). Electrocatalytic activities were measured by CO stripping voltammetry as well as by potentiostatic oxidation of adsorbed CO. It was found that the property of Ru atoms to nucleate oxygen-containing species at low potentials produced a strong enhancement in the catalytic activity of sputter-cleaned Pt-Ru alloy electrodes compared to pure Pt, thereby supporting the concept of the bifunctional character of the oxidation process of these alloys. A further synergistic effect of the alloy with a Ru surface composition of approximately 50 atom % Ru was observed, with a catalytic shift in the CO electrooxidation current of -0.25 and -0.15 V compared to those of pure Pt and pure Ru surfaces, respectively. This synergism was attributed to a uniquely active state of OH[sub ads] on Pt-Ru pair sites. The different electrocatalytic activities of sputter-cleaned versus annealed Pt-Ru alloy electrodes with essentially identical Ru surface compositions are discussed in terms of Ru clustering during annealing. 48 refs., 8 figs., 1 tab.


The minimum probability of error (MPE) measurement discriminates between a set of candidate quantum states with the minimum average error probability allowed by quantum mechanics. Conditions for a measurement to be MPE were derived by Yuen, Kennedy and Lax (YKL). MPE measurements have been found for states that form a single orbit under a group action, i.e., there is a transitive group action on the states in the set. For such state sets, termed geometrically uniform (GU) by Forney, it was shown that the `pretty good measurement' (PGM) attains the MPE. Even so, evaluating the actual probability of error (and other performance metrics) attained by the PGM on a GU set involves inverting large matrices, and is not easy in general. Our first contribution is a formula for the MPE and conditional probabilities of GU sets, using group representation theory. Next, we consider sets of pure states that have multiple orbits under the group action. Such states are termed compound geometrically uniform (CGU). MPE measurements for general CGU sets are not known. In this paper, we show how our representation-theoretic description of optimal measurements for GU sets naturally generalizes to the CGU case. We show how to compute the MPE measurement for CGU sets by reducing the problem to solving a few simultaneous equations. The number of equations depends on the sizes of the multiplicity space of irreducible representations. For many common group representations (such as those of several practical good linear codes), this is much more tractable than solving large semi-definite programs---which is what is needed to solve the YKL conditions numerically for arbitrary state sets. We show how to evaluate MPE measurements for CGU states for some examples relevant to quantum-limited classical optical communication.


Rapid urbanization and population growth of the Amman Area were combined with land resource degradation when the city was heading for mounting urbanization from the early 1950s. The deterioration of natural resources and green areas, was coupled with the creation of different urban public open spaces in the city. The transformation from large single-family houses to dense residential apartments was associated with social and behavioral changes among the inhabitants living in the dense apartments. Consequently, a large private sector has been developed to provide public and social spaces. Photo-interpretation and satellite images were used to map and characterize land use/cover changes have been occurred in the Amman area between 1953 and 2017. Maximum Likelihood Classification method was employed to identify land use/cover changes between 1986 and 20017, and GIS was utilized also to map examples of the recently emerged socio-economic open spaces. Excessive urban development in the last two decades, and the adoption of neo-liberal privatization policies by the government, enhanced social stratification and residential segregation. So, instead of encouraging outdoor activity and social interaction among all groups of Amman residents, the freedom of accessibility to major open spaces has been restricted within the same urban fabric, thus, the "two Ammans" paradigm, a "tale of two cities", has been recently acknowledged.


Porous a-tricalcium phosphate (a-TCP) ceramics are attractive as a novel bioresorbable material for bone repair, since they can be easily fabricated through conventional sintering of b-TCP at high temperature. However, the solubility of a-TCP is too high to keep its body until the bone defect is repaired completely. Coating of the a-TCP porous body with organic polymer is a way to reduce the degradation rate. In the present study, biodegradation of a-TCP porous body coated with silk sericin was evaluated in vivo. Bone repair at the defect made in rabbit tibia was nearly completed after 4 weeks. Higher density of cortical bone was estimated for a-TCP coated with sericin than for mere a-TCP. The a-TCP porous body coated with sericin is expected as a material that show less degradation than mere a-TCP, and may result in suitable bone repair.


First Person Shooter (FPS) is a popular genre in online gaming, unfortunately not everyone plays the game fairly, and this hinders the growth of the industry. The aiming robot (aimbot) is a common cheating mechanism employed in this genre, it differs from many other common online bots in that there is a human operating alongside the bot, and thus the in-game data exhibit both human and bot-like behaviour. The aimbot users can aim much better than the average player. However, there are also a large number of highly skilled players who can aim much better than the average player, some of these players have in the past been banned from servers due to false accusations from their peers. Therefore, it would be interesting to find out if and where the honest player's and the bot user's behaviour differ. In this paper we investigate the difference between the aiming abilities of aimbot users and honest human players. We introduce two novel features and have conducted an experiment using a modified open source FPS game. Our data shows that there is significant difference between behaviours of honest players and aimbot users. We propose a voting scheme to improve aimbot detection in FPS based on distribution matching, and have achieved approximately 93% in both True positive and True negative rates with one of our features.


As a consequence of increasing neural research activities, neural signals of longer duration and more simulations channels are recorded or transmitted. Recording the amount of the recorded data then becomes increasing. We propose a new compression method, which is based on multi-Gaussian modeling of action potentials, and which preserves the position of local peaks and the shape of spike waveforms in neural signals. First, we detect the spike region using the multi-resolution Teager energy operator (MTEO) method. And then each spike is fitted by a multi-Gaussian curve model, and only the parameters of the model are stored instead of the waveform. The background noise and the spike residual signals are finally compressed into a few of coefficients using autoregressive (AR) modeling. For performance comparison, we calculate using a spike sorting the correct classification ratio (CCR) between the original and the compressed spikes. The results show that the proposed method achieves an average CCR of 0.79 at an average compression ratio (CR) of 45:1. We also show that the proposed method is far more efficient than a conventional method both in CR and CCR.


The reproducibility of fire test protocol in the UN Global Technical Regulation on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles (GTR#13) is not satisfactory. Results differ from laboratory to laboratory and even at the same laboratory, when fires of different heat release (HRR) rate are applied. This is of special importance for fire test of tank without thermally activated pressure relief devise (TPRD), the test requested by firemen. Previously the authors demonstrated a strong dependence of tank fire resistance rating (FRR), i.e. time from fire test initiation to moment of tank rupture, on the HRR in a fire. The HRR for complete combustion at the open is a product of heat of combustion and flow rate of a fuel, i.e. easy to control in test parameter. It correlates with heat flux to the tank from a fire – the higher HRR the higher heat flux. The control of only temperature underneath a tank in fire test, as per the current fire test protocol of UN GTR#13, without controlling HRR of fire source is a reason of poor fire test reproducibility. Indeed, a candle flame can easily provide a required by the protocol temperature in points of control, but such test arrangements could never lead to tank rupture due to fast heat dissipation from such tiny fire source, i.e. insufficient and very localised heat flux to the tank. Fire science requires knowledge of heat flux along with the temperature to characterise fire dynamics. In our study published in 2018 the HRR is suggested as an easy to control parameter to ensure the fire test reproducibility. This study demonstrates that the use of specific heat release rate, HRR/A, i.e. HRR in a fire source divided by the area of the burner projection, A, enables testing laboratories to change freely a burner size depending on a tank size without affecting fire test reproducibility. The invariance of FRR at its minimum level with increase of HRR/A above 1 MW/m2 has been discovered first numerically and then confirmed by experiments with different burners and fuels. The validation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model against the fire test data is presented. The numerical experiments with localised fires under a vehicle with different HRR/A are performed to understand the necessity of the localised fire test protocol. The understanding of fire test underlying physics will underpin the development of protocol providing test reproducibility.